Rays 9, Twins 4: From Opener to Close, Twins Beaten Badly

8 hours ago, USAFChief said:

This is completely incorrect.

The runner from first was off with the pitch--as I said in my first post--but there was time to get the force at 2nd. Not even a question. 

Here's the play, stop-actioned below. Lewis has the ball in his glove at this point:

 

Can you at least admit the infield was NOT playing in? They were HOPING for a DP. Why throw home? 

A team can just throw bodies at any position willy-nilly, with zero regard for how they play there, but there will be consequences.  Lewis pretty clearly doesn't know what he's doing. Hell, he broke for second on a hit to right on the first. WTH?

 

There was ZERO chance of getting the guy at second, there is no way he could have flipped the ball there faster than the runner, and just transferring it from his glove to his throwing hand would have taken too long. In live action by the time he is throwing home the guy is basically standing on second. The play at the plate was going to be bang bang even with a great throw and catch.

If you are playing midway way double play depth, you throw the ball to first and tip your hat to the Rays for running on the play.

My question is I thought it was illegal or against the rules of baseball for a left handed batter to bunt to third with a the shift on?

2 hours ago, Rik19753 said:

I don't see how you look at that picture and fault Royce for not going to 2nd. That's a bang bang play at best and an easy safe call at worst.

I was actually impressed that he chose not to turn the DP even though that was probably his first instinct given his fielding position.

The throw was really bad but the decision making was spot-on IMO.

The throw wasn't that bad, it wasn't perfect but after watching Lee's and Julien's throw (a few games ago) it had to be low, it was going to be bang bang. The play was to first!

10 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

One bad inning , ONE BAD INNING ...

did I say one bad inning ...

Twins need to play flawless baseball or these are the results we can expect ...

It's hard to play flawless ball with rookies in general, rookies & players learning a new position not to mention the normal grind; that goes with the territory. Varland was sailing through 2 innings where I thought he could make it to the 6th. Rookie Varland's time at SP has been shaky (although technically this wasn't a start). TB is great at playing fundamental baseball, which means a good base running game. Besides moving up runners, it shakes up the pitcher (which Twins are not good at). This tactic paid off against Varland, turning a smooth outing into a disaster. It was a disappointing game which I hope Varland can grow from.

As long as Correa & Buxton are out of the lineup, I'm afraid we will have more of these games, friend.

Can't get my head around a team that is built solely to hit the ball with very little attention paid to defensive acumen or experience and zero interest in either running or stopping the running game. Falvey put together the roster to mash opposing pitchers. Yet, the Twins have continually played the infield in to cut down runners at home, even early in games, and had less than stellar results with that strategy. Extra outs, particularly combined with the below average defense that allows balls to creep through the infield and fly balls to drop, will inevitably result in big innings. Meanwhile the Twins are struggling to hit with runners in scoring position.

Perhaps Falvey and company might consider where to focus strategy during their November meetings.

I looked at that so-called "errant throw" by Varland. It looked like a perfectly good throw, Thrown where the runner could be picked off & a good 1Bman should handle. IMO it was on Santana.

11 hours ago, USAFChief said:

 ,Ben Rortvedt delivered a grounder to Lewis, again with the infield drawn in, and he made the pick but blew the throw home, allowing Carlson to score. Both runners advanced

 

The Twins didnt have the infield drawn in. They were, at most, halfway...allowing for a possible DP. Lewis fielded that grounder about halfway onto the dirt, BEHIND the baserunners path.

Even with the runner off from first, it was a tailor made DP ball, catcher running, fielded cleanly, and the Twins would have been out of the inning, down 3-0 even with the previous hijinks...had Lewis simply initiated the DP.

But of course Lewis has no experience at 2nd. Mistake throw home, gets nobody, tragedy unfolds.

Pretty tired of anybody can play anywhere.

When many of us talk about fundamental baseball the premise is playing solid defense, an awareness off opposing base runners and knowing where the ball needs to go to minimize runs, plate discipline to make opposing pitchers earn their outs, advancing runners and timely hitting or driving in runs from 3rd with less than two outs, smart base running, some team speed,etc..

None of the above require superstar talent, it requires effort and a team first philosophy, and most importantly a manager that can sell it and implement. Many of the losses in the past 2-3 weeks could have gone the other way with just a little solid fundamental baseball.

To refute the Twins philosophy of players playing multiple positions being the gold standard, I think it’s worth pointing out Castros play in last nights game. He is not a good center fielder. The missed catch in CF shows that he can wear a CF glove and be put in the position, but he is not a good outfielder. That catch should have been made. Castros indecision, probably due to his lack of outfield instincts, caused him to hesitate at the moment he needed to commit to the catch. Out not made, giving the extra out to opposition. Good defense helps good pitching. 
Later, he made the catch in medium/shallow CF, but wasn’t able to prevent the runner from advancing to third. A good CF with a good arm would have prevented the runner from advancing. The runner did not hesitate to tag and run which tells me that scouting report is saying Castro has a weak arm and can be run on easily. His arm doesn’t work in CF. 

 I’m not trying to pick on Castro, but now the Twins are trying to force Lewis into that mold and I think it is a big mistake. Playing multiple positions is not easy and is not for everyone. Very few have been able to it and do it well. Rocco/ Twins want all of their players to move around and it hurts the defense. The good/great defenders the Twins have (Buxton, Correa)DO NOT play multiple positions. They learn one position well and excel at it. 
 

13 hours ago, S Bart said:

There is so much that makes no sense to me.

- Placing Lewis at 2nd base in September.

- Constant platooning/ moving the chess pieces. I have seen the Twins play in four different stadiums this year, and it is so very visible to me that other teams don't do it to that degree. 

- The lack of TV deal has decreased the fan base. I am out of state but saw the Twins in June in Minneapolis. A veteran Target Field usher told me how he wasn't seeing "the frequent attendees." Many expressed to him how the TV deal mishap made them unattached. 

- The owner makes an announcement that they will not spend money prior to the season. Well, when you tell your fans that you will not improve the team and fail to have a TV deal, attendance suffers. 

The arbitration eligible players this offseason include Castro, Ryan, Jax and a couple of other key players. Will the Twins trade rather than spend money?

 

 

Agree with it all, just added one other reason I think is a factor.

-- For multiple reasons I don't feel safe in downtown Mpls anymore. Haven't set foot in it since 2020.
I use to attend 10-12 games a year. Last game was in 2019.

2019: The year of the Bomba Squad.

2019: The year Rocco wins manager of the year for filling out a lineup card.

17 minutes ago, Sjoski said:

-- For multiple reasons I don't feel safe in downtown Mpls anymore. Haven't set foot in it since 2020.
I use to attend 10-12 games a year. Last game was in 2019.

????

Safe or you just don't want to go to games? Where are you safe?

I'm in my 70s and walk around The Loop area after a game. Good restaurants too. It is as safe as anywhere else in Minneapolis.

If you were safe in 2019, you are safer in 2024.

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

I really don't see the elite defense other people do.

Santana and Vazquez are the two Twins who can play average to average plus defense. I don't think of either as elite. 

The Twins need Correa at shortstop and Buxton in centerfield. This allows Castro to be a second baseman or better yet a utility player and Lewis can DH more often until such time as he can learn a position. It is somewhat fair to say that the Twins have not done Royce any favors in his preparation for a defensive position.

15 hours ago, Althebum82 said:

Ouch.  Just ouch. 

Anyone still looking to Varland as our bullpen savior?  

Maybe not a savior, but his first two innings went well.  He just can't be asked for more than that.  PLEASE!

Let's see. 5-11 in the last 16 games. Well, it doesn't look like we can hit, field, throw, run or catch very well At that point, it doesn't really matter what the pitching does.

1 hour ago, Sjoski said:

-- For multiple reasons I don't feel safe in downtown Mpls anymore. Haven't set foot in it since 2020.
I use to attend 10-12 games a year. Last game was in 2019.

 

I much prefer thr downtown from 30 years ago, when I was there often.

Now all glitz, no soul.

So many wanted rhe youngins up , well they are up.

OK bats, lousy fielding skills, which there numbers at Baseball Ref. show is a continuation of the minor league skills.

15 hours ago, knothole61 said:

Another tough loss; but the hope I take from this one is that Varland looked good for two innings before the inevitable implosion. For whatever reasons, he really can't be trusted in the long run, but for an inning or maybe two, I think the Twins have found a shiny new bullpen piece--a sixth or seventh inning Mr. Clean?

 

I've got a great idea: Varland to the bullpen.