Riverbrian

CRUZ!!!

Two Innings in the books... I'm still not breathing like I usually do.

I wish we had to the box during live action instead of just replays.

Oops

Ok That's one inning. (Deep Breath) For this experience alone... we should try to win the Central every year.

He's out

POLANCO!!!

I swear that there were times when time went backwards today. An 8 hour day at work took 15 hours today for some reason.

It's 1:56PM Central Time. This day is moving along like ketchup out of a 1970's ketchup bottle with Carly Simon singing "Anticipation" in the background. I've checked my watch so many times... my wrist has atrophied into that position permanently. Now, my wife is going to have to cut my steak for me... for the rest of my life. It's OK... I have no shame anymore. All that matters right now is this game and I'm ready to watch it now with my cock-eyed wrist but 6:07 doesn't seem to want to get here!!!

Maybe we are... Maybe we aren't. WIth the Yankees... What you want to avoid is the Yankees grabbing the lead in the middle innings. They have the pen to make coming from behind no fun at all. , So, in my opinion... we need to use our pen (our best pitchers) earlier and longer. I don't want to save either Duffey or Rogers for 9th inning closing duties in case we happen to have a lead worth closing in the ninth. By saving a closer, you limit that guy to maybe 3 innings in a 5 game series. That would severely limit their use. I'd rather see Duffey and Rogers get us through those middle innings... or when needed to hang zeroes instead of hoping that Berrios and Odorizzi don't float hangers for a 3 run Yankee bomb in the 6th after the lineup has turned over a couple of times just because that is what is typically done with a starting pitcher in July. I don't believe this series with be won with either starting rotations winning it. The bullpens are where both teams best pitchers reside. It'll be what team coughs up the early lead and what bullpen can hold it in the face of a couple of clubs that hit 307 and 306 home runs respectively. . There is the Astro's model... 3 Hall fo Fame starters with a little bullpen support. There is the Brewers model... Questionable starters with a ton of bullpen support to fill out the innings. Both the Yankees and Twins should be somewhere in between these. We certainly don't have the starters to do what the Astros will do and we shouldn't even try. I have no idea how Baldelli will manage it... but, I am excited to see whatever happens and can't wait for it to happen.

If Baldelli feels that way... I wouldn't argue with him. Duffey has been good. I think of Rogers because he has been good for longer. Bottom Line: The Bullpen is going to be needed to cover some innings... This won't be like a game in July. We will need Rogers, Duffey, May, Romo... all of them for more innings than we are accustomed.

He's our best pitcher. I wouldn't save him for the closing of games exclusively. He goes into the game whenever you need your best. I'm using him for as long and often as needed. He can rest in the off season. You don't hold anyone back now.

Buckner sure wore it... for the rest of his life. Great Career May he rest in peace.

That's the easy answer. That's what coaches tell Outfielders all the time. You can't let the ball get past you. But watch the video again and tell me what he could have done differently. He ran to where the ball was heading off the bat to get centered. He rounded just like he is taught his entire life. Yes he was coming forward but everyone is going to come forward on that routine (not struck extremely hard) baseball. Nobody is going to lay back and let the ball roll into their glove. Especially in that 8th inning bases loaded situation. The ball reversed back the other direction at least a body length... I'd assume more not knowing the length of the grass patterns. Regardless... the kid is going to wear it. It's unfortunate but I think most major league ball players will either: A. Get lucky and snag that ball reaching back for it. B. Get unlucky and watch it roll past. It was B for young Grisham.

To avoid derailing this topic. I've created another discussion on this subject in the "Other Baseball" forum. Feel free to take this debate over there.

Lots of people want to hang Trent Grisham this morning. Look at the video again. https://deadspin.com/trent-grisham-isnt-going-to-forget-this-one-for-a-while-1838695157 Major League Baseball Grounds Crew's are very talented. They leave nice straight lines in the field so you can mark what happens to baseballs. Trent Grisham did nothing wrong on this play. The spin backwards on the hit was very unnatural and more than just a little spin. Use the lines in the field to gauge it. He does what every outfielder is taught. He moves to his left and rounds himself to get in centered and in front of the baseball and in correct position to make a throw. As you can see, the ball goes significantly the opposite direction from the direction he is moving to get centered and the ball skids past him. Typically, If a ball spins in the OF... it typically will spin toward the lines. This was a reversal of normal and against his momentum. It can be argued that he shouldn't have rounded and just scooped up the ball and floated it into the infield since there was no chance of getting anybody on the base paths. . Tying run on 2nd base in the 8th inning of the playoffs. Who is going to do that? They are getting to the ball quickly and getting it to the cut quickly. The catcher then says Cut or let it come from there. Nobody should blame Moncada for that key weird spin hit from Arraez a few games back and really nobody should be hanging this kid either. But they will... He will wear it and that is unfortunate. Look at the video again... look at the grass cut. Tough break kid.

Agree with your overall sentiment. It’s baseball and weird things happen. Everyone is expecting a slugfest between the Yankees and Twins and we may end up with pitching duels and if that happens I won’t be shocked because the baseball gods love that sort of thing. The game isn’t played on paper and this is small sample size on steroids. The Nats Brewers last night was exhibit 20,689 of the baseball gods at work. I won’t have time to list the other 20,688 examples. When it comes to this article... Roles no longer matter... it’s all hands on deck. Do we have enough pitching? Do the Yankees? I don’t know. Let’s find out. P.S. I disagree with the misplay characterization on the rookie in RF. That was crazy spin on a ball in a situation that any RF would charge full speed to make a throw home to nail the tying run if possible. I think nearly every RF would be in danger of a similar result. Bad hip provided by the baseball gods. Much like the broken bat bloop hit from Zimmerman.

Last year... Teams were raiding the same organizations as they try to modernize. The Rays, The Dodgers, The Cubs, The Astros. The Twins are now one of those clubs. If last year was any indication... I believe this will continue and I predict we will hear Shelton's name mentioned as a candidate for multiple manager openings. I wouldn't be shocked if he landed one of them.

Whatever the path it takes I guess. The end result is what I'm mostly interested in. If Lewis can play multiple positions... I'd like to see him utilized at multiple positions. If I have to wait until he reaches the majors to actually create that type of player. I'll have to wait until he reaches the majors.

As usual, I'm talking in broad strokes. I have no idea what Royce Lewis is defensively. I've read reports but I typically don't take a ton of stock in those reports when I'm not sure who is writing them. However, with him playing other positions in Arizona (which I'm all for) it suggests that there are better defensive shortstops available. If that's the case (not saying it is). I only see benefit to both Royce and the organization if he can play multiple positions in Rochester. Develop a super utility player like Marwin, Like Bellinger, Like Bryant. A guy who can play every day and play at whatever position the team needs him to play each day. Personally, I believe the Twins will have similar depth next year to what they had this year. We need Marwin, Arraez, Astudillo and Adrianza just to get through the season. I agree that Baldelli was fearless when it came to moving Arraez around to get him AB's (he had to) and I love it because I love depth and the required flexibility that comes with depth. However... despite my happiness for this willingness... I'm wondering why they wouldn't prepare in advance for it at the minor league level... instead of cold at the MLB level, even if I'm not afraid of cold. Bellinger is an amazing player and it's hard to lower his value at all... but he is indeed less valuable to the Dodgers if he was limited to only playing 1B because Muncy would have to play less as a result once you lock him into 1B throwing away Bellinger's flexibility. When Lewis knocks the door down with his bat... We don't know what position we will need him to play. We don't know who will get hurt to open a roster spot. If Lewis was Tatis like defensively at SS... Never mind... let him stay at SS. Then you start prepping Polanco to play other positions because Lewis is going to take his spot at SS. If Lewis is average at SS and he can make catches with the range he showed in the video above. He's is more valuable than Bellinger is defensively. I'd start making him a Bellinger at the minor league level and then wait for that bat to finish cooking. And I say this... not knowing what Lewis is capable of as a defensive player. I really have no idea. Just a fundamental discussion.

I absolutely understand your logic and I don't disagree that players can be moved to different positions quickly. As a matter of fact.. players are moved to different positions quickly all the time. I'm not afraid of that type of abrupt defensive adjustment. However, the one thing that I am reasonably sure of it this: When Royce Lewis makes his MLB Debut... It most likely won't be out of spring training with a static starting job to himself. It will most likely come after an injury that requires a replacement and you don't know where the injury is going to occur. Lewis may be ready for call up with his bat and playing everyday at SS in Rochester when the MLB 2B gets hurt. Welcome to the majors Royce... You are in the lineup tonight at a position you have never played before. Again, I'm not afraid of that specific need based move... Just wondering if a little preparation before hand at the minor league level increases options for both the club and player.

The job I don’t want is the Cubs. If Maddon didn’t do well enough. How secure is that job? No margin for error I guess.

The guy I’m watching is Maddon. Best manager in baseball in my opinion. Rumor is the Angels will make a full court press to hire Maddon. If I’m Maddon... I’d take the Padres job. He will be overflowing with depth in San Diego which is what Maddon does better than everyone else.

Data Report: Week of September 24 Tuesday September 24 This group produced 229 posts out of a total of 408 for 56% of the total content. 20 Participants for an average of 11.5 posts per. 11 of the 20 used the poll to announce participation. Wednesday September 25 This group produced 329 posts out of a total of 645 for 51% of the total content. 22 Participants for an average of 15 posts per. 11 of the 22 used the poll to announce participation. Thursday September 26 This group produced 98 posts out of a total of 221 for 44% of the total content. 16 Participants for an average of 6.1 posts per. 8 of the 16 used the poll to announce participation. Friday September 27 This group produced 91 posts out of a total of 155 for 59% of the total content. 16 Participants for an average of 5.7 posts per. 7 of the 16 used the poll to announce participation. 1 of the (8) announced participation but did not. Saturday September 28 This group produced 39 posts out of a total of 110 for 35% of the total content. 10 Participants for an average of 3.9 posts per. 3 of the 10 used the poll to announce participation. 1 of the (4) announced participation but did not. Sunday September 29 This group produced 143 posts out of a total of 243 for 59% of the total content. 16 Participants for an average of 8.9 posts per. 6 of the 16 used the poll to announce participation. 2 of the (8) announced participation but did not. It was a good week. There are no conclusions to draw from the information yet. Keep an eye on the numbers. I will post them weekly. Once the data gets more stable, the consistencies will reveal themselves.

There was squawking about the baseballs this year. The numbers produced were abnormal. I think it's quite possible that the commissioner's office takes a a hard look at the baseball they used this year. In my opinion. This record has a decent change of sticking around awhile. BTW... I wanted an AL Central Title first and foremost... but Yeah... I wanted this home run record... I've been prepared for the possibility for quite some time now. I would have hated to lose it to the Yankees on the last weekend. IT'S OURS!!!