GAME THREAD: Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals, 6/6/2021, 1:10 PM CDT

[Nine of twelve]

I'm posting this a bit early because I'll be on a day trip with my family on game day, something I didn't foresee when I volunteered to be the thread opener. Nevertheless, I will fulfill my obligation.

Obviously no lineups are posted at this very early juncture. Moreover, it appears that the Twins will be making a roster mover before the game because they have announced Bailey Ober, who is not currently on the 26-man roster, as the tentative starting pitcher.

The Twins will be playing in hopes of gaining a series split. Not as good as going for a win or a sweep, but at least they are not playing to avoid a sweep. It was good to see the team score in the half-innings immediately following being scored upon, including via Miguel Sano's shot in the sixth inning. When the ball was hit Dan Gladden said that it "could be a no-doubter". This moves the Twins one HR behind Toronto for the AL lead.

Starting pitchers:

Twins: Bailey Ober (R), 0-0, 9.00

Royals: Brady Singer (R), 3-4, 5.06

Expected weather at game time: 79F with a 64F dew point, mostly cloudy, SSW wind at 10 mph, chance of rain 10%.

 

[Dave The Dastardly]

Better early than never, Nine. It's like stealing second before the opposing team is on the field.

 

Not looking for a pitchers' duel today what with Barely Ober going up against Brady "The Voice" Singer. Could be a Long Ball day. Atmospherically speaking.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

1. Jorge Polanco (S) DH
2. Alex Kirilloff (L) RF
3. Miguel Sano (R) 1B
4. Trevor Larnach (L) LF
5. Willians Astudillo (R) 3B
6. Nick Gordon (L) 2B
7. Ryan Jeffers (R) C
8. Kyle Garlick (R) CF
9. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS

1. Whit Merrifield (R) 2B
2. Carlos Santana (S) 1B
3. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF
4. Salvador Perez (R) DH
5. Kelvin Gutierrez (R) 3B
6. Edward Olivares (R) RF
7. Jarrod Dyson (L) CF
8. Cam Gallagher (R) C
9. Nicky Lopez (L) SS

[PDX Twin]

So, three players from the expected pre-season starters, and they are hitting .250, .238, and (the #3 slot hitter) .150.

[RickOShea]

Oberly?  Is this the guy who passed his Gomer Pyle audition?

[Squirrel]

16 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Oberly?  Is this the guy who passed his Gomer Pyle audition?

Huh?

[Matthew Lenz]

I'm excited for todays game as the youth moment is taking over. Only reason to continue watching, amirite?

[Matthew Lenz]

Why Sano is batting above 6 is beyond me.

[RickOShea]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Lenz said:

I'm excited for todays game as the youth moment is taking over. Only reason to continue watching, amirite?

yeahiagree.

[RickOShea]

So far, so good.  One at a time.

[Matthew Lenz]

Impressive inning for Ober. My guess is he'll need to stay closer to the zone when he gets to two strikes when the lineup turns over....

[Matthew Lenz]

Great matchup against Perez. High FB (swing n miss), highER FB (ball), FB middle/out (swing n miss), high FB (swing n miss)

[Danchat]

Yeah, I'd already keep Ober in the rotation for Shoemaker in a heartbeat. Let the rookies take their lumps in a season that is lost, and see what role they might be able to play in 2022.

[Matthew Lenz]

 

[Matthew Lenz]

1 minute ago, Danchat said:

Yeah, I'd already keep Ober in the rotation for Shoemaker in a heartbeat. Let the rookies take their lumps in a season that is lost, and see what role they might be able to play in 2022.

Same. I was very surprised that Minaya was DFA'd over Shoemaker. When the season is a wash before mid-June why give a rent-a-starter who is pitching terribly more innings? I'd rather see Dobnak, Ober, Jax, Thorpe, etc.

[RickOShea]

Is Rocco gonna challenge that triple play?

[ashbury]

Triple play? Maybe I need to sign into mlb.tv today after all.

[Danchat]

Y'know, if we had more triple plays happen, games would go by faster and starters would have less pitches to throw... there's your solution to the pace of play problem!

?

[jimbo92107]

Okay, if not Robo-Ump, how about this: Each team gets 10 chances to challenge a ball or strike, replayed by the guys in New York just like other challenges are. 

Oh, how embarrassing for these half-blind umps. Oh, how they deserve it.

[h2oface]

What the hell is wrong with Kirilloff today? First the bonehead base running cost us runners on second and third, and now this! Three runs in the balance.

[Danchat]

4 minutes ago, jimbo92107 said:

Okay, if not Robo-Ump, how about this: Each team gets 10 chances to challenge a ball or strike, replayed by the guys in New York just like other challenges are. 

Oh, how embarrassing for these half-blind umps. Oh, how they deserve it.

That's gonna add another 10-20 minutes to every game with the way challenges currently go... these challenges would have to be near-instant.

[RickOShea]

Just now, h2oface said:

What the hell is wrong with Kirilloff today? First the bonehead base running, and now this!

Been hanging around the 'veterans'.

[jimbo92107]

Kirilloff underestimated the speed of the ball, reached late and lost his balance. I assume that won't happen very often.

[h2oface]

No error on Kirilloff. Pathetic. People can take those defensive stats and stuff them. Official scorers are charity workers. 

[Matthew Lenz]

3 minutes ago, jimbo92107 said:

Kirilloff underestimated the speed of the ball, reached late and lost his balance. I assume that won't happen very often.

Even his baserunning error was just kind of an odd play. Looked like he was trying to dodge the ball and not often cutoff man in that situation is standing where Gutierrez was.

[h2oface]

If Ober throws it in the zone, it is being tagged. 

[Matthew Lenz]

3 minutes ago, h2oface said:

No error on Kirilloff. Pathetic. People can take those defensive stats and stuff them. Official scorers are charity workers. 

It's been an "unwritten rule" for as long as I can remember that if you don't touch the ball then it's technically not an error.

[denarded]

Morneau discussing strike zone is spot on. I've been made fun by my bar mates watching baseball and me @2007 talking about using lasers for strikezonze. I had some knowledge and knew  umps were screwing the game. 14 years ago. Now the same people who mocked me are screaming about the strike zone. Just glad to hear Morneau  make mention, because it's out of control

[h2oface]

1 minute ago, Matthew Lenz said:

It's been an "unwritten rule" for as long as I can remember that if you don't touch the ball then it's technically not an error.

Exactly. BS. Forever.

[Danchat]

5 minutes ago, h2oface said:

No error on Kirilloff. Pathetic. People can take those defensive stats and stuff them. Official scorers are charity workers. 

That's why I never use fielding %, it doesn't tell you anything because so many errors are called hits these days. I'd imagine this is a big reason why so many advanced fielding stats have been created, to give you a better idea of what actually is an error.