Brock Beauchamp

Did the ump throw his back out on that strikeout?

Ppbbbttt. I'm just happy that he's not K-ing every other AB. I feared that might be the case after pitchers adjusted to his insane June.

I probably didn't phrase my statement clearly... I mean "since the breakout" as in "since pitchers have adjusted to him". If anything, I'm more impressed by his relatively mundane (by comparison) play in the past few weeks because he's dealing with increased sliders and breaking balls because everybody is scared to throw him a fastball.

I'm really not worried about his defense. His best attributes through the minors were his hands and instincts and those have been his biggest failings thus far in the majors. That leads me to believe he's either really nervous or is taking plate failures out to the field. Both will fade in time, especially if he keeps hitting.

ROFLcopter.

Tillman has to be ready to fall over at this point.

Speaking of guys who look like different hitters recently... Has Dozier turned the corner? It sure looks like a possibility. Four runs... Hopefully that will be enough for Baker, Diamond, Leius, or whatever Scott is playing for the Twins tonight.

LOLerskates.

Plouffe is a completely different hitter. I have no idea what his ceiling is at this point. His selection is far better than I ever expected since the breakout.

It'd be swell to see the Twins chase an opposing starter early.

I only cared when I thought that left field was more active. Now that it appears that nobody on planet earth knows for sure which corner outfield spot is more active, it doesn't matter so much (but I'd still like to see him in left, if only because of the arm). Hopefully this is a non-issue soon when Revere shifts into center.

Really? I think after his struggles, he's moved behind Hicks, who *should* make the 40 man if/when some guys are traded.

Joe Mauer: not a run producer, confirmed. He took two pitches. edit: Three pitches. edit: Tried to take off the pitcher's head with a single.

Ben is having a nice game for himself in the first inning.

Four thousand pounds of scrap metal isn't going to get you one pound of gold just because it weighs more.

Sigh. You know balls are hit like that in left field as well, right?

Revere is going to make Dick's head (tee hee hee) explode by the end of the season.

Its large latin fanbase?

Yeah, I really wish Rick Anderson would have gotten more out of Johan Santana. Such a waste.

Yes. Francisco looks good right now but I don't trust him to continue looking good in 2013, especially not at the price he should command if he keeps this up all season long. Take the prospect and run.

Twins: Span CF Revere RF Mauer C Willingham LF Morneau 1B Plouffe 3B Doumit DH Dozier SS Casilla 2B (Diamond P) Orioles: Markakis RF Hardy SS Jones CF Wieters C Reynolds 1B Pearce LF Davis DH Betemit 3B Tolleson 2B (Tillman P)

Meh, everybody knows that Ultimate Headcase Rating numbers aren't reliable until the player has played at least three consecutive seasons with a live chicken strapped to his head. edit: Son of a bitch...

I don't think anyone here is claiming he will be a strikeout pitcher, are they? I've seen more "he won't be Nick Blackburn" than "he's the next Johan". If Hendriks works out, I see him being a poor man's Scott Baker, whatever that means. A notch or two below Baker in the K department... Not unlike Brad Radke, I suppose (though I cringe every time a Twins fan uses a Radke comp).

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?800-Twins-vs-Orioles-07-16-2012-7-10pm&

If I was asking about a hitting stance, the proper grip on a two-seam fastball, or how to swing a bat, I'd absolutely ask a baseball "professional". It's what they do for a living and they certainly know more about it than I do. On the other hand, the "laced 'em up" comment came during a somewhat abstract argument on the concept of "clutch hitting". That's not a tangible thing that can be taught or even observed and then declared as truth and most of people siding with "clutch hitting exists" rely completely on anecdotal data to confirm their bias. The same way I wouldn't ask a baker about the molecules and atomic structure of yeast, I wouldn't ask a baseball "professional" about conceptual theory in the sport. It's not "in their wheelhouse", for lack of a better term. I also wouldn't ask a home builder about architectural theory and the physics that go along with complex load-bearing structures. They probably wouldn't have much of a clue about how it works, despite the fact that they build houses every day. The same goes for the mechanic. He can certainly repair an engine but can he design one? These professionals have limited scope in their experience. While they certainly know their trade very well, they should not necessarily be relied upon for the more abstract, peripheral aspects of their career choice. And that's why some of us took umbrage to the "laced 'em up" comment. The conversation itself wasn't even really about baseball; it was about how humans deal with pressure situations and whether it's humanly possible to "step up their game" in a tangible, scientifically observable manner.