Game-time forecast: Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Temperature around 80.

TWINS:
SP, Hughes

Santana CF
Dozier 2B
Mauer 1B
Vargas DH
Arcia RF
Plouffe 3B
Suzuki C
Escobar SS
Schafer LF

ROYALS:
SP, Hendriks

Aoki RF
Escobar SS
Gordon LF
Butler 1B
Perez C
Ibanez DH
Moustakas 3B
Colon 2B
Dyson CF

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

It's kinda quiet in here... I suppose I should just dive in and make some noise. 

 

Things to Thinks About:

 

1. Quick and Easy -- It felt a little shocking the way last night's game ended. We had a 1-0 lead in the 9th and Perkins on the mound... That's supposed to be a done deal. With one swing of the bat... Alex Gordon hit a 2 run homer and the Royals walked off with a win. There were no more pitches to be thrown. Like snapping your fingers... it was done... just like that. It didn't feel good but oddly I felt Ok... We got a decent pitching performance from someone who had not been pitching decently. The Royals are closer to knocking off the Tigers... It's gonna be alright. 

 

2. Ricky Nolasco -- I missed the first half of the game and was surprised to see the score Nil-Nil with Nolasco on the mound. He Lowered his ERA from 5.96 to 5.62. He's got some lowering to go but it was heartening to see him produce in one game at least. This way we know that he can actually do it. Now he just has to keep doing it for awhile and get that ERA down to 5.14 or something.

 

3. Liam Hendriks -- OK... We've seen this guy before. Here's the recent timeline. In December he was DFA'd by the Twins and the Blue Jays claimed him. He made a couple of MLB Spot Starts for the Jays this year... Some successful and one that was a complete disaster... All in all... He has had a decent year in AAA in Buffalo. The Jays traded him to the Royals in July for Danny Valencia and that's another guy that we have seen before. You know the Twins have hit the big time when ex-players are being traded for ex-players. Liam is only 25 years old and he's from Perth Australia. Perth is on the extreme Western side of Australia while all the action happens on the Eastern Side. To get to Perth from Sydney or Melbourne... You have to strap Roo Bars on your car just so you can collide with the 20 or so Kangaroos out of the millions that will be littering the highways on the 12 day trip across the entire large island. I suppose that Liam is looking forward to facing the Twins tonight... perhaps with a chip on his shoulder. At least I think that's a chip on his shoulder... It could be a Tasmanian Devil.

 

4. 1 Run -- You'd think I'd be thinking about the 1 run scored by the Twins last night but I'm not thinking about that when I think of 1 run. I'm thinking about Phil Hughes. Phil has allowed 1 run in each of his last 4 starts. I'd be Ok with him making it 5. 30 K's over that time... His ERA sits at 3.65... For the Twins... That's our Ace. 

 

5. Pancreas -- Today at work... someone was lifting a table and swung himself into the door frame and he said "Uff... My Pancreas" and then he moved on with the table. That got me thinking... You never hear the word Pancreas in a positive tone. 

After so many years, it feels good to keep sending out the same lineup night after night, and it's not a bad one. There is hope.

Hopefully they have a good scouting report on this Hendriks kid.

Hopefully this Hendricks kid pitches like he used to in the majors.

"At least I think it's a chip on his shoulder...it could be a Tasmanian devil."

 

It could be kangaroo doo, too.

Liam Hendriks' start tonight = Crocodile Dundee 3 (That movie really did happen).

5. Pancreas -- Today at work... someone was lifting a table and swung himself into the door frame and he said "Uff... My Pancreas" and then he moved on with the table. That got me thinking... You never hear the word Pancreas in a positive tone.

 

He just said 'Uff'? Not Uff da?

I can't wait for dinner tonight- braised pancreas with sauteed mushrooms.  Mmmmm, that's good pancreas!

Liam Hendriks' start tonight = Crocodile Dundee 3 (That movie really did happen).

That makes sense, there was so much left unexplored in the first two movies and I am guessing the third movie focused on the strengths of the first two and built on that.  If my memory is correct, most 1980 movie franchisees that had a 3 at the end were top notch and fresh (and often in a primitive 3-D technology).  Hopefully Liam's pitching will have a similar quality as this movie.

I can't wait for dinner tonight- braised pancreas with sauteed mushrooms.  Mmmmm, that's good pancreas!

 

Isn't it better panfried? 

Lost a tough one last night.  Go get 'em tonight!  I'm not that broken up over the loss last night.  To contrast it with another loss, I "boycotted" Twins baseball for two days after they blew the 5-0 to Cleveland.  Last night was a sharply played game by both teams, with lots of good pitching.  Contenders find a way to win those games, while non-contenders find a way to lose.  Perkins is a good closer and he'll save the Twins next close win, I'll wager, but he got bit last night. 

 

The next two games should be better for the Twins offense.  The KC bully is tough, so they had better rough up the starters.

Liam Hendriks' start tonight = Crocodile Dundee 3 (That movie really did happen).

Crocodile Dundee 4; Crocnado.

 

3. Liam Hendriks -- OK... You have to strap Roo Bars on your car just so you can collide with the 20 or so Kangaroos out of the millions that will be littering the highways on the 12 day trip across the entire large island.

 

Are roo bars a real thing?  Can we get some rally roo bars in honor of Liam?

 

I hope Mr. Hendriks pitches well.  Though i think i also hope we hit him better...

Perk's Pizza Party!

 

Ok, if I actually had those kinds of discretionary funds, I'd bid on lunch with Sir Rodney and Tony O.

I wish it would rain here.

 

Still in the low 70's but all of a sudden about 5:30, it just got oppressive.  Humidity must be about as high as can get without actually raining.

 

Ick.

Perk's Pizza Party!

 

Ok, if I actually had those kinds of discretionary funds, I'd bid on lunch with Sir Rodney and Tony O.

 

They have fun things to auction.

 

We're doing a benefit auction for our town swimming pool in a couple of weeks.  Somehow loads of gravel or bags of seed corn don't seem nearly as exciting as lunch with Sir Rodney and Tony O!!

Edited August 28, 201412 yr by JB_Iowa

OK the loss last night tied us for the 5th pick right now. With a few extra wins we can drop to 8 or 9th. With  a few less wins we have a chance to jump as high as 3rd.

 

Does winning extra games mean enough to possibly drop out of the best prospects?

They have fun things to auction.

 

We're doing a benefit auction for our town swimming pool in a couple of weeks.  Somehow loads of gravel or bags of seed corn don't seem nearly as exciting as lunch with Sir Rodney and Tony O!!

I have use for a load of gravel. Can't afford that either.

"Base hit", where's Chief?

I have use for a load of gravel. Can't afford that either.

 

You'd be better off just buying it.  Stuff at our benefit auctions always goes above market price.

What about the pancreas on a stick that we had at the state fair last week?  I thought that it was pretty good.

Good, quick first inning.

What about the pancreas on a stick that we had at the state fair last week?  I thought that it was pretty good.

 

Did you see the twitter feed from the woman eating all the fair food on a stick?

 

100 items I think.

 

Salad on a stick is just a little too odd for me.

Pretty sure vandalism is not a great way to get into college. #knowhowNOTtogo

What's the bid for drinks with Marney?

I'm going to catch on with someone else, and every time I pitch against you I'm going to shove it, up, your... Hendricks?

Edited August 28, 201412 yr by alskntwnsfn

Ibanez is my pick to click.

What's the bid for drinks with Marney?

At minimum a babysitter, I'd guess.

Edited August 28, 201412 yr by CRArko

Liam... six up - six down. How much more can us Twins Fans take. It is so unfair.

Whoa, what's with the purple guy behind home plate