Royals 3, Twins 2: Twins Waste Opportunities, Royals Don't, and It's Another Series Loss

[tony&rodney]

49 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

My question as well after reading the recap… Didn’t he throw more pitches in the start when he was ill? Pre-game I was hoping for 6 strong innings from Ober. But it seems like there’s more gas left in the tank looking at pitch count. 

Apparently, Baldelli explained in the post game press interview (did not see) that Ober was not used to getting up and down that many times. Ok? My reaction was ... wow. 

I will say that i have a ton of confidence in the bullpen, but Ober was cruising with 7,8,9 due up. I'm a little surprised that Ober didn't say something, but maybe he did. I'm sure that would stay in house as it should. 

[Doctor Gast]

8 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Was there any official word about why Ober was lifted so early in the game when he was rolling along so easily?

IMO, Baldelli has no idea what he's doing. After being criticized by the media for playing Ober while sicker than a dog. He made up his mind before the game that he was going to pull Ober early.

[Doctor Gast]

Miranda normally starts out a little cold. but I'm starting to think that he's playing hurt, Because Miranda is a very good hitter, he should be at the point where he should be raking. If I were Baldelli, I'd take my nose out of the spreadsheet & check it out before it gets out of hand as always. 

[Hubie29]

7 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Are you closing your eyes when Wallner is at bat?

That might not be a bad idea. Thanks

[Fezig]

13 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Gotta make some changes. 

If it continues like it is the Mgr will be gone by Monday. That's not to say he shouldn't have been gone well before this, but lagging attendance and a losing squad will force a change.

Paging Toby from St. Paul. Toby? Toby? 

[William K Johnson]

Julien continues to show why he does not belong on a major league roster.    Runners on first and third, one out and two strikes, he again watches strike three go by.    Hey Eddie, if it's close with two strikes go get it.

[thelanges5]

9 runs in 4 games is the story of the series. Stat of the day from Gleeman:

In the 65-year history of the Minnesota Twins, their lineup has had a batting average below .200 after 13 games just twice.

This season and last season.

[Doctor Gast]

This off-season & into ST, I pondered about Falvey & Co. not being able to see our needs & putting band-aids on serious issues & playing players where they shouldn't. I gave up hope for the Twins being able to ever have a viable contender. I pondered if we aren't going to win, why hang on to this core that won us our 1st postseason game & series? & pay all this money when we can trade for some young MLB-ready players?

I have come to my senses. 1st, I don't trust Falvey to pull off those trades & get the players we need. 2nd, I don't blame the core for playing w/o fire & chemistry. Yes, they are professionals, but they aren't only names & numbers on a spreadsheet. They are more invested in this team than we are. Don't you think that they are affected by how they are being handled? Falvey is more concerned about how smart he looks than the success of the team. I don't blame the core for the poor showing, I blame Falvey & Co.

IMO, we don't have to change our core to have a future, we need to change management from the top- down.

[Riverbrian]

13 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

They've scored three runs or fewer eight of their 13 games. And they didn't even attempt to improve the offense this offseason.

IMO it was offense that primarily killed us last year. It is the OFFENSE RIGHT NOW!!! 

September 2024 Team OPS was .623.

We all remember September... the team in complete free fall during the epic collapse when we were caught from behind by a team full of pre-arb players after they sold off all of their veterans. The same team coming to town with 16 pre-arb players and currently 3rd in team OPS. 

Through 13 games... this team would have to improve to reach the level of performance in September of last year. 

The offense could not have started the season worse. START HITTING THE BALL GUYS!!! I'm looking at Buxton and Correa specifically. 

Plenty of time to turn this thing around but the players will cost people jobs if this thing goes on for too long.  

 

[TwinsDr2021]

11 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Keirsey a real chance.

The Keirsay that is 0 - 7 with 5 K's, and looked so over matched on Wednesday, he looked grateful just to foul off a pitch, give that guy more of a chance? No Thanks, he is perfect in the last man off the bench role (pinch runner, defensive replacement)

[laloesch]

13 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Eh, I dunno. I get the impression a good portion of the writing staff here doesn't particularly care for baseball and sure as hell rarely watches it 

LOL, some of them certainly have egos though.

[thelanges5]

Tigers, Mets, and Braves before a day off and then the ChiSox. Will you take the over/under on 8.5 games back in the division by next Thursday?

[LambchoP]

I know it's still early, but this is exactly the same kind of play that we suffered through last September. The defense is pathetic, we cannot continue putting Gasper and Julien out there anywhere. Did everyone see Julien's bellyflop slide at home lol? Not sure why our guys can't seem to hit. Wallner and France seem to be doing good. Bader started off strong but is a K machine lately. Everyone else looks completely lost. Miranda swings at anything within a 5 foot radius of the plate and Correa hits 90 percent of his balls on the ground right to the SS. Watch, he's going to lead the league in double plays hit into this year. Changes are needed. Fire Rocco, send down Julien, Gasper, maybe eventually Miranda for a reset. Might as well let the young guys play and see what we have for next year. Unfortunately I see a rebuild coming.

[stringer bell]

Given the coming schedule and being down one of their best starters, I think this will be the deciding stretch of the season. Selling off assets and bringing up young players could be coming as soon as May 1, even with lame duck ownership and field staff. 

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I don't trust Falvey to pull off those trades & get the players we need.

I can't argue with this one. They need a rebuild but I don't know why Jeremy Zoll would be the guy to do that.

[LA Vikes Fan]

2 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

The Keirsay that is 0 - 7 with 5 K's, and looked so over matched on Wednesday, he looked grateful just to foul off a pitch, give that guy more of a chance? No Thanks, he is perfect in the last man off the bench role (pinch runner, defensive replacement)

You may be right about him but you have to admit it's a very small sample size. Still, if Keirsey can't hit MLB pitching, wouldn't Keaschall or Martin be a much better choice? Martin wasn't great last year, but was competent at the plate and have Bader for that late inning defensive guy.  Keaschall hit well in ST. My point is this lineup isn't working and I don't think it's going to get materially better. I wish we had a qulity MLB hitter in the wings to help, but we don't. Let's see if we can catch lightning in a bottle or at least upgrade at the margins by trading out Gaspar and maybe Keirsey. 

[David Maro]

This team has now started to invent ways to lose games. Let's hit a down lineup partime player to get to the top of the lineup. The one good thing about tonight is the game is on Apple TV so I won't see it.

[TwinsDr2021]

8 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

You may be right about him but you have to admit it's a very small sample size. Still, if Keirsey can't hit MLB pitching, wouldn't Keaschall or Martin be a much better choice? Martin wasn't great last year, but was competent at the plate and have Bader for that late inning defensive guy.  Keaschall hit well in ST. My point is this lineup isn't working and I don't think it's going to get materially better. I wish we had a qulity MLB hitter in the wings to help, but we don't. Let's see if we can catch lightning in a bottle or at least upgrade at the margins by trading out Gaspar and maybe Keirsey. 

Not much of a fan of Martin (plus didn't he get hurt last night?)

As far as Keaschall and/or ERod, sign me up, I though ERod should have been given an outfield spot to start the year. I am all for actual young guys being given a chance. These two seem like they could become a spark plug, Martin to me just seems better than terrible, but that is just my opinion. I am just waiting/hoping for a Twin to actually become an Acuna, Tatis, Witt, etc.....

[twinzcynic]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Falvey is more concerned about how smart he looks than the success of the team. I don't blame the core for the poor showing, I blame Falvey & Co.

IMO, we don't have to change our core to have a future, we need to change management from the top- down.

This is what needs to happen. This FO is so bad at scouting and and so desperately wants to be the smartest in the room. One example that comes top of head if getting rid of excellent MLB-starting level players (Lamonte Wade, Luis Gil) to acquire and keep a horrible 4th outfielder (Jake Cave). 

[RpR]

22 minutes ago, twinzcynic said:

 One example that comes top of head if getting rid of excellent MLB-starting level players (Lamonte Wade, Luis Gil) to acquire and keep a horrible 4th outfielder (Jake Cave). 

Get real with your examples:

Wade Jr.

Cave

Cave was a disappointment but Wade Jr. was no better.

[Danchat]

2 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Let's see if we can catch lightning in a bottle or at least upgrade at the margins by trading out Gaspar and maybe Keirsey. 

They're bench players who are sitting more often than not, which is not what we want Martin and Keaschall doing, they should be playing every day either in the majors or AAA. I imagine they will be up sooner than later due to injuries / eventual demotions. 

2 hours ago, twinzcynic said:

One example that comes top of head if getting rid of excellent MLB-starting level players (Lamonte Wade, Luis Gil) to acquire and keep a horrible 4th outfielder (Jake Cave). 

Wade was a borderline outfielder who they should have been patient with in hindsight, but nobody saw him as a MLB-starting player which is why he was only traded for a lousy reliever. Luis Gil was a lottery ticket who took 6 years to become a legitimate starting pitcher in the majors, and Cave did provide positive value for the first couple years of that move. Teams trade 19 year old lottery tickets like him all the time, it's a crapshoot whether they pan out.

Now if you want to delve into the Tyler Mahle and Jorge Lopez trades, you'll have much more of a case against Falvey. They missed on Wade Jr but heck, I would do the Cave-Gil trade again right now if it means we get a 1.5 WAR OF for a couple years in exchange for a longshot guy like Gil who might be good in 2031.

[twinzcynic]

On 4/11/2025 at 10:52 AM, RpR said:

Get real with your examples:

Wade Jr.

Cave

Cave was a disappointment but Wade Jr. was no better.

Since you clearly have internet access to baseball reference, I suggest you look at the column labeled WAR. It stands for Wins above replacement and approximates value. As amazing as your screenshots there, I suggest you also take a gander at OBP (something we've lacked). If you seriously are debating Wade vs Cave, you may have to apply for the circus for your next gig.

[RpR]

55 minutes ago, twinzcynic said:

Since you clearly have internet access to baseball reference, I suggest you look at the column labeled WAR. It stands for Wins above replacement and approximates value. As amazing as your screenshots there, I suggest you also take a gander at OBP (something we've lacked). If you seriously are debating Wade vs Cave, you may have to apply for the circus for your next gig.S

The two years they were both with the Twins: seems you are already with a circus, 0 WAR, verses 1.1 the years they played together, Jr. was SO impressive.

And look at those impressive fielding numbers from Jr.

vs

Only a clown would have kept Jr. at that point in time.