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    Game Thread: Twins v Tigers, 4/29 @ 7:10pm CT


    Riverbrian

    The Twins locker room must be like Panama City Beach during spring break. Joe Mauer probably sits there, looks at it all and shakes his head. Then he puts on his suit and tie... grabs his briefcase... and heads for home after a long day at work. He's hoping that supper was kept warm... he wants to put on his slippers, read his newspaper and enjoy his pipe in his favorite chair.

    Of course... June was waiting for him to come home... because Beaver has locked himself in the bathroom because Eddie Haskell told him he looked more like a capybara.

    The issues of youth... Joe is in the middle of it all and he needs to be Ward Cleaver right now.

    "They call us problem child... We spend our lives on Trial... We walk an endless mile..."

    The Twins are the Youth Gone Wild.

    Here are some things to think about:

    Twins Video

    1. Berrios and Duffey and Meyer -- The Pitching Staff underwent a bit of an overhaul... a youthening... if you allow me to make up my own word. One 16-inning loss (that we should have won) and we are shoving vets on the disabled list like it's the Sunshine Meadows Nursing Home. It was exciting to watch Berrios no matter the result of his first start... we all want to believe that he will become that Ace this organization has needed since the mortgage crisis. It's good to see Duffey back... he was incredible in the back half of 2015 and I'm hoping he can be incredible again. Meyer... haven't seen him yet and some are concerned about his lack of mound work since coming to Minnesota. Although... keep in my mind... that last time Meyer was handed the keys to the car in a Twins Uniform... he drove it straight into the river and messed up the interior pretty good. Papa Molitor probably remembers that and is probably nervous about giving him those keys again until he shows more responsibility.

    2. Youth -- The birth of a child is always an exciting time. You never know what you are going to get but anything is possible. This new addition to the world could grow up to rule the world (maybe International Falls) or grow up to be the person who stole my car stereo in the middle of the night. Nobody thinks about the car stereo scenario when you are changing diapers, but it happens. One morning I got into my car and couldn't turn on my tunes; just a bunch of wires where a stereo used to be.

    3. Octomom -- One baby is great... two is a nice conversation piece at parties... three and people whisper, "I don't know how they do it," behind your back. Eight... well... you need to hire help... now. Strained green beans everywhere, crayons on the wall, a massive cell phone bill and one of the eight... maybe two out of the eight... or three... isn't going to get enough attention and will surely grow up to steal my car stereo. When you are over run with youth it's hard to see the potential they possess because they think that it's possible to jump from the roof of the house into that chair by the pool. When 8 of them are on the roof at the same time and about to make a contest out of it... you start thinking about trading a couple of them for David Murphy.

    4. Michael Fulmer -- The Tigers on the other hand... they are not that young... they are actually kind of old. Except on the mound tonight... young Michael Fulmer will be making his first major league start. I know a little about Michael Fulmer because I lived in Michigan last year. Last September... I would nicely remind the Michigan people... "Not only are the Twins killing the Tigers this year... our farm system is ten times better." And they would say... "We got... umm... Michael Fulmer." And I would reply... "Yeah... Fulmer... All those young Met arms and you got the guy that they didn't want." The Twins were in the race... the Tigers were out of it... the Vikings made the playoffs... and the Lions were out of it. It was a great time to be in Michigan... just so I could let them all know. I still don't understand why they fired me.

    5. The Things I did when I was Young -- True Story... A Game of truth or dare with my friends. About 6 of us... 3 guys... 3 girls... and a lot of alcohol... just entertaining ourselves. It was my turn and I didn't have my brackets so I couldn't choose truth so I picked dare and this evil girl dared me to run naked around the block. It was like 2AM... it was dark... nobody was around and I had like 4.8 speed and I had drunk an entire bottle of whiskey... my powers of reasoning were very sharp at that moment. I ran around the block without issue. However... I had an issue getting back into the house. It was hard to imagine how, but the door got locked... I'm not sure, but it's possible that my friends had something to do with that. I knocked on the door... all naked...talking in that loud drunk whisper... you know the voice you use when you have to raise your voice for someone to hear you and you don't want other people to hear you. "Let me in! C'mon... let me in!" That's when the neighbor's porch light came on. I looked around... saw a bush and dove into it. That's when the neighbor came out... with a date... and they walked down the sidewalk and stopped by the bush that contained me. And they made out for about an hour. An hour... an HOUR... They stood by that bush and kissed for about an hour... with no idea that I was approximately 2 feet from them... naked. I could see my 5 friends in the window laughing so hard that they were crying. True Story.

    Ah... Youth... Welcome to the 2016 Minnesota Twins.

    --------------------

    Lineups:

    TIGERS

    Ian Kinsler(R ) 2B

    J.D. Martinez(R ) RF

    Miguel Cabrera(R ) 1B

    Victor Martinez(S) DH

    Justin Upton(R ) LF

    Nick Castellanos(R ) 3B

    Mike Aviles(R ) SS

    Bobby Wilson(R ) C

    Anthony Gose(L) CF

    Fulmer(R )P

    TWINS

    Danny Santana(S) CF

    Brian Dozier(R ) 2B

    Joe Mauer(L) 1B

    Miguel Sano(R ) RF

    Byung-ho Park(R ) DH

    Oswaldo Arcia(L) LF

    Eduardo Nunez(R ) 3B

    Eduardo Escobar(S) SS

    Kurt Suzuki(R ) C

    Hughes(R ) P

    Game-time forecast: clear, sunny, 57 deg F, no chance of rain (so says the weather report ... I'll believe it when it doesn't rain), winds at 3mph from the ENE.

    Thank you all for coming ... now ... GO TWINS! WIN!!!

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    Marek Houston

    Cedar Rapids Kernels - A+, SS
    The 22-year-old went 2-for-5 on Friday night, his fourth straight multi-hit game. Heading into the week, he was hitting .246/.328/.404 (.732). Four games later, he is hitting .303/.361/.447 (.808).

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    With all due respect... It does mean that he can't be a MLB Pitcher.

     

    He isn't the first guy to be 6-8... He's 26 and he's had enough time to get those mechanics down. If is hand has to be held to get those things down. His success isn't likely.

     

    I don't want to give up on him... I'm going with nerves and If he gets a Tuesday start. I hope he shines.

    No, it doesn't mean that.

    Look, I know people scoff at the Randy Johnson comps, and I get it he's a HOF, but how many gave up on him? Luckily at least one person didn't because eventually he did figure it out.

    And it's not like Meyer has never had success.

    Last year was terrible, though he finished the year strong in AAA. Tonight was beyond terrible.

    Outside of that he's had stretches of downright dominance in the minors.

    His mlb sample size is still pretty tiny.

    There is still time for him to figure it out.

    "...the season is likely over..."

     

    I know. I just sometimes have a hard time accepting "mostly dead" as "all dead."

    Well if you are going to wait to be mathematically eliminated every year, it's going to be tough to ever develop guys for the future.

    Even 90 loss teams are still technically in it until the last 2 or 3 weeks.

     


     

    Terry: Tell him that Thrylos says he's looking sharp and needs a chance. 

     

     

     

    "Maaaaahm!    brian's picking on Thrillhouse again!"

     

    5b05a129c4efdf6a09c1437c72bb7431.jpg

     

    Seriously,    I am sooo telling a moderator on y...

     

    Oh.   yeah.

    Edited by LaBombo

     

    No, it doesn't mean that.
    Look, I know people scoff at the Randy Johnson comps, and I get it he's a HOF, but how many gave up on him? Luckily at least one person didn't because eventually he did figure it out.
    And it's not like Meyer has never had success.
    Last year was terrible, though he finished the year strong in AAA. Tonight was beyond terrible.
    Outside of that he's had stretches of downright dominance in the minors.
    His mlb sample size is still pretty tiny.
    There is still time for him to figure it out.

     

    I ain't throwing him away.

     

    I think the Twins can play with him until 2017 concludes so they don't have to either. 

     

    I have never said this about the Twins before. I've heard other people say it before and I pretty much rolled my eyes. 

     

    But Yeah... Right now... in my opinion... they are out of whack. 

    I saw somewhere earlier this year that the Twins had completely mishandled Tonkin. Which makes me wonder about the Tonkin's ceiling and just what the Twins have done to screw him up. 

     

    It was one of those things you just think okay, sure, whatever you say..but with the way this season is unfolding..yikes!!

     

    One more thing: It also makes me wonder just how much difference Torii Hunter made in the clubhouse last year. 

    Edited by Blake

     

    I saw somewhere earlier this year that the Twins had completely mishandled Tonkin. Which makes me wonder about the Tonkin's ceiling and just what the Twins have done to screw him up. 

     

    It was one of those things you just think okay, sure, whatever you say..but with the way this season is unfolding..yikes!!

     

    One more thing: It also makes me wonder just how much difference Torii Hunter made in the clubhouse last year. 

     

    Some people will say that Clubhouse Presence doesn't mean anything. 

     

    I think it's important and I think baseball players are just like accountants or dairy queen workers. Sometimes that Gal making your cone doesn't care if there is a little swirl on top because she's got to make a hundred more before she goes home. In my opinion... Baseball can be a job to them just like it is to us and I assume that there are days when they don't show up and play like they can because there is another game tomorrow and another one after that. Now I say that I believe in clubhouse presence but that doesn't mean I have any idea if Hunter has one or Mauer has one or Molitor has one. 

     

    With Tonkin... I'm not sure if he was handled badly or wonderfully. But It's my opinion that he should have been squeezed off the roster by the addition of a top flight bullpen arm (or two). That top flight bullpen arm (or two) would have pushed everyone down a spot (or two) and eventually Tonkin off the 25 Man roster and on to waivers where he would have been claimed by someone else... most likely. Or maybe not. 

     

    I don't mind Tonkin... but... I'd like a hard throwing lefty with a track record instead. 

    Yeah I think baseball is the one sport where clubhouse chemistry probably does matter a significant amount.

    The season is 6 months long, if you include spring training these guys probably spend more time together each year than they do with their families.

    Some people will say that Clubhouse Presence doesn't mean anything.

     

    I think it's important and I think baseball players are just like accountants or dairy queen workers. Sometimes that Gal making your cone doesn't care if there is a little swirl on top because she's got to make a hundred more before she goes home. In my opinion... Baseball can be a job to them just like it is to us and I assume that there are days when they don't show up and play like they can because there is another game tomorrow and another one after that. Now I say that I believe in clubhouse presence but that doesn't mean I have any idea if Hunter has one or Mauer has one or Molitor has one.

     

    With Tonkin... I'm not sure if he was handled badly or wonderfully. But It's my opinion that he should have been squeezed off the roster by the addition of a top flight bullpen arm (or two). That top flight bullpen arm (or two) would have pushed everyone down a spot (or two) and eventually Tonkin off the 25 Man roster and on to waivers where he would have been claimed by someone else... most likely. Or maybe not.

     

    I don't mind Tonkin... but... I'd like a hard throwing lefty with a track record instead.

    I think the opinion on Tonkin is that when you've been a non contending team for 5 straight years you shouldn't wait until the last minute to see what you have in guys like him.

    Ok... You Tell Paul

     

    I'm going to duck behind something sturdy and watch.

     

    I have him coming to moms basement for coffee early Saturday. Mom is going to tell him, nobody messes with mom! FO and managers have been at odds forever. But in this case it would be somewhat odd. Unless of course Molitor was Pohlads personal chocie, then oy vea. There is obviously some friction, Molitor was not on the same page on Sano. Bringing up Kepler and Polanco to sit made the team look clueless, The Meyer call up up for "emergency" pitching, when at the time no emergency existed. It's all odd and seemingly contentious. I preferred Dougie to Molitor, but figured, well at least neither is Gardy. Brock or Seth pointed out that Dougie is even more of a baseball dinosaur than Molitor? I don't know. I do know he grew up in the ranks with these players and there seems an affinity. As for Meyer, he was somewhat mishandled, but he has to throw the ball better, period. He also deserves the chance to sink or swim, and if it isn't in this time and place, there never was one.

    No, it doesn't mean that.

    Look, I know people scoff at the Randy Johnson comps, and I get it he's a HOF, but how many gave up on him? Luckily at least one person didn't because eventually he did figure it out.

    And it's not like Meyer has never had success.

    Last year was terrible, though he finished the year strong in AAA. Tonight was beyond terrible.

    Outside of that he's had stretches of downright dominance in the minors.

    His mlb sample size is still pretty tiny.

    There is still time for him to figure it out.

    I for one would like to see the good Meyer, just to see what it is. It obviously exists, or he wouldn't have gotten this far.

     

    Some people will say that Clubhouse Presence doesn't mean anything. 

     

    I think it's important and I think baseball players are just like accountants or dairy queen workers. Sometimes that Gal making your cone doesn't care if there is a little swirl on top because she's got to make a hundred more before she goes home. In my opinion... Baseball can be a job to them just like it is to us and I assume that there are days when they don't show up and play like they can because there is another game tomorrow and another one after that. Now I say that I believe in clubhouse presence but that doesn't mean I have any idea if Hunter has one or Mauer has one or Molitor has one. 

     

    With Tonkin... I'm not sure if he was handled badly or wonderfully. But It's my opinion that he should have been squeezed off the roster by the addition of a top flight bullpen arm (or two). That top flight bullpen arm (or two) would have pushed everyone down a spot (or two) and eventually Tonkin off the 25 Man roster and on to waivers where he would have been claimed by someone else... most likely. Or maybe not. 

     

    I don't mind Tonkin... but... I'd like a hard throwing lefty with a track record instead. 

    Or, how about a hard throwing lefty from the farm system? (I believe there is one, if I'm not mistaken)

     

    Meager crowd here for tonight's game thread.

     

    I wonder if all the regulars are at Target Field.

     

    ...

     

     

    No, that's not it.

    I think many of us left shortly after Hugh's  1st inning.  What a crappy start.

     

    Tomorrow [today] is another day.  Hope springs eternal.

    Yeah, that's all I got.  

    Meyer was obviously nervous and didn't look like he was enjoying himself much.  Tonkin always has that look too.  A look of survival rather than determination or competition.  Come to think of it, no one really looks like they're having much fun out there.  I've commented after the walk off wins that their celebration seems forced. 

     

    I actually like what I've seen from Tonkin this year which is slight progress.  Given, it was hard for him to go down much, but he's shown near-dominance in short bursts.  I don't think he was mishandled.  The Twins gave him multiple opportunities.  It's hard to give the worst pitcher in a bad pen lengthy looks when he has options available.  I also realize that the scouts and FO don't share the same curiosity to "see what we've got".  They've watched him enough to likely already know.  His fastball is flat, his breaking ball develops a hump.  That works in the minors, not in the pros.

    I didn't like that Meyer was brought up to ride pine.  It appears Molitor was right not to trust him in a big spot, again scouting and watching his bullpens may have tipped him off.  But I'm ok with the usage if the idea was to get him a start or two.  Still can't help but think there is some disconnect and struggle between coach and GM.  Too much weird stuff between calling up Kepler and not playing him.  Possibly calling up Murphy and Murphy quitting.  Then Meyer getting called up and not playing.  It seems like the chef and the shopper are disagreeing on the ingredients.  




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