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  • Game Thread: Twins @ Orioles, 3/29@2:05pm CT

    Riverbrian

    By Riverbrian

    I last wrote a game thread opener on October 3rd, 2017. After the conclusion of that disappointing loss to the Yankees, I turned off my brain for the off-season. All this week, I’ve known that I will have to crank it up again but I’m having a little trouble getting it started up after the long layoff. I know that I’ll need to pump a little fuel into the carburetor so I’ve been pushing the primer button (my nose obviously), but now I’m concerned that I’ve flooded it because I have a cold.

    Slight change to the format this year. I have run out of Cities and Towns to say strange things about so that will be replaced by a new crutch called the Top Non-Trump News Story (Or Stories) from yesterday. I’ll continue with thoughts on the Twins and their opponents. The Joe M conversation will remain… I didn’t get enough complaints to stop doing it. And, as usual, a random thought #5.

    Anyway… I hope you are all primed for the start of a brand new season. It’s still March so we are starting a little early. Don’t push the big red primer button unless you are ready. Expectations are high… as of right now… it is still mathematically possible that the Twins go 162-0.

    Twins Video

    1. Top Non-Trump News Story (Or Stories) from Yesterday:

    Rosanne returned to broadcast television on ABC Tuesday Night with back to back episodes and the show was welcomed by 18 million viewers. NBC quickly noticed the ratings and has decided to cash in on the nostalgia wave by ordering 10 Episodes of H.R. Pufnstuf.

    It was reported that Russian Double Agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter may have been victims of door poisoning. Russia has come a long way since Rasputin; they have been practicing the poisoning of Doors technique since 1969. It wasn’t fatal back then but it did produce a severe lack in judgement which resulted in “The Soft Parade”.

    2. Our Twins:

    The Twins are not overwhelmingly strong in any department but they are not overwhelmingly weak in any department, and for the first time… since… ever… the Twins have enough starting pitching depth where they don’t have to tolerate sub-par performances from anybody. They have a stable of arms in Rochester that can take over for injuries or struggles, this also applies to the bullpen. At the plate, I’ve seen lineup projections from experts with Buxton in the 8 spot in the order and this suggests a level of batting depth that we haven’t seen in sometime. Now those are what I call deep thoughts.

    3. The Orioles:

    It’s kind of funny… not many people were giving the Orioles a shot during the off season. I was listening and the experts were talking about not knowing who the 3, 4 and 5 starters would be, the injury to closer Zach Britton, and the inevitable loss of important free agents after the conclusion of 2018. The experts were strongly suggesting an immediate rebuild was necessary. Then the Orioles sign Alex Cobb and now those same experts are saying the Orioles could earn a wild card spot. I’ve heard my wife talk to her sister on the phone about me and I seem to have that same type of range.

    4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

    Morgan: I think Opening Day should be a National Holiday.

    McCarthy: Yeah… nobody should have to work on such an important day.

    Mauer: I agree… then I wouldn’t have to play today. I’d get the day off.

    Maddon: Yeah… and I wouldn’t have to manage today.

    Montana: Guys… think about it… if you both take today off… what would be reason for the rest of us taking the day off?

    (Long Thoughtful Pause)

    Maddon: He’s right… we are going to have to work during a national holiday.

    Mauer: This really sucks. Why do we even have a players' union?

    Car Alarms:

    A car alarm was going off in the parking lot at work yesterday. I looked around the office and nobody got up to turn it off, nobody claimed responsibility and the alarm kept going off. It must have been 15 minutes before I decided the only thing to do was to go outside and help what turned out to be the world’s slowest car thief actually steal the car so he could drive off and take the sound with him.

    ____________________

    Lineups:

    TWINS

    Brian Dozier (R ) 2B

    Joe Mauer (L) DH

    Miguel Sano (R ) 3B

    Eddie Rosario (L) LF

    Logan Morrison (L) 1B

    Eduardo Escobar (S) SS

    Max Kepler (L) RF

    Byron Buxton (R ) CF

    Jason Castro (L) C

    Jake Odorizzi (R ) P

    ORIOLES

    Chris Davis(L) 1B

    Manny Machado(R ) SS

    Jonathan Schoop(R ) 2B

    Adam Jones(R ) CF

    Trey Mancini(R ) LF

    Tim Beckham(R ) 3B

    Pedro Alvarez(L) DH

    Craig Gentry(R ) RF

    Caleb Joseph(R ) C

    Dylan Bundy (R ) P

    Weather: 65 deg F, mostly cloudy with a 15% chance of rain, winds at 7mph from the SE

    Win Twins! Play ball!

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    Featured Comments

    Danchat

    Danchat 11,131

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    He's an entirely adequate closer. I was pretty unimpressed by the signing but on a team that needed arms and lots of them, his one year deal won't kill the team.

     

    Plus, he's the type of guy you have absolutely no problem replacing midseason if one of the young arms steps forward. He's a decent placeholder, provided his age doesn't catch up to him this season.

    Agreed, I'm not ready to give up on him. Giving up one run in the 11th isn't going to instantly make me hate him, especially after he saved Hildy's backside in the 10th with that DP groundball.

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    adorduan

    adorduan 1,281

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    That’s “the book” move. Once you bring your closer into a tie game on the road, you are pretty much forced to ride him as long as possible.

    The alternative was Pressly. Sure that’s a better option?

    Couldn't have turned out any worse.....

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted (edited)

    He had one absolutely atrocious season in 2015. He bookended that season with an outstanding 2014 and a good 2016.

    Lolol outstanding 2014? No

    Good 2016? No.

     

    Pretty bad 2017 as well! 4.35 ERa for a closer is very bad.

    Edited by DaveW
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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    I watched him pitch in about 40 games in 2014, it was far from outstanding.

    Yet by every metric available to us, he was very good that season. He walked too many guys but he has always walked too many guys. But he missed a ton of bats and didn't allow home runs. As a result, his ERA/FIP were very good and he converted saves at a ferocious pace (don't have the stat in front of me but it was around 95% that season).

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    2.85 era isn’t outstanding for a closer. Also 1-6 record. He blew a lot of close games his whole tenure in Seattle.

     

    Like I said I’m a M’s fan, I saw it firsthand.

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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    2.85 era isn’t outstanding for a closer. Also 1-6 record. He blew a lot of close games his whole tenure in Seattle.

    Like I said I’m a M’s fan, I saw it firsthand.

    Even if you count those losses on top of the blown saves (which obviously shouldn't be the case, as there is overlap there and you're counting twice), he converted saves at a nearly 90% clip.

     

    Dave, you're just wrong here. Move on. Talk about something else for awhile and don't disrupt the forum with hyperbole. This isn't a suggestion.

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    Even if you count those losses on top of the blown saves (which obviously shouldn't be the case, as there is overlap there and you're counting twice), he converted saves at a nearly 90% clip.

     

    Dave, you're just wrong here. Move on. Talk about something else for awhile and don't disrupt the forum with hyperbole. This isn't a suggestion.

    Oh so I’m wrong and unable to make my case why a 41 year old ‘shaky at best’ Over the last few years, and a guy who had a 0.3 WAR last year.

     

    Ok I can see you don’t value any opinions other than your own. Have fun this season Brock.

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted (edited)

    Even if you count those losses on top of the blown saves (which obviously shouldn't be the case, as there is overlap there and you're counting twice), he converted saves at a nearly 90% clip.

     

    Dave, you're just wrong here. Move on. Talk about something else for awhile and don't disrupt the forum with hyperbole. This isn't a suggestion.

    Oh so I’m wrong and unable to make my case why a 41 year old ‘shaky at best’ Over the last few years, and a guy who had a 0.3 WAR last year isn’t the guy we should have in high leverage situations.

     

    Ok I can see you don’t value any opinions other than your own. Have fun this season Brock. I will check back in with you when Rodney inevitably fails like he did with my Mariners :)

    Edited by DaveW
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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    Also besides that: not sure what Rodney did 4 years ago has to do with him now anyways, since he had one awful season, one ok and one average or below average (generous) since then.

     

    He’s 41 and the Twins have better options for closer and high leverage situation guys.

     

    He should be a 6th inning guy to start the season.

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    yarnivek1972

    yarnivek1972 6,290

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Oh so I’m wrong and unable to make my case why a 41 year old ‘shaky at best’ Over the last few years, and a guy who had a 0.3 WAR last year isn’t the guy we should have in high leverage situations.

     

    Ok I can see you don’t value any opinions other than your own. Have fun this season Brock. I will check back in with you when Rodney inevitably fails like he did with my Mariners :)

     

    Alex Colome had 47 saves last year and had .7 bWAR. Closers don’t generally have a high WAR.

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    Alex Colome had 47 saves last year and had .7 bWAR. Closers don’t generally have a high WAR.

    IMO Colome wasn’t that good last year, poor K rate, poor K/BB rate, a pretty meh ERa for a RP/Closer

     

    Just goes to my point about saves being not a good stat to judge by.

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    Dozier's Glorious Hair

    Dozier's Glorious Hair 735

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Reardon wasn’t a good pitcher in 1987.

    There is a reason why they didn’t win 90 game even in the regular season ya know....

     

    That year, Reardon finished 8th in AL Cy Young voting and 11th in AL MVP voting. If he wasn't a good pitcher in 1987, that must have been an unbelievably bad year for pitching. 

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    That year, Reardon finished 8th in AL Cy Young voting and 11th in AL MVP voting. If he wasn't a good pitcher in 1987, that must have been an unbelievably bad year for pitching.

    Baseball writers often miss the mark on those votes, it’s gotten better over the last few years because a lot of the problem voters were dying off.

     

    But don’t forget it wasn’t too long ago that colon got the Cy young over Santana.

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    Dozier's Glorious Hair

    Dozier's Glorious Hair 735

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Baseball writers often miss the mark on those votes, it’s gotten better over the last few years because a lot of the problem voters were dying off.

    But don’t forget it wasn’t too long ago that colon got the Cy young over Santana.

     

    I don't really consider "but they were wrong" a great rebuttal. 

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    I don't really consider "but they were wrong" a great rebuttal.

    His stats that year were pedestrian, and I’m hardly the first person ever to complain about how baseball writers vote. We can agree to disagree though.

     

    In general i think a lot of closers are over rated, there are some elite ones, a few more great ones and then a lot of meh ones, when you are stuck with a meh one you should look to upgrade the position.

    Reed has the potential to be much better than Rodney iMO.

     

    I just hope he doesn’t cost us too many more of these games.

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    yarnivek1972

    yarnivek1972 6,290

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    His stats that year were pedestrian, and I’m hardly the first person ever to complain about how baseball writers vote. We can agree to disagree though.

     

    In general i think a lot of closers are over rated, there are some elite ones, a few more great ones and then a lot of meh ones, when you are stuck with a meh one you should look to upgrade the position.

    Reed has the potential to be much better than Rodney iMO.

     

    I just hope he doesn’t cost us too many more of these games.

    The trend in MLB has been to have your “best” relievers used in the high leverage situations that occur before the 9th inning. If Reed doesn’t do what he did, chances are pretty good there is no 11th inning.

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    DaveW

    DaveW 9,037

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    The trend in MLB has been to have your “best” relievers used in the high leverage situations that occur before the 9th inning. If Reed doesn’t do what he did, chances are pretty good there is no 11th inning.

    Seems like he should have been in the 7th than with a couple runners on :)

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    Jham

    Jham 2,495

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Also if Rodney is so great, why did he throw a meatball to Jones and lose this game?

    Without delving into the rest of the Rodney debate, Rodney threw a fastball up and in to Jones, an all star hitter, who pulled in his hands, shortened his swing, and barreled it up. Unlikely spot for a gopher ball. Great hitting. Actually a good pitch, bad result.

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