Braves 6, Twins 2: At Least SOMEONE's Season Got Resurrected This Weekend

[harmlessharmon]

Great players lead by example.   Good hitting (Puckett .318 lifetime BA) is contagious, especially in the post season.  Correa sub .200, Buxton sub .250 doesn 't cut it.  Currently there's 32 guys with at least 60 AB's hitting over .300 in the MLB.  There's 30 teams.  Keaschall's over .300 with 12 AB's, Wallner's decent at .263.   After that it's almost impossible to have so many guys with beyond TERRIBLE averages.

[Linus]

Keaschall has a nice compact swing with a direct bat to ball swing path. Notably, no other Twins hitter uses that type of swing, hmmmmm…..

Anybody notice the early strikouts looking on fastballs right down the middle?  I am convinced that is the analytics / scouting report telling those guys this guy is going to throw you a slider with two strikes. So they look for that and are willing to go sit down if it’s something different. I just categorically disagree with this approach. Our organizational hitting philosophy has turned most of our hitters into guess hitters. 

[LastOnePicked]

2 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Go 0-6, 1-5, or even 2-4 against these teams and staying with Rocco will pretty much be indefensible.

We're already so far, so far, past indefensible at this point. I don't care if they go 6-0, it's looooong past time for a change in the dugout.

[Hubie29]

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The Twins get an opportunity in the next two series. More will follow but 6 games at home should give the team a little boost. Quite a few batters are looking futile. Something has to give. Can the Twins be at 13-15 heading to Cleveland?

I think you are taking 4-20 a little too seriously. 

[Nashvilletwin]

42 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

We're already so far, so far, past indefensible at this point. I don't care if they go 6-0, it's looooong past time for a change in the dugout.

I was trying to be nice…..lol. 

[mikelink45]

I got to believe the White Sox are looking forward to this series - they could get out of last place.  Let's get some playoff excitement going - we will not slide to last!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

3 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The Twins get an opportunity in the next two series. More will follow but 6 games at home should give the team a little boost. Quite a few batters are looking futile. Something has to give. Can the Twins be at 13-15 heading to Cleveland?

One can only hope.

[Aerodeliria]

The Twins are now one loss away from the dreaded 9 games under .500, which is the point of no return.

[The Great Hambino]

Just think - in a few months, someone's gonna have to pick an All Star to represent this team.

Hopefully it can be Keaschall so we can pretend to have hope for the future.  It will probably either be someone traded away before the game takes place or Willi Castro as a pitcher

[Chris Hove]

Bases loaded twice and no runs. Hitters are looking at called strike 3's. Yikes, let's beat up on the CHI Sox.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I was at the Saturday game in Hotlanta. The atmosphere was electric. The streets close to the ball park were closed to traffic and the many bars and restaurants were opened. Alcohol was sold and consumed in the streets. I spoke to every Twins fan I saw. I wore my Minnesota Twins tee shirt which Tony Oliva had autographed in Ft. Myers. We Twins fans were optimistic. The Braves fans were polite and numerous and really into the game. The ball park is beautiful. The light show and fireworks after each of the Twins numerous strike outs added to the excitement. The game was a really fun game with lots of action. I sat 6 rows back beside the Twins dugout.  I cheered loudly for the Twins. My two highlights of Saturday's game were watching Buxton run out his triple and seeing Audra Martin in person. One of my friends, who is a Braves fan, here in North Carolina where I live, sent me a text after Sunday's game and thanked me for bringing my Twins to Atlanta to help his Braves".  What should I have replied to that text?  "Wait til next year."  "It's a long season". "Something about his mother" ? 

[Greglw3]

3 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

I've said it before and I hate saying it again  , this team is very hard to watch , they are putting me to sleep  , I don't have to watch GOĹF anymore for a afternoon nap ....

Pathetic pitiful piss poor pukey  playing ...

Alliterate brother!

[Blyleven2011]

5 hours ago, LeatherAntenna said:

At least the fans get an off day on Monday.

And we really need it after the sweep  ....🧹🧹🧹

[bean5302]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The umpire blew a couple calls, but Joe Ryan didn't need to throw a fit on the mound. That was quite unprofessional. The Braves pitchers were also having trouble getting strikes called but I didn't see them throw their equipment into the dugout.

The only interesting thing left for this season is seeing what they get in return for the trades they're going to make. On the plus side, I'm getting a lot more reading done during the games. I nearly finished a memoir this weekend.

From what I've seen, Ryan had been a little high strung and pretty quick to pout. That said, I think he's grown up a lot over the past couple of seasons. There's plenty of frustration across the players, I'm sure, and it makes it easy to override the professional conduct. It's easy to forget that Joe Ryan is only 28 years old (speaking from a more experienced age). He might not be a young prospect from the baseball profession perspective, but as a human, most of these guys are in their 20s.

The Braves have genuine superstars on their roster. Chris Sale is dealing, but making a few mistakes with a BABIP over .400, his results are going to come. Spencer Strider is back, Acuna looks like he'll be back next month, and the Braves won the World Series just a couple years ago. They're legit, and they know how to handle themselves.

The only person I think can save the Twins' season is Royce Lewis. He's the only guy with the potential star power and attitude who can change the direction of the team, but it's clear the last few years have really hammered him down. The odds he can not only stay healthy, but also regain his form, and turn the tide are pretty long.

[Fezig]

13 hours ago, LeatherAntenna said:

At least the fans get an off day on Monday.

For many teams throughout baseball history an off day after a crap start, getting swept at home, and a historic collapse the season before would mean the manager would get his walking papers. That could be considered the start of a winning streak.

[Doctor Gast]

The last 2 seasons, the Twins have been good at resurrecting other teams, BTW Hans, very appropriate title for Easter. The Twins' lineup did well in the 1st 2 games & should have won, but the last game was a disaster.

[rdehring]

Hey, let's look at the positive side of this start.  The annual draft isn't that far away, is it?

I don't follow who are this year's studs being considered for the #1 pick.  Hopefully there is that guy playing college ball somewhere who is a consensus number 1.  You know, an absolute stud who plays great D, hasn't been injured once in three years of college ball, has a cannon hanging off his shoulder, has blazing speed, hits for power and is on base nearly 50% of the time.  You know, a guy who will be ready for 'the show' by May, 2026 and be the 2026 Rookie of the Year.

But wait, we have to wait until the 2026 draft to wreep the rewards of this dismal play?  Booooo!  

 

[rv78]

2 hours ago, Fezig said:

For many teams throughout baseball history an off day after a crap start, getting swept at home, and a historic collapse the season before would mean the manager would get his walking papers. That could be considered the start of a winning streak.

The FO will treat worthless Rocco the same way they treat worthless veterans, like Gallo and Margot that don't perform. They'll stick with him until they just have no other choice. If it happens at all, it'll be at the end of the season when his contract expires. Before that, it'll take a miracle. 

[Whitey333]

The Twins are 19-42 going back to last years collapse.  They are playing like their record shows; 

[Doctor Wu]

15 hours ago, S Bart said:

Please NOTE that my gut reaction is that the Twins (currently 7-15) are in for a long season and a dumping of players via trades may be on the horizon. Nevertheless, it is still early in the season. I looked back at the championship seasons. The '87 Twins were 8-13 in mid-April and the '91 started off 2-9. Unfortunately, I question if the team has the fortitude to have even a 500 season. If there are not good performances against the 5-16 White Sox and the 10-10 fading Angels this week, a good swan song may be in order for the loudspeakers at Target Field.

I think the Twins might have a tough time against the Angels. They look a lot better this season.

[Whitey333]

Provus and Morneau were complaining, blaming the loss on those 2 missed calls by the home plate umpire.  They swelled on it throughout the game.  Yes the umpire wasn't that good for both teams.  But why blame the loss on the umpiring?  Very unprofessional.

[Doctor Wu]

1 hour ago, rdehring said:

But wait, we have to wait until the 2026 draft to wreep the rewards of this dismal play?  Booooo!  

New front office strategy: play for 2026 draft picks. 

[Old Crow]

15 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The Twins get an opportunity in the next two series. More will follow but 6 games at home should give the team a little boost. Quite a few batters are looking futile. Something has to give. Can the Twins be at 13-15 heading to Cleveland?

Only if the Tooth Fairy shows up in the locker room tonight.

[LambchoP]

This home stand may determine the direction of this team moving forward. If we can sweep the six and angels or at least take 2 of 3 in both series, it may give the team some life and we can look forward to Pablo and Lewis returning. The fight to get to .500 is on 

If we lose 2 of 3 or get swept, that's pretty much a wrap on the season. Rocco could and should be let go and our players will be auditioning for other teams, hoping to be traded at the deadline. My guess would be second option unfortunately......at least with trading away all our veterans like France, Bader, Castro, Coloumbe, we'll get to see a bunch of young guys and prospects making their debuts :)

[David Maro]

Time for a reality check this team has checked out. They are swinging at first pitch they see or watching strike 3 in the middle of the zone. They had 2 good games against the Mets,but went right back to not playing baseball.

To all the fans who think it will turn around playing the Sox and Angels good luck with that. Nothing looks like that is going to happen. You can't play the bad baseball like they do and win games. It doesn't matter who the other team is.

Time for Rocco to do the right thing and Resign please.

[bean5302]

3 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

Provus and Morneau were complaining, blaming the loss on those 2 missed calls by the home plate umpire.  They swelled on it throughout the game.  Yes the umpire wasn't that good for both teams.  But why blame the loss on the umpiring?  Very unprofessional.

The same reason the writer blamed the umps. Frustration. When nothing is going your way, even little things can set you off. Unlike us fans, Provus and Morneau are personal friends with some of those guys on the field so it's natural to take it personally.

[JD-TWINS]

20 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Oh man, does this hurt.  How about a six man rotation and get Zebby up - maybe a seven and get Morris up too.  

Don't hurry with the post game interview - who cares? 

Julien's hot streak is over.

Keaschall - thank you, no matter what else the season gives us you have provided a spark - not to the team, but to the fans.   The only player hitting over 250 - Bader is at 250 and the rest - I guess its Buxton's turn to be hot and look like an all-star now that Eddie is done.  

And I look at these three relievers who did their job and wonder why Topa who has never started would be the opener when Varland knows how to start?  Oh well, that was yesterday's misery.

Have curiosity about the Topa start as well. I think just trying to mix it up for the guys and they’re near desperation for a spark. ……they need to score! Who starts nor how they pitch means much without offense. Routinely have 3-5 guys/game that don’t reach base ……1-2 get on only by walk…….no punch anywhere up & down the line-up.

[mikelink45]

18 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Have curiosity about the Topa start as well. I think just trying to mix it up for the guys and they’re near desperation for a spark. ……they need to score! Who starts nor how they pitch means much without offense. Routinely have 3-5 guys/game that don’t reach base ……1-2 get on only by walk…….no punch anywhere up & down the line-up.

Not only has Topa never started - he had pitched the day before.  I still think this was a really bad decision.

[DJL44]

40 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Not only has Topa never started - he had pitched the day before.  I still think this was a really bad decision.

Where did he pitch the day before? The game logs for April show him appearing 4/5, 4/6, 4/11, 4/14, 4/19.

[Mike Sixel]

It's clear they were trying to get SWR five innings, w/o facing the top 3-4 hitters three times. Didn't work, of course, but that was the goal.