Game-time forecast: Clear, no chance of rain, 76 deg.

 

ChiTown is going to post the lineups and forecast right here. C'mon ChiTown give me a good WX forecast. I'll be at the game today... Yeah... And a decent lineup to... While you are at it.

 

Bri, well, it's not very warm (imo) but if you are sitting in the sun, should be nice; don't forget the sunscreen! Decent lineup? Well, um ... enjoy the sun!

 

INDIANS:

SP, Bauer

 

Kipnis 2B

Ramirez SS

Brantley CF

Santana 1B

Chisenhall 3B

Swisher DH

Murphy RF

Perez C

Dickerson LF

 

TWINS:

SP, Swarzak

 

Fuld LF

Dozier 2B

Plouffe 3B

Morales DH

Colabello 1B

Arcia RF

Nunez SS

Fryer C

Santana CF

 

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

 

Things to think about:

 

1. Anthony Swarzak -- Maybe I've taken him for granted but I really haven't thought about Swarzak much. Typically when he's in the game... Something has gone wrong with a starter. So by the time Swarzak takes the mound I'm at the point where I'm just numb. Like novocaine directly into the brain. Brain novocaine time is usually when I say something stupid that causes my wife to not talk to me for a week and it's also causes over use of ellipses... So yeah... In case your wondering... The Twins starting pitching has caused most of the self inflicted problems in my life. Who were we talking about... I got off track... Oh yeah... That's right... Swarzak. Statistically he was pretty good last year and inconsistent this year. He draws the emergency start today after doctors told Kyle Gibson that he had a stiff back.

 

2. Trevor Bauer -- I used to read the articles on this kid... It was like a Three Dog Night song... Trevor's Coming... Better hide your heart. Just wait til Bauer hits the majors... He's going to dominate and not look back. He hit the majors but he did quite a bit of looking back and he still hasn't wrapped up that MLB job but he's getting closer. After some clunkers this year he has brought his ERA down to 3.89. Trevor is 23 years old and a California boy and from reports... Very cocky. I've read that he spends hours looking over video of his mechanics... He has a unique warm up routine where he long tosses from foul pole to foul pole. I've read that his stubbornness of doing things his way was a reason the D-Backs were willing to trade him. I don't know if its true but he's in the AL Central now and I'm betting that he puts it together. He was the third pick overall in the 2011 draft. It certainly didn't take that long for him to arrive.

 

3. Kyle Gibson - Kyle has an issue with his back so he won't be back on the mound. If you think back to his last start. The OF had their back to the wall on a few occasions. Where am I going with this? I have no idea... I'll have to get back to you but I hope you all back me by having my back.

 

4. Pick it up -- July is starting to feel like a grind. The Twins haven't been playing good exciting baseball lately. I hope they snap out of it because they didn't in 2013.

 

5. Gas station -- Yesterday morning I stopped at a Gas Station before driving to Eau Claire. Filled up my car... Got a coffee and stepped to the counter to pay for it. It was around 8AM... And the cashier handed me my receipt and said to me "Have a good night". It was a Minnesota Nice Pleasantry that I've heard a thousand times so I didn't think about it... I just returned a U2 at him and walked out the door. About half way to my car... It dawned on me. Good Night? It's 8AM... Have a good night? Well apparently he doesn't give a $&@& about the rest of my DAY. I'm clearly on my own this morning and afternoon and I have no well wishes stockpiled to get me through the day now. While driving I decided that I was going to start telling people to have a good next Thursday just to be different. So... Everyone reading this... Have a good next Thursday.

 

BTW... I did have a good night. Hung out with Stringer Bell and talked baseball while watching the Twins lose.

Edited July 23, 201412 yr by ChiTownTwinsFan

BTW... I did have a good night. Hung out with Stringer Bell and talked baseball while watching the Twins lose.

 

Yeah, that Stringer ... good guy ... watched a game with him at ST.

My guess is gas station guy was finishing up his shift and ready to go to bed.

Got a day off today and was thinking of enjoying some sunshine at the ballpark. Then I heard Swarzak was starting. Not sure I want to invest the $ in watching this one in person. It may not go in favor of the home team. Does that make me a bad fan, or just cheap?

Got a day off today and was thinking of enjoying some sunshine at the ballpark. Then I heard Swarzak was starting. Not sure I want to invest the $ in watching this one in person. It may not go in favor of the home team. Does that make me a bad fan, or just cheap?

A bad day at the ballpark is still better than most days anywhere else. I'd take a game in the sun over work 10 out of 10 times. Take advantage of it when you can.

Got a day off today and was thinking of enjoying some sunshine at the ballpark. Then I heard Swarzak was starting. Not sure I want to invest the $ in watching this one in person. It may not go in favor of the home team. Does that make me a bad fan, or just cheap?

 

I got tickets through work and don't have to be in the office today so I can't complain.....but I'm going to anyways.

 

Swarzak.......REALLY?

I actually had tickets for today's game, but I started a new job a few weeks ago and now I have no vacation time to use on awesome things like going to a baseball game in the middle of a work day.

Just having a flashback to a similar situation a couple of years ago. Marquis vs. Lowe. It was awful, Marquis was slow, wild and terrible and Lowe was mowing thru the Twins lineup like they were little league players. I figure I can enjoy the weather without blowing $50 plus on tickets, parking etc. Just too bad the product isn't just a bit better.

Last few games the stands have looked barren.

 

I think for most fans the media lipstick isn't working any more.

More room for me! I'm going tomorrow night and I was able to score some pretty nice seats well under face value. I spent many a summer day at the dome in the mid to late 90s these guys are better than those guys. Plus, the atmosphere is much better now.

 

As for today's game, I'm hoping Swarzak pitches better than his last start:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR201210020.shtml

5. Gas station -- Yesterday morning I stopped at a Gas Station before driving to Eau Claire. Filled up my car... Got a coffee and stepped to the counter to pay for it. It was around 8AM... And the cashier handed me my receipt and said to me "Have a good night". It was a Minnesota Nice Pleasantry that I've heard a thousand times so I didn't think about it... I just returned a U2 at him and walked out the door. About half way to my car... It dawned on me. Good Night? It's 8AM... Have a good night? Well apparently he doesn't give a $&@& about the rest of my DAY. I'm clearly on my own this morning and afternoon and I have no well wishes stockpiled to get me through the day now. While driving I decided that I was going to start telling people to have a good next Thursday just to be different. So... Everyone reading this... Have a good next Thursday.

 

BTW... I did have a good night. Hung out with Stringer Bell and talked baseball while watching the Twins lose.

 

This was a social experiment on his part to see if you were paying attention to him.

Sitting 3B line... the sun is shining on my cell phone screen so i cant read a word or what im posting... Go Twins and God Bite everythong

Sitting 3B line...

Awesome seat, but do you think they'll move you to foul ground before first pitch?

interesting to see that Fuld and Santana are flipped in the batting order.

Awesome seat, but do you think they'll move you to foul ground before first pitch?

 

Nope... the Twins are shifting now... i get to stay for lefthanders

Nope... the Twins are shifting now... i get to stay for lefthanders

 

Is Colabello's mom there?

You can't spell "efficiency" with Swarz-ie. Oh wait, I just did. Anyway, good start, keep it up!

Arcia is not hitting his way back to AAA.

This Trevor Bauer fellow doesn't seem to want to pitch to contact.

Sitting 3B line... the sun is shining on my cell phone screen so i cant read a word or what im posting... Go Twins and God Bite everythong

Autocorrect might make for some interesting posts. As four me, I half no excursion.

Nice framing Fryer.

I continue to not be concerned about Nunez defense.

Back to work. Hope the Twins rally for a half dozen, but I'll settle for getting the lead.

...Brian...Brian...Brian I can't find you in the gameday crowd can you wave?

I continue to not be concerned about Nunez defense.

 

no glove Nunez....that was a nice play

hey, alright, tie game.

hey, alright, tie game.

I can deal with a tie for now.

I can deal with a tie for now.

 

And remember: With a tie you can get into any restaurant.

And remember: With a tie you can get into any restaurant.

I tried this theory out once. Turns out you need a shirt, pants and shoes as well for this to be true.

Hello, I must be going. Back to work selling fine-quality clothing at ridiculously low prices. Amazed we stay in business. Go Twins!