KC 5, MIN 4: What Even Is A Swing, Anyway?

They've given away too many games like this. It will cost them.

When are they going to get human error of this and actually let the best players win? I've seen the Twins get jobbed on so many calls this year. Clearly a swing, and a bad call decided the game. Just let a damn computer make all the calls. There is bob"game integrity" in the terrible biases games that these umps call.

Nothing in the rule book about the bat crossing the front of the plate. Problem is a lot of people think there is. Correct, it is up to the umpire to decide if he "swung" or not.

It's like a lot of calls in sports the judgement of the official. Offensive holding, pass interference, most BB fouls, most hockey penalties, judgement calls.

Right or wrong, complaining about umps/referees/officials is the most boring conversation in sports. Glad there is a game to move on to tomorrow

Three things:

Line-up construction.

Trust your bullpen. Santana was at 96 pitches before the 7th. Did he have to come out and pitch the 7th?

What the Twins need is a bench. Someone to pinch-hit for Garver with 1st and 3rd and two-outs. Good experience for Garver, but what wouldn't give for a Thome or Baylor or even a Phil Nevin at times.

Three things:

 

Line-up construction.

 

Trust your bullpen. Santana was at 96 pitches before the 7th. Did he have to come out and pitch the 7th?

 

What the Twins need is a bench. Someone to pinch-hit for Garver with 1st and 3rd and two-outs. Good experience for Garver, but what wouldn't give for a Thome or Baylor or even a Phil Nevin at times.

Garver was the guy selected to be the pinch hitter, 1st and 3rd two outs. Not sure I would have taken Kepler out, but Garver was probably the best chance for a hit there. Therein lies the issue of a poor bench.

I was surprised Erv started the 7th as well. I expected match up relievers the rest of the way. Ervin is "your guy" but he also just coughed up a lead the previous inning. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...

Kind of sad to me that your AAA utility player is your starting DH in an important game in September and your idea of a pinch hitter is throwing out Adrianza.  Not exactly a ringing endorsement of Vargas.  

Terrible call. That aside, how do you allow Giminez to bat in the 9th (or the 7th for that matter)? You could easily have put Garver at catcher after the 7th since you inserted Granite anyway. Or you could have simply used Castro in the 10th if needed. Inexcusable. That's aside from the fact that you went with 8-9 hitters who had basically no prayer all day. 

Who was pulling the strings after Molitor's ejection?

If they wanted to bunt Esco to third, they should bat Adrianza for Gimenez and do that. 

Then hit Garver for Goodrum with a runner on third.

Gotta get that guy in from second with no one out in the ninth.

Three things:

 

Line-up construction.

 

Trust your bullpen. Santana was at 96 pitches before the 7th. Did he have to come out and pitch the 7th?

 

What the Twins need is a bench. Someone to pinch-hit for Garver with 1st and 3rd and two-outs. Good experience for Garver, but what wouldn't give for a Thome or Baylor or even a Phil Nevin at times.

Sano needs to get back ASAP.  He'd help that situation in a heartbeat, allowing a guy like Vargas or Escobar or whomever to be available to PH. Alas, Sano  won't be back for at least another week. BIG SERIES in Tampa and another BIG SERIES in KC. Gonna be a make-or-break week.