bighat

Gotta tell ya what, boys: Looks like the only thing this team has to worry about is the Coronavirus, 'cause there isn't another team in this whole Central League/Division that's going to give the Twins too much trouble this season. Playoffs is another story. But yep, they are who we thought they were.

Hit the bullseye - the MLB came up with all of these safety nets so that they could play through a clubhouse spread of this virus. And now, instead of using the fire escape they built, they're panicking and making things worse. Know what shoulda happened? Every team should have had an entire 30-man "B Squad" that practiced and played simulated games in a bubble. Positive test on the "A Squad"? They're all subbed out, and - in the case of the Cardinals, for example - the B Squad flies to Milwaukee and plays the Brewers. You could have a lot of good AAA guys who could stay sharp that way. And the season could roll on. Yeah, I'm sure there would be some issues with service time and all the money and 40-man roster stuff would have to have been hashed out. But honestly this would have been the best idea.

So the risk of bringing Donaldson on board was due to calf injury problems, and he exited last night because of a calf injury. Yeesh. The Twins have a deep lineup and they also have a history of really shutting guys down at the slightest hint of injury (see: Buxton, Byron). I'd imagine we won't see Josh in the lineup for at least a week if not more. Great job Dobnak, what a luxury having this guy as the 6th starter who can fill in for anyone. The Twins may lose a couple pitchers to free agency and he's looking like he could be a real part of the rotation in the future. Avila outplaying Garver so far and it's not even close.

No Bux in the lineup eh?

I'll say this regarding some of the statements on the thread: 1. I think the "bubble concept" was impossible with MLB. The outdoor Spring Training sites are in Florida and Arizona, it's like 100 degrees there and if you're playing 3-4 games per stadium in areas like that, you've got lots of day games in unbearable heat. Sure, you could have picked 5 "regional sites" and just gone from there, but at that point you've only got like six teams playing each other all year. Baseball tried to do their best to have ACTUAL BASEBALL. The NBA is hosting a tournament, it's not even the same. 2. "Multiple Cardinals" really just means "two players". That's it. This isn't a Marlins situation. At least not yet, so let's pump the brakes on whether or not there's some kind of outbreak. 3. This is what the MLB bargained for when they set the season in place. They have disinfected clubhouses, they have players wearing masks, half the team isn't in the dugout, and they've got guys on a taxi squad so players can be replaced quickly. BUT they seem to not want to just let the wheels turn with the current system. I think reporters/media love to break this type of news and add about five exclamation points - BREAKING NEWS!!! like some kind of asteroid is on the way. Mass panic. ESPN does a full day of coverage. It's almost like if the Indians choose to play tonight, they are going to be considered reckless. 4. Should baseball just fold? Give up? Frankly I think they could power through if they were a bit less image-conscious and a bit more about playing ball. But like anything else right now, this is going to come down to Public Relations. Nobody wants to look like they're taunting the Boogeyman right now.

Locker rooms are disinfected - thus, if done properly, no Cleveland Indian should be worried about contracting Covid-19 from anyone on the Cardinals roster. Period. Game should be played - otherwise, if this is going to be PPD, just cancel the season.

2019 stats: Berrios started 32 games, tied for 3rd in the American League.Berrios had 200 IP which was good for 8th in the AL.Berrios ranked 4th in the AL with 21 Quality Starts (behind Verlander, Cole, and Bieber)Ranked 11th in the AL with 195 strikeouts. Do you know how many teams would KILL for a guy like that? Do you know how many teams in the American League even have a pitcher like this on their roster? If he were traded to any of the other 29 teams in the league, he'd be the #1 starter on like 75% of those teams. Is he Verlander? Cole? Kershaw? No, he's not. But those guys are Hall of Famers and only come along once in a lifetime. For all the Berrios bashers out there - what can he do to make you happy? Back-to-back complete game no-hitters? Look back at the numbers above, what's not to like?

Batting average basement dwellers: Sano .059 (1 hit, 8 Ks) Donaldson .143 (3 hits, 7 Ks) Garver .154 (2 hits, 8Ks) A total of 2 extra base hits between them. And they're not really having tough luck, their ABs and situational awareness at the plate has been awful. Yes it's early - does that mean we can't be disappointed?

Rogers looked VERY sharp. LaVelle E. Neal said on Twitter that getting 5 innings from Hill in a good appearance is all we should really expect at this point. He's got some mileage but he can still get it done and he did so last night. Watching Ponce de Leon pitch in those first two innings was painful. I am totally against a pitch clock, but then you see guys like that and you understand why it's under consideration. Cards can't be too happy leaving MPLS with 3 total runs after facing Homer Bailey and Rich Hill. Woof. The White Sox looked like a much more complete team than St. Louis IMO. Big series coming up.

Possible that Baldelli's trying to make sure everyone gets some playing time? I can't imagine not seeing Rogers tonight. Morneau mentioned this when Sano got a day off in Chicago last week: "It's hard to get your timing down when you're sitting on the bench". I have to agree, but he hit a double yesterday so maybe the rest did him good? It seems odd that Bux wouldn't at least play two in a row. Perhaps the ankle's barking?

Agreed. That White Sox offense was scary. And this Luis Robert kid is the real deal. The Sox also lost Eloy Jimenez during the series with the Twins which is a blow. But at full strength, their offense is as good as anyone.

Arraez leading off today. Cool.

Casey Fien is a jerk. Cruz was suspended 7 years ago (SEVEN!) and served his time.

Woah woah woah: Justin Morneau has a bunny rabbit?

Twins could very well be facing the same problem as the Phillies. Rick Renteria, White Sox manager, is being held back from participating with the team due to a cough/flu-like symptoms. Test results will arrive tomorrow on Renteria.

Nicky Delmonico's 12-pitch AB is what knocked him out. Delmonico also knocked out Dobnak with a 13-pitch AB in the 2nd game of the series.

Agree that Donaldson's off to a slow start. It doesn't look like good contact to me. No zip on those ground balls to 3rd base and SS, at least not the ones I've seen. And he didn't run out that ball to start the game yesterday but was bailed out by Polanco and eventually Cave. I am sure he felt bad about it. Not hitting the panic button yet. I did see a great clip of Donaldson looking at Nelson Cruz after his 2nd home run like "this is CRAZY!" - it's taken him one series to confirm he made the right decision. This team had 2 games of 10 and 14 runs, and Donaldson didn't get a hit in either of them. How's that for a stat? Nice to know this team isn't desperate for him to get going. Maeda looks like he's just what the Twins need. Nice job taking 2 this weekend, now a big home series!

Over reactive post incoming: Already? Injuries (Buxton, Odorizzi) and coddling (Hill) already have the Twins putting together a bullpen game and duct taping a lineup together in the 2nd game of the year. Sending a soft-tossing lefty mop-up guy (Smeltzer) into the teeth of a right-hand heavy power-hitting lineup? For two innings? Huh? Where was Romo? And yes it's too early to panic but EARTH TO JOSH DONALDSON....uh, we're waiting bud

I mentioned this on the game thread. This is what happens when you have a utility infielder playing in the outfield. Many right fielders would have made that catch and it wouldn't even have been on SportsCenter - not exactly a "routine" play but a catch that I think Kepler makes for sure.

Great.

I don't mind the cutouts. In fact, I kinda like them better than the empty seats, just from a TV perspective. I think if I were a pitcher it would bother me. For example, if one of the pictures was getting under your skin, it's just gonna stay there and look at you with those empty eyes the whole game.... No Buxton again, disappointing. I saw a quote a few days ago where he said he was "feeling more confident", which you can translate to mean: He'll be back in 1.5 weeks. The Twins are so careful with this guy, if they keep winning they might not put him in until mid August. Disappointed to see Arraez on the bench but there is a lefty on the mound. And Adrianza, despite being the team's ultimate "B Squad" player, has often dazzled in these situations. Would like to see a couple big hits from Donaldson/Sano today. Get off the schnide.

Few takeaways: 1. Polanco and Arraez are not part of the Big Bopper crew but they may very well be the keys to the offense this season. Great to see them both with 2 hits and multiple RBI. 2. Kepler set the tone and showed the Twins offense "we're ready". You see teams like the Braves, Brewers, Rockies, Royals, Colorado all getting shut out on opening day. That's going to plant seeds of doubt. Kepler set the tone, the Twins followed and scored 10. 3. The White Sox aren't a joke anymore. Their lineup reminds me of the Twins, frankly. Anderson, Moncada, Abreau, Encarnacion, Jiminez, Robert....wow. Not much breathing room until you get to the 8th batter. They don't have the depth of the Twins, the pitching is a question mark, but they are going to be good. I would HATE to run into those guys in the 1st round of these expanded playoffs. They look like they could beat anyone on any day.

I think Sano could step in and be ready for opening day....anyone else?

This looks like a great Round Table that will be interesting and beneficial to many. Looking forward to it.

Yeah I think the issue is that with no Sano or Buxton, Marwin can only cover one of those positions. I suppose Tortuga could play first base but he's also on the Covid-DL. Get used to it. Teams are going to have guys come down with Covid-19 all over the place, there are going to be tons of games where only half the roster is recognizable, I fear.