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h2oface

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Everything posted by h2oface

  1. h2oface
    Looking forward to seeing a different experienced former manager run this team for a few games as I try to comment using the phone. ROYCE!
  2. h2oface
    Bundy has a history of being pretty horrible at Camden Yards. With all the analytics and shifting et al, it would seem prudent to not let the guy take the mound for your team there. Someone is not paying attention? "Returning to Baltimore for the second time as an opposing player, the veteran right-hander was tagged for a career-high nine runs on 11 hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings as Minnesota saw its four-game win streak snapped in a 9-4 defeat at Camden Yards. A bright spot in the Twins' surprising rotation success early this season, Bundy watched his ERA balloon from 2.95 to 5.76 in the outing opposite O's righty Kyle Bradish -- the key return piece in the deal that sent Bundy to the Angels in 2019. “One of the ironies of the baseball season,” said Orioles manager Brandon Hyde of the matchup. Another irony: Bundy’s implosion came against an Orioles team dealing with a host of offensive issues ...... But as much as any active hurler, Bundy knows what a nightmare Oriole Park can be for pitchers. An Orioles rotation stalwart from 2016-19, Bundy struggled for years to limit damage and prevent extra-base hits at his home office, before landing with the Angels via trade and now Minnesota on a prove-it free agent deal last winter. Wednesday marked his 60th start at Camden Yards, second only to former teammate Kevin Gausman among active players. The home runs he surrendered to Cedric Mullins and Ramón Urías during Baltimore’s decisive six-run third inning were the 64th and 65th he'd given up at Camden Yards, the most among active pitchers. Said Bundy: “It was horrible tonight. That’s about as simple as it gets.”"
  3. h2oface
    First time I have ever seen a guy get on base to extend the rally by being hit by the pitch, and then kill it by getting hit by the batted ball, a scorcher, for the third out. Ouch. And Sanchez gets hit by more errant balls behind the plate.That was pretty damn weird. I bet he is sore.
  4. h2oface
    Two starters (Correa and Urshela) in the lineup today playing the position that they excel at and are our best defenders. The rest out of position or not our starter (Celestino for Buxton in center, and it didn't go well). And the worst defensive catcher at the plate, today, too. I caught a lot of grief yesterday for questioning playing Miranda at his most unfamiliar position at first, even as the need presented there with Sano out. I do think it affects a young player at the plate to deal with the first callup and out of position (but hey.... Sano has made us used to .077 at first for production). Flexibility is fine, but it can really eat a teams defense up (and Bundy didn't even try for balls hit toward him.... not a fielding pitcher ala Joe Ryan or Jose Berrios). Brutal. Maybe flexibility is good, but not 6 of the 9 positions (and Sanchez behind the plate) in one game. Leaving Bundy ("......he would face an Orioles offense that had a team OPS of .609 coming into this game, the third-worst in the majors......") in for the 4th, after the Twins made a game of his debacle......... not my favorite move. Now you just give the pen the game in the 4th behind by 5 instead of 2. Best to win today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
  5. h2oface
    Today is the Bundy I expected, and against the Orioles. Perez flashback. It was comical all the "a good loss" comments after last weeks bombing in the first 3 innings. I hope they don't let him lose too many games and have a quick gong. Leaving him in for the 4th after giving up 6 in the third, and the Twins made a game of his debacle by scoring 4 in the top of the inning,...... was horrible managing. I hate to see a manager throw games away no matter what time of the season it is. Other than Ryan (and I have hopes for Gray), I really expect this to be a wonderful start, and a developing problem, especially if the playoffs happen, and the low inning pitchers will have already pitched way more innings than ever before by the end of the season. I wish for the best, but am prepared for the worst. Still not a good plan if you what to get to the playoffs.... and compete!
  6. h2oface
    Not a big deal...... he did give up 6 runs, just not all in the first inning. "....as Dylan Bundy gave up six runs in the first inning " He gave up 4 in the first, and one in the 2nd, and 1 in the 3rd.
  7. h2oface
    OK Jorge, time for you to get on board with the offense, now, too. New win streak started. Let it roll......
  8. h2oface
    All of one hit against Kluber in 6, who Boston rocked for 11 in 5 innings last time out. The dome had “perfect” weather…… so much for that excuse, for hitters - and Bundy.
  9. h2oface
    Can't say that when Bundy was signed I didn't expect a bunch of starts like this. Hopefully he will find the mean inbetween this and his first few starts. Twins are going to need to score 5-6 runs a game to have a successful season, and .500 should not be the considered successful.
  10. h2oface
    There have been some championship teams in more than one sport that didn't like each other much, and there have been teams that had great chemistry, but they still were horrible, but less horrible than they could have been because they had good chemistry. I also agree, that good chemistry, usually, makes any team better. It can also make a team that has far less talent be champions, and win over a team with far more talent and selfish, poor chemistry. As far as the OP question, "Does Winning Create Chemistry, or Vice Versa?" - it can be birthed/created from either direction.
  11. h2oface
    It's great to win these last two games, especially since our "stars", Buxton, Correa, and Polanco, are "0'fer Detroit" at the top of the line-up (0-22, 7 Ks, 2 BB). Getting the rest of the team going is key. Maxing out is a good thing. Joe Ryan is the ticket.
  12. h2oface
    Always excuses for Sano.
  13. h2oface
    I get your point, and I agree. The carnage of bad contracts for the signing team is the norm, Here are a few. to take the challenge, some that are completed, some that have years left but look to be contenders..... Alex Rodriquez #1, Mike Trout, Klayton Kershaw (only 7 years but I think I can count it as long mega for it's time..... I'm gonna), Joey Votto, Max Scherzer (7 year), Derek Jeter. The highest and 300mil+ contracts are to new to know how it will work out, but probably doomed. Tatis with the 14 year, super young, and shoulder and now can't stay off the motorcycle...... lots of things to go wrong in 14 years. But there will be some that will workout, I bet.
  14. h2oface
    The Twins get no respect. Not that the Power Rankings really mean much of anything, like a lot of somewhat predictive approaches, but after this week, they droped the Twins from 19th to 22nd! https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-power-rankings-2022-week-3?partnerId=zh-20220425-590239-mlb-1-A&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20220425-590239-mlb-1-A&bt_ee=Dod6Am6ab5vTIzYP82Vfw9RAda7NFqOitGcbZy%2FNq3breT2fx2GLTS7UVxViLGfJ&bt_ts=1650896881103
  15. h2oface
    Absolutely not. If his time on the Twins wasn't filled with enough mediocrity and errors and GDPs, Mr Sucker Punch iced it with this......
  16. h2oface
    Celestino and Pache (who got some MLB time even in the 2020 playoffs) isn't with their original team either, which doesn't really matter - probably a lot more on that list aren't. I look at the class with awe, not that only 4 5 "made the majors at all" (I will go with that, as I am not going to check. I trust you did?) But I see Guerrero ($3.9 million), Tatis ($.7 million), and Soto ($1.5 million)..... that is a wow for me, and was fun to look at and share.
  17. h2oface
    I wonder why Santana is not in the fold, and part of the Twins former player posse involved with the team. Does anybody know?
  18. h2oface
    "It feels like the Twins have faced an inordinate number of left-handed starters early on this year, and that trend continues with (at least) four southpaws on the upcoming docket." It sure does! It also feels like we have an inordiate number of right-handed starters, as we are throwing all (5) right-handed starters! So it made me curious, and I did not realize that we have no left-handed starters at all on the active roster nor on the 40-man, and only 2 left-handed relievers (Thielbar and Coulombe) on the active roster and of the 26 pitchers on the 40-man (including IL), we only have 1 additional lefty - reliever Jovani Moran! I guess that's............. all right?
  19. h2oface
    Wander Javier hitting .142 again in only High A still. Now 23. But he got 4 million in 2015. I don't think he is gonna make it. The class of 2015 is fun to look at now.... https://www.mlb.com/news/clubs-sign-top-july-2-international-prospects/c-134058394
  20. h2oface
    Aside from the glorious obvious and well covered Buxton love, let me give Gio Ushela his due, too. That play at third with the great get and throw from his butt without a bounce was truly astounding! And.... the play that Godoy finished and Larnach started with the fine throw from left is notable. Saved that run. Seeing where Godoy placed his foot as he made the tag was very impressive. Godoy working the 2 important walks, too. Both became runs with Buxton homers (which was the 2 run difference in this win). Larnach got a lot of love in the article. But the two at bats that he watched the third strike looking with the bases loaded and runners on second and third...... and that is consistency? Not a consistency I hope continues. In a lament....... it sure would be nice to have CJ Cron at first right now instead of Sano. Sano is just painful to watch, at the plate, and in the field. FIRST place feels good, even if it is with a .500 record!
  21. h2oface
    And then today, first inning, bases loaded in the first, 2 outs ....... and he watches the close first strike change up, swings and fouls at the close ball change up for strike two, and then watches a third called strike fastball at 94, perfect hitters pitch, right down the middle, no movement, and strands all 3 runners for the third out. Damn. Then in the third inning, he comes up with runners on second and third with one out, works the count to 2-2, and then watches another fastball, the seemingly only pitch he can now hit, for a called strike 3. Slow learner. At least it wasn't right down the middle.
  22. h2oface
    et al........ thanks.... I get it. Good summary. I understand that is the conclusion the presenters want me to draw. They are right sometimes, and many times not. I tend to go with actual performance. I don't think it is just luck to be able to be a situational hitter. Some luck, sure, as is all at bats. I don't think Larnach "sucks", but I am not going to sugar coat that he is sucking right now. I always welcome players, including those that the same advanced stats are saying they are hopeless, to surprise me.
  23. h2oface
    I love how baseball has transformed. When a player is sucking, there are now advanced stats to say that he is so much better than his performance and actual outcomes say they are. Now you can hit .220, and with the "advanced stats", be considered above above average at the plate. Who would have thunk it?
  24. h2oface
    Yup. Great post. It was apparent to me, not because I agree with the current processing of pitchers, but because it is the thing now, and they think that to protect their "asset", they can't go too many innings. It is a rare bird that can pitch deep and even complete games. Even Kershaw, who used to, was pulled (early in the season, ONLY 80 pitches, history of recurring back injury, short ST ramp up) after 7 WITH A PERFECT GAME! And he was OK with it. I get it, too (at least I can talk myself into it), at this point in the season, and especially for the strike affected start of the season. But if this team gets hot, and that is a big IF, and is competing at the end of the season, they have no starters that have recently gone anywhere close to 200 innings (including Sonny Gray since 2015), and some hardly even 100. It will be a huge problem. It is a huge problem for us even now, with starters pitching well but pulled early with 70-80 some pitches for the likes of the Colome impersonators from the pen and anemic offense's lack of support.
  25. h2oface
    Not a bandwagon guy..... have at it. He still isn't given the end of the game...... but he will be, I hope. He is in the right spot for his arm, his development, and the team right now. I enjoy it.
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