Twins Game Recap (9/2): Late Labor Day Offense Propels Twins

 

Here's some talk about today's pitching performance, a look ahead at the Boston series and some additional context into just how good Randy Dobnak was in the high minors this season...

 

Overlooked the fact that there were _no_ walks today.  Cannot take that for granted.

 

i really like all these comments but i hope Rocco is listening when i say this. In a 5 game LDS those first 2 games at home is a Huge advantage. Let us not forget we have time to get that #2 seed. And, we would hold the tiebreaker over the Stros based on our 4-3 season series win.

Priorities...1, win division. Lost of games left with Cleveland. Next 12 are Cleveland, the Red Sox, who we never seem to play well against, and the Nationals, who have about the best record in baseball over the last 3+ months (58-28 since May 23).

2, rest key starters, leverage relievers, and even certain position players (i.e., Polanco), and dinged-up guys.

3, get playing time for key guys coming off injuries (Buxton, Gonzalez).

 

If I were Rocco, getting the #2 seed wouldn't even register in my consciousness at this point. If it happens, it happens. Win a game on the road.

Edited September 3, 2019 by jkcarew

One thing about the game was another sub par fielding day. Odo got in trouble after Cron missed the foul pop followed by Areaz not getting a glove on two grounders within his reach. I believe Cave had another blinger as well. They have to play better in the field

 

Priorities...1, win division. Lost of games left with Cleveland. Next 12 are Cleveland, the Red Sox, who we never seem to play well against, and the Nationals, who have about the best record in baseball over the last 3+ months (58-28 since May 23).

2, rest key starters, leverage relievers, and even certain position players (i.e., Polanco), and dinged-up guys.

3, get playing time for key guys coming off injuries (Buxton, Gonzalez).

 

If I were Rocco, getting the #2 seed wouldn't even register in my consciousness at this point. If it happens, it happens. Win a game on the road.

 

You missed one. Priority 1 is always "Beat the White Sox." With their loss last evening, we have now clinched at least a tie. A Twins win tonight or a Sox loss will mathematically eliminate them.

 

Then we can move to your list, which I think otherwise is right on target. 

Edited September 3, 2019 by IndianaTwin

 

The good thing about this lead is just going 3-3 against Cleveland basically buries them.

 

Frankly, even going just 2-4 against them means that they still have to make up four games in the loss column in the other 18 (Cle) or 19 (Min) games. Not impossible by any means, but still a tough task. 

Priorities...1, win division. Lost of games left with Cleveland. Next 12 are Cleveland, the Red Sox, who we never seem to play well against, and the Nationals, who have about the best record in baseball over the last 3+ months (58-28 since May 23).

2, rest key starters, leverage relievers, and even certain position players (i.e., Polanco), and dinged-up guys.

3, get playing time for key guys coming off injuries (Buxton, Gonzalez).

 

If I were Rocco, getting the #2 seed wouldn't even register in my consciousness at this point. If it happens, it happens. Win a game on the road.

You know four people responded to my post and all of you make great points. When i really think about it what i am afraid of is that they lose their edge. A friend of mine and I were trying to name a wild card team thats ever won a World Series. We started it out because we talked about how hard it would be to go on the road after game #162...win one game, then fly out to the #1 seed and start the LDS. We came to find out that several titles have been won by wild card teams including both Marlin's ones and the 04' Red Sox. When i think back to 2010, the Twins clinched so early that i feel they lost their competitive edge. I just don't wanna see that happen to this years team.

You know four people responded to my post and all of you make great points. When i really think about it what i am afraid of is that they lose their edge. A friend of mine and I were trying to name a wild card team thats ever won a World Series. We started it out because we talked about how hard it would be to go on the road after game #162...win one game, then fly out to the #1 seed and start the LDS. We came to find out that several titles have been won by wild card teams including both Marlin's ones and the 04' Red Sox. When i think back to 2010, the Twins clinched so early that i feel they lost their competitive edge. I just don't wanna see that happen to this years team.

You don’t want the wild card. That path is much tougher since they added the second wild-card and the ‘play-in’ game. Now, even if you survive that, you’ve typically burned your best starter. You absolutely want to win the division. But, I don’t think there’s that much value difference between the 2 and 3 seed...or even the 1 and 3 seed.

well im pretty sure i didnt mean i want them to be the wild card. That was just the topic of discussions that refreshed my memory of a 2010 team that acted like it hadn't ever seen a playoff series before.(and a certain manager too)