MIN 9, DET 4: WE COMIN’!!!

I could be wrong, but I think if you have the exit velocity and the launch angle, you can pretty much calculate the horizontal angle, as well. But, either way, hit probability doesn't factor in the defender at all, and unfortunately catch probability numbers aren't available on a play-by-play basis to us common folk. You can see leader boards of who has the most five-star catches and fun stuff like that, but there's not like a game feed that has that info for all plays, unlike the hit probability. 

 

The hit probability on Kepler's double play was 49 percent.

Can you explain how horizontal angle would come from that? I'm not seeing it. Also, the slicing nature seems like it would add to the catch difficulty but not be reflected by the probability metrics. That ball started out to Buxton's right then crossed way back over him. Definitely not just a 3 star catch in my book.

This is just crazy fun! And I don't mean the weekend you can barely remember or the psyco person you "dated" for three months kind of fun. I mean this is a team that won't quit, that is brimming with young talent still developing and growing and showing itself off. I honestly don't care if we win the second WC spot or finish one game out. I don't care about run differential because a few games or series lead to a negative result. I mean, really, you get the scrap kicked out of you in 3 games but win 7 more out of ten, what matters? Run differential or winning 7 out of 10? That's simplistic, I know. But there is just so much to like about this team, it's development, and what the future holds.

Dunno. Those first two examples of crazy fun were quite memorable.

Watch the body language. Twins players are pumped and alert and on top of every play. The Tigers are playing out the string. Fun to see us as the better team for a change.

Really glad to see Mauer busting out of his slump (I still think he needs more time off and that he's getting ground down; he's played 6 straight and what, 9 of the last 10?). Also good to see them step on Detroit's throat here; play like this in the last series might have changed how the FO saw the rest of the season and kept them from selling (which I still think was the right move at the time).

But dammit, this was another Gibson tease. Looks good, looks efficient, and then can't hold it together. I know he's pitched better overall lately, but I still don't see him as being a factor on a contending team.

I know I poked fun at Rhett in the article (which was all tongue and cheek, if that wasn't obvious), but he did a rally nice job going in depth on that Buxton catch. His article over at MLB.com is definitely worth your time. 

I read the article and it was pretty good. Then I made the mistake of reading the comments.

Yeesh.

Buxton actually started in the right direction on Cabrera's blast, if you look at the initial line off the bat, which would have had the ball headed towards the left-center corner of the fence. However, the side spin from Miggy's slashing swing made the ball curve something like 30 to 40 feet to the right of the initial launch, and if you look at the final angle the ball was flying at, you can see why Buxton had to make that final stab farther to the right. Amazing adjustments by Buxton, tho it would have been a lot easier if he had read the spin off the bat. His initial move was to play the ball dead straight. 

I've basically given up hope on Gibson. If he can flail around on the mound like he did last night for the rest of the season and the Twins prop up his starts with run support, I'd be thrilled with a .500 record with him on the mound.

 

But what I'd really prefer to see is Mejia get healthy and Enns to have a promising start or two. Get Gibson out of the rotation entirely and see what you have in Enns through the end of the season.

 

Hell, you don't even have to make it that long. Rosters expand in less than 20 days, at which point you can fill the fifth rotation spot with bullpen games.

Yeah, I've given up on Gibson too. I can live with him being the 5th starter for the rest of the season, but otherwise it's time to move on. I hope Meija gets healthy soon and we can get some more starts out of him this season. He's shown promise, but needs to learn how to get deeper into a game. Wouldn't mind seeing Enns get a couple of additional starts too.