mnfireman

4 of the last 5 no-hitters have been combined efforts, including 2 of 3 this year. Going back 6 seasons, 7 of 22 have been combined. It is now the way MLB managers and the analytics play the game.

Like it or not, Baldelli made the right call last night. Despite the perceived opinion that he's left Ryan out there to take a beating and run his pitch count up, Ryan has only topped last nights pitch number twice, 110 on 8/9 and 107 on 8/26 and last night was the only the 7th time he's topped 100. He has also now thrown 129 innings, a career high at any level (132 if you count his 3 inning rehab start). Last year he threw 93 combined innings plus 10 innings in the Olympics. In 2020 he didn't pitch due to MiLB shutdown. He will be counted on to pitch down the stretch (as many posters on here say, pennant race experience is valuable) even if the team falters. Had he been allowed to pitch the 8th, the extra 10-15 pitches may have pushed his next start back a day, and the team has 13 games in 12 days and can't afford a bullpen game, especially against the team they are chasing. I also liked that he was mad or felt slighted, it means he's a competitor and wants the ball. Sometimes having a little chip on your shoulder can be a good thing.

The biggest thing with the Twins injuries is the drop-off to the next level of player. Buxton, Larnach, Kirrilloff and Kepler become Cave, Celestino, Contrearas and Garlick. All 4 of those players are capable players in reserve and specialty roles, not to run out there daily. Polanco and Correa become Palacios and Beckham, Jeffers becomes Caleb Hamilton, Jose Godoy, and Leon, who was in AAA when traded for. Gordon has been the lone bright spot from these injuries. I don't think I have the time or the want to go into the rotation and bullpen, but both fall off drastically when injuries occurred and/or pitchers had to pitch in roles they were not suited for. Correa and Sano being injured gave the team the opportunity to see what Lewis and Miranda could do, and unfortunately for Lewis he also got injured. It also gave Arraez a chance to play everyday, but I suspect that is also why his numbers have fallen off the last month or so. The IL stints also do not include how many games Buxton, Kepler, Polanco, Larnach, Kirilloff, Jeffers and several pitchers tried to play through injuries, affecting their performance and the teams. Injuries de-railed this team, despite them being able to overcome them and be competeive until recently. They are 39-49 since June 1 and injuries have played a significant role.

Or the Apple+ telecast strike zone.....

Let me guess, you watch MLB.com......?

According to Baseball Savant, the first pitch was borderline and he swung. After that all pitches were called correctly until he popped out, even the high strike was well within the strike zone.

?????

I have seen way too many at bats that have the fielders playing in the "overshift" and, despite the pitch being over the outer half of the plate (or even outside), the batter still hits a slow roller into the "overshift" for an easy out. There are also too many well struck balls back up the middle that used to be base hits that are routine grounders for the SS or 2B, but that's part of defensive positioning, I guess.

32-43 overall against team with .500 or better winning % is probably an even bigger tell. As well as 8-12 (2-11 vs LA, MIL, AZ & SD) in interleague games and 12-17 vs the AL West (2-11 vs HOU & TEX). The Twins are 10.5 games worse than Cleveland in these 3 categories. They are 12-12 against CLE & CHW, despite how much worse its seems.

I understand HR's are down overall, but I would like to see a time limit implemented on HR trots. There is no reason to take 29+ seconds to round the bases. If CJ Cron, Evan Longoria and Josh Donaldson can average 24 seconds or less, everyone can. Nolan Arenado's sprint speed (25.4 ft/sec) falls between Urshela (25.8 ft/sec) and Sanchez (25.2 ft/sec) and his avg HR trot is 21.1 seconds, covering 28 HR. Might get rid of some of the self-admiring (Gordon, Correa among others). As for the other rules, there is a time limit (sort of) in the rule book already that used to be enforced, and a rule about defensive player placement (learn how to hit it where they ain't). And absolutely get rid of the extra inning runner rule.

After that 5 game stretch where he went 13-22 (.591) to raise his average to .337, Arraez is 15-70 (.214), dropping his average to .318. He, however, is not the only batter struggling.

Not bad baseball IQ - just bad baseball. Correa did it a few games earlier. Too much show boating in MLB. High baseball IQ would be to just put your head down and run until the coach tells you stop.

The kids giveth, the kids taketh away. Miranda should have stepped back to get the out, the runner wasn't scoring. And Gordon standing there admiring his hit and getting thrown out at third for the third out, not acceptable. Hopefully there were constructive conversations with each player after their respective misplays. On a bright note, the Twins took 2 of 3 as it looks like Boston's bats are coming to life. And Cleveland also lost.

I'm sure he thought it was a foul tip that hit the catcher and rolled slowly out in front of home plate. With whatever may be going on with his health or personal life, Kepler is the one Twins whose hustle I do not question.

Saw this as well. I was hoping it was words of encouragement because Gordon didn't look very happy with being pinch hit for.

Unless an April game or series is cancelled against an opponent a team only plays once, then the fun begins trying to re-schedule.

Yes.....almost!!

Cave made up for his bad route on Wade's double.

Sanchez get hurt?? Or just ineffectively wild....

Also stood there and watched it hit off the wall....

The Twins won on a walk-off walk last night, sooooo....

Arraez 1 - 22 and Miranda 3 - 25 with 12 K's are really struggling the last week or so...

I quit listening due to the rain delay and being at work, thankfully they started playing again and reversed course to grab victory from the certain grasp of defeat. Cave and Celestino, really!! Heroes really to come from the least expected members of the party!!

I think that Correa's decision will influence the teams decision towards Miranda. If he stays Urshela becomes expendable, but there are still question marks - Lewis, Kirilloff, Larnach and even Polanco, not to mention Buxton and Kepler. The next question then becomes who to trade - Urshela or Arraez?? Urshela frees up $$, but Arraez brings back talent. Good be a tough call whichever way the team decides to go.

Because of this post I looked at the 40-man roster and saw that Jake Jewell is listed twice....