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2017 Twins Game Logs

Game 123: Twins @ Pale Hosers

69 Comments

Pinch-hitting in case hungryjoe doesn't have a game log ready to go live.

The first game of a proper doubleheader features Yet Another New Twins Pitcher™, this time Tim Melville. I'm somewhat surprised that Mitch Garver, who presumably knows Melville better than Castro or Gimenez, will be playing first base instead of crouching behind the dish. Starting Garver at catcher would've spelled Gimenez, who caught yesterday, and allowed Vargas to start at first this afternoon and Castro to start behind the plate tonight. Instead, Gimenez is catching again today. That's not a sign of confidence in Garver's defensive capabilities.

69 thoughts on “Game 123: Twins @ Pale Hosers”

  2. Molitor has said he doesn't expect Garver to catch much. My guess would be no starts while the Twins' fate this season is still in the balance. He might get some late-inning opportunities to catch after pinch hitting for Castro when the Twins are trailing.

    1. I guess it depends whether you think a catcher who's seen the pitcher's stuff is more or less likely to make a defensive mistake playing his primary position or out of position in place of a regular first baseman, and whether a second catcher who hasn't seen the pitcher's stuff and recently passed three balls in an inning is more likely to not make a critical mistake than the first guy.

      1. I'm assuming, then, that you're not terribly impressed with the reasoning there. Neither am I.

      3. I'm assuming there's no way Joe plays both games at first base, so if Molitor is unwilling to start a guy at catcher in one game and have the guy be at DH/1b in the other game, then the choice also included whether you wanted Garver, Giminez or Adrianza at first base for the game that Joe doesn't start. Garver doesn't have a whole lot of experience at first, but I imagine he has more than the other 2 and is expected to have a better bat as well. Of course, if Garver isn't in the lineup somewhere in Game 2, then it really didn't matter.

    1. A guy the Twins signed to a minor league deal in June out of an independent league. Pitched well in AA & AAA. Good stuff. Questionable control. Former 4th round pick of the Royals. Started a couple games for the Reds last year with bad results.

  4. Melville looks like he's got good sink on his fastball. He's gotten like 3 high choppers on it in 2 innings. Major leaguers usually don't top a fastball that badly.

  8. Dick is obsessed with pitchers that "allow" too many foul balls and yet doesn't understand the importance of a pitcher's ability to get strikeouts. Apparently, "good" pitchers have the innate ability to have batters put the ball in play weakly at fielders without watching batters foul off pitch after pitch.

      1. At least Rosario put it in play versus Rodon and got the guy from third home. Hopefully, that's it for Rodon now and the Twins can tee off on the bullpen.

  10. It would be nice if Turley could finish out the game. He's only thrown forty-four pitches according to espn.com, and he's used to starting, so unless he has a really bad inning he should be able to handle it.

        1. Gibson is scheduled to start tomorrow. I'd rather give Slegers another chance, but it doesn't look like that's what the Twins would rather do.

  14. Despite what I said about Turley finishing the game, with the change in the score and the way Busenitz has pitched, I'm fine with the pitching change.

  15. We've got this game in the bag. We have momentum on our side, and everyone knows you can't stop momentum!

  16. I also want to apologize to Dick n Bert for trash talking them for so many years. Yes, they're often not great, and sometimes they're mildly offensive, but they're so much better than I gave them credit for. My negative feelings for ii aside, his time in the booth clearly shows how much restraint is needed to call a ball game.

    1. If only there was some way, some voodoo if you will, to have some hitter other than Adrianza at the end.

  20. I guess at times even teams in a postseason run may have to sacrifice at a position. Not sure it was smart for that position to be Starting Pitcher, though.

  27. I'm coming to the realization that this white sox team is not very good at baseball.

    1. Not yet. DHing tonight and a pinch hit appearance this afternoon. Two BB's, two runs scored.

  30. Gee, I think the Twins have about half a dozen pitchers I would rather see start a ball game than "Gibby".

  35. when did New Comiskey become "Guaranteed Rate Field"?

    I know there's gold in them thar hills, but some of these naming rights names are downright stupid and annoying.

    1. That started this year (I'm pretty sure). Much mocking ensued and, I gotta say, the logo perfectly encapsulated where the White Sox are as a team this year.

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