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GR3343 wrote: If you go with PB's theory, there's not a whole lot of guys that have "quality" at bats.

The Twins aren't playing Legion ball here. I'm not into good AB's and effort. At this level I want results. Hits, runs, advancing runners into scoring position, and at very least, outs that put pressure on a defense to execute. The Twins had exactly 15 good AB's yesterday. 10 hits, 2 BB's, a sac, a Kubel shot to the gap that Dye caught, and Span's ground ball that got Gomez to third with less than two out.

GR3343 wrote:
If you go with PB's theory, there's not a whole lot of guys that have "quality" at bats then.

Thats the point GR. There aren't.

Not who play for the Twins.



Maybe I am in the minority. Maybe I am old school. But I refuse to call a foul out without moving the runner a quality at bat.

I still believe in hitting the way of "The Splendid Splinter". Get a good pitch to hit and drive it.

If its the first pitch or the 16th pitch, I dont care. Do that and you have had a good at bat.

Naaah, we dont need a retractible roof.

Sure we want results, and these hitters are the best. However, just as the legion ball hitters are facing legion ball pitchers,......the professional hitters are facing professional pitchers. It isn't so easy to find a good pitch and drive it somewhere. Some at bats they don't even get a good pitch to drive, and they are called out. These pitchers are good, too.

It is beneficial to see pitches, especially early in the game (i.e more looks, pitch count, ump strike zone, etc.). However, later in the game, letting the pitcher get ahead on the count because everyone has been looking, requires an adjustment.

Really though, you guys that want a better hitting performance from this team,.....isn't it more HR's that you really want. This team is going to hit for a respectable average (as have the last few Twins teams), but they don't hit enough HR's, especially with runners on base. It is more than just a hard hit ball,......we want it over the fence more.

And a step further, I think hitting homers, especially timely homers, comes with age and experience,......and the Twins are young. And they will always be young, given the present business mode of operation.

Knowlzee, we all know how hard it is to hit.

Ted Williams said it was the hardest thing in any sport to do and I agree with him.

We also know that everybody cant hit HRs.

But we also know that other teams seem to be able to assemble players who can do these things on a more consistent basis than our local heros.

Look at the Tigers for example.....er, ah well, never mind them.

On that note, there was an interesting artcile in the Red Star this AM quoting the Sox GM who said he learned a few things the last couple of years about how just pure talent isnt everything in putting together a team.

He thinks he lacked some hard nosed guys and had too many prima donnas the last few years.

Now he has some guys like Swisher who come to play everyday and it is looking good.

But it also helps to have some guys who can HIT THE BOOFIN BALL like Credes grand slam which won the game or Hunters slam that won the game and so on.

We're 8 games in here, fellas. Shut the BOOF up and BOOFIN relax!

Is 12 runs enough for you guys? Kubel hits a grand slam,.....Gomez a great catch,.......Torii who? It appears the boofin ball was hit,.....at least for one game.

I'm not so much a results oriented person as an effort oriented one. The Twins went up to the plate last night and took their hacks. They weren't "working the count". Kubel had a first pitch salami, Mauer and Morneau even swung at a first offering. I'd much rather see that than flailing at strike three trying to protect the plate after watching VERY hittable pitches go by in Mulva's "system".

See. It isnt that hard.

Pitching and defense, pitching and defense....

If you score 12 runs, who needs pitching and defense.

Thats right Neut, get a good pitch and drive it. If you miss it, hit the next one that comes along.

Swing the bats and HIT THE BOOFIN BALL

You cant think your way on base.

Sure you can, if you think quick enough to lean into that lazy curve headed towards your elbow or dipping your shoulder into the high hard one...

Boofin right pb...

A veritable plethora of "good at bats" last night!

Looks like the Twins will head out of Chicago "all square" in their rain shortened two-game set.

Most likely no ball going on this evening at 333 W. 35th St.

Good thing they had that off day in the middle of the series, it was wet Tuesday but I think they would have gotten it in.


Thursday Forcast
The severe weather threat will expand east and northeast through the Mississippi valley today, impacting areas such as Houston, Little Rock, Memphis, Kansas City, and St. Louis today, and then into the Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Birmingham areas tonight.

Neutron 14 wrote:Boofin right pb...

A veritable plethora of "good at bats" last night!

Careful now Neut.

You will upset the new age hitting theorists who would have had Kubel take a few pitches and foul a few off before he fouled out so the guy on deck would have a chance.

Now THAT would have been a good at bat.

Yup, there's only one way to get a good at bat, right?

Nobody is saying that.

Irishmans Shanty wrote:Hits, runs, advancing runners into scoring position, and at very least, outs that put pressure on a defense to execute. The Twins had exactly 15 good AB's yesterday. 10 hits, 2 BB's, a sac, a Kubel shot to the gap that Dye caught, and Span's ground ball that got Gomez to third with less than two out.

I don't care what the outcome is, anytime you make a pitcher throw nearly 20 pitches in one at bat, its a job well done. ESPECIALLY with the way the pitch count is used in this day and age... But what do i know i guess.

At least the Twinks didn't lose tonight

All right, how about this: If a guy works the pitcher for 20 pitches, he has accomplished something in his AB. He has done better than the a guy who fouled out on the first pitch.

BUT unless you hit, walk, move a runner or at least hit the boofin ball hard somewhere, its not a good at bat.

What if the hitter fouls out after 20 pitches in the bottom of the 9th with a runner on 2b without moving him against the other teams closer?

Good at bat? No way.

Not so Great Moments in Good At Bat History

Oct. 9, 2004

HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN

Ruben Sierra connects off of Juan Rincon for an 8th inning, game tying, series ending, 3-run HR.

Now this was a good AB.

Irishmans Shanty wrote:Not so Great Moments in Good At Bat History

Oct. 9, 2004

HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN

Ruben Sierra connects off of Juan Rincon for an 8th inning, game tying, series ending, 3-run HR.

Now this was a good AB.

And Rincon hasn't been the same since.

But here is a guy who didnt like to look at too many pitches while having many a great and even historic ABs:



Yup,this is Kirby after fouling out in a 20 pitch AB in the World Series.

Another Great Moment in Great AB History


Carlton Fisk, the guy on deck, and Boston
fans celebrate as Fisk's lazy fly ball to shallow
RF lands in the second baseman's glove
concluding his 21 pitch AB

"Thompson has fouled out! Thompson has fouled out! Thompson has fouled out!"

Packerboy, Steve Lombardozzi hit a homerun in a World Series. I hope you are not insinuating the Twins need more like him to provide "quality at bats".

041
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The bats are bangin' 'em and Livantana is hangin' 'em.

04100
00000

Livantana(I like that) is on his game tonight.

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here's some more digits for Livantana's upcoming starts