Archived Game Threads

Has it gotten so bad? No game thread for me to lurk on, randomly comment in, and abandon? I'm like David Duchovny (or was it someone else) in that classic SNL skit, where he keeps coming up with these great, witty comebacks, but he's always five minutes late and they've lost their appropriateness. But then he invents a time machine, and uses it to go back and fix Paul Molitor's bullpen usage from earlier in the season, saving Reed's arm for the game last night. No, actually, he uses it to go back and deliver his now perfectly timed zingers. Anyhow, the game is already started, so get cracking, 007!

The Twins visit Seattle in the second game of their series with the Mariners. They lost last night 4-3 as the bullpen yielded three runs in four innings. The Twins continue to hit and allow home runs. They are (were) second in MLB in homers and third in allowing home runs. If you want to see home runs, go to a Twins game. JA Happ takes the hill versus a pretty weak Seattle lineup. Happ has struggled, as almost all of the Twins pitchers have, with allowing homers. The Twins bullpen leads MLB in losses, not a stat to lead the majors. Luis Arraez returns to the Twins starting lineup, hitting leadoff and playing second base. Nick Gordon gets another start in cente…

Indians: SP Ubaldo Jimenez CF Bourn 1B Swisher 2B Kipnis DH Santana RF Raburn SS Cabrera LF Brantley C Gomes 3B Aviles Twins: SP Scott Diamond CF Presley 2B Dozier 3B Plouffe DH Doumit 1B Parmelee RF Herrmann LF Thomas C Fryer SS Florimon Final Things to Think About: 1. Think about 2013... It's been another long year for our Twins. I'm not going to break out a bunch of stats to prove or disprove my feelings but I did watch a lot of Twins baseball this year. I tend to agree with Terry Ryan when he says that the pitchers pitched better than the metrics suggest. No we didn't have a shut down rotation but the rotation did keep us in games enough that we could have…

The Twins look to even the series tonight in a 6:15 tilt against the Houston Astros. The Twins version of an ace, José Berríos, will face Luis Garcia of the Astros. Garcia has impressive numbers. I don't know anything about him. Yesterday, the Twins hit four homers (all solos) and still lost to Houston 6-4. The Twins lead MLB in homers, yet their offense is only 11th best in scoring runs, while they are third worst allowing runs. Too many solo homers, too few innings where hits were strung together. A couple of comments about the big talker--substances pitchers have been using to "get a grip" and spin the ball effectively. Offense is way down again this year. J…

Game-time forecast: Clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Temperature around 55. TIGERS: SP, Scherzer Kinsler 2B Hunter RF Cabrera 1B Martinez (Victor) DH Martinez (J.D.) LF Castellanos 3B Holaday C Romine SS Davis CF TWINS: SP, Swarzak Santana SS Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Vargas DH Plouffe 3B Arcia RF Suzuki C Parmelee LF Schafer CF ---------------------------- Thought time. Hopefully it won't be too painful. ----------------------------- Thanks for hoping for my painlessness... Or were you referring to those who read this and hoping that they don't feel any pain? Let's see what happens. Things to Think About: 1. The Tigers -- They appear t…

Okay, my 2nd ST game, not counting parts of some minor league games I've seen. Minor league games are great fun. But the totally geeked out participants make me a little nervous. Pictures of this will not be posted to protect the not-so-innocent geeks. (You know who you are.) I'll post lineups once in my seat, but for now this is my vantage point:

Good evening, I'm your guest introducer of today's game thread as the Twins play the Cubs at Wrigley Field tonight. The Twins are solidly in the playoffs, but are a longshot to win the Central Division after losing three of four to the White Sox earlier this week. Only eight games remain and the Twins trail by three games and lose a tiebreaker to Chicago. They have a similar lead over Cleveland for second place in the division which will most likely mean either a #4 or #5 seed and most likely a chance to end the jinx against the Yankees. The Cubs comfortably lead the NL Central, as the only team in the division with a winning record, Starting pitchers are slated to be …

“One score and ten years ago” (as Tom Kelly once famously began), the Twins won three of four in a series with the Royals at this time of year. The Twins won the last two games of that late May series in Kansas City, those 30 years ago, and began a 15-game winning streak, going on to sweep the likes of Baltimore, the Yankees, and Cleveland. The rest is history. All those teams the Twins built that winning streak on in 1991 are the teams the Twins face here in June again this year. “The past may not repeat itself exactly, but does often rhyme” (as Ron Gardenhire once famously observed). But the key is to take the last two games of this series. Since the R…

Twins: Span CF Revere RF Mauer C Willingham LF Morneau 1B Doumit DH Valencia 3B Dozier SS Casilla 2B (Deduno P) Native Americans: Choo RF Brantley CF Kipnis 2B Santana C Hafner DH Damon LF Kotchman 1B Hannahan 3B Lillibridge SS (Masterson P)

Lineups: Twins: Jamey Carroll 3B Joe Mauer C Josh Willingham DH Justin Morneau 1B Oswaldo Arcia LF Chris Parmelee RF Eduardo Escobar SS Aaron Hicks CF Brian Dozier 2B (Sam Deduno P) Tigers: Andy Dirks LF Omar Infante 2B Miguel Cabrera 3B Prince Fielder 1B Victor Martinez DH Jhonny Peralta SS Alex Avila C Don Kelly CF Avisail Garcia RF (Anibal Sanchez P)

Here is the Twins lineup today versus Toronto. The game will be on FSN, so those who are able to, please update the rest of us who are stuck at work on the goings on: Lineup: Aaron Hicks 8, Brian Dozier 4, Joe Mauer 3, Josh Willingham dh, Oswaldo Arcia 9, Kurt Suzuki 2, Deibinson Romero 5, Jermaine Mitchell 7, EduardoEscobar 6. SP Kevin Correia

TWINS: Santana SS Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Hunter RF Vargas DH Plouffe 3B Arcia LF Suzuki C Schafer CF Boyer P (For all those expecting this to say 'Gibson,' he has the flu! ) RED SOX: Betts CF Pedroia 2B Ortiz DH Ramirez LF Sandoval 3B Napoli 1B Victorino RF Bogaerts SS Quintero C Masterson P ------------------- Looks like a couple of starting lineups there. Should be a good game ... and it's televised! Yay! Well, not sure about locally but it will be on the MLB Network so I can actually watch it on my television, which I prefer to the computer or my iPad. As we are nearing the start of the season, just reminding everyone who is interested and starting and leading…

I am sick of watching the Tigers this year! Of course, playing the same team 8 times in under 2 weeks doesn't help, but seriously! All I see is sneaky good defense, young pitchers with potential, hit parades, and some great base stealers. It reminds me of those pesky piranhas of Gardenhire's tenure as Twins manager, and I am shocked that this style of baseball can still win in today's game. Twins SP: Michael Pineda 1B Lamonte Wade Jr. 3B Josh Donaldson DH Brent Rooker LF Eddie Rosario 2B Marwin Gonzalez CF Byron Buxton RF Jake Cave SS Ehire Adrianza C Ryan Jeffers Tigers SP: Michael Fulmer CF Victor Reyes 2B Jonathan Schoop DH Miguel Cabrera 1B Jeimer Candela…

Twins: SP Mike Pelfrey LF Thomas 2B Bernier DH Morneau C. Doumit RF Herrmann 3B Plouffe 1B Colabello CF Hicks SS Florimon Angels: SP Jered Weaver LF Shuck CF Trout DH Pujols 1B Trumbo 2B Kendrick 3B Callaspo C. Iannetta RF Cowgill SS Aybar Things to think about today: 1. Think about a Sweep... The Twins could sweep the series and leave happy as they head to Seattle. 2. Think about Chris Herrman... A Grand Slam... How happy is he today. Only in the lineup because Joe's wife has a poor sense of timing. 3. Think about Ryan Doumit... He wasn't hitting all that well and I told him to knock it off yesterday... He listened. 4. Think about Mike Pelfrey... He's …

The Twins visit Seattle on the first leg of a two-city road trip. The Mariners are three games under .500 despite having a poorer run differential than the Twins, who are 13 games below the break-even mark. The Mariners started the Twins slide off a cliff in April when they came back from a 6-0 deficit in the middle innings and beat the Twins. The Twins really haven't been the same since. Yesterday's game marked another low point as the Twins gave up 14 runs and 20 hits to a good Houston lineup. The three relievers who followed Pineda to the mound yielded runs in every inning, totaling nine runs and 14 hits in five innings. The way those three pitchers are throwing, they…

The Jays are leading a close wild card race for the AL with the Red Sox and Yankees in a dead heat. Every game counts for the Jays, and I for one, will be rooting for them in the post season (but not tonight!). The Jays are a spicy team, tons of interesting players, and I love watch Vlad Jr play. It will be a tough series for our Twins... On the bump: Twins: Michael Pineda vs Jays: Hyun Jin Ryu Lineups: Twins: Buxton CF Polanco SS Donaldson 3B Sano 1B Refsnyder LF Arraez 2B Rooker DH Kepler RF Jeffers C Jay’s: Springer DH Semien 2B Guerrero 1B Bichette SS Hernandez RF …

Roster Moves: Alex Kiriloff has been sent on a rehab assignment today, and will be DH'ing for STP. If everything goes well, Kiriloff will play in the field for the Saints tomorrow, and could be activated by the weekend, which would clearly be a huge boost to the lineup, and for his development. Lewis Thorpe will also get the start for the first game of tomorrow's double header, as the 27th man. Michael Pineda, who was scratched last night, is going to be pushed back a few days, and may possibly go on the IL, as the Twins are in a position where they can't hold a starter for a few more days, with the DH approaching tomorrow, and no off day until the 27th. The P…

Lineups: Twins: Brian Dozier 2B Joe Mauer C Ryan Doumit DH Justin Morneau 1B Trevor Plouffe 3B Chris Parmelee RF Oswaldo Arcia LF Wilkin Ramirez CF Eduardo Escobar SS (Vance Worley P)* Orioles: Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Nolan Reimold DH (Steve Johnson P)

Despite the outcome of the last game the Twins played against the Mets, the Twins still came away with a winning road trip. An outcome that was lacking last year. Unfortunately, the Twins return home to play the Tigers, managed by ex-Twins manager, Ron Gardenhire, who appears to have his club playing well. At least, according to the standings. And, more importantly, the Twins get to put the silly "futility player" of the NL behind them. Yes, I mean the lack of DH where the pitcher "hits," hence, "futility player." With that, we move on to more pressing matters, such as, pitching. Specifically, starting pitching. More specifically, the starting pitching today. …

I can't start threads from my phone: Game #118 Royals (56-60) Edinson Volquez ® Twins (47-70) Hector Santiago (L) 1. Paulo Orlando ® CF 2. Cheslor Cuthbert ® 3B 3. Lorenzo Cain ® RF 4. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B 5. Kendrys Morales (S) DH 6. Salvador Perez ® C 7. Alex Gordon (L) LF 8. Alcides Escobar ® SS 9. Christian Colon ® 2B 1. Brian Dozier ® 2B 2. Robbie Grossman (S) LF 3. Joe Mauer (L) DH 4. Kennys Vargas (S) 1B 5. Max Kepler (L) RF 6. Jorge Polanco (S) 3B 7. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS 8. Juan Centeno (L) C 9. Eddie Rosario (L) CF Gametime Forecast: 78°F • Clear Twins have 8 of 9 lefties in the lineup. Quiz: Who could they add to the lineup and get it to 9? Volque…

I highly encourage all of you to put on your Thome Is My Homey t-shirts right now. Today's Twins starting lineup brought to you by Joe Christensen: #Twins vs. RH Kendrick: Span 8, Revere 9, Mauer 2, Willingham 7, Morneau 3, Doumit DH, Plouffe 5, Dozier 6, Carroll 4 (Blackburn P) By the way, in the past 14 days, Trevor Plouffe's .800 slugging percentage is the fourth-highest in baseball. In that time Plouffe (.371 BA) and Ben Revere (.370 BA) have been hotter than hell. I'm considering borrowing the line from Major League II "Black Hammer and White Lightening" when referring to them. Help me make this so.

Game-time forecast: Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Temperature around 65. DIAMONDBACKS: SP, Nuño Inciarte LF Pollock CF Lamb 3B Trumbo DH Peralta RF Pacheco 1B Gregorius SS Wilson C Pennington 2B TWINS: SP, Hughes Santana CF Dozier 2B Plouffe 3B Vargas 1B Suzuki C Arcia RF Pinto DH Hicks LF Escobar SS ------------------------------------------- Brian's thoughts will be arriving soon so stay tuned. ------------------------------------------- They haven't arrived yet... I'm gonna have to use old ones. Things to Think About: 1. Afternoon Games at the end of the Year with no chance of the pl…

As game thread intro Haiku offers no comfort Lost Byron, won game. Wrapping head around the Byron boxer's fracture Can he be strong bad? I distract easy How many games Buxton's missed? Soliceless number Others can take slack Kirilloff, Gordan, Larnach The game must go on... Reds: 0. Wade Miley (L) P 1. Jonathan India (R) 2B 2. Jesse Winker (L) DH 3. Nick Castellanos (R) RF 4. Tyler Stephenson (R) 1B 5. Tyler Naquin (L) LF 6. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B 7. Shogo Akiyama (L) CF …

Today is a getaway day for the Twins and I'm sure their baggage has been securely and neatly stowed in preparation for getting out of Dodge, I mean, Chicago: *Some images just beg to be used in a game thread. In looking at the game write-up, looks like it was a wild one in Chicago: *It's no Mitch Williams, though. But, for now, our Twins head out on the road, looking for new adventures, and, hopefully, on this road trip: *West Coast road trip coming up! And now for something completely different: And now, for some thoughts on last nights game: 1. That Kopech guy putting 98mph heat on the corner is unfair. 2. It's unfair, because that kid needs to be a …

Welcome to another exciting Twins Daily Game Thread! It's probably one of the most underrated and misunderstood sections within Twins Daily. As a relatively new member on this site I've found the Game Thread to be gut-busting fun. A place where like minded Twins fans can come together and cheer, yell or arm chair quarterback every play. In fact, its so much fun I decided to post my very first Game Thread introduction today on my birthday. Yes, this is a present to myself. Birthdays only come along once a year. Since this birthday marks a mile stone year for me, it got me thinking a lot about time. Its official; I am truly at "mid-life". For some, mid-life makes …

Math yesterday... Comedy tonight! Wait, no... Reading and writing. In short, ABCs. 1. Clich A. We got to bear down, tow (toe?) the line, in short, battle our tails off. You can tell that is what we have been doing due to our lack of tails. And that makes a good tale. What are your favorite clich a? 2. B'n balls. Won't be covered here as it pertains to rules unwritten. 3. C the ball, hit the ball. It is basics like these that make the difference in the end. 4. D fence... Oh right. Wrong sport. But good fielding is not to be under estimated. Is it once again something our Twins can be proud of? But them Royals ain't no slouche neither. 5. With the greatest …

The lazy Mississippi is rolling on down to that there bayou out into the gulf of Mexico. What, with prevailing westerlies, i expect the breezes at todays game will wind up somewhere on the east coast in a few days. That there sun reflecting off home plate may tickle an alien astronomer's telescope in a few years or more. If they don't have to work for this game thread to happen, well neither do i. Some murmering memory wafts by of the Cobb fellow as a possible off season acquisition. Mayhap we'll learn something this game. All that said, i don't think this game will ever happen again. So y'all better pay attention if you don't wanna miss it! Orioles Alex Cobb…

Waiting around to march in a parade, i see a lack of game thread... So for old time's sake: Things to think about. 1. Winning. Don't always feel good? Yeah, i know it isn't all about it. But again, maybe it is, just at a different game. Like maybe... 2. Player development. We didn't win yesterday, But Mr. Stewart knows more about pitching in the Majors than he did before, and we know more about him. Maybe not much, but... well... 3. Something. It would be the height of hubris to think i knew what a game thread would end up being about. It could be... 4. Music. Math. Myths... 5. Is right out. Well, pending review on instant replay, which, despite its name, isn…

Game-time forecast: Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Temperature near 80. Bri: The Lineups are on their way... Being sent Fed-Ex to ChiTown... packaged along with a set of fancy spatulas. Chi: So, I didn't receive the fancy spatulas ... it makes me want to withhold the lineups. But since anyone can look them up, I have no leverage to hold out for the spatulas. RAYS: SP, Price Jennings CF Zobrist RF Guyer LF Longoria 3B Loney 1B Forsythe 2B Escobar SS Molina C Rodriguez DH TWINS: SP, Hughes Santana CF Dozier 2B Plouffe 3B Morales DH Suzuki C Colabello 1B Parmelee RF Escobar SS Nunez LF ---…

The line ups seem slow to come out today. That is okay, because i seem uninspired, so i need the extra time. My best idea so far is an abject apology to Chief and Chitown for letting them down. And i bet i could pull it off too, but not without sufficient inspiration. No point in bunting without a runner to advance... Why are line ups so important? It's not like you are setting up a complex rube-goldberg machine, are you? If one batter doesn't work out, the next one just comes to the plate... Well, up until each multiple of 3 that don't work. Are there other sports that are so complex with initial conditions? Well, the line ups are out. But how do you all cope…