Western SD Fan

Orze

You almost have to wonder if this is similar to Ober's first start last season. He went out and pitched when he was sick and was never really the same.

And the horror begins. The bullpen is warming up.

That certainly helps McLean's chances of a perfect game. Twins helped him keep the pitch count in check.

Your K bet just cashed!

First time through the order, McLean is perfect.

Let's look at a glass half full perspective. Other than the Mets, there are two other teams with longer losing streaks than the Twins. The Royals and Phillies have lost 8 and 6 straight games, respectively. But this will be the game of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.

Didn't we just get done roasting the Twins for having Ober and Abel doing this in Baltimore? Prielipp may be starting on Wednesday instead of the elusive TBD pitcher. That plan may explain why Morris was hung out to dry on Sunday and the plan was to pitch him two innings regardless of his performance.

I may have missed the sarcasm. In case I didn't, we did sign up for Bundy's last season in the MLB. 8-8 with a 4.89 ERA and a -0.2 WAR. EDIT: I do think I missed the sarcasm. Sorry about that.

I guess you have to pick your poison. Usually defense up the middle is more important than the corners. When they bring Lewis back up, he will play every day regardless of his ability to play defense.

I'm hoping that will happen when Lewis comes back since I believe Gray and Kreidler can play SS.

Hello darkness, my old friend. Pagan is coming in again.

I agree. It was unlikely they would have been able to turn a traditional double play, the run still would have scored, and they would have had to face another batter.

Defensive substitutions. Clemens at first for Bell. Outman in LF for Larnach.

Essentially for arguing a check swing to Elly De la Cruz. IMO, it did look like Cruz checked his swing. He was arguing with Wendlestedt at first and the home plate ump run him.

Great job Taj! Another quality start!

I think Taj will come out for the 6th. 84 pitches and only one lefty in Lowe until the lineup turns over again. Likely will have someone warming up in case Taj gets into trouble.

Unfortunately, those are the differences between Taj going 5 or 6 innings+ in a start.

I'm not sure this was worth the challenge even if I do believe that he is safe.

That play was going to go by however it was called on the field. Since Martin was called safe, he stayed safe. I'm reasonably sure that if he would have been called out, the call would have stood as well. Use the break Twins!

One of them could have been challenged, but the situation really didn't deem it necessary. Nobody on and two outs.

It took a decent defensive play by Lowe to get Keaschall out. Both Keaschall and Larnach took a lot of pitches. Over 30 pitches in the 1st by Abbot is great at working the count. I'll take the 2-0 lead!

Opportunities are quick today to see if what some of us have been clamoring for actually works! Wallner has taken a seat for Larnach. Kreidler is in CF to find out whether he replaces Outman on Monday. Keaschall has been moved down in the order to lessen the pressure on him so high in the lineup. I have to applaud Shelton. He doesn't look like he is blindly filling out batting orders and is willing to try different things to jumpstart the offense.

I believe multiple things can be a problem at the same time. I didn't watch the game live but did when I got home. Keaschall is definitely in a phase where he needs to move farther down in the lineup. Keaschall left seven of the nine on base including twice with the bases loaded and one of those times with less than two outs. As for his defense, I have the same question that I do for Lee. Is there someone currently better that is ready to take over that position? I don't think there is and I'm willing to wait him out and see if he can improve before I replace him. There was also a comparison to Keaschall about his ABS challenge in the 3rd inning. Some context is in order. Keaschall's ABS challenge was on a 2-2 pitch with the bases loaded and two outs that clipped the inside corner of the strike zone. For example, the April 1st game against the Royals, Wallner burned a challenge in the first inning with two out and nobody on. I don't have a problem with Keaschall's ABS challenge since the situation was at an important point in the game. I have been highly critical of Wallner because it appears like he has no real approach at the plate and just looks lost. His walks and HBP are driving his OBP, not his ability to hit the ball. Wallner currently is Joey Gallo with worse defense, and we all know how much we loved Gallo on TD. Wallner's defense has deteriorated to the point that I'm willing to try Larnach out in the field just because I would prefer his bat, even against LHP. Even with all of that, I'm not ready to give up on Wallner yet, but it is quickly looking like he needs a reset, possibly in St. Paul. In case you don't like my comparison to Joey Gallo, here is a comparison to Wallner this season vs. Gallo's season with the Twins. I understand that this is still early in the season, but sometimes criticisms are still warranted.

Even Vegas favors us tonight!