Twins 2021

I missed all three watching hockey but hey, they sure could use him to get at least back to marginal.

I haven’t been active on this thread this year because I don’t get the Twins games now with Youtube TV holding out on FSN/BSN. However I have read up on and followed the news of Duffey throwing at Mercedes the other day. Sooooo many cans of worms there with baseball’s unwritten rules, La Russa being…unique, etc.

Dan wrote:

I haven’t been active on this thread this year because I don’t get the Twins games now with Youtube TV holding out on FSN/BSN. However I have read up on and followed the news of Duffey throwing at Mercedes the other day. Sooooo many cans of worms there with baseball’s unwritten rules, La Russa being…unique, etc.

Swinging 3-0 while up a dozen runs late in a game is usually considered bush league….but I’d also say putting a position player out there serving up 40 mph meat is even more bush league. At least the hitter is helping himself get paid.

These guys are highly paid professionals supposedly. If they get there butts handed to them to bad.

Personally I don’t have an issue with the guy smacking one outta the park. It’s what there paid to do. The team on the losing end needs to regroup.

Just my opinion.

I don’t either. Twins lost what, 12-3? That much difference than 11-3?

What if there’s a bullpen reliever with a bonus tied to a certain amount of innings or strikeouts…and the batter has a bonus tied to a certain amount of home runs, or slugging percentage, etc. Why is it that one has a certain “right” to go after that bonus but the other doesn’t?

Plus, the uniqueness of baseball is that there’s no clock. Unlikely, but you ain’t getting out of there until you record 27 outs.

WTF…. I lived for a 3-0 count with the greenlight… and when you have a guy lobbing them in *BOOM*

I think he had the stoplight. I too would slip a disk but someone’s feelings would get hurt. You get what you deserve.

Why would anybody throw Sano anything straight over the plate. He couldn’t hit a beach ball if it curved or cut down and away.

How many times are they going to run Colome out there to lose the game?
Cut the damn guy.

I watched the 9th and 10th inning before hockey started. That was pretty amusing when the guy who hit the walk off homer for the tribe actually squared up to bunt on the pitch prior. Bunt? Nah, I’ll just blast a walk off homer.

Thankfully it’s Baltimore. But Colome gives up another one.

I’m on a text thread of (former) Twins and O’s fans in their late 30’s/early 40’s Dads, and there was not even a mention of the series or sweep. Someone in MLB should be figuring out quick if they can’t keep my demographic of (formerly) huge baseball fans that are now Dad’s, they are dead already and just don’t know it yet!

BigWerm wrote:

I’m on a text thread of (former) Twins and O’s fans in their late 30’s/early 40’s Dads, and there was not even a mention of the series or sweep. Someone in MLB should be figuring out quick if they can’t keep my demographic of (formerly) huge baseball fans that are now Dad’s, they are dead already and just don’t know it yet!

You can thank analytics for that…….Had to…..but it’s true.

However as an O’s fan myself (growing up going to games at Camden Yards) I could care less about them getting swept. It been happening to them just about every other series for the last ten years.

mahtofire14 wrote:

You can thank analytics for that…….Had to…..but it’s true.

100% agreed. I’m hoping sometime soon the analytics will show the value of hitting over .300, hitting to the opposite field, manufacturing runs, doubles/triples etc. the stuff that drives action on the field. And defensively what an advantage a pitcher that can go 7-8 or even (gasp!!) 9 innings is!

I heard on kfan the other day they were talking the same league that started the 3 batter minimum for relievers before it getting to MLB is now having if you take out your starting pitcher you lose your DH for the rest of the game and they want that to get to major league level in the near future. Would definitely force starters to have to work out trouble at least early on.

JEREMY wrote:

I heard on kfan the other day they were talking the same league that started the 3 batter minimum for relievers before it getting to MLB is now having if you take out your starting pitcher you lose your DH for the rest of the game and they want that to get to major league level in the near future. Would definitely force starters to have to work out trouble at least early on.

I’m okay with that. The whole 3rd time through the order belief is such a crock. They don’t ever let the starters get through or even TO the order three times, so how would your pitcher ever learn how to pitch deep into games and how would you even know if they can do it or not?

BigWerm wrote:

I’m on a text thread of (former) Twins and O’s fans in their late 30’s/early 40’s Dads, and there was not even a mention of the series or sweep. Someone in MLB should be figuring out quick if they can’t keep my demographic of (formerly) huge baseball fans that are now Dad’s, they are dead already and just don’t know it yet!

I hear ya Werm. If I told my 17-year-old self that at 36 I’d be losing interest in the Twins and baseball that kid would laugh at me. I couldn’t tell you the last Twins season (2020 not counted) where I didn’t attend one game, probably 25 or more years in a row I’ve made it to at least one game, and that includes years I was deployed to Iraq. This year I haven’t yet, don’t have plans to yet, and haven’t really thought much about it.

Baseball has just been too resistant to change, and those that chalk stuff up to “the way the game is played” aren’t helping matters. I’ve had discussions with those that defend all those mound visits because well, that’s just strategy. You don’t think Mike Zimmer wants to get it right every play? But in football you have 40 seconds or less to figure it out and if you don’t, well 3 times a half you can call a timeout, but that’s it.

I still like the game and if it’s a 2-1 game I can enjoy a pitcher who’s in a groove and hitting his spots, and I can enjoy a high-scoring game too. I still think the best thing football has going for it is its rarity in that you only get 17 games of your team each year. Baseball has got to realize that you just don’t get that impact with each game and look for ways to improve that.

And I don’t know how this comment will land with some, but move on from most of those unwritten rules too. The White Sox hit a home run in a blowout off a fat utility player and breaks an unwritten rule, then a Twins pitcher throws behind that White Sox player but that’s ok too because that retribution is also an unwritten rule…enough already.

mahtofire14 wrote:

ow would your pitcher ever learn how to pitch deep into games and how would you even know if they can do it or not?

I totally agreed with Jack Morris’ take on this, basically if your starter has his stuff working and is humming along he has a much higher probability of continuing that, than bringing in 6 relievers and hoping one of them doesn’t have an off day.

Dan wrote:

And I don’t know how this comment will land with some, but move on from most of those unwritten rules too.

Agreed across the board Dan, I was a partial season ticket holder when Target Field opened and I quit on the Twins mainly due to my distaste for the ownership. But now the product (not Twins specifically, although that’s bad too) of MLB is just unwatchable imo, and I grew up with baseball as my far and away #1 sport and played amateur ball until I was almost 30. It’s not a problem with the game, it’s a problem with the MLB’s current version of it. And most definitely the unwritten rules gotta go.

Theses guys get paid off their stats. If you wanna put in a utility guy to throw batting practice damn right i would be swinging. If your gonna cry they are running up the score then get them out.

Dan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>BigWerm wrote:</div>
I’m on a text thread of (former) Twins and O’s fans in their late 30’s/early 40’s Dads, and there was not even a mention of the series or sweep. Someone in MLB should be figuring out quick if they can’t keep my demographic of (formerly) huge baseball fans that are now Dad’s, they are dead already and just don’t know it yet!

I hear ya Werm. If I told my 17-year-old self that at 36 I’d be losing interest in the Twins and baseball that kid would laugh at me. I couldn’t tell you the last Twins season (2020 not counted) where I didn’t attend one game, probably 25 or more years in a row I’ve made it to at least one game, and that includes years I was deployed to Iraq. This year I haven’t yet, don’t have plans to yet, and haven’t really thought much about it.

Baseball has just been too resistant to change, and those that chalk stuff up to “the way the game is played” aren’t helping matters. I’ve had discussions with those that defend all those mound visits because well, that’s just strategy. You don’t think Mike Zimmer wants to get it right every play? But in football you have 40 seconds or less to figure it out and if you don’t, well 3 times a half you can call a timeout, but that’s it.

I still like the game and if it’s a 2-1 game I can enjoy a pitcher who’s in a groove and hitting his spots, and I can enjoy a high-scoring game too. I still think the best thing football has going for it is its rarity in that you only get 17 games of your team each year. Baseball has got to realize that you just don’t get that impact with each game and look for ways to improve that.

And I don’t know how this comment will land with some, but move on from most of those unwritten rules too. The White Sox hit a home run in a blowout off a fat utility player and breaks an unwritten rule, then a Twins pitcher throws behind that White Sox player but that’s ok too because that retribution is also an unwritten rule…enough already.

I agree with you Dan. My issue is that analytics has taken over the game and changed it into a strikeout or HR game. There’s no in between anymore. The hitters don’t have any skill anymore. It’s HR or bust. We’ve broken the single season record for no hitters and we are 1/3 of the way through the season. League average is below .240. It’s just a brutal game to watch these days. I’m an old school baseball guy as I played college baseball and town ball as well until my early 30s, but I don’t mind change. I mind the game going downhill because the skills are all going downhill.

Ok, I’ll be the old school guy in the room. There was nothing wrong with the Sox guy hitting the homerun. There was nothing wrong with Duffy throwing at him the next game.( BTW, that Duffy attempt was thrown softer than the homerun pitch.) Duffy threw behind him and had no intention of hitting him. Let the players take care of things as they have for 150 years. Everybody (the younger crowd) complain baseball is to slow, not enough scoring, it’s boring. That don’t wash with me. Those same guys are watching soccer which IMO is worse than watching paint dry. Where is the outrage over that sport? The difference is MLB wants to be like pro football but it can’t happen. Two different games, two sets of history which is different. Leave baseball alone, let the players sort the game out. IMO the game needs a salary cap which will reward ALL skills instead of just homeruns & strike-outs. My fear is they are moving towards no rules much like the NBA and the players will end up ruining the game like the NBA players have.

There is nothing wrong with the game, the problem is the fans who want to change it.

Just when you think Rogers might be figuring something out……..At least he didn’t lose it this time.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Just when you think Rogers might be figuring something out……..At least he didn’t lose it this time.

Apparently he wasn’t wearing a mask and caught Colome.

Dutchboy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Just when you think Rogers might be figuring something out……..At least he didn’t lose it this time.

Apparently he wasn’t wearing a mask and caught Colome.

Pretty good one even for you Dutch!

On a positive note, with all the accusations of pitchers doctoring the ball, at least this pitching staff has nothing to worry about.

I looked at some of the Era’s on these guys and it’s pretty embarrassing.

Dear Rocco,

After again watching Sano flail away at pitches 2′ out of the strike zone with runners in scoring position, I have to ask……Why? You are in last place with nearly the worse record in baseball. Your young players are trying hard to learn the strike zone and get on base the way they were taught. Up steps Sano, who if you gave him a pen & paper could not draw a picture of the strike zone. At any point do you worry about losing the confidence of the team? There aren’t many people left in Minnesota who think this guy should even be playing. You also might want to have a word with Cruz…him trying to work a walk with Sano hitting behind him qualifies as insanity.

Well, at least Colome pitched a inning today without anybody in the bleachers getting hurt by flying baseballs.

Instead of treating all these players like your little 2 year old niece you might want to show a little toughness and sit some of these guys down.

If you haven’t lost the confidence of the team, you are starting to lose the confidence of the fans.

You know what has lately been proving to me that analytics are BS? Gleeman keeps spouting off that Sano doesn’t swing at bad pitches because of his “bad pitch swing rate” or some stat like that. Clearly it’s flawed if Sano is a disciplined hitter……I’ve had a few debates with him back and forth on how bad hitting is right now and his claim about Sano and he acts like it’s so obvious how could I not understand. I’ve stopped listening to his garbage.

It just keeps getting more ridiculous by the day.

WE FOUND OUR ACE! Actually got a starter past the 5th inning!

Ow… I mean….. OUCH!!
https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/mitch-garver-groin-surgery

Too bad Rocco doesn’t read IDO dutch. Sano can’t hit a beach ball from what I been hearing and checking the occasional box score. Rocco won’t say anything tho, just like the loafing/showboating
Rosario did all year without any backlash. With Sano he basically has to keep playing. For one, he can actually stay off the IL like some of these softies. Let him keep swinging at air! This season was lost weeks ago, maybe he can break the strikeout record!