July 18, 20179 yr Doesn't the catcher have to move out of the way of the plate? Did he? What's the ruling from people who know the rules better than I do?
July 18, 20179 yr I don't dislike Vargas, so I hope this isn't taken as a knock on him. But the difference between Mauer's defense at first and Vargas's is day and night. I know there's not much of a positional adjustment for 1B according to WAR and the like, but Mauer has been very, very impressive over there.I agree. IMO Vargas has under-rated defense - i.e. people say he's terrible but I think he's about league average. Soft hands and good reflexes. But.... Mauer is in a different class altogether.
July 18, 20179 yr Well, crap ... I don't like that guy out in right field. :/Don't be judgmental. Helluva throw.
July 18, 20179 yr Why didn't Molitor challenge that play? Terrible game management per usual from the hometown favorite.
July 18, 20179 yr I agree. IMO Vargas has under-rated defense - i.e. people say he's terrible but I think he's about league average. Soft hands and good reflexes. But.... Mauer is in a different class altogether. I know I'm getting into but-Sano-is-athletic territory here, but I agree. Vargas is a very big man, but for a very big man, he's not bad at defense. You can't expect him to move around like a shortstop, but he generally does what needs to be done. Mauer on the other hand is flat out good at first base.
July 18, 20179 yr Doesn't the catcher have to move out of the way of the plate? Did he? What's the ruling from people who know the rules better than I do?He can block the plate if he has the ball, he has to give a lane if he doesn't have it yet.
July 18, 20179 yr Why didn't Molitor challenge that play? Terrible game management per usual from the hometown favorite.Because.......he was out?
July 18, 20179 yr Man, you gotta get more than that from bases loaded with no outs. I kind of agree with the above posters about the lack of a challenge. What else do you think you are going to use it for that'll be closer than that?
July 18, 20179 yr I'm only 75% sure Doizer was safe so a challenge probably would have failed but thats a call I want to make sure is correct, the challenge system is idiotic, the umpires themselves should be the ones that want to make sure calls are correct. It wouldn't be hard if it was actually about getting calls right. Instead we lose the fun of a good argument and replace it with correcting the clear as day calls and calling guys out by looking way to close at sliding plays.
July 18, 20179 yr Changed my mind. It was a smart play by the Yankees right fielder. So apparently if it's OK for them to be judge-mental., it's OK for us
July 18, 20179 yr He can block the plate if he has the ball, he has to give a lane if he doesn't have it yet. This could just be homer bias, and I clearly don't have the fortitude to watch a replay ten times like Riverbrian on a routine fly ball to Robbie Grossman, but... it reeeeeally seemed like he had his foot blocking the plate well before he got that ball.
July 18, 20179 yr Dozier would've been safe if he would have gone feet first... not really sure why he chose to go into home plate sideways like that on a bang bang play. Another case in which the Twins can't convert in clutch situations. They needed to put up 2-3 runs there to feel good about themselves.
July 18, 20179 yr Why didn't Molitor challenge that play? Terrible game management per usual from the hometown favorite. Because it's not about if the call is right or wrong. The on field call is the only call they can guess on. Would have lost the challenge for the next 4 innings.
July 18, 20179 yr I know I'm getting into but-Sano-is-athletic territory here, but I agree. Vargas is a very big man, but for a very big man, he's not bad at defense. You can't expect him to move around like a shortstop, but he generally does what needs to be done. Mauer on the other hand is flat out good at first base.Vargas's range is limited, so he will never be stellar. But he attempts baseball plays when called for - with varying degrees of success, but I like it. He's not just there to receive easy throws while waiting his next turn at bat.
July 18, 20179 yr I can tell you, in all seriousness, that the moderators are most assuredly not. A few TD members have already been given a word to the wise.Sounds to me like they're getting a little anal.
July 18, 20179 yr This could just be homer bias, and I clearly don't have the fortitude to watch a replay ten times like Riverbrian on a routine fly ball to Robbie Grossman, but... it reeeeeally seemed like he had his foot blocking the plate well before he got that ball.Hmm, could be, to be honest I didn't notice.
July 18, 20179 yr I've witnessed a lot of Twins baseball over my 45 years+ as a fan. And I'm honored to be part of Twins fandom and TD. And over those many years, and the past 3+ here on TD, I've heard and read opinion, speculation, prosecution and defense of various teams, players, and the FO. In my expertise as a lifelong Twins fan, I can tell you my opinion of this current team is not mere conjecture. I love the young talent and the way they play together. I know there is a great deal of conjecture in regard to the current state and status of this team. And while the jury is certainly out as to the full potential of this team going forward, and the deliberations of what the Twins should and should not do going forward, I am certainly enjoying the process of watching thjs team develop. And I know there are experts out there who offer their opinions on the young talent currently on the roster and coming up, Keith Law being primary amongst them, I like the makeup. I like the makeup of this lineup now and going forward. This is not the usual suspects of the past. And this includes parts of the pitching staff. The evidence reveals we still need pitching help to make our case as a legitimate contender. And hopefully, through shrewd trade or FA move, or uncovering a hidden gem, we will add to Santana, Berrios and the sudden emergence of Mejia to round out the rotation. I'm really liking what this kid is doing. And I swear we are witnessing him growing in to a legitimate ML SP right before our eyes, just not with the same testimony Berrios gets. I know years of frustration with the system, and watching the man running it, can lead to a feeling of being persecuted or disenfranchised as a Twins fan, but I am a believer in the process now taking place. Go Twins! Support Mejia and get some more runs! Beat the odds and vindicate yourselves with a winning series and year, beginning with beating the hated Yankees tonight! Bang the ball and the gavel! I am an optimist. That is my decision!
July 18, 20179 yr I've witnessed a lot of Twins baseball over my 45 years+ as a fan. And I'm honored to be part of Twins fandom and TD. And over those many years, and the past 3+ here on TD, I've heard and read opinion, speculation, prosecution and defense of various teams, players, and the FO. In my expertise as a lifelong Twins fan, I can tell you my opinion of this current team is not mere conjecture. I love the young talent and the way they play together.I know there is a great deal of conjecture in regard to the current state and status of this team. And while the jury is certainly out as to the full potential of this team going forward, and the deliberations of what the Twins should and should not do going forward, I am certainly enjoying the process of watching thjs team develop. And I know there are experts out there who offer their opinions on the young talent currently on the roster and coming up, Keith Law being primary amongst them, I like the makeup.I like the makeup of this lineup now and going forward. This is not the usual suspects of the past. And this includes parts of the pitching staff. The evidence reveals we still need pitching help to make our case as a legitimate contender. And hopefully, through shrewd trade or FA move, or uncovering a hidden gem, we will add to Santana, Berrios and the sudden emergence of Mejia to round out the rotation.I'm really liking what this kid is doing. And I swear we are witnessing him growing in to a legitimate ML SP right before our eyes, just not with the same testimony Berrios gets.I know years of frustration with the system, and watching the man running it, can lead to a feeling of being persecuted or disenfranchised as a Twins fan, but I am a believer in the process now taking place.Go Twins! Support Mejia and get some more runs! Beat the odds and vindicate yourselves with a winning series and year, beginning with beating the hated Yankees tonight!Bang the ball and the gavel! I am an optimist. That is my decision!Thats it, we're all out of Judge puns
July 18, 20179 yr Dozier would've been safe if he would have gone feet first... not really sure why he chose to go into home plate sideways like that on a bang bang play. Another case in which the Twins can't convert in clutch situations. They needed to put up 2-3 runs there to feel good about themselves. It didn't look like a very good slide, did it? Though it's hard to second guess the players on exactly which type of slide to do when they have a split second to make the decision. Oh well.
July 18, 20179 yr Sounds to me like they're getting a little anal.One 'a these days, DtD, one 'a these days...http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/c_limit,w_680/fl_lossy,pg_1,q_auto/azfwvudhswrvvt2qdcdu.jpg (Aside to ChiTown: didn't you always admire Alice's stoic courage in the face of threatened abuse?)
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