4/9/19

Tom Brennan - TWINS-METS PREVIEW


GET OUT THE BROOM!

Sometimes it is just the luck of the draw.  

Minnesota wins 2 of 3 against Philly, running their early record to 5-3, but who do they face in the two game set against the Mets?

deGrom and Syndergaard, that's who.

And their early season ace, Jose Berrios, just pitched against the Phils (his 3rd start in the Twins' first 8 games) and will miss the series.

The Twins have to feel the way I felt as a kid when the Mets faced the Dodgers when their rotation alignment meant we would be facing Koufax and Drysdale.  A sinking feeling, a sickening feeling.  

The Twins certainly have some interesting players, though, none more than the freak known as catcher Willians Astudillo.  

He has started the season 7 for 14 - but anyone can be hot for a few games, right?

Wrong.  

In his first 34 big league games, Astudillo is hitting .374/.395/.570 with (are you sitting down?) just 3 strikeouts.  That is freaky, folks.

SS Jorge Polanco is 25 and, after hitting a very solid .288/.345/.427 in 2018, he is off to a robust .375 season start. 

Always dangerous is 38 year old Nelson Cruz, too.  Hitting .316 on the season with 6 RBIs in 19 ABs.

On the pitching side, former Yank Michael Pineda has had 2 solid starts, and their pen has to date been mostly very solid.

Yep...the Twins are solid, but I am anticipating a Jake/Thor-induced Mets sweep, before the Mets square off against division foe Atlanta.  

I say, "Get out the broom!"  How about you?

4 comments:

Hobie said...

Any relation to OUR GCL catcher Astudillo?

Mike Freire said...

I hope they get both games against Minny, because they have a tough 10 game road trip right after.

Tom Brennan said...

Hobie, great question - the answer is probably yes, as they are both from Barcelona, VZ.

He spent several years in their system. Not sure if he is or is not considered their # 1 catcher. But he can sure make contact. From 2017 forward, majors and minors, he has fanned just 30 times in 1,008 plate appearances. Chris Davis fans that much in a week.

Tom Brennan said...

Mike, you are right - if they can navigate at .500 or better until they play 4 against Cincy in late April, they will be in good shape.