Twins 6, Guardians 5: Twins Wear Down Guardians, Survive Game of Mistakes, Win Series

[bean5302]

3 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Was thinking to myself a bit ago, Ober gets activated today, who gets demoted? ……. if Orze has options, he’s the prime candidate!

Orze can always be DFA'd! No options needed :)

[c24]

4 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Was thinking to myself a bit ago, Ober gets activated today, who gets demoted? ……. if Orze has options, he’s the prime candidate!

I think it was along with Raya going to the IL

[Western SD Fan]

33 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

There are improvements to the format that need to be made. However, what Perkins, Morneau, Span and Plouffe are doing is where broadcasts have to go in the future.

I believe you're right about this becoming the wave of the future.  Their ultimate goal would be closer to the ManningCast on Monday Night Football.  A bit better mix of goofing off and deep dive analysis would make this a great broadcast.  For example, a better explanation with video on why Lee managed to get himself picked off of 3rd or Keaschall's route running in CF for his first game back would have really helped.  I hope they continue to tweak on it and maybe bring it back later in the season.

Just thought of a tweak that I think could make this entire idea really stand out.  Have Molitor in the booth as part of the all-analyst team.  Having a former manager and coach in the booth would really help explain what is expected from the players as well as the player's experience of what they are feeling out there from the remaining former players in the booth.

[tony&rodney]

49 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

There are improvements to the format that need to be made. However, what Perkins, Morneau, Span and Plouffe are doing is where broadcasts have to go in the future. 

It will get resistance from the traditionalists but if they want to expand past the traditionalists and the sport needs to do exactly that. If they want younger demos, if they would like more women to watch... if they are to have any chance of getting a larger number of participants in demographics that advertisers will spend money for. They will require entertainment beyond the traditional throughout the broadcast.  

I've said it before. Think radio morning show. You have 3 hours to fill. Fill it with entertainment beyond it's a 2-1 count... beyond here's the pitch.... beyond just outside... beyond... it's 3 balls one strike. You can introduce player personalities to the broadcast with features that really get to know the player. You can add the pesonal drama of trying to make the team, stay on the team. This is how you market players by letting people actually get to know them. You can laugh and joke, you can talk about anything relateable... there are a million ideas... just tear the walls down.  You can sound like you are having a good time instead of sounding like this is game 110 that sounded the exact same of game 109 in a 162 game schedule. 

This is how baseball grows a larger audience. The traditionalist isn't going to like it but this is what baseball needs. 

What I've seen the past two nights. It needs improvement but... they are on the right track and the traditionalist isn't going to like it. 

You might be on to something here. Either way, it doesn't make any difference for me. When I watch the games (usually have a minor league game on the laptop with Twins on big screen) I'm tuned into the players and situations within the game, from wondering about pitch choice to fielder positioning and a batter's approach. Most of the time the sound is off. As a side note it helps to pay attention because the people who input the count and outs and who is batting are often incorrect in minor league games. If a different format with talking heads brings in fans that seems like a positive. I was mildly amused by Plouffe last night when I had the sound on.

[Dman]

Well taking the series they did what they needed to do.  They didn't make it look easy but nice to see some of these close Cleveland games swing the Twins way.  It's a get away game today and seems likely Ober starts and Paredes piggy backs to hopefully save the pen for the series against the Angels where they will try to sweep with Ryan, Bradley and Matthews scheduled to pitch heading into the break.  I don't have much hope the Twins beat the Guardians today, but if they can sweep the Angels they get themselves above .500 at the break.  Not gonna be easy, but there is a path.

Rodens debut last year was pretty much a disaster.  Absolutely clutch in key situations in this game.  Great seeing him succeed!  This game finds you even when your manager try's to hide you.  He had a night to remember and this was a very big win for the Twins hopes of competing for that wild card spot\division.

[Nshore]

Entertaining game, team on the rise, good young starting pitcher going, critical division series - and a whole lot of empty seats.

[MMMordabito]

53 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

There are improvements to the format that need to be made. However, what Perkins, Morneau, Span and Plouffe are doing is where broadcasts have to go in the future. 

It will get resistance from the traditionalists but if they want to expand past the traditionalists and the sport needs to do exactly that. If they want younger demos, if they would like more women to watch... if they are to have any chance of getting a larger number of participants in demographics that advertisers will spend money for. They will require entertainment beyond the traditional throughout the broadcast.  

I've said it before. Think radio morning show. You have 3 hours to fill. Fill it with entertainment beyond it's a 2-1 count... beyond here's the pitch.... beyond just outside... beyond... it's 3 balls one strike. You can introduce player personalities to the broadcast with features that really get to know the player. You can add the pesonal drama of trying to make the team, stay on the team. This is how you market players by letting people actually get to know them. You can laugh and joke, you can talk about anything relateable... there are a million ideas... just tear the walls down.  You can sound like you are having a good time instead of sounding like this is game 110 that sounded the exact same of game 109 in a 162 game schedule. 

This is how baseball grows a larger audience. The traditionalist isn't going to like it but this is what baseball needs. 

What I've seen the past two nights. It needs improvement but... they are on the right track and the traditionalist isn't going to like it. 

In that case, I will probably go to radio only. Baseball games will just stop being on TV in my home. If this is where the sport "needs" to go, then it isn't a tradition worth passing down. Younger generations have so many options for entertainment. They won't miss it.

[JD-TWINS]

9 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Orze has 4 of the 11 blown saves for the Twins this year. That's on Shelton putting Orze out there in positions where he can lose the game.

Mgr. doesn’t have infinite choices out of the Twin’s PEN. Guys are on roster to pitch - like a professional - to their expected abilities. Blaming the manager is tough to get behind ….. match-ups and availability all play into Mgr. decisions. Players play.

[Saxophone Joe]

13 minutes ago, Dman said:

Rodens debut last year was pretty much a disaster.  Absolutely clutch in key situations in this game.  Great seeing him succeed!  

He wasn't setting the league on fire or anything, but he only had 38 plate appearances in 12 games with the Twins before the thumb injury. To your point, though: I remember not being blown away upon first look. But yes, he was huge last night. That walk-off celebration was 🔥Dude was pumped - as he should be: That might've been the best all-around at-bat of the Twins' season. 

I will have to tell my family no spoilers this afternoon. Am I the only one who turns off notifications during the work day to watch afternoon games on replay on the MLB.TV after work? It gets tricky sometimes in this day and age but it can be done.  

[JD-TWINS]

Buxton has started 75 of 93 games ….., probably an expected or even hopeful amount.

Jeffers has started 36 of 93 games.

Brooks Lee used to play SS & Luke Keaschall used to play 2B.

Wallner & Lewis sent down…..Outman on Roster.

Lopez out for the year at start of Spring Training.

Ober - Festa - Abel all down for significant stretches.

Close to worst bullpen in baseball.

FO can’t anticipate the level of injuries to starters ……… nobody’s fault.

How are the Twins a game or two out of 1st place in the Division??? ……..guys have performed both at plate & on mound in clutch situations..,,,,,,,,hope they keep it rolling!

[tony&rodney]

Roden made a couple of nice plays in the outfield. They were catches that should be made but he looked comfortable and competent in right field, which has not always been true of every Twins outfielder. Roden did not look so good in the outfield on some occasions for the Saints this year although his reputation is as a fair defender. Thus I was pleased with the glove and naturally happy for Roden that he got the big walk-off base hit.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Think radio morning show. 

Ugh, I’d rather not. Radio morning shows are repetitive drivel.

[Saxophone Joe]

A few other random thoughts:

- We left 12 runners on base. That Clemens near homer, and Lee's baserunning blunders, bugged me all game (until it didn't!).

- Speaking of Kody, that might've been the worse challenge of the season on the 3-0 call. Clearly a strike. The ump was missing calls all night - thankfully, he got the strike 3 call right on the 3-2 count in the 8th (which was huge). Having that final challenge could've been critical. 

- I'm glad we didn't have to bring in Paredes in the 10th. 

- Keaschall made a very nice running catch in the 9th!

 

[Saxophone Joe]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Hopefully Tom P. stayed until the end and saw how exciting a winning baseball team can be. 

For what it's worth, he seems to be at his seat by the dugout most games until the end. 

[Aggies7]

Twins are playing with house money here. Nobody expected this. Maybe get lucky and trade for a good reliever (or three). With the playoff losing streaks over, just get in, no pressure. Maybe you could win a WC series. Either way, this is better than the 100 loss team I expected.

[JD-TWINS]

57 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Orze can always be DFA'd! No options needed :)

No problem with making changes - his stuff isn’t that bad at all - command & guts seem to be the issues. Just gotta have a plan before DFAing………,Paredes is obviously in the PEN …… I would prefer Rojas as well v. one of the current 8…….apparently Raya is on IL.

Rojas - Paredes - Morris - Rogers - Gomez - Funderburk - Go🤞 - Adams or Orze ……..”thin” in a couple spots!!

[Riverbrian]

12 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

In that case, I will probably go to radio only. Baseball games will just stop being on TV in my home. If this is where the sport "needs" to go, then it isn't a tradition worth passing down. Younger generations have so many options for entertainment. They won't miss it.

Like I said... the traditionalist isn't going to like it.

You have the choice to not watch just like the younger generations can choose to not watch the traditional broadcast.  

But, if you have the opinion that younger generations have so many options that they won't miss it. That might be the case and if true... if baseball doesn't figure out how to compete for that viewership... baseball dies off with the traditionalist.    

Baseball has been making progress in attracting younger viewers. It needs to continue down this path. The demo's were pretty dire 5 6 years ago.  

[tony&rodney]

44 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

For what it's worth, he seems to be at his seat by the dugout most games until the end. 

People will hold their opinions whatever, but Tom Pohlad has shown more interest in baseball than any other Pohlad since his grandma. That is clearly a good thing imo.

[MMMordabito]

6 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Like I said... the traditionalist isn't going to like it.

You have the choice to not watch just like the younger generations can choose to not watch the traditional broadcast.  

But, if you have the opinion that younger generations have so many options that they won't miss it. That might be the case and if true... if baseball doesn't figure out how to compete for that viewership... baseball dies off with the traditionalist.    

Baseball has been making progress in attracting younger viewers. It needs to continue down this path. The demo's were pretty dire 5 6 years ago.  

Well, the only one advocating for baseball in my house is the traditionalist.  I guess there will be a branch to prune.

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

It's a get away game today and seems likely Ober starts and Paredes piggy backs to hopefully save the pen for the series against the Angels where they will try to sweep with Ryan, Bradley and Matthews

Use Paredes for innings out of the bullpen if needed but don't go into the game with a set number of innings he needs to pitch to stay stretched.  That is what piggybacking implies you are doing and that is where the plan blows up.  Use Paredes as the long guy out of the bullpen or send him back to St. Paul if you want to keep him stretched out.

[Linus]

I thought Preilipp pitched pretty well. He made two bad pitches that got punished but that was it. Brooks Lee has made a handful of outs on the bases over the last couple of weeks. Last night was brutal. He should have scored on Clemens double and then gets picked off third. He is an example of the fallacy of everyone should be aggressive on the bases. Just be smart and do your job we don’t need you to be Rod Carew. 

[Riverbrian]

52 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Ugh, I’d rather not. Radio morning shows are repetitive drivel.

It can be argued that the traditional baseball broadcast is also repetitive hence the need for change.

Local radio morning shows are mostly gone now as well as radio has adjusted to the new world. Traditionalists are moaning over that loss as well. 

I wouldn't take the radio morning show example literally.

It's a reference point on what could be done to increase the entertainment value of the broadcasts. 

 

[c24]

1 hour ago, Saxophone Joe said:

He wasn't setting the league on fire or anything, but he only had 38 plate appearances in 12 games with the Twins before the thumb injury. To your point, though: I remember not being blown away upon first look. But yes, he was huge last night. That walk-off celebration was 🔥Dude was pumped - as he should be: That might've been the best all-around at-bat of the Twins' season. 

I will have to tell my family no spoilers this afternoon. Am I the only one who turns off notifications during the work day to watch afternoon games on replay on the MLB.TV after work? It gets tricky sometimes in this day and age but it can be done.  

I just sit on my computer all day for work so i use one of my three screens for the game so that's been great

[mickster]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Was thinking to myself a bit ago, Ober gets activated today, who gets demoted? ……. if Orze has options, he’s the prime candidate!

Raya was already put on the IL.  Ober will be the corresponding move

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Western SD Fan said:

I believe you're right about this becoming the wave of the future.  Their ultimate goal would be closer to the ManningCast on Monday Night Football.  A bit better mix of goofing off and deep dive analysis would make this a great broadcast.  For example, a better explanation with video on why Lee managed to get himself picked off of 3rd or Keaschall's route running in CF for his first game back would have really helped.  I hope they continue to tweak on it and maybe bring it back later in the season.

Just thought of a tweak that I think could make this entire idea really stand out.  Have Molitor in the booth as part of the all-analyst team.  Having a former manager and coach in the booth would really help explain what is expected from the players as well as the player's experience of what they are feeling out there from the remaining former players in the booth.

Yep

Entertainment increased. Education increased. 

The more you understand something, the more you pay attention to it. 

Have fun! Handing 20 bucks was fun. Could have been done better but it was in the spirit of fun. Interact with the fans... can they eat a hot dog in one bite. Millions of ideas. Some good Some Bad but millions of ideas. 

You don't have to bean the viewer with a fastball if the viewer wants to have fun celebrating a home run.  

[Whitey333]

Nice win on a overall poorly played game by both teams.  Regarding the broadcast I like each one of those guys not the group thing though at least not yet.  They need to remember that there is a game going on.  That's why they are there.  I expect that from Audra Martin because that's what she does.  Over talks everyone and pays little attention to the game at hand.  I love the insight and historical perspective given by the players but it with the tom foolery during an important game was too much.  It still needs some regular play by play.  Provus is great at that.  The players are too.  But please remember people watch because we want to watch baseball.  I say maybe have Provus and 2 guys in booth just to keep it on an even keel.  They missed too much of the game IMO.  But it was decent just overdone IMO.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

You might be on to something here. Either way, it doesn't make any difference for me. When I watch the games (usually have a minor league game on the laptop with Twins on big screen) I'm tuned into the players and situations within the game, from wondering about pitch choice to fielder positioning and a batter's approach. Most of the time the sound is off. As a side note it helps to pay attention because the people who input the count and outs and who is batting are often incorrect in minor league games. If a different format with talking heads brings in fans that seems like a positive. I was mildly amused by Plouffe last night when I had the sound on.

We vote every day! 

We decide if we want Burger King by buying a whopper. If we don't... Burger King goes away. The numbers will win every time.

If we don't like the bias of Fox or we don't like the bias of MSNBC...  stop watching it and they will become what they need to survive. We want our news biased and we vote to keep it biased by supporting it. 

Baseball needs bigger numbers. Growing additional older white males won't help it in the future and it will be hard to do because they are already watching. 

It needs increases from the demographics where growth is possible and sustainable into the future. Younger viewers growth is possible, female viewers growth is possible, ethnic demographics... growth is possible. 

Baseball needs that growth where possible. 

Will this format provide the growth. I don't know but if it increases entertainment... you got a shot at it. 

 

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

It will get resistance from the traditionalists but if they want to expand past the traditionalists and the sport needs to do exactly that. If they want younger demos, if they would like more women to watch... if they are to have any chance of getting a larger number of participants in demographics that advertisers will spend money for. They will require entertainment beyond the traditional throughout the broadcast.  

This sounds good in theory... But are they really going to gain more fans when the game of baseball itself is secondary to the podcast-like commentary?

My other question is are these 4 guys the correct choice to get younger demos? I mean, they were on early 2000's Twins teams when teenagers today were toddler age. 

[DJL44]

16 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

It can be argued that the traditional baseball broadcast is also repetitive hence the need for change.

Local radio morning shows are mostly gone now as well as radio has adjusted to the new world. Traditionalists are moaning over that loss as well. 

I wouldn't take the radio morning show example literally.

It's a reference point on what could be done to increase the entertainment value of the broadcasts. 

 

There are hundreds (thousands?) of talking head sports shows and podcasts. There is one Twins baseball game per day. 

I think they would work well as a “halftime show” but baseball doesn’t have halftime.

[Senior Softball Guy]

14 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Nice win on a overall poorly played game by both teams.  Regarding the broadcast I like each one of those guys not the group thing though at least not yet.  They need to remember that there is a game going on.  That's why they are there.  I expect that from Audra Martin because that's what she does.  Over talks everyone and pays little attention to the game at hand.  I love the insight and historical perspective given by the players but it with the tom foolery during an important game was too much.  It still needs some regular play by play.  Provus is great at that.  The players are too.  But please remember people watch because we want to watch baseball.  I say maybe have Provus and 2 guys in booth just to keep it on an even keel.  They missed too much of the game IMO.  But it was decent just overdone IMO.

First time agreeing with a Whitey take! Balance is needed. I enjoy the fun give and take, but at some point respond to what is going on. They would be great in a rain delay though. Two or three, but four in a booth?