Game 17 - Twins vs Red Sox - April 23

[Guest USAFChief]

Way to get that ball into the OF, Joe.

[Ultima Ratio]

Atta boy Mauer, grrrr...

[Guest USAFChief]

Tough pitch... Can't blame Joe...

That's why, in that situation, you don't let it get to 2 strikes. You look for a ball early in the count that you can elevate to the OF.

[mikeee]

crap. runner on 3rd with none out, and now 2 out...

 

They fear Morneau...

[Riverbrian]

That's why, in that situation, you don't let it get to 2 strikes. You look for a ball early in the count that you can elevate to the OF.

I agree but that was a tough sequence of pitches for Mauer. Willingham hit that ball on the screws. Just to the wrong spot.

[Ultima Ratio]

I blame Mauer. That's just pathetic 3-6 batters, and super pathetic for the 3 hole.

[Riverbrian]

Bummer

 

Thats all I wanted to type was bummer but I wasn't allowed to type anything under 10 characters.

[Riverbrian]

I blame Mauer.

Yeah... I can live with that. For 23 million he has to come through no matter where the ball is located.

[Guest USAFChief]

I agree but that was a tough sequence of pitches for Mauer. Willingham hit that ball on the screws. Just to the wrong spot.

Mauer is supposed to be a #3 hitter. Go ahead run on third, no outs. That's not the first, or second, or third time in this young season that Mauer has failed to drive in a runner from third, often due to an overly passive approach at the plate. OBP is fine, but driving in runs is still a skill in baseball, no matter what drivel the statgeeks like to declare about RBI.

[Riverbrian]

I can't stand Youklis batting stance. I coach a little baseball. One of my kids tried that thing with his hands. I took the bat out of his hands and beat the kid with it.

[mikeee]

There are the boo-birds...

[Riverbrian]

If you are Velentine. Do you stay with Bard or go to Alceves?

[one_eyed_jack]

You've gotta be kidding me.

 

It's one thing to let Papi or Pedroia or A-Gon beat you.

 

But Cody Ross?

[Shane Wahl]

Really strange leaving Marquis out for the 7th.

 

Great for Jamey Carroll. Bad for Mauer and Willingham.

 

And then, Matt Capps . . .

[Kneelb4zerg]

Mauer is supposed to be a #3 hitter. Go ahead run on third, no outs. That's not the first, or second, or third time in this young season that Mauer has failed to drive in a runner from third, often due to an overly passive approach at the plate. OBP is fine, but driving in runs is still a skill in baseball, no matter what drivel the statgeeks like to declare about RBI.

Look up his average with RISP before you start mouthing off.

[adjacent]

Our closer has the worst ERA of the bullpen

[Ultima Ratio]

Look up his average with RISP before you start mouthing off.

We didn't need him to get a hit (average), we just needed a productive out: sac fly or sac hit. Relax.

[ashbury]

Our closer has the worst ERA of the bullpen

Not for long. Liriano will soon be joining him.

[Shane Wahl]

I feel a little sick watching this game.

[adjacent]

Not for long. Liriano will soon be joining him.

It does not make me feel any beter

[Ultima Ratio]

I feel a little sick watching this game.

Well that made me puke a little in my mouth.

[ashbury]

I feel a little sick watching this game.

I'd think less of you if you didn't. It was a bad way to lose.

[deanlambrecht]

I can't stand Youklis batting stance. I coach a little baseball. One of my kids tried that thing with his hands. I took the bat out of his hands and beat the kid with it.

*clapping*

[Guest USAFChief]

Look up his average with RISP before you start mouthing off.

You can pull whatever stats out of your arse you choose.

 

Mauer has been a three hole hitter his entire career. Three seasons over 600 PAs, another 2 over 550. Never once driven in 100 runs.

 

There's a reason for that, and it isn't just lack of opportunities.

[Guest USAFChief]

As much as Mauer upsets me, I reserve most of my ire over this game for Gardenhire. Letting Marquis pitch the 6th was bad enough. He had bobbed and weaved his way through 5 innings, and had the lead. He got lucky to get through the 6th...bringing him out for the 7th was just completely idiotic. You end up bringing in the pen to pitch in the 7th anyway, only now you no longer have the lead.

[TwinsGuy55422]

As much as Mauer upsets me, I reserve most of my ire over this game for Gardenhire. Letting Marquis pitch the 6th was bad enough. He had bobbed and weaved his way through 5 innings, and had the lead. He got lucky to get through the 6th...bringing him out for the 7th was just completely idiotic. You end up bringing in the pen to pitch in the 7th anyway, only now you no longer have the lead.

I agree 100% about leaving Marquis in the game. If you're Gardy, you had to be happy with what you got from him through 5 innings and thrilled with what he gave you through 6 innings. It was only his second start of the year and he was clearly tiring, so bringing him out for the 7th was playing with fire. I was watching the game on MLB.com's Gameday and thought it had to be a misprint that he was still in the game!

[Kneelb4zerg]

You can pull whatever stats out of your arse you choose.

 

Mauer has been a three hole hitter his entire career. Three seasons over 600 PAs, another 2 over 550. Never once driven in 100 runs.

 

There's a reason for that, and it isn't just lack of opportunities.

Are you really this stupid? (nodding to self; apparently yes). Mauer isone of the best clutch hitters in the game, and the fact that he hasn't had big RBI numbers has everything to do with opportunity.

[one_eyed_jack]

Mauer is supposed to be a #3 hitter. Go ahead run on third, no outs. That's not the first, or second, or third time in this young season that Mauer has failed to drive in a runner from third, often due to an overly passive approach at the plate. OBP is fine, but driving in runs is still a skill in baseball, no matter what drivel the statgeeks like to declare about RBI.

---So you know better than a guy with batting titles, silver sluggers and an MVP what approach he should take at the plate? Maybe he could hire you to coach him. That is if you're not too busy giving Meryl Streep acting lessons. All those times she was nominated for an Oscar but went home without a little gold statue. Perhaps if you could suggest a better approach to the craft......

[Guest USAFChief]

Are you really this stupid? (nodding to self; apparently yes). Mauer isone of the best clutch hitters in the game, and the fact that he hasn't had big RBI numbers has everything to do with opportunity.

I am fully aware 20-somethings who think baseball was invented 15 years ago, and the internet is the source of all baseball knowledge, scoff at the idea RBI are in any way meaningful.

 

I disagree. Off the top of my head I can think of several examples just from this year that reinforce my opinion.

[Kneelb4zerg]

I am fully aware 20-somethings who think baseball was invented 15 years ago, and the internet is the source of all baseball knowledge, scoff at the idea RBI are in any way meaningful.

 

I disagree. Off the top of my head I can think of several examples just from this year that reinforce my opinion.

Well if you can think of several examples where a hitter failed in the clutch, then by all means! Case closed!!!