Rays series

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

This series is so important, I thought it deserved its own thread. Assuming Santana and Berrios can continue their recent dominant pitching (I know...that's a stretch), how the bottom of our rotation performs will determine whether we are contenders or pretenders. This weekend we are hosting an average TB team, but we are starting Santiago, Mejia and Gibson. The Twins haven't been very good at home, but if they can win 2 out of three this weekend, I will take notice.

Bad news in the minors today. Nick Burdi who has been regularly throwing over 100 and hasn't given up a run since opening day is scheduled for TJ surgery. Some thought he would bypass AAA and be in the bigs by July, but that plan is shot. Too bad for the kid, and for the team.

Nice start for Santiago...1-2-3 first with 2 K's and a ground out.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I stayed in tonight to watch this key game, and it's not going well. Santiago wasn't sharp after three strong innings, and Archer is almost unhittable. And Santiago was our best chance of winning this weekend with Mejia and Gibson coming up next. I'm also concerned about Sano, who has now struck out in six consecutive at bats. I know this will sound knee jerk, so I'll pose it in the form of a question instead.

Will this series be the one we look at when the season is over as the one that torpedoed a potentially good season?

Well, at least the Indians lost tonight too, so we're still going to be two up. I still am feeling uneasy about where this season might be headed.

Edit: Now 7 K's in a row for Sano...this one in the 8th inning with 2 runners on. And he's swinging and missing pitches that he normally crushes. Let's hope it's just a mini-slump, and the kid bounces back soon.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Well, we lost the opener of this key series, and it doesn't get any easier today with Mejia against Odorizzi. Mejia wasn't bad in his last outing, but Odoizzi has given up more than 2 ER's only once in his last 7 starts.

My goal of winning 2 out of three seems like a pipe dream right now, especially with Sano in a bizarre funk. Now we have to worry about getting swept.

[Jester1534]

Interesting choice giving Buxton and Sano the day off. I wonder if Sano has been hurting a bit since his belly flop in Baltimore his bat has looked slow the last two games.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Interesting choice giving Buxton and Sano the day off. I wonder if Sano has been hurting a bit since his belly flop in Baltimore his bat has looked slow the last two games.

Morris and Bremer surmised he was getting pull-happy. I tend to agree...Miguel is at his best when he uses the whole field. Unfortunately he struck out for the 8th consecutive time pinch hitting today.

But other than that, lots of good news. Dozier with the big homer off of Hunter who had about an .50 ERA. And Cleveland is losing in the 8th so we could be up 3 games. I'm still worried about tomorrow, but it's nice to have Santana and Berrios lined up against Houston, and to be lucky to miss Kueckel. Nice win today!!!

[Monster]

Interesting choice giving Buxton and Sano the day off. I wonder if Sano has been hurting a bit since his belly flop in Baltimore his bat has looked slow the last two games.

Morris and Bremer surmised he was getting pull-happy. I tend to agree...Miguel is at his best when he uses the whole field. Unfortunately he struck out for the 8th consecutive time pinch hitting today.

But other than that, lots of good news. Dozier with the big homer off of Hunter who had about an .50 ERA. And Cleveland is losing in the 8th so we could be up 3 games. I'm still worried about tomorrow, but it's nice to have Santana and Berrios lined up against Houston, and to be lucky to miss Kueckel. Nice win today!!!

I see Mejia wasn't throwing strikes but some of the pitches I saw watching the co sensed game was plenty encouraging. The has some pitches that do stuff and he throws 93-94 at times. He wasn't great today but he did enough to give them a chance. I hope they keep Duffy in the Pen he has been pretty good there. Wetmore said the other day he always thought May should still have a shot as a starter but he doesn't feel that way either duffy because he doesn't have as many pitches.

Anyway like you said it was a nice win. Adrianza was a solid pickup. It feels like Falvey and Lavine have done some good things brining in guys that aren't wow factor guys but may have had impact beyond just stats. Hopefully this team can keep it up even if they don't make the playoff finishing at or very near .500 would be a heck of an accomplishment.

[Jester1534]

Mollie trying to lose us a ball game today

Refused to pull Kintzler in the 9th when he was at 35 pitches and threw 30 yesterday. Presley was even warmed up.

Bunts with polonco who's been crushing the ball today.

Runners at first and second doesn't pinch hit for Vargas who's 0-6 today with 4ks

Then pinch hits for esclobar but not with grossman against a guy who's walked 14 guys in 23 innings no he puts a very strike out prone Sano up there with bases loaded and two outs.

10 of Sano last 15 abs are strikeouts now

[Monster]

Mollie trying to lose us a ball game today

Refused to pull Kintzler in the 9th when he was at 35 pitches and threw 30 yesterday. Presley was even warmed up.

Bunts with polonco who's been crushing the ball today.

Runners at first and second doesn't pinch hit for Vargas who's 0-6 today with 4ks

Then pinch hits for esclobar but not with grossman against a guy who's walked 14 guys in 23 innings no he puts a very strike out prone Sano up there with bases loaded and two outs.

10 of Sano last 15 abs are strikeouts now

Good points. Why did Duffy only pitch 6 pitches?That was weird bringing on Hector there. I guess Duffy had thrown a lot of pitches yesterday but still it seems like he could have at least gone out there and faced another batter in the following inning and go from there.

Ok back to the beginning of the game Gibson wasn't great but he was good enough to give the Twins a chance an was good enough to win the game.

Crazy game there was some close calls. Each team batches a play or two and each had some terrific plays in the field. Tough loss but it was a pretty well played game.

Vargas going down Haley to the DL again 2 new pitchers coming up. Should be interesting.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I had a feeling that this series would be the turning point to a surprisingly successful season (up to that point) and it looks like it was. We needed to take 2 out of 3 at home from a not very good Rays team, and we just couldn't do it...not quite enough pitching. And the losing series led to us dropping two in a row to Houston with Santana and Berrios starting. The good news is we are still in first place by percentage points, but we face Houston's best prospect David Paulino today (he's a 6'7" nightmare), so after today we may be looking up the rest of the season. It was fun while it lasted...

[Monster]

I had a feeling that this series would be the turning point to a surprisingly successful season (up to that point) and it looks like it was. We needed to take 2 out of 3 at home from a not very good Rays team, and we just couldn't do it...not quite enough pitching. And the losing series led to us dropping two in a row to Houston with Santana and Berrios starting. The good news is we are still in first place by percentage points, but we face Houston's best prospect David Paulino today (he's a 6'7" nightmare), so after today we may be looking up the rest of the season. It was fun while it lasted...

Eh...did you have an ejection seat installed on the bandwagon? I'll start to be worried if they go on a long losing streak of 4 or more games. Teams go through a down turn even good teams. If they can salacage a game out of a series each time or win the next game up that could be enough till they come around.