Game Thread: Twins (Ryan, SWR) @ Tigers (Maeda, Manning), let’s play 2; 4-23-24

[jkcarew]

10 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

On the 27th man, technically the player has to be sent down, but he can stay if someone goes on the IL and can be promoted immediately if someone else is optioned or DFA’d. 
 

I’d like to see SWR get another start or two in place of Varland (maybe moving Louie to the BP). 

Meh…fwiw, SWR’s first two starts in St. Paul were nothing to write home about, fairly poor, actually.

He has plenty he can work on in St Paul. (Not that Varland couldn’t use some time there, as well.)

[RpR]

The Twins won a double-header, which included an extra-inning game.

This is just as important , actually far more so, than yesterday game with all its pissant moaning and groaning.

I said weeks back, what the Twins record on April 18 is, could be a indicator for the season.

[Squirrel]

11 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Uh, there is way too much season left to not keep Louie stretched out.

SWR will be back up, but Louie needs to be a starting pitcher (either in St Paul or Minneapolis)

I don’t get the quick hook to put Varland in the BP when we need starters. My guess is it’s where he’s likely to end up in his career, but we need him right where he is right now

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

6-7...

Things could be a lot worse.

Lost in the justified angst about the injuries and hitting, this pitching staff could be good. Really good. Lopez will round into form as the weather warms. Bullpen reinforcements on the way. Ryan looks world's better than last year. The staff is good enough for this to be a .500 team. If someone in the lineup can just get hot enough to carry them for a couple of weeks, they'll be fine. 

[RpR]

1 minute ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

6-7...

Things could be a lot worse.

Lost in the justified angst about the injuries and hitting, this pitching staff could be good. Really good. Lopez will round into form as the weather warms. Bullpen reinforcements on the way. Ryan looks world's better than last year. The staff is good enough for this to be a .500 team. If someone in the lineup can just get hot enough to carry them for a couple of weeks, they'll be fine. 

IF, if every one gets up to the Mendoza line, things will be much better.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Also no one in this division is running away and hiding. Guardians look different when they aren't playing Oakland and the White Sox. 

Tigers line up is whole and they're still worse than the Twins current iteration.

Royals are playing decent but they don't have nearly enough.

Just stay at .500 until Correa and Lewis go back, then go on a run.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

This team was 2 games under .500 on Memorial Day last year. They can top that.

[stringer bell]

33 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

Meh…fwiw, SWR’s first two starts in St. Paul were nothing to write home about, fairly poor, actually.

He has plenty he can work on in St Paul. (Not that Varland couldn’t use some time there, as well.)

SWR had one bad inning and the Saint BP allowed a bunch of inherited runners to score. With such a small sample size, his numbers look bad, but he’s been effective except for one inning. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Correa injury is now being described as a mild right intercostal strain. Seems to be different and better than an oblique injury.

[jkcarew]

28 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

SWR had one bad inning and the Saint BP allowed a bunch of inherited runners to score. With such a small sample size, his numbers look bad, but he’s been effective except for one inning. 

I mean…I don’t think it matters whether number 5 is Varland or SWR…having said that…one horrendous inning among 8 pitched doesn’t really sell me on SWR….especially on the heels of a very underwhelming 2023. Today was definitely encouraging, I’m sure if he sustains anything in St Paul, he’ll get more chances.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Uh, there is way too much season left to not keep Louie stretched out.

SWR will be back up, but Louie needs to be a starting pitcher (either in St Paul or Minneapolis)

He’s gotta start Monday - so Varland isn’t moving to the Pen regardless of the 27th man rules. Guys are lined up to start on regular rest now.

I guess Tonkin could be optioned, if legal?

Bowman can’t go down because he’s got about an 85% chance of pitching Sunday.

Nice job by SWR today! He’ll be back within another 3/4 weeks. Gonna need around 8 starts from him - that’s if everyone else holds together.

[JD-TWINS]

Who is Thielbar going to supplant in 5-10 days? Okert & Funderburk have been very effective!

Alcala has shown up along with Sands!!

Those 4 with Jackson - Jax - Stewart give us some good problems once Thielbar - Topa - Duran are ready to come back!

Staumont can take his time!

[JD-TWINS]

21 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

I mean…I don’t think it matters whether number 5 is Varland or SWR…having said that…one horrendous inning among 8 pitched doesn’t really sell me on SWR….especially on the heels of a very underwhelming 2023. Today was definitely encouraging, I’m sure if he sustains anything in St Paul, he’ll get more chances.

My thought was he had a very solid last 3 plus months last year in St Paul (right?) - expecting good results! Not necessarily repeats of today, but competitive.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

This team was 2 games under .500 on Memorial Day last year. They can top that.

58-57 in mid-August in ‘23……….started 17-12 to achieve that. When the winning streaks come don’t really matter as long as team isn’t discouraged.

Lee - Larnach - Correa - Kepler - Lewis ……addition of Martin……..all reasons to feel better about where we might be by Memorial Day.

Wallner can’t hit .060 much longer! Julien has officially heated up.

Staff sure seems stable top to bottom.

[lecroy24fan]

50 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

He’s gotta start Monday - so Varland isn’t moving to the Pen regardless of the 27th man rules. Guys are lined up to start on regular rest now.

I guess Tonkin could be optioned, if legal?

Bowman can’t go down because he’s got about an 85% chance of pitching Sunday.

Nice job by SWR today! He’ll be back within another 3/4 weeks. Gonna need around 8 starts from him - that’s if everyone else holds together.

Tonkin was DFA'd this morning.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Who is Thielbar going to supplant in 5-10 days? Okert & Funderburk have been very effective!

Alcala has shown up along with Sands!!

Those 4 with Jackson - Jax - Stewart give us some good problems once Thielbar - Topa - Duran are ready to come back!

Staumont can take his time!

Guys without options aren't going anywhere. Alcalá, Funderburk and Sands have options. I suppose Bowman could be DFA'd at any time. 

Guys who can throw multiple innings are at a premium since it doesn't look like Paddack will be going deep into games and so far Varland, as well. That is why I was suggesting Louie go to the BP temporarily.

[h2oface]

3 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Guys without options aren't going anywhere. Alcalá, Funderburk and Sands have options. I suppose Bowman could be DFA'd at any time. 

Guys who can throw multiple innings are at a premium since it doesn't look like Paddack will be going deep into games and so far Varland, as well. That is why I was suggesting Louie go to the BP temporarily.

Just curious, what do you consider "deep into games". Is 80 pitches deep? 6 innings? 7 innings? 80 pitches in 4 innings deep? Is deep by pitches, innings, or batters faced? Was SWR allowed to go deep limited to 80 pitches and 6 innings? Or are we talking 100 pitches regardless of the innings acquired.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, h2oface said:

Just curious, what do you consider "deep into games". Is 80 pitches deep? 6 innings? 7 innings? 80 pitches in 4 innings deep? Is deep by pitches, innings, or batters faced? Was SWR allowed to go deep limited to 80 pitches and 6 innings? Or are we talking 100 pitches regardless of the innings acquired.

Considering it’s April and considering SWR has limited experience in the majors, I think what he pitched was respectable. I don’t know if I’d call it deep, but this time of year, if a pitcher goes 6 or 7, it’s good enough. With pitchers throwing harder and with more spin, more than they ever were even 5 yrs ago, not sure it’s reasonable to expect a lot of 8-9 inning pitchers, and certainly not in April. Pitching is more expensive than ever and more prone to injury than ever, we aren’t going to see a lot of complete or deep games anymore. He got the job done and maybe was more than many expected.