Game Recap: Athletics 13, Twins 12

[twinbythebay]

 

The season might need saving?

Broxton in the outfield can prevent runs, has actual speed for pinch running situations, and had a good spring, which was used to justify Garlick making the team. Broxton over Rooker makes the team better today, at little to no cost. Same can be said for Kirilloff of course.

The way Rooker has looked so far this year, sure, it's hard to look much worse. But he's only had 22 PAs this season, and he looked very promising in his short stint in the majors last season. The point is that Broxton is much more of a known commodity and he has a low ceiling, while we're not quite sure what we have with Rooker yet. I'm not sure Broxton really would make the team better right now. I do agree with you about Kirilloff, though, and I hope they'll be breaking the seal on him this weekend.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The way Rooker has looked so far this year, sure, it's hard to look much worse. But he's only had 22 PAs this season, and he looked very promising in his short stint in the majors last season. The point is that Broxton is much more of a known commodity and he has a low ceiling, while we're not quite sure what we have with Rooker yet. I'm not sure Broxton really would make the team better right now. I do agree with you about Kirilloff, though, and I hope they'll be breaking the seal on him this weekend.

I mean, I’m not giving up on Rooker. Right now, though, Rooker feels like a strike out candidate every time he walks to the plate. Broxton can do that, and at least give you the ability to beat out a ground ball and play defense. But Kirilloff would make me happy too

[h2oface]

A lot of players start slow at the beginning of the season, unfortunately. Rooker always has since I have been following him. Jeffers was up last season with a head of steam, instead of starting in the show against much better pitching at the beginning of the year to get going. Good springs can mean continued success, but not always as the calendar turns. 

 

I don't see the depth that others do. I am not seeing a savior. I am seeing a Sano that is regressing, an Astudillo that is getting totally over used, and no real current option in left field. COVID has invaded, and I bet it gets worse before it gets better. Baldelli needs to keep the best players he has in the game, and stop the ridiculous over managing. 

[rdehring]

 

So if Eddie was here, the relief pitchers would pitch better?

Not saying that at all, Mike. But I believe the team would have some fight in them. Not being able to watch any of the games, all I am seeing is the box scores and reading comments here and elsewhere. But sure sounds like the team doesn't have any spunk in them, any fight. Could be from lack of leadership on the field or in the dugout, could be because of all the chaos related to players missing because of COVID, or could be because a player who was the guy to fire'em up is gone.

 

I'm not in the locker room, so I don't know. But I do know that Eddie was one of the guys that appeared to be a spark plug in previous seasons.

[SwainZag]

 

A lot of players start slow at the beginning of the season, unfortunately. Rooker always has since I have been following him. Jeffers was up last season with a head of steam, instead of starting in the show against much better pitching at the beginning of the year to get going. Good springs can mean continued success, but not always as the calendar turns. 

 

I don't see the depth that others do. I am not seeing a savior. I am seeing a Sano that is regressing, an Astudillo that is getting totally over used, and no real current option in left field. COVID has invaded, and I bet it gets worse before it gets better. Baldelli needs to keep the best players he has in the game, and stop the ridiculous over managing. 

 

I don't think anyone is looking for a "savior."  Buxton, Cruz have been absolutely raking....while Arraez has been very good.   Donaldson and Simmons have both missed nearly half the games so far.  Even with Polanco, Sano and Garver stumbling out of the gate the Twins are Top 6 in the MLB in all AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS.....which is pretty astounding after the double header shutout this week.

 

They are 2-6 in 1 run games thus far and 0-4 in extras, neither which are sustainable. This team is better than it's 6-11 record.  They have a run of beatable opponents in the next 16 games.

 

 

[cHawk]

 

I don't think anyone is looking for a "savior."  Buxton, Cruz have been absolutely raking....while

They are 2-6 in 1 run games thus far and 0-4 in extras, neither which are sustainable.

This past season, the Atlanta Falcons were 1-8 in one score games, so it might be sustainable...

[Dodecahedron]

The Twins are not going to win many games playing defense like that, that's for sure. This is the same terrible defense we saw in 2016. They have to tighten that up immediately, there are no excuses. It does not matter how well they hit or how well they pitch if they can't execute basic things defensively. Leave the choking at the end of tough games to the Vikings. Snap out of it, Twinkies.

[ashbury]

Blankenhorn played 3B in his first season in the minors. After that, the Twins have ramped up his frequency at 2B. In 2019 he played only a couple of games at 3B.

 

Putting him at 2B instead of Arraez is plausible.

[joefish]

Go T'ins.

There ain't no Win in them right now.

No fun to watch.

[JadenPoint]

I don’t know what Baldelli or any manager could possibly say to a Major League player that would get him to throw strikes or field a routine ground ball. The players have to perform. It’s as simple as that.

 

 

Isn't it a manager's or coaches job to get the most out of players though? To put them in the best position to succeed and motivate them?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Isn't it a manager's or coaches job to get the most out of players though? To put them in the best position to succeed and motivate them?

 

 

sometimes the manager does....and they still don't make the play. Why is that so hard to believe?

[prouster]

 

 

Isn't it a manager's or coaches job to get the most out of players though? To put them in the best position to succeed and motivate them?

Major League players should already know how to play baseball. That’s why they’re professionals. The manager isn’t there to teach fundamentals.