WC GDT: Jays @ Twins Game 1, Best of 3... So It Begins...

[Terminator]

This day f***ing suxxx... just saying.

 

It did but we will get them tomorrow.

[DonJays]

Maybe they did? No one knows

They did. The dumb dumbs always discount the human factor. Ironic as they are the same ones that complain about management being overly reliant on analytics and are now saying management isn’t utilizing enough video/ analytics.

 

They had a game plan. They tried to identify what may have been tipping batters and created a game plan. He didn’t execute. Period. The amount of emphasis on coaching is f***ing hilarious.

[Olerud363]

People wanted the Twins because they are not as good as the Rays. They could still sweep the Jays here and it wouldnÂ’t be all that surprising but I donÂ’t think itÂ’s under estimating the opponent as much as wanting to face the inferior team. Jays offense is just ass cheeks so it doesnÂ’t matter who the opponent is.

 

I think people made the same mistake they did with Seattle last year. The players that played much of the season are not the same as the players that will play the 18 to 27 innings of this short series.

 

According to fWAR twins have the top 2 combined starters in baseball. They are replacing Joey Gallo, Christian Vasquez, and Byron Buxton, who played the majority of the time at their positions with Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers and Matt Wallner. So the team that is playing these 3 games is not the same composition as the team that is reflected in the 162 games of which they had a 93 win differential anyway.

 

Same with Tampa, McChlanahan and Franco their best pitcher and player are no longer playing, so the team isn't the same who racked up the 100 win differential.

[Fastball21]

[jaysblue]

Jays bullpen was superb keeping the score the way it was after the 4th inning. Gausman wasn't his sharpest, but didn't implode and the Jays were still very much in the game after he was pulled. Schneider did a great job managing the pen afterwards.

 

The bats need to score some runs. They had some opportunities but wasted them. Let's hope they could score 4 or 5 runs today or else pretty much you'll need Berrios and the pen to be perfect if the lineup could only put up 1 or 2 runs.

[Laika]

I didn't get to watch the game but caught some highlights.

 

Looks like Bo had a horrible PA in the 8th. And a bad decision trying to score on the infield hit.

 

Some hard low liners from Kirk and Springer and Biggio found gloves so a bit of tough luck on potential singles...

[Laika]

Gausman has been mediocre for a several starts and it has looked exactly like that.

 

Good teams are just not swinging

 

It's the opposite of the normal approach against great pitching. Normally you shorten up and try to slap a single or whatever. Not against Gausman. Teams are up there thinking walk or homer.

[Olerud363]

Gausman has been mediocre for a several starts and it has looked exactly like that.

 

Good teams are just not swinging

 

It's the opposite of the normal approach against great pitching. Normally you shorten up and try to slap a single or whatever. Not against Gausman. Teams are up there thinking walk or homer.

 

Going into game 4 against Texas, when some people were starting to lose their s***, I ranted about how Texas was guaranteed to win that game because they could gameplan against Gausman. And of course he had a terrible start.

 

Admittedly he pitched well against the Yankees. Then yesterday was terrible. 6.5 ERA, like 5 homers per 9, 9 walks per 9 and forced the bullpen into heavy usage.

 

I do not work in major league baseball ops so don't know all the latest technologies they are using. A-Rod/Buck Martinez think he is tipping pitches, but they come from a different time.

 

I mean could be as simple as Twins and some other teams just do great prep work against a 2-pitch pitcher in terms of recognizing the 2 pitches early (video, bp machines) and prepping to swing not too often.

[connorp]

Gausman has been mediocre for a several starts and it has looked exactly like that.

 

Good teams are just not swinging

 

It's the opposite of the normal approach against great pitching. Normally you shorten up and try to slap a single or whatever. Not against Gausman. Teams are up there thinking walk or homer.

 

How much credit goes to Joyce?

[Olerud363]

I didn't get to watch the game but caught some highlights.

 

Looks like Bo had a horrible PA in the 8th. And a bad decision trying to score on the infield hit.

 

Some hard low liners from Kirk and Springer and Biggio found gloves so a bit of tough luck on potential singles...

 

Do you know what ranking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 80 hit tool, greatest hitting prospect ever, greatest age 22 hitter ever would have in the Twins line-up in terms of OPS?

 

8th. f***ing 8th.

 

Lewis, Wallner, Jeffers, Jullien, Kepler, Kirilloff, and Palanco have a better OPS in 2023 than Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

 

This team is good. Whatever magic makes hitters good they got it going. Hit 307 homers in 2019, were top 3 in homers in 2020, 2021, and tied for first this year.

 

Let's play some small ball. Gotta play some small ball because 80 hit tool Vlad Guerrero is only 8th on the Twins in OPS. Don't blame the coaches or upper management or the high (a.k.a. low) performance team. Play some small ball. Get it done. Bunt Kirk over because even though he was 8 times the minor league hitter Jeffers was, he now hit's like David Eckstein in a bad year... well maybe not bunt Kirk over because he's 300 pounds, but bunt someone else over. That will show the Twins and their .800 OPS hitters, living their best life, how it's done.

[Grant77]

I didn't get to watch the game but caught some highlights.

 

Looks like Bo had a horrible PA in the 8th. And a bad decision trying to score on the infield hit.

 

Some hard low liners from Kirk and Springer and Biggio found gloves so a bit of tough luck on potential singles...

 

Some other notes:

 

Gausman had good velo and started the game locating his fastball down in the zone for strikes, but it could not be more obvious that they knew the splitter was coming. The broadcast mentioned it's the least number of swings all season, despite pretty good location. That caused him to fall behind and challenge more up in the zone with the fastball, where he got burned twice. He adjusted and threw the splitter in the zone in the last 2 innings for lot of called strikes, which was more successful. He probably should have started with that because they weren't even flinching when they saw splitter coming.

 

Chapman's 400+ foot fly was the biggest turning point of the game. One more foot or a different part of the park and the Jays win.

 

Minnesota's defense is horrendous, particularly Polanco at 3B. They gifted us no less than 4 outs, perhaps 5.

[Laika]

How much credit goes to Joyce?

 

A lot? He single-handedly won the game.

 

Of course when your offense is mostly HR hitters that tends to be how you win. The guy with the big swings is the hero.

[mphenhef]

Man the more I think about it while watching replays, I dislike vladdys self control. Sure he hits a lead off double. But that display of emotion just fires up the pitcher who looked way more pumped as he got out of the jam. Like your hit was meaningless in the end. Save your emotions for when it’s an obvious momentum swinging play. Like when you score or you take a lead.

 

I think his gesturing as vociferously as he did had the inverse impact on the pitched. Instead of firing his team up he out a chip in the shoulder of the pitcher who ultimately showed he was a bigger bull dog than any of the weak follow up hitters.

 

Sigh I’m just really disappointed in vladdy not being clutch, not being a better leader and being a brain dead base runner . I know he’s 24 but someone needs to take him aside and get him to reflect on his body language at times.

 

My vent two cents.

 

It's the playoffs. What Vald is doing on second base has no impact on motivation for the pitcher and suggesting otherwise is quite frankly ludicrous. Do you think he is out there like "It's a tight playoff game...oh s***...look at Vlad celebrating out at second base...Screw him, I'm going to pitch better to spite him"?

[polar bear]

If if if, bad luck, yadayada. Been the same story all f***ing year. This team just crumbles under pressure time and time again.

 

Let’s face it,they can’t hit good pitching.

[connorp]

A lot? He single-handedly won the game.

 

Of course when your offense is mostly HR hitters that tends to be how you win. The guy with the big swings is the hero.

 

To rephrase, maybe you found yourself some respect. Dude is elite.

 

If Berrios is good today, I’ll have some respect for him. He’s been very good lately, but I still trust him as far as your can throw him.

[Stangstag]

Let’s face it,they can’t hit good pitching.

 

They don’t seem to hit bad pitching particularly well either. The hitting approach has just not been good all year. Consistently get shut down by 5+ ERA starters

 

The game was close, but that 8th inning is a great example of how bad the approach is at times. To let the Twins off the hook that easily that quickly was embarrassing.

[Jonn]

Let’s face it,they can’t hit good pitching.

 

I hate this narrative so much lol. They just don’t hit well enough period. I actually feel they have performed well against Aces this year outside of Gerrit Cole his last 2 starts. But they usually do fine against them. Guys like Glasnow as well.

[TorontonianJD]

They should intentionally walk Royce

[Laika]

They should intentionally walk Royce

 

overreaction

[connorp]

overreaction

 

RISP- .385/.452/.785

Based loaded 15 AB but still: .545/.585/1.636 slugging lol

Now the playoffs

 

You can at least conclude if there is any anti-clutch gene, he doesn’t have it

That said, he’s not Bonds or something, but worth of putting on 1b for sure if he can beat you

[Jonn]

Royce Lewis had the f***ing game of his life yesterday lets relax.

 

It’s the Minnesota Twins time to remind them of that today. Jays winning.

[Laika]

RISP- .385/.452/.785

Based loaded 15 AB but still: .545/.585/1.636 slugging lol

Now the playoffs

 

You can at least conclude if there is any anti-clutch gene, he doesn’t have it

That said, he’s not Bonds or something, but worth of putting on 1b for sure if he can beat you

 

late and close with men on base, sure, maybe you walk him to pitch to the next guy

[connorp]

late and close with men on base, sure, maybe you walk him to pitch to the next guy

 

What happened to your post-season fantasy draft? You won your own B-league and felt fulfilled for 2023?

[Laika]

What happened to your post-season fantasy draft? You won your own B-league and felt fulfilled for 2023?

 

completely forgot about it this year! I should have done one

[max silver]

Some other notes:

 

Gausman had good velo and started the game locating his fastball down in the zone for strikes, but it could not be more obvious that they knew the splitter was coming. The broadcast mentioned it's the least number of swings all season, despite pretty good location. That caused him to fall behind and challenge more up in the zone with the fastball, where he got burned twice. He adjusted and threw the splitter in the zone in the last 2 innings for lot of called strikes, which was more successful. He probably should have started with that because they weren't even flinching when they saw splitter coming.

 

Chapman's 400+ foot fly was the biggest turning point of the game. One more foot or a different part of the park and the Jays win.

 

Minnesota's defense is horrendous, particularly Polanco at 3B. They gifted us no less than 4 outs, perhaps 5.

 

The Twins outfield defence on the other hand was fantastic and very well may have saved the game for them with a lot of great plays. And Correa made a tremendous play to absolutely nail Bo at the plate so they weren't THAT bad.

[BatFlip]

I hate this narrative so much lol. They just don’t hit well enough period. I actually feel they have performed well against Aces this year outside of Gerrit Cole his last 2 starts. But they usually do fine against them. Guys like Glasnow as well.

 

It's such an odd narrative. "They don't hit good pitching as well as bad pitching". You can say that for literally every team in the MLB.

 

Bottom line is that this team has struggled to hit period this year and it's still not clear to me why.

[Stangstag]

RISP- .385/.452/.785

Based loaded 15 AB but still: .545/.585/1.636 slugging lol

Now the playoffs

 

You can at least conclude if there is any anti-clutch gene, he doesn’t have it

That said, he’s not Bonds or something, but worth of putting on 1b for sure if he can beat you

 

He’s easily the most dangerous guy in the lineup, so yeah i’d much rather walk him than give him a cookie down the middle

[max silver]

It's such an odd narrative. "They don't hit good pitching as well as bad pitching". You can say that for literally every team in the MLB.

 

Bottom line is that this team has struggled to hit period this year and it's still not clear to me why.

 

This team's approach seems to be completely f***ed up. They don't seem to be ready to hit the fastball as they are constantly fouling off if not completely missing fastballs in the heart of the plate. And far too much of the team seems to employ an up the middle type of approach which is just asinine as flyballs to center field are by the far the most likely type of fly balls to end up as outs. The best outfielders tend to play center field and thus have the best range/highest likelihood to catch these types of batted balls and this is also the deepest part of the park. Yesterday was a perfect display of the stupidity of this approach as the Jays hit the deepest fly balls of the game to center field which ended up as outs, vs Lewis who pulled one fly ball home run and went the other way with his second.

[Stangstag]

This team's approach seems to be completely f***ed up. They don't seem to be ready to hit the fastball as they are constantly fouling off if not completely missing fastballs in the heart of the plate. And far too much of the team seems to employ an up the middle type of approach which is just asinine as flyballs to center field are by the far the most likely type of fly balls to end up as outs. The best outfielders tend to play center field and thus have the best range/highest likelihood to catch these types of batted balls and this is also the deepest part of the park. Yesterday was a perfect display of the stupidity of this approach as the Jays hit the deepest fly balls of the game to center field which ended up as outs, vs Lewis who pulled one fly ball home run and went the other way with his second.

 

The Vladdy and Chapman flyballs are the story of the season. Our guys keep trying to go oppo but for some reason the power just isn’t there.

 

They should have switched gears months ago when it was clear the oppo approach wasn’t working out, but the entire lineup has failed to make any adjustments or climb out of the hole they’re in.

[connorp]

The Vladdy and Chapman flyballs are the story of the season. Our guys keep trying to go oppo but for some reason the power just isn’t there.

 

They should have switched gears months ago when it was clear the oppo approach wasn’t working out, but the entire lineup has failed to make any adjustments or climb out of the hole they’re in.

 

As much as I love Royce Lewis, he doesn’t have Vlads power. How he can take a FB on the outer half of the plate with ease to Right-Center and Vlad can’t, idk