Twins @ Astros, Sept. 4, 2018

[Nate Colbert]

If you didn't see the news, JD Davis and Dean Deetz were called up from Fresno today. After serving a PED suspension earlier in the year, Deetz had 50 Ks and 18 BBs in 34 IP working out of the Grizzlies bullpen. (Along with Dallas Keuchel and Josh James, Deetz now makes 3 Jim Stevenson signees on the active roster.)

1. Springer
2. Altuve
3. Bregman
4. Correa
5. White (DH)
6. Gurriel (1B)
7. Reddick
8. Maldonado
9. Kemp

Verlander

[HudsonHawk]

T1:

Mauer...0-2...lines out to SS in the shift
Forsythe lines out to LCF on a diving catch by Kemp
Polanco...0-2...1-2..pops out F4 in foul territory

No score

[Tom Servo]

Bregman and White with RBIs.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

[Tom Servo]

La Pina!

[HudsonHawk]

La Pina with a 2-run tater!

[Tom Servo]

Verlander can give up 3 solo bombs and still have a lead. 

[hostros7]

Early crooked numbers are swell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HudsonHawk]

B1:

Action in the Twins' pen...

Springer singles to CF on the first pitch
Altuve lines out to LF at the wall
Bregman...full count...doubles off the top of the LF wall, Springer running on the pitch comes around to score
Correa pops out F4
White...0-2...1-2...2-2...singles up the middle, Bregman scores, White to 2B on the throw to the plate
Gurriel homers to LF, White scores
Reddick grounds softly up the middle, throw is high and pulls the first baseman off the bag...scored a single, White to 3B
Maldonado pops out F3

4-0 Astros

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Verlander has to wonder where this offense has been hiding.

[HudsonHawk]

Verlander can give up 3 solo bombs and still have a lead.

Some people never learn

[Tom Servo]

Some people never learn

It was just a joke about his propensity to give up long balls lately.  Chill out.

[HudsonHawk]

It was just a joke about his propensity to give up long balls lately.  Chill out.

It's not my lack of a sense of humor I'm worried about.

[HudsonHawk]

On field injury delay:

Sano slides into 2B after a wild pitch and the cart comes out to haul him off...looks like his knee or hip

[Sambito Redux]

Sano injures himself, anyone who has a visual on the play, describe it?  Sounds bizarre.

[austro]

Sano injures himself, anyone who has a visual on the play, describe it?  Sounds bizarre.

I saw it, but I'm unsure what was so rough that he had to be carted off. He hit the bag hard, but the way he hit it I would have expected a hip problem. Instead, they seemed to be tending to his leg below the knee. I don't really have any idea what the problem is.

[HudsonHawk]

T2:

Grossman singles to CF
Cave strikes out swinging
Sano walks, Grossman to 2B
Kepler...0-2...1-2...2-2...wild pitch, Cave to 2B, throw to 2B is there, but Correa pulls the tag up before Sano gets there who slides under...and jams his leg into the bag...rolling around on the ground in pain...trainers out...Astros challenging, but he's clearly safe...cart coming out for Sano...review still going on, taking forever...call upheld, safe at 2B and they load Sano up and cart him off...Tyler Austin will pinch run...3-2...walks
Adrianza pops up over the mound...IFF rule in effect as Correa squeezes it
Gimenez...0-2...strikes out swinging

4-0 Astros

[HudsonHawk]

Sano injures himself, anyone who has a visual on the play, describe it?  Sounds bizarre.

Slid and his lead foot went over the bag and his momentum carried him into it...jammed his knee straight into the bag

[Tom Servo]

Springer has been swinging a bit better lately.

[HudsonHawk]

B2:

May out, Houstonian Kohl Stewart in for the Twins

Kemp strikes out looking
Springer singles to LF on the first pitch
Altuve grounds into 4-6-3 double play

4-0 Astros

[austro]

There, got the nightly GIDP out of the way.

[Tom Servo]

There, got the nightly GIDP out of the way.

What?  You think there will be only one?  This isn't Highlander.

[Tom Servo]

This ump is terrible.

[HudsonHawk]

This ump is terrible.

He's getting squeezed, but Maldonado isn't helping him out either.

[Tom Servo]

He's getting squeezed, but Maldonado isn't helping him out either.

What do you think about his ability to block balls in the dirt. There seems to be a lot of wild pitches when he's catching.

[Tom Servo]

What do you think about his ability to block balls in the dirt. There seems to be a lot of wild pitches when he's catching.

Sorry, or is that what you were referring to?  I initially thought you may have been talking about his framing ability.

[HudsonHawk]

T3:

Mauer...0-2...flies out to shallow LF
Forsythe singles to LF on the first pitch
Polanco pops out F6
Grossman doubles to RF...shift on so Reddick was WAY over in CF...Forsythe scores
Wild pitch, Grossman to 3B...Maldonado didn't make much of an effort...
Cave strikes out swinging

4-1 Astros

[HudsonHawk]

Sorry, or is that what you were referring to?  I initially thought you may have been talking about his framing ability.

Both.  He's sloppy with the glove sometimes, doesn't frame well, gives up on curveballs, and kinda waves at pitches in the dirt.  He's got a rocket arm, but he's a poor receiver.  Part of that may improve as he gets to know pitchers more.

[HudsonHawk]

B3:

Bregman grounds out 5-3
Correa grounds out 6-3
White flies out to deep RCF at the track

4-1 Astros

[Tom Servo]

I hope this isn't one of those games where they score a few in the first and then shutdown the rest of the game.

[Snuffy]

Sano injures himself, anyone who has a visual on the play, describe it?  Sounds bizarre.

He had a metal rod was inserted into his left shin last year. 
https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-sano-has-surgery-on-left-leg/c-261827160

[HudsonHawk]

T4:

Austin, who came in for Sano...strikes out looking
Kepler...full count...grounds out 3-1
Adrianza strikes out swinging

4-1 Astros

[Lefty]

He had a metal rod was inserted into his left shin last year. 
https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-sano-has-surgery-on-left-leg/c-261827160

Oh, hell, that's not good.

[Tom Servo]

Nice hit from Josh, but the poor guy has only had 2 extra base hits in the last 28 days (1 HR, 1 2B).  .257 SLG in that time.

[Lefty]

Nice hit from Josh, but the poor guy has only had 2 extra base hits in the last 28 days (1 HR, 1 2B).  .257 SLG in that time.

Hey, if they played their OF where the Stros did on Grossman's double, that one would have gone to the wall too.

[HudsonHawk]

B4:

Gurriel grounds out 5-3
Reddick singles to RF
Maldonado pops out F3
Kemp grounds out 4-3

4-1 Astros

[HudsonHawk]

T5:

Gimenez grounds out 5-3
Mauer flies out F9
Forsythe pops out F3

4-1 Astros

[Tom Servo]

Well, I'm glad this Stewart guy didn't actually START the game.

[Tom Servo]

Bregman with ANOTHER double.  Guy is amazing (when he's not popping up).

[Lefty]

Bregman with ANOTHER double.  Guy is amazing (when he's not popping up).

I can think of at least 1 popup that was amazing.

[HudsonHawk]

B5:

Springer grounds out 4-3
Altuve grounds out 6-3 on the first pitch
Bregman with a rule book double to RF
Correa walks
White grounds out 5-3

4-1 Astros

[Tom Servo]

Sano's x-rays were negative.  Status is day-to-day.  So good news for him.

https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-sano-injured-sliding-into-second-base/c-293338666

[HudsonHawk]

Someone grab some PBP

[Tom Servo]

Someone grab some PBP

I'll take it.

[Tom Servo]

T6:

Polanco chops back to JV for a 1-3 putout.
Grossman quickly down 0-2.. up the middle, bregman in the shift snags it and throws him out at 1st, 5-3.
Cave down 0-2.. down swinging.

Astros up 4-1

[Tom Servo]

B6:

Yuli.. 2-2.. 3-2.. strikes out swinging.
Reddick pops out on the 1st pitch to 2nd.
Maldonado.. 2-2.. 3-2.. strikes out looking on a fastball down the middle.

4-1 Astros

[Lefty]

I've seen enough of Stewart.

[Tom Servo]

T7:

Austin.. 1-2 on a foul tip that shatters part of Maldonado's mask.. fly out F7.
Kepler.. 1-2.. 2-2.. strikes out looking on a fastball on the inside corner, down.
(Pressly warming in the pen)
Adrianza 1-2.. strikes out looking on a curveball on the outside corner.

4-1 Astros

[Texifornia]

7 innings
1 run
102 pitches
Typical JV

[Tom Servo]

Was that just me, or did Kemp look out on the repay from behind home plate?  I might just be seeing things.

[Tom Servo]

Bregman is CLUTCH

[austro]

Bregman needs to lay hands on Correa.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Bregman is awesome.

[WVastro]

Strike one to Correa should have been out of the stadium and still in the air.

[Tom Servo]

B7:

Oliver Drake in to pitch
Kemp bunts the first pitch down the first base line.  Drake tried to scoop-throw it to Mauer, but not in time. 
Springer flies out deep to CF.  Cave catches it on a leap right in front of the wall.  Kemp tags and moves to 2nd.
Twins appeal at first, but Kemp did not leave early, says the 1st base ump
Altuve in an 0-16 slump.. 2-2.. 3-2.. grounds out 5-3. Kemp moves to 3rd on the throw.  2 down.
Bregman showed bunt on the first pitch (uh?).. now down 0-2.. smashes one foul.. grounds one down the 3rd base line for YET ANOTHER DOUBLE and an RBI, Kemp scores.  Astros up 5-1!
Correa took a pitch down the middle for 0-1, flails at a pitch in the dirt for 0-2.. caught looking on a breaking ball at the knees.

Astros 5-1

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Late to the party,  so I'll be brief:

RBI doubles make me horny.

[Lefty]

Strike one to Correa should have been out of the stadium and still in the air.

Twice again tonight he's done that with men on base.

[Tom Servo]

Late to the party,  so I'll be brief:

RBI doubles make me horny.

Don't meet Bregman in person, please.  NTTAWWT!

[Tom Servo]

T8:

Pressly in to pitch
Giminez down 0-2.. 1-2.. strikes out swinging on a fastball, outside corner.
Mauer.. 1-2.. swing and a miss on a curveball down.
Forsythe down 1-2.. checks his swing?  look down to 1st base ump?  he swung.  strikes out swinging.

Astros up 5-1

[Texifornia]

Garver, Mauer, and Forsythe are nothing but hound dogs to Pressley as he strikes them out in order in the 8th.

[Tom Servo]

Pressly has been a godsend. 

[Tom Servo]

Pressly has been a godsend.

15.2 innings (including tonight) for the Astros.. 22 K's, 0 BB, 7 H, 2 ER.

[Tom Servo]

B8:

Tyler Duffy to pitch
White grounds out 4-3.
Yuli grounds out to short 6-3.
Reddick down 0-2.. 1-2.. strikes out swinging on a fastball down the middle.

Astros 5-1

[Texifornia]

15.2 innings (including tonight) for the Astros.. 22 K's, 0 BB, 2 ER.

The Stopper.

[Texifornia]

Dammit Devo!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Is Osuna ready/available?

[Ty in Tampa]

OK, so Devo is still a question mark.

[Jacksonian]

OK, so Devo is still a question mark.

!?

[BudGirl]

And a hit against the shift. 

Devo still looked like he has some discomfort.

[Snuffy]

The Stopper.

Gotcha!
I moved the Opener - Primary post to the Talk Zone, a more appropriate place.

http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/index.php?topic=120398.msg630624#new

[Ty in Tampa]

!?

Are we not men?

[Tom Servo]

Kalas says it's a save opportunity because the tying run is on deck.. wouldn't it have been easier to just say it's a 3 run lead?

[austro]

Jesus, I thought that ball was in the corner and we were in real trouble.

[Tom Servo]

T9:

Devo in to pitch the ninth.
Polanco.. 1-2.. 2-2.. HR down the right field line.  5-2 Astros.
Strom out to the mound
Osuna warming in the pen
Grossman 2-2 on the COD.. 3-2.. ball 4 on a close pitch.
Hinch out to pull Devo.. Osuna in.
Cave flies out to center. 1 down.
Austin with a base hit to right field, 1st and 2nd 1 out.
Kepler hits a laser to Yuli, who grabs it and runs to 1st for the double play!  Astros win! 

Astros win 5-1!

[jbm]

That’s some fortune there.

[Ty in Tampa]

Very nice!

[Lefty]

Well, that inning was more exciting than it could have been.  Good win.

[HudsonHawk]

Kalas says it's a save opportunity because the tying run is on deck.. wouldn't it have been easier to just say it's a 3 run lead?

It depends.  It's not just a 3-run lead that makes a save opportunity.  It's about number of outs and where the tying run is...on base, at bat or on deck.

[Tom Servo]

4 straight wins at home?  Holy shit!

[Tom Servo]

It depends.  It's not just a 3-run lead that makes a save opportunity.  It's about number of outs and where the tying run is...on base, at bat or on deck.

ah, ok.

That's weird, as I always thought it was just a 3 run lead.  I knew the rule about the tying run on-deck, but didn't realize you have to pitch at least one inning for the 3 run lead to matter.  Thanks.

[HudsonHawk]

ah, ok.

That's weird, as I always thought it was just a 3 run lead.  I knew the rule about the tying run on-deck, but didn't realize you have to pitch at least one inning for the 3 run lead to matter.  Thanks.

Yeah, so say if Devo come in with a 3-run lead, it's a save opportunity.  But if he gets an out, then Osuna comes in with the same 3-run lead and one out, it's not a save.  In short, a reliever has to have the tying run either on base or within the next two batters when he enters the game to get a save. 

[Tom Servo]

Yeah, so say if Devo come in with a 3-run lead, it's a save opportunity.  But if he gets an out, then Osuna comes in with the same 3-run lead and one out, it's not a save.  In short, a reliever has to have the tying run either on base or within the next two batters when he enters the game to get a save.

You would think I would know that after watching baseball for 30+ years.  Learning all the time.  Thanks again.

[Tom Servo]

Yankees have a rally going in the top of the 7th.  Bases loaded walk to Aaron Hicks scores the tying run with no outs.  1-1.

Go Yankees!!!  <barf>

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Consecutive strikeouts by the bronx buttholes.

2outs. Still juiced .

[Tom Servo]

Conservative strikeouts by the bronx buttholes.

2outs. Still juiced .

I didn't realize how bad Sanchez has sucked this year.  .182 batting average.  Baby Bomber my ass. 

[Tom Servo]

Jesus.  Yankees fail to add another run.  I'm out.  Going to watch last night's Better Call Saul.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Jesus.  Yankees fail to add another run.  I'm out.  Going to watch last night's Better Call Saul.

It worked!

Yankmees scored 2 apiece in the last 2 frames to win 5-1.

Oakland now 3.5 back of the Astros in the division,  4.5 back of FTY for the top wildcard.

[Snuffy]

Bregman needs to lay hands on Correa.

2nd that!

[JimR]

Something bad wrong with Devo.

[VirtualBob]

Something bad wrong with Devo.

Agree.

[JimR]

It worked!

Yankmees scored 2 apiece in the last 2 frames to win 5-1.

Oakland now 3.5 back of the Astros in the division,  4.5 back of FTY for the top wildcard.

Astros 4 up in loss column. Today’s game is big. NYY has Severino going. Come on, bats!

[juliogotay]

Something bad wrong with Devo.

he pitched in an awful lot of games last year. Could it just now be catching up to him?

[JimR]

he pitched in an awful lot of games last year. Could it just now be catching up to him?

Doubtful. He was lights out the first half.

[MRaup]

Doubtful. He was lights out the first half.

He may just be suffering from overuse fatigue.

Hopefully he bounces back, but he may need some serious time off.

[Jacksonian]

Something bad wrong with Devo.

The homer last night came on a 95mph fastball up and a little in.  The batter pulled it down the line like he knew it was coming.

[JimR]

The homer last night came on a 95mph fastball up and a little in.  The batter pulled it down the line like he knew it was coming.

Was outside walking my dog so did not see it. I wondered about velocity.

[homer]

Was outside walking my dog so did not see it. I wondered about velocity.

https://www.mlb.com/twins/video/polancos-solo-home-run/c-2468285383