wickedslider

Shocked to see Cruz stand there with the bat on his shoulder looking at one right down the middle!?

The Twins were down to their last strike

I doubt you will ever see a lot of money spent on a pitching rotation here. If you look back since around 1994-95, the Twins haven't really invested much in their pitching staff. They've only had one ACE during that time, Johan Santana. Radke wasn't really an ACE, neither was Pavano though he did have a nice season or 2 here. But even when they had Santana, they only had a strong 1-3 the year Santana, Liriano and Radke were on the staff in 06. Liriano and Santana were dominant difference makers on the mound and they haven't had that since. Pitchers are the biggest risk on the free agent market and bankers don't like to take risks. I'm sure Carl gave that same advice to Jim. So unless the Twins develop their own ACE, I don't see them signing a Gerrit Cole type of player, let alone several of them ala the Astros.

Baldelli wants to save May's arm in case he needs him next game.

I wondered that same thing. IIRC there was a guy on 3rd but with 2 outs he didn't need to worry about him. If he'd have been back at the proper depth he most likely catches that ball.

you are right and they've done a better job than we have. Recall last inning, the ground shot snagged by the Yankee 2nd baseman in short right field and throw out at first base. In addition to being in short right, he was shaded towards the 1st base line and the ball was hit nearly right at him. I forget the batter...

What is Sano, 1 for 14 or something?

Sano has been horrible since his game 1 hr. He is seeing some nice fastballs but swinging right through them.

Yeah he has been dreadful which sucks because he is my favorite player.

I agree 100% on Gibson. Kepler I'm 50-50 on. He has played a serviceable center field. But his hitting isn't anywhere near where he was when he was close the being the team's MVP.

Eddie Eddie Eddie

IMHO Polanco has probably been the 2nd best hitter.

Does anyone think the core of this team fall into the same Yankee hex that the 2000's Twins did or do you think they will mature and eventually break through the curse?

Imagine how game 1 may have turned out if Baldelli had used tonight's relievers then? How do you not go to your best relievers in an effort to win game 1 when you have the chance? They had to split in NY and winning the first game is especially important as it was quoted by the announcers that 73% of first game winners end up as series winners.

Yankee starting pitchers aren't "all that" compared to Houston or Washington. They've basically outslugged their slightly above average rotation just as the Twins did. However, the Yankees pitchers don't issue many walks and the Yankees play better team defense than the Twins.