New rule.  If the creator of a the previous night's winner game-thread doesn't create the thread either a) within an hour of the game's start OR within 3 hours of the Sox posting the lineup said creator cedes the right to create the new thread.

 

Haha, I remember back in 2005/2006 when it was a very special honor to create a game thread :p. 

http://www.startribune.com/twins-third-baseman-eduardo-escobar-hitting-lot-of-balls-hard/486633981/

Article on Escobar’s success this year.  Hint, it’s not a story of launch angle. 

2 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

http://www.startribune.com/twins-third-baseman-eduardo-escobar-hitting-lot-of-balls-hard/486633981/

Article on Escobar’s success this year.  Hint, it’s not a story of launch angle. 

I just read the article and it appears to obliquely credit his improved BABIP with his now more optimal launch angle.  They buried the lede imo.  He's making about the same contact he did last year but his BABIP is up 60 points.  Some of it is no doubt due to hitting less grounders.

The closer I read that article the more I realize how bad it is:

 his launch angle is a career-high 20.1 percent — but

he has been able to achieve that while trying to swing down on the ball.

Ok, well...

 Escobar is hitting the ball harder than he has at any point in his career. His average exit velocity is 88 miles per hour and his hard-hit percentage is 32.4, both career highs. Escobar posted similar numbers last season, but his batting average of balls in play was just .279, tied for a career low. This season, he is at .349, a career high.

So his BABIP is at a career high, so is his launch angle, but alternative explanations.  Fuck man.  Not dogging you for linkin' it (in fact god bless you for passing 5 minutes at work for me) but that journalism is crap.  Bayes rolls over in his grave at this inductive process.

Morneau back in the booth tonight for the Twins' broadcast.

Great command and solid movement for Shields so far.

Nice play by Yoan.  That's what Jose needed to do last night.  Just knock it down and get the out.

Still missing fastballs he should hammer on a way too regular basis.

And that's why if you're going to swing at the first pitch you better hit it hard.  5 pitch walk to Yolmer and none of the balls were particularly close.

In case anybody is checking in late: Jose Abreu continues to suck.

JFC Omar drops a ball that had the edge of the plate and gives the Ump absolutely zero chance to call it a strike.

Shield's looking like a poor man's Covey tonight.  That fastball is diving all over.

JFC SET YOUR FUCKING FEET SQUARE UP TO THE BALL AND THROW

Hands of stone defensively 

fucking Yoan and TA think you get extra credit for throwing on the run or some shit.

Just now, fathom said:

Hands of stone defensively 

his hands are fine.  his fundamentals suck when he rushes.  same as with TA.

Edited June 28, 20187 yr by chitownsportsfan

Just now, chitownsportsfan said:

JFC SET YOUR FUCKING FEET SQUARE UP TO THE BALL AND THROW

He has no rhythm defensively right now. Bad fundamentals, bad hands.

Just now, chitownsportsfan said:

his hands are fine.  his fundamentals suck when he rushes.  same as with TA.

He's bobbled an insane amount of grounders last month

Just now, fathom said:

He's bobbled an insane amount of grounders last month

mentally rushing.  only thing to fix it is experience.  at least it's a throwaway year.

Avi, have you ever held a bat?

Anderson and Moncada do so much dumb s*** on the field.

I can't remember the last time Shields looked this good.

Sign that Big Game James to an extension 

12 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Avi, have you ever held a bat?

Yes.yesterday when he hit a homer 

There you kid.  Rip that shit.  It's obvious the scouting report is "pound him inside with fastballs" and finish him away.   If he start pounding this inside fastballs that plan will have to change.