Game Thread: Twins@Orioles 4/4 2:05P

Before we start worrying about Buxton too much, consider two things:

 

- He's been pretty good about taking pitches today, a big step forward

 

- He made two damned fine plays out in center

And he has struggled the first couple months at every level

nice pitch!!

 

Before we start worrying about Buxton too much, consider two things:

- He's been pretty good about taking pitches today, a big step forward

- He made two damned fine plays out in center

3 strike outs in 3 at bats, I mean yeah he looks "better" but he still looks over-matched, I think he is going to be a damn great player overall (he already is a stud defensive CF) but I really think he could use some confidence at the dish with some AAA time, I mean, he struggled last year, and struggled in spring training, none of this is surprise. But at some point you need even your #9 hitter to produce a bit.

I'm not worried about his career, I am worried about how much he make hurt this team at the plate the first couple months of the year. I for one am looking for this team to make the playoffs, if it was a given we were a 90 loss team heading into the season, then I wouldn't worry.

Edited April 5, 2016 by DaveW

Pitching holding up bar Fien's horror show.

 

Everytime I see JJ Hardy up, I wonder how James Hoey and Brett Jacobson are doing.

 

Every time I see JJ Hardy play, I wonder what kind of failsafes the Twins organization has in place to keep Bill Smith from ever being the guy who makes trades again...

 

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/dangerroom/2010/04/keyturn-660x438.jpg

 

Pitching holding up bar Fien's horror show.

 

Every time I see JJ Hardy play, I wonder what kind of failsafes the Twins organization has in place to keep Bill Smith from ever being the guy who makes trades again...

 

 

Every time I see David Ortiz hit another home run, I wonder how many Pizza's Matt Lecroy has eaten this week.

O'Day is nasty...  Come on Joe.

 

3 strike outs in 3 at bats, I mean yeah he looks "better" but he still looks over-matched, I think he is going to be a damn great player overall (he already is a stud defensive CF) but I really think he could use some confidence at the dish with some AAA time, I mean, he struggled last year, and struggled in spring training, none of this is surprise. But at some point you need even your #9 hitter to produce a bit.
 

At some point yes, I don't think today needs to be that point necessarily. 

Color me impressed with Mauer's "pull" approach this spring.

 

Sano making it look easy out in RF! 

 

You remembered to stick a few pins in your Sano bobblevoodoo while typing that, right?

Every time I see JJ Hardy play, I wonder what kind of failsafes the Twins organization has in place to keep Bill Smith from ever being the guy who makes trades again...

 

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/dangerroom/2010/04/keyturn-660x438.jpg

They are giving the second launch key and the last 27 digits of the code to Brian. Even if they could find him in ND he won't remember all those numbers!

 

 

At some point yes, I don't think today needs to be that point necessarily. 

I don't either. But his struggles last season definitely hurt the team overall (offensively) and he didn't really make any strides in Spring Training as well.

 

Again, it's not the worst thing in the world to have him on the roster at this stage (they didn't have any other options at this stage) but I feel they could have handled him a bit better.

C'mon Eddie!

To be fair, it was never a Hardy vs Hooey decision, it was a Hardy vs Nishioka decision. Disaster either way though.

Poop.

Not a very patient at-bat by Eddie in a big spot there.

 

To be fair, it was never a Hardy vs Hooey decision, it was a Hardy vs Nishioka decision. Disaster either way though.

 

Wait - that makes it even more painful!!

 

Poop.

Wait, is that code for you took the dog out and we scored runs?

To be fair, it was never a Hardy vs Hooey decision, it was a Hardy vs Nishioka decision

If that's being fair, then some serious sh:t hit the fan

Edited April 5, 2016 by amjgt

Wow, that was a terrible at bat.

 

Eddie needs to step up his approach if he wants to go from "solid" to good/great as a ballplayer.

 

To be fair, it was never a Hardy vs Hooey decision, it was a Hardy vs Nishioka decision. Disaster either way though.

To just barely misquote the Outlaw Josey Wales, "fair's got nuthin' to do with it".

Big spot there Eddie, gotta work him a little harder than that.

I think my favorite player this year will be Eddie.

 

Every time I see David Ortiz hit another home run, I wonder how many Pizza's Matt Lecroy has eaten this week.

 

 

Just one.   He's setting an example for the kids on his minor league team, so Matt's slimming down these days...

 

http://www.pizzaonestop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/managers-special1.jpg

3 strike outs in 3 at bats, I mean yeah he looks "better" but he still looks over-matched, I think he is going to be a damn great player overall (he already is a stud defensive CF) but I really think he could use some confidence at the dish with some AAA time, I mean, he struggled last year, and struggled in spring training, none of this is surprise. But at some point you need even your #9 hitter to produce a bit.

 

I'm not worried about his career, I am worried about how much he make hurt this team at the plate the first couple months of the year. I for one am looking for this team to make the playoffs, if it was a given we were a 90 loss team heading into the season, then I wouldn't worry.

I'm not even worried how much he hurts the team, I'm worried about how much he hurts himself through repeated failure and frustration.

This game probably ends with a Sano error. There, I just said what we were all thinking.

If this game has to go into extra innings... do we see Nolasco or Milone at some point?

 

I'm not even worried how much he hurts the team, I'm worried about how much he hurts himself through repeated failure and frustration.

As long as he stays clear from the StatFreak top ten mental midgets rankings, I think he will be fine.

Jeez, send May out for another.