Game Thread: Giants @ Twins 6:15 PM 8/27/2022

[stringer bell]

The Twins face San Francisco in game two of a three game series this evening at Target Field. The Twins won last night, breaking a six-game losing streak, 9-0 with good pitching defense and productive hitting. We haven't seen much of the Twins' "A" game recently, so it was refreshing to see them win comfortably.

Tonight, Sonny Gray will start for the Twins. His numbers look good, but he's only 95+ innings so far this season, in part due to two trips to the Injured List and in part due to only averaging five innings per start. The Giants counter with veteran Alex Cobb, who has good strikeout numbers, a losing record and averages 5 and one third innings per start. 

Pennant race: After losing six in a row, the Twins won last night and gained a game on both Cleveland and Chicago. They trail the Guardians by three games and lead the White Sox by one game. There doubtless is enough time for the Twins to regroup, win a majority of games against their closest rivals and make the postseason. ESPN gives the Twins a 25% chance of making the postseason, while BBRef gives them only a 17% chance. Both give them the seventh best odds of making postseason and only six per league make it. Given the injuries that have accrued plus their less than inspired play for the better part of three months, I think the odds are inflated, but that is what makes sports fun. 

Hall of Fame: With the induction of Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva, every possible Hall of Fame player who played the majority of his career with the Twins is now in the Hall of Fame. Tony, Kitty and Bert Blyleven weren't all-time greats, but they were very good players who  their reward. The 1970 Twins had Carew, Killebrew, Oliva, Blyleven (rookie season) and Kaat on their team. We've seen a lot of talent come and go for the Twins. I'm glad they are well-represented at Cooperstown.

Are there any future Hall of Famers on the Twins' roster? I don't think so, but there is talent. I'd love to see everything come together for two months, but I do think that is wishful thinking. 

Weather: Showers and thunderstorms are forecast during the evening. I'm sure there will be windows when it isn't raining and the game likely will be played in its entirety, but with the new schedule for 2023 having all teams play each other and with so many teams having only one visit, there could be scheduling nightmares next year. 

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Lineups: 

Giants

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
T. La StellaDH	41-161	13	2	0	.255
L. Wade Jr.1B	22-126	22	8	0	.175
W. Flores3B	100-402	59	16	0	.249
M. YastrzemskiRF	77-364	44	12	5	.212
T. Estrada2B	95-372	49	11	16	.255
B. CrawfordSS	66-303	40	7	1	.218
A. SlaterCF	62-233	28	5	11	.266
L. GonzalezLF	66-254	32	4	10	.260
J. BartC	45-199	21	10	2	.226

 

Twins

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
L. Arraez1B	135-419	41	7	4	.322
C. CorreaSS	101-378	42	15	0	.267
J. Polanco2B	88-372	56	16	3	.237
J. MirandaDH	84-304	55	13	1	.276
N. GordonLF	75-277	24	5	6	.271
G. Urshela3B	97-364	49	11	0	.266
M. KeplerRF	79-351	42	9	3	.225
G. CelestinoCF	53-205	16	2	0	.259
S. LeonC	7-46	4	0	0	.152

 

PLAYER	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	H	K	BB	HR
A. Cobb	4-6	3.99	1.30	106.0	107	108	31	8
S. Gray	7-4	3.10	1.12	95.2	79	95	28	9

 

 

 

[PDX Twin]

7 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Are there any future Hall of Famers on the Twins' roster? I don't think so, but there is talent. 

We have debated Mr. Mauer extensively, but I think he eventually gets in. He's not on the current roster, of course.

Correa has a chance, but not the way he is playing this year and he would not go in as a Twin.

It's waaaaay too early to predict, but if Lewis or one of the other top prospects achieves his 99th percentile outcomes, then it's possible.

[RpR]

Mauer stands the chance of getting in similar to Tony Oliva; gobs of talent suppresed by injury.

[stringer bell]

Today’s game is on the Fox Network. While there is a 100% chance for rain in my location (about 80 miles from Target Field) it appears the game will start on time and be completed without interruption. 

[Azviking101]

Garlick came off the IL hot and has an .803 ops against righties. I understand Kepler’s defensive value but he’s done nothing with the bat for months now. Absolutely no reason Celestino and Kepler in the lineup over Garlick. None. 

[AussieG]

1 minute ago, Azviking101 said:

Garlick came off the IL hot and has an .803 ops against righties. I understand Kepler’s defensive value but he’s done nothing with the bat for months now. Absolutely no reason Celestino and Kepler in the lineup over Garlick. None. 

Celestino is swinging a pretty decent bat lately, and they might be taking it easy with Garlick coming back from injury. That said  Kepler has been very underwhelming to say the least. Even in the field it seems like he gives up pretty quickly on fly balls

[MABB1959]

Why is Garlick out and Kepler back.  Why not use the same lineup again.  Pretty sure Garlick could handle 2 games in a row.  

[rwilfong86]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins scored 0 runs tonight after last night's output.

[stringer bell]

I guess the game is on Channel 29 locally. 

[Azviking101]

16 minutes ago, AussieG said:

Celestino is swinging a pretty decent bat lately, and they might be taking it easy with Garlick coming back from injury. That said  Kepler has been very underwhelming to say the least. Even in the field it seems like he gives up pretty quickly on fly balls

.211/.268/.395 over last 15 is not decent in my book. Last 7 numbers are even worse. Outside of that double that cleared the bases he’s done nothing. Team can’t score runs right now and Rocco is not trying to write up a lineup with his best hitters. Just my take. Bats are more important than defense right now. 

[Nine of twelve]

8 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Tony, Kitty and Bert Blyleven weren't all-time greats, but they were very good players who  their reward.

 

When Blyleven retired he was third in career strikeouts. ****ing third!!! And he's still fifth. If that's not all-time great I don't know what is. It's shameful to HOF voters that he wasn't a first-ballot inductee.

[PDX Twin]

Leon and Gray seem to be using finger signals tonight. ???

[Parfigliano]

2 minutes ago, Azviking101 said:

.211/.268/.395 over last 15 is not decent in my book. Last 7 numbers are even worse. Outside of that double that cleared the bases he’s done nothing. Team can’t score runs right now and Rocco is not trying to write up a lineup with his best hitters. Just my take. Bats are more important than defense right now. 

Easily should be bats over D 

[gunnarthor]

The fox mic is picking someone up. 

[MMMordabito]

I might be hearing things, but it sounded like after the first curveball to Wade, Jr. that got by Leon, Sandy was picked up saying "Oh, there you go. ****in' Gold Glover." Did anyone else hear that?

[AussieG]

2 minutes ago, Azviking101 said:

.211/.268/.395 over last 15 is not decent in my book. Last 7 numbers are even worse. Outside of that double that cleared the bases he’s done nothing. Team can’t score runs right now and Rocco is not trying to write up a lineup with his best hitters. Just my take. Bats are more important than defense right now. 

Yes ok, "decent" might have been a stretch. Capable and looking comfortable might be more appropriate 

[LVTwinsfan]

5 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

When Blyleven retired he was third in career strikeouts. ****ing third!!! And he's still fifth. If that's not all-time great I don't know what is. It's shameful to HOF voters that he wasn't a first-ballot inductee.

60 shutouts too, which is 9th all time

[Parfigliano]

Since when does Arraez try bunt

[stringer bell]

5 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Leon and Gray seem to be using finger signals tonight. ???

I think Gray only uses pitchcomm when there’s a runner on second. 

[stringer bell]

3 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

I might be hearing things, but it sounded like after the first curveball to Wade, Jr. that got by Leon, Sandy was picked up saying "Oh, there you go. ****in' Gold Glover." Did anyone else hear that?

Sure did!!!

[Squirrel]

1 minute ago, Parfigliano said:

Since when does Arraez try bunt

Since he started reading TD

[stringer bell]

I do like listening to AJ. 

[PDX Twin]

15 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

I might be hearing things, but it sounded like after the first curveball to Wade, Jr. that got by Leon, Sandy was picked up saying "Oh, there you go. ****in' Gold Glover." Did anyone else hear that?

Maybe it was the plate ump. He seems to be miked.

[Parfigliano]

6 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I do like listening to AJ. 

I remember when AJ did everything to tork off the ChiSux then became a ChiSux

[CRF]

24 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

When Blyleven retired he was third in career strikeouts. ****ing third!!! And he's still fifth. If that's not all-time great I don't know what is. It's shameful to HOF voters that he wasn't a first-ballot inductee.

Bert played on some gawd-awful teams too. He was a great pitcher who should have gotten into the HOF much sooner than he did. 

[PDX Twin]

14 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I do like listening to AJ. 

Every time I think about AJ, it reminds me of Liriano and Nathan, and I just smile. ?

[Parfigliano]

Kepler outta slump with walk

[HokieRif]

The way Kepler has been hitting lately he needs to lean in to that pitch and take his base. 

[HokieRif]

That stat on Buxton is losing its effect at least on offense. .1 additional runs a game is nothing.  Apparently we are just as good on offense with him as we are without him. His difference making is in the field. Captain Obvious, out. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

11 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Every time I think about AJ, it reminds me of Liriano and Nathan, and I just smile. ?

I was sad to see him go, but can't complain about what we got, nor argue that he should have played over Mauer.