Berrios!!!!!!!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

OK, I wasn't very excited about sitting outside in a cold drizzle tomorrow night to watch Kyle Gibson get shelled again, but with the news that Jose Berrios has been called up to start instead, my excitement level has gone up considerably. This is the moment we Twins fans have been waiting for. Some will argue this move should have happened last year, but the kid is only 21 and has a lot of good years ahead of him...hopefully all as a Twin. He wasn't that sharp in spring training, but he has been lights out this spring at Rochester.

Full game report after the game




(unless we lose, or Berrios gets pounded)

[Monster]

I don't think the starting pitching has been the biggest problem. That's saying something I guess. Lol I wondered if he would get called up considering the injuries.

[Jester1534]

OK, I wasn't very excited about sitting outside in a cold drizzle tomorrow night to watch Kyle Gibson get shelled again, but with the news that Jose Berrios has been called up to start instead, my excitement level has gone up considerably. This is the moment we Twins fans have been waiting for. Some will argue this move should have happened last year, but the kid is only 21 and has a lot of good years ahead of him...hopefully all as a Twin. He wasn't that sharp in spring training, but he has been lights out this spring at Rochester.

Full game report after the game


(unless we lose, or Berrios gets pounded)

I just bought tickets for Wednesday night :) hopefully he channels his inner Mike Pelfrey ;)

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

As promised, here's my game report

It was cold.

I left early.

[Monster]

As promised, here's my game report

It was cold.

I left early.

Booooooooo!!!!!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

As promised, here's my game report

It was cold.

I left early.

Booooooooo!!!!!

OK, I've thawed out enough to give a few thoughts about last night.

Yes, his final line wasn't good, but I really liked what I saw from Berrios. His delivery is silky smooth (doesn't look at all like a TJ surgery waiting to happen like Liriano did first time I saw him throw), and his ball really moves. He touches 95 effortlessly and he'll be effective against lefties with his fastball moving at least three inches away from lefties. And his breaking ball is remindful of Duffy's. He lost his control in the 5th inning, but up until then, he made some good hitters look bad at the plate. We don't know if he is going to stay up this season, but he is going to be fun to watch for a long time.

Our defense continues to be a problem. Rosario became the 4th outfielder to give up a run this season on a botched play. I'm a little sympathetic about his error last night because the wind was really swirling out there. He positioned himself nicely 15 feet behind the ball to set up for a throw home but just couldn't get to the ball when the wind knocked it down. On the positive defensive side though, Sano made two terrific plays at 3b. I know Mollie still doesn't trust him at third because of his struggles there in the minors, but he was outstanding last night.

Offense is a mixed bag. There's no question that Mauer is seeing and driving the ball like he did pre-concussion and that's good, but why does Mollie continue to bat him third...put him at 1 or 2 where he belongs. We still strike out too much, but it's really fun to have three guys next to each other in the lineup who can easily drive the ball 450 feet in any at bat (Sano, Park, and Arcia)...they have 6 guys who should hit 20 HRs compared to only three last year.

Absurdly uncomfortable night at the ballpark last night and I could only endure 6 innings (my son shook his head sadly as I told him I was leaving), but I'm glad I was there to see a future superstar's first pitching performance.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Two things from last night's game
1. Blyleven said it best. That two-seemer that tails away from lefties is going to be a monster as soon as he understands that it has to START OUT as a strike. Do AAA guys really chase that?

2. A little "sports-nerdy", but my favorite play of the whole night was when Nunez kicked that ball and Sano chased after it full speed and almost got the runner at second. He cares, he's not an a-hole, he never played Outfield before and it's hard.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Two things from last night's game
1. Blyleven said it best. That two-seemer that tails away from lefties is going to be a monster as soon as he understands that it has to START OUT as a strike. Do AAA guys really chase that?

2. A little "sports-nerdy", but my favorite play of the whole night was when Nunez kicked that ball and Sano chased after it full speed and almost got the runner at second. He cares, he's not an a-hole, he never played Outfield before and it's hard.

Two great points, Jason. My son was ripping Blyleven last night about his inability to be insightful, and I was defending him...and he's dead right about that tailing fastball. It's got terrific movement on it and is going to be a great pitch, but he will learn quickly about major league vs. minor league plate discipline.

It's really easy to like Sano. Again last night I was astonished at how quick and fast a 280 pound man can be! There was a 1-out play where Mauer was at third and Sano was at second, and the batter (Park?) lofted a medium depth fly ball to right. I braced myself for what I thought was going to be a close play at the plate, but inexplicitly the RFer chose to throw to third. A longer throw to try to get the faster runner...what? And Sano got in easily. I think opponents haven't caught on yet that he can run. The RFer must have looked at Joe and Miguel before the pitch, and told himself he could throw out the big guy. Bad choice!

[Monster]

Two things from last night's game
1. Blyleven said it best. That two-seemer that tails away from lefties is going to be a monster as soon as he understands that it has to START OUT as a strike. Do AAA guys really chase that?

2. A little "sports-nerdy", but my favorite play of the whole night was when Nunez kicked that ball and Sano chased after it full speed and almost got the runner at second. He cares, he's not an a-hole, he never played Outfield before and it's hard.

Two great points, Jason. My son was ripping Blyleven last night about his inability to be insightful, and I was defending him...and he's dead right about that tailing fastball. It's got terrific movement on it and is going to be a great pitch, but he will learn quickly about major league vs. minor league plate discipline.

It's really easy to like Sano. Again last night I was astonished at how quick and fast a 280 pound man can be! There was a 1-out play where Mauer was at third and Sano was at second, and the batter (Park?) lofted a medium depth fly ball to right. I braced myself for what I thought was going to be a close play at the plate, but inexplicitly the RFer chose to throw to third. A longer throw to try to get the faster runner...what? And Sano got in easily. I think opponents haven't caught on yet that he can run. The RFer must have looked at Joe and Miguel before the pitch, and told himself he could throw out the big guy. Bad choice!

I've been hearing for years Bert isn't that great (I figured it was probably just fine) and for half the game I watched this week...I didn't get much from those guys. I'm spoiled listening to Jim Pete and even Benz though for the Wolves but I guess i didn't get much out of the broadcast.

Also thanks for the reports here.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Two things from last night's game
1. Blyleven said it best. That two-seemer that tails away from lefties is going to be a monster as soon as he understands that it has to START OUT as a strike. Do AAA guys really chase that?

2. A little "sports-nerdy", but my favorite play of the whole night was when Nunez kicked that ball and Sano chased after it full speed and almost got the runner at second. He cares, he's not an a-hole, he never played Outfield before and it's hard.

Two great points, Jason. My son was ripping Blyleven last night about his inability to be insightful, and I was defending him...and he's dead right about that tailing fastball. It's got terrific movement on it and is going to be a great pitch, but he will learn quickly about major league vs. minor league plate discipline.

It's really easy to like Sano. Again last night I was astonished at how quick and fast a 280 pound man can be! There was a 1-out play where Mauer was at third and Sano was at second, and the batter (Park?) lofted a medium depth fly ball to right. I braced myself for what I thought was going to be a close play at the plate, but inexplicitly the RFer chose to throw to third. A longer throw to try to get the faster runner...what? And Sano got in easily. I think opponents haven't caught on yet that he can run. The RFer must have looked at Joe and Miguel before the pitch, and told himself he could throw out the big guy. Bad choice!

I've been hearing for years Bert isn't that great (I figured it was probably just fine) and for half the game I watched this week...I didn't get much from those guys. I'm spoiled listening to Jim Pete and even Benz though for the Wolves but I guess i didn't get much out of the broadcast.

Also thanks for the reports here.

Bert can be a little much. I don't think a quality start should be expanded to 7 innings, and neither does anyone else.

But he does know pitching, and he will poke fun of himself. Last night Bremer pointed out that Bert never waived off George Mitterwald in his first start, then BB said "But I should have waived him off on that 3-2 pitch I threw to Lee May" alluding to the '69 ALCS. (And if you're reading this Wildwolf, the '69 Twins would have KILLED the '69 Mets).

As far as Bremer, it's fun to tune into FSN-broadcasted events and see all the 6pm news sports guys from my youth. My dream is to tune in one night and have Ralph John Fritz and Bob Bruce sitting side by side.