MIN 4, KCR 2: Pitching, Defense and Overall Execution Shine in Twins Victory

Any stats on how often 2 teams have played to the same score in 3 consecutive games? Seems fairly unusual.

Any stats on how often 2 teams have played to the same score in 3 consecutive games? Seems fairly unusual.

Sure it's happened hundreds of times,  I can't believe author is hoping for a split vs Royals at home. No offense, but if were hoping to split vs a crap team we have no reason to go to the post season.

re: I can't believe author is hoping for a split vs Royals at home. No offense, but if were hoping to split vs a crap team we have no reason to go to the post season.

I'm not sure what you mean. He says they won Sunday to "clinch at least a split" and "will look to take a 3-1 series win" Monday. 

What's not to like about a 14-8 start? The fact that they are still winning without any eye popping offensive numbers and basically without Donaldson is a credit to Baldelli and his staff. We already knew these guys were good, they are just proving that last year was no fluke.

I'm not sure what you mean. He says they won Sunday to "clinch at least a split" and "will look to take a 3-1 series win" Monday. 

We should be aiming for more than a split vs. a bad team. That's all I'm saying. If we split tomorrow, we will 2-5 against the worst team in the AL. Not a good sign. And it's not like were losing 10-8 freaky weird games. Not trying to argue. Just making a point

“Dobnak was solid”. If Berrios put up these numbers we would be claiming he is an elite ace. It’s funny how you have to achieve results in a way that jives with current analytics to be considered something other than a fluke.

As for the catching Avila should be playing more. He’s better defensively and is getting on base which works well for the bombas.

I look at the chart of the relief pitchers and wonder how long they will keep Louie Thorp around? 

“Dobnak was solid”. If Berrios put up these numbers we would be claiming he is an elite ace. It’s funny how you have to achieve results in a way that jives with current analytics to be considered something other than a fluke.

As for the catching Avila should be playing more. He’s better defensively and is getting on base which works well for the bombas.

Thing about Berrios is that we actually HAVE seen him dominate before. Is he off to a slow start? Yes. So is Donaldson - he didn't do anything before the injury either. Garver's looking awful too. If you aren't a fan of Garver or Donaldson, you'll say they're terrible. If you ARE a fan of those guys, you'll point to their history.

Frankly I just want the Twins to win ballgames and I think most of us feel the same in the end.

The fielding has been way better than expected this season... it was supposed to be a weakness, but Polanco and Arraez have been better than expected thus far.

In Dob we trust. Just throwing that out there,

If Dobnak could room with Romo, and Sergio teach him that crafty low inside corner, low outside corner thing, alternating sinker, slider, change-up, the Dobber could become the next Greg Maddux.

Or am I dating myself?

Technically I can't date myself if I'm married, right?

Help.

We should be aiming for more than a split vs. a bad team. That's all I'm saying. If we split tomorrow, we will 2-5 against the worst team in the AL. Not a good sign. And it's not like were losing 10-8 freaky weird games. Not trying to argue. Just making a point

Styles make fights. There are unexpected results in all sports, hence we tune in. The best part is the season series is not over my friend.

That was a super fun game to watch! A little bit of everything, Dobbs, the squeeze,Gonzo, bare handed double, Kepler turning on that inside ball as was called by Smalley, Rogers in the 8th which I like and then the toreador spinning em! Sign me up.

Any stats on how often 2 teams have played to the same score in 3 consecutive games? Seems fairly unusual.

Coreyndan talked about a similar streak in which the 1987 Twins won 3 consecutive games by 2-1 against two different teams: Sept. 3 (Red Sox), Sept.4 (Brewers) and Sept. 5 (Brewers). All were walk-off wins.

I was at the first and third of these games. Sept. 3 provided one of my favorite Kirby moments. I had a self-imposed rule that I didn't go to day games in the dome but I was stricken by pennant fever and I had the day off on a Thursday with nothing else of importance to do. So I purchased a low-priced ticket from a sidewalk broker and used a bit of deceit to sneak down to the lower deck. I found one of many empty seats not far above the third base dugout. Bottom of 9, Twins down 1-0, bases empty, two out. Kirby hits a ball to left field one section to the right of the foul pole that landed 2/3 of the way up the lower deck. No exaggeration. I had to look it up tonight that we won in the tenth on a bases-loaded walk to Newmie, but it was the moment that Kirby absolutely smoked that ball when I knew that that team had destiny on its side.

On Sept. 5 Brunansky led off the ninth with a home run to win. My friend with whom I attended the game and I went to The Loon afterward. A number of Brewer players including Rob Deer showed up. Nothing more to add to that story but it was fun to allow myself to think that I was in with the in crowd.

Those days were fun.

When do we stop talking about Dobnak like he is an aberration?  My it is fun to watch him just trust his stuff and keep on pitching.  And I do love defense.

I was at the game when Bruno homered. The atmosphere was terrific. It seemed that everyone thought something special was happening. 

And the terrific atmosphere was not just in the dome. Because of the Twins that fall was a vibrant time in Minnesota, especially the Twin Cities.

We should be aiming for more than a split vs. a bad team. That's all I'm saying. If we split tomorrow, we will 2-5 against the worst team in the AL. Not a good sign. And it's not like were losing 10-8 freaky weird games. Not trying to argue. Just making a point

I guess we should be aiming to win every game regardless of the opponent.   The most likely outcome with a good team against a bad team in 4 games is good team winning 3.   The 2nd most likely outcome is splitting.   Winning two out of three with a good chance of taking the 4th is a good result and one I would have been happy with before the double header yesterday.    Going 2-5 against a bad team is only a bad sign if that is all they played.  If they should win a little over 60% which is what they did last year and what is expected of them this year then they have achieved that goal by going 14-8 so far.   I would say it is a good sign that they have gone 2-4 against the worst team and still are in 1st place and on the same pace as last year.   

I was at the game when Bruno homered. The atmosphere was terrific. It seemed that everyone thought something special was happening. 

I agree. It was like an electrical charge in the air, ozone high or something. It was very tangible.

I've always liked Alex Avila, but now that he's a Twin and we get to see him more regularly, I like him even more. Good signing. I'm a huge Mitch Garver fan, but I like winning more. If playing Alex a bit more is good for the team, I'm all for it.

Is it just me or do the players look different in the powder blues? Not play different, but actually look different. I thought Kep looked like he came out of a different era of baseball today. It's probably just my aging eyes.

When do we stop talking about Dobnak like he is an aberration?

Maybe when he pitches more than 5 innings or is able to strike out a few people?  He finally pitched into the 6th this year and, three batters in, he (and Clippard) had to literally be saved by Rosario.  The guy is pulled every game at the point where he hits the 3rd time through the lineup and he has 14 Ks in 25 innings.  Rocco is one of the main reasons why he looks so good - he’s protecting him.

I like that he is solid and reliable and unicorns sure are amazing to watch, but seriously this Cy Young talk has to stop.  We saw it with the homers; if he isn’t dead on, people destroy his stuff.

Given the Berrios has forgotten how to pitch, I’d love to just enjoy Dobnak notching some victories.

yeah while it is a great story, the great equalizer is a line up like the Yankees are gonna use. Im not sure there's a pitcher in our organization that wont crumble under that pressure.

Coreyndan talked about a similar streak in which the 1987 Twins won 3 consecutive games by 2-1 against two different teams: Sept. 3 (Red Sox), Sept.4 (Brewers) and Sept. 5 (Brewers). All were walk-off wins.

I was at the first and third of these games. Sept. 3 provided one of my favorite Kirby moments. I had a self-imposed rule that I didn't go to day games in the dome but I was stricken by pennant fever and I had the day off on a Thursday with nothing else of importance to do. So I purchased a low-priced ticket from a sidewalk broker and used a bit of deceit to sneak down to the lower deck. I found one of many empty seats not far above the third base dugout. Bottom of 9, Twins down 1-0, bases empty, two out. Kirby hits a ball to left field one section to the right of the foul pole that landed 2/3 of the way up the lower deck. No exaggeration. I had to look it up tonight that we won in the tenth on a bases-loaded walk to Newmie, but it was the moment that Kirby absolutely smoked that ball when I knew that that team had destiny on its side.

On Sept. 5 Brunansky led off the ninth with a home run to win. My friend with whom I attended the game and I went to The Loon afterward. A number of Brewer players including Rob Deer showed up. Nothing more to add to that story but it was fun to allow myself to think that I was in with the in crowd.

Those days were fun.

Great story!

During the off-season we'll have to make a thread "baseball game stories and player run-ins" or something like that.

Maybe when he pitches more than 5 innings or is able to strike out a few people?  He finally pitched into the 6th this year and, three batters in, he (and Clippard) had to literally be saved by Rosario.  The guy is pulled every game at the point where he hits the 3rd time through the lineup and he has 14 Ks in 25 innings.  Rocco is one of the main reasons why he looks so good - he’s protecting him.

I like that he is solid and reliable and unicorns sure are amazing to watch, but seriously this Cy Young talk has to stop.  We saw it with the homers; if he isn’t dead on, people destroy his stuff.

 

Given the Berrios has forgotten how to pitch, I’d love to just enjoy Dobnak notching some victories.

I had to pause a minute - it sounded like you were describing Odorizzi.  Our staff of starters is a five inning staff.  If Berrios got his act together he and Maeda can go a little longer, but long starts seems like a part of history - like complete games.

When do we stop talking about Dobnak like he is an aberration?  My it is fun to watch him just trust his stuff and keep on pitching.  And I do love defense.

Probably once his ERA is in the 3.00s. 

I like that he is solid and reliable and unicorns sure are amazing to watch, but seriously this Cy Young talk has to stop.  We saw it with the homers; if he isn’t dead on, people destroy his stuff.

 

 

I am ok with Dobnak being in the Cy Young conversation as long as he is sub 2 ERA and as long as Lance Lynn is still in the conversation.    Here is a list of current MLB starters that don't need to be dead on to be successful.......   Ok, there might be a few, but not a lot.   Giving up two home runs is not a good example of being destroyed.  Every year there are 4 or 5 guys in the top 30 or so that have similar strikeout rates.   He's not Cy Young material but the longer he keeps it up think more Brad Radke, Dallas Kuechel, Mark Buehrle and less Kevin Slowey, Mike Pelfrey and Tommy Milone.  Not that the last three weren't useful in their day.