Rays 6, Twins 2: Taj Bradley Battered in Return to the Trop

Honestly I'm just glad lee finally looking playable at the plate it's to bad most the offense providing nothing most games until we're down big maybe time to get some prospects up here who can maybe do something at the plate probably time to send down wallner and just dfa Clemens or outman at least with prospects they will be fun to watch well unless they also can't hit mlb pitching lol 

0 for 6 w/RISP, 9 LOB - you’re going to lose most games where you only score two runs. Taj blow up isn’t good but the offense concerns me more. They have a few outbursts like Thursday but they are more likely to disappear for long stretches. 

Twins are in a funk right now. Taj got lit but hung tough-need to score runs with runners in scoring position!!! That’s bit twins in ass-let’s hope twins get win today and get on winning streak!!!

Everybody seems to be focused on bats. The Twins are tied for 7th in MLB in run scoring. They are in the middle of the pack in K and K/BB. Fangraphs has them 8th in pitching WAR.

They’re 29th in defense. 

They have become a tough team to watch.

47 minutes ago, Jack Pine said:

They have become a tough team to watch.

Bad defense, iffy baserunning, large stretches of non-competitive at bats, low octane bullpen, too many guys that I’m not interested in on the 26-man, no one at AAA knocking on the door due a hot start. 😮‍💨
 

Why is everyone in such a rush to send Keaschall down to St. Paul.  There are no replacements for him.  Gray, Kreidler or Clemens are not going to solve any problems and or even be an average placeholder.  Gray and Kreidler have not looked that spectacular on defense.  Are they an upgrade maybe, but just because everyone says they are the defensive saviors does not mean they are.  

Have some patience with Keaschall, he only has a 100 AB's this year and under 300 for his career.  With no one beating down the door to replace him, keep running him out there and keep him at 2B.  Other teams show patience and have been rewarded.  At some point our young players have to start adjusting.  Is it coaching, lack of coaching or something else.  If it is lack of talent, then the whole organization needs to be blown up from Zoll on down and start over.  If it is coaching, hopefully Shelton and this current coaching staff can unlock what is needed.

Two times in this game we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and failed to score. That's completely unacceptable.

2 minutes ago, CharlieDee said:

Two times in this game we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and failed to score. That's completely unacceptable.

That happens to every team in baseball.

16 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

If Keaschall & Wallner were optioned for Culpepper & Emma with Outman released:

Lewis - Culpepper - Lee - Bell (infield)

Martin - Buxton - Emma (outfield)

(Catchers)

Larnach (DH)

Gray - Clemens - Caratini - Kriedler (bench) ……. first 3 guys play semi-regularly at 1B & DH, etc. and Kriedler is late inning D, pinch runner, ……guy that can bunt.

Near-term “Step in right direction” offensively & defensively - right? Hopefully, Keaschall & Wallner are back in 3-6 weeks to push Clemens & Kriedler off roster……or Culpepper, if things aren’t going well.

 

A bench with both Gray and Kreidler needs to be a no go.  One of them to back up short is enough.  I am not in favor of moving Lee around.  When Culpepper comes up, they need to commit to keeping him up for the year.

In what universe does it make sense at this point to bat Buxton in front of Martin. One has a very high OBP and low power…one has excellent power and a low OBP. (Martin was getting on base at a good rate last year as well…Buxton has low OBP even when he’s ‘good’.)

The statistical likelihood of Buxton missing an ‘extra’ PA if/when the lineup flips in the 9th inning doesn’t outweigh this stat line after 26 games: 7 RBI on 10 extra base hits…5 of which were HR. So inefficient.

Lee wasn’t very good offensively last year, but he was better last year than he was in his rookie year. Now, he looks like he’s going to be better this year than last. Is he slowly becoming a good hitter? Could be.

4 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Slowly  - encouraging for Lee!

With Culpepper - Houston - Keaschall in the middle, apparently, going forward……..is it plausible to move Lee to 1B, (future) Sound glove there  - mobility isn’t an issue - better for his back, possibly - he appears to potentially have 25 HR power. If he can maintain OPS above .725 going forward, 1B might be his spot?

I think Buxton likes leading off - better for Team to get him in an RBI spot …….. completely agree on XBH v. RBI ratio being “off”.

Mobility and range got Santana a Gold Glove; mobility is a Big issue as First Base.

Lee has neither.

4 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I agree with one of the postings here - we need bats and Outman and Clemens are not good, Keaschall has his the same sophomore slump that has lasted to long for Lee and Lewis (I know they both homered) and Wallner.  

But looking at the lineup in St Paul and Witchita the only ones really hitting are Ross, Culpepper and Rodriguez.  Other than Ross 253 is the highest BA and yes I care about BA.   

But I am ready for Rodriguez to make the jump. 

For Rodriguez to take Wallners place, for however long, probably is not a bad idea for a look-see, but I doubt it will make a difference .  Those expecting a fellow with a 30 percent K rate against Minor League pitching to do better in the Majors is obtuse.

35 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Slowly  - encouraging for Lee!

With Culpepper - Houston - Keaschall in the middle, apparently, going forward……..is it plausible to move Lee to 1B, (future) Sound glove there  - mobility isn’t an issue - better for his back, possibly - he appears to potentially have 25 HR power. If he can maintain OPS above .725 going forward, 1B might be his spot?

I want a better bat for 1B. Lee is probably most valuable as a utility guy on the bench. His switch hitting potentially lets him platoon with every infielder.

This loss is on Bradley.  Problem must have either been emotional due to the return to Tampa or on the way the game was called by Caratini.  You just cannot give up 4 Gopher Balls and 3 walks and have any expectation of winning.  He only gave up 7 hits BUT 4 of those left the yard,

EIGHT STRIKEOUTS by Twins batters and Buxton =2, Caratini =2.  That's half the team's strikeouts by 2 players.  Time to give Buxton a few days of riding the pine as he is not positively contributing.  Until he gets his head screwed on straight, he shouldn't be leading off.  I knew this game was a loss after the very first Twin's batter, Buxton, struckout.

Both Clemens and Wallner are comfortably below the Mendoza line.

Third inning:  Leadoff walk. followed by Strikeout, Strikeout, Force Out =by Buxton.

Fourth inning: Runners on 2nd & 3rd, NO OUTS. followed by Strikeout, Strikeout, then Lewis pops out to 2B on the first pitch.

Ninth inning: 1 run in, down 6 - 2, runners on 2nd & 3rd, ZERO OUTS. followed by: Gray grounds out TO THE PITCHER on a changeup low and outside, Buxton STRIKES OUT on a high fastball barely in the strike zone after fouling off 7 pitches, Larnach grounds out to 1B on a fastball up and in.

Offense is not good enough at this time to make up a 5 run deficit and as evidenced by a recent game; even if the offense did, the bullpen wouldn't be able to hold the game.