Game 66 - Twins vs Pirates - 6/19/12

[Brock Beauchamp]

Whoops, no one started a thread today.

 

Twins

Span, CF

Revere, RF

Willingham, LF

Morneau, 1B

Ploufe, 3B

Doumit, C

Dozier, SS

Carroll, 2B

Diamond, P

 

Pirates

Tabata, LF

Harrison, RF

McCutchen, CF

McGehee, 1B

Walker, 2B

Alvarez, 3B

Barajas, C

Barmes, SS

Correia, P

[JB_Iowa]

Missed all of the 1st inning except the last ground out. What's up with Diamond?

[IdahoPilgrim]

Missed all of the 1st inning except the last ground out. What's up with Diamond?

He's not throwing strikes across - lot of low balls, getting behind hitters.

[JB_Iowa]

Thx. Unfortunately he's due for a bad outing and Dozier didn't help him there.

[JB_Iowa]

Have to be impressed by Diamond's composure.

[IdahoPilgrim]

That was a better inning. Maybe Diamond is getting going now.

[ashbury]

Boy, if you looked up the word "journeyman" in the dictionary you might see Kevin Correia's picture. And yet he's got the Twins well in hand through four. Everytime we think the offense is looking OK, they make some guy seem like Cy Young.

[JB_Iowa]

At least Diamond doesn't open up a vein. Keeps the bleeding to a minimum.

[mhanson93]

Stop the presses!!! Revere reaches on a walk!!

[JB_Iowa]

Managed to knock out Correia. What left-handed pitcher will be coming in?

[Guest USAFChief]

How in heaven's name does Revere not score from 2nd on a single to center?

 

EDIT: and of course it ends up meaning the Twins don't score.

[snepp]

How in heaven's name does Revere not score from 2nd on a single to center?

I missed it, should he have scored?

[Guest USAFChief]

I'm on radio, not TV, but it's difficult for me to imagine holding Revere at 3rd on a clean single to CF.

[JB_Iowa]

The single was fairly shallow but he could have scored if he went all out.

 

Dick-Bert mentioned something about knowing where infielders were positioned. Unfortunately I wasn't really paying enough attention to see what happened.

[JB_Iowa]

Nice HR by the Span Man

[IdahoPilgrim]

Man, what have they been feeding Span recently? Musta ate his Wheaties.

[JB_Iowa]

On Revere not scoring, I still have questions about Liddle's effectiveness at 3rd but it is so hard to tell anything on TV. I hope that one of these days some of the people who go to a lot of games will comment on what they observe from him.

[snepp]

Gotta love giving up a cheap home run.

[Guest USAFChief]

Gotta love giving up a cheap home run.

They prolly have the A/C blowing out when the home team is up.

[JB_Iowa]

A game that sped by in the first 5 innings is now definitely dragging along.

[IdahoPilgrim]

So what was all this chatter earlier about the Pirates wanting to trade for Willingham or Morneau because they wanted more hitting? Looks to me like they are doing just fine.

[mnfireman]

Why isn't Casilla on 2B? Need to show a little hustle, not take it for granted that the catch will be made.

[Guest USAFChief]

So what was all this chatter earlier about the Pirates wanting to trade for Willingham or Morneau because they wanted more hitting? Looks to me like they are doing just fine.

They don't get to face Twins pitching every day.

[jokin]

Why isn't Casilla on 2B? Need to show a little hustle, not take it for granted that the catch will be made.

Uhh, because I think Carrol was already holding at 2nd??

[mnfireman]

Yep, sorry missed that!

[jokin]

What an uninspired and non-compelling performance, is anyone still of the mindset that Ryan should be thinking about the Twins contending this year?

[glunn]

What an uninspired and non-compelling performance, is anyone still of the mindset that Ryan should be thinking about the Twins contending this year?

I think that many players on the team have given up in one way or another. The good news is that there should be no question about the Twins being sellers this year. Hopefully, Ryan will hold out for very favorable deals, and refuse any deals that are not great ones.

[Ultima Ratio]

Went to the game tonight; here's some thoughts:

1. Willingham totally misread the ball and got a very late jump on the homer in the 1st. My seat was on the 3rd base line (close to the field) and just past 3rd base itself -- and I saw, in real time, the ball hit the wall and ricochet into the stands. Not a very athletic looking play by Hammer, reminding me of the Jose Conseco ricochet for a homer, though the sun was right in the Hammer's eyes. Point being though, is that even misreading the ball initially, he had a play on the ball and could have caught it... it didn't appear to be that difficult a play.

2. Diamond was effectively erratic, and really settled in nicely after the 1st inning jam. The bullpen looked the worst I've seen it all year. Duensing looked to be grooving pitches and not competing much.

3. The entire team appeared lazy and uninterested at the plate except Plouffe.

4. Thanks to Parker's analysis on Plouffe's swing, I paid special attention to his at bats, and noticed how steady his head was through his swing and how he kept on the ball for a very long time though his swing, shooting a single to the opposite field. He looks like a professional hitter now. Doumit and Morneau, on the other hand, looked overwhelmed at times. Morneau looks like the game is playing at a speed that is one click too fast for him... but I take this optimistically, that he's going to figure out how to make better ABs and be able to stay back in his swing while still being able to catch up to the fast ball. At this point it looks like he has to guess a little (off speed or fastball) pre-pitch instead of looking for pitch and reacting if you get something else. The same hitting woes go for Doumit.

5. Doumit is a horrible defensive player. Of course the following is to be expected, but many Pirates fans 'said' they were happy to be rid of him, getting on his weak ABs tonight and jeering especially loud on the double steel. This was already after the pirates took a bag on Doumit earlier. I couldn't believe how many pitches he mishandled. Balls just jumped out of his mit at times.

6. It was hot and we lost but I had a great time getting my first glimpse of Diamond. I'm planning on going to the next two games as well.

7. I hope Bert circled me

8. PNC park is still the most beautiful ballpark (that I've been to).

[Ultima Ratio]

On Revere not scoring, I still have questions about Liddle's effectiveness at 3rd but it is so hard to tell anything on TV. I hope that one of these days some of the people who go to a lot of games will comment on what they observe from him.

Was at the game and immediately thought Revere would score, but Hammer's single was well hit and on a bead to McCutchen. It must have only 2 or 3 hopped before getting to McCutchen and he's got a rifle. Revere also did not get a super jump on the ball, arriving at 3rd right when McCutchen was transferring the ball from glove to hand. It may been close and worth the risk, but it looked like Revere would out with an accurate throw. I agree, however, that Liddle's decisions have been less that impressive and without much intention and authority.

[jokin]

Was at the game and immediately thought Revere would score, but Hammer's single was well hit and on a bead to McCutchen. It must have only 2 or 3 hopped before getting to McCutchen and he's got a rifle. Revere also did not get a super jump on the ball, arriving at 3rd right when McCutchen was transferring the ball from glove to hand. It may been close and worth the risk, but it looked like Revere would out with an accurate throw. I agree, however, that Liddle's decisions have been less that impressive and without much intention and authority.

Questions for you, UR. Dick and Bert brought up the fact that the Pirates catchers have only thrown out an incredible 4 of 53 baserunners attempting to steal. With the Pirates stealing at will on Doumit, what was holding Gardy back from sending his runners at will?

 

Question 2: How do you like PNC in person? I've seen only the exterior in person, looks like a great ballpark.