Guardians 2, Twins 1: Seventh Inning Costs Twins Again

Castro has hit well at times including the HR today, but good grief Rocco needs to teach some situational hitting.  Clase was coming apart at the end, walking Jeffers and giving up a hit to Farmer.  For goodness sake be patient, take until he throws a strike, baseball 101.  Castro was flailing at balls in the dirt, struck out on pitches not even close.

This Cleveland series has been a microcosm of the season to date; tough to watch for large parts with ample opportunity squandered. We can look at the standings and try to find solace in the fact that there isn't a single team in the ALC that looks like a real threat to race by the Twins, but man this club makes it so difficult to feel good about them. 

Groundhog Day emerges AGAIN on June 4th.

Just so frustrating to WASTE a great start by Ryan.  

As mentioned the game was basically over when CLE increased their lead to 2-0 on Gimenez's double off Thielbar.  Count me in the minority here, but I'd have preferred Moran facing Gimenez instead of Thielbar for two reasons.  First. Gimenez was 1-7 against Moran.  Second, coming off IL in 1st appearance, I'd have rather seen Thielbar in a less high leverage situation.   I'm guessing Moran having pitched in last 2 games led to that decision.

Not going to criticize Castro's last AB, although better discipline may have had a better result.  Pretty hard if not IMPOSSIBLE to beat any team (let alone) CLE when your top 5 "guys with a bat" (I cant call them hitters) go a collective goose egg for 18 with 10 whiffs!  Just brutal.

What is the updated report, if any on the status of Correa and Buxton being ready to play at TB Tuesday night?  For all the faults of Rocco (and there are many), you cant blame him getting stuck with a short bench.  I also refuse to agree with the decision to bring up Garlick over Wallner.  I don't care about CLE starting a LHP as THE reason why Garlick got the call.  Prior to today our "lefty masher" was anything but that as evidenced by his 3-16 performance (with 8 Ks) against LH pitchers this year.  Time to DFA Garlick and move on.

Finally on the bright side (sarcasm intended), I will leave with this nugget:

Our 16 whiffs this afternoon further increases our MLB lead in K's to 613!  Now averaging 10.22 whiffs per game.

The whiff record of the 2021 Cubs of 1596 is absolutely within reach.  Now to get there----we need Gallo, Correa and Buxton back in the lineup ASAP!  On pace...with 101 games left to get to 1645.   Twins fever...Catch it!

Where was Wallner this weekend?

It may seem a bit unorthodox to have a hitter who can't hit (Kepler) in the cleanup spot, but it's important to just see how it plays out over the course of a few months.  Trust the process.  The one man bench was a pretty neat idea today also.  Sports!

I usually watch golf  to take an afternoon nap  ...

Now I watch the twins on Sunday afternoon and fall asleep  , i did wake for the final two innings which were probably the best they performed with the bat's ...

Why no pinch hitter for Castro in ninth  , oh that's right Rocco would tell us he went with the hot bat ...

Kirilloff was going to hit for Garlick  but as usual Rocco  was one batter to late  , Kirilloff right now is our best hitter and a perfect situation to pinch hit for Castro to tie it or win it ...

Off track a little  , I liked denny green more than Rocco  , denny had worse talent  and made that talent  better players .... 

Rocco just sits there and tells his good talent to go do the best you can  ..

Twins practicing catch and release again with their top competitors. Okay for fishing, but terrible for winning a division.

Time to start making some serious roster moves get thus offense going and bullpen help 

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Where was Wallner this weekend?

Answer:  In Buffalo--mashing for the Saints!

Since his demotion to activate Kepler (insert sigh) all Wallner has done is:

Hit .423 over his last 6 games (11-26) with 26 total bases in 26 AB's.  A slug % of 1000 is pretty decent.  Wallner has 10 RBI over those 6 games.  

35 minutes ago, darwin22 said:

Answer:  In Buffalo--mashing for the Saints!

Since his demotion to activate Kepler (insert sigh) all Wallner has done is:

Hit .423 over his last 6 games (11-26) with 26 total bases in 26 AB's.  A slug % of 1000 is pretty decent.  Wallner has 10 RBI over those 6 games.  

I think he might’ve helped. Too bad. Just don’t understand. We give up Wallner for the entire weekend because Cleveland is starting a lefty on Saturday and so they call up Garlick.  There were multiple instances in both games where we would’ve loved to have Wallner at the plate.

Ya know what they just, sorry but kind of suck again

Gallo-hurt and on the IL

Buxton-hurt and resting 

Correa-hurt and resting

I get it. And I can understand Lewis with a half day off and Kirilloff out if the lineup to begin the day for a day off. And Kepler is...well...Kepler.

But 3 runs TOTAL in the past 2 games is why the Twins didn't sweep the series. And how about 4 runs TOTAL in 3 of those?

You won't will all games, or all series. And winning 4 out of the last 7 games is fine. But it could have easily been 6 of the last 7, and that's what's disappointing. 

3 hours ago, Hpyeet said:

Castro has hit well at times including the HR today, but good grief Rocco needs to teach some situational hitting.  Clase was coming apart at the end, walking Jeffers and giving up a hit to Farmer.  For goodness sake be patient, take until he throws a strike, baseball 101.  Castro was flailing at balls in the dirt, struck out on pitches not even close.

I sure hope they send players to the majors with awareness of situational hitting. Once you get to the majors it needs to be about the speed of the game at this level. This isn’t on Rocco. 

wow!  has the guy ever played first base before?

The whiff boys were at it again. 16 K's and Gallo wasn't even in the lineup. Sure glad Kepler and Garlick are better suited to play in the majors over Wallner. (Yeah, that's sarcasm). As for Gallo, Correa and Buxton being out due to injuries or illness..... well I guess that is why they scored 1 run today instead of ZERO. Castro got to play at 3B due to Farmer having to play in Correa's abscence at SS and got the only run. As bad as the other 3 have been playing they probably wouldn't have scored at all had they been in the lineup. Tell me how Popkes (the hitting coach) is retaining his job? If they can't hit because of him he should be fired. If they can't hit and he has nothing to do with it, then he isn't needed. Either way they are worse than bad and something needs to be done. 

3 hours ago, SwainZag said:

Did the 7th inning really cost them? Or did scoring 1 run cost them?  

This is so accurate. Thanks for posting it. 

Disappointing end to series. Twins should’ve sweep Cleveland. 4-3 gained 2 gamesOn Detroit so it’s  not bad but still. I think we will win Division by all star break. 

32 minutes ago, Peter said:

I think we will win Division by all star break. 

I think the division will stop doing us all of these favors soon. And when that happens, look out. .500 baseball won't cut it.

4 hours ago, heresthething said:

wow!  has the guy ever played first base before?

 

Strongest case I've see lately for the softball-style first base on both sides of the foul line.  I almost puke watching the replays of Lewis's neck bending in that horrifying somersault.

Could we re-wind the tapes on past seasons back to a point where Max Kepler still has options? 

Is it that he's reached the limit of his ability and he really can't put the barrel on the ball anymore, or does he not realize that not just the ball club, but the game is about to pass him by? 

It would be nice to learn that there is a better explanation for these kinds of performances than the two above, but right now it just looks like we're headed for a sad parting. ☹️