Brewers 6, Twins 3: Winder Struggles and Offense Damp in Series Opening Loss

Still up 3.5, let's get a W today. 

This was the first time the team was really outplayed over their past 8 games. Unfortunately they are 3-5 over that time period.

Polanco sure has come back with some pop in his bat. Has he once again become the Twins most dangerous hitter? He was most definitely the best we had last year.

Ok so Winder was off a bit but he's been on more than off so we cut him some slack. Why is Kepler in the cleanup spot? He's been one of the least productive hitters this year and should be batting no higher that 7th. Polanco, Kirilloff, Gordon, Urshela all hitting better than Kepler but hitting behind him in the lineup. And the $35M man Correa is pretty good at hitting into double plays. He's got to be leading the team in that catagory. 6 hits, 3 runs, 10 left on base. Another game where the offense didn't show up again, so it's not just the pitching.

So Winder pitched the 9th for the Brewers?  Unusual to have a mid-game trade.  Who did we get?

Pitching is a big problem.  Just look at the runs allowed the past 6 games.  It was operating on thin ice.  It is now drowning.  If the FO is serious about contending this year it's time to upgrade and make a push for the playoffs.  The division is looking to be given away to someone .  Who will seize the opportunity?

This year is really starting to remind me of 2015--the team comes out and overachieves early on, leading to a surprise division lead.  As the season goes on, the team takes on more water, falls back, and ultimately misses the playoffs.

Just a baseball game - this one had nothing special to comment on except for the fact that we are lucky and not famous the Brewer Aces.  We struggle with the good teams and that is what the FO needs to recognize.  Winder has enough good games that he is allowed to have one mediocre one.

I'd just like to note that it's ridiculous for the manager to have to come out and argue the umpire into suspending the game when the rain is coming done in sheets, fans are fleeing the stands, hitters can't grip the bat, and even on tv it's getting hard to see because it's bucketing so hard. And because they waited so long, the infield looked wrecked afterwards. I doubt it had any significant impact on the result, but good grief. bad job by the umps on that one.

1 hour ago, JLease said:

I'd just like to note that it's ridiculous for the manager to have to come out and argue the umpire into suspending the game when the rain is coming done in sheets, fans are fleeing the stands, hitters can't grip the bat, and even on tv it's getting hard to see because it's bucketing so hard. And because they waited so long, the infield looked wrecked afterwards. I doubt it had any significant impact on the result, but good grief. bad job by the umps on that one.

Let's add the outstanding job they did not calling the Brewers runner out when he left the base path to first base.  

Winder is still a good pitcher, as soon as possible he should be placed in long relief (and some spot starting if need be) and limit his innings, for this year.

Winder coming out after the second rain delay? I can get on board after one. But the second was just not smart for so many reasons. Counsell knows better. Baldelli? Still learning, l guess. 

3 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Just a baseball game - this one had nothing special to comment on except for the fact that we are lucky and not famous the Brewer Aces.  We struggle with the good teams and that is what the FO needs to recognize.  Winder has enough good games that he is allowed to have one mediocre one.

We struggle with the bad teams, too. Detroit. KC. That’s why we are barely a .500 team. 

51 minutes ago, h2oface said:

We struggle with the bad teams, too. Detroit. KC. That’s why we are barely a .500 team. 

What is our identity?  We are not a bullpen team, we do not have a shut down rotation, our power is average, our fielding is only average - is that the answer - we are a team of averages playing in a division filled with flaws?

4 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

What is our identity?  We are not a bullpen team, we do not have a shut down rotation, our power is average, our fielding is only average - is that the answer - we are a team of averages playing in a division filled with flaws?

Yes.

Couldn't resist.