The Twins out crushed the Mariners in game one of the series, and I don't expect game two to be any different. The Twins and Mariners are two of the top hitting home run clubs in all of the MLB, and neither pitcher is dominant. The one thing the Twins have going for them is the defense. This Seattle team is atrocious on the defensive side of the ball, and I almost felt bad for them last night. 

 

The Pitchers 

Martin Perez (5-1, 3.11 ERA, 46 K's) vs Marco Gonzales (5-2, 3.18, 42 K's)

 

Both pitchers ERA look very respectable, as do the win-loss records. However, I have a hunch that tonights game will be higher scoring than both pitchers ERA indicate. Martin Perez was okay last start, striking out a lot of Tiger hitters, but was bitten by the long ball. He also exited the game after taking a liner off of his foot. Marco Gonzales has had two very rough starts in his last three outings, agains two good offensive teams (Cubs and Boston). The Twins lineup may be better than both of those teams. Gonzales is also not missing bats, only striking out 6.7 per 9 innings pitched. However, the Twins have a tendency to struggle against soft tossing lefties in the past. 

 

 

The Lineups

 

Twins

 

SS J. Polanco S
2B J. Schoop R
LF M. Gonzalez S
1B C.J. Cron R
C W. Astudillo R
RF Max Kepler L
DH Miguel Sano R
3B E. Adrianza S
CF Byron Buxton R

 

Seattle lineup is unannounced

 

 

I love seeing Schoop in the two hole against lefties, as he has been very good against them early in the year. Marwin Gonzalez is obviously hitting the ball very well, and I am glad to get him back in left again. I suspect he will start in right once over the next two games. Kepler ahead of Sano is very interesting, but it is probably a moot point right now. Third base has to be the deepest position in our organization. Ehire, Sano, Marwin, Willans, Schoop, and Polanco would all be fine third basemen. That is insane to me that we have so many capable hot corner players on one roster, but it certainly is not a bad thing. I like giving Sano the DH today, easing him back into the lineup. Only Schoop, Cron, and Marwin have faced Gonzales before. 

 

Mill's Moments

1. Please Move Buxton Up

Byron Buxton is easily off to the best start of his career, and it certainly is not close. I love seeing him produce no matter where in the batting order it is. However, we must move him up. I understand the thinking process on not wanting to change anything, but this man is a professional baseball player. In order to sustain this success he is going to have to be able to roll with the punches, and where he is hitting in the order is part of that. I'm not calling for him to hit leadoff, or even in the top three. He would be the perfect six or seven hitter right now. Let him get on and run. With all of our bodies healthy the lineup looks something like this:

Kepler

Polanco

Cruz

Rosario

Cron

Sano

Buxton

Garver

Schoop

He can get on ahead of two very good hitters, and run on balls in the gap. You have to see if he is capable of evolving, and there is no better time than now. 

2. Give Tyler Duffey A Chance

Yes, I know he gave up a three run home run, and did not look great in the eighth inning last night. However, that is the life of a reliever. Trevor Hildenberger has shown he is capable of getting big outs, but struggled lately. Relievers are going to struggle. So are starters. It's part of the game. It is designed for you to fail. However, Duffey just looks different this year. I'm not saying he is a late inning arm, because he isn't. However, when he is able to throw his fastball for 95 or 96 miles per hour, and throw his boarderline plus plus curveball, he becomes a weapon. I loved Rocco giving him the ninth last night, and it paid off, ending the game in just a handful of pitches. 

 

This Day in History:

1998 - In front of nearly 50,000 fans on Beanie Baby Day at Yankee Stadium, David Wells retires all 27 batters he faces, defeating the Twins, 4-0. It is only the 13th perfect game in modern major league history. (via Nationalpastime)

 

Pick to Click: Willians will get back on track tonight, driving in multiple runs. 

 

Go Twins!!!

 

Rocco you're gonna put the guy who just gave us 3 hits last night on the bench? Why not bench Kepler and put Marwin in right with Rosario in left? Then put Sano at third so he can get adjusted to playing over there?

So, the idea is to play Adrianza so that his trade value rises, right? .297/.290/.588 ?!?!?

Oops! .177/.297/.290

Putting Buxton after Sano puts him behind probably the slowest guy on the team.

Maybe Buxton could be armed with a cattle prod.

 

Then again, Sano will already be in the dugout after trotting off his homeruns.

At least Kepler has been moved off the lead-off stop.

Putting Buxton after Sano puts him behind probably the slowest guy on the team.

Did you already forget seeing Cron trying to rumble home at 2 mph early in the year? I'll never be able to get it out of my head, as I didn't know it was possible for an able bodied human to run that slow. Sano will never be the slowest guy on a team that rosters CJ Cron.

At least Kepler has been moved off the lead-off stop.

Kepler hasn't been leading off vs lefies, no reason to assume anything has changed.

 

Maybe Buxton could be armed with a cattle prod.

 

Then again, Sano will already be in the dugout after trotting off his homeruns.

 

I like the way you think

 

So, the idea is to play Adrianza so that his trade value rises, right? .297/.290/.588 ?!?!?

Uh, Adrianza never had much trade value in the first place, and now he's hitting poorly. We'll get a lotto ticket for him once he's DFA'd, whenever that happens. At his best Adrianza is a decent utility guy, which isn't going to fetch much on the trade market.

Definitely the most "B" lineup the Twins can possibly cobble together. Already without Cruz, the Twins voluntarily bench Rosario as well. Me no like.

 

All that said....Adrianza's batting .333 in his last 20 plate appearances with a HR, 5 walks and just 2 strikeouts. He's not a sure out and never really has been. Definitely a downgrade but not bloody awful. Give the guy a chance, he might just be the pick to click tonight.

 

At least Kepler has been moved off the lead-off stop.

Kepler doesn't lead off against lefties. He's batting where he always bats against lefties.

 

 

Uh, Adrianza never had much trade value in the first place, and now he's hitting poorly. We'll get a lotto ticket for him once he's DFA'd, whenever that happens. At his best Adrianza is a decent utility guy, which isn't going to fetch much on the trade market.

We get what for him? Sounds like a good trade to me.

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Kepler doesn't lead off against lefties. He's batting where he always bats against lefties.

I was not aware of that. Thanks.

 

(I see too that he has an OPS of .468 against lefties. Ouch.)

I'm calling a win. Bank it.

Top of 8, Cleveland down 4-1.

In this game, against this pitcher, I would bat Buxton first, then Astudillo second, then Polanco, then Sano. Fireworks to follow...

Let's get this game started already....

I think we're going to bat around the order at least once tonight!

Indians lost. Today is already a win. 

I think we're going to bat around the order at least once tonight!

I predict at least 3 times.

 

 

 

Top of 8, Cleveland down 4-1.

Dick said it went final at 5-1 Baltimore just before first pitch in Seattle.

Indians lose to the Orioles. A win tonight pushes the lead over 5 games. Would be really nice to have this one.

OK, Baltimore(!) has defeated Cleveland 5-1. When was the last time the Twins were five games ahead in the Central? Also, when was the last time they were 13 games above .500?

Schoop has looked awful recently. Only hitless Twin last night (0-5) and is just waving at those outside pitches, completely undiciplined right now and off the rails.

 

Can't wait to see if Perez gets it done tonight!

Ump not helping Perez eh?

Ump's zone is trash

OK, Baltimore(!) has defeated Cleveland 5-1. When was the last time the Twins were five games ahead in the Central? Also, when was the last time they were 13 games above .500?

The latter is 2010. The former is also probably 2010.