It can’t get any worse.
Really, it can’t.
The Twins are 18 games below the .500 mark. Yesterday, Francisco Liriano was put on the 15-day DL for left shoulder inflammation—and he’s only one of the many crucial Twins players who are MIA.
Sitting at the bottom of the MLB, the Twins have never looked so bleak. Naturally, I keep thinking we’ve hit the bottom. It can’t get worse, right?. It might not get better, but at least I know it can’t get worse.
Oh baseball, you proved me wrong once again.
In their most recent losses, the Twins have managed to keep the scores close, struggling in the 8th and 9th innings before losing. Fans are left feeling disappointed and discouraged that a turnaround is no longer a possibility.
Yesterday’s game was no exception.
A Call to Change it All
The Twins have struggled for almost every win they’ve received this year. And they’ve had to endure some tough losses. However, Monday’s game against the Tigers was an especially difficult loss for players and fans alike.
Here’s what happened: in the bottom of the 8th, Alex Avila was up to bat with Jhonny Peralta on first. Avila nailed the ball down the left field line where the it hit two fans before falling onto the field. Delmon Young notified third base umpire Gary Darling, who called fan interference. After a huddle with the umpires, Peralta was allowed to score. Here’s a link to the hit.
The call did NOT go over too well with Ron Gardenhire and the Twins. Gardenhire was ejected from the game for his heated argument over the call not being ruled as a ground-rule double for going into the stands.
“I still don’t understand it. I don’t have any opinion on it, other than my opinion that we know it hit a fan in the stands and we know it went into the stands. Their call was not clear when I talked to them. I don’t know how that runner scored.”
The Twins only expected Peralta to be rewarded third base and were stunned by the awarded run. Stunned enough to let the play get the best of ‘em.
The Right Call?
Living in Iowa provides little access to Twins games. Therefore, I am forced to watch via my computer or rely on ESPN updates to my cell phone. I have to form my opinion based off the video footage on mlb.com. After reading a few articles on the call, researching the rules on ground-rule doubles, and watching the unhelpful video online, I was more confused at what is the right call than before I started to look into it. It’s a tough call.
I can’t help but go back and forth on whether or not I think Darling made the right call.
The Wrong Way to End
So the call doesn’t go your way. And it’s another kick to the ground for the Twins. Or is it? Poor call or not, it’s not the first time this has happened. The call only put the Twins down by one run. Top of the 9th, batters up and ready. But three outs later, the game is over. Consistent with so many other losses by the Twins.
I can’t help but wonder if the call from the previous inning had any effect on the team as they got ready to bat. If so, get over it. The game goes on, and you can’t dwell on a wrong call forever. I don’t care if you feel like they are kicking you when you are already down. Get back up and brush the dirt of your shoulders. Since so many games have ended this way, it’s hard to tell if the one play truly messed with the players’ mental game. Or if they just didn’t have it in them to make a comeback.
Tell me what you think about the play that pushed the Twins down. Did Darling make the right call? Did Gardenhire have good reason to be upset?
About Amanda Lawson
