What a weird time for a first pitch on a Saturday afternoon in June. Not 3:05, or 3:07, or even 3:15. Instead, the White Sox decide to throw first pitch at 3:12. Not that it really matters, but I just found that odd. Maybe it will help the Twins bats wake up today, as they have been fairly cold the last few outings. Michael Pineda faces Ivan Nova in a matchup that I would've found intriguing six or seven years years ago. In 2019, not so much. I expect runs to be scored in bunches today.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/1/3/4/150487134/091915_min_sano_hr_med_yb5990h3.gif

 

The Pitchers:

 

Michael Pineda (4-4, 5.02 ERA, 67 K's) vs Ivan Nova (3-6, 5.91 ERA, 58 K's)

 

Pineda had a stretch of five or six good starts in a row before laying an egg against the pesky Royals last time out in which he failed to make it to six innings, and gave up five earned runs on eight hits. His slider works, but it is also suspect to being hung and crushed over the fence which we have seen a few times already this year. Pineda is giving up nearly two long balls per nine innings, but is limiting his free passes. Ivan Nova is very similar to Pineda in that he gives up the long ball often, and doesn't walk many opposing hitters. However, Nova does not have a swing and miss pitch, and is only posting a K/9 of 5.9. Against a Twins team that doesn't strike out a ton, this could spell trouble for the Sox. 

 

The Lineups:

 

Twins

 

RF Max Kepler L

SS J. Polanco S
DH Nelson Cruz R
1B C.J. Cron R
LF M. Gonzalez S
2B J. Schoop R
3B Miguel Sano R
C Jason Castro L
CF Byron Buxton R

 

White Sox 

 

SS Leury Garcia S
3B Yoan Moncada S
1B Jose Abreu R
C James McCann R
RF Jon Jay L
LF Eloy Jimenez R
2B Y. Sanchez S
DH Zack Collins L
CF Ryan Cordell R

 

The Twins lineup is starting to take shape once again, and is now a threat 1-9. There are no free outs today, and that is the first time we have been able to say that over the past few weeks. We also have three healthy outfielders, so we no longer have to worry about Arraez or Willians Astudillo getting placed in right or left field. Oh yeah, that Byron Buxton dude is back too. Jonathan Schoop has crushed Ivan Nova in years past, and has two homers in thirteen at-bats, and is hitting .385 off of the White Sox righty. The White Sox lineup isn't nearly as strong as the Twins, Eloy Jiminez has been really good the past few weeks, but no White Sox hitter has gotten a hit against Pineda in their MLB career. 

 

Mill's Moments

Welcome back Byron and Marwin

I mentioned that the Twins lineup got a boost with the return of Marwin and Byron, as well as Ehire Adrianza last night. Byron Buxton also gives a healthy supplement to the Twins suspect outfield defense. It is unfortunate that both Marwin and Buxton were sidelined, but it is positive that the Twins have found depth that they can now rely on later in the year, and got LaMonte Wade Jr. his first cup of coffee in the majors league. On the other hand, we may have found out that Jake Cave is nothing more than an AAAA player, while last year he looked to be a legit fourth outfielder on a winning team. Let's hope Buxton and Marwin can pick up right where they left off.

Make Luis Arraez the 2nd basemen

I know this may sound crazy, and I know there is no way that Luis Arraez is the hitter that he has been so far in his MLB career. In fact, we see this often where a young player comes up to the big leagues, gets off to a torching hot start, and then the league adjusts. This is certain to happen to Arraez, but I don't think it matters right now. This man takes professional at bats no matter what. I am confident in Luis every single time he comes up to the plate because I know he is going to give you a good at bat. The same cannot be said about Jonathan Schoop lately. If you are a frequent visitor to the game threads, every time he comes up in a medium/high leverage situation it always turn out poor, and that is because he is very bad in those situation. If the Twins were to make one offensive upgrade before the deadline, I would want it to be 2nd base. However, I don't expect that to happen, so let's let Arraez start until he cools off, or never does, and we have the future league MVP on our hands. 

 

This Day In History: 2010 - In the Twins' 11-4 victory over Detroit at Target Field, Denard Span ties a major league record when he hits three triples in one game. Although the mark is shared by many other major leaguers, Ken Landreaux is the only other Minnesota player to have accomplished the feat, hitting a trio of three-baggers in a 1980 contest.

 

Pick to Click: Jason Castro will go yard today

 

Go Twins!!!

They may be threats from 1-9, but Castro and Schoop have had tough Junes. It's probably a good move to give Garver another day after catching 16 or 17 innings on Thursday, but the potent hitting of Twins' catchers has cooled, particularly Castro.

What i miss yesterday?

 

Sorry i let y'all down...

My pick to Click is Sano.  I think he keeps up the momentum from yesterday.  

Great to see Marwin and Bux back!

 

A shame Wade Jr. was robbed of his 1st MLB hit on a great catch, now he'll have to wait 'til next time. Glad he got up here regardless.

 

How about an ol' fashioned 11-5 win for our Twins today? HRs from Cruz, Schoop, and a trademark line-drive shot from Cron. Pineda goes 6, gives up 3. Book it.

 

What i miss yesterday?

Sorry i let y'all down...

 

 

Great to see Marwin and Bux back!

 

A shame Wade Jr. was robbed of his 1st MLB hit on a great catch, now he'll have to wait 'til next time. Glad he got up here regardless.

 

How about an ol' fashioned 11-5 win for our Twins today? HRs from Cruz, Schoop, and a trademark line-drive shot from Cron. Pineda goes 6, gives up 3. Book it.

However, Wade has probably moved ahead of Cave on the depth chart.

 

My pick to Click is Sano.  I think he keeps up the momentum from yesterday.  

 

Yep. I thought they might move him up in the batting order after last night- totally different approach at the plate. 2 for 3 against Nova.

 

 

However, Wade has probably moved ahead of Cave on the depth chart.

 

Why not Rooker?

 

 

Good Jonathan

Jonathan Schoop has crushed Ivan Nova in years past, and has two homers in thirteen at-bats, and is hitting .385 off of the White Sox righty.

 

Bad Jonathan

The same cannot be said about Jonathan Schoop lately. If you are a frequent visitor to the game threads, every time he comes up in a medium/high leverage situation it always turn out poor, and that is because he is very bad in those situation. If the Twins were to make one offensive upgrade before the deadline, I would want it to be 2nd base.

 

 

Did your evil Twin write the 2nd half of your post?

Or did someone at Twins Daily edit out: "Replace Jonathan, just not today!"

Edited June 29, 20197 yr by jokin

Happy 6/29.

 

3:12? I guess you need a Chicago phone number to get this ... that’s the area code for the city of Chicago.

 

I used to wonder why they started evening games at 7:11. That one was, perhaps, a bit easier to figure out.

(7-11 used to be a sponsor)

 

Why not Rooker?

He's not on the 40-man roster, he's another left handed hitter and he's inferior defensively to both Cave and Wade. 

 

Rosario is probably back before the All-Star break and if they add a relief pitcher or two, there will be more pressure on the 40-man roster. It doesn't make much sense to maybe get Rooker a dozen plate appearances by disrupting the 40-man roster. Cave was tearing up AAA too, and had a pretty good run as a rookie last year.

Hmm, should I make a call for this game? My favorite player is back on the field, so: Buxton Bomb, 2nd at bat, 2-2 count. Book it.

BOOMSTICK!

Thank you:

Starting the statistical second half of the season ....with a long ball!

Ive had my fair share of Pineda in the starting rotation now

 

He's not on the 40-man roster, he's another left handed hitter and he's inferior defensively to both Cave and Wade. 

 

 It doesn't make much sense to maybe get Rooker a dozen plate appearances by disrupting the 40-man roster. Cave was tearing up AAA too, and had a pretty good run as a rookie last year.

 

He's definitely inferior defensively, but the offense has collapsed.

 

Contrary to Cave "tearing up AAA", for the most part, Cave and Wade come from AAA with pretty poor offensive production in 2019.

 

The question on the r40-man oster comes down to who is expendable or who is able to slip through waivers or who could move to 60-day IL

 

Rooker's bat might have been the difference in a couple of those close games, including against the Rays on Thursday, perhaps not jeopardizing the bullpen in the process.

Doubting two runs will be enough.

Kepler seems to be in one of his down stretches. He could probably use a day off tomorrow. He hasn’t had a full day off since early June. I don’t even have to look to know everyone else has had at least one in that time. It would mean a non OFer in the OF of course. But Gibson is still very much a ground ball out pitcher as opposed to fly ball outs.

Well, THAT inning could have gone much worse than it did.

Rock and fire, big fella! Pineda escapes.

Deja Vu, let's hope we can buck our recent history and do more with it than the Sox did

/sigh

Wow what a wasted opportunity

I don't get the reasoning to rush Buxton back into the lineup. Give him a rehab stint to get his timing down 100%.

This team for some reason does not do well with bases loaded

 

I don't get the reasoning to rush Buxton back into the lineup. Give him a rehab stint to get his timing down 100%.

Half the fans: Why are they babying Buxton? Get him back in the lineup!

Other half of the fans: Give Buxton as much time as possible to return.

I like strikeouts. I'm a fascist.