Twins 5, Tigers 4: Wild Final Play Extends Win Streak to 5

There's a lot of looking gift horses in the mouth here for a team that has just posted its first winning record of the season.  Are we having fun yet?

2 hours ago, BeantownTwinsFan said:

Surely an investment of $5-7 million more could have stabilized the back end of the bullpen before the start of the season?
 

LOL Alex Colome would beg to differ

It's why you don't trade the closer on Opening Day. There's no moves left to make at that point. I don't hate that trade in December but I hate it when it under the circumstances. 

I know Columbe was bad his last outing but that was after like a 12 day layoff. What is the argument for Thielbar pitching ahead of him at this point?

Probably the best chance of help comes from St. Paul or Wichita.  Teams are not trading viable pitchers this early.  And yes there are a couple of guys that I would not have on this staff. 

Not sure how we're getting away with this, but I'll take it. Along those lines (and I am being lazy here) how are we fielding a lineup with Garlick as the cleanup hitter and winning? Are his platoon splits so good against lefties that he goes from being the last guy on the roster to cleanup hitter in April? 

7 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

The only baserunner who has an excuse in that situation was larnach.

After watching the play again, I kinda disagree. I think Larnach should have scored easily. If you watch the replay, he's still heading back towards 2nd base when the ball is rolling around near the wall. Not to mention Grossman's arm is like a wet noodle.

The Twins baserunning as a whole on that play was so awful that it confused the Tigers to the point of them throwing the ball away.

Paddack looked good, I thought. Would have been nice if he could have finished off the 6th, but dang it was cold out there again. But if Paddack is getting comfortable throwing his curveball consistently, then he's going to be a good starter again, IMHO. I like his 3 pitch mix, and the fastball that was getting beat on a little last year should play up better when he's got two good off-speed pitches to contrast it. (It certainly wouldn't hurt if the team is able to add a tick or two on his velocity on that fastball too, but if he's consistently sitting 94-95 on it, then I think he's in good shape)

Goofy ending to the game, but I'll take it on a night where it looked like every professional sports team in MN was bound and determined to cough up a late lead and send us home losers.

I love the wins but we have now had four games in a row or the other team has had sloppy Fielding.  I'm happy it's the other team but disappointed that baseball has emphasized hitting over Fielding to such an extent. But if we can play keystone cops on the bases and that wins the game then we better keep practicing that move.

6 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

There's a lot of looking gift horses in the mouth here for a team that has just posted its first winning record of the season.  Are we having fun yet?

Oh it's fun, don't get me wrong!

In fact I think the Baseball Gods are evening things out. Wasn't it around this time last year when Luis Arraez made that throw in Oakland?

Good to see both Kepler and Sano play a major part in winning this game. While Sano's base hit could have been caught by a more adept fielder, it was a frozen rope and that would go for a double against many teams. He made solid contact with the team down in the 9th, he did a nice job in the batter's box in a big situation.

If Kepler can hit, if Sano finds his swing, if Jax is a late-inning answer and if the team's luck has turned around - look out. Those were kind of the missing pieces to a very good season.

7 hours ago, flags said:

because that was the correct baseball play to make. it wasn't over grossman's head, he should have caught the ball.

welcome though, clearly you just started watching baseball recently. there is a lot to learn

Ouch,,, try to keep the gloves up.  No need to get snarky on the response.

7 hours ago, MadHits said:

Grossman def made a poor read on the ball but Sano sent a screamer to right field, the catcher throwing to third was the gift. 

Agreed. It was most definitely not a fly ball, it was a line drive that went like 350 feet. Gotta give Sano credit for hitting the snot out of the ball against their closer.

All I could think last night

That three run dinger by La Machina's cuz had me down, but man oh man what a pick me up! Hilarious. If Larnach had played it the way some said he should and scored, that only ties it. After the HUGE misfortune of last season we are due for some karmic payback, big time. The ledger is still not balanced after the Dirty Sux and Kitties gifted us a couple. I say give me more! I felt a turning of fortune after the Sox gaffe maybe we are in store for a charmed season. Championships are usually accompanied by some luck. Just look at Rosario's break out after a miserable run for Cleveland. Let's go!

P.S. No analytics or statistics were utilized in this post.

OK I am joining the complain wagon train. Thielbar once again was not able to find the strike zone and appeared especially scared to put anything in the the strike zone against righties.  It is the reason they sent Pagan in who has turned into a one trick pony that isn't fooling anyone either. The low slider isn't working bud.  They seem to be able to identify and lay off that pitch and not throwing strikes early in the count makes for walks and messy innings.  I can see why San Diego was happy to send him off via trade.  It was cold out there and that does affect certain pitchers and hitters so hard to say those guys won't look better in better conditions but the reason you warm up in the pen is to be able to throw strikes and both those failed to do that again.  It cost Paddack the win and nearly the game.

On a positive note Paddack looked good out there.  I was surprised they sent him back out for the 6th but given what the pen looks like I guess I can see why they would want to get as much out the starters as possible.  I can get used to Kepler hitting lefties and not being an automatic out against them.  Urshela has been impressive.  I can see why New York fans didn't love it when he was traded to the Twins.

I did not get to see the Twins win live as I turned off the game after the 8th inning when the top of the order went down.  The Wolves lost late, The Wild lost late, it looked like the Twins fate was sealed but they must have some mojo this year as they broke the trend and accidently found a way to win.   I am happy they are over 500 and looks like this division is up for grabs.

LOL - Had to text my Dad and ask him what I just witnessed after that ending. This mornings headline should read "Sano goes Full R-Word, leads Twins to 5th Straight Win". Im glad they won in an especially stupid way but Sano is still a liability where ever he stands on the field. Yikes. 

Yes ugly win.  But a win nonetheless.  Tigers baled out Baldelli just like Buxton bailed out Baldellis in game managing skills the game before.  Kepler was the main offense.  Buxton, Correa, and Polanco at the top of the order went 0 for 11.  Correa still looks terrible at the plate and leads the team in strikeouts.  We are all sure he will come around soon.  Thanks Tigers for your error.  It erased a terrible base running display that should have ended the game.  Let's go for 6 in a row tonight guys.

Great quote from the Detroit Free Press: 

"Never had a good grip," (Tiger's catcher) Haase said. "Frickin' grabbed a big ol' mud ball and just sailed it. Base running mishap by them. I was going to run the guy back, tag both. There would be no one at home, so I just tried to pitch it. I just sailed it."

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2022/04/26/detroit-tigers-game-recap-minnesota-twins-javier-baez/9547063002/

Doth saith Lugh, god of the artisans:  "Emilio, my son. Thou must hurl the rock and trust my guidance, even whilst witnessing the thunderous blow returned unto thee.  Thine enemies will be defeated as I will suck the wisdom from them, even whilst those surrounding thee appear to drown in ignorance."

2 hours ago, Squirrel said:

You know … if Sano hadn’t run to 2nd, Urshela wouldn’t have taken off for 3rd, and we would be sitting with bases loaded, one run behind. Given the Twins history of scoring with bases loaded, we’d have scored, at most, one run and we’d have been sitting with a tie game going to the 10th. More likely, no runs and a loss. So, given that, it was good Sano and Urshela goofed on base running, ultimately forcing the errant throw by Haase into left field allowing not only the tying run to score but the winning run, too

Unlike 2021, we are getting all the goofy breaks this year - and the Tigers and Sox so far look like us last year. Good omen going on in the division. I'll take it. Baldelli and Falvey will figure out this bullpen - sooner please rather than later.

When I coached sixth graders, we taught our catcher (or any other player for that matter) to NEVER throw the ball back to third on a play like the last play of the game.  Nothing good comes out of throwing the ball again.  Best case scenario, you get Urshela for the second out and Larnach probably scores in the process.  Better to take the bases loaded one out than risk giving up a run (or two) by doing something dumb.