Twins 3, Cardinals 5: St. Louis Swamps Twins in Quiescent Opening Day Defeat

[mikelink45]

I am just amazed at all the posts and everything that the commentors read into this opening, rain delayed, road game.  The season has started.  I am ready for both wins and losses.  I give it a week before I am seriously engaged 

So nice to see Bader HR!  Nice to see Keirsey SB.

Lopez might need to practice not balking.

Go Twins

[Linus]

Obviously not the start Pablo wanted.  He gave up some hard hit balls but several hits were bleeders and bloops.  His command definitely needs to get sharper but the stuff was there.  More worried about the offense as it looked like second half last year.  There were several exceptional defensive plays made - all by the Cards.  Defense essentially won them the game.

[Whitey333]

It's only 1 game is the theme and it's right.  But nothing changed from last year yet.  Remember the early season games still count and go on the win/loss record.  After about a month we will see better well- defined trends.  It's just that this year's team needs to get off to a good start.  Too much bad taste left over from last years collapse.  BTW did anyone have issues with Twins TV?  Thousands of us in the area couldn't get it for awhile.  Glitches they said.  Imagine that.

 

 

[chpettit19]

3 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

It's only 1 game is the theme and it's right.  But nothing changed from last year yet.  Remember the early season games still count and go on the win/loss record.  After about a month we will see better well- defined trends.  It's just that this year's team needs to get off to a good start.  Too much bad taste left over from last years collapse.  BTW did anyone have issues with Twins TV?  Thousands of us in the area couldn't get it for awhile.  Glitches they said.  Imagine that.

 

 

It was all of MLB.tv, if that makes you feel better.

[rdehring]

Very disappointing loss. 

Pablo wasn't sharp and seemed to get rattled with the stolen base attempts.  Two at bats to get back into the game early, but Miranda seemed lost in his at bat with the bags loaded and I believe one out.

Add a defense that was mediocre at best and game one certainly points out that there could be problems ahead.  

[Schmoeman5]

2 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

It is one game, I am not worried about one game.

I will say this though, everything about yesterday screamed same old Twins. 11 K's, 8 hits, 1 - 8 with RISP, 5 pitches used, and a few guys looking foolish trying to pull balls they had no business pulling. Jeffers had a few swings that make him look like a minor league hitter, him and Miranda need to watch France's approach.

Finally France looked pretty good at first as did Willson Contreras, who by the way has played first a grand total of 11 times in his career with 4 starts, can we stop with how hard it is to play first?

 

No!  There's a big difference between playing 1st base and playing it well. Same for all positions. 

[Schmoeman5]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Sonny Gray's velo is down, so you know he was going to throw a lot of junk. So I don't understand the Twins' aggressiveness at the plate.

I'll try to get you their clubhouse line so you can coach em up Dr.

[twinzcynic]

I thought it was a brilliant move by Sonny Gray to load the bases as soon as a potential rally started. He's more than familiar with this organization's ineptitude in those situations dating back to when he was with this ball club. Truly, it was the easiest way out of that inning.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Obviously not the start Pablo wanted.  He gave up some hard hit balls but several hits were bleeders and bloops.  His command definitely needs to get sharper but the stuff was there.  More worried about the offense as it looked like second half last year.  There were several exceptional defensive plays made - all by the Cards.  Defense essentially won them the game.

This was my takeaway as well.  The team battled, but in the end the Cards made the margins-type plays in the field to deliver a win.

But for those that didn't like things from last year there were a lot of promising developments: we stole a base in a close game to give ourselves a chance, the team went opposite field a lot, and they didn't do any crazy substitutions.  It's early, but all good signs.

You're gonna lose some, things happen.

[Riverbrian]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Lopez might need to practice not balking

Being an umpire is tough and mistakes happen but I'm still struggling with this on the morning after. 

 

Rocco said that the umpire stated he saw movement in the hands. 

Where is the Balk? 

 

[MMMordabito]

17 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Being an umpire is tough and mistakes happen but I'm still struggling with this on the morning after. 

 

Rocco said that the umpire stated he saw movement in the hands. 

Where is the Balk? 

 

It's just like the NFL where the officials like to insert themselves.  Worst call of the game.

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, MMMordabito said:

It's just like the NFL where the officials like to insert themselves.  Worst call of the game.

The runner broke for 2nd. Jeffers signaled. He steps off the rubber, turns and throws. It was done perfectly. 

But it's a balk in the box score. Or a Box in the Balk Score. 

It's a hard job being an umpire... I don't fault them for any mistakes because it's hard. With that said... I just can't... for the life of me... see anything that comes close to a balk and certainly not where the Rocco says the umpire told him. This wasn't a close ball/strike call or a bang bang tag at second base. 

This was an umpire looking at the pitcher and saying balk when there wasn't one. 

What did the umpire think he saw? Let them play. The balk rule was implemented over 100 years ago to prevent pitchers from purposely deceiving runners. Lopez isn't trying to deceive anyone. Let them play. 

[Sjoski]

3 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I can't put into words how much I have come to hate that organization. But as another poster just noted; baseball is indeed broken. 

The Dodgers have become the embodiment of everything wrong with MLB, and the league just lets it happen. Hard to stay invested when the outcome feels predetermined.

 

 

[bean5302]

14 hours ago, SteveLV said:

...Lopez mediocre, hardly an ace.  He is ok, not dominant in any way...

Sonny Gray. Tremendous. Everybody knows it. He's the guy. He's the best guy. Other pitchers? Garbage. Can't compete. Everybody agrees with me.

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I am just amazed at all the posts and everything that the commentors read into this opening, rain delayed, road game.  The season has started.  I am ready for both wins and losses.  I give it a week before I am seriously engaged 

So nice to see Bader HR!  Nice to see Keirsey SB.

Lopez might need to practice not balking.

Go Twins

Thank you for the sanity. 

[Linus]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

The runner broke for 2nd. Jeffers signaled. He steps off the rubber, turns and throws. It was done perfectly. 

But it's a balk in the box score. Or a Box in the Balk Score. 

It's a hard job being an umpire... I don't fault them for any mistakes because it's hard. With that said... I just can't... for the life of me... see anything that comes close to a balk and certainly not where the Rocco says the umpire told him. This wasn't a close ball/strike call or a bang bang tag at second base. 

This was an umpire looking at the pitcher and saying balk when there wasn't one. 

What did the umpire think he saw? Let them play. The balk rule was implemented over 100 years ago to prevent pitchers from purposely deceiving runners. Lopez isn't trying to deceive anyone. Let them play. 

Agreed.  The ump made a motion indicating the balk was due to hand movement.  I didn’t see anything unless we are measuring in quantum physics or something.  This is my issue with most officiating in all sports - if in doubt don’t call it.

It was also interesting that the Cards sent two runners in much the same way.  They must have picked up a tell in Pablo’s delivery.

[ashbury]

Starting pitcher not as good as we needed, offense not as good as we thought, bullpen capable of giving up late runs.... I hope this isn't a synopsis of the season come October.

[Doc Lenz]

9 hours ago, CRF said:

Really don't like Wallner in the 1 spot. I suppose Rocco will put him there most of the season too. 

He was pesky at the plate and caused havoc on the bases and certainly put Gray under duress.

well we would have hoped so.

[Guest]

18 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

I know we have goldfish memories these days, but that’s been the case since this post game format was implemented years ago. Win = top 3 WPA, Loss = bottom 3 WPA

Thanks for the insight. I never knew that was how it was done, or maybe I forgot. Wait, what?

[Patzky]

11 hours ago, CRF said:

Really don't like Wallner in the 1 spot. I suppose Rocco will put him there most of the season too. 

Julien was there plenty in 2023

 

[RpR]

I listend to the game on raido yesterday and was fascinated how the annoucers were doom and gloom till Bader's home run, at that; I listened to a talk of the Twins today on WCCO, and there take was far more downer that upper.

Twin did SO Well in Spring Training , how could they fall apart like that in game One?  🤑

 

[SteveLV]

The Twins so desperately need a big bopper, clutch, RBI guy in the middle of their lineup.

Alonso was available, but of course our team is for sale and we would not go after him.  Correa is our splash play for this decade.

Sorry to be gloomy, but this League is so unfair and our current team is deeply flawed.  Hope they suprise!

[Schmoeman5]

8 minutes ago, SteveLV said:

The Twins so desperately need a big bopper, clutch, RBI guy in the middle of their lineup.

Alonso was available, but of course our team is for sale and we would not go after him.  Correa is our splash play for this decade.

Sorry to be gloomy, but this League is so unfair and our current team is deeply flawed.  Hope they suprise!

If Lou Gehrig is in the cleanup spot and the 1st 3 hitters are 0-12, it really doesn't matter. Does it? I guess he could hit 4 solo homers.

[SteveLV]

I know at some point last season the Twins collectively were batting well under .200 with RISP.

That can't be all physical.  They get uptight, press too hard, and perform terribly.

Some players like pressure situations.  This lineup--at least last year--does not.

[USAFChief]

36 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

If Lou Gehrig is in the cleanup spot and the 1st 3 hitters are 0-12, it really doesn't matter. Does it? I guess he could hit 4 solo homers.

Dunno.  Lou is getting up there in age. 

[Parfigliano]

50 minutes ago, SteveLV said:

The Twins so desperately need a big bopper, clutch, RBI guy in the middle of their lineup.

Alonso was available, but of course our team is for sale and we would not go after him.  Correa is our splash play for this decade.

Sorry to be gloomy, but this League is so unfair and our current team is deeply flawed.  Hope they suprise!

They have a big bopper but he hits leadoff 

[Schmoeman5]

13 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

They have a big bopper but he hits leadoff 

What happened to Castro in the leadoff spot vs RH pitchers? LH is Castros strong side. But for some reason Wallner leading off looks right to those in charge. I know it's only one game. But he did it during ST. So I guess we'll see.

[h2oface]

14 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

The runner broke for 2nd. Jeffers signaled. He steps off the rubber, turns and throws. It was done perfectly. 

But it's a balk in the box score. Or a Box in the Balk Score. 

It's a hard job being an umpire... I don't fault them for any mistakes because it's hard. With that said... I just can't... for the life of me... see anything that comes close to a balk and certainly not where the Rocco says the umpire told him. This wasn't a close ball/strike call or a bang bang tag at second base. 

This was an umpire looking at the pitcher and saying balk when there wasn't one. 

What did the umpire think he saw? Let them play. The balk rule was implemented over 100 years ago to prevent pitchers from purposely deceiving runners. Lopez isn't trying to deceive anyone. Let them play. 

No balk. That this is not reviewable, or can't be challenged is the problem. Or that the umps can't conference and fix it. He did it all very calmly and deliberately. Kept his hands still, stepped off, turned and threw. Horrible call. The kind that should be corrected.

Batters sure are getting to his pitches, though. Whether it's soft contact or hard contact, it is tons of contact. 

 

[Riverbrian]

14 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

What happened to Castro in the leadoff spot vs RH pitchers? LH is Castros strong side. But for some reason Wallner leading off looks right to those in charge. I know it's only one game. But he did it during ST. So I guess we'll see.

I listened to the pre-game on the radio Thursday.

Rocco discussed it. He didn't sound married to the idea of Wallner leading off but he liked the idea of Wallner getting more AB's theoretically in the leadoff spot and he mentioned that Wallner also gets on base with walks and hit by pitches. 

It works for me.

I want Matt and Trevor spaced out so they can't both be taken out by a single left handed reliever. 

And 

I'd want Matt and Trevor both as close to the top of the lineup as possible. This gets them 1 and 4 in the order. I like that. 

[SteveLV]

Against right handers, I like:

Castro

Wallner

Correa

Larnach

Buxton

whatever from there.

Alternates lefties and righties. 

None of this matters until guys start hitting.