Twins ?

[SiouxScore]

Man that was really fun to watch Graterol pitch. Good movement on the fastball to go with the velocity. Gave up a couple hits but extremely weak contact and hit spots pretty well too.

[jodcon]

Also good to see Buxton roaming again even if just in defensive mop-up.

[Wilbur]

Five and a half games up.....magic number is now 21.  Lots of reasons to be optimistic in Minnesota.  

Getting some guys back and expanded roster is huge.  Having Austidillo means you can DH Garver to keep his bat in the lineup.  Having extra arms around for our patented 5 inning starts.......nice. 

[SiouxVolley]

The Twins play in the weakest division in the ML.  Detroit, Kansas City and Chicago WS are three of the bottom six in the entire ML.  Since the Twins get to play them each 19 times, and only play out of division teams seven at most, the Twins have a very weak schedule.  Even Baltimore has a higher ranking than  KC and Detroit.  Not saying that the division weakness is perpetual or anything, but a fairly good team should really be helped by playing almost half its schedule against deadbeats.  Even Cleveland is barely mediocre according to these ratings.

http://proxy.espn.com/mlb/stats/rpi

[Wilbur]

1 hour ago, SiouxVolley said:

The Twins play in the weakest division in the ML.  Detroit, Kansas City and Chicago WS are three of the bottom six in the entire ML.  Since the Twins get to play them each 19 times, and only play out of division teams seven at most, the Twins have a very weak schedule.  Even Baltimore has a higher ranking than  KC and Detroit.  Not saying that the division weakness is perpetual or anything, but a fairly good team should really be helped by playing almost half its schedule against deadbeats.  Even Cleveland is barely mediocre according to these ratings.

http://proxy.espn.com/mlb/stats/rpi

Funny thing is that the Twins have a good, but not great record against the AL Central with how poor those bottom three teams are. 

Look at Houston's record against the AL Central.  Completely agree it's a weak division, but they've played their division much better for whatever reason. 

[SiouxVolley]

24 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Funny thing is that the Twins have a good, but not great record against the AL Central with how poor those bottom three teams are. 

Look at Houston's record against the AL Central.  Completely agree it's a weak division, but they've played their division much better for whatever reason. 

Think three divisions should be two so the schedule isn’t so different in the leagues.  Houston was just as bad as Detroit just a few years ago, but they have really turned it around.

But Minnesota can have a legitimate shot at a World Seres win.  In 1987, they only finished like 4+ games over .500 but won the west and still won a WS.

In 1991, they again won the western division and had a great team with Jack Morris, Puckett and Hrbek and won the WS again.  But they need starting pitching stars like Morris.

[Wilbur]

27 minutes ago, SiouxVolley said:

Think three divisions should be two so the schedule isn’t so different in the leagues.  Houston was just as bad as Detroit just a few years ago, but they have really turned it around.

But Minnesota can have a legitimate shot at a World Seres win.  In 1987, they only finished like 4+ games over .500 but won the west and still won a WS.

In 1991, they again won the western division and had a great team with Jack Morris, Puckett and Hrbek and won the WS again.  But they need starting pitching stars like Morris.

They definitely need to switch up the scheduling.  Like you said 19 times against the Detroits and the KCs......yuck.  

I'd be for every team playing all the NL and AL teams at least one series a year.

[SWSiouxMN]

Hoping Chicago can be pesky this week against Cleveland and the Twins can pick up another game today against Detroit.

Boston is going to play pretty desperate this week. I would love to see them meatloaf that series. 

[Wilbur]

Lamonte Wade Jr pinch hits.  Shows the confidence they have in Castro hitting.......and he walks......

[sioux rube]

4 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Lamonte Wade Jr pinch hits.  Shows the confidence they have in Castro hitting.......and he walks......

And Arraez comes through again 

[Wilbur]

Just now, sioux rube said:

And Arraez comes through again 

Would you have sent Wade on the 3-2 pitch???

[sioux rube]

Just now, Wilbur said:

Would you have sent Wade on the 3-2 pitch???

With Arraez at the plate yes 

[Wilbur]

Just now, sioux rube said:

With Arraez at the plate yes 

Completely agree.  With a low strikeout guy and decent speed you have to send the runner.  Its 1st and 3rd zero outs if he goes. 

[sioux rube]

Kepler comes through again 

[sioux rube]

Romo has some nasty junk 

[Wilbur]

5 minutes ago, sioux rube said:

Romo has some nasty junk 

Nice to have a reliable vet that takes the ball and doesn't walk people.  

Being able to throw his junk for strikes is what impresses me the most about him.  

[sioux rube]

[Wilbur]

Good win over a team that only tries against the Twins.  Six of seven on the road against teams you should beat.  

Now try to win a series in Beantown. 

[sioux rube]

Magic number down to 20 

[Wilbur]

Dobnak to start tomorrow in Boston.  I'll set the over under at 3 innings.  If he can go four it gives them a chance.  

[Wilbur]

I see what ya did there......Dobnak goes one, then Thorpe.....mix and match the whole game......

So far so good. 

[SWSiouxMN]

Give Thorpe another inning!

[jodcon]

Why did Dobnak only pitch one inning?

[jodcon]

Looks like 3 was the magic number for Thorpe

[jodcon]

5 minutes ago, jodcon said:

Looks like 3 was the magic number for Thorpe

 

..and of course it bites us in the rear.