June 15, 201511 yr It feels kinda good to go on a big losing streak and remain in contention. Losing streaks happen and so do winning streaks. If the Twins can just keep hanging on... Another winning streak would do wonders for our chances. However... Here come the Cardinals and they are pretty cool customers. Here are some things to think about:1. The Cardinals -- There's a lot to think about here. C'mon these are the Cardinals... Just think about what they have accomplished. They are senior leaders of the Catholic Church. Those Cardinals are behind the all that latin and confession and all those things you have to recite. Being a senior leader is incredible when you consider that they are birds and a California grown grape. They also play football and they have the best record in all of baseball. The Twins will have hands fully full. 2. Michael Wacha -- He's just 23 years old and he has been pretty dang good. Pretty dang dominant actually and the future looks bright. Michael was born in Iowa City, Iowa and he was lucky enough to escape. He moved to Texarkana, Texas when he was 3 years old. Texarkana was named that because no one really knows where it’s located. Texas... Arkansas... Louisiana... It just doesn't matter when you drink that heavily. I've been to Texarkana and I ran back to Iowa right away. 3. Snapping a losing streak -- The Twins were so good that they could reel off 5 straight losses and still remain in contention for the AL Central title or a wild card spot. I still feel good that they were able to halt the streak yesterday with a win over Texas. Because facing Wacha after losing 6 in a row would have sucked. And now the pitchers get to bat... I'm not sure what to expect from Trevor May swinging the lumber. 4. Byron Buxton -- He's here... I don't know for how long but he's here. We've been watching Joc Pederson and Kris Bryant and Addison Russell and Carlos Correa and thinking... Hey... I'd like one of those. Well Byron Buxton is supposed to be our one of those. He's fast... I could see that... He should play a decent CF... Now it's a question of how much will he produce at the plate. He'll have a little time to work on that in the 9 hole. Welcome to the Big Leagues... Byron Buxton. 5. Photographs -- There were a few picture of me taken during my two week road trip. I'm gonna have to lose some weight. Those photos of me are still printing. --------------------Game-time forecast: 80 deg F (but will probably feel like 90), high humidity, overcast, 90-100% chance of rain/thunderstorms. In other words, stay tuned for further announcements of a possible postponement. And if it's anything like Chicago at 5:02pm, the sirens are blaring now all over. Lineups: TWINSDozier 2BRosario LFMauer 1BPlouffe 3BHunter RFSuzuki CEscobar SSMay PBuxton CF CARDINALSWong 2BCarpenter 3BPeralta SSReynolds 1BMolina CHeyward RFGrichuk LFJay CFLackey P Click here to view the article
June 15, 201511 yr It's great to have you back, Brian. I wish that the Twins could hit as well as you can write.
June 15, 201511 yr I just can't help but admire that whole Cardinals thing. Maybe because they are birds. Topping them won't be easy.
June 15, 201511 yr Whatever the opposite of Smoke and Mirrors is - that's the formula the Cardinals have used to somehow have winning teams year in and year out. They've got pitching and defense, they don't really have a replacement in the batting order for Pujols, but that hasn't really slowed them down much. One weakness seems to be that they strike out a lot. Almost everyone in their lineup strikes out twice as often as they take a walk. (let's ignore for the moment that the Twins are even more strikeout prone...)
June 15, 201511 yr Is this game even gonna happen?It doesn't look good weather-wise but I haven't seen anything online yet about a postponement.
June 15, 201511 yr Interesting lineup announced; May batting 8th ahead of Buxton. that strategy results in a TINY advantage, actually. Just wish Buxton was hitting 1.....then Mauer, then ?, then Dozier....
June 15, 201511 yr Interesting lineup announced; May batting 8th ahead of Buxton. And why not? The smartest minds in the game have looked at the data and employed it successfully. Maddon, now with the Cubs, and before him LaRussa. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/tony-la-russa-and-the-logic-behind-the-lineup/
June 15, 201511 yr Happy Birthday shout outs to Trevor Plouffe and Ice Cube! On this day 40 years ago, The person you know as Bark's Lounge was also born. Bark has mixed feelings about this milestone. Melancholy is probably the word I'd choose. If the Twins get this game in today, they better damn well win and Plouffe better hit 3 home runs and I can assure everyone that I will then celebrate by listening to the song "Straight Outta Compton" and drinking a 40oz. of Eightball. Burn Em' Down!!!
June 15, 201511 yr Interesting lineup announced; May batting 8th ahead of Buxton.Who wants May bunting when Buxton could steal easily off of Molina?
June 15, 201511 yr Happy Birthday shout outs to Trevor Plouffe and Ice Cube! ... Happy birthday to ye! (and a very merry unbirthday to the rest, ala Lewis Carroll...)
June 15, 201511 yr Looks like Lackey tonight and Wacha tomorrow. Does that mean whoever's doing tomorrow's game thread intro can cut and paste thought 2? Or should they counterbalance it by thinking of how Lackey did today?
June 15, 201511 yr Does that mean whoever's doing tomorrow's game thread intro can cut and paste thought 2? Or should they counterbalance it by thinking of how Lackey did today?They could if they wanted. Up to whoever is on game thread duty tomorrow.
June 15, 201511 yr Turning 40 is MUCH better than the alternative of stopping to age.......Well, geez. You didn't have to yell at me.
June 15, 201511 yr Happy Birthday shout outs to Trevor Plouffe and Ice Cube! On this day 40 years ago, The person you know as Bark's Lounge was also born. Bark has mixed feelings about this milestone. Melancholy is probably the word I'd choose. If the Twins get this game in today, they better damn well win and Plouffe better hit 3 home runs and I can assure everyone that I will then celebrate by listening to the song "Straight Outta Compton" and drinking a 40oz. of Eightball. Burn Em' Down!!!BD.jpgHappy bday, Bark. May you have many more years of entertaining us with amazing photoshop work.
June 15, 201511 yr Well, geez. You didn't have to yell at me. Another one young enough to be my kid...
June 15, 201511 yr Who wants May bunting when Buxton could steal easily off of Molina?Hope the rain holds off. I'm thinking we might see that first hit tonight.
June 15, 201511 yr that strategy results in a TINY advantage, actually. Just wish Buxton was hitting 1.....then Mauer, then ?, then Dozier....And I'd think that tiny advantage assumes the pitcher can execute a sacrifice. I suppose May bunted in the Phillies organization once or twice.
June 15, 201511 yr Another one young enough to be my kid...The funny thing is my mom is a few months older than you and my dad a few months younger.
June 15, 201511 yr Well, geez. You didn't have to yell at me. You're old, wasn't sure you'd hear me otherwise btw, if you are old, I don't want to think about what I am....
June 15, 201511 yr And I'd think that tiny advantage assumes the pitcher can execute a sacrifice. I suppose May bunted in the Phillies organization once or twice. Actually, I think it is about putting an actual hitter in front of your 1-3 hitters, and acknowledging your 5-7 aren't no base much......not about the pitcher at all.
June 15, 201511 yr Actually, I think it is about putting an actual hitter in front of your 1-3 hitters, and acknowledging your 5-7 aren't no base much......not about the pitcher at all.Interesting! Anything that gets more than one run out of three triples will make my day.
June 15, 201511 yr You're old, wasn't sure you'd hear me otherwise btw, if you are old, I don't want to think about what I am....LMAO!
June 15, 201511 yr Happy Birthday, Bark! 40 is nothing! And I bring you birthday greetings amidst tornado sirens pealing … not sure exactly where a tornado is spotted … phone says 'in your area' … but that could mean somewhere in the burbs, which is where whatever is going likely is. In any case, I'm watching out the window and not hiding in my bathtub, or an inner hallway.
June 15, 201511 yr You're old, wasn't sure you'd hear me otherwise btw, if you are old, I don't want to think about what I am....yeah, you're probably 41 …
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