KTE Minnesota Twins 4/21-4/23

[Lefty Specialist]

 

KTE Minnesota Twins 4/21-4/23

This is how we often think of the Minnesota Twins.

 

Cute, Inoffensive, and a big deal in the late '80's and early '90's.  But they're here now and we're going to have to deal with them.

Currently, threy're 11-11, sitting in 3rd place in the AL Central, 1 1/2 games behind the Guardians after being swept by the Reds this weekend.  Frankly, not a lot was expected from the Twins this year and that may prove true over 162.  They have a cheap-ass ownership who don't even have the excuse that they were scammed by Bernie Madoff.  Tom Pohlad is the latest in a Full House of Pohlads who have run the Twins since 1984.  There were rumbles of a sale recently, but the Pohlads backed off.  Considering what the Padres are going to fetch, they might think twice about that.

Twins did a full-scale teardown at the deadline last year, sending their closer to the Phillies and decimating their bullpen.  The result was a 70-92 finish.  Ownership said that this year their focus was on cutting payroll and playing competitive baseball, two things that are often at odds.  So far, they're treading water.  This despite losing arguably their best pitcher, Pablo Lopez, with a season-ending injury this spring.  Others have stepped up, like Taj Bradley (1.25 ERA in 4 starts) and Joe Ryan (3.29).

 

Matchups:

Tuesday is Mick Abel (1-2, 3.98) vs Nolan McLean

Wednesday is Simeon Woods-Richardson (0-3, 6.10) vs Clay Holmes

Thursday is Joe Ryan (2-2, 3.29) vs Kodai Senga (ugh)

Mick Abel is hot right now. Last start, 7 innings, 4 hits, no runs against the Red Sox.  Before that 6 innings, 4 hits, no runs against the Tigers.  Woof.

Simeon Woods-Richardson was drafted by the Mets in 2018, but was traded to the Jays in 2019 and has been pitching for the Twins that past 5 years.  He's coming off getting bombed back-to-back by the Jays and Red Sox, so ha's probably happy to see the Mets Noffense.

Joe Ryan has been with the Twins for 6 years, is solid and won 13 games last year.  Has only allowed 3 ER in his last two starts. 6 walks and 28 K's this season. 

They're missing Bradley which is a good thing.

Bullpen is, not surprisingly, a weakness for the Twins, ranked 23rd in MLB.  They chunked it up in Cincinnati yesterday.

Offense has been good for the Twinkies, led by a bunch of names you've never heard of, and Byron Buxton who amazingly is still on this team despite being mentioned as a trade candidate more than Blake Lively is mentioned on Page Six.  One name you have heard of is Josh Bell, who's playing first and leading the team in HR's and RBI (3 & 15). Here's where they rank offensively, and it's pretty good.  The Mets are in the high 20's in most of these categories.

 

Twins manager is Derek Shelton, who has a colorful way with the English language.

MLB hot mic catches F-bombs as Twins manager is ejected

It's hard to hate a team that sells things like this.

But a person to hate on this team is Kody Clemens, as we never forgive and never forget Daddy throwing the bat at Mike Piazza.

Can they go for 14 in a row?  

 

[Edgy MD]

46 minutes ago, Lefty Specialist said:

Currently, they're 11-11, sitting in 3rd place in the AL Central,  

How Twinnish, is this?  They're at .500, in the middle of the standings in the middle division.

Everything about them is symmetrical.

[MFS62]

Bravo.

The flexibility of posting on this new site provides the opportunity to do some creative stuff.

And you done it good.

Later

[whippoorwill]

If the Mets sold those sweet overall shorts I still wouldn’t buy them

[metirish]

Great KTE , fun and informative 

[Edgy MD]

MIck Abel would be a great name for a Twins starter if they also had Matt Cain in the rotation.

[seawolf17]

Looks like a few former Mets in the hopper with Anthony Banda and Eric Orze in the bullpen, too.