Braves 4, Twins 3: From Opener to Close, the Twins Lose Another Winnable Game

[JD-TWINS]

28 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

All of these short starts are going to wipe out our relievers by the all star break. At least Buck and Keaschal are fun to watch. Might as well call up Mccusker, Rodriguez, Festa and Zebby and see what we've got for next year...too bad Eeles is hurt, I really wanted to see him play this year.

Who is overworked in the Pen? Varland has thrown the most innings to date and he projects to 72 innings - Duran is close - everyone else projects to 50-60 innings……or less.

These totals, particularly since starters will stretch out and naturally throw more pitches as they get into May, don’t seem onerous at all.

[David Maro]

The team is unwatchable at this point,sure glad I didn't have to fork out the $100.00. Apparently the the Polhad's and Falvey just don't care about the fans and hopefully it will show at the gate. 

I was so surprised to hear that Buxton decided to not just swing for the fences.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, David HK said:

Sweeping the White Sox, or even winning the series is in no way a given.

If Vikings were 1-2 would all of Minneapolis stop breathing? This is where the Twins are at - not pretty for sure! I think the pitching staff is fine ….. the Team needs to score runs. Keaschall, after about half dozen AB’s seems to be a considerable upgrade from Gasper! Buxton was 3-4 with a line out sac fly & fly out to the track in 9th. Castro will play more OF going forward (Kiersey hurt/ineffective) with Keaschall & Julien capable at 2B. Correa hit a HR. Lewis back in another 10-12 games to relieve Lee………Wallner back in another 2-3 weeks……if they can get to .500 by mid June they are in the Central race.

Is K.C. done relative to playoffs? They are 8-14.

If they are 7 under on July 1st, then maybe it’s time to think about reorganization of roster - Manager………don’t see this as some rose colored glasses point of view, just seems realistic.

[tony&rodney]

The Atlanta Braves won the World Series a few years ago but were mid-way into August until they reached a .500 record. Baseball has a long season. A win today puts the Twins above the Braves. While the comments that criticize the Twins (owners, management, coaches, players) reflect how people see the team, the team still has 140 games to play. The football fan should panic when their team loses 13 (Twins) games and 7 losses (Dodgers), but baseball teams need to put the losses behind them. Failure and dealing with failure is perhaps the single most important skill in baseball.

The Twins roster was constructed to hit. Both Falvey and Baldelli have stated this repeatedly. The pitchers cannot be expected to keep scores below 3 runs. Yes, the pitchers can do more but it will need to be the bats who must step up. 

The Twins were expected to win around 85 games this year. I picked 83 wins. I'm holding my ground that the Twins will still reach 83 wins. 

For those wanting change, expect it if/ when the team is sold. If the Twin totally implode and lose 100+ games a few people could be fired. That, however,  seems as far fetched as 93-98 wins which a few people predicted. Hold on folks.

[FargoFanMan]

Well, if anything they’re consistent. 

[Linus]

I like the opener - we get to find out what our deficit will be in the first inning instead of the sixth. 

[FargoFanMan]

33 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The Atlanta Braves won the World Series a few years ago but were mid-way into August until they reached a .500 record. Baseball has a long season. A win today puts the Twins above the Braves. While the comments that criticize the Twins (owners, management, coaches, players) reflect how people see the team, the team still has 140 games to play. The football fan should panic when their team loses 13 (Twins) games and 7 losses (Dodgers), but baseball teams need to put the losses behind them. Failure and dealing with failure is perhaps the single most important skill in baseball.

The Twins roster was constructed to hit. Both Falvey and Baldelli have stated this repeatedly. The pitchers cannot be expected to keep scores below 3 runs. Yes, the pitchers can do more but it will need to be the bats who must step up. 

The Twins were expected to win around 85 games this year. I picked 83 wins. I'm holding my ground that the Twins will still reach 83 wins. 

For those wanting change, expect it if/ when the team is sold. If the Twin totally implode and lose 100+ games a few people could be fired. That, however,  seems as far fetched as 93-98 wins which a few people predicted. Hold on folks.

I tend to agree. But damn I just can’t see it right now. I usually subscribe to the model you played out. The season is long and all it takes is a really good week and they’re right there again. The problem is that right now I just don’t see it. No guy coming back is gonna jolt this offense. It’s gonna have to come from within. That means more than one guy at a time getting hot. That means if the offense starts heating up the bullpen doesn’t completely fall apart. If the bullpen and offense do good we don’t have multiple bad starts. It all needs to click at the same time. Right now I see glimpses especially with Buxton heating up but it’s a pin hole I’m looking through and not a knot hole. 

[DJL44]

50 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

If Vikings were 1-2 would all of Minneapolis stop breathing?

Based on a lifetime of living around Vikings fans, 100% yes.

[D.C Twins]

5 hours ago, shimrod said:

Why, why, why? Why did they do that?

What everyone here fails to understand - the FO and Rocco are smarter than you and me. They are professionals. Hell, they're even smarter than their peers in the game. 

Can you demonstrate your intelligence and baseball acumen by doing what any random fan would do? By doing what generations of lesser baseball professionals have done? No, because if you just do what's traditional and normal then how special are you, really? How innovative? 

This team is reshaping baseball strategy. Thinking outside the box. And if you're wondering why they remain unconcerned with the teams record, why, that's easy. They will not allow an antiquated metric like won/loss record distract them from their advanced statistical performance analysis. Focusing on wins is just another old fashioned baseball tradition the Twins have advanced beyond.

"antiquated metric like won/loss record"  Pure Gold!

[D.C Twins]

When your 30+ mil player strikes out with bases loaded and one out.... things are gonna be rough.  

Correa absolutely MIA this year 

[jkcarew]

6 hits 3 BB in 4.1 against a gassed Sale….including a HR. So…essentially 1 run scored on 5 hits and 3 BB in 4.1 against Sale. Lost game by blowing several opportunities there.

Then…predictably…2 baserunners 1 run across 4.3 innings against their bullpen.

[KirbyDome89]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

If Vikings were 1-2 would all of Minneapolis stop breathing? This is where the Twins are at - not pretty for sure! I think the pitching staff is fine ….. the Team needs to score runs. Keaschall, after about half dozen AB’s seems to be a considerable upgrade from Gasper! Buxton was 3-4 with a line out sac fly & fly out to the track in 9th. Castro will play more OF going forward (Kiersey hurt/ineffective) with Keaschall & Julien capable at 2B. Correa hit a HR. Lewis back in another 10-12 games to relieve Lee………Wallner back in another 2-3 weeks……if they can get to .500 by mid June they are in the Central race.

Is K.C. done relative to playoffs? They are 8-14.

If they are 7 under on July 1st, then maybe it’s time to think about reorganization of roster - Manager………don’t see this as some rose colored glasses point of view, just seems realistic.

Apples and oranges. 86 wins was the fewest amongst playoff teams last year. The Twins need to play at a 90+ win pace for the rest of the year just to reach that 86 win mark. People need to start accounting for the losses baked into the schedule when looking at how much of the season is left. Waiting until July is way too late to start making moves. 

Yes, I think KC is cooked. Their offense is putrid outside of Witt Jr. Idk how they're going to score enough runs to consistently win games. 

[Mark G]

7 hours ago, David HK said:

Sweeping the White Sox, or even winning the series is in no way a given.

And Ryan lost today.  😒

[Mark G]

5 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Who is overworked in the Pen? Varland has thrown the most innings to date and he projects to 72 innings - Duran is close - everyone else projects to 50-60 innings……or less.

These totals, particularly since starters will stretch out and naturally throw more pitches as they get into May, don’t seem onerous at all.

I am going to guess that LambchoP is talking about overall usage; yes, each individual pitcher is not in imminent danger of being overly taxed, but we shouldn't want to use all 8 (plus the train to and from St. Paul) as much as we are.   My latest arithmetic says that the pen is pitching just under 43% of all innings pitched in the season (yes, I know it is only 23 games).  And that is only because we lost to the home team I believe 10 or so times, meaning we never pitched the 9th or the pen would have theoretically pitched over 45%, and some of the guys you project out would have more innings, and a higher projection.  I would prefer the train riders and our 7th and/or 8th best not pitch as often as they are going to have to at this pace.  Saying the starters will stretch out come May or warmer is a nice thought, and of course they should, but that has not exactly been our MO in recent years.  42, 43, 44% or so seems to be more our norm than not, and if last year didn't show us the danger in that, well, I know the definition of insanity.  If you are right, and the starters stretch out and give us more, I give you permission to reprint this post and say I told you so.  🤭

[tarheeltwinsfan]

22 hours ago, JADBP said:

DAIRY QUEEN FOR EVERYONE AFTER THE GAME TONIGHT!

This was the most painful loss of the season to date.  All those runners on 2nd and 3rd...surely you can push one or two across the plate?  Bases loaded? That was pathetic.  

But, the worst moment of the game was the post-game interview with Rocco.     

I say with no sarcasm that Rocco displayed all of the feel-good juju that a mini-van-driving Daddy/coach gives the kids after a Little League game. 

Rocco:  "I am so proud of the awesome effort that you kids put out today.  You kids did AWESOME!  DQ mini-Blizzards for everyone on the team!"

Kids:  "YAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!"

Somehow Rocco thinks this translates well to the Biggs.  Somehow he thinks modern coaching is about coddling the players, while slavishly juggling strategy based on slivers of numerical advantage.  The players players don't give a damn because they are not being asked to give a damn.  Other than the rookies, they are all making millions of dollars no matter how well they play.  Why try harder? 

The coach never gets mad at the players.  There are no consequences for failing 10 times to get that teammate home for 2nd or 3rd.  

And the owners....they certainly don't give a damn either, because they are just trying to cash out the team for a $Billion or two.  

There are no consequences here.  DQs for everyone!  This is Rocco....he's yelling "Come on, hurry up guys, DQ closes at 9!"

Please hurry up and sell this team so a new owner might see through this BS.

I attended this game in person. I did not go to the Dairy Queen after this Twins loss. I went to a bar. They had no Killebrew root beer. If fact they had no root beer. My night would have been completely ruined, except I got to see a Buxton triple and Audra Martin in person.