I'm writing this from the Amsterdam airport with so-so free wi-fi.
The suddenly no one wants to play them Minnesota Twins take on the hated Brewers of Milwaukee. Looking at the weather, not sure I'd this gets in or not.
Ervin Santana mound in his first start since shorning his hair. Let's hope for good results. I can't let this post go by without mentioning how dumb MLB is to be scheduling this series against the Brew-crew midweek. This should be on a nice June weekend where the crowds will be plentiful and boisterous. You know create excitement where a kids tells his mom, that was a blast, let's go back again soon. But then we could write a treatise on MLB and marketing and I have some Heineken and cheese to buy.
If Twins-Brewers get a midweek, two game day/night series. Yankees/Mets and Dodgers/Angels should have those too. Otherwise, just scrap Interleague play all together.
Cash grab haters gonna cash grab hate.
Baserunning mistake by Gennett, but also a mistake by Dozier to not get the double play. They'd already decided to concede the run.
It's been sort of nice to have our batters answer runs with runs (or at least here the threat of runs).
It's also been very nice to see good Joe lately (and only four strikeouts so far this year!).
Half of his strikeouts game in one game. It was also the last game he struck out in.
Sano!...?
I have to say, that LTE had way more exclamation points when I initially saw "In play, run(s) scored"
It's nice to see the twins going the paper cutting, but it'd be better if they had more runs to show for it.
Way too many baserunners (and contact with so many baserunners) to have only two runs at this point.
I had to walk the dog and follow on the tweeter. Missed an inning. Tie game!
I think Buxton mashes one here...
You thought wrong, dude.
Not a good bunt by Murphy.
Also, it's either gamecast, or this is a very odd strike zone.
ohhhhh, now we're gonna hear it.
... whoops ...
Sun must have been in Sano's eyes......
... or he isn't supposed to be an outfielder...
And here's the thing, wouldn't right now be the perfect time to give Sano a few weeks at third? Why does the front office insist on putting a guy with no prior experience in the outfield, to learn a new position at the BIG LEAGUE LEVEL!? I just don't get it.
They were hoping it would work like Ryan Braun I guess.
I ... did not know that about Braun.
Looks Braun played 112 games at 3rd his rookie year (making 26 errors) and then never went back. He hit .324/.370/.634 with a 154 OPS+ and 34(!) homeruns as a 23-year-old.
As a 22-year-old last year, Sano played in 80 games (only 9 at 3rd base) and hit .269/.385/.530 with a 147 OPS+ and 18 homeruns.
Not just 26 errors but it was one of the worst fielding seasons ever. DRS, TZ, and UZR all rate it as around -30 runs. Everything he did at the plate was returned in the field.
I suppose it goes without saying, but I did not know that either.
Alex Gordon is another potential comp. He played his first two seasons and parts of two more at 3b.
Okay, Gordon I knew about.
That being said ... can we expect Braun/Gordon-level excellence in the outfield, or just at the plate?
I can see why they wouldn't move Sano to third just for a couple of weeks. They've committed to make him an outfielder, so he needs to keep getting experience in the outfield. I think making him an outfielder was a bad decision, but since they're not likely to change their minds at this point I understand why they don't want him going back-and-forth.
He hasn't exactly been taking any ground balls there for quite a while.
And he wasn't going to win Gold Gloves at third base either, which is a more demanding and critical position.
How is he supposed to learn from not being able to see the ball among white shirts in the crowd? What is he supposed to do different? And it's not like with losing it in the sun where you have time to take a different angle on a high fly ball.
I get to watch today, from East Lake Brewing to boot.
I'm still on the heavy drugs, so no beer for this boyo.
This Blueliner pale ale is pretty good.
See, I can understand why people get hooked on the narcotics, but I still prefer a cold beer to a vicodin.
That run should be charged to Sano
That [other] run should be charged to Murphy
Though I think the new style helmets are better for impacts, the old school helmet and mask combo looks sweet
cue the boobirds.
boooooooooooo.
Does this game look as ugly as it sounds?
yes
Well that inning sucked.
Definitely sub-optimal
I feel old knowing that Joe is just 33.
good opportunity for someone to vulture a win today
How did I miss that Plouffe(!) as clubhouse leader narrative?
They were trying to present Dozier as the main man in the offseason. Must not have taken (or maybe they're presenting Plouffe as the Cuddyer to his Hunter?)
Plouffe! is the active Target HR leader, so that seems pretty obvious
Does he pull a rabbit from his hat?
I'm not really sure why we care about three things.
Seriously guys, the shift works because it works. Stop. Talking. About. The. Effing. Shift.
This.
Okay, Sano. Bring us back.
There's Sano time like the present.
Awesome.
Derp.
National Parks Week!
How far did it go?
390something
Park Bang!
Provus keeps saying Park is the first Twin to hit three homers in his first eleven games since Josh Rabe. I think Park may have a slightly better career.
Let's hope so.
I know his average isn't good and he's struck out a lot, but I find myself not at all concerned about the guy.
Park through first 43 at-bats: .871 OPS
Jung Ho Kang through first 44 at-bats: .822.
Kang finished his season at .816.
Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!
I have to say I did not expect that!
Citizens, we have a ballgame here!
HRosario!
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Apparently, his first career pinch hit appearance?
Thank goodness for that Brewers bullpen.
Rally killing.
Told you so.
You just had to push your luck, didn't you, Jepsen.
He hasn't looked very sharp this year, has he.
Coming into today, Jepsen had a 2.59 FIP, which was almost exactly the same as he had with the Twins last year (2.56) and better than his career FIP (3.23).
Jepsen wants this win
It would be really cool if Sano tied the game with a home run.
Well, I still think it would've been cool.
Feels like we kind of gave this one away. I guess we'll just have to settle for 152-10!
Dumb.
turds.
not good when your closer leads the league in losses
It's not, but I'd rather have the problem of losing the lead in the ninth than not having the lead in the ninth. The former problem is easier to solve.
Not gonna argue that point
"Al-ways look on the bring si-ide of life..."
Only 1 of Jepsen's losses came from losing a lead and that was before Perkins was injured. His other 2 losses have come in tie games in the ninth inning.
Why is there so much emphasis on Buxton's misplay costing the Twins when the guy would have been at second without it and the next guy singled to left-center. Sounds like he would have scored anyways, right?
The same reason Jepsen gets the loss instead of Santana.
I'm not sure who's putting all the emphasis there; Provus & Dazzle put most if it on the lack of runs in the first 2 inning rallies.
Well, the Twins website headline is "Last of Twins Miscues Help Brewers Hold On."