2016 Braves/Twins early grudge match thread

[biggentleben]

Just a scant 25 years after the best World Series of my lifetime, if just for arguably the best game 7 of all time, the Twins and Braves will hook up again next season as the NL East and AL Central are interleague foes. The Twins are due to host the Braves, though it hasn't always worked that home sites rotate perfectly with the non-mirror divisions when they pop up every few years.

 

In 2013, the Braves swept a 3-game series in Atlanta May 20-22, outscoring the Twins 18-8.

 

In 2010, the Braves took 2 of 3 in Minnesota June 11-13, outscoring the Twins 11-7 over the three game set.

 

In 2007, the Twins swept a 3-game series in Minnesota June 12-14, outscoring the Braves 16-5 over the set.

 

In 2002, the Braves took 2 of 3 in Minnesota June 10-12, outscoring the Twins 19-8 and playing my favorite game I've ever attended

 

So, since that wonderful 1991 World Series, the Braves and Twins have played 4 times with the Braves holding the edge 7-5 in wins and 53-39 in scoring, though 9 of the 12 games have been played in Minnesota. MLB hasn't released the home opponents for each team yet, but I'm hoping for a Braves visit to Target Field so I can convince my lovely wife to come up to have her first visit of Target Field.

 

You can use this thread to rant, rave, and rip the Braves or Twins, though keeping it civil would be lovely.

[USAFChief]

I hold no ill will toward the Braves.  

 

Even if Gant tried to push Hrbek off first.

 

http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/0805/biggest.no.calls/images/hrbek-gant(not-free).jpg

[Minniman]

The Twins have selected Scott Diamond and J.R. Graham from the Braves in the Rule 5 draft. I am certain the Braves are not happy about that.

 

On the downside, the Twins left Sean Gilmartin unprotected to select Graham. That has not worked out, as Gilmartin is now pitching well for the Mets, who took him in the Rule 5 draft, while it is an understatement to say Graham has not pitched well for the Twins.

[biggentleben]

 

The Twins have selected Scott Diamond and J.R. Graham from the Braves in the Rule 5 draft. I am certain the Braves are not happy about that.

 

On the downside, the Twins left Sean Gilmartin unprotected to select Graham. That has not worked out, as Gilmartin is now pitching well for the Mets, who took him in the Rule 5 draft, while it is an understatement to say Graham has not pitched well for the Twins.

 

Neither the Braves nor Braves fans really miss Diamond. Graham is more of a fans missing him than an organization deal. They left him unprotected for a reason. He needed a new start. He's been a below average reliever for the Twins this year, and I believe that he could have used a year or two in the minors to develop as a reliever. He isn't really missed in the system either. He'd not even be a top 10 relieving prospect in the Braves system right now.

 

Gilmartin for Doumit was a poor trade for the Braves, but it was really trading a buffalo chip for a pile of bull crap as far as the Braves were concerned. I'm not sure if the Braves would have made the move of Gilmartin to LOOGY role either.

[Minniman]

 

 

Gilmartin for Doumit was a poor trade for the Braves, but it was really trading a buffalo chip for a pile of bull crap as far as the Braves were concerned. I'm not sure if the Braves would have made the move of Gilmartin to LOOGY role either.

 

Leaving Gilmartin unprotected and then taking Graham was a mistake by the Twins.

 

Of course, we don't know how well Gilmartin would have pitched for the Twins organization.

[blairpaul715]

 

Leaving Gilmartin unprotected and then taking Graham was a mistake by the Twins.

 

Of course, we don't know how well Gilmartin would have pitched for the Twins organization.

I disagree, Gilmartin has little to no upside, at least Graham, if he stays healthy has a decent upside as both a starter or reliever.........of course it helps that he can throw in upper 90's.

[biggentleben]

 

I disagree, Gilmartin has little to no upside, at least Graham, if he stays healthy has a decent upside as both a starter or reliever.........of course it helps that he can throw in upper 90's.

 

Graham really torques his upper body to get any movement on that upper 90s. Likewise with his offspeed stuff. I was hoping that if he remained in the Braves system that they'd teach him a split and put him in the bullpen as a split paired with a straight high-velocity fastball is a good combo, with the split acting as a change with movement. Not sure if Graham's hands could handle it, but that'd be where I'd go.

 

I think his possibility as a starter is gone. He simply will not be able to remain healthy, start, and throw upper 90s with any wiggle on the fastball or any of his breaking stuff. So, you can keep him starting with the same stuff and he won't be healthy, you can relieve him and keep the same stuff and he'll still eventually break down again, or you can adjust the stuff drastically to attempt to hold onto healthy starting.

 

I am/was a huge JR Graham fan, so it makes me sad to see him get to this point, but he could be a dominant reliever with a new pitch or two, so there's still some chance of high-level production from his skill set. Otherwise, what you see in 2015 will be what you should expect to see going forward.

[biggentleben]

So, I already took off the days from work. I'll be at both Braves games at Target Field, July 26-27 next summer. My wife will get her first taste of Target Field, and I'll get to watch what should be a very young and exciting (even if the won-loss record won't be pretty) Braves squad.

[biggentleben]

 

I hold no ill will toward the Braves.  

 

Even if Gant tried to push Hrbek off first.

 

http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/0805/biggest.no.calls/images/hrbek-gant(not-free).jpg

 

Hrbek = waste of Earth's oxygen, and not because of this play, but it does take a special sort of homer not to see that as a play that would be reversed today with replay.

[blairpaul715]

 

So, I already took off the days from work. I'll be at both Braves games at Target Field, July 26-27 next summer. My wife will get her first taste of Target Field, and I'll get to watch what should be a very young and exciting (even if the won-loss record won't be pretty) Braves squad.

I take it, like me, you are also a Braves fan, i didnt look to see what your age was, but I am in my early 50's and I grew up watching WTBS and became a Braves fan because of that.........but first and foremost I am a Twins fan, and 1991 was my dream World Series

[biggentleben]

I take it, like me, you are also a Braves fan, i didnt look to see what your age was, but I am in my early 50's and I grew up watching WTBS and became a Braves fan because of that.........but first and foremost I am a Twins fan, and 1991 was my dream World Series

I'm a lifelong Braves fan, and I cover the Braves, specifically the minor leagues, for Tomahawk Take. I'm in my mid-30s, but my Braves story is that my great grandma was a big fan of Hank Aaron, and she wanted another baseball nut, so at age 4, she got me Hank's biography as I was reading at that point. It took me almost a year to read it, but by the time I did, I followed the Braves and found they had the best player in the game at the time in Dale Murphy. I was hooked, even though the team was terrible at the time.

[USAFChief]

Hrbek = waste of Earth's oxygen, and not because of this play, but it does take a special sort of homer not to see that as a play that would be reversed today with replay.

Reversed on replay?

 

Maybe, but I'm skeptical. I mean, it's clear Gant should've been ejected, and maybe suspended for the next season, but I doubt they would have the courage to do that.

[amjgt]

As an aside.... The Braves are 3-24 in the last 4 weeks.

 

Wow!

[FattCrapps]

 

As an aside.... The Braves are 3-24 in the last 4 weeks.

 

Wow!

 

My disdain for the Braves has all but disappeared thanks to McCann and Chris Johnson no longer being with the team.

 

"We play the game the right way, and we'll get in your face and scream if you're not. If we see you having any fun out there, we'll throw a ball at your head. Capiche?"

[bizaff]

 

 

 

In 2002, the Braves took 2 of 3 in Minnesota June 10-12, outscoring the Twins 19-8 and playing my favorite game I've ever attended

 

I remember watching SportsCenter coverage of this game after with the announcement that the Twins we leading the series 5-3.

[biggentleben]

 

As an aside.... The Braves are 3-24 in the last 4 weeks.

 

Wow!

 

Yep, basically take the worst of TD ever, multiply it by a dozen or so, and that's virtually every Braves forum right now, especially those who have no idea what a rebuild is. That said, the Braves have one of the deepest systems in the game at this point.

[biggentleben]

 

Reversed on replay?

Maybe, but I'm skeptical. I mean, it's clear Gant should've been ejected, and maybe suspended for the next season, but I doubt they would have the courage to do that.

 

I understand you're utilizing sarcasm. The sad part is this would be a real thought for a number of Twins fans I've discussed the series with over the years.

[d-mac]

I was 1 and 1/2 in '91 so I've never understood this Twins/Braves thing. Must be nice to have been old enough to remember one of your favorite sports teams winning a championship. 

[Minniman]

 

Hrbek = waste of Earth's oxygen, and not because of this play, but it does take a special sort of homer not to see that as a play that would be reversed today with replay.

 

Hrbek was a very good defensive player. He would have a few Gold Gloves had the New York press pushed for Mattingly every year. Mattingly was very good, but when their fielding percentage was tied, or even when Hrbek was better, Mattingly got the gold.

 

If the Twins had another Mount Crushmore, they would win more games.

[biggentleben]

 

Hrbek was a very good defensive player. He would have a few Gold Gloves had the New York press pushed for Mattingly every year. Mattingly was very good, but when their fielding percentage was tied, or even when Hrbek was better, Mattingly got the gold.

 

If the Twins had another Mount Crushmore, they would win more games.

 

That's no slight to his on-field career. I've had numerous encounters with the man, and I hope never to have another. I truly think he's one of the most vile, self-absorbed non-politicians I've ever met. However, he's a local guy who made good and does "good" things with his money, so a lot have a different opinion.

 

This particular moment was one where Hrbek's competitiveness caused him to go beyond the scope of the game. Seeing myself in the same spot, would I have done the same? Very possibly, to be honest, but as a Braves fan first and Twins fan first, I was outraged at the call live, and after years of replays and everyone BUT Hrbek saying it was a poor call, it adds to my already poor opinion of the man. At least guys like Joe Niekro and others have come clean to admit their bending the rules, but Hrbek never has once.

[ashbury]

And everyone BUT Hrbek saying it was a poor call

You should get out more.

[biggentleben]

 

You should get out more.

 

I do plenty. It takes a pretty specially touched homerific person not named Hrbek to claim there wasn't a poor call on that play.

[biggentleben]

I know Twins fans find it funny, but I also know Yankees fans find the Mauer foul line call funny, and I'm pretty sure not a single Twins fan would giggle about that...

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Hrbek = waste of Earth's oxygen, and not because of this play, but it does take a special sort of homer not to see that as a play that would be reversed today with replay.

 

I don't see why people get too worked up about this.  If memory serves me right, the next batter hit one that would have been a double play.  Of course, that was many many years ago...

 

What's real wrong about all of that was the death threats Hrbek got after that...  didn't exactly display the class of Braves fans there.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I know Twins fans find it funny, but I also know Yankees fans find the Mauer foul line call funny, and I'm pretty sure not a single Twins fan would giggle about that...

 

Of course, one constant of baseball is that Yankees always get the benefit of the calls.  Wider zones for their pitchers, smaller ones for their hitters.  Replay would have fixed the Mauer one, automated strike zones would make the Yankees mortal

[biggentleben]

 

I don't see why people get too worked up about this.  If memory serves me right, the next batter hit one that would have been a double play.  Of course, that was many many years ago...

 

What's real wrong about all of that was the death threats Hrbek got after that...  didn't exactly display the class of Braves fans there.

 

...or the threats to Dennis Martinez from Twins fans after Puckett was hit. There are some crazies in every fan base, but they certainly shouldn't be considered the norm.