Archived Game Threads

This one will be live for me, televised for you. Wind is really blowing out to left today. Hopefully that means a few long balls … for us, not them. Go Twins!

Twins Lineup: Rays Lineup: Enjoy the game!

Yankees: The Twins Nemesis? I may have mentioned in past writings on this site how much I despise the Yankees. Then again, maybe not. I tend to hold things in… like my gut while trying to slip into an old pair of jeans, or my honest opinion of my blonde sister-in-law’s cooking, or the gas from politely eating my blonde sister-in-law’s cooking. My Yankee despisement (is that a word?) goes back to those thrilling days of yesteryear when every kid in Little League had a favorite team. Mine was the Dodgers (the Twins hadn’t been invented yet). My nemesis at the time was another kid who was a self-proclaimed Yankees fan. His old man was the high school principal, who, as…

A few years ago, when the Twins inadvertently made a playoff appearance, I was notified, that, should the Twins progress, I would have the honor of introducing a play-off game thread. Then, the Twins bombed in the Bronx, following up that loss by then limping to a dreadful conclusion of the 2018 campaign. During a busy, yet head-scratching, off-season, the FO signed new players, coaches and a manager, trying to bolster a team that clearly wasn’t getting the job done. Amazingly enough, the FO put together an excellent team, a team that set both team and MLB records, setting the stage for one of the best seasons I can remember since the 1987 Squad won it all. Which br…

Let me explain the ALDS thus far... No there is too much. Let me sum up: Episode V (III, sir!) The Empire Ks It is a dark time for the Twins Fan base. Although the Bomba title has been claimed, Imperial troops have driven our Rebel forces from the Yankee Stadium and pursued us across the country. Evading the dreaded Imperial TV network, a group of freedom fighters led by Nelson Cruz are entrenched in Target Field in the remote ice state of Minnesota. The evil Pinstripes look to dash the hopes of the upstart Twins, and silence the mighty bomba stick, the last hope for order and peace in the MLB…. (John Williams wasn't available so this wiil have to do) …

The Twins have lost back-to-back games!! Oh my gosh, the world must be coming to an end. On a less extreme note, the Twins are still in first place by more than 10 games, and that is with the Indians playing well. They have only picked up half a game since the start of June. Tonight, the Twins have to win to have a shot at winning the series against the Red Sox with Michael Pineda on the mound. The Pitchers: David Price (4-2, 3.52 ERA, 71 K's) vs Michael Pineda (4-3, 5.04 ERA, 57 K's) David Price is having the best year he has since he was named to the All-Star team in 2015. The lefty has a 3.52 ERA, with a FIP of 3.18. He is striking out over a batter an inning, a…

Well, we’re here. It’s postseason time and there’s no game thread ready a few hours before first pitch so I’m typing this on my phone to get it out there. Only have time for one thought: I love Greinke, he’s a delightful weirdo. But I hope the Twins effing demolish him. Win Twins! 1. Arráez 2B 2. Buxton CF 3. Kepler RF 4. Cruz DH 5. Rosario LF 6. Sanó 1B 7. Polanco SS 8. Jeffers C 9. González 3B

Alright Twins fans, we already know what has happened in the past. 17 losses in a row, and it feels like even more somehow. The longest losing streak in all of North America for playoff losing streaks. My only wish is that I would've been betting on these games, and rolling over the winnings. However, today, the Twins have a chance to change that. Jose Berrios takes the bump, and a rookie makes his first ever start in the postseason. Buckle up, if today is like yesterday, it's going to be one hell of a ride where everyone ends up puking at the end. The Pitchers - RHP Jose Berrios (5-4, 4.00 ERA, 68 K's, 63 IP) vs RHP Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.73 ERA, 17 K's, 29.2 IP) The T…

I have a confession to make. It’s a rather serious confession and one that is not easy to say… I grew up in Cleveland. Now before you disparage me, please understand that this was not my choice. My parents up and moved from Owatonna, MN to Cleveland and forced me into a childhood surrounded by Indians fans. Cleveland baseball fans might be the worst, I might add, and are not deserving of a professional baseball team as the definition of fair-weather fans shows a picture of an Indians fan. This is not to be confused with a Browns fan, as those are the definition of loyalty. Things to think about: 1) Songs – Cleveland has a few songs of note. Minnesota does not (unless …

After the exciting win yesterday, and after perusing the game thread yesterday, I came to the conclusion some of the Twins faithful needed some help surviving the game Nothing like high comedy, drama and angst....all in one game, which encapsulates everything that goes with being a Twins fan this year. The highs and lows of following the Twins this year have been nothing short of spectacular. Now, the Yankees come to town and they've been playing good baseball, boo!, and, have been a Twins nemesis for as long as Target Field has been in existence. Not to worry, though, Twins fans, because I have come up with the perfect way to deal with watching the Twins play the …

Today The Twins play the Yankees in a doubleheader in the Bronx. Twins fans obviously have nightmares about facing this opponent, especially on their home turf, but fortunately I happen to have at least one fond memory of a Twins-Yankees game in the House of Horrors. I've always lived in New York State and over the years I've tried to catch the team on their visits to Boston and New York. (My trips to Boston have been much more enjoyable on many levels!) The last game I attended was in May of 2019 against the Yankees in the new Yankee Stadium, which is a monolith and is as far removed from a Fenway-type ball park as you can get. My 20-something daughter and I took a …

The Cleveland Falcon I was holding down a barstool in a cheap dive just down the street from what used to be Jacobs Stadium, trying to nurse three fingers of the worst tasting whiskey I’d ever had the misfortune to order when she walked in. She had legs halfway up to her neck, auburn hair pulled back in one of those French braids that made her look… French and a figure you won’t find in any accountant’s office. “What’s a dame like you doing in a gin joint like this?” I asked her in my best Bogie impression. She coolly looked me over before claiming a seat three stools away. “I’m looking for a Tom Collins,” she replied, distantly. “Haven’t seen him,” I inf…

Wednesday 9/9, 7:10 PM CT at Kauffman Stadium TV: FS-N; Radio: Go 96.3, TIBN Weather: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight (I'm just going to go ahead and leave that in there in case we go into extras). Lineups: TWINS (71-67): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Mike Pelfrey (6-9, 4.17 ERA) ROYALS (83-55): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Kris Medlen (3-1, 4.88 ERA) This contention thing has proved to be too stressful for me. I used to always write the game threads at least a day in advance, and, in the case of the failed Chicken Dinnah attempt, a week or two before necessary, but today I am starting from…

The Twins took two steps forward toward the goal of winning the division during the series of games against the Sox. Unfortunately, after that second step, the Twins paused and, well, Cleveland decided they need to keep pace. It's hard to watch when one can almost touch or see the Twins with the division title. *So what if I had to reach a bit to fit in this song. On the upside, if the Twins keep trucking on they should win the division. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaQ8r-SwR2c Now, KC is in town and the Twin will need to keep moving on toward a division title. And, with that, another chapter in series game thread openers comes to a close. Please sta…

The Twins visit Detroit in the second game of a three game season with only five games to play. Their magic number is two. Any combination of two Twins wins or Cleveland losses wins the Central for Minnesota, their first division championship since 2010. Detroit is wrapping up a terrible season, they are 46-110 and they have talent commensurate with their record. They have hit pretty well against the Twins, but lack power. The Tigers will face Twins folk hero Randy Dobnak today. Dobnak has climbed from independent minor league to the major leagues and has pitched very effectively, first as an opener and in his last two starts as a legitimate starter. Dobnak started 201…

5 things to think about... 1. I got a friend who closed on a house earlier this week. So please forgive me if i have a one track mind. 2. Final regular season Twins home game. I hope we win. 3. Scoring runs by getting home. Sorry! That was too easy. 4. High Culture. See game thread title. 5. Pop culture, an incomplete list: "Slimey? Mudhole? My home this is!" Strong are we with the force, but are we yet Jedi? Kansas City 0. Jorge Lopez (R ) P 1. W. Merrifield (R ) LF 2. A. Mondesi ( S ) SS 3. Jorge Soler (R ) DH 4. Hunter Dozier (R ) 3B 5. Ryan McBroom (R ) RF 6. C. Cuthbert (R ) 1B 7. Bubba Starling (R ) CF 8. H. Arteaga (R ) 2B 9. Nick Dini (R ) C Minn…

Every MLB season is full of measuring sticks. Baseball fans measure a team’s potential by looking at the standings on Memorial Day or at the All-Star break. For individual players, there are the classic measurements for a successful season: a .300 average, 30 homers or 100 RBI for a hitter, 20 wins for a pitcher. And for a generation of Twins fans, one surefire way to measure their team’s success is the answer to the following question: “How’d we do against the Yankees?” That’s right, the Yanks are in town and we’re ready to see how our boys stack up. It’s been a lopsided matchup as of late: since 2017, the Twins are 7-23 against the Evil Empire and you have to go ba…

April 1st...the day of office pranksters and foolish little kids all around the world. That jar at work that you think is M&M's probably has a mixture of skittles with it. Your fridge? Better make sure it's not running away. However, there is one thing today that is not a joke. BASEBALL. IS. BACK. The Twins travel to Milwaukee for a three day set against the Brewers, which means that the Twins will not be able to use Nelson Cruz because the league hates the game. Nor will a majority of fans across the league be able to tune into todays game because Fox Sports Bally Sports (Whatever the heck that is) hasn't made a deal with television or streaming providers. They also…

Everyone better get ready for World War III! Last nights game was probably one of the most drama filled regular season games I've seen in years. I will not call it the best regular season game I've seen in years as the Twins lost. However, it was drama filled. I expect the last game of this series tonight will be a lot like the first two. As I mentioned above, better get ready for World War III. I fully expect the Twins will come out charging hard and playing with something to prove. My take away after watching the entire game last night is that this Minnesota Twins team will not roll over to the Yankees. They seem to have a confidence I've seen lacking in other Twi…

Hello again Twins baseball Game Threaders. I'll be your host again for today's double header action between your Minnesota Twins and those pesky Cleveland Guardians. Last week, these two teams met at Target Field and moving in the opposite direction in the standings. Cleveland came in on a roll and took two of three from the local 9. The local 9 were also on a roll of their own, just in the wrong direction towards the depths of second place in the division. Since then however, your Twins have regained their footing and have won 3 straight after a poor first game loss at the hands of the Rockies. Cleveland however, has lost five straight including a bludgeoning last …

Good morning! The Twins go for a sweep of their three-game series (and homestand) today. Weather may be a factor with thundershowers forecast today. The Twins have had the good fortune of facing a Tampa Bay team on the third leg of a three-city, two coast road trip. The Rays haven’t been sharp in the field or on the bases and the Twins have beaten two good pitchers. Today, Martín Pérez is scheduled to try again to win his eighth game. Pérez’ command and velocity have been off in his most recent starts. Tampa knocked him around in his previous start against the Rays. Tampa’s starter is listed as Stanek. I believe he will be their opener with a primary pitcher to f…

The Pitchers: RHP Gerrit Cole (5-1, 2.78 ERA, 81K, 64.2 IP) vs RHP Dylan Bundy (3-3, 5.57 ERA, 36K, 42IP) The Twins are tasked with trying to get to one of the top 5 starters in baseball in Gerrit Cole tonight, the head of the dominate Yankee’s rotation. Cole is coming off of a 7 inning performance against the Tigers where he allowed 2 hits, walked none, and struck out 9. He has gone at least 6 innings in his last 9 starts. Cole relies on a dominate high 90’s fastball, which opponents are hitting just .204 on. Opponents are fairing even worse on the slider which has an OAA of .159. He also features a cutter, changeup, and curve. I don’t need to tel…

My ten years as a stringer – a freelance sportswriter for The Associated Press – spanned two distinct baseball eras. During the first, 1983-88, stringers dictated stories by telephone to the New York baseball desk and most of the players were somewhat ordinary in size and shape. I left Minnesota for five years and, when I returned in 1993 for a second tour of AP duty, it was all about laptop transmissions and ginormous players. Depending on assignment, the job entailed some combination of scorekeeping, hunting down postgame clubhouse quotes from players and managers, and writing three stories: a bare-bones gamer, an alternate account including quotes and, finally, a fea…

Today marks another day in the saga of Twins Daily game thread brilliance. Well, some call it mediocrity, but, as the author I say, "Brilliance." The Twins got off to a decent start the second half, taking two of three from Cleveland. Then, some team from some where came into town and some things happened. And that's all we'll say about that. Today, another good baseball team comes to town and the Twins get another tough test. And, unfortunately, this kind of test is not graded on the curve. This is a pass/fail test across 4 days. Even more interesting, this test continues over the next few months in different locations. And there is no mercy rule with this te…

Once upon a time, in the '80s, there was this athlete named Bo Jackson, no relation to Hugh, so far as i know (and i know pretty far*) And being a professional athlete in multiple sports, folk figured he must know something, and ran popular advertising to that effect. I was a wee tike then, so the advertising must have been a mixed success. I remember it existed, but not what was advertised. So to this day i am left wondering what or who does this pro Bo know? But enough with the history lesson. Which is sadly lacking in both history and lesson. The real choice for naming this thread Bo, is it starts the word Bomba. And only read th word, so forgive me for forgetting …

After the fiasco of the last thread, pro tip: don’t do something that stands out, otherwise people develop expectations, I realized that I needed to see if I could bring a bit more culture to Twins Daily. Well, okay, not so much realized as had a couple of people think poetry was on the groovy side.* ** *By fiasco, I mean something people wish to see more of. Unless they were just humoring me, in which case, the jokes on them! **What do mean it's not culture? Says, "Culture Club" right there! Now, for the groovy part:* *What do you mean Bruce Campbell and "The Evil Dead" isn't groovy? Diamond Dreams I gaze upon a field of shimmering green, And, with…

Jose Berrios - Berrios is making his Major League debut tonight! I have been rooting for him ever since he got drafted, and that was a pretty emotional night for him: Berrios was a shortstop until his senior year of high school, when he broke out as a the top pitcher in Puerto Rico. Trevor Rosenthal and Jacob DeGrom are two all-star pitchers who were shortstops in high school. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/picking-berrios-top-prospect-debuts-for-twins-tonight/ Walk-off winners - The Twins have picked up a win in the bottom of the ninth the last two games, and Jepsen has been the pitcher who has benefited with the wins, which he did not deserve. Extrapolation -…

Welcome to another exciting game thread experience at Twins Daily and game #2 in the ALDS series against the Yankees. After last nights game and the disappointing results, I'm calling an audible and doing an entirely different introduction than what I intended to write yesterday. The theme for today is simple: GET. READY. TO. FIGHT. While there were some questionable calls, plays and managerial decisions made during the game yesterday, did anyone of us think this would be easy? Playing New York at home in the playoffs is difficult for almost every team in the league. The Twins know this and that's why I think they will come out swinging hard today. I liked what I…

The Twins face Oakland this after noon in the finale of a difficult road trip to the West Coast. The Twins are currently 6-10, having lost eight of their last nine games. They've lost two doubleheaders and three extra-inning games. Sixteen games is roughly one-tenth of a season and the Twins have had spotty pitching, poor hitting and have also made too many defensive mistakes. In other words, they have been a bad ball club. The opponent today, the Oakland Athletics, started slowly, but is now perhaps the hottest club in baseball having won ten straight games. The lineup is swinging well, they have a decent pitching staff and a fine defensive team. Today's starting p…

For the first time in 59 days, someone is writing the game thread intro with the Twins no longer in sole possession of first place. While this is disappointing, it is also fantastic the the Twins are giving us meaningful baseball in June, and hopefully will continue to do so into July, August, and September. It is easy to get caught up in the rollercoaster of the season, and I myself do it just as much as anyone, but I am so thankful we are in the position to care about this team -- and baseball -- again. The Pitchers RHP Triston McKenzie (4-5, 2.96 ERA, 61K, 70IP, 1.4 bWAR) v RHP Sonny Gray (3-1, 2.09 ERA, 42K, 38.2IP, 1.3 bWAR) Two of the m…