2021 Series #6 | White Sox @ Indians | April 20, 2021

[WhoAzcue]

Twins blow 2-run lead in bottom of 10th, committing two errors in the walk off loss. Colome takes the loss in relief. As win 11th consecutive game.

Well, that's a pretty pithy summary of a horror show that, had it happened to the Tribe, would have spawned 100 pages of fan fury here.

The Twins scored more runs than they had scored in the last six games combined and still lost. They had back-to-back games where they had a 98% certainty of winning (giving up only one run; scoring 12 runs) and lost both. They rallied from down 7-1 to take the lead, blew it, rallied, then blew it again in the bottom of the 9th, scored two runs in the top of the tenth, then blew it again in the bottom of the inning on two consecutive bases loaded fielding errors with two outs.

It was a mind-bending loss where their ace, Kenta Maeda was shelled, and their closer blew two leads, throwing 49 pitches in the process. It was a shattering loss of epic proportions that demonstrates once and for all what a stupid thing it would be for the major leagues to move back the mound a foot. By the end of this year, pitching staffs are going to be on fumes. Tonight's Rays-Royals game is exhibit 1b, among other ludicrous games being played this year. (The Tribe refuses to participate in such nonsense).

 

[Criznit]

I didn't chuckle because I am jaded.

I didn't chuckle because I don't find such comments humorous in the least.

It may not matter here, but such comments in the broader community only reinforce prevailing ignorance and undermine reasonable attitudes about the team.

Besides, good satire is more clever than that.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

It was a dumb comment.

#I'mWithAzcue

 

[Criznit]

maybe I should have gone with a Lighten Up Francis meme...

Remind me to invite you guys to re-educate my friends (i don't know @macbdog )who like baseball why and how a silly meme/pic/joke somehow undermines Cleveland baseball... You are guys aren't helping save the team/keeping it in Cleveland just so you now...

In fact

 

[CATS44]

Not only did the Twins blow another lead tonight, in back to back games their two starters didn't get to the fourth inning.

Colome has already blown three save opps.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

maybe I should have gone with a Lighten Up Francis meme...

Remind me to invite you guys to re-educate my friends (i don't know @macbdog )who like baseball why and how a silly meme/pic/joke somehow undermines Cleveland baseball... You are guys aren't helping save the team/keeping it in Cleveland just so you now...

In fact

I personally love when people can't defend their statements so they attack other people. "Cmon bro, can't you take a joke?!" is always a crowd pleaser.

The "joke" wasn't funny. It was an asinine comment based on a dumb premise.

 

[Criznit]

I personally love when people can't defend their statements so they attack other people. "Cmon bro, can't you take a joke?!" is always a crowd pleaser.

The "joke" wasn't funny. It was an asinine comment based on a dumb premise.

I defended my reply to a comment/joke perfectly. It was a fucking joke. There is an irony to your choice of words. 'crowd pleaser".

I assume I am being trolled at this point..

Weather happens and if you can't accept some fun being poked at that then, eat ________. snow. eat snow.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I defended my reply to a comment/joke perfectly. It was a fucking joke. There is an irony to your choice of words. 'crowd pleaser".

I assume I am being trolled at this point..

Weather happens and if you can't accept some fun being poked at that then, eat ________. snow. eat snow.

The conversation was about the "joke"

You attacked the person instead.

If you think that's perfect, well, that's on you. Maybe it'll sit differently with you in the morning.

 

[Criznit]

The conversation was about the "joke"

You attacked the person instead.

If you think that's perfect, well, that's on you. Maybe it'll sit differently with you in the morning.

Tell me who I attacked please.... Right now.

edit, I see one statement I made that was shitty - You are guys aren't helping save the team/keeping it in Cleveland just so you now... <-- whiffed on the missing the k, should be know not now.... Other than that..

I thought even the least sardonic of us would have on some level enjoyed a lack of snow removal equipment joke.. Guess not, good luck converting fans bud.

 

[CDAV45]

I'd say keeping him at A-ball for five seasons was exactly that. They even gave him a full season of AA ball and he failed miserably as a starter, with a K/BB rate of under 2.

I'd prefer to change what we're doing. If he can be effective in the MLB out of the bullpen, that's awesome. Effective is certainly better than what he's been his entire professional career up until this point.

Maybe he finds his effectiveness in bullpen situations, and then can try to apply it to becoming a starter again, a la Carrasco and Carmona/Hernandez.

If you're arguing that, rather than pitch out of the bullpen in 2021, he should be starting in the minor leagues, I disagree with you, and apparently so does the Indians organization. But hey, maybe you're right. Maybe he needs more than seven years as a minor league starter to figure it out. To me, this isn't a move I'm going to second guess. Seven years is a long freaking time to try and put it together. Time to switch up the approach.

It's funny how we perceive things when you really look at it. You're ready to just say that Hentges is a BP arm, and you could be correct. I'm kind of in the same boat with Naylor. For whatever reasons, he isn't the type of player that I want in a corner position. I readily admit that I could be wrong, and in fact, I hope that I am because it appears that even though he has an option or 2, sending him down isn't an option.

No, that's not what I'm saying at all Q. I think that the BP is a good spot for him now, and certainly what is best for the team if he can be effective in that role even. I just don't want to give up on him as a SP in the longterm..............yet. Like you said, maybe he goes the same route Cookie took and a BP stint gets him "right". Either way, he's got an arm that can certainly help if they can harness it.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Naylor took a very close pitch for ball four on a 3-2 count in the finale against the White Sox. That's a good sign because he's been chasing pitches outside the zone over 40% of the time and his walk rate is down to 4%. It was 9% his rookie season. Maybe someone talked to him about being more selective, or maybe he reads this board. (Yeah, right).

He also slammed a double off the left field wall. I know it's only one game but when I see him take a close pitch with two strikes, hit to the opposite field, and get the ball in the air it makes me hopeful.

As to where Hentges will pitch, my observation is that if you have three or more effective pitches you're a starter and if you have one or two you're in the pen. I'm pretty sure Hentges has two; the fastball and the curve. What about the slider? It appeared that was the pitch Abreu hit out.

OTOH, if your fastball and curve are both really hard to hit and you can mix them up effectively, why can't you be an effective starter with two pitches. I'm pretty sure there have been some games where the starter goes seven strong innings using two pitches 90-95% of the time.

 

[Gson]

maybe I should have gone with a Lighten Up Francis meme...

Remind me to invite you guys to re-educate my friends (i don't know @macbdog )who like baseball why and how a silly meme/pic/joke somehow undermines Cleveland baseball... You are guys aren't helping save the team/keeping it in Cleveland just so you now...

In fact

I would vote for the "...Lighten up Francis..." meme, but, how can you support a poor satirist who's hell bent on running cleveland baseball out of town?..

 

[CATS44]

If you have two plus plus pitches, you can be an effective pitcher, but they both have to be out pitches.

Sandy Koufax...fastball-curve.

Big Unit...fastball- slider.

But there aren't many of those guys...lol.

I certainly would not be unhappy if Hentges becomes a dominant back end reliever, but he will be far more valuable if he becomes an effective starter.

In some ways its like Luplow. I'm not unhappy that he mashes lefties and is a great platoon half, but he's more valuable if he becomes a regular against both handed pitchers.

 

[Lee]

If you have two plus plus pitches, you can be an effective pitcher, but they both have to be out pitches.

Sandy Koufax...fastball-curve.

Big Unit...fastball- slider.

But there aren't many of those guys...lol.

I certainly would not be unhappy if Hentges becomes a dominant back end reliever, but he will be far more valuable if he becomes an effective starter.

In some ways its like Luplow. I'm not unhappy that he mashes lefties and is a great platoon half, but he's more valuable if he becomes a regular against both handed pitchers.

What des Luplow hit against righties? Has he really even been given a chance lately?

Edit: Luplow has only been given 6 at bats against right handers but 3 hits 2 for homeruns. Can anyone explain @BimboColesHair why not give Luplow an every day opportunity?

 

[xmasbuck]

What des Luplow hit against righties? Has he really even been given a chance lately?

Edit: Luplow has only been given 6 at bats against right handers but 3 hits 2 for homeruns. Can anyone explain @BimboColesHair why not give Luplow an every day opportunity?

add 2 ABs tonight for Luplow v RH pitcher - 2 k's