2017 Twins Game Logs

Game 46: Rays at Twins

139 Comments

Alex Cobb vs. Kyle Gibson, 1:10 CDT

The Twins have certainly had a strange home-and-road split this year as for as win-loss record this year. And it will be difficult this homestand to start reversing the home woes since the Rays have pretty much made themselves at home at Target Field since it was built and the Twins then welcome the Astros next, who have the best record in the American League.

The Twins will then head out West to play a three-city road trip and none of the 3 opponents currently has a winning record, so it could be that we will continue for a while to hear about their odd tendency to do much better on the road.

Of course, the Twins can start to change that narrative by winning today. Gibson hasn't had a quality start in at least his last 7 opportunities, so the offense and bullpen will most likely have to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

It is an interesting pitching matchup in that both players were drafted out of high school in 2006. Cobb was taken in the 4th round and Gibson was taken in the 36th round. He of course, didn't sign and went to the University of Missouri and was drafted by the Twins in the first round 3 years later.

The good news is, regardless of how well Gibson and the Twins do today, they are guaranteed to lead the AL Central by at least 2 games on Memorial Day. Even I, the "eternal optimist" wouldn't have predicted that 2 months ago.

139 thoughts on “Game 46: Rays at Twins”

  4. Sounds like there's really only been one ball hit hard this inning, and yet the Rays have two runs. On the other hand, when you put guys on base with walks, you don't have a lot of room to complain about bad luck.

          1. I know. He's just so frustrating to watch, though, that I feel like it continuously needs to be said until lavine or Molitor come read this site.

  6. Polanco greased lightning there. Ray's squakers skeptical on the call.

      1. And the skepticism is justified. But Gladden called it a good, aggressive play, so all is well with the world.

  15. Ray's sqwaukers had ginormous pork chops at J.D. Hoyt's last night and can't quit talking about them.

    1. To be fair, you never really know if you've got good Gibson or ticking time bomb Gibson.

  27. Joe Mauer now #11 all by himself on the all time in Twins HR list with 133. Was tied with Jacque Jones, Brian Dozier is close behind with 124.

  28. I really enjoy that, when the twins go down a couple runs early I can stick with it knowing it isn't over already. (although it took awhile for me to trust that that would be the case.)

  42. I'm always really surprised when kintzler hits mid-90s because of how he seems completely unable to miss bat's.

    1. Maybe there was a manufacturing error on his last bat order and the only thing they had to use were a bunch of old bats left behind by _elm_n.

  65. Dazzle all over the place on the scoring that happened in the game. Too many numbers, I know.

  66. Okay, Twins. I appreciate you keeping this game going while I was away, but I'm back now. Time to end this thing.

  67. I'd be okay with Mauer missing out on the cycle by hitting another home run.

  73. I haven't been around for much of the game, but based on the written record, I think Molitor has used his bullpen pretty well. Having said that, why bring Duffey into the game now?

    1. I mean, yes, you can hold them to one run, maybe, and then hope to tie or win in the bottom of the inning. But if you're going to bring him in now, why not bring him in before the Rays went ahead?

      1. I think Duffey was going to be a no go today. He just got to the bullpen last inning, so he probably wasnt warm yet.

        1. But if he's a no go, he shouldn't have been in the game at all. And if he's not, then they should've gotten him ready earlier. It's not like it was shock that Haley might get into trouble. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Molitor cost them the game. But to me, you either use him when the game is tied or you don't use him at all. It seems pointless to use him for one out after the Rays have the lead.

          Now of course, if the Twins win it here, Molitor will look like a genius.

          1. Haley was going as long as he could. I'm sure Duffey was just one inning at most. Haley went to the DL after the game, so that might have been part of the decision to pull him.

  78. I would not have bunted Rosario with Buxton and Castro coming up. Yes, they can pinch-hit Grossman, but that just leads to an intentional walk.

  80. I'm not normally a big fan of pinch-runners, but I approve of it here. If that run doesn't score, the game's over. You have to do everything you can to get it home.

    1. Actually, he was the winning run, so if he does score, the Twins win. I was fine going all out there because the Twins needed to win the game, which is also why I didn't want Rosario bunting. Twins played for 1 run and that's what they got.

  83. A suicide squeeze would be awesome, but you'd have to be really confident that Castro can get the bunt down.

  89. Well, that's what happens when you refuse to use your ace reliever in a tie game. I refer, of course, to Chris Gimenez.

  91. Well, the Twins certainly had plenty of chances. They have no one to blame but themselves for this one.

  94. per twitter: Haley on the DL with "shoulder problem" (wink wink) and Vargas back to Rochester (ok?) two new pitchers tomorrow!

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