Game Thread: Twins @ Rays 4/22 @ 12:10 PM CT

[Vanimal46]

http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jim-lange-dating-game.jpg

 

 

ANNND Welcome back! To Minnesota Twins Whine Line: The Dating Game Edition! That game wasn't very fun yesterday! I'm going to tell you a little white lie... Things will be better today! It's the last game of the series in the TropiDome between our Twins and Tampa near a Bay. Before we find the next pitcher to love, let's talk weather and lineups. Intern, take it away!

 

Van, don't you remember from yesterday that they play in a dome? We don't have to worry about weather!

 

Oh yeah...

 

Minnesota Twins (8-7):

 

 

P - Phil Hughes -- If you can't say something nice about a person don't say anything at all. So here's my recap of Hughes:

 

...

 

 

Tampa near a Bay Rays (7-13):

 

 

 

P - Yonny Chirinos (R ) - They're going with a 'bullpen game' in April. Now I've seen everything.

 

 

Alright! Enough baseball talk!! As you may know, your host has been dating to find the next Miss Vanimal... I'm ALSO looking for another pitcher besides Jose Berrios to love! I can't think of a better way to find a pitcher than playing 'The Dating Game!' Without further ado, let's pass the mic to our next host, Jim Lange!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85t-xAv9xn0

 

Thanks Van, and welcome to the show! Van is looking for love, and we have 3 eligible bachelor pitchers that can fit the bill... Let's introduce them now! Good luck gentlemen.

 

A former hot dog eating contest champion in Marion County, Indiana. Bachelor A also enjoys throwing lots of fastballs, sometimes for strikes! In addition to enjoying cocktails, he also spends time picking up pennies from fountains at parks around the city... Lance! Good luck bud.

 

Our next contestant is constantly smelling baseballs. Not because he enjoys the scent, but for superstition. In his spare time he enjoys moving his fingers gingerly so he can throw a slider again... Ervin! Good luck sir.

 

Finally, our last bachelor is currently spending time in Rochester, NY throwing lasers by players. In his spare time he enjoys the fine art of staring into nothing... Fernando! Good luck everyone.

 

Van: Bachelor A, how are you going to make me a happy fan?

Lance: Well, I'll throw lots of fastballs! If you want to see a curve ball you're not going to see it often! I want to go FAST.

Van: Yeah... I get that. But will they be strikes?

Lance: At least 45% of the time!

Van: I'm needing more than 45% in my future pitcher love... Sorry Lance, you're out.

Jim: Too bad Lance. There's complimentary hot dogs backstage if you want some.

 

Van: Bachelor B, you've been quite loveable before... How do you feel now? Can I love you again?

Erv: I think so! Look at this peace sign I can do to you!

Van: That's with your left hand... What about your pitching hand?

Erv: How do you KNOW I'm right handed? And why does that matter? I'm coming back very soon!

Van: Are you sure?

Erv: Suuuure... You know, once I can throw, have an extended rehab session, and beat father time again.

Van: Not very promising, Jim. Let's move on.

Jim: You heard the man. Get off the stage! That only leaves Bachelor C... Let's hope this works.

 

Van: Bachelor C, I don't know much about you. What's a unique fact that I can tell all of my friends and family about you?

Fernando: I love sunrises. It's the beginning of every day, and I don't know... It's just really nice and beautiful. I also throw 95 MPH.

Van: I love it! Sunrises make me smile too. I want to love you... Will you love me?

Fernando: If that helps me get called up over Gibson and Hughes, then yes.

Van: I'm head over heels!

Jim: What are these 2 crazy kids going to get into? We'll never know because we don't follow up on the dates we arrange! They look pretty happy right now though, don't they?

 

And that will do it for our show today... Let's try to win a game Twins!

[ewen21]

It might be time for an intervention from my favorite superhero of all time:

[diehardtwinsfan]

Didn't know Lance was from Indy... 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

 

 

 

Minnesota Twins (8-7):

 

 

P - Phil Hughes -- If you can't say something nice about a person don't say anything at all. So here's my recap of Hughes:

 

...

 

 

 

all of this, and Hughes will pitch a gem today.

[Vanimal46]

 

all of this, and Hughes will pitch a gem today.

 

We certainly need that today... Crazier things have happened. 

[Blake]

Good job, Van! Registered an 11 on the Weird-0-Meter and the scale only goes to 10!

[USAFChief]

Great job with the game threads this weekend Van!

[Vanimal46]

[Vanimal46]

Sano with a much needed day off today.

[Vanimal46]

It's also flabbergasting that Grossman appears so high in the batting order every game.

[ewen21]

Interesting to look back on Hughes now.  I was very much pleased with the signing when we first got him.  I can remember getting an alert on my phone that the Twins signed him.  I was actually impressed with Ryan and thought that these were the types of risks we needed to take rather than the dumpster diving that was so emblematic of what we did.  Signing Hughes to a three year deal at that time was a respectable deal and a good one.

 

When he just missed the performance incentives for innings he became a very sympathetic character in my mind.  I was upset for him that he was not given the chance to make it.  What the Twins did instead puzzled me.  We had him for two more years anyway.  Why did we extend him?  Were we THAT confident?  I know I wasn't.

 

Then during our nightmarish season in 2016, I completely flipped on Hughes.  I was watching a national broadcast of a game the Twins were playing in Cleveland on a weekend afternoon in May.  CJ Nitkowski was doing an in game interview with Hughes.  When Hughes was asked about how hard it is to approach his job when things get away so early in the season, Hughes said:

"It's like we are playing with house money now"

 

What the HELL is that?  Playing with house money in May.

There you have it.

 

No need to even read into a remark like that.  If he is simply misusing and misapplying the term he is (at best) a moron.  If he REALLY looked at it that way then he is part of the problem.  Having players like him who adopt a "playing with house money" mentality when the season is already shot in MAY is a problem.  We can't afford to have veterans with that mindset.

 

I've done a complete 180 on the guy.  I liked the deal for him coming over a lot.  Was pissed that the Twins didn't see clear to allow him to pitch another 0.2 of an inning to reach his performance incentive.  Then I was mystified by the extension.  Not against it, but kind of puzzled by it.  At this point, I would rather not see him pitch.  Especially when you consider he has thoracic outlet syndrome and TJ.  Why recovers from having both of those??

 

Hughes should just walk away with the "house money" and be satisfied.  

[Squirrel]

It's also flabbergasting that Grossman appears so high in the batting order every game.

I’m sure Brian will have another word for Grossman playing at all and not LaMarre

[ThejacKmp]

 

Interesting to look back on Hughes now.  I was very much pleased with the signing when we first got him.  I can remember getting an alert on my phone that the Twins signed him.  I was actually impressed with Ryan and thought that these were the types of risks we needed to take rather than the dumpster diving that was so emblematic of what we did.  Signing Hughes to a three year deal at that time was a respectable deal and a good one.

 

When he just missed the performance incentives for innings he became a very sympathetic character in my mind.  I was upset for him that he was not given the chance to make it.  What the Twins did instead puzzled me.  We had him for two more years anyway.  Why did we extend him?  Were we THAT confident?  I know I wasn't.

 

Then during our nightmarish season in 2016, I completely flipped on Hughes.  I was watching a national broadcast of a game the Twins were playing in Cleveland on a weekend afternoon in May.  CJ Nitkowski was doing an in game interview with Hughes.  When Hughes was asked about how hard it is to approach his job when things get away so early in the season, Hughes said:

"It's like we are playing with house money now"

 

What the HELL is that?  Playing with house money in May.

There you have it.

 

No need to even read into a remark like that.  If he is simply misusing and misapplying the term he is (at best) a moron.  If he REALLY looked at it that way then he is part of the problem.  Having players like him who adopt a "playing with house money" mentality when the season is already shot in MAY is a problem.  We can't afford to have veterans with that mindset.

 

I've done a complete 180 on the guy.  I liked the deal for him coming over a lot.  Was pissed that the Twins didn't see clear to allow him to pitch another 0.2 of an inning to reach his performance incentive.  Then I was mystified by the extension.  Not against it, but kind of puzzled by it.  At this point, I would rather not see him pitch.  Especially when you consider he has thoracic outlet syndrome and TJ.  Why recovers from having both of those??

 

Hughes should just walk away with the "house money" and be satisfied.  

 

I think you misunderstood him? The asked him if it was hard to do his job in a season where everything was going wrong and he said it was playing with house money. To me that's him saying that it can only get better from here? It's a bit clunky but I don't think I'd hate a guy over an offhanded comment in an in-game interview that doesn't mean what you think it does.

 

I've never heard anything other than Hughes being a great teammate who has busted his ass trying to get back to the team. 

[ThejacKmp]

 

I’m sure Brian will have another word for Grossman playing at all and not LaMarre

 

Grossman is now the "hot bat" after his 2-4 performance yesterday!

 

Also, right hander. Though I can't get a sense of his splits in the minors. Last year they were pronounced in favor of lefties but before that it was kind of a reverse split? Not sure how much it being the low minors changes things?

[ThejacKmp]

 

Was pissed that the Twins didn't see clear to allow him to pitch another 0.2 of an inning to reach his performance incentive.  

 

Gardy offered him the shot. Hughes turned it down, saying that it wasn't right to manufacture that # of innings - he should have done it earlier in the season in any number of starts. One of the classiest things I've seen in baseball for a while. No one would have objected to him pitching that inning but he took a moral stance.

 

Another reason I think your disgust for Hughes is a bit much. I get hating watching him pitch because it's been rough of late but as a person, he seems the consummate professional.

[Vanimal46]

I don't know anything about Phil Hughes as a person or a teammate. I just don't like watching a broken player attempt to pitch for my favorite team. And he's been broken for the last 3 years.

[ThejacKmp]

Also, Chirinos is now the Rays 4th starter, don't think this will be a bullpen game. Though he may not go 100 pitches, not sure how stretched out he is. He did throw 89 in his last game so maybe he's scaled up to 100?

 

Might see Ryan Yarbrough midway through this game with the lineup so lefty-focused. 

[Vanimal46]

Also, Chirinos is now the Rays 4th starter, don't think this will be a bullpen game. Though he may not go 100 pitches, not sure how stretched out he is. He did throw 89 in his last game so maybe he's scaled up to 100?

Ah, fair enough. I just saw he's listed as a RP on the team website.

[ThejacKmp]

 

I don't know anything about Phil Hughes as a person or a teammate. I just don't like watching a broken player attempt to pitch for my favorite team. And he's been broken for the last 3 years.

 

But aren't you kind of excited to be rooting for him? In the same way it's been fun to see LaMarre get some hits, wouldn't it be great for Hughes to have some success after working so hard to get back?

 

He's going to be the guy to go when Santana gets back in the next month so you're really only looking at 4-5 starts at most anyways. I'm excited it's Hughes. It'd be a fun little plot line if he can have a mini hot stretch before he goes to the pen.

[Vanimal46]

But aren't you kind of excited to be rooting for him? In the same way it's been fun to see LaMarre get some hits, wouldn't it be great for Hughes to have some success after working so hard to get back?

 

He's going to be the guy to go when Santana gets back in the next month so you're really only looking at 4-5 starts at most anyways. I'm excited it's Hughes. It'd be a fun little plot line if he can have a mini hot stretch before he goes to the pen.

Excited isn't the right word... It feels like this has been forced upon us since March.

[Craig Arko]

A )Moya optioned for Hughes

B )Buxton starts rehab assignment

[Squirrel]

Ill be cheering for him because I want the team to win. If he does great, I’ll be happy, but not because I think it will be a sign of things to come but because we need it right now. If he doesn’t do great, I’ll probably sigh because I won’t be surprised and will just hope the Twins start addressing these issues. And then sigh again because, well, not sure they will.

 

But I’ll wait for the outcome of the game before drawing any morose conclusions about Phil or the team right now.

[Riverbrian]

 

I’m sure Brian will have another word for Grossman playing at all and not LaMarre

 

No I'm good.

 

I've been on the LaMarre train trying to make a broader point. He played yesterday and that's good... I'd like to see him get some starts against the Yankees if Paul would be so kind.  

 

For clarification... I just think that LaMarre should play more than he has while he seems to be able to find some green grass while others can't... but I don't think LaMarre should play every day. I think there is an abundance of candidates who are not tearing the cover off the ball that can yield a little playing time to LaMarre while LaMarre is playing better than they are. 

 

I'm OK with Morrison back in the lineup

I'm OK with Sano taking a seat. 

I'm OK with Grossman trying to keep a job. 

 

I'm OK... It's Sunday and baseball is on the telly. 

 

 

 

 

 

[ewen21]

 

Gardy offered him the shot. Hughes turned it down, saying that it wasn't right to manufacture that # of innings - he should have done it earlier in the season in any number of starts. One of the classiest things I've seen in baseball for a while. No one would have objected to him pitching that inning but he took a moral stance.

 

Another reason I think your disgust for Hughes is a bit much. I get hating watching him pitch because it's been rough of late but as a person, he seems the consummate professional.

I am not judging him as a person.  I am judging him as a BASEBALL PLAYER and the way he has navigated his way through this term with the Minnesota Twins.  This might entail things that go beyond numbers.  His actions, affectations and comments effect my opinion.  My "disgust" for Hughes extends only to the things he has done related to baseball.  That he may very well be a great husband, father, Christian, etc....doesn't figure into it.

 

I do not care that he may have misused the term "playing with house money".  There are a number of small things I have seen that have left me scratching my head.  The Bachelor viewing was another thing that I was not too fond of--and while that might seem harsh--it isn't the kind of team building thing I see as being productive.  Maybe they could have gone fishing, went bowling, done something involving some more human interaction, competitive spirit and a bit more "manly" if they were trying to indoctrinate Park into their little circle of trust.

 

Not for anything, but Hughes says a lot of things in interviews that make me roll my eyes.  Might as well write his epitaph on his days with the Twins as follows: "Here lies Phil Hughes.  He never tried to do too much"

 

 

[ewen21]

 

I think you misunderstood him? The asked him if it was hard to do his job in a season where everything was going wrong and he said it was playing with house money. To me that's him saying that it can only get better from here? It's a bit clunky but I don't think I'd hate a guy over an offhanded comment in an in-game interview that doesn't mean what you think it does.

 

I've never heard anything other than Hughes being a great teammate who has busted his ass trying to get back to the team. 

 

I don't like what he said in an interview.  Why does it bother you that I have an opinion about it?

[ThejacKmp]

 

Excited isn't the right word... It feels like this has been forced upon us since March.

 

Yeah, I get that. It's always uncomfortable when it feels like the salary of the player is influencing who gets the role. But I'm not sure that's the case.

 

First of all, I don't want them to bring up Jorge, Gonsalves, Romero etc. for Super 2 reasons. Plus I think all of those guys could use a half-season in the minors to polish their game. 

 

So it comes down to whether this should be Mejia (Sledgers too I guess but he's behind Mejia for most people). Mejia is a fine pitcher but it's not like he's profiling to be anything but a #5 starter. A good Twins team in the next few years is not going to use Mejia as anything more than the #6 starter filling in due to injury. So it's not really hurting his development to give Hughes a few starts.

 

And I like the idea of rewarding a veteran for working hard. I think that has a good impact on a clubhouse, guys are really going to be excited for Hughes today, they know how long it's been for him. The Twins should definitely have a two start leash on Hughes and be quick to move on to Mejia if Hughes looks lost but I think it's not a terrible decision to give Hughes this opportunity.

[bluechipper]

 

It's also flabbergasting that Grossman appears so high in the batting order every game.

I assumed he was up there as the Designated Walker if this Rays pitcher has had control issues throughout his career, but he's basically walked no one (1.4 BB/9) in the minors.

 

Max Kepler batting 7th in this lineup is ridiculous.

[bluechipper]

I'm calling 6 innings and 2 runs or less for Hughes.

[Vanimal46]

Yeah, I get that. It's always uncomfortable when it feels like the salary of the player is influencing who gets the role. But I'm not sure that's the case.

 

First of all, I don't want them to bring up Jorge, Gonsalves, Romero etc. for Super 2 reasons. Plus I think all of those guys could use a half-season in the minors to polish their game.

 

So it comes down to whether this should be Mejia (Sledgers too I guess but he's behind Mejia for most people). Mejia is a fine pitcher but it's not like he's profiling to be anything but a #5 starter. A good Twins team in the next few years is not going to use Mejia as anything more than the #6 starter filling in due to injury. So it's not really hurting his development to give Hughes a few starts.

 

And I like the idea of rewarding a veteran for working hard. I think that has a good impact on a clubhouse, guys are really going to be excited for Hughes today, they know how long it's been for him. The Twins should definitely have a two start leash on Hughes and be quick to move on to Mejia if Hughes looks lost but I think it's not a terrible decision to give Hughes this opportunity.

I hope you're right. The team could use a spark, maybe Hughes is the guy they rally behind today. I also hope it's a 2 start leash, but I'm not convinced that's the case.

 

As far as the other prospects and worrying about Super 2, I don't think it matters that much. Pitchers have a limited amount of bullets in their arms. And the guys you mentioned are 23 - Jorge is 24. They have a better chance of helping now and the near future than Hughes.

[ThejacKmp]

 

I am not judging him as a person.  I am judging him as a BASEBALL PLAYER and the way he has navigated his way through this term with the Minnesota Twins.  This might entail things that go beyond numbers.  His actions, affectations and comments effect my opinion.  My "disgust" for Hughes extends only to the things he has done related to baseball.  That he may very well be a great husband, father, Christian, etc....doesn't figure into it.

 

I do not care that he may have misused the term "playing with house money".  There are a number of small things I have seen that have left me scratching my head.  The Bachelor viewing was another thing that I was not too fond of--and while that might seem harsh--it isn't the kind of team building thing I see as being productive.  Maybe they could have gone fishing, went bowling, done something involving some more human interaction, competitive spirit and a bit more "manly" if they were trying to indoctrinate Park into their little circle of trust.

 

Not for anything, but Hughes says a lot of things in interviews that make me roll my eyes.  Might as well write his epitaph on his days with the Twins as follows: "Here lies Phil Hughes.  He never tried to do too much"

 

You're blaming Phil Hughes because Twins players like to get together and watch The Bachelor? Because you think it would be better if they went fishing? This is by far the weirdest thing I've seen on a TD board. And that's saying something!

 

As someone who watches The Bachelor and gambles on it (I think the show is insipid but a good way to gather with friends and consume beer) I can 100% say that it involves at least as much interaction as bowling. Not sure about fishing, I guess I'm not manly enough to have done that before. 

 

Also, are you arguing that Phil Hughes has feminized the Twins with his un-manly bonding activities? You asked why it bothered me that you had an opinion. It didn't before but it certainly does now. Your focus on manly vs. unmanly bonding is kind of off-putting. It's not 1920 anymore, men can watch "The Bachelor" and still be men.