Tonight it's the Pirates live from Pittsburgh. Francisco Liriano will take the mound and he's been the real deal for the Pirates since landing in that uniform.

Kennys Vargas has been sent down so he won't get to enjoy the Primanti Sandwich but we really don't need a DH for this series since using a DH is against the rules in the National League.

I don't know who makes up these National League rules but it must be someone different than who makes up the rules in American League.

Here are some Things to Think About:

 

1. MLB Standings -- If this was 2012 or 2013 or 2014 or umm... 1981 or 1644 for that matter, it would be silly to be thinking about the MLB Standings. However, it's 2015 so let's think about it. The Twins are just 3 games out of the AL Central lead and if the season ended today… the Twins would be one of the Wild Card Teams. As long as this is a case... I think I should think about that each time. To make up for not being able to think about in 2013 and the year 1644. The current Twins magic number is 4327 or thereabouts.

2. Kennys Vargas -- Not only did they send him down... they sent down both of him. In case you missed my dry sense of humor... both of him is a reference to the plural-ness of the name Kennys. Now I've gone and ruined it by explaining it. Anyway... Because there are two of him... this move will open up two roster spots for the Twins to fill some holes. We've always wondered how Kennys got so large physically... it's because there are two of him and his hitting as been very Jekyll and Hyde so down they go. Eduardo Nunez has returned from the D.L. to take one spot. I guess we will have to wait and see who the Twins call up to replace the other Kenny. You know... the Kenny that Kenny Swallowed.

3. Francisco Liriano -- We get to face our old friend Francisco Liriano tonight. Honestly... I'm not the type to give up on players. I firmly believe that talented players can find the light switch. Although in Liriano's case... I had given up. He was so lost on the mound that I had no choice but to give up. When he was traded to the White Sox... it was like a weight off my shoulders. Fast forward to his time in Pittsburgh... He's been absolutely good... He's been the pitcher that we always hoped he could be. Did he just find the light switch when he landed in Pittsburgh or did someone grab him by the head and say..."Look... A Light Switch... Go Ahead and Flip it". I stay out of conversations about our coaching staff because I have no idea how they conduct their day to day business but perhaps the most damning evidence on Rick Anderson is Francisco Liriano and Vance Worley and how they are performing in Pittsburgh. That may not be fair because I'm not thinking about any success stories of Rick Anderson but I can't help but be not fair in these two cases. Hindsight doesn't require bi-focals.

4. Pittsburgh -- I've only driven through the area but I plan on stopping and staying in the Steel City on the 26th and 27th to get a full feel for the goings on. I look forward to going to PNC Park to watch the Pirates play the Marlins. The park sure looks beautiful on my 42 inch screen TV. The people of Pittsburgh have the ability to eat tupperware and this makes them a little bit different than the people from other cities. The Primanti Sandwich originates in Pittsburgh and the sandwich is built by taking the entire plate of food in a typical meal and pouring it between two slices of bread... meat, French Fries, Cole Slaw, Pudding, a glass of milk, a napkin and the actual dinner plate. Yeah... the Plate is the real crunchy part. The City of Pittsburgh passed a law that all sports teams must wear Black and Yellow. Wiz Khalifa (you know what it is) was part of the city council at the time. Pittsburgh has three rivers to choose from. There is the Ohio, the Allegheny and the Monongahela. If you have to choose a river... choose the Ohio because it's easier to spell.

5. Commitments -- My wife surprised me last night. In an out of the blue candid moment she told me that I was "All right." I was trying to watch Impractical Jokers on TV at the time so I really wasn't paying attention but my wife felt it was important to confirm her feelings for me. This feeling will last for at least a month so our long term future is in good shape. To be perfectly clear... there aren't any problems... my wife just felt like talking and I felt like pretending to listen to her. As the conversation continued. She said… "Our kids are doing well and we've done a nice job building our life and future and besides at our age we still need each other. There won't be as many people interested in us anymore." I told her that isn't necessarily true... "Surely there is an archaeologist looking for that special someone".

Lineups and Weather will be posted here... Actually... below Here. If they were posted exactly here... the words would get mixed up with what I'm typing in this spot and that would make it difficult for anyone to read. So to clarify... the Lineups and the Weather conditions will be posted below here. There might even be a blank line of space that separates this section from the beginning of the lineups and the weather. I won't be posting the lineups so I don't know that for sure. That will be an option that ChiTown has to consider before she places that information in.

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

Not only a space, but dashes, too. Today there are 20 dashes. Other days there are more or less than that. Onward ...

Game-time forecast: 68 deg, partly cloudy (sunset at 8:33pm), winds at 13mph from the NW. Temps will drop approx. 10 degrees during the course of the game. Not sure if that's usual or not. It dropped about 30 degrees here overnight.

Lineups:

TWINS
Santana SS
Dozier 2B
Mauer 1B
Plouffe 3B
Hunter RF
Suzuki C
Hicks CF
Robinson LF
Nolasco P

PIRATES
Polanco RF
Walker 2B
McCutchen CF
Marte LF
Kang SS
Alvarez 1B
Harrison 3B
Cervelli C
Liriano P

And let the games begin!

Click here to view the article

Francisco mem'ries

Misty watercolor ones

Wild or not wild? Yes.

Hey, Chief. Wrong country, but thought you might like this.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/92-year-old-female-world-war-ii-pilot-flies-article-1.2220910

I'd like to see MLB flip-flop the rules for interleague play.    In other words, I'd like to see American League rules in National League parks & vice versa.    Give the hometown fans an experience they haven't been privy to yet.

Didn't we get Esco in that trade to the ChiSox?

Hey, Chief. Wrong country, but thought you might like this.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/92-year-old-female-world-war-ii-pilot-flies-article-1.2220910

huh...that could be me in the bottom row, second from the right. Can't tell without my glasses.

 

The Primanti Sandwich originates in Pittsburgh and the sandwich is built by taking the entire plate of food in a typical meal and pouring it between two slices of bread... meat, French Fries, Cole Slaw, Pudding, a glass of milk, a napkin and the actual dinner plate.

Hey RB, when you are there can you mail me one. Those sandwiches look Dyn-O-Mite!!!

 

No need to overnight it, I can wait the 4-5 days. I'm on a tight budget.

My wife surprised me last night. In an out of the blue candid moment she told me that I was "All right."

 

Given your upcoming move, I'd say this is a really good thing.  "All right" will get you past a lot of stresses!

Nolasco is walking a tight rope,


if the Pirates rock him today.


MILLONE up, & Bye bye either Pelfrey or Nolasco.

Ricky needs to earn his way up here, by owning AAA battles at least somewhat like Millone has done.

Screw the $ 12  million per that you're paying Nolasco , its about what makes the Club a BETTER CLUB and that is


TOMMY MILLONE not Ricky Nolasco.

I'd screw $12 million a year given the opportunity.

why is it I have a feeling Liriano is going to have a nice night...

Nolasco's career hitting line in 25 plate appearances vs. the Bucs is .381/.409/.429 (.838). No wonder Vargas got sent down.

 

I picked a bad summer to get married.  If I weren't spending two weeks in Ireland immediately afterward, I would spend my vacation time knocking three stadiums off my bucket list in PNC Park, Busch Stadium and Great American Ballpark. 

 

Nolasco's career hitting line in 25 plate appearances vs. the Bucs is .381/.409/.429 (.838). No wonder Vargas got sent down.

 

 

I'd like to think TR, Paul Molitor and Jack Goin read my blog, even though it was all in good fun:

 

 

Jack Goin-   "And may I suggest, great timing on this move, this morning, Sir...!   SugaShane is a lifetime .323 BA/.758 OPS hitter in PNC Park!   Of course, he's only hit .206/.570 as a PH, so it's sure a good thing that we can use Vargas in that role when he can't DH, having that power bat on the bench increases our chances of winning a close game by nearly 11%---"

 

 

Shane Robinson, lifetime in PNC is .323 BA .758 OPS 144 OPS+

He's worked 2 BB in 6 PAs vs. Liriano, seting Nolasco up for the big bop to follow.

(And with Escobar and Rosario ready to PH for them).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that is Perfection with a capitol

http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/54/71/full/2ip8r9d63fggwhza63j7rqygv.gif

 

Let's just hope this doesn't jinx us.

 

I picked a bad summer to get married.  If I weren't spending two weeks in Ireland immediately afterward, I would spend my vacation time knocking three stadiums off my bucket list in PNC Park, Busch Stadium and Great American Ballpark. 

 

I am not sure it is a wise choice to have a Game of Thrones avatar when you are planning a wedding (but congratulations).

Edited May 19, 201511 yr by D. Hocking

Liriano and Marquis are the only two pitchers from the 2012 rotation still starting in the Majors, that's kinda depressing, no? I know hindsight is 20/20, and I also know Liriano was a tire fire the year he was traded, but it still baffles me that they traded pretty much the only legitimate pitcher they had that year, and definitely the only one who had legitimate major league stuff. Frankie would look pretty good in this rotation right about now.

 

Oh well, they got a SS who plays LF and can hit a bit out of the deal, all was not lost.......

 

 

I officially resign my post as the unofficial picture poster (a title I just made up 2 seconds ago). River Brian is all yours!

 

I can already feel my blood pressure lowering.

 

I'd screw $12 million a year given the opportunity.

If I got my hands on that money, I'd still use it. It would not gross me out.

 

I officially resign my post as the unofficial picture poster (a title I just made up 2 seconds ago). River Brian is all yours!

 

I can already feel my blood pressure lowering.

 

Well, you just made mine rise so I'll decline your kind invitation.  I'd miss your graphics.  Plus you are MUCH faster than me!!!

 

(Since my BP was 102 over 74 this morning at the doc's office, I guess I'm not in much danger if my blood pressure rises but i'll still try to keep my life peaceful except when I'm inspired!)

Edited May 19, 201511 yr by JB_Iowa

 

Well, you just made mine rise so I'll decline your kind invitation.  I'd miss your graphics.  Plus you are MUCH faster than me!!!

 

(Since my BP was 102 over 74 this morning at the doc's office, I guess I'm not in much danger if my blood pressure rises but i'll still try to keep my life peaceful except when I'm inspired!)

You're not gettin' away that easy... Tag, Your It!!!

 

I officially resign my post as the unofficial picture poster (a title I just made up 2 seconds ago). River Brian is all yours!

 

I can already feel my blood pressure lowering.

It's the ideas that JB has that are so much better than Brian's (sorry - no offense, but it's my duty to stand by my fellow women). Keep your position.

 

I attempted to compile my interpretation of a gorilla throwing a baked potato at Dan Gladden.

 

 

And decided that in the future I'm going to stick with the more primitive art form of pencil and paper.

Dozier 1, Pirates coming to bat.

 

Middle of 1st

 

CBU

 

It's the ideas that JB has that are so much better than Brian's (sorry - no offense, but it's my duty to stand by my fellow women). Keep your position.

 

I attempted to compile my interpretation of a gorilla throwing a baked potato at Dan Gladden.

 

dannygorilla.png

 

And decided that in the future I'm going to stick with the more primitive art form of pencil and paper.

You scribbled in that grass in the foreground. Impressive. It had my eyes tricked for a moment.

Now if Nolasco could just keep up this pace!!!

Watching the Pirates broadcast and Robbie Ismakoski? (Im polish but not that polish) just randomly popped up.

CBU:  Twins 1, Pirates 0 at the end of 1

Nolasco needs only 10 pitches to  retire the side.

 

 

And Suz starts the 2nd with a single to right

So, I just read this thread.....the game HAS started or are we waiting?????

 

I picked a bad summer to get married.  If I weren't spending two weeks in Ireland immediately afterward, I would spend my vacation time knocking three stadiums off my bucket list in PNC Park, Busch Stadium and Great American Ballpark. 

 

It's your own fault... getting Married