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I replayed it a few times, the ball was definitely in the air as Revere crossed the bag. The ump was a little biased toward raising the right arm a couple times time tonight. The play from Morneau to Carroll looked like that runner was safe, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Riverbrian
Can someone explain to me why the hell Butera was allowed to hit with the freaking bases loaded and Liriano already out of the game?!?!?!
It's one thing to give Butera (who literally might be the worst hitter in the history of baseball with 500+ PA) starts for some absurd reason like "He is the Latin Pitcher Whisperer," but to keep him in a 3 run game with the bases loaded...ugh...there is no excuse for that.
I'm happy the Twins won and all, but these are the decisions that will eventually burn them in the future, and if the Twins have any chance to get back into the race the margin for error lies somewhere between slim and none.
Rumor has it that Doumit may have some minor injury. Or this might be a psychological warfare strategy to send a message to the White Sox that they are not good enough for the Twins to use a catcher who has a good bat.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave
Listened to the press conference. I can count a half-dozen questions asked on this thread that should have been asked of Gardy, queston #1 is why Doumit didn't play, or at the very least, pinch hit in that situation. That was Managing 101 unless Doumit has an injury.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave
Someone commented earlier on Plouffe's markedly changed approach at the plate lately, looking like a RH Joe Mauer going almost exclusively to the opposite field. It appears he is suffering from information overload- 1) he "knows" they are pitching him away, 2) they "know" that he knows it, 3) inject the Vavra-esque advice regimen for becoming a GB/singles hitter, and Voila!, you have the "new and dis-improved Plouffe", higher OBP, GB and OPP field rates, markedly lower SLG . 4) In the meanwhile, that defensive plate approach has him swinging and missing badly at pitches that he was routinely parking in the seats just 10 days ago.
I think it's time for yet another Parker-Slomo-Swing-Intervention Clinic.
He literally isn't too far off. The joys of BaseballReference....Quote:
Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave
Since 1901, position players with more than 450 career plate appearances, Drew is tied for the 8th worst OPS+. And he's within spitting distance of sole possession of 3rd place.
I was at the game tonight. I was so happy to see a victory over the Whities and the end of a personal 8-game losing streak in Target Field visits, that I can't bring myself to get too worked up over Butera, the 883 blown chances to blow the doors off (OK, I'm exaggerating, but it seemed like that many as I was watching) or any of the other negatives raised, valid though they are.
And it was fun to see Good Frankie. I hope he keeps showing up.
It's plausible Butera was left in to hit, with a 3 run lead, because he's a much better defensive catcher. Sort of like lots of people used to go bananas when Delmon wasn't swapped out for a better defensive outfielder with a lead in the late innings. It's also possible Doumit isn't 100 percent. It's also possible Gardy and/or his bench coach just didn't think of it, or they thought of it and said "nah...I gotta hunch here."
Hard to say.
I was sort of punching the radio at the time, though.
Let's get another tomorrow.
I had confidence that you would do it. It looked more like Frankie the pitcher vs. Frankie the thrower...maybe there is something to this Butera Caddy thing after all...nah! Now, to win the series, Morneau has to follow through and get out of his funk against Floyd tomorrow. I'm thinking the team that reaches 9 runs first wins it, certainly more easily accomplished with Butera locked back up for another week in the bullpen. The Twins own Floyd (current Twins are batting .369/.420/.580/.1000), even Morneau, and Hendriks will need all the help he can get. They have to win tomorrow to get the series, because it seems likely that Blackie's recent luck runs out on Thursday against Sale.Quote:
Originally Posted by one_eyed_jack
I like this explanation. =)Quote:
Originally Posted by glunn
Sure. Let's go with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by rocketpig
Part of me hopes he ends up with enough professional At bats though to be included in the Baseball Reference voting system, which currently has Juan Castro as dead last of 1200 career hitters or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by snepp
A very large part of me hopes that those plate appearances come in a different uniform.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave