KC 6, MIN 5: Maybe It’s Better Off This Way?

If we can’t beat KC we’re sellers, right?

(STL) © Andrew Knizner, (RHP) Jordan Hicks <—> Sano

(ATL) (RHP) Touki Toussaint <—> Rodney/Pressly

(MIL) (LHP) Kodi Medeiros, © Mario Feliciano <—> Dozier

(NYY) (RHP) Dillion Tate, (UTL) Brandon Drury <--> Gibson

(ARI) (RHP) Jimmie Sherfy, (RHP) Emilio Vargas <-> Escobar

(OAK) (SS) Richie Martin, (RHP) Bobby Wahl <—> Odorizzi

(BOS) (LHP) Williams Jerez <—> Duke

(WAS) (LHP) Sammy Solis <—> Lynn

(LAD) (SS) Ronny Brito <—> Reed (*if healthy*)

yep.

Playoff odds down to 0.7%. Escobar has to catch that pop-up.

It was fun to watch at the end. That Kepler at-bat just didn't go our way.

The game was lost in the first inning when Escobar couldn't make that play down the left field line.  Normally, that would be a ball the shortstop would catch.  Unfortunately, our geniuses had the shortstop playing somewhere over on the right side of the infield.

I know statistics tell us the shifts should work.  Some time they come back and bite you in the....you know where.  

And with it goes the Twins season.  To have any hope of getting back into this race, they need to win both series in KC and Toronto.  Well, that means they have to sweep the next two games versus KC.  Good luck!

Here’s what I don’t understand about shifts, using Duda as the example. Obviously Duda wants to pull the ball, so rather than play a defense designed to deal with his strength, why not pitch him exclusively outside, and play a normal defense?

To me it’s like putting 8 guys in coverage against Tom Brady—you’re not going to get any pass rush, so he’s eventually going to find someone. If you shift to the right side that heavily, you have to lean away from pitches that would get hit to the left side, which is exactly what Duda wants.

The game was lost in the first inning when Escobar couldn't make that play down the left field line.  Normally, that would be a ball the shortstop would catch.  Unfortunately, our geniuses had the shortstop playing somewhere over on the right side of the infield.

 

I know statistics tell us the shifts should work.  Some time they come back and bite you in the....you know where.  

 

And with it goes the Twins season.  To have any hope of getting back into this race, they need to win both series in KC and Toronto.  Well, that means they have to sweep the next two games versus KC.  Good luck!

Yeah, our season didn't hinge on that one play.  Sorry.  This team has lost a ton and really just doesn't have the talent to be true competitors.  

Here’s what I don’t understand about shifts, using Duda as the example. Obviously Duda wants to pull the ball, so rather than play a defense designed to deal with his strength, why not pitch him exclusively outside, and play a normal defense?

To me it’s like putting 8 guys in coverage against Tom Brady—you’re not going to get any pass rush, so he’s eventually going to find someone. If you shift to the right side that heavily, you have to lean away from pitches that would get hit to the left side, which is exactly what Duda wants.

I like your logic, and it might help. But, part of the issue, is that today batters wear the body armor and stand right on top of the plate (not all...many). Meanwhile baseball’s own little PC movement has made it a federal crime to pitch aggressively inside to knock the batter off the plate.

The unintended consequence in this case is that there is no pitch that catches even the outside corner that most pull hitters can’t pull with authority.

Love the time and effort put into this. No chance they all get traded but I'd love to see the Escobar, Dozier and Reed trades. The Pressly/sano ones seems pretty far fetched but the rest seem like realistic possibilities.

 

(NYY) (RHP) Domingo German, (RHP) Dillion Tate <—> Gibson

(OAK) (SS) Richie Martin, (RHP) Carlos Ramirez <-> Odorizzi

(STL) (DH) Jose Martinez <—> Rodney

Does the return for Familia from the A’s tell us anything about the market for relievers?

The Mets received a 26 year old AAA reliever. The A’s need relievers and didn’t call on him though he has a ton of strike outs this year. They also received a 24 year old 3B in high A. His 741 OPS ranks him 8th on his team among regular position players. They also received international money.

The Mes could have waited but took this deal. What should the Twins expect for their relievers?