Twins 5, Tigers 4: Urshela Comes Through as Twins Walkoff Tigers

[PDX Twin]

Has Sano been giving Buxton baseball lessons? His bat, and yesterday even his glove, are moving in that direction.

[joefish]

Archer is mechanically inconsistent. His pitches are too. He falls off the mound. He falls over himself. Those things should be fixed. We need them to be fixed. The bullpen needs them to be fixed. 

[Mike Sixel]

Good thing they fired Baldelli, because the new manager pulled all the right strings yesterday...

[jimbo92107]

Being a long-time Twins fan, I hate to give my fellow fans hope. However, this 2022 squad is beginning to look like one of the highest quality teams in the league. I realize there are others, so I have refrained from blurting "World Series" to most people, other than one old buddy, who chuckles wistfully, as you might expect. 

They're pretty close to having the pitching, and they still have a couple minor leaguers, Balazovic and Canterino, that could do well. However, this is a bullpen-dependent pitching staff, like the one KC used several years ago to win it all. That means they must solidify the pen. 

In the field, they have a couple superstars, and several guys that are playing like stars, at least for now. Kepler may be a key, if he can keep riding his hot streak against lefties. Celestino could be absolutely vital if Buxton continues to be fragile. Never enough pitching, never too much good hitting.

Computer tip for the day: Don't spray foamy glass cleaner directly on your laptop keyboard. I thought my PC was inhabited by an evil demon for the next several hours. All those little short circuits trying to type my PIN for me... ?

Tip 2: Compressed air helps somewhat. Or just sit the machine in front of a fan and walk away for a while.

[Karbo]

4 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Love the win, but Archer and Bundy are really putting pressure on the BP.  I looked at the BP chart 33,28,31, and 38 Pitches by BP arms the last two days.  This is not sustainable and Archer's tightrope 4 innings is not going to go well in June when the opposition is stronger.  It is a concern - I know from another poster that this is not 1975, but I still think we need starters to go 6 or 7.  We are coming to a reduction to 13 pitchers.  Who goes?  BP arms are used regularly, Archer, Bundy, etc every six days.

In a pregame interview Archer sure sounded like he wanted to pitch longer. Pulled last night under 80 pitches. Perhaps Rocco or Wes noticed something that I didn't see (after all that's why they get paid) but it sure seemed like he could have gone another inning.

[USAFChief]

29 minutes ago, Karbo said:

In a pregame interview Archer sure sounded like he wanted to pitch longer. Pulled last night under 80 pitches. Perhaps Rocco or Wes noticed something that I didn't see (after all that's why they get paid) but it sure seemed like he could have gone another inning.

It looked to me like Archer was fairly lucky to get through 4. I think it was exactly the right move.

But I've always been a "better too early than too late" guy.

It's one of the things I feel Rocco does very well. 

By comparison, I grew to hate watching Molitor trudge out to the mound with a desultory look on his face to take the ball from his starter AFTER said starter had given up 3 with runners still on the corners.

[Nate Palmer]

6 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Excellent review Nate! Very happy for Kepler, he's really coming around, his grand slam was hugh in winning this game. Detroit played us tough by throwing out their best BP arms. Wish Archer could have gone 5 but Wes knows best, Archer influences a lot our pitchers, he's a leader and adds a lot to the chemistry of this club. Patience will pay high dividends come around the play-off time, with his stuff & expertise. Wish more fans had more patience and insight.

Also like to recognize Pagan's solid performance & win together with Urshela's clutch hitting.

Thank-you! I appreciate your kind words. 

[Epravens]

15 hours ago, GNess said:

A win that almost was a loss - postseason teams get a number of these over the course of the season.

Thought - could all these rest days for Buxton be messing with his timing?

I have had a similar concern. Amid this first place frivolity is the reality that one of the best players on the planet is currently 3-36.

[Epravens]

4 hours ago, joefish said:

Archer is mechanically inconsistent. His pitches are too. He falls off the mound. He falls over himself. Those things should be fixed. We need them to be fixed. The bullpen needs them to be fixed. 

 

Just now, Epravens said:

I have had a similar concern. Amid this first place frivolity is the reality that one of the best players on the planet is currently 3-36.

 

4 hours ago, joefish said:

Archer is mechanically inconsistent. His pitches are too. He falls off the mound. He falls over himself. Those things should be fixed. We need them to be fixed. The bullpen needs them to be fixed. 

Perhaps he should be considered an "opener." In that light 4 innings is just fine. The problem is Bundy is a part of the same rotation and in tandem those two can't work long term. But I hope Favline are once again able to shower off the stench from the dumpster dives.

[Epravens]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Good thing they fired Baldelli, because the new manager pulled all the right strings yesterday...

Of course you're neglecting to mention his ineptitude in the loss at Oakland and the surrender on Sunday which was avoided by some timely at bats. By my count Mr. Baldelli's WAR is -37 so yes he should have been fired long ago and a one run win over a last place team at home doesn't alter that.

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, Epravens said:

Of course you're neglecting to mention his ineptitude in the loss at Oakland and the surrender on Sunday which was avoided by some timely at bats. By my count Mr. Baldelli's WAR is -37 so yes he should have been fired long ago and a one run win over a last place team at home doesn't alter that.

I'm talking about this game. I didn't fail to do anything.