Game Thread: Twins vs. Milwaukee 5-19 @ 6:10 PM CT

[drock2190]

Josh Hader has more strikeouts then all of the Twins starters.

 

With half the innings!

[Riverbrian]

 

I don't understand how Hader only throws a 93-95 MPH fastball (compared to others who can throw harder), but not a single batter could even foul it or even get close. That was like watching a little league team facing up against a MLB pitcher. Hader has mostly done this to the other teams he's faced, so clearly I need to read up more on how this guy pitches. That was something else.

 

He reminds me of Sale. He comes from behind the left handed hitter. Batters are going to lose a beat because it isn't coming from a normal angle. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Leadoff guy gets on and you bring your fastest runner into the game to pinch run and you don't even attempt to get him to 2nd base whether it be by bunt or by steal.  I know our bench is paltry for hitters but Jake Cave can't lay a bunt down to get Bux to 2nd?  Bux could get to 3rd on his own after that and not have to worry about the pickoff play.  There is no clutch in this team from the pitching staff to the hitters to the coaching staff.  Incredibly frustrating to watch.

Good point.

 

Why not have Cave bunt and save Garver? Not that Garver had a chance.

[Aggies7]

Seriously though, how do you get picked off 2nd base with nobody out?

[VATwinsFan]

Meanwhile, in Rochester, Sano was 0-2 with 2 BBs and a K.

 

And Vargas went 0-4 and is back under .200.

[Blake]

Watching Rosario and Escobar flail against Hader...it looks to me like this team is on the verge of giving up.

[USAFChief]

 

What about the old womens driving rights. The ones who drive Dodge Caravans? And tan Buicks.

Yeah sure, them too I guess. Whatever.

[twinsbaby]

 

He reminds me of Sale. He comes from behind the left handed hitter. Batters are going to lose a beat because it isn't coming from a normal angle. 

 

Note: We draft Buxton instead of Hader in 2012 draft. Our scouts all sucks.

[Blake]

 

Seriously though, how do you get picked off 2nd base with nobody out?

Morrison gave an excellent tutorial in how this is done. Weren't you watching?

[Aggies7]

I’ll tell you what, we can argue about the current FO and the moves they’ve made and didn’t make, but there is no doubt the previous administration(s) left this organization an absolute train wreck from the minors all the way up.

[Vanimal46]

Pictured: Paul Molitor giving the team a pep talk after this game...

 

[Blake]

 

 

 

ANNND Welcome Weirdos! To another episode of Minnesota Twins Whine Line: Get it Off Your Chest! Edition. I'm your host for the next 2 days, Vanimal. Along with my trusty sidekick, the Intern. It's been a frustrating season so far, and it's BAD for your health to keep it to yourself! Today we decided to transform our studio into a therapist office... That way we can get it off our chest! Before we dive into the REAL and weird, let's do the baseball stuff.

 

It's going to be a BRISK day in Minneapolis. 61 degrees and cloudy at first pitch. REAL FEEL of 58 degrees. Winds out of the NNE at 12 MPH.

-

Minnesota Twins (18-22):

 

 

P - Fernando Romero ( R) - 23 year old hot shot! 79 overall on MLB the Show!

 

Milwaukee Brewers (27-18):

 

 

P - Freddy Peralta ( R) - 21 year old hot shot! 13 K in 5.2 IP in his MLB debut...

 

 

If you've followed Minnesota Twins Whine Line over the years, you'll know that we embrace the WEIRD... Today will be no different! The intern has been stress eating over the last 6 weeks because he's been holding in his frustrations about the team. Let's CHANGE that today, and get things off our chest! 

Byron Buxton isn't that good: Before you try to strangle me through the computer, hear me out! I want nothing more than for him to figure it out at the plate... But a ton of my frustration stems from him continuing to struggle at the plate. He's been touted as having star potential, and we've been waiting..... and waiting.... Other players his age have BLOSSOMED into stars.... How long do we need to wait?

Jason Castro's injury is a blessing in disguise: Prior to his season ending injury, Mr. Castro had a better chance of getting on base if he walked up to the batter's box without a bat in his hand. Now we get a chance to see if Garver can handle the job, or if we're all fooling ourselves. What better time than now to figure out if the team needs to upgrade the position going forward?

I like Post Malone: It takes a while for me to warm up to new music and new artists... However, Post Malone is my kind of weirdo! If you don't know Post Malone, ask your kids... Or your friend's kids... His new album is great!

Psychological Effect with Colors: I had a sales training this week learning how to "whiteboard" solutions to potential clients... Blue and green are POSITIVE colors! Red and yellow are NEGATIVE.... Which makes me think, is that why people are generally mad about eating at McDonald's?

Intern, is there anything you want to get off your chest?

Intern: Yes, actually I do... One time you got me so worked up about a Twins topic that I spent the rest of the night crying... I'm not going to tell you when that happened. I just want you to sit on that. 

Van: WHAT??! NOOO!! Tell me! 

Intern: Never. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to play MLB the Show. 

Now it's YOUR turn to sit on the therapist chair... What's something you want to get off your chest?

Let's get a win Twins! 

 

Winner of an opener. Can't say the same for the home town nine. Sorry about that.

[Riverbrian]

 

Beyond embarrassing

 

Hader has struck 50 Batters in 25 innings prior to tonight with 0.52 WHIP. Now he has struck out 56 in 27 innings. 

 

Hader has been killing every team. He is going to have an easier time killing us because our best hitters are left handed and our right handed hitters are either Hurt, Struggling really bad or not good enough defensively to play catcher regular. 

 

We need to get used to left handers late in games. Managers are going to throw them at us like Candy at a parade. 

[Platoon]

U got to tip your hat to Hader. He was a load. And we got over agressive. I will admit I did like Wilsons first cut. He decided to sit on a FB and hope it hit his bat. It didn't work but it showed he thought it out. Likely his best chance for a Hader mistake.

[Aggies7]

Hader has struck 50 Batters in 25 innings prior to tonight with 0.52 WHIP. Now he has struck out 56 in 27 innings. 

 

Hader has been killing every team. He is going to have an easier time killing us because our best hitters are left handed and our right handed hitters are either Hurt, Struggling really bad or not good enough defensively to play catcher regular. 

 

We need to get used to left handers late in games. Managers are going to throw them at us like Candy at a parade.

 

I meant the whole situation in general. The lack of even average PH options. The pickoff, the dp’s. Everything.

[Platoon]

The injuries are a problem. Tonight we started a substitute catcher, 1B, SS, 3B DH, and CF. that ain't gonna cut it. At the same time, some of these guys would have played anyway in a different position, and some of the injured were playing so poorly, it's hard to miss them. We lived for awhile on the two Eddies. Both are decent players, but shouldn't be carrying the load on this team. Add in a seemingly endless penchant for doing the wrong thing at the right time, someone said dysfunctional, and there you have it. It's a mess, and something simple like Nick Gordon won't solve it. A steady diet of divisional play will help, but Clevleand gets that same benefit.

[Riverbrian]

 

I meant the whole situation in general. The lack of even average PH options. The pickoff, the dp’s. Everything.

 

All anyone has to do is check the Disabled List for every major league team. The Twins are not more hurt /suspended than the other teams. Every team will have to depend on the next man up throughout the season. I'm trying to give Falvey, Lavine, The Scouts, the Coaches and Paul Molitor the benefit of the doubt that the entire roster is contending quality. With Garver on the Bench because of defensive issues, Adrianaza playing every day now, LaMarre not trusted to play despite hitting the ball. Petit not trusted to play despite hitting the ball. The benefit of the doubt is getting harder to give.  

[Blake]

By the way, I'm not that surprised that Mauer went down with concussion like symptoms. The precipitous drop in BA sort of indicated something was going on.

 

I've long worried that diving for balls like he has when playing first might cause a problem and it appears it might have.

 

Hopefully, Mr. Mauer returns to full health and thinks long and hard about whether or not he should return to playing baseball. 

 

I say this with regret, because I've greatly appreciated the return of the Mauer of old at the plate. but now have more concern about his continuing health.

[Riverbrian]

 

Seriously though, how do you get picked off 2nd base with nobody out?

 

Slow guys try to get an extra step and they are used to the pitcher not paying attention to them because they are no threat on the bases. 

 

The Brewers are playing baseball right now. They are so confident, they are like that guy who stands on your right shoulder and taps you on the left shoulder and then steals a french fry when you look left. 

[Platoon]

Slow guys try to get an extra step and they are used to the pitcher not paying attention to them because they are no threat on the bases. 

 

The Brewers are playing baseball right now. They are so confident, they are like that guy who stands on your right shoulder and taps you on the left shoulder and then steals a french fry when you look left.

 

That was you?

[Riverbrian]

 

Not quite the elephant in the room but how much longer are we going to watch Adrianza? Gordon and an insert name here glove first guy can't be any worse. 

 

Adrianaza will probably get a good rest when Sano returns. 

[ashbury]

Looks like I picked a good game to miss.

[Platoon]

There's been a lot of names bandied about in the last few pages, but the one glaring omission is Mr. Doziers. He had a spurt in the beginning of the year, but even that 16? Game streak was held together with some pretty weak games. And ten days ago, a little 3? Game spurt. The rest of the year has been abysmal. He seems to have rediscover his defense, but he is not hitting worth a bleep.

[Riverbrian]

 

Looks like I picked a good game to miss.

 

It was alright. Romero is fun to watch pitch. Cave hit his first home run in his first MLB game in front of the family. Wilson had a clutch double off the wall and we talked about Bears playing Cards. 

[Platoon]

I want Sano back. But he is going to have to re-prove himself to me. And I fear that may not happen. He just isn't the same guy he was. I am not sure if the "conditioning" issue is affecting his hitting, but even if he warms up the bat, I can't seem him being able to avoid another DL stint or two.

[Riverbrian]

 

There's been a lot of names bandied about in the last few pages, but the one glaring omission is Mr. Doziers. He had a spurt in the beginning of the year, but even that 16? Game streak was held together with some pretty weak games. And ten days ago, a little 3? Game spurt. The rest of the year has been abysmal. He seems to have rediscover his defense, but he is not hitting worth a bleep.

 

We could use the help. 

[Platoon]

It was alright. Romero is fun to watch pitch. Cave hit his first home run in his first MLB game in front of the family. Wilson had a clutch double off the wall and we talked about Bears playing Cards.

 

The group consensus is that Bears cheat when they play cards. But no one has so far volunteered to call them out on it.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Something seems terribly off, and it will take something significant to get this back to where it was. They have the talent, but the will or chemistry is missing, in my opinion. There are a couple players on short term contracts I would release immediately, and just make do until replacements arrive. I know that's not the "prudent" thing to do, and the front office won't "waste an investment" or whatever, but this team feels off, and something drastic needs to be done.

[Platoon]

Looks like I picked a good game to miss.

Ask Brian what he thought of the Royal Wedding? Lol

[Riverbrian]

 

I want Sano back. But he is going to have to re-prove himself to me. And I fear that may not happen. He just isn't the same guy he was. I am not sure if the "conditioning" issue is affecting his hitting, but even if he warms up the bat, I can't seem him being able to avoid another DL stint or two.

 

We need him bad and I have the same fears you do. If Buxton is going to hit .152 and Dozier is going to strike out slump... We need him bad. It gets Adrianaza out of every day work. It allows us to move Escobar down to the 6 spot and deepen the lineup. 

 

If Sano comes back swinging at low sliders in the dirt like he was before... I may cry.