Article: Game Thread: Twins v White Sox, 6/22 @ 7:00pm CT

[Riverbrian]

It was the Southern Illinois Cardinals and then the Illinois Cubs and now the Illinois White Sox.

 

After the White Sox we will be taking on the Fighting Illini.

 

Illinois has been invading Minnesota in waves.

 

Build a bunker... Man your position and let's get back to winning ways.

 

Let's start tonight!!!

 

Here are some things to think about:1. Illinois -- After this series with the White Sox... we have the entire state of Illinois covered. Down in the Southern part of the state... they are Cardinal Fans. The rest of the state are either Cubs or White Sox fans and all 3 teams have been to Target Field in a week's time. Illinois is a fine state... It's so great that you have to pay tolls just to drive around in it. You realize that Illinois is a great state after you cross over into Indiana. Once you see all the dead deer from last fall and garbage along the Indiana highway... you think to yourself that Illinois is pretty good. It's not Minnesota but then again... what is?

 

2. The Bullpen -- Let's be honest... Since the team broke camp... most of us haven't been fans of the bullpen that was assembled. However, it's been OK. Perkins hasn't blown a save yet; Boyer has been decent; Fein has come back strong. But we still have question marks. High praise to Paul Molitor for his use of the bullpen because despite inflated numbers from everyone that isn't Perkins, Fein or Boyer... the team has managed to win more than they have lost. After watching the Cubs jump on our bullpen yesterday... here comes that nagging feeling again. If the Twins are in contention, and it looks like they could be, firming up the pen will be important.

 

3. Other needs -- I also believe the Twins need a big bopper... You know... a guy who is what Vargas is supposed to be or Sano is supposed to become. We could use a guy who can yard at any time... umm... 30 to 40 times a year. That guy who hits the ball so far that women faint at the sight of it. (I'm not sure why I used women in that example... it isn't fair to women that I portray them as more faintable). The obvious position for this big bopper is... DH... because I kinda like what Rosario is doing right now. He seems to be making a home for himself; unless you consider 1st Base and that's kinda hard to do with Joe Mauer sitting in that spot.

 

4. Joe Mauer -- So Yeah... Joe Mauer... sitting in that spot. We all knew that Mauer at 1B wasn't going to be comparable to other 1B around the league. 1B is a power position and Joe isn't that guy. All in all it's OK because Brian Dozier makes up for it with his ability to hit dingers out of a non-traditional power spot. However... I'm going to say it... this team needs a power hitter; and if Vargas isn't going to do it then you have to look at Joe and I'm going to say this... If Joe isn't going to produce power at 1B... then he better start hitting plus .300. Neither thing is happening and this is costing the Twins runs in the end and if the bullpen can't keep the game close after the starters keep the game close... I'm going to blame Joe. We need more out of him.

 

5. Rabbits for Sale -- I was walking through the Mall this weekend and I stopped by the Pet Store just to look... I have no plans on getting a pet but I stopped by just to look. A little girl nearby... maybe 5 or 7 years old asked if they had any rabbits and the salesman bent down and in a soft voice said "Sure we do... What Color would you like? We got them in all kinds of colors"

 

The Little Girl answered back... "I don't think my snake cares".

 

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Game-time forecast: 78 deg F, clear (after a day of rain and clouds), 0% chance of precipitation (it will all be gone by then), winds from the NW at 17mph.

 

Lineups:

 

PALE HOSE

Eaton CF

Garcia RF

Abreu 1B

Cabrera LF

LaRoche DH

Ramirez SS

Beckham 3B

Soto C

Sanchez 2B

 

Danks P

 

TWINS

Buxton CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Hunter RF

Plouffe 3B

Rosario LF

Suzuki C

Vargas DH

Nunez SS

 

Milone P

 

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[big dog]

Vargas since his return- .167 BA, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI (36 at-bats).  13 K's, 0 BB's.  If we are giving up on the year, let him work through it and hope he develops.  If we aren't, we need to fix that spot.  Right now he's the Designated Out, unless it's the ninth inning against St. Louis.

 

I promise to still wear my Mauer jersey if Joe sits for a while, though I don't know what sitting him accomplishes at this point.

 

 

[stringer bell]

Good points RB. I am still of the opinion that to improve their LH bullpen problems they will need to go outside the organization.

[JB_Iowa]

The Little Girl answered back... "I don't think my snake cares".

 

I had a hard time "liking" that.

[DaveW]

I might lose it if Nunez or Escobar is at DH with freaking Vargas on the bench.

[big dog]

I'm close to losing it watching Vargas strike out with men on base by taking a strike, or flailing at a pitch in the dirt.  There are no good options for DH on the roster right now.

[DaveW]

 

I'm close to losing it watching Vargas strike out with men on base by taking a strike, or flailing at a pitch in the dirt.  There are no good options for DH on the roster right now.

I would rather seem him learn and flail away then watch a couple of guys who aren't anything more then UTIL INF on a good team take his DH at bats.

[DaveW]

The good news tonight is that the Twins typically OWN Danks, so I am guessing a 12-2 win by the Twins or a 2-1 loss.

[Mike Sixel]

Loved the snake part.

 

Trying hard to refrain from commenting on the Mauer part......

[John Kelsey]

It will be nice to see Byron get a look at a below average lefty for once. If he looks lost at the plate tonight, I may start to lose hope (for this season, that is). 

 

Or, maybe Eduardo Escobar will start in center over him. 

[jokin]

 

 We could use a guy who can yard at any time... umm... 30 to 40 times a year. That guy who hits the ball so far that women faint at the sight of it. (I'm not sure why I used women in that example... it isn't fair to women that I portray them as more faintable).
 

 

 

Umm, everyone KNOWS that   chicks dig the longball... 

 

And why is it that you often don't quit when you're clearly ahead?   There's no "fair" when it comes to instances of fainting symptoms.   Syncope is definitely more prevalent in females than males.     (True story..... Flying home yesterday evening, a young gal of 21 years of age, literally fainted at my feet right in the aisle of the 737.   As flattered as I wish were the case, women tend to have lower blood pressure, higher estrogen levels, and are more subject to certain triggers than males.   In this particular instance, alas, it was likely more related to the Washington DC Heat Index of 103 degrees.than my "glory days" reminiscences.)

 

 

Edited June 22, 2015 by jokin

[Joe A. Preusser]

The good news tonight is that the Twins typically OWN Danks, so I am guessing a 12-2 win by the Twins or a 2-1 loss.

Danks is the rabbit (with white Sox) and the Twins are that little girl's snake. Going to be a fun game.

[big dog]

 

I would rather seem him learn and flail away then watch a couple of guys who aren't anything more then UTIL INF on a good team take his DH at bats.

I agree, and that's my point, actually- if we are giving up on the playoffs, let him learn. If we aren't, go get a real DH who can help the team now.  Neither Escobar nor Nunez is a solution.

[D. Hocking]

This was from the last episode of the series -- it took a dark turn and gave the show a much bleaker ending than people anticipated and is largely pulled from the syndication cycle.

 

http://images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/3/3/9/5/2/7/9/bugs-bunny-snakes-84988258829.jpeg

[TheLeviathan]

I like a lot here, except I wish Mauer and Dozier were flipped.

[BK432]

I may regret saying this later, but Buxton has had some pretty tough matchups for a kid who has had just a couple hundred ABs over A ball. Maybe he'll get a couple hits tonight.

[JB_Iowa]

GAME IS ON ESPN2 NOT FSN.

[Craig Arko]

GAME IS ON ESPN2 NOT FSN.

My listing (Mpls Comcast) shows it on both.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Wait, What?!

Buxton is the lead off batter?

And no one hithertofore has commented thereupon?

I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear;
But the stars came out and they danced about ere again I ventured near;
I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: "I'll just take a peep inside.
I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked"; ... then the door I opened wide.

 

Should be a good game, independent of whether Vargas and/or Buxton are suffering some growing pains.

 

Anyway, i approve of the moral of the snake. It's not the outside of the bunny that matters: it's the bunny inside. Snakes apparently know this instinctively.

[JB_Iowa]

 

My listing (Mpls Comcast) shows it on both.

 

Well, duh..... so does my DISH network.

[Craig Arko]

Well, duh..... so does my DISH network.

But if you don't watch FSN you won't have Bremer to worry about. Of course, you'll get Yankees this, Dodgers that instead.

[Craig Arko]

Looking forward to seeing what the kid can do at the top.

[JB_Iowa]

 

But if you don't watch FSN you won't have Bremer to worry about. Of course, you'll get Yankees this, Dodgers that instead.

 

They'll black out the ESPN2 here.  That's what they always do.  If its on FSN, you pretty much have to watch FSN but it is also suppposed to be on CSNCH -- which is Hawk, I suppose.

[diehardtwinsfan]

sweet, I can catch the game in my hotel

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Is the decision to play Nunez at short rather than Escobar riding the hot bat? Or is it giving him a chance to get comfortable at the position as well as more playing time in general?

[Craig Arko]

sweet, I can catch the game in my hotel

And it's a fine one, too.

[Craig Arko]

Is the decision to play Nunez at short rather than Escobar riding the hot bat? Or is it giving him a chance to get comfortable at the position as well as more playing time in general?

I think it's mostly the former.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I think it's mostly the former.

That was my figuring, especially with a lefty on the mound, but i saw some value in the latter as well, so it was worth trying to provoke discussion... on a thread... about the game.

[formerly33]

 

Umm, everyone KNOWS that   chicks dig the longball... 

 

And why is it that you often don't quit when you're clearly ahead?   There's no "fair" when it comes to instances of fainting symptoms.   Syncope is definitely more prevalent in females than males.     (True story..... Flying home yesterday evening, a young gal of 21 years of age, literally fainted at my feet right in the aisle of the 737.   As flattered as I wish were the case, women tend to have lower blood pressure, higher estrogen levels, and are more subject to certain triggers than males.   In this particular instance, alas, it was likely more related to the Washington DC Heat Index of 103 degrees.than my "glory days" reminiscences.)

Ahem ... true story ..... Sitting in a chair and reading a book one uneventful afternoon, my mom was interrupted by my youngest brother, then 5 years old, when he held out his hand and said, "Look at my hangnail, Mom ... it's all red." She looked up and checked it out as instructed, and, without thinking (why should she have?), she coolly remarked that it was infected. Lil' bro immediately turned a sickly shade of greenish white and wanted to know what affected was. The definition was not supplied, but mom sent him upstairs to get a clipper for her to fix it for him. He returned looking queasier than ever and offered his hand, but before Mom had time to take it he fell backwards slowly and eloquently - and hit his head on a wooden chair in the downfall. That drew the attention that (according to the generally accepted reason hot young chicks used to faint in the good old days) he was looking for; finally alert, my mom leapt to her feet and shouted at my dad, "He hit his head! Why didn't you catch him!"

 

Now you say, "Yeah, they always blame the husband," but don't waste your breath. I'm putting it down for you now. And why shouldn't they? If wives never blamed their husbands, the scale would be unequally balanced.

 

Another true story ..... One year later, Lil Bro had a loose tooth. It was his first, and he was afraid to lose it - maybe having had it 5-6 years left some pretty good memories and he'd become sentimentally attached? I don't know. Anyway, it was a change over the last little brother who was so excited when his first tooth wiggled that he had it out by the end of the day (maybe he had some bad memories ... who knows?). Anyway, this tooth hung by a thread for a long time. One day when my mom was brushing his teeth, she noticed that it no longer hung by a thread but remained intact because gravity dictated it to do so. She reached in and picked it up ... Lil' Bro didn't notice ... she held it up ... Lil' Bro repeated the artistic performance he'd given us the year before.

 

He proceeded to do this for the rest of his lower central incisors and perhaps even a lateral incisor. After a while he seemed to realize that the drama had worn off and we were expecting it to happen, so one day he lost a tooth and, much to our surprise, he didn't faint.

 

Now that he's ten years old and we expect him to take it like a man instead of a girl with corsets on, I wonder if he picks it back up to shock us? Or would he have to lose something more dramatic, such as the World Series?

[Craig Arko]

That was my figuring, especially with a lefty on the mound, but i saw some value in the latter as well, so it was worth trying to provoke discussion... on a thread... about the game.

Discussions are better invited than provoked. But to that end Santana is tearing up AAA; maybe he will be back sooner than later.