Decided at the last minute to come to the game. Likely won't be here the whole time but I'm here for now. Van, see anyone you like?

 

Today's vantage point for a couple innings.

Looks like both teams brought their opening day line up. Only giminez is likely not to start in April

Nothing like a blown call to start the game

Not liking the way Sano looked in that at bat. Late on everything

Mauer hitting in the 5-hole today. About time; should be more like 7.

Edited March 26, 20179 yr by DrNeau

Did Perkins just say the only things standing between him and pitching are arm strength and velocity?

 

Phew, thankfully those are two things pitchers don't really need.

Park looked safe

What did the replay show on that pick off?

Sale is on the mound I see. Should be interesting.

 

What did the replay show on that pick off?

Bad call I think.

Cool Gibson came back from 3-0 and struck out the batter.

Nice Buxton!

Sano is going to get that strikeout record this year.

Sano is going to get that strikeout record this year.

Assuming Sano is with the team the entire year.

Pablo has dropped a few pounds.

 

Assuming Sano is with the team the entire year.

He will be. And you will take the good with the bad, because the good will be immeasurably better than any player who could be his replacement.

Do we think this is the lineup order that Molitor is going to go with (other than Gimenez)?

Do we think this is the lineup order that Molitor is going to go with (other than Gimenez)?

I was talking about this exact thing with diehard ... Molitor has certainly been trying things out and this could be getting close to what we could see.

I would be a little surprised if Mauer hits 5th, but if it bumps up Polanco I can get behind it.

So Boshers isn't making this team, eh?

Bullpen issues.

Well, I hope this means Boshers is gone.

Sano:  3k's for 3.  Eddie Rosario 3 for 3 with 2 doubles against Sale?  Welcome Home!

Bullpen:  Ufda!

This will make the cuts tonight a little easier.  Wimmers may have a chance to make this squad.

 

He will be. And you will take the good with the bad, because the good will be immeasurably better than any player who could be his replacement.

Sano looked awful out there. The way he's playing right now, I wouldn't be surprised if he got demoted. I hope he's just in a funk, but looked really... REALLY bad.

 

On the bright side, Gibson looks like he's going to take a major step forward. He was ahead of just about every batter, and got very little in terms of solid contact.  Buxton is also looking real good, and I'm wondering if Molitor is serious about putting him in the 3 spot.

I never understood the "keep him out of pressure situations by batting him 9th" line of thinking (not just for Buxton).

 

If a player is so fragile that they can't mentally handle certain spots in the lineup, then there's a problem.

 

Also, is there REALLY that much less pressure batting 9th?

 

I'd rather show confidence in young players and put them where you want them to end up.

Rosario is like an NBA player, in that any little bit of confidence (deserved or undeserved) can result in a rediculously good stretch or rediculously bad stretch

 

Sano looked awful out there. The way he's playing right now, I wouldn't be surprised if he got demoted. I hope he's just in a funk, but looked really... REALLY bad.

 

On the bright side, Gibson looks like he's going to take a major step forward. He was ahead of just about every batter, and got very little in terms of solid contact.  Buxton is also looking real good, and I'm wondering if Molitor is serious about putting him in the 3 spot.

Well okay then, Escobar or Santana can be our opening day Third baseman. That sounds horrible. I think Sano has the benefit of the doubt and spring training does not have to be his BE ALL END ALL. If so have fun with the aforementioned options, if that is the case, I will not be watching.

 

Sano looked awful out there. The way he's playing right now, I wouldn't be surprised if he got demoted. I hope he's just in a funk, but looked really... REALLY bad.

 

On the bright side, Gibson looks like he's going to take a major step forward. He was ahead of just about every batter, and got very little in terms of solid contact.  Buxton is also looking real good, and I'm wondering if Molitor is serious about putting him in the 3 spot.

I don't give a crap about Gibson. Hopefully he is a good backend of the rotation guy this year or cut him loose, throw him into the bullpen, send him to Rochester. Sano is bigger piece to the puzzle than that guy is. Sano will make a bigger impact this year in MLB than Kyle Gibson could ever dream of.