2019 Twins Game Logs

Game 123: twins @ rangers

151 Comments

Okay, that's more like it.

This is pretty clearly going to be a dogfight to the end of the season, but last weekend, things were looking pretty dire.

They still need to tighten up just about every part of their game (the defense,in particular, has looked really sloppy these last few weeks), but now that the Twins are taking on lesser teams, and now that the Clevelanders are taking on actual contenders, this thing looks doable.

Berrios takes on Jurado tonight. This SHOULD be a winnable game. Let's make it happen.

I'm taking MarWIN.

151 thoughts on “Game 123: twins @ rangers”

          1. Hamilton had 771 career hits with the Rangers. Granted, he hit a healthy 305/363/549 (137 OPS+), but in only 2,814 PA. He ranks 13th in franchise history for WAR for position players at 23.0, just behind ARod and just ahead of the immortal Rusty Greer. If he had been a Twin, that rWAR figure would place him between Jason Morneau and Corey Koskos, who rank 12th and 13th in Twins' history (excluding guys who earned all or most of their WAR with the Senators).

    1. I complained a good deal about him in April, but I feel bad about it because the dude is a ballplayer.

  20. Will the Rangers start beaning guys for swinging next inning, or wait until the 5th or 6th?

  24. Berrios has had some Radke-itis lately. Hopefully he'll settle down the way Radke usually did.

  26. Dick Gordo’d that one. The camera angle for tracking hits to the outfield is not good. Good thing they’re going to tear down this 25 year old ballpark.

  27. How quickly we forget: Monday will be Austin Adams' birthday. I had completely forgotten that he pitched in two games for the Twins in May.

  33. We have 1 playoff starting pitcher. And the only other possible one isn't the guy pitching right now.

  39. Honest question - with Buck out is there really no better option in the organization than Cave?

  50. Berríos has terrible August numbers. I recall one concern while he was in the minors was endurance.

    1. Yeah but back when Cuzzi was fucking us in the playoffs there was no replay. This is on Baldelli and his video guy.

        1. Maybe he and Diaz need to do a job trade for a bit.

          Baldelli has been amazing and I like his millenium style. But it's been a bad couple of weeks for him and his staff.

        1. Need the Little Atlantic League extra-wide base.

          FTFY. I really hope MLB doesn’t adopt an innovation no one is asking for and that alters the game at its most fundamental.

              1. True. I had forgotten about all the changes imposed on the players. I'm still in favor of some section reserved for the runner to reduce or prevent collisions.

      2. No way - Kepler 100% thought sliding was going to be faster - there was no running lane being blocked and no setting up for a tag. It was a bang bang play and Kepler made it closer by taking longer to get there by diving - simple physics that have been understood for years.

        1. Not playing devils advocate, but once I read a thing about how calls at first were largely made by sound and not sight. So, a head first dive may help to confuse the umps sensory input and make for a not safe 'safe' call. Good story nonetheless.

            2. The initial replay view didn't have a great view of the hand. Tie goes to the initial call then, making it still maybe useful.

            1. Seems to me the runner would almost always have the advantage in that situation. Fielder has to be thinking about catching the ball and usually isn't able to move at full speed. Runner is at full speed and full control and can put his arms/hands in an offensive/defensive position where the fielder may not be able to do that if he has to make a catch and/or tag.

  61. As an aside, the gameday window reminds me of how jacked up the ballpark in Arlington is. As a former resident of the state of Texas I feel qualified to point out how Texas wants to out Texas itself, and that ballpark is a supreme example.

  63. Not convinced sending was the right call. But credit to Diaz for sticking to his aggressive style and getting the extra run.

      1. Polanco had to stop to make sure the ball would clear - a perfect throw and he is out at the plate - but its clear that Diaz sends in that situation and this time it paid off. Given the prolific offense the Twins have Im not convinced that sending if a perfect throw = out is the mathematically correct strategy. No way the team on pace to hit the most home runs in baseball history should be leading the league in outs at the plate.

        1. On the other hand, if he doesn't send him, the bases are loaded. Maybe Diaz calculated that in 😉

        2. For most teams, I'd agree with you. But in the games this series the Rangers defense has been brutal. They just aren't making a perfect throw.

          1. It's been........fun isn't the word, interesting maybe?..........to see how poor Texas' defense has been.

  65. Okay, because MLB finally decided that Houston and Dallas are close enough that New Orleans should be blacked out (not even close to being close....) but what the hell just happened?

    1. IIRC blackout rules are done at the team/city level and not at MLB level. They are archaic pre-internet rules that need to be updated regardless. Unfortunately until congress is made up of at least more than single digit % of non 60 year old plus rich white men it's not likely to change.

      1. last season I could watch Twins Rangers games at home but not Twins Astros. I still can watch Atlanta games at home this season (though, makes sense with the absolute hatred of all things atl in New Orleans....).

        1. You need a VPN service to pair with your MLB.tv account.

          When I was in Las Vegas - I was blacked out for Angels, Dodgers, Padres, Athletics, Diamondbacks, and the Giants.

          Also had to watch the non Utah Jazz TV feed when they played the Suns or any of the California teams - Kings, Warriors, Lakers or Clippers.

  67. Its felt like something has been brewing. Tomorrow could get interesting.

    Wonder if MLB needs an NBA like rule about players coming onto the field - no reason whatsoever for the bullpens to come out over that.

      1. Those Texas relievers did look very happy to do something. LOL.

        It's like a small town when you see all 4 police cars on duty at a routine traffic stop.

          1. I remember a Mad Magazine cartoon that featured a sign entering a small town that read "Speed Checked By Radar...Doug Radar, Sheriff" *

            *or similar name

  73. Yankees hit 4 homers today, trim Twins' lead to 14. Twins still have 2 games in hand.

    More importantly, 2.5 game lead in the division!

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