Twins 4, Royals 3: Kody Clemens Turns Disaster Into Miracle With Walk-Off Grand Slam

[MMMordabito]

37 minutes ago, LivableWage said:

This is just the 34th ultimate grand slam in MLB history. First time in Twins history.

I am in full unreasonable mode, let's buy aggressive, we're going to win the WS.

No team has ever won the World Series the same year they had a player hit an ultimate grand slam, so that would definitely be historic.

[tony&rodney]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Starting pitching may be an issue also....

A couple of people have mentioned this. It is an issue for every team in baseball as a fair statement. 

The Twins are generally pitching very well. The offense has struggled mightily since the break. The defense while far better than earlier in the year is still suspect, having given up 5 runs just in the recently finished KC series. To be fair, there were a few nice plays, by Clemens, Jackson, and Kriedler today. 

We are all left guessing as to what transpires in the next few days much less the next couple of weeks. My best guess is that we see a couple of guys (K. Culpepper and W. Jenkins) from AAA if they can prove themselves a bit more in the next two weeks.

What a sweet win today though. No worries for now.

[Parfigliano]

26 minutes ago, arby58 said:

Yeah, offense is quiet. A bat like Wallner makes more sense than Gray.

I just don't get moving Gray to MLB.  I never will.

[HarmonK03]

14 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I think offense is the biggest need. I'm not sure how to fix that, though. First base and SS are the biggest possibilities. Culpeper is ready or almost, so he'll be up in three or so weeks. That leaves first. Maybe right field or left field. 

I'd probably trade Bell, move Trevor to DH and put Jenkins or Roden or GG in left. But I didn't think that fixed things enough. I'd also consider a 2b and move Clemens to first. Can't be hard to outhit Lewis. 

Definitely, if they are buying, a mid level prosprctt for a RP is happening. 

Yeah you want to replace someone who has been hitting .258 with a .763 OPS since early June, just what this offense needs.  I get you don't believe in Lewis but he has been producing at the plate.  The last three late inning wins, he has contributed either with the game winning hit or getting on base.  A better idea would be to stop moving him around and let him get comfortable at 1B.

[Andy MacPhail]

Clemens has been a solid player. His stock just went up. Way to go Clemens! Stole victory out of the jaws of defeat. How many times can we do that w/o Buxton?

[Parfigliano]

5 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

Yeah you want to replace someone who has been hitting .258 with a .763 OPS since early June, just what this offense needs.  I get you don't believe in Lewis but he has been producing at the plate.  The last three late inning wins, he has contributed either with the game winning hit or getting on base.  A better idea would be to stop moving him around and let him get comfortable at 1B.

Pick a position for Lewis and a spot in the order and leave him there.  Stop moving him around.

[HarmonK03]

Just now, Parfigliano said:

Pick a position for Lewis and a spot in the order and leave him there.  Stop moving him around.

100% agree.

[ANDwon]

18 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

No team has ever won the World Series the same year they had a player hit an ultimate grand slam, so that would definitely be historic.

Nobody has ever in the history been down 3 runs, down to their last out and down 0-2 in the count and hit a grand slam. So this already is pretty historic, why not win the world series, too?

[Western SD Fan]

22 minutes ago, bjorks said:

In defense of trading for them and asking Uncle Tommy for $900 million over the next decade, if the LA series showed anything, the stadium will be full with Ohtani! 

I didn't know his nickname was the Missile due to dad, as someone else eluded about all it cost the Twins was Cash in Twins Territory it should be KCC - Kody Cash Clemens

Maybe Kody Clemens is our mysterious "Cash Considerations" guy.  Have you ever seen Kody and Cash Considerations in the same room?  🤔

[twinssporto]

We had the game on in the office, and I told everyone watching the 9th inning that KC's manager was nuts to pull their starter. When Kody hit that homer, everyone went nuts! Great day!

[bjorks]

1 minute ago, Western SD Fan said:

Maybe Kody Clemens is our mysterious "Cash Considerations" guy.  Have you ever seen Kody and Cash Considerations in the same room?  🤔

No, but dammit now I have to change my #1 Twins jersey with C. Considerations to K.Considerations. You're gonna cost me another two-hundy!

[bjorks]

Anyone want more cow, i mean more bat-flip from Clemens? He could've thrown it to St. Cloud for all I care

[Mike Sixel]

17 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Pick a position for Lewis and a spot in the order and leave him there.  Stop moving him around.

You have any evidence batting order matters to a hitter? I don't.  I can't find any. Pick a position? He's the every day first baseman, and not all that good a hitter for the position. He has one good year in coming up on 4 now.

[USAFChief]

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all." 

-Earl Weaver 

 

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, LastOnePicked said:

Sometimes baseball and family lineage are a strong combination.

We've got a guy in the minors, big guy who had a big dad..

[Patzky]

17 minutes ago, twinssporto said:

We had the game on in the office, and I told everyone watching the 9th inning that KC's manager was nuts to pull their starter. When Kody hit that homer, everyone went nuts! Great day!

If they would have just let him shoot for an Ober, things would doubtless ended unhappily

[TheLeviathan]

After checking in on the game in the middle of the 9th I thought the email I got for a "WALK-offer" from the Twins later was a marketing error.

Pretty unlikely and fun way to end that game.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

That was a terrible time for a team meeting. What did I miss?

The team met. 

[Franchise Adams]

1 hour ago, LivableWage said:

This is just the 34th ultimate grand slam in MLB history. First time in Twins history.

I am in full unreasonable mode, let's buy aggressive, we're going to win the WS.

But the second against the Royals this season! It happened against the Braves in the opening series.

[HarmonK03]

18 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

You have any evidence batting order matters to a hitter? I don't.  I can't find any. Pick a position? He's the every day first baseman, and not all that good a hitter for the position. He has one good year in coming up on 4 now.

In the last week he has played 3 games at 1B and 3 at 2B, doesn't sound like the every day first baseman.  And he is being moved off of 1B by Jackson and Caratini, not exactly elite first baseman.

And one of the games that he played 2B, when they did their musical chairs in the later innings, Clemens ended up at 1st and Lewis at 2B.  So once again pick a position for him.  If he maintains what he has been doing since coming back, he will be fine at 1B.  Yes he needs to continue it for the remainder of the year, but let's give it a chance.  There is no one on the roster to replace him.

[Franchise Adams]

The photo on this story is great. To the right of Kody: yelling woman hitting the dugout, shocked guy with hands on head, yelling man who looks like he's gasping. Nobody could believe it. 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, arby58 said:

Yeah, offense is quiet. A bat like Wallner makes more sense than Gray.

IMO, don’t expect Minnesotans to concur, just hearing Wallner’s name makes me nauseous. Putting him on the active roster, again to me, would be like hanging an anvil around the Team’s neck.

I’ve been a proponent to trade Bell & Caratini  & Wallner & prospects to create some space and bring back some relief help. …….. I think they may need to keep this position group together and, as I stated a couple times per day, they need to put a package together for Luis Arraez…….gotta be able to make it happen! Solid at 2B & perfect protection for a guy like Lewis or even slotting behind Buxton could be beneficial. REALLY Need an offensive shot in the arm!!

[JD-TWINS]

3 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

In the last week he has played 3 games at 1B and 3 at 2B, doesn't sound like the every day first baseman.  And he is being moved off of 1B by Jackson and Caratini, not exactly elite first baseman.

And one of the games that he played 2B, when they did their musical chairs in the later innings, Clemens ended up at 1st and Lewis at 2B.  So once again pick a position for him.  If he maintains what he has been doing since coming back, he will be fine at 1B.  Yes he needs to continue it for the remainder of the year, but let's give a chance.  There is no one on the roster to replace him.

Lewis is just fine ……. reason Caratini & Jackson played 1B wasn’t a negative on Lewis, it was to get more RH bats in the line-up v. LH pitching.

He’s doing everything they need him to do. Huge hit Tuesday - another hit last night - nobody got hits today…….

Long-term, I really like Royce at 1B pretty much every day. Culpepper & Houston up the middle for years with Lee at the other corner.

 

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

That was a terrible time for a team meeting. What did I miss?

I was also in meetings from 2:30-3:30. But I got to see the Twins stink up the joint before then! 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lewis is just fine ……. reason Caratini & Jackson played 1B wasn’t a negative on Lewis, it was to get more RH bats in the line-up v. LH pitching.

He’s doing everything they need him to do. Huge hit Tuesday - another hit last night - nobody got hits today…….

Long-term, I really like Royce at 1B pretty much every day. Culpepper & Houston up the middle for years with Lee at the other corner.

 

Royce has 1 good year as a hitter.....why are you confident in him? I'm curious. not judging. 

[Matt B]

"But it ain't no lie, baby BUY BUY BUY!"

I had to. ;)

P.S. Honestly did not know that "ultimate grand slam" was an actual, semi-technical term until today. Unreal moment.

 

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, bjorks said:

In defense of trading for them and asking Uncle Tommy for $900 million over the next decade, if the LA series showed anything, the stadium will be full with Ohtani! 

I didn't know his nickname was the Missile due to dad, as someone else eluded about all it cost the Twins was Cash in Twins Territory it should be KCC - Kody Cash Clemens

He's Money. 

[HarmonK03]

4 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lewis is just fine ……. reason Caratini & Jackson played 1B wasn’t a negative on Lewis, it was to get more RH bats in the line-up v. LH pitching.

He’s doing everything they need him to do. Huge hit Tuesday - another hit last night - nobody got hits today…….

Long-term, I really like Royce at 1B pretty much every day. Culpepper & Houston up the middle for years with Lee at the other corner.

 

I realize it wasn't a negative on Lewis.  But forcing those bats into the lineup is just another example of the poor roster construction and I am not sure it is working.  So why not try keeping the positions more static and get better options where needed

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, LivableWage said:

This is just the 34th ultimate grand slam in MLB history. First time in Twins history.

I am in full unreasonable mode, let's buy aggressive, we're going to win the WS.

Thanks. I was hoping someone would post this. Does your source also provide…

a) how many times it ended 4-3?

b) how often the inning started with two outs?

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, LastOnePicked said:

Sometimes baseball and family lineage are a strong combination.

So I am at the Society for American Baseball Research national convention. Someone did a poster asking whether “Nepo Babies” get a longer leash than “Normies,” those players who are not the descendent of an MLB player. 

Conclusion: They do. In their first three seasons, Nepo Babies tend to get more plate appearances than players with similar stats. 

And right now, given Kody’s early performances, I’m cool with that!