yarnivek1972

How can there be playing time consequences for mental errors? Look at the bench.

I think the last MVP on a sub .500 team was A-Rod with the Rangers like 10-15 years ago. The voters tend to give the award to guys on contending teams. Speaking of which, the Indians have a pretty good third baseman as well.

He hasn’t pitched at all in a week (since June 13) He essentially has been DL’ed.

Not if he has the ball.

That’ll work. No bunt here though. They would walk Esco in a second.

Should Joe bunt here?

I hope someone is warming because Berrios is done I think.

It’s a lineup full of dangerous hitters.

idk, 3 scoreless innings against a lineup averaging 5 + runs per game. I’d call that pretty good.

Honest question looking for an answer: How does the shifting affect defensive metrics like zone rating? For example, Escobar just shifted to basically behind second base. Let’s say the hitter squibbed one down the third base line for a hit. Does that negatively affect Escobar’s stats as a ball he didn’t get to in his “zone” or do they take his actual placement into consideration?

Joe Mauer had a 9 pitch at bat to lead off the bottom of the first. The other 8 hitters were retired on 24 pitches.

Anyone else think Berrios might be a better hitter than 2 or 3 of the guys in the lineup?

Twins have three hitters in the lineup with double digits in HR. Red Sox have three hitters in the lineup that don’t have double digits in HR.

Or maybe use Magill in those closer games until he proves he isn’t capable of doing so? The guys Molitor is using now are already losing games. What difference does it make if it is Reed losing or Magill?

Here’s my question. What makes people think Carter would be better than Morrison? Morrison has basically the same numbers at the MLB level as Carter at AAA.

Pressly is still on pace to appear in almost 90 games. No one in MLB appeared in even 80 last year. Last year the highest game total was Rogers’ 69 and the most bullpen innings were Duffey’s 71. The Twins have THREE guys on pace to pitch over 70 bullpen innings. Molitor actually eased up last week. Of course, part of that was some non-competitive games. Going into last week, the situation was even more ridiculous.

I really don’t think it’s fair to lump Kepler with Buxton and Sano. First of all, he’s been in the lineup (i.e. healthy) pretty much everyday. He has an OPS+ over 100 and a bWAR of .8. Sano and Buxton can say all but 3 of those. Kepler’s problem is very much different than Sano or Buxton. Kepler has a career low 16% K rate and a career high 12% BB rate. He is not being overmatched. He has good pitch recognition and plate discipline. Sano has a career worst 40% K rate and career worst 9% BB rate. Buxton has a 32% K rate, which isn’t career worst but is still terrible. Kepler’s line drive % is 24% which is right about his career mark and just a tick below league average (26%). Sano has a 16% line drive rate, about half his career mark coming into 2018. Buxton is at 19%, also a career low. The number that stands out for me is Kepler’s .250 BABIP. He has always run low. His career mark is .265. My thinking is that it is mostly a result of hitting into the shift too predictably. That has to be the next phase of Kepler’s development. Making himself a threat to all fields. Then the shifts go away and his BABIP should normalize. Sano’s BABIP is .303. Buxton’s is an absurdly low .226, but that just shows how bad a place he is in and could be related to the foot issues resulting in extremely weak contact (further evidenced by his LD%). So, very different problem for Kepler. But one I think he can improve. He has made tremendous strides vs lhp, so he clearly is capable of adjusting his approach. Frankly, neither Buxton or Sano have proven they can adjust yet. They have gotten where they are largely with natural ability.

The number of pitches between innings is 8. Not sure if that is also before the first or not. Pitches thrown by the starter are going to be the same every start. Maybe not for each individual, but I would guess simillar total number depending on their repertoire and their experience. But certainly every starter will stick to pretty close to the exact same routine every time out. You can be certain those throws are dutifully monitored and logged.

There are 7 other guys out there. The only one who thinks Molitor needs to use Reed everyday is Molitor.

From Detroit, Cedar Rapids would be the opposite direction.

Taylor Motter wouldn’t be considered too old. Never good though.

Belisle already filled Petit’s. Presumably Taylor Motter would be the other call up. I really can’t see a situation where having literally no backup for Escobar, Adrianza or Dozier makes sense.

Which is kinda what the W/L record lately indicates. Two seasons of more than 70 wins since 2010.

That would be fine if this regime showed interest in letting them play. If you aren’t going to let them play, might as well trade them.

I didn’t even notice Motter on the 40 man until I just looked. I would assume he and Mauer take the two open roster spots.