Happy Easter, my peeps!

 

Hope you find all the eggs! And the chocolate bunnies hatching from cadbury eggs aren't too numerous.

 

I myself have been enjoying my Broccoli: Albert R. Broccoli, producer of James Bond films. Just finished the Roger Moore era. I feel i should be able to work it into a the game thread intro cleaverly...

 

Mitch Garver is batting 7th. Perhaps he shall kill a fast ball? Or Jake Cave may gun another runner down? Could even happen in the 7th. Certainly yesterday had many zeros before the seventh.

 

Twins line up looks like they just changed the battery. I hope it is fully charged.

 

Twins:
1. Luis Arraez ( L) 3B
2. Jorge Polanco ( S ) 2B
3. Byron Buxton (R ) CF
4. Max Kepler ( L) RF
5. Miguel Sano (R ) 1B
6. Jake Cave ( L) LF
7. Mitch Garver (R ) C
8. Andrelton Simmons (R ) SS
9. Michael Pineda (R ) P

 

Brewers:
1. Kolten Wong ( L) 2B
2. Keston Hiura (R ) 1B
3. Christian Yelich ( L) LF
4. Avisail Garcia (R ) RF
5. Jackie Bradley Jr. ( L) CF
6. Luis Urias (R ) SS
7. Manny Pina (R ) C
8. Orlando Arcia (R ) 3B
9. Adrian Houser (R ) P

 

Hopefully the local fire has burned itself down, maybe even out. But at 62f, it may still be a bit chilly to open the roof?

While ST stats don’t really mean much, how Garver got there and how he looked in the opener is really troubling. It appears that whatever plagued him in 2020 continues through today, at least temporarily. The guy simply can’t connect with fastballs.

 

Which is so flippin’ weird because Garver’s concerns as a prospect *never* included his offense. His offensive capabilities were almost a given, it was always his defense that held him back.

I like Rocco as a manager, but sometimes falls into this pattern with the bullpen...
I do not necessarily agree with Rocco's bullpen usage decision for game #2, using the same relievers again...especially if they are unable to pitch in game #3.  I don't like the idea using the "best/favs" relievers in same game this early in the season...they are 8 relievers in the bullpen, use them.  If the Twins find themselves in lead in the 9th, one of "other" relievers will need close.

 

While ST stats don’t really mean much, how Garver got there and how he looked in the opener is really troubling. It appears that whatever plagued him in 2020 continues through today, at least temporarily. The guy simply can’t connect with fastballs.

Which is so flippin’ weird because Garver’s concerns as a prospect *never* included his offense. His offensive capabilities were almost a given, it was always his defense that held him back.

 

I think our players miss Rowson ... a lot.

I like Rocco as a manager, but sometimes falls into this pattern with the bullpen...

I do not necessarily agree with Rocco's bullpen usage decision for game #2, using the same relievers again...especially if they are unable to pitch in game #3. I don't like the idea using the "best/favs" relievers in same game this early in the season...they are 8 relievers in the bullpen, use them. If the Twins find themselves in lead in the 9th, one of "other" relievers will need close.

I don’t think anyone is unavailable today, as everyone had Friday off.

 

With that said, yesterday was a close game so I don’t begrudge using your best arms... though obviously, that can’t happen every day.

While ST stats don’t really mean much, how Garver got there and how he looked in the opener is really troubling. It appears that whatever plagued him in 2020 continues through today, at least temporarily. The guy simply can’t connect with fastballs.

 

Which is so flippin’ weird because Garver’s concerns as a prospect *never* included his offense. His offensive capabilities were almost a given, it was always his defense that held him back.

Seems pretty clear the outlier is the .995 OPS on 2019, not what happened before or since.

 

He never put up the kind of numbers in the minors that would support the idea he's anywhere close to that good.

 

However, he also shouldn't be this bad.

 

Hopefully he levels off into a dangerous kind of .750-ish hitter. That's my estimate of where he sort of "belongs."

The Twins are at a real disadvantage without Nelson, but should still be 2-0. Which Kepler will we see batting cleanup? If Opening Day Max, we should win the rubber game. If Minimum Max of yesterday and all of Spring Training, we could struggle. Need all of our bats to step up without Nellie and now Donaldson. I love what Buck and Arraez are giving us. I'd love to see Sano stride into one.

Seems pretty clear the outlier is the .995 OPS on 2019, not what happened before or since.

 

He never put up the kind of numbers in the minors that would support the idea he's anywhere close to that good.

 

However, he also shouldn't be this bad.

 

Hopefully he levels off into a dangerous kind of .750-ish hitter. That's my estimate of where he sort of "belongs."

Oh, for sure, 2019 is the outlier. I hoped Garver could stick as an .800 OPS hitter but even that seems high right now. Hopefully he can fix whatever is making him swing through very hittable pitches.

I think our players miss Rowson ... a lot.

It sure seems that way.

Didn't Garver have a loud out openning day?

 

I retain some hope he'll hit.

Oh, and i just finished The Living Daylights, just in time for the game.

 

That movie came out when i was old enough to see Bond movies, so it was my first...

Houser starter today, Milwaukee fans? Any good?

Hey, didn't you use to be Jorge Polanco?

I really like Buxton in the 3 spot 

 

Hey, didn't you use to be Jorge Polanco?

Well, he is now...

"Happy Easter, my peeps!" I see what you did there sample! Happy Easter everyone!!!! Go Twins!!!!! \m/

Not a lot of guys swinging well. Buxton, Arraez, Simmons and maybe Kepler are carrying a lot of the load. Not sure if and when the other guys will start hitting.

Man I love double plays. That is, when they're turned in the other half of the inning...

I'm trying to keep my optimism down in regards about Buxton, but man it is so fun to watch him when he hits like this.

Sure wish the Twins had gotten a deal done with Buxton.

I think I can get used to the ease with which Andrelton handles himself at shortstop.

 

EDIT: I hope to get to a similar level with Polanco. 

Morneau, shut up.

Would have liked to see something out of the zone there.

See post 21a.

Simmons cuts off a ball headed for CF... That guy is going to pay for his contract in the first month of the season. Pineda loves him right now.

 

Well, he is now...

Sorry, took me an inning to figure out you meant the shortstop, not the runner at first... 

Luis Arraez just feels like a hit waiting to happen, every AB.

Ruh Roh.

 

I'm trying to keep my optimism down in regards about Buxton, but man it is so fun to watch him when he hits like this.

Well that was a good run

Smh