Article: Twins vs. Orioles, 07/16/2012, 7:10pm

[sbknudson]

Sweet! Baltimore starter goes 0.2 innings.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Still gotta work on that defense, though - too many errors on straight-forward plays.

I'm really not worried about his defense. His best attributes through the minors were his hands and instincts and those have been his biggest failings thus far in the majors. That leads me to believe he's either really nervous or is taking plate failures out to the field. Both will fade in time, especially if he keeps hitting.

[snepp]

ROFLcopter.

[Badsmerf]

Still gotta work on that defense, though - too many errors on straight-forward plays.

Young shortstops make errors. Rarely do they come up and play flawless. People need to relax about his defense.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Thats a good question. His selectivity is a big reason why I wanted consistent playing time. I feel like he's been missing many more pitches lately than he did last month. Obviously he isn't going to hit 10 HR a month, but it makes me want to see more before I anoint him 3b of the future.

I probably didn't phrase my statement clearly... I mean "since the breakout" as in "since pitchers have adjusted to him". If anything, I'm more impressed by his relatively mundane (by comparison) play in the past few weeks because he's dealing with increased sliders and breaking balls because everybody is scared to throw him a fastball.

[Highabove]

Its great to be buyers again instead of sellers!!!!

[Badsmerf]

I probably didn't phrase my statement clearly... I mean "since the breakout" as in "since pitchers have adjusted to him". If anything, I'm more impressed by his relatively mundane (by comparison) play in the past few weeks because he's dealing with increased sliders and breaking balls because everybody is scared to throw him a fastball.

That is true, but the fastballs he is getting he's been missing. I don't think the last few weeks have been bad, but think its about time he connects with one of the few fastballs he is getting in the zone. That said, I had a feeling coming into this game Plouffe would hit one tonight.

[Brock Beauchamp]

That is true, but the fastballs he is getting he's been missing. I don't think the last few weeks have been bad, but think its about time he connects with one of the few fastballs he is getting in the zone. That said, I had a feeling coming into this game Plouffe would hit one tonight.

Ppbbbttt. I'm just happy that he's not K-ing every other AB. I feared that might be the case after pitchers adjusted to his insane June.

[GCTF]

eeeew, sweaty Coomer.

[GCTF]

Its great to be buyers again instead of sellers!!!!

Sell the farm!!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Did the ump throw his back out on that strikeout?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Joe can do that? To right field?

[snepp]

Big boy muscles.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Mauer's GB% is finally going to drop below his 2011 numbers. A very good sign.

[glunn]

Finally the Twins are having a game worth watching and I forgot to set the damn DVR.

[snepp]

WTF Denard?



A "double."

[sbknudson]

C'mon, Denny and Josh - talk to each other!

[Brock Beauchamp]

WTF Denard?



A "double."

Indeed. A "double".

[snepp]

Damn, Dozier just about got him.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Talk about **** luck.