Game-time forecast: Houston Hot and Humid.

 

Today It's an early game and that means Breakfast with the Twins for those who live in Bora Bora. ChiTown will post the lineups for you shortly. 

 

Chi here.  Almost forgot about the game, and the lineups.  Got distracted with sparkly new things elsewhere for a minute, but here we go ... 

 

TWINS:

SP, Gibson

 

Santana CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Vargas DH

Plouffe 3B

Nunez LF

Arcia RF

Fryer C

Escobar SS

 

ASTROS:

SP, Oberholtzen

 

Grossman LF

Altuve 2B

Carter DH

Fowler CF

Singleton 1B

Corporan C

Dominguez 3B

Marisnick RF

Gonzalez SS

 

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

Things to Think About: 

 

1. Chris Carter -- He's a right handed version of Adam Dunn but he costs a lot less money. He's on a roll right now with 3 home runs in the past two games. When someone does that against you... You tend to sit up and take notice. His career has been pretty consistent... Low batting average with a bunch of bombs. He's 27 years old and he played High School ball in Las Vegas. He was 15th Round selection by the White Sox in 2005 and since being drafted he has been a professional trade chip. Traded to the Diamondbacks for Carlos Quintin... Traded to the A's for Dan Haren... Traded to the Astros for Jed Lowrie. His BA is .230 and he now has 28 homers which is just 3 off the pace for the best in MLB. If this guy ever figures out how to raise his Batting Average. Look Out!!!

 

2. Brett Oberholtzer -- Today the Twins face 25 year old lefthander Brett Oberholtzer... The Delaware Destroyer. I don't know if he has that nickname but I just gave it to him so let's see if it sticks. Brett was born in Christiana Delaware. Which is in the part of Deleware that is just an extension of Philadelphia. The other parts of Delaware have a total population of 16 and it would be amazing if any of them made it to the majors. After being named to the all Deleware team in 2006 he went to Junior College and was drafted by the Braves in 8th round of 2008 draft. He became an Astro when the Braves put him in a package of players to acquire Michael Bourn... Jordan Schaefer was also part of that package. Brett has thrown 169 innings and carries a respectable 3.51 lifetime MLB ERA. I haven't seen him pitch yet so I don't know what he throws but I imagine that he throws a baseball.

 

3. The Twins Rotation -- I wonder... What's up? What's Next? I think we can assume that Gibson, Hughes, Milone are going to be in the rotation. I think we can assume that Nolasco is coming to take a spot. Now comes the question? WIth Pino getting roughed up and Trevor May pitching 2 innings in relief yesterday... Who pitches in this rotation spot when it comes around again? I didn't get to see May pitch yesterday because I was playing softball but looking at the Box Score... He was obviously better but he still had a couple of walks and the Astros crossed the plate on him. When this spot comes around... Who will be holding the ball.

 

4. My Softball experience -- I was 1 for 6 at the plate. In my defense... I'm old and I haven't played a game of softball in 5 plus years. Been taking the easy way out and coaching baseball instead. 1st AB -- I Fouled Out. A foul ball on the third strike is recorded as a K. That's what I did but I didn't whiff so I refuse to call it a K. 2nd AB -- F8... Routine Fly Ball to CF but it did feel better then the 1st AB. 3rd AB -- F6... Popped up to the Short Stop... The Entire infield was standing under the ball. 4th AB -- F6... Yep I did it again. 5th AB -- Double... I used to be an offensive threat many years ago and I thought I could just pick up where I left off. Turns out adjustments were needed. I made an adjustment and ripped a smash down the 3rd baseline for a double. 6th AB -- F7... It was caught at the Fence. I have no idea why the LF was so deep after my first 4 at bats. Anyway... after the adjustments... I was back and stroking the ball almost like the old days. I felt like turning to my son and saying... How bout' the old man? I couldn't do that because my son hit 4 homers and two triples in his 6 at bats. My fly ball out to the warning track wasn't enough to strut in comparison. In the Field... In the 1st game... I took a ground ball off my shin at 1B and my shin is purple today. In the 2nd game at SS... I threw a ball into RF when nobody covered 2nd base. In my other defensive opportunity... I managed a clean 6-3 put out. So I was 1 for 3 in the field. I think I can retire now.  

 

5. Diets -- I started a diet on Monday and Monday was very difficult. I found the 2nd day to be much easier because the 2nd day... I said enough of this.            

My guess is that May will take the spot in the rotation from Pino, and that Pino will be optioned to make roster space for Nolasco.

 

But who knows? TR might find takers for the remaining veterans on the team (Burton, for instance) and open another spot via trade.

They are committed to giving May at least a couple more starts.  He'll start Monday's wraparound game.  The rotation is Gibson, Nolasco, Hughes, May, Milone. 

Ugh. Right when they finally take Schafer out of the lineup, they have to put Nunez in LF... I think I'd rather see Parmelee out there..

Ugh. Right when they finally take Schafer out of the lineup, they have to put Nunez in LF... I think I'd rather see Parmelee out there..

 

Pitcher is a lefty.

 

4. My Softball experience -- I was 1 for 6 at the plate. In my defense... I'm old and I haven't played a game of softball in 5 plus years. Been taking the easy way out and coaching baseball instead. 1st AB -- I Fouled Out. A foul ball on the third strike is recorded as a K. That's what I did but I didn't whiff so I refuse to call it a K. 2nd AB -- F8... Routine Fly Ball to CF but it did feel better then the 1st AB. 3rd AB -- F6... Popped up to the Short Stop... The Entire infield was standing under the ball. 4th AB -- F6... Yep I did it again. 5th AB -- Double... I used to be an offensive threat many years ago and I thought I could just pick up where I left off. Turns out adjustments were needed. I made an adjustment and ripped a smash down the 3rd baseline for a double. 6th AB -- F7... It was caught at the Fence. I have no idea why the LF was so deep after my first 4 at bats. Anyway... after the adjustments... I was back and stroking the ball almost like the old days. I felt like turning to my son and saying... How bout' the old man? I couldn't do that because my son hit 4 homers and two triples in his 6 at bats. My fly ball out to the warning track wasn't enough to strut in comparison. In the Field... In the 1st game... I took a ground ball off my shin at 1B and my shin is purple today. In the 2nd game at SS... I threw a ball into RF when nobody covered 2nd base. In my other defensive opportunity... I managed a clean 6-3 put out. So I was 1 for 3 in the field. I think I can retire now.  

           

 

Did they invite you back?

4. My Softball experience -- I was 1 for 6 at the plate. In my defense... I'm old and I haven't played a game of softball in 5 plus years. Been taking the easy way out and coaching baseball instead. 1st AB -- I Fouled Out. A foul ball on the third strike is recorded as a K. That's what I did but I didn't whiff so I refuse to call it a K. 2nd AB -- F8... Routine Fly Ball to CF but it did feel better then the 1st AB. 3rd AB -- F6... Popped up to the Short Stop... The Entire infield was standing under the ball. 4th AB -- F6... Yep I did it again. 5th AB -- Double... I used to be an offensive threat many years ago and I thought I could just pick up where I left off. Turns out adjustments were needed. I made an adjustment and ripped a smash down the 3rd baseline for a double. 6th AB -- F7... It was caught at the Fence. I have no idea why the LF was so deep after my first 4 at bats. Anyway... after the adjustments... I was back and stroking the ball almost like the old days. I felt like turning to my son and saying... How bout' the old man? I couldn't do that because my son hit 4 homers and two triples in his 6 at bats. My fly ball out to the warning track wasn't enough to strut in comparison. In the Field... In the 1st game... I took a ground ball off my shin at 1B and my shin is purple today. In the 2nd game at SS... I threw a ball into RF when nobody covered 2nd base. In my other defensive opportunity... I managed a clean 6-3 put out. So I was 1 for 3 in the field. I think I can retire now.  

 

 

I once took a drive in the thigh off a guy wearing a tshirt that said 'Killer' on the front.  Ouch.  That shouldn't have happened, but it did.  Worst bruise I have ever had.  Even my sister, who is a doctor, was impressed.

Mauer adds on to his hitting streak . . .

Lets hope Arcia has another game like last night.  

Apparently it is National Left Handers Day.  Finally a little recognition for being awesome.

 

 

4. My Softball experience -- .. It was caught at the Fence. I have no idea why the LF was so deep

    

Were you playing at Target Field?  I bet you would have been out at the Dome and most other ballparks.

 

Not too bad for someone who did not even do a rehab assignment.  Imagine how dialed-in you would have been to go to your league's equivalent of Cedar Rapids for a few games first.  Plus, you would have given the fans down there a big thrill.

Can anyone give an update to that challenge?  Was he out, or did the NY Video umps give us a make up call for screwing up last night's call?

I thought that "tie goes to the runner".. ???

 

I think the NY Umps are trying to uphold the call on the field as much as possible, to avoid embarrassment.

 

Let technology call balls and strikes!

I thought that "tie goes to the runner".. ???

 

I think the NY Umps are trying to uphold the call on the field as much as possible, to avoid embarrassment.

 

Let technology call balls and strikes!

I think they need to have a dedicated set of umpires to work the review booth rather than rotating them in.  Maybe they won't worry about upholding the calls as much and worry about getting the call right.

I'm just listening on the radio today, but they announcers were pretty amazed Nunez didn't catch that pop-up.

That is 2 mistakes by Nunez today in LF.  Nunez is NOT a big league caliber outfielder.

Good for Gibson to pitch past them.  Mistakes = extra pitches Gibson must throw = less innings pitched.

I don't care if Schafer is 0-400 against lefties. If the options are him or Nunez in LF, I'll go with Schafer.

Another double for Escobar.  I am beginning to really like him at SS.

Eduar(double) Escobar !

Eduar(double) Escobar !

Plouffe better catch up now.

Joe doesn't hit enough homeruns. 

 

(sarcasm)

 

Good Job, Joe.

Edited August 13, 201412 yr by James

Well. Welcome back Joe Mauer.

When did Joe learn to hit home runs?

 

39

Mauer made me a happy man.  That was a no-doubter :)

HOME RUN, MAUER!

 

BE STILL MY HEART!

Did he just pull that? Was he supposed to do that?

Danny Santana: 2 outfield assists in 2 days!

A surprising catch by Nunez and a good play at 2nd by Escobar. The Twins might win this one

We've gone through the lineup 3 times. We should hit this guy, this inning!