MIL 8, MIN 3: Gibson Falters, Mauer Exits Due to Neck Injury

Suter's stuff was not only less than impressive, it's less than unimpressive.

What was the Twins' game plan against him? I saw little deception by a guy who came in with a 5.14 ERA, 4.57 FIP and ZERO Quality Starts. When he left the game, he looked like a kid who just got an unexpected pony for his birthday present. His 87 MPH FBs should have been sprayed all over the park. Suter was throwing them by Dozier right up in his favorite homer wheelhouse. And Suter's 73 MPH change-ups looked like BP pitches, but he still had guys like Buxton completely flummoxed vs. the type of stuff Buck absolutely crushed back in his minor league days.

With the obvious exception of Esco and Kepler, a very disappointing hitting performance by the good guys (Kepler was absolutely in the zone, sitting on practically every pitch coming his way. What an amazing improvement vs. lefties!).

Regardless of that...Something Has to Change Fast.

-The Twins are 3-5 in their last 8, and are only averaging 3.3 runs per game in that span, but were only outscored by 3.75-3.3/gm. Twins pitching has been decent enough- weather conditions as an excuse is no longer viable.

-The Twins averaged 5.03 runs per game in 2017, only 4.25 rpg after 40 games this year, 3.3 rpg in the last 8- the trend is not their friend.

-Mauer's OBP is now out for an indefinite amount of time with another mystery injury. Do you bring back LaMarre and his .395 OBP as a temporarily stopgap via a Mauer DL trip? 

-How soon can Sano head out to rehab? If the answer is still "indefinitely", then you've got a problem that needs to be addressed.

-Having guys as in the zone vs. lefties as Kepler is right now, actually squaring up to bunt tonight with a man on base borders on dereliction of sabremetric discipline.

-How soon does the GM hit the panic button and look to trade for a bat and/or bring up the farm guys like LaMarre in AAA and Gordon and Wade in AA?

-Rosario, Esco and Morrison are currently pulling their weight, Kepler is up and down- but could break out with more men on base in front of him and a threatening bat hitting behind him, plus he's now a legit threat vs. LHP- but everywhere else you look in the lineup it's a team of "flailure." Is it time to reconstruct the batting order to reflect the hotter bats?

-How about whomever the current hottest bat might be always hitting behind Dozier to get him more pitches to hit? Or do you bite the bullet and move him down the order until he finally gets things going? He's killing the Twins at this point.

-Mauer DL, Buxton DL, Adrianza DFA for LaMarre, Gordon and Wade? It would be radical, but is a transfusion of fresh blood soon a vital necessity and wake-up call for a team seemingly on offensive life support?

Should have brought up Gordon by now...

I just don't get it. The Twins' in the dugout were upset at Cain for trying to score (and he almost did) with his team up, 6-0. Just playing baseball. He is supposed to try to score. Should they be upset at Kepler for hitting a home run? Shouldn't he just give up by then, if Cain shouldn't try to score? I don't get it. This is baseball, not the NBA, where even in the playoffs, teams just basically quit if they get behind, and don't even try to win that game. I hope the players always do the best they can, no matter what the score. 

Buxton is even getting pinch hit for..... by Grossman! It is a sad state of affairs. 

Just announced last night: "Miguel Sano heading out on rehab assignment for Triple-A Rochester"

https://www.twincities.com/2018/05/18/miguel-sano-hamstring-nearing-rehab-assignment-for-twins-affiliate/amp/

Hooray +100. That answers one of the most important questions. A healthy, rejuvenated and productive Sano might be the key to turning this mess around. With all that's happened with him, it's a much more problematic situation this time, though.

Hopefully he's back in the lineup before June 1?

I just don't get it. The Twins' in the dugout were upset at Cain for trying to score (and he almost did) with his team up, 6-0. Just playing baseball. He is supposed to try to score. Should they be upset at Kepler for hitting a home run? Shouldn't he just give up by then, if Cain shouldn't try to score? I don't get it. This is baseball, not the NBA, where even in the playoffs, teams just basically quit if they get behind, and don't even try to win that game. I hope the players always do the best they can, no matter what the score. 

 

Buxton is even getting pinch hit for..... by Grossman! It is a sad state of affairs. 

Well said. That "unwritten rules' nonsense by the Twins really was off-putting (encouraged my rant, to be sure). You don't like losing, do something about it. 

Buxton's situation is a rerun we've seen before. Take him out of his misery and down to AAA ASAP to get him back on kilter before his career goes up in flames. Bad decision not to get him extensive rehab ABs.

Should have brought up Gordon by now...

In this past frustrating week, I'm getting closer to your position.

Buxton is beyond AAA. He either has to sink or swim at the MLB level. It’s all on him and whether or not he is actually good enough to consistently hit MLB pitching.

I agree that he's beyond AAA. But his presence in the lineup is killing the Twins, as witnessed last night. He looked completely overmatched by a junkballer. Sending him to AAA to "rehab" is one solution that has worked previously. 

Whatever good habits he had last August and September have simply vanished. 

I just don't get it. The Twins' in the dugout were upset at Cain for trying to score (and he almost did) with his team up, 6-0. Just playing baseball. He is supposed to try to score. Should they be upset at Kepler for hitting a home run? Shouldn't he just give up by then, if Cain shouldn't try to score? I don't get it. This is baseball, not the NBA, where even in the playoffs, teams just basically quit if they get behind, and don't even try to win that game. I hope the players always do the best they can, no matter what the score. 

 

Buxton is even getting pinch hit for..... by Grossman! It is a sad state of affairs. 

I like your comment.  Maybe if the Twins spent less time getting upset with the other team and how they play, they could concentrate on their own playing and perhaps start moving into a streak of winning.  Play every pitch - the game is over after 9 innings.  Their clubhouse leaders should speak up, but they were part of it.

I am still questioning the FO.  We cannot just look at the team, we have to look at the actions of this FO.  Where are the tweaks, how long do they hold back prospects, how much do we look at the waiver wires instead of the minors?  When do they cut their losses (and the Pohlads money) and get rid of high buck failures?  

We cannot afford to have 33 - 44% of the lineup nearly automatic outs.  

This is still a good team, but it needs an infusion - and I do not want to hear about June and super twos or any other future status.  Get the team going!

Is this true?

Update on Mauer from the Athletic:

Joe Mauer exited Friday’s game with a stiff neck, the result of a diving attempt at a foul ball last weekend in Anaheim. Mauer is listed as day-to-day but sounds iffy to play in Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers and could potentially miss Sunday, too.

...

“I landed pretty hard and had some whiplash,” Mauer said. “Just been coming in and getting treatment and trying to get out there every day, but (Friday) I got out there and it started to stiffen up and get a little worse. I talked to the trainers and coaches and they thought it was best if I got out of there before it got any worse.”

“I’d like to be in the lineup (Saturday), to be honest. It might take a day or two. Nothing more than that. I just think I need to let it calm down.”

You just can't make it up any better (worse) than this.