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insagt1

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Everything posted by insagt1

  1. insagt1
    This year has been frustrating for me due to the number and length of the injuries to key players. Sano was probably no loss. Jeffers was so-so. Kirilloff was a crap shoot. He started the season injured and his wrist may never heal. the large number of pitchers who haven't been able to play has been astounding....right from the beginning. Buxton, I believe, was hurt from opening day, but he is such a gamer, he tried to give it a go. His body just won't let him. He hasn't been much help this year. Polanco is having a terrible season, but we need him. Kepler is having a terrible season, but we need him too. I don't think Lewis was penciled in to be with the Twins all season. We'll never know. having a catcher who can hit is always a bonus. Mauer spoiled us. Didn't expect much from Sanchez, frankly. He hasn't been terrible defensively, like many thought. Celestino is way over his head. In a normal year he would have been at St Paul for further grooming. Urshela...not much to say about him. Gordon and Miranda have been studs. This is probably a .500 team. If healthy, much better. Certainly more entertaining than last year. As for our manager, I'll leave that one alone.
  2. insagt1
    You are correct. For some reason (probably advancing age) I thought it was the Sox who played those 6 but its Cleveland...which makes it worse for us for sure. How many of those games does one think the Royals could win?
  3. insagt1
    I agree with the first post...the fans are the winners hands down. I have watched these rules in Rochester and I love them. Hasn't hurt the game one bit. I think the new rules also cover the '3 step offs allowed per batter' which also included, at least at AAA, throws to 1st. I hope that one makes it thru because there aren't too many more boring plays in baseball than a pitcher throwing over to 1st to stop a base stealer who has probably not stolen a base since Lincoln was president. I hope there are more stolen bases. That has been the case this year at AAA. Not an extraordinary number but enough to move the needle. Hitters have not adapted to ;going the other way' to beat the shift. I think that ship sailed long ago. With pitchers throwing 100 MPH it is a lot tougher to control where the ball goes, and to bunt for that matter. I hate the shift. I'll be glad to see it go. Pitch clock--absolutely. Everyone benefits. Players aren't back on their heels while the pitcher dances around and fusses and noodles about before throwing. They are paid to pitch, not become actors and showmen. I still wonder about the ghost runner. Managers are so worried about their pitchers being overused. Extra inning games rarely go more than 1 or 2 innings now. Won't be used in post season of course...but for regular season, I can live with it. Its a huge gimmick, but oddly it has accomplished excactly what they wanted. Who knew?? Now limit the # of warmup pitches a reliever takes when entering the game...cap it at 4 and you will see an even snappier game progress.
  4. insagt1
    Twins have to win tonite...period. No excuse for anything less. Having said that, with the Sox playing them (KC) SIX times to end the season do we really have any chance at all? If Sox win today and Twins tonite....they go into Cleveland 4 behind. What that means is for that series to be meaningful for those keeping score at home, Twins MUST win 4 of 5 to gain 3 games. Then you still do have a horserace. But the Twins injuries just keep coming. I don't see how in the world they can win 4 of 5 from the Guards. That would be pushing miracle territory. But if they did...then it will be an interesting final 2 weeks. Arraez can't be out long, with Polanco and Buxton still unable to play. Kepler is iffy, but he hasn't added much. I am not expecting Jeffers or Larnach to return this season, and frankly I doubt Buxton will either...if he comes back, he will still be one inch away from being re-injured. His whole 2022 has been one long injury that he has tried to play through. With so many key players unable to play, its a lot to ask for that depleted team to compete with a much stronger Cleveland team right now. We'll be watching.
  5. insagt1
    I had fun watching until the 8th inning. Then it stopped being fun. There are enough 'what-ifs' to fill an encyclopedia (I know, maybe some here don't know what one of those is!) I get that the game has changed. And you all have the volumes of stats to prove it. I also know there are still a few things about the game that fans of the game (not of analytics and charts and graphs) will always enjoy. And one thing is watching something rare and fun and exciting. I don't think Rocco did the right thing and thats a hill I'll die on. I don't think any manager should deprive fans or pitcher of something historic...unless pitcher says he wants out. This is a game. Fans pay to watch. Give the kid a shot at baseball immortality. The game he pitches Sunday might have the Twins out of first by 7 games. I just don't like it at all. My opinion. Doesn't have to be yours.
  6. insagt1
    I believe the great Jim Croce said it best in his famous tune: 'you don't tug on Superman's Cape; you don't spit into the wind; you don't pull the mask off the ole Lone Ranger; and you don't mess around with a pitcher throwing a no-hitter after 7 innings.' I'm sure I got it right. thats how the tune went. Is everyone so sure that by taking Ryan out, he will lead the Twins to the promised land in his next start...or the one after? Did every pitcher who threw over 100 pitches to get a no-hitter blow out his arm and never pitch again? 7 pitchers have thrown no-no's age 37 and older. Two threw TWO no-hitters after age 40 (Warren Spahn and Nolan Ryan) Randy Johnson pitched a perfecto at age 40. Ditto Dennis Martinez at age 37 for my beloved Expos. (both of those were pitched on the road and the crowds were solidly behind them in the final inning....because they knew they were seeing something special. Those pitchers certainly pitched all those years and probably weren't pulled after 5 or 6 innings early in their careers. Some kids blow out their arms early. These are humans, not machines. Some make it some don't. We have Byron Buxton..and we had Cal Ripken. Both talented...but their bodies completely different. NO-hitters are NOT overrated. They are a big deal....when pitched by one pitcher. It is extremely difficult to go thru a lineup of major league hitters at least 3 times and not give up one base hit. Combined no-hitters are not a big deal. Nothing special at all when 4 or 5 pitchers combine to shut a team down. I know I didn't care to see one last night. Some individual feats in sports are to be recognized and lauded, even in team sports. Its what keeps fans coming to the games. Right now, do you think fans in every city stop what they are doing to watch Albert Pujols try to get to 700 HR's. Twins have nearly no shot at overcoming Cleveland and Chicago. Math yes...reality--no. The fans deserved to see something special last night. Ryan deserved that chance. In the era of no pitch count, this wouldn't even have been an issue. but today baseball has been sanitized, blanched, roboticized to where the game is played on a spreadsheet, a computer and a plethora of analytics that clog the life line of the former beauty of the grand old game. If Ryan goes out next start and craps the bed, of what good would pulling him last night have accomplished? If he goes out and pitches 7 more no-hit innings, would that have been because he didn't exceed 106 pitches last night. We'll never know because ballplayers are human, not robots. There may be no logical reason to explain why Spahn and Nolan Ryan threw no-hitters at an age when almost all pro athletes have retired...but they did it. They got the chance and they took it. Joe didn't get the chance and baseball and its fans are poorer for it.
  7. insagt1
    Once Bobby Orr's cartilage was worn out in his knees, he was all done, at a pretty young age. there was no fix. AK may be in that same boat. As for Buxton, so many 'parts' of his body are damaged that its like a game of 'whack-a-mole' with him. You fix one thing and another injury just pops up. It wouldn't surprise me if we have seen the best of him. He plays all out. His body won't allow that. Its a shame we can't see that 5 tool player showcase his talents completely. He tried playing hurt this season and save a few dingers, it just didn't work. He was actually a liability at the plate most nights. Thats not what he wants and it isn't what the Twins want.
  8. insagt1
    Quote from our manager: 'this thing is not over. It's not close to over' Its not over---correct. It's not close to over--incorrect. Its very close to over. He is saying all the right things publicly but he must know in his heart of hearts....its really over. Unless he pulls all kind of magic out of an non-existent hat, this team won't be beating Cleveland this weekend. And I seriously doubt they can sweep KC, which they will have to do to stay even remotely in the race (which i believe has left the building) Fundamental baseball has also left the building. When a team is struggling mightily with scoring runs, why not bunt? Why not try to hit to the right side? Why not try and manufacture a run instead of trying to hit the ball to North Dakota? The lower half of our lineup and the bench is woefully inadequate so you have to get creative. But really, Twins are not as good as Cleveland or Chicago right now. We fans really shouldn't be expecting much. But what we do expect is for these guys to go out everyday and bust their tails trying. What we have seen too much...lack of hustle; mental mistakes; and real bad pitching. Thats probably not going to change in the final handful of games.
  9. insagt1
    I like all the changes. Living in a minor league city, I have watched how they all impact the game. ALL for the better (except the shift is still allowed at AAA) The pitch clock hasn't hurt the game one single bit. And it also keeps the batter in the box, where he belongs. For decades he had to stay in there, but suddenly with the advent of the batting glove and a lot of other between pitches nonsense, a batter stepped out after every pitch. Nonsense. The game IS faster and crisper and much more enjoyable to watch. No question. And the number of automatic penalty balls or strikes has been miniscule. Players adapted quickly. The clock starts once the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher. So no, he can't wander around the mound. Also the rule that allows only 3 'step-offs or throws to first' per batter is also great. Pitcher will only throw over now when he has a legit chance of picking the runner off. Less time between innings is also a big plus. I only wish they would limit the warm-up tosses a new pitcher takes when he enters the game. What the heck was he doing in the bullpen besides wearing out his arm? Getting used to the mound? You need 8 pitches to do that? One of baseball biggest wastes of time. Overall, the increased pace of the game has really helped keep the fans engaged and yes, in most cases you will see as much as a half hour (of totally wasted time) shaved from the games. We hear ZERO complaints from fans on these changes. ZERO. The shift? Yes it was used in days of yore....sparingly. Not for every batter. And never with an infielder playing the outfield, except in the final inning trying to preserve a lead. Hitters have not adapted by bunting or going the other way. Having the infielders play their regular positions will not slow the game down. Besides we rather prefer batters hit the ball...anywhere, than strike out. I think the shift has been bad for the game. Somehow we managed for decades without its constant use. Would also like to point out that perhaps while offsetting more ground ball singles, taking 'time', pitchers used to pitch complete games, which reduced the time of games. Bigger bases? Meh. OK. We have seen a few more steals this year at AAA, but its impact has not been seismic by any stretch. At least not yet. Ghost runner? Haven't heard the final decision on that. Its a huge gimmick, like the shootout in hockey. I will say it does add more excitement and strategy to extra innings. I say it reluctantly because I detested it when first introduced. If they keep it, I'm OK. If they dump it, I'm also OK. Just don't ever decide a game with a homerun hitting contest!!
  10. insagt1
    I am intrigued at the scenario presented whereby the Twins could be tied for first by next Monday. I also can't think of any way that is remotely possible. I don't see how Twins can sweep the Royals, as bad as they are, Twins are equally as bad. Angels are awful so how could they win a series against the Guards? Detroit is also awful so taking 2 of 3 from Chisox seems unrealistic. And of course Twins winning 4 of 5 from Cleveland is a pipe dream right now, unless something seismic happens to the Twins lineup and pitching. But--it did demonstrate the math that says it isn't over until Yogi says its over. Twins won one game last week. Thats hardly a 'playoff push'. Rather its a demo of a team that has run out of fuel. Wish it weren't so.
  11. insagt1
    Twins have some real issues to contend with in 2023. First and foremost is Buxton. His pure talent and excitement is being stolen by his fragile body. Its not a small sample size anymore. He can't stay healthy. He played more games this year yes...but how many of them were played while he was hurt and just not wanting to come out of the lineup? I have to believe he was mostly hurt right from opening week. Its not fair that someone with SO much talent can't utilize it. He will always be a liability so what to do? After the first several weeks, Buck wasn't a good hitter at all. Then Kirilloff. Lots of potential but he too appears to be chronically hurt. His wrist may never heal enough for him to hit major league pitching. Larnach was hurt all season. Sano was hurt all season (but frankly not missed and his tenure with the Twins is definitely over) Bullpen has more liabilities than one can count. Again. Taylor Rogers may have completely lost the bubble after a hot start in San Diego, but his replacement here has been one huge trainwreck. Kepler is probably going to be an ex-Twin once the season ends. And thats OK. He has been mostly disappointing. Celestino has hit under .200 for a couple months now. He's young, but I don't think he has a high ceiling. I can see the Twins finishing up 8-10 games behind the leaders and certainly under .500, if those last 3 ugly games against Cleveland are any indication of the final 3 weeks. Would be nice to be totally wrong naturally. And anything can happen. But realistically, there doesn't seem to be much light at the end of this tunnel.
  12. insagt1
    Lopez continues to just be awful. Took a one run game and turned it into a 3 run game in the blink of an eye. Yeah, thats why we got him huh. He joins an ever growing list of bullpen liabilities that can't be trusted. Except this season is over so experiment away. Another awful offensive effort. Terrible AB;s in the 9th except for the two walks. The others were as expected...terrible. I still chuckle at a previous comment that said he left two Twins tickets on his dashboard. When he returned to his car he found it had been broken into and someone had left 2 more tickets to go along with the other two. Fact is, 3 crucial home games against a team they could have passed in the standings. Instead, they weren't in any of those games at all. There just isn't enough talent on the roster right now to compete. Does anyone honestly feel they will be able to win at least 4 games against the Guards next weekend? For me the pressure is off. I will casually watch a game or two from here on out...unless of course they suddenly reel off 7 straight wins to tease us....and I'll crawl back on the bandwagon. Its disappointing that we led for so many months, only to completely fall apart. But thats baseball.
  13. insagt1
    While Buxton has played more games this season, he has played many of those games hurt, just to try and stay in the lineup. Outside of his 28 HR's, he hasn't performed well at the plate and to avoid injury we didn't see that dynamo in the outfield or on the bases. It wasn't real pretty. I would shut him down...hope for a more healthy player in 2023, but the reality seems to be the poor guy just cannot stay healthy. Sano had a wasted season and will be gone. And I suspect for many he was forgotten long ago. Celestino is a rookie, yes, but being thrown in to everyday play has shown he's not ready. While the farm system may not be overflowing with talented outfielders, I have to wonder if Celestino will ever really 'make it'. Maybe? Kepler has worn out his welcome in Minnesota and should not return in 2023. His potential seems to have peaked and its not good enough. I'd like to see Correa return. And the pitching staff could sure use a dose of being healthy in 2023. This season was an improvement from 2021, but the end of season flop has tempered that optimism. If somehow they find the magic beans and ascend the AL Central throne, I'll look back on this post and bow low for sure. But it would be a real shock if it happens.
  14. insagt1
    The pressure is off IMO. There will be no AL Central crown for these guys and frankly they don't deserve it anyway. Just play out the string and be done with it. When you try and comeback from 7-0 and 6-0 deficits on consecutive nights, what realistically does anyone expect? All the games left with Cleve and Chi really are irrelevant now because they would have to win just about all of them to gain back the ground they are losing now. Twins aren't nearly good enough to run the table, so we need to face the facts that this is a 3rd place team that may not finish over .500. If they win a few more, fine. But the 'talent' they currently have available to play isn't good enough. They should probably shut Buxton down for the year now. What good will he be coming back with a handful of games left and Twins completely out of the race? Let him heal and see what plague will infect him in 2023. Its football and hockey time.
  15. insagt1
    I'd add Celestino to the list of players who shouldn't be here. He can't hit and his mental lapses are aggravating. He is perhaps a prototype AAAA player. Shouldn't be an everyday player with the Twins, but of necessity he has been. Cave and Garlick try hard, but they too are a cut below. I give Cave high marks for defense, and energy. I just wish he could hit more. Twins pitching is in dire staits. Starters are not good and the pen is all over the place. The Lopez deal has been a bust. Guards and Sox are better and by season's end we will be seeing that....save a total turn-around by the floundering Twins. Losing a crucial home game to the team you are trying to catch is never good...no matter how many runs they tried to come back from. It was still a loss and it was costly.
  16. insagt1
    I think it is becoming more clear that the Twins are going to come up short this season. The comeback was nice, but in September there definitely are no moral losses. You get nothing when you lose and right now it just seems like both Cleve and Chi are better (as most thought from the beginning) Maybe if the core Twins were all healthy and playing well it would be different, but they aren't and it isn't. When you dig that big a hole, a 7 run comeback stops one run short and you lose a very key game. Its frustrating. Obviously we all want to love this team. But it isn't very lovable. There always seems to be something missing when it counts. If they don't win the next two, the rest of the schedule isn't going to be pretty. Still hope, but its flickering.
  17. insagt1
    Yep--neither one of them have been any kind of addition.
  18. insagt1
    No disrespect but a little chuckle from the geezer. wOBA and xwOBA sound like the thing I strapped to my face in the Navy when I needed to breath clean oxygen. wRC+ sounds like the cola that finishes a distant 3rd to Coke and Pepsi. Man, I'll never understand all these initials. I appreciate what the analytics try to tell us, but for me, they tell us too much that clogs the baseball arteries. Catcher...catch the ball; throw the ball; pick the pitches; swing the bat. Some do it better than others. In Twins case, many feel our guys don't do it better than others. Certainly up for discussion. Meanwhile I'll shine up my Oxygen Breathing Apparatus and have another RC Cola thank you!
  19. insagt1
    Last night it was the rookie Hamilton who was caught snoozing. But Billy H has not exactly justified his spot on the roster either has he.
  20. insagt1
    Twins really did try and give last nights game away, and I thought for sure they would. Who wouldn't, after ex-Twin and having a miserable season Aaron Hicks hits a two strike double in the 9th? Hard to picture that win being a momentum builder, given the current lineup and the many mental mistakes. But it was an important win and now they have to dig deep to try and figure things out....fast. Their inability to compete against the 'best' is pretty sad.
  21. insagt1
    It is turning out quite clearly that the Lopez acquisition was not a good one. The guy frankly has been terrible and his body language indicates he knows that. A nowhere near home plate wild pitch ball 4 allowing a run was simply mind blowing. He is not pitching with any confidence and he is definitely not closer material. Hamilton pinch running for Sanchez and then immediately getting picked off. What a nightmare. Twins need to get some regulars back. Will Buck be available this weekend? No way we compete with Cleveland if we continue to play poor fundamental baseball. the win last night salvaged the season...so far, but these next 3 games are key...with the Sox right there with us. The win reminded me a little of the O's win against Toronto after getting blown out in the double header. It was a gasp, but nothing more. They were beat easily the next day pretty much ending their playoff hopes. They aren't good enough, yet. Same with the Twins. They got a small reprieve last night but their play certainly hasn't been anywhere near good enough to sustain it against a better (albeit, underachieving team) Guardians. Still, their destiny is in their hands if they can somehow pull things together. I'm starting to slot Lopez in the same hole as Pagan. Unreliable, with good stuff. Glad they finally won, but still real concerned it won't matter.
  22. insagt1
    I have been watching baseball for 7 decades. I can only count one, possibly two times a pitcher was pulled early from a game where he was throwing a no-hitter. And this year it has happened several times, (relatively speaking) sometimes as late as the 7th inning. What that means is that exceptional personal achievement is no longer rewarded in a sport where you play everyday for 6 months. BAseball has always been about stats, even though the old tried and true stats are being reduced to nothing. Watching a team parade out 5, 6, and 7 pitchers every game (it seems) diminishes the overall enjoyment of the game. (I know thats an subjective statement...so I'll leave it as it applies to me) You still show me (and you can't anymore) a pitcher who wins 15-20 games, has an ERA of 2.00-2.50, strikes out more than he walks, and finishes what he starts several times...and I'll show you someone I would make an extra effort to watch every 5 days. And most those games would be well played and fun to watch. One stat I have always thought was practically impossible to understand was the year when Bob Gibson finished with that 1.12 ERA..yet he suffered 8 losses! You just have to wonder how your team could lose that many when your pitcher basically gives up 1 run per game.
  23. insagt1
    I agree with the sentiment that if the rest of the lineup was doing its job, whether the catcher can hit or not is normally not that important. But the rest of the lineup has pretty much ended up in the IL or gone south for an early winter. That leaves the Twins hoping that their pitching could carry the load. They can't. Whats the solution? Probably 2023, because it sure doesn't look like any of the hitters are snapping out of it. I boggles my mind that Correa has fewer than 50 RBI at this point in the season. He was signed to be an offensive threat and that just hasn't happened. Polanco is having a terrible year. Buck has 28 HR's and thats it. He has been hurt, as advertised, all season long and it took a toll. He strikes out like Sano...hardly a compliment. Is anyone happy with Kepler? Larnach went down for good, early. Kirilloff may never make it back. Arraez should have been penciled in as the AL batting champ. But then August hit and Arraez didn't. Best one could say is his bat is now 'tired'. Some bright spots in Miranda and Gordon, but its not enough. So while catching is very weak, it shouldn't have been in such a spotlight. Jeffers will get one more shot, and it might not even be for a whole season. Still, Twins somehow have managed to stay in the 'race' (such as it is) and if they can figure out how to beat the Guardians and Sox, they could still steal the division. And even if your division stinks, its better to win it than to go home early. But right now, its pretty safe to say the Twins are playing poorly.
  24. insagt1
    What in the world did MLB do for over 100 years with starting pitchers? Why is it that in 2022 mid September, there have only been 11 complete game shutouts and no one has more than one? Why suddenly can't starters go deep into games, regularly? While the Twins seem to be the poster child for starter failure, the rest of baseball isn't doing very well either, apparently. The demise of the 'starting pitcher' has made the games a lot less enjoyable to watch, at least for this long time observer. 'Analytics' and all the flood of 'new' stats is clogging the life out of the 'fun'. (IMHO) Is there anything more useless and unnecessary than 'launch angle' of a HR, when watching a game live at the stadium? It truly is a new world for baseball in the 2000's. For the younger fan, this is all they will know, so its all relative. They soon won't remember the 300 game winners, and the 20+ complete games. They won't remember when an ERA of over 3.00 was NOT considered elite. They will marvel that when Maris and Mantle and Mays were slamming HR's all over the landscape, there was nary one mention of exit velocity or launch angle... only 'wow--did he hit that one a long way'. The game is different today. Is it better? Or not? Its in the eyes of the beholder. I still like the 'triple crown' stats for hitters as a measure of their skills. I still enjoy W's and L's, ERA's and CG's for pitchers. I am being told those 'stats' are useless today. They have been replaced by lists and lists of letters, large and small, sometimes with little + signs. But soon my generation of fan will be gone, so we will ride it out, into the sunset. As for the 2022 Twins...they aren't a good ballclub but neither are the other teams in their division. So despite their awful play, they are still in contention in mid-September for a playoff spot. And it would be fun to see them get in and try to break that ridiculous post season losing streak....wouldn't it?
  25. insagt1
    Michael Kay on YES network last night: "no matter what, the Yankees always find a way to beat the Twins'. While we already know that, it still stings. Twins slept-walked thru game one; totally blew game 2; and were pounded in game 3, with total system fail, especially the pitching. Its totally ugly--yet they still have a shot, trailing Cleveland by only 2. Problem is Twins are playing like total crap right now so how are they going to beat either the Guards or the Sox down the stretch?
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