That Houston series was "disappointing", per se, but after that first game, it just seemed like they let some good opportunities pass then by. The bullpen looked weak and the Twins' aggression at the plate began to look very exploitable.
As it turns out, facing the Orioles is the best medicine. Last night, Alex Cobb pitched like he's trying to top Bert's home run record by the All Star break, and the Twins took advantage. At the very least, this seems like a team that can beat a lesser opponent.
Today's opposing pitcher, Dan Straily, has been having any the same level of success as Cobb has -- that is to say, none at all. Hopefully, our batters can take advantage of that and hopefully Berrios has a tighter outing today than he has in his last few.
This seems like a very winnable game. Here's hoping it sticks to the script.
This is today's free game of the day on mlb.tv if you're out of the area and would like to listen to not-Dick.
It should also be noted that the twins are taking BP in the La Tortuga shirts.
Why is Buxton not in the lineup today?
He took a ball off the leg yesterday. Baldelli said he is available but they're giving him a day to rest it because of the quick turnaround to a day game.
Thanks!
Actually, consecutive pitches were fouled off. The first one looked particularly gruesome (about halfway up the shin, well above his pad) while the second one was a little lower where he had some padding.
Dazzle: Jake Cave really impressed a lot of people in center field last year with his routes.
There is a sense in which that's a true statement, but I don't think it's the sense that Dazzle intended.
I'm trying to think back, but I do think dazzle might be kind of right-ish. Like, I don't think his routes were terrible, but his decision making for sure was. I could be wrong though.
My memory is that his routes were pretty bad. As Charlie Brown once said of his hero, Joe Shlabotnik, he made some spectacular catches of routine fly balls.
That's fair. I was pretty checked out last year so I really didn't see him out there that much.
Everything about his defense was poor for Jake Cave and the Bad D
DPWY - this comment deserves some love.
Wasn't it Cave that had problems diving for balls in front of him?
He had no trouble diving for balls, just catching them while diving.
The ball is not carrying well today
Addendum
We've played two innings and the Twins don't have any home runs yet. What's up with that?
Sorry to keep harping on this, but in the pregame show, Rocco said he didn’t know it was La Tortuga Day yesterday until during the game. I find that highly doubtful.
Ditto.
No need to apologize. I have angel hernandez, you have roco not knowing it was La Tortuga day.
Marketing Department: What we have here is a failure to communicate.
That's gotta be embarrassing for the orioles.
Uh oh.
He did have an awkward little hop when he reached home. Sounds like his hammy tightened up on him.
maybe if he’d had a chance to stretch it out more yesterday...
I am less enthused about the Gonzalez signing.
Houston looks pretty smart right now not re-signing him. I am crossing my fingers he is a slow starter.
Yup, in his career, March/April he is well below average. Let's hope he heats up.
His defense has been decent at least, but yeah, let's hope so indeed.
It feels like the boys really aren't into this one today.
Cruz excepted
CRON!!
His home runs haven't gotten over about thirty feet off the ground.
Heh, great minds and all that.
CHRon! He really hits rockets for his dingers.
So day four is going a lot better than previous days with the two cats. Dax (who we've had since December) still hisses every once in awhile and still paws at Fizz, but playfully. I'm sitting in my La-Z-Boy with Fizz sleeping on my shoulder and Dax sleeping by my legs. I think we'll get there.
MAX POWER!!
Spookied!
Gruslig'd
Calling dingers against the Orioles is a high percentage move.
Soooo many dingers
That is completely awesome that it got wedged in the railing.
MAX
This has been another garage radio game. Got the gas siphoned out of the truck and started on some cleaning, but that’s going to be a long term job as I’ve really let the place go to hell. Winters will do that.
another HR!
Marwin finally gets ahold of one. Nice.
Can the schedule be rearranged so the twins play the orioles every game?
Maybe they can trade divisions with the Yankees so they don't also have to play them 19 times.
SEND HIM!!SEND HIM!!!
That kind of at bat (Err... Plate appearance) is why I think that Buxton's hot start is for real.
I’m hoping this is a breakout year for him. So far it’s looking good.
CastHRo!
Dang
LOL this is something
This is getting silly.
Just wait until the concrete is dry.
Meet the highest slugging team in all of baseball!
This offense is so divorced from our reality from 1996 to 2006.
You're a year off. In 1996, the set a Twins record with 877 runs scored. The crazy part is they had a 97 OPS+ and were 8th in the AL in runs scored. Can you say PED? They didn't hit home runs like they've done this year, but still it was the most runs scored since moving to Minnesota and third best in franchise history. Things changed pretty dramatically after 1996.
Yeah, pretty sure the concrete is dry now.
I'll ask again -- is it wrong to feel a bit bad for Orioles fans?
I think it's more like a brotherhood. Like, I feel ya man, I been there.
A little charity never hurts.
Polanco with a single? DFA the bum
I'm sort of surprised Thome doesn't have the longest home run at target field, but I'm not at all surprised it's actually Cruz.
Rosario is on a 66 home run pace.
5 home runs today and none from the guy expected to lead the team in home runs and none from the guy that leads the AL in home runs.
Twins pitchers: 15 Ks, 0 BBs
Berríos on an "off day", where he's missing one of his pitches and never seems to put it together: 6 IP, 2 runs, 8 Ks, 0 BB.
To be fair, it is the Orioles.
Astudillo to the IL 🙁
First time the Twins have hit at least five home runs in consecutive games. The MLB record is three, done once by Boston in 1977.
Still have one more game against the O's.