Doubleheader Recap: Hapless Twins Continue Woeful Streak; Swept by Athletics

For those of you watching at home, that's 17 straight innings in which these bums have failed to push a runner across.

What a bad day of baseball. Shoemaker wasn’t great, alcala struggled, the defense was bad in the first game, and the bats were lifeless all day long. We went from absolutely killing lefties in 2019 to the Athletics bringing in a lefty to shut us down in a one run game when their typical closer has been lights out all year. I know writers and posters will say that everything will be fine, which I hope is true, but there aren’t many bright spots on this team right now they have me willing to put my blind faith in it turning around.

i think the visiting dugout in Oakland is lined with green kryptonite.

Uff Da

Bad lifeless team managed by a lifeless robot. 

In 1st game I credit Dan Gladden with his observations that Moreland seems only to be able to hit pitches that are low and inside. Of course where does Shoemaker throw the 2 gopher balls?  Low and inside. Some people never learn.

Twins look just awful, offensively right now - wasting solid pitching from their starters. I'm sure they'll improve, but I can't recall feeling this bad about a Twins team since the "all systems failure" year of 2018.

Also - sure would be a good time for a fiery speech from the manager. Alas, I think Rocco probably told them to make sure to practice self-care and drink some lemongrass tea while they think peaceful thoughts and listen to Enya. (No offense to Enya, she's great but I think the Twins could use some Cannibal Corpse or Onyx or Mobb Deep right about now).

At what point does the brass make changes? This team was put together to win and they look clueless at the plate and the pen has not been as advertised either.

Its pretty clear that the Twins are a hot mess right now. They have health issues and the ones who can play aren't getting the job done. Whats troublesome is how the manager is spinning this...almost like nothing is wrong...and that the switch can be flipped easily and suddenly all will be well. 'we can turn this thing around any day'. Great words of wisdom.

Twins will come out of this. How and when will determine their overall altitude this season. Even good teams go into slumps. And not so good teams can string together winning streaks. Twins have dropped 8 of 9 and have looked bad doing it. Their offense has been really awful and the bullpen has not come close to being effective.  Fortunately, there is a ton of time to fix this and so far no one in the division is running away with it yet. Plus, Twins haven't played anyone in the Central except Detroit.

Last time Twins were shut out in a DH was 1961...I'm sure many who post here weren't even born back then.  Rocco is right about one thing...tomorrow is another day.

They are taking on the personality of the manager. Too relaxed, no fight and too laid back. And too much analytics instead of emphasizing hustle and determination. They look disinterested and certainly out of baseball conditioning. Looks like a big country club atmosphere. Hard too watch...good thing for hockey tonight and golf on the weekends.

They are taking on the personality of the manager. Too relaxed, no fight and too laid back. And too much analytics instead of emphasizing hustle and determination. They look disinterested and certainly out of baseball conditioning. Looks like a big country club atmosphere. Hard too watch...good thing for hockey tonight and golf on the weekends.

You know things are going to hell fast when nap-inducing golf is chosen over baseball.

But right now I'd rather watch a game of marbles than the Twins. Knuckles down!

Twins look just awful, offensively right now - wasting solid pitching from their starters. I'm sure they'll improve, but I can't recall feeling this bad about a Twins team since the "all systems failure" year of 2018.

 

 

 

Also - sure would be a good time for a fiery speech from the manager. Alas, I think Rocco probably told them to make sure to practice self-care and drink some lemongrass tea while they think peaceful thoughts and listen to Enya. (No offense to Enya, she's great but I think the Twins could use some Cannibal Corpse or Onyx or Mobb Deep right about now).

Roccos versions of a fiery speech is is telling everyone they get extra nap time in the club house.

Looks like another 'total system failure' season. It is too early to panic and the Twins do have some talent but they are also relying a lot on guys who, frankly, might not be that good. Buxton, Cruz, Donaldson, Berrios could start for anyone but I'm close to giving up on Polanco and wish one of our young bats would take RF away from Kepler. And our bullpen still sucks. 

 

Still, this team could easily turn it around and win the Central. Sano will get hot. 

And Minnesota temperatures will stop running 20 degrees below normal and pigs will fly, which given the millions of pigs on factory farms will jam up the air traffic control towers, regular flights will have to be diverted to Flint, Michigan where the stranded air passengers will say, "Damn! This water tastes good!" and the raccoons that have been raiding my sweet corn patch will pass a background check, buy rifles and start shooting at me.

Then Sano will get hot.

Well looks like my early season prediction of this being a sub .500 team with no play offs is well on its way. I haven't even bothered watching the games since the Boston series, just looking at the scores on the ESPN app has been enough for me to confirm my doubts. 

They are taking on the personality of the manager. Too relaxed, no fight and too laid back. And too much analytics instead of emphasizing hustle and determination. They look disinterested and certainly out of baseball conditioning. Looks like a big country club atmosphere. Hard too watch...good thing for hockey tonight and golf on the weekends.

I stated this after the 2019 play off series. Being relaxed and chill during the regular season is fine and dandy when you are winning but once you play real teams and get into the play offs where every game matters you CAN NOT have that attitude, because its now or never, buckle down, get mean, get some fire, and play ball and win. Because there is no next time. And this team does not have that, at all. Rocco should be the teams life coach, not the manager. 

I see in the comments a narrative that the manager is too relaxed, too nice, etc. Maybe some of the commenters know Rocco personally to say that with authority. But careful, sometimes something showing calm demeanor in public does not say anything about how is he in the clubhouse, how competitive he is, etc. Yes, the hitting is awful right now, and if it doesn't improve soon, this season is in trouble. But I don't think is gonna get fixed screaming in the clubhouse or in public. Now, some now help on the hitting coaching side? That may help.

We are in need of some clutch hitting for sure, but we have 5 starters (Sano, Polanco, Garver/Jeffers, Cave and Kepler) hitting poorly, with two of the others only playing 1/2 our games so far.  So, hopefully the hitting will come around.  However, we need to get everyone back and playing, and we need to improve our ability to get runners on....the HR hitting capabilities are still there, but we can't always depend on it.  

Starting pitching will be fine and if not, we have depth there.  The bullpen is still a question mark, but the biggest problem is our inability to score runs.  Kirilloff time?  Hopefully we will face more right handers in the near future.  We are only 3 games out which is a plus, but some wins soon would be nice.

I call it the Curse of Eddie Rosario....and how is his replacement doing? You break up a great clubhouse atmosphere and this is what you get as I don't see much of a "team" effort anymore. Hope Maeda has the A squad behind him today...

New hitting coach please