Riverbrian

They can lose 3 out of 4 to anyone and they can win 3 out of 4 to anyone. It's the way baseball has worked since the beginning of time. The offensive struggles of this team and the great pitching we are getting are going to be in play no matter who we face.

Nice use of the word "adroitly" considering that we played Detroitly.

Great Post Strikeouts are a part of baseball... This level of strikeouts are not. With the banning of the shift... The front office seemed to consider the extra ground to cover and make defense a priority. With the banning of the shift... The front office seemed to ignore our batters striking out even in consideration of the extra ground to cover. Of the 18 pitchers who have thrown over 10 innings for us this year. 12 of them are averaging over a strikeout an inning. The other 6 are close. So strikeouts appear to be a priority when selecting pitchers but strikeouts don't appear to be a priority when choosing hitters. On the power side of things... the Twins are 8th in homeruns but those homeruns are really scattered. Gallo leads the team in homeruns with 11 and hasn't hit one since May 20th. Taylor is tied for 2nd with Buxton at 10 and that certainly wasn't part of the plan. There are 51 players in the major leagues with as many home runs as Gallo. This offense needs to follow your advice if able and I'm not sure if they are able.

I think they are doing whatever they can to keep Buxton in the lineup knowing how important he is to the lineup. I think it is impossible to hide what is happening.

This year we are paying Correa, Buxton, Gallo, Vazquez and Kepler around 78 million this year. 78 Million is more than Rays, Pirates, Orioles and A's payroll. It's June 19th... Look what those 5 have produced for us. Let's be very clear... our vets are the ones who are killing us.

I want to add a third thought that occurred in my head yesterday. This one was also very strange. When Taylor got hurt... I was thinking... Oh No... If he has to go on the DL... it's going to hurt us OFFENSIVELY. It's getting weird.

If anyone is up for some fun this morning. Open up the past 30 days stats and sort by hits. Matt Wallner has as many or more hits than: Gallo, Kepler, Buxton, Polanco and Larnach. Make sure you check the number of AB's for proper perspective. 😉

When it comes to Christian Vazquez... I know his numbers... I've watched him play. He has been a terrible hitter for us and this can't be sugar coated. When Buxton pinch hit for Vazquez with the bases loaded in the 8th inning. I was thinking... No... don't do that... stay with Vazquez. I'm still thinking about that this morning. Not the strikeout by Buxton... but... reaching the point where I legitimately felt we were better off letting Vazquez hit. Buxton Point #2 - They elected to give up the DH instead of Buxton playing a single inning in the OF. I don't care if we lost to the Tigers or the Rays. These two thoughts are bigger in my mind.

Which Win did that?

There is nothing like a great defensive play. It's my favorite part of the game. I used to marvel at the plays Ozzie Smith made in my youth and I'm telling ya that there are Ozzie Smith type players all over the place today. The arm strength displayed in this day and age is absolutely incredible. The mustard that they can get on throws from awkward positions defy what seem to be humanly impossible. Defense today is a whole new level. That perfect throw by Correa and the catch and tag by Jeffers not only prevented a run but it prevented potential runs because it created an out that wasn't supposed to be there... on a play that a double was the result. The Tigers made some great defensive plays that should also be mentioned. That play that Short made at third was incredible. Full extension dive toward the line, tricky hop, quickly to his feet to rob Jeffers. Maton had to perfectly time his jump to rob Taylor of a hit. I wouldn't call it incredible but Torkelson had to contend with the wall and the net to snag that pop up. I know a lot of folks like to focus on the hitting and the hitting is concerning but it was a beautiful game to watch and we beat a team that came to play. Hats off to the Twins... Quit chasing pitches outside the zone please... and give me Father's day win tomorrow if you don't mind.

I suggest that you let it go because you are just digging a deeper hole. All of us who have played baseball competitively (You went there) understand the role of the 3B coach in that situation. This started with a simple no ill will important question. Did you notice what the 3B coach was doing? I asked because it's important. You don't have that answer, you want me to provide it and you want Solano to own it. Because I played and coached baseball competitively (You went there). I'm only going to go as far as what I saw. Solano on 1B with one out. Gallo hits the ball into the RF corner. The Tigers screwed up first. The 2B wasn't in position for a cut at 3B... he was setting up to be the first cut for a play at the plate. Javier went to cover 2B like he was supposed to do. The RF didn't throw to the cut... He just chucked it toward 2nd base. That was a mistake... you don't do that. You see the ball bounce twice... maybe three times before Baez who had to came off of 2nd base to field it... Baez had to become the cut when he wasn't the cut. All of us who have played and coached baseball competitively (you went there) know that you don't want the ball to bounce when throwing to a cut so Baez wasn't the cut. Baez had to come off 2nd base to field the errant throw. I'm going to state this again because it's important... All of this is happening BEHIND SOLANO. I admit that I don't know if Watkins noticed that the cut wasn't in position (I assume he did because that's what 3B coaches are paid to notice when deciding to send a runner or not and I also assume that Solano wouldn't have seen it because he can't see behind him and is relying on his 3B coach like he is supposed to do). All of us who coached baseball competitively (you went there) would have noticed a cut out of position, a throw from the outfield into open space and a ball that was going to bounce multiple times before anybody got to it. That sequence of events would have probably caused a quick reassessment of the situation. A situation that would have normally been a pretty easy routine standing up into third for Solano. Based on what I saw and because I played and coached baseball competitively (you went there). I am more inclined to blame Javier Baez for making a great turn and throw with probable help from his catcher who was probably yelling cut 3. I admit that I assume the catcher instructed Javier where to throw because he was facing the other direction when he fielded the ball so he wouldn't have known that Solano and Watkins were having communication problems. Bad play by the Tigers that ended up being a great play by the Tigers. Kind of like chipping out of the sand trap straight into the cup. I stand here and say... I saw all of that but I didn't see what Tommy Watkins was doing. SO I ASKED THE QUESTION with no ill intent... Did you notice what the third base coach was doing. I didn't and you didn't either or you would have said... YEAH I DID. But OMG... I hope Solano owns it. Do you want to triple down? Do you want to argue the stuff that I saw with stuff that you didn't?

My original question was... Did you notice what the third base coach was doing? I meant no ill will at the time... I felt it was an important question because the 3B coach is the eyes. If Solano knew what was happening behind him... then you might be right because he shouldn't be looking behind him. No Ill will at the time but now... I've got some Ill Will. I get it... HIS base running was COSTLY. According to you. I understood what an asset means. He's been good but he sure screwed up last night. I understand what you are saying. Let's simplify -- We are talking specifically about what happened at 3B last night on the Joey Gallo Double. You have clearly blamed Solano for it. I am not blaming anyone and you are asking me for video evidence? You provide the evidence. And yes... I will let it go.

You called him a "costly liability last night" This is what was written up in the Strib. Donovan Solano followed Kirilloff's home run with a single off reliever Mason Englert. But two batters later, when Joey Gallo doubled to right field, Solano was waved home as he neared third base — then suddenly told to stop when right fielder Zach McKinstry's throw reached Báez at short with plenty of time to get him.

I can't but I'm not hanging Solano.

There is a third base coach. He's involved. The throw, the relay, the ball is behind Solano. He is going to be completely reliant upon the third base coach because Solano would have to be an owl to see what is going on behind him. What was Watkins doing? This is what he is standing in that box for. Did Solano follow his instructions or did Solano ignore him? I get that you have decided it's on the player but I'm asking... what was the third case coach doing?

Surveillance truck

Dear Byron Buxton, It's Joey Wentz... If you swing pitches outside the zone... You will not be fine.

Dear Byron Buxton, It's Joey Wentz... Swing at strikes and you will do fine.

Watch out for Yogi and Boo Boo

I like that Kirilloff is in the lineup against the lefty and I like that he is down in the order. It keeps Kirilloff getting looks at lefties while his place in the batting order is reflective of how he has looked the past couple of days against lefties. On the other hand... Buxton batting 1st... is not reflective of how he has looked.

He's hitting the ball surrounded by a lot of people who are not hitting the ball. I'm under the impression that the posters who are attacking him are not watching the games.

I do

Did you notice what the third base coach was doing?

Well... I'm calling it a night. I'm not much for hanging around misery. Have fun... The Gasoline and the Matches are in the garage. Please turn the lights off after you burn the place down.