Game-time forecast: Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Temperature around 80.

ANGELS:
SP, Santiago

Calhoun RF
Trout CF
Pujols DH
Hamilton LF
Kendrick 2B
Aybar SS
Freese 3B
Navarro 1B
Conger C

TWINS:
SP, Gibson

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

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

Okay, Brian ... I can feel you thinking all the way down in Florida. I know this will be good!

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

 

Well... Now I got ask the question... How do I feel?  

 

Things to Think About:
 

1. Pressed for time -- It's probably good news but I have to make this short and sweet because work demands isn't allowing a full thinking. I've save my deep thoughts about the Angels for Tomorrow. 

 

2. Light Thoughts about the Angels -- For Years we have been wondering when things would work out for the high spending Angels. They made big free agent splashes every year and failed to make the playoffs... They were poster boys for why free agency doesn't always work. Well... This year... It's seems to be working... They are currently in 1st place in the AL West... And if memory serves... I believe this is the first year in awhile when they didn't make a large Free Agent Splash. I'm not making a case for anything... I'm just saying to possible that the baseball gods don't like big money free agent pursuits and they were just waiting for the Angels to calm down.  

 

3.  Hector Santiago -- I'd actually like to do a whole thing on this guy but I don't have time. He's really working out for the Angels right now. Acquired in a trade with the White Sox... he started the season luke warm but has taken control of things of late. He has been lights out and may be one of the top pitchers in baseball right now. 

 

4. Kyle Gibson -- Our offense has been great lately... It's our pitching that is dragging us down... With that said... Kyle Gibson is not one of the pitchers dragging us down... He faces a tough Angel offense with a talented Santiago on the mound. Kyle will have to be solid. 

 

5. Wagging Tails -- I was watching a dog wag his tail and when a dog wags his tail it supposed to mean that he's happy. When a Cat wags his tail it means it is pissed off. When my wife wags her tail... I have no idea what it means anymore. 

What if they had a game thread and nobody came?  Gardy is giving Nuñez another game.  I think that is a good move.

High humidity tonight. Nice to be indoors. With my friend, Sam. Cousin of John.

Go here to follow the Cedar Rapids game

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_09_04_cedafx_burafx_1&t=g_box&sid=t492

I don't have a problem with giving Nunez another game, there are days he impresses me a little. He is better than I thought. But I would not have done it at the expense of Santanna at short. In the 3 games we have had expanded rosters he has 7 innings there. There is no need to "audition" him in center. He is what he is, a good athlete who might turn into an adequate center fielder. Maybe a little better if u let him there, but short of a disaster Buxton will take that over. When Gardy does things like this, I get perplexed!

Go here to follow the Cedar Rapids game

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_09_04_cedafx_burafx_1&t=g_box&sid=t492

In the other game, Miracle leads 2-0 after three.  I forget, do we get a front-row-seat analysis from ChiTown?

Reward Nunez for his good game yesterday.  Santana has not had a day off in a long time. Even young legs get tired.

Nice to be indoors. With my friend, Sam. Cousin of John.

They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky...

 

The pre-game thread starter was yet another example of why the mods are still an undervalued TD asset despite their six-figure salaries, lavish benefits, and favorable treatment from Target Field ushers.  Well done, again.

In the other game, Miracle leads 2-0 after three.  I forget, do we get a front-row-seat analysis from ChiTown?

No, unfortunately. And here's the link to that game: http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=t509

Reward Nunez for his good game yesterday.  Santana has not had a day off in a long time. Even young legs get tired.

Santana is in center though 

Hey, tuba ... are you a professional tubist?

Hey, tuba ... are you a professional tubist?

Headhunter...

Hey, tuba ... are you a professional tubist?

 

I hear he dabbled as a tubist in college, then became a Lutheran.

Oh, and in unrelated news, it's nil-nil heading into the bottom of 2.

Edited September 5, 201412 yr by Circus Boy

Hey, tuba ... are you a professional tubist?

Quixotic dancer.

I heard heard he floated down the Apple River 

I'm liking this running stuff

Um, I take that back ... Nunez needs lessons from Punto if he's going to try that stuff

Okay, let's walk in the first run.

Sigh. So close yet so far.

Gibson should do well in the 3rd. Still the first time through the batting order.

Already has gone longer than his last outing against the Angels.

Now we'll see if we have the Good Gibson or the Bad Gibson tonight.  4th inning, second time through the batting order.

Fort Myers winning 2-0 in the 6th

 

Cedar Rapids winning 1-0 in the 4th

September 1:  Roster expansion, losing team fan interest contraction.

 

We all get that the MLB draft is a crapshoot compared to the drafts of the other 'Big 4' sports, but seeing Trout and Hicks on the same field is still painful.

Edited September 5, 201412 yr by LaBombo

Miracle game now 3-1

I was a little confused about tonight's lineup, until Marnie had Gardy on to explain how the guys can really run around out there... In fact he is worried they will run into each other.

Come on, Gibson!

Ugh. Pull it together!

I was a little confused about tonight's lineup, until Marnie had Gardy on to explain how the guys can really run around out there... In fact he is worried they will run into each other.

Yeah.

 

Not trying to gin up controversy on what is turning out to be a slow night, but has anyone put together a really compelling case for Ron Gardenhire to continue to manage the Twins?