And so the 2nd-half begins ...

 

Game-time forecast: Mostly sunny. Winds blowing in from right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Temperature around 75.

 

RAYS:

SP, Cobb

 

Jennings CF

Zobrist LF

Joyce DH

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Escobar SS

Figueroa 2B

Casali C

Kiermaier RF

 

TWINS:

SP, Gibson

 

Santana CF

Dozier 2B

Morales 1B

Plouffe 3B

Arcia RF

Willingham DH

Suzuki C

Escobar SS

Fuld LF

 

-------------------------

 

And now for Brian and his musings ... always a treat ... stay tuned ...

--------------------------

And so it does begin... The 2nd Half which isn't as long as the 1st half... But much longer then the 3rd half and it's been awhile since the Twins were part of the 3rd half.

 

Things to Think About:

 

1. Derek Jeter -- It's a feather in the cap of an organization to host an event like the All-Star game. I was proud of the Twins organization when it comes to their organization of the all-star game. It all went off without a hitch... unless you want to curse mother nature for the rain that fell during the home run derby. I'm not going to curse mother nature... she can be a lot tougher. I only wish that ESPN, The Sportswriters, The Baseball Talking Heads around the globe would have mentioned at some point time that Derek Jeter was playing in this all-star game. Talking about Derek Jeter for 96 Hours straight seemed to under do it.

 

2. Tampa Bay Rays -- How the mighty have fallen... The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are looking around and thinking to themselves... What's going on. The Rays suck... The Red Sox suck... and the Yankees suck. Umm... Wake up the scouts... Wake up the marketing department... We've got a chance to do something here. We need to think about the 2nd half differently then we usually do. As for the Rays... The once mighty pitching staff wasn't healthy enough to be a mighty pitching staff and without pitching... The great Joe Maddon can try all the voodoo he wants but it ain't gonna work. There was a time when the Rays had the worst record in baseball... but they are starting to get some pitching back and they are starting to win some games. The Twins can't overlook anyone and they should not overlook the Rays.

 

3. Alex Cobb -- A fairly talented 26 Year old right-hander from Boston Massachusetts... Alex Cobb was named after corn. On a serious note... I rarely do that... so pay attention... On a Serious Note... When I think of Alex Cobb... I think of my biggest fear in this game that I love. My biggest fear is a pitcher getting struck by a hard come backer and getting killed. I know we don't have pitchers dropping like flies but I really do believe it's not a question of IF but when. Probably at the College level with metal bats but it is a thought that has scared me for quite some time. I mention this because Alex Cobb was out for two months last year after getting hit in the skull with a come backer. Alex is now endorsing the use of protective caps at the youth level. I'm all for that and I support Alex and this effort. On the mound... He's a good locator of pitches and I think his splitter is his best pitch.

 

4. Danny Santana -- He's back and playing CF tonight... I hope he comes back... hitting the ground running... His speed is a welcome addition to the club.

 

5. The Mall -- I went to the mall with my wife. She asked me if I wanted to come and for some reason I said OK. That was my first mistake... For the life of me... I have no idea why I said OK. I wonder if she would have asked... Do you want to go with me to the DMV? I wonder if I would have said yes to that... It was obviously a weak moment.

Edited July 18, 201412 yr by Riverbrian

Sounds like runs to me boys...Twins 6 Rays 4

 

 

And so the 2nd-half begins ...

 

Game-time forecast: Mostly sunny. Winds blowing in from right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Temperature around 75.

 

RAYS:

SP, Cobb

 

Jennings CF

Zobrist LF

Joyce DH

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Escobar SS

Figueroa 2B

Casali C

Kiermaier RF

 

TWINS:

SP, Gibson

 

Santana CF

Dozier 2B

Morales 1B

Plouffe 3B

Arcia RF

Willingham DH

Suzuki C

Escobar SS

Fuld LF

 

-------------------------

 

And now for Brian and his musings ... always a treat ... stay tuned ...

Santana, Escobar and Fuld all in the lineup. Actually, I kind of like it.

Hmmmm... I'd really like to see Parmelee in LF instead of Fuld, but whatever. The rest of the lineup is pretty good.

And so the 2nd-half begins ...

 

 

Yeay! I kinda took a break during the break. Guess i'm no all-star.

 

Did i miss anything i won't pick up by glancing over a few news articles?

 

And so it does begin... The 2nd Half which isn't as long as the 1st half... But much longer then the 3rd half and it's been awhile since the Twins were part of the 3rd half.

 

I miss improper fractions!

Welcome Back Regular Season Baseball!

A swinging strike 3 and a couple groundouts for Gibbles. I can only assume this will continue the rest of the evening.

1. Derek Jeter -- It's a feather in the cap of an organization to host an event like the All-Star game. I was proud of the Twins organization when it comes to their organization of the all-star game. It all went off without a hitch... unless you want to curse mother nature for the rain that fell during the home run derby. I'm not going to curse mother nature... she can be a lot tougher. I only wish that ESPN, The Sportswriters, The Baseball Talking Heads around the globe would have mentioned at some point time that Derek Jeter was playing in this all-star game. Talking about Derek Jeter for 96 Hours straight seemed to under do it.

 

When you count this in parallel, I think it was closer to 1 million or so hours.

I'm back from a baseball vacation... Back to the job of watching this club.

I'm back from a baseball vacation... Back to the job of watching this club.

Sometimes it IS a job to watch this club.

Fly ball off Fuld's chest.

 

 

Single.

Nice Big Papi/Little Papi side-by-side. By the way, Little Papi is way bigger than Big Papi...

Fly ball off Fuld's chest.

 

 

Single.

 

 

Sometimes it IS a job to watch this club.

 

 

Yup.

A couple of awkward swings from the Twins so far. My runs scored over/under is at 5.

 

BTW, that is for total runs.

Fuld learned his lesson.

Well, there's always tomorrow's game.

A couple of awkward swings from the Twins so far. My runs scored over/under is at 5.

 

BTW, that is for total runs.

 

You're in trouble now, Nostradamus

Twins pitchers have been bamboozled by terrible outfield defense this season.

This ain't the best start after the all star break

Twins pitchers have been bamboozled by terrible outfield defense this season.

 

It certainly ain't a strong point but it's ok... As long as they continue to struggle at the plate... It's good synergy.

Alex Cobb pitches like he's performing Swan Lake.

​plouffe

Nice catch by that fan.

I thought they would review that homer.

It would be nice to start seeing more of that from Plouffe. The Twins desperately need it.

I thought they would review that homer.

 

I think if a home run is ever overturned... The runner should be forced to run the bases backwards.

I think it's time for another Plouffe power streak. Anyone else miss what he was doing those six weeks in 2012? It was like our own little Barry Bonds, but with a normal-sized head.

I thought Arcia made a respectable effort for Longoria's drive. IMHO, some right fielders catch that ball, but most don't.

I'll accept a "one bad inning" performance by Gibson.

I thought Arcia made a respectable effort for Longoria's drive. IMHO, some right fielders catch that ball, but most don't.

 

Arcia will be fine in the OF... Not exactly Heyward but fine enough.

 

However... I like the outfielders who make that catch.