Astros 4, Twins 2: Verlander Perfect, Twins Offense Arrives Late in Houston

[tony&rodney]

Cave and Beckham have reached a point of no return. They performed at AAA and received the call, but while capable in the field they  not able to fill in at all at the plate. They are who they are at this point and it is not really a good decision to have them hit in the major leagues. I want both of them to get a broken bat hit or at least make some contact but is is sad to watch them flail away on three pitches. Give someone else an opportunity. The next guy might fail badly too but repeating this same behavior with Cave and Beckham .... you know the saying. Three catchers is defensible if one can mash as a pinch hitter. Why did Sanchez bat in the eighth inning? Injuries have decimated the team but there are still bodies to try from the farm. You can't just give up.

[Battle ur tail off]

Here's the deal. Last night we are a real outfielder away from winning this game. Against Verlander, on a day we start a AAA pitcher, that has to come out early. 

Twins are playing pretty bad, but last night wasn't terrible Sans Jake Cave. He can't be in the lineup anymore if he can't even put a ball in play to score a runner from third with less than 2 outs. 

Give me anyone that can somewhat track down a ball in the outfield and can make some contact. Cave and Beckham have been putrid offensively. Putrid. 

[Vanimal46]

I no longer take this team seriously when there is not a realistic option on the bench better than Jake Cave to pinch hit in the most crucial moment in a game. Even the Dodgers would be struggling at the position if they were down to their 8th OF on the depth chart. That’s the current reality with the Twins.

People suggesting to call up someone else are grasping at straws. The only option that would help the team right now is Larnach returning from injury. 

[garn from vancouver]

i feel for cave as he must know he's in a spot he's not suited or has the talent for - not his fault. he's exactly who he is, as is beckham. as long as the twins keep them and pagan around they are doomed to slide into 3rd place in the division.

[jmlease1]

26 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I no longer take this team seriously when there is not a realistic option on the bench better than Jake Cave to pinch hit in the most crucial moment in a game. Even the Dodgers would be struggling at the position if they were down to their 8th OF on the depth chart. That’s the current reality with the Twins.

People suggesting to call up someone else are grasping at straws. The only option that would help the team right now is Larnach returning from injury. 

yeah, there's no one in the system that would be ready to contribute at the MLB level from the prospect ranks and the veteran minor leaguers (what's left of them) aren't any better than what we have up already.

we've literally got 4 OF on the IL right now, Nick Gordon had to leave for injury, and if not for injury Royce Lewis would be in the OF as well. we've got 1 first choice OF in the lineup right now (Kepler) who probably isn't fully healthy from the busted toe and is really struggling offensively. At this point, we'd take Brent Rooker back.

[Battle ur tail off]

49 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

The only option that would help the team right now is Larnach returning from injury. 

I will take Garlick as well. 

[Heiny]

51 minutes ago, garn from vancouver said:

i feel for cave as he must know he's in a spot he's not suited or has the talent for - not his fault. he's exactly who he is, as is beckham. as long as the twins keep them and pagan around they are doomed to slide into 3rd place in the division.

I will agree that we have some players on the squad that are not ML quality, including Cave.  But,  at least I see Cave giving 100% effort and full time hustle.  Why can't these players run hard to first on routine play?  Many times the defense is not making the plays cleanly.  Lack of hustle gives the D extra time to recover and make the plays.  Busting on Cave is easy, but some of the rest of our multi-million dollar veterans could learn from him.  Show some effort.  We need to see some hustle.

[Aerodeliria]

I think the Twins now lead the league in moral victories! Maybe they can get some more of those when they hit the links the first week of October ?

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Battle ur tail off said:

I will take Garlick as well. 

Only if the opposition promises to start LHP exclusively.

[Rosterman]

You get a guy that could be palced out there for 6 or even 7 innings, even if pounded, and he has to leave early because of a dugout screw-up.

Twins 2022!

[prouster]

All I've got to say is that I sure wish Verlander was on our team.

[wabene]

21 minutes ago, prouster said:

All I've got to say is that I sure wish Verlander was on our team.

Yes but would they still be our lovable Twins?

[jkcarew]

Top 5 in the order had a grand total of 3 total bases and a walk in 20 PA. But it’s the #8 hitting, 5th-string left-fielder’s fault? Sometimes this board.

[Swing Batter-Batter]

9 hours ago, rv78 said:

Listless performance again offensively. It's a broken record. Does Rocco know what constitutes a mound visit? It's only the umpires responsibility to signal when you made one, they did. Pay attention Rocco. Even if you Rocco missed it, you should have known you made a visit when you stepped on the mound. 

Isn't there anyone in the minors that is better than Jake Cave? If not, this organization is in serious trouble tong-term.

Regarding Cave. I found myself saying almost exactly that, as he walked to the plate with 2 out, top of the 9th, the bases loaded........and having already struck out 3 times. Pathetic.

 

[RpR]

I wonder if it is Cave putting too much pressure on himself, in 38 at bats he has 6 singles, a double, a triple and a home run, but now it is mostly outs.

Odd how one can come up and do well then just fade away.

[AceWrigley]

13 hours ago, Linus said:

It’s really too bad that the whole mess started with Altuve being such a baby. He barely got hit and there is no way Sanchez is trying to hit him. And Megill doesn’t disappoint giving up the long ball. He is not good but flies under the radar. 

Good instigators instigate. It messed with the Twins didn't it, ended up with the screwed up mound visit thing and Sanchez having to be replaced on the mound. It feels like good teams are just toying with us. It's rather embarrassing really.