Agree that Our OF defense is relying on Buxton turning it around at the plate.

 

If he is sent down at some point, Rosario or Kepler shifts to CF and Santana/Grossman is out there. We are worse in two spots.

 

Buxton needs more reps. But in 2 weeks if he is still as lost he could be down.

Agree that Our OF defense is relying on Buxton turning it around at the plate.

 

If he is sent down at some point, Rosario or Kepler shifts to CF and Santana/Grossman is out there. We are worse in two spots.

 

Buxton needs more reps. But in 2 weeks if he is still as lost he could be down.

I don't think these first six games have much predictive value, but what I like is, you can't take away those wins.

 

They could lose four series on a row to games to one and still be .500.

 

And if they only lose two out of three series they would still be .500, 36 games from now!

 

Wins are nice things.

 

I don't think you can compare them in any meaningful stat way. I really liked Suzuki and the guy was so tough he could chew rocks and spit sand, but based solely on the eye and ear test I will echo the original sentiment and suggest both Castro and Giminez are calling excellent games. I did not feel that way with Suzuki. And no, this is not just about comparative W/L results.

Suzuki was a warrior.  No matter how beat-up he got, he still played.  Especially when the Twins backup catcher were, umm, ya know.

Number 5 is the most important, and is the one over which the team has the most control. All the Astros did a few years back, besides, like the Twins, adding new talent, was become a team that win or lose gave the other team headaches. If the Twins concentrate on that, what happened to the Astros then and there may also happen here. Let's just play the games and see what happens.

 

Number 5 is the most important, and is the one over which the team has the most control. All the Astros did a few years back, besides, like the Twins, adding new talent, was become a team that win or lose gave the other team headaches. If the Twins concentrate on that, what happened to the Astros then and there may also happen here. Let's just play the games and see what happens.

 

welcome to the site! Nice post.

For me the OF defense is the most eye-opening. Really fun to watch.

 

That rundown by Sano was horrible. Can't say enough bad things about it, but I also expect it will never happen again. I'm sure there were several coaches lined up to say something to Miggy. Hopefully one of them did so in a calm manner.

I'm also pleased with the play of Polanco. If he had any really bad plays I missed them. This could be really great news for the Twins if he continues to play SS well.

 

It's been fun so far. Go Twins!

 

Boy, with Santana's relatively cheap contract and the way he is pitching since he came back last year, he could be the prize at the deadline, unless the Twins are still in it  #ItsHappening

i was about to say he could demand a healthy ransom at the deadline if he pitches like this all season.  A pitching hungry team contending for the playoffs could come a calling for him.

Edited April 10, 20179 yr by laloesch

If we play .500 from here on out, we'll match our record in 2015. That's good.

 

If we play .500 from here on out, we'll match our record in 2015. That's good.

 

Raising the bar.  Baby steps.

I know early wins are exciting, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here folks!

 

The great pitching won't continue, the Twins' starters are second to last in xFIP (5.04). They have had some crazy BABIP luck (.198) and near the top in LOB% and bottom on HR/FB%. 

 

While the defense is outstanding the OF has contributed -0.6 fWAR so far. They are dead last in MLB with a combined .151/.205/.192 which is good for a wRC+ of 6(!). The next lowest OF is the Giants at 30 wRC+. Not to mention they have the highest K% of any MLB outfield at 35.4%. Buxton, Kepler, and Rosario all had really poor batted ball profiles last year. So I'm not sure they're ever going to hit much this year. And no, no amount of outstanding defense can make up for a .151/.205/.192 hitting line.

 

 

 

I know early wins are exciting, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here folks!

 

The great pitching won't continue, the Twins' starters are second to last in xFIP (5.04). They have had some crazy BABIP luck (.198) and near the top in LOB% and bottom on HR/FB%. 

 

While the defense is outstanding the OF has contributed -0.6 fWAR so far. They are dead last in MLB with a combined .151/.205/.192 which is good for a wRC+ of 6(!). The next lowest OF is the Giants at 30 wRC+. Not to mention they have the highest K% of any MLB outfield at 35.4%. Buxton, Kepler, and Rosario all had really poor batted ball profiles last year. So I'm not sure they're ever going to hit much this year. And no, no amount of outstanding defense can make up for a .151/.205/.192 hitting line.

The part about the awful outfield hitting can be viewed as a good thing when the team is 5-1 despite that.

Here's your stat for the first week of play: The Twins' MEDIAN (a median is the middle number of a list of numbers – it is not the average of those numbers) ERA is 0.69, by Ervin Santana. They have six pitchers with 0.00 ERAs, and six pitchers with ERAs higher than Santana. Only three of 13 pitchers have ERAs above 5.00.

 

Good pitching.

 

I think Justin Haley will be just fine. His 5.79 ERA may be second-highest on the team, but his 0.86 WHIP is still impressive for a long-man.

 

The part about the awful outfield hitting can be viewed as a good thing when the team is 5-1 despite that.

 

Definitely. And I'm certainly enjoying the run they've had. There is a lot of good. But Sano, Castro, Polanco. and Escobar are not going to hit at double the league average production for the rest of the season. And while the Twins' bullpen is 6th in MLB in xFIP (3.08), once the starting staff regresses I don't know how the bullpen will keep that production up.

Definitely. And I'm certainly enjoying the run they've had. There is a lot of good. But Sano, Castro, Polanco. and Escobar are not going to hit at double the league average production for the rest of the season. And while the Twins' bullpen is 6th in MLB in xFIP (3.08), once the starting staff regresses I don't know how the bullpen will keep that production up.

Sano might.