First 3 Games: + & -

[twinsnorth49]

 

Not sure you tell me
Whichever "analyst" that said the Orioles would be a doormat is a dummy.
These same "analysts" predicted an Indians Nats World Series last year

You've lost me, I thought we were talking about Dozier not realizing the games count now. Carry on though.

[Foghorn Leghorn]

You've lost me, I thought we were talking about Dozier not realizing the games count now. Carry on though.

My bad, someone else said that an analyst said Baltimore would be a doormat. Meant to respond to him

[bluechipper]

 

I want nothing to do with Dozier batting 3rd.    At Spring Training I saw him come up twice in with a runner on third and nobody out when he was batting 3rd and struck out both times.    All he had to do was hit a ground ball to the right side or a fly ball to get the runner in and he failed both times (as did the two guys after him).    If they find somebody who can get on base better than him, move him out of the leadoff spot and put him at 5 or 6.    He has a career .729 OPS with RISP and .639 hitting 3rd (although in only 89 PA).    I just feel like he gives away too many AB to be a run producer.    I'll reconsider when he starts using the whole field.

I actually agree with this after thinking about it a bit more. Hitting 5 or 6 in the order seems better, especially if he can't get on base more often out of the leadoff spot.

[Kwak]

 

You're saying he doesn't? In only 4 innings pitched, he's got 7 strikeouts, a 2.25 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. I mean, SSS and all that, but it's hard to complain about that. 

He allowed both of Hughes baserunners to score.  Those don't show up on his ERA (Hughes' though)--but they definately appear on the scoreboard.  Alone strikeouts don't matter any more that any other out--provided the opponents aren't scoring!  But when the opponents score--strikeouts are simply a red-herring.

[jimmer]

My opinion of the team hasn't changed a bit.

. Neither has mine; however I think we had different opinions. I predicted 78 wins. This team does have a good lead off guy and has three players who should bat 9th. Other than RF where the defense is bad, the overall defense is average and our rotation and bullpen are below average.

[FunnyPenguin]

I think I'm going to eat some words, actually lots of words, about Mauer and say he's looking pretty good!  One HR and another fly ball that carried almost over.  I am going to going out on a limb and say Mauer will hit .275 with 17 HR this year...

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

My bad, someone else said that an analyst said Baltimore would be a doormat. Meant to respond to him

Highly doubt anyone would refer to Reusse as an 'analyst.'

[Loosey]

Referring to multiple posts here but from watching these 3 games, SSS I know, it almost seems like situations are lost on the hitters.  The Dozier batting with no outs and guy on third and striking out example is one. I've seen him do this in the past, he treats each at bat the same and hacks away.   I don't understand why these guys don't shorten their swings up in situations where are run is a given on a ground ball or average depth fly ball.  Instead they swing for the fences when an 110 foot ground ball does almost as much.

[Reider]

 

Referring to multiple posts here but from watching these 3 games, SSS I know, it almost seems like situations are lost on the hitters.  The Dozier batting with no outs and guy on third and striking out example is one. I've seen him do this in the past, he treats each at bat the same and hacks away.   I don't understand why these guys don't shorten their swings up in situations where are run is a given on a ground ball or average depth fly ball.  Instead they swing for the fences when an 110 foot ground ball does almost as much.

In my opinion, the reason(s) why a player would want to hit the ball hard (normal swing) with a runner on 3rd and 0 outs, are pretty obvious.

 

a) The player isn't necessarily trying to hit a home run, but if it is hit to the outfield (e.g. fly ball), a hard hit ball is more likely to be deeper in the outfield and give the runner a better chance at scoring. On a line drive to the outfield, it has a higher chance of landing.

 

Any infield hit will in theory be harder and thus make it more difficult for the infielders to get to, thus increasing the chances of scoring the runner from third. If Dozier it's the ball 102mph between infielders, nobody is getting it. However, if it's a 72mpg bouncer, it allows the infielders more time to field the ball. Perhaps the runner still scores, but it's a a guarantee the runner scores if it gets by the fielders into the outfield.

 

As for Dozier specifically, I do recall him bunting over a runner to 3rd base from 2nd base the other day, so he's not always going up there hacking away. I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing out there. It's just a matter of determining the risk/reward of each decision.

[Thrylos]

 

If this awful hitting continues, Buxton should bat leadoff, with Dozier 3rd. Maybe it's just Dozier's rough start, but I don't really like him leading off.

 

So you want your coldest player to bat third?  Gee

[Thrylos]

 

Highly doubt anyone would refer to Reusse as an 'analyst.'

 

A C is missing

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

A C is missing

I want to like this post, then un-like it, so that I can like it again. 

[bluechipper]

 

So you want your coldest player to bat third?  Gee

The Twins only have one player who isn't currently cold...so sure why not?