Twins Game Recap (8/5): May Throws Fire, Sano Launches a Walk-Off Bomb in Twins Win

I'm hoping May just took a big step forward last night. If he did, the Twins bullpen just got a lot better.

A little bizarre that Cave is getting dragged for his error in right when it was Adrianza's missed scoop at first and Castro's passed ball that allowed the Braves to threaten in that inning anyway. Harper was pitching fine, the guys behind him just didn't make the plays, and it wasn't just Cave.

A little bizarre that Cave is getting dragged for his error in right when it was Adrianza's missed scoop at first and Castro's passed ball that allowed the Braves to threaten in that inning anyway. Harper was pitching fine, the guys behind him just didn't make the plays, and it wasn't just Cave.

The problem is that Cave needs to bring his "A" defense because his bat is MIA.

Adrianza has shown some ability with the bat this year and his glove work has been extremely good.

Same with Castro.

Sano has been crushing lately.  I have been way down on him over the years, but he is showing he is putting in the work.  The hardest thing for some players is to change what has worked their whole lives, even harder when it does not work right away.  I think he is finally learning he does not need to pull everything, he can put the ball out to any field.  I hope his next step is to plan out the at bat, and not just react.  

So many times in the past, not so much recently, he would go up there and try to pull outside sliders and just miss or weak contact.  If he would go up and look for that pitch, step into it, he could smoke that thing off of or over the RF over and over.  

If we play in NY during playoffs, I hope he thinks about fact a pop up to RF is a home run in NY. 

Sano has been crushing lately.  I have been way down on him over the years, but he is showing he is putting in the work.  The hardest thing for some players is to change what has worked their whole lives, even harder when it does not work right away.  I think he is finally learning he does not need to pull everything, he can put the ball out to any field.  I hope his next step is to plan out the at bat, and not just react.  

 

So many times in the past, not so much recently, he would go up there and try to pull outside sliders and just miss or weak contact.  If he would go up and look for that pitch, step into it, he could smoke that thing off of or over the RF over and over.  

 

If we play in NY during playoffs, I hope he thinks about fact a pop up to RF is a home run in NY. 

Sano had a five game slump, and it sounds like he spent the whole game in the cage working, which to me is almost as important as the homer he hit. It does seem like something has clicked this year and I give credit to Cruz those two seem like they are pretty close. (from my 5000 ft view)

Side Note: I enjoyed listening to Jim Kaat and Bert in the booth last night. 

Such an exciting game to watch and pumped the Indians lost their game and the lead in now up to 4 games!  Arraez is my new favorite player on the team.  Love his hustle and his hitting ability. 

Buddies probably not. Catchers and pitchers tend to be quite sensitive when it comes to optics though, so I'll cheer for a rift to grow there. At least for the next two games. 

 

Eh, make it all year. I don't much care for Atlanta.

I think very much a non issue.   I don;t know how it could be called classy but don't know how any teammates can have an issue with it either.  Watch the pitcher himself.    He knew it was gone immediately and only turned to look to see how far.

Just a guess, but I'll go with "not an issue" with his buddies. It came across to me as "that's game, let's get 'em tomorrow." More professional than some kind of histrionics, or fake hustle going to the wall to watch the ball clear it by 50 feet or whatever.

Yeah, based on Martin's response to the swing he was probably in the dugout long before Acuna got there.

When was the last walk-off homer against the Braves?   Oh I remember - "And we'll see you tomorrow night!!!!!!!!".   I'm there tonight - hoping Berrios pitches a 10 inning shutout.   WOW  Gotta love this season!

Still a lot of back/handed complements regarding Sano (“better than watching him strike out”....etc.)

I’m not sure when people are going to realize his changes are for real. His emergence is arguably the key reason the Twins are still ahead of Indians right now.

That’s his second monster clutch home run that I recall this year (the should be winner against the Yankees the other). I feel great when he comes up in situations like that. It’s a shame that more fans aren’t appreciating he good of a player he actually is. That win last night was massive.

As did I, though I enjoyed one of them much more than the other.

I'd much prefer a team of Dick Bremer and Ted William's defrosting head to the pair doing the Royals TV broadcast this weekend.  Regardless of Dick's partner in the booth, we haven't got it so bad. 

A little bizarre that Cave is getting dragged for his error in right when it was Adrianza's missed scoop at first and Castro's passed ball that allowed the Braves to threaten in that inning anyway. Harper was pitching fine, the guys behind him just didn't make the plays, and it wasn't just Cave.

First reason: Adrianza isn’t a first baseman. He shouldn’t be there. If Cave booted a ball at third base people wouldn’t care as much (they’d more wonder why he was there - similar to my reaction to Adrianza playing first so much). When an outfielder, who has always been an outfielder, is misplaying balls - it’s a bigger issue than a shortstop botching a scoop at first. It’s a matter of expectation/proficiency at your normal position.

Second reason: This isn’t the first time Cave has botched a play in a massive situation within a massive game. He botched a play against the Yankees that was a major factor in losing the 8-2 game and the series.

It’s not that people don’t like Cave and like Adrianza (only can speak for myself), it’s that he’s having a much larger detrimental impact on the club than Adrianza. Adrianza has contributed all year. He’s produced offensively, he’s played multiple positions, he’s pinch ran, etc. Cave hasn’t produced in any facet of the game. He’s just not helping. It goes beyond looking at each play in a vacuum.

Still a lot of back/handed complements regarding Sano (“better than watching him strike out”....etc.)

I’m not sure when people are going to realize his changes are for real. His emergence is arguably the key reason the Twins are still ahead of Indians right now.

That’s his second monster clutch home run that I recall this year (the should be winner against the Yankees the other). I feel great when he comes up in situations like that. It’s a shame that more fans aren’t appreciating he good of a player he actually is. That win last night was massive.

Zero facts to back this up, but it seems when somebody else gets in the home run groove, he tends to slide back into the, I am going to pull ever pitch over the left field fence, then get he starts to get going again when he starts going with pitch.

The Twins used a defense-first infield yesterday and still managed to win without having to score ten runs. Cool.