It's Jackie Robinson day. It took them too long to make it happen, but better late than never. The game was made infinitely better by Jackie, and the whole "everybody wears 42"thing is a great way to commemorate him.
The Twins sort of need another hot steak. I know it's asinine to complain about their record after last year, but they are 2-4 over their last six
The Twins certainly got the right pitcher on the mound today. Santana has been one of the better pitchers in the league after two starts, and though he's unlikely to give up a mere 2.7 hits per 9 this season, I really think that something in the 3.5 range is totally reasonable.
The White Sox counter with some loser named Jose Quintana. The guy's ERA is above 6, so I'm not too worried.
Go twins!
Twins on Leaderboards
WAR - Sanó - 0.8 (8th) (4th among position players. no points for guessing who's already in first)
Offensive WAR - Sanó - 0.8 (2nd)
Defensive WAR - Buxton - 0.5 (t-2nd)
OBP - Castro - .469 (4th)
OBP - Sanó - .463 (5th)
SLG - Sanó - .742 (2nd)
OPS - Sanó - 1.205 (1st)
Runs Scored - Sanó - 10 (t-1st)
Doubles - Sanó, Kepler, & Polanco - 3 (t-10th)
Triples - Sanó - 1 (t-1st)
Home Runs - Sanó - 3 (t-6th)
RBI - Sanó - 11 (3rd)
Bases on Balls - Sanó - 10 (t-1st)
Bases on Balls - Castro - 9 (5th)
Bases on Balls - Grossman - 7 (t-7th)
Strikeouts - Buxton - 20 (1st)
Stolen Bases - Dozier - 5 (t-1st)
OPS+ - Sanó - 236 (t-1st)
Extra Bases Hits - Sanó - 7 (t-5th)
Times on Base - Sanó - 19 (t-6th)
Hit By Pitch - Escobar & Kepler - 1 (t-10th)
Sacrifice Bunts - Rosario - 1 (t-2nd)
Intentional Walks - Sanó & Dozier - 1 (t-4th)
That was all I was able to get before being taken from the computer. Point is, Sanó is currently the best batter in the AL. That's fun.
Mauer gets another RBI!
Better check the outfield grass for the crater Sano's ball left on it. Man alive.
and check the basepaths for scorch marks from joey "wheels" mauer going first to home on that play.
Byron Buxton is going to hit a HR this inning.
it'd be good for the cycle this inning.
Dang.
quintana walks danny santana. guessing he might not have "it" today.
Okay, Ervin, you take it from there.
Two good innings from Santana. Okay, boys, let's get a few more runs, just for safety's sake.
The Rochester Red Wings were rained out and have scheduled a doubleheader for tomorrow.
Sano now has 10 hits this season, 8 are for extra bases: 4 doubles, a triple, 3 HRs.
Joey Belle like
Joey, or Albert?
😉
I think Max Kepler is lock in.
Did Frazier get tossed?
Nope. Patient umpire
I didn't think so, but he's not playing third any more. Dazzle said something about him being sick. The umpire apparently made him sicker.
recurrence of "flu-like symptoms" from earlier in the week.
Ah, hangover
Dazzle, last year everybody "had the Twins' number". That happens when you lose 103 games.
Twins bats have gone pretty quiet. I didn't mean for them to take my "Ervin, you take it from here" comment literally.
Buxton has struck out 21 times now. Bumgarner leads pitchers with 24.
He obviously has more talent than that. He'd have never gotten this far if he didn't. I have no idea if it's physical, mechanical, mental, or what it is, but something's clearly wrong with him.
Trout has 1.2 rWAR in 11 games. He's on a 17 rWAR pace.
He'll never keep that up. I thinking more like 15.5 is totally reasonable
Remember that year where polanco didn't play 6? Maybe it worked...
Hot damn, Jorge.
That's better than a strikeout
BB with the 2B!
What can't buck tag up on. Ridiculous
Sad to be working for this one. Cripes, Santana.
He is dealing.
that's one way to get a hit, Byron.
Dazz wants to have Grossman's babies.
Greatest. Player. Ever.
I would pull Santana here. No, I don't think his arm will fall off if he pitches the ninth, but he's thrown 96 pitches, and it's a long season. If our eight-man bullpen can't hold a six-run lead for one inning, there's no point in having it.
98 according to MLB app
Plus it's April, so his arm strength isn't necessarily ready for 107 pitches. But, it's April so could be an off day coming up to give him an extra day of rest.
Or maybe this helps us get rid of the bloated bullpen
Oh God please
1 hit shutout, wowzers!
If he could just face the Royals and White Sox all year
same with twins hitters and quintana. they seem to have him figured out.
Just have to tell them that they are facing the ace lefty of the White Sox.
Game score 98? Yes please
First in shutouts, tie for first in CG
Third of his starts are shutouts and he's won all his starts. 32-0 with 11 shutouts guarantees him the Cy Young.
and I would guess the MVP!
Gotta pitch the CG to ensure Tonkin doesn't come in
Trout's 15 rWAR would make a compelling case though.
Astros scored two runs on three walks and an error. They still have no hits through six innings.
Tied for first! We're still on track for 158-4!