Game Thread: White Sox @ Twins, 6/23 @ 7:10pm CT

 

The White Sox are in town, and they are looking to fall further in the standings in hope of getting Robin Ventura fired so that they can have a new manager, but Rick Hahn doesn't seem like he is very interested in firing Robin, so Jeff Samardzija is going to have to continue his good work. Speaking of managers being fired, the last time I went to a game the opposing team's manager was fired directly after, so maybe I need to go to this one as a good luck charm for the South Siders.

 

White Sox - Jeffery Alan Samardzija, (4-4, 4.67 ERA)

 

Minnesota Twins - Michael Alan Pelfrey, (5-3, 2.97 ERA)

 

Here we go on your five things:

 

1- Today's Pitchers -- This isn't just about Alan and Alan, this is about all Major League pitchers who are taking the hill today as a starter, among them are Johnny Cueto, Zack Greinke, David Price, Chris Archer, and Madison Bumgarner, so this could be an exciting day for big fans of pitchers, including me, but that isn't the point, the point is that everyday of the baseball season the best athletes in the world (the only people who come close to rivaling them are classical musicians) are going to try to repeat their delivery 100 times a game, which it takes a great athlete to do, since you have to make your curveball and fastball delivery look the same, keep your velocity late into games, and atop of it all, it is one of the fastest movements of the human body, so if I haven't convinced you yet, you should watch FSN for every game that is broadcast for the next five years and see what Bert Blyleven thinks.

 

2- 2015 Twins Season -- The Twins have stayed afloat this year, and have a realistic shot at winning the division, but they usually do get off to hot starts, so it still isn't anything amazing, but it would be fun if the Twins could bring back the playoff atmosphere to the Twins Cities. One thing that I would like to point out is that during the 2006 season, on June 23rd, The Twins were 37-35, and were 11 games back of the Detroit Tigers, so if the play from this day on at the same pace the 2006 Twins did, the Royals are going to have to play some #ASGWorthy baseball to keep their lead.

 

3- Rochester Red Wings -- You might be wondering why we would want to think about a AAA team when the Twins were doing good, but that is the reason we are thinking about them, because help is on the way, whether it is a hitter, such as Danny Santana, Oswaldo Arcia, or Eric Fryer, or a pitcher, like Taylor Rogers, AJ Achter, Ervin Santana, or Alex Meyer. Ervin will likely improve what has been an outstanding rotation so far, but the Twins need an offensive boost, and an improved Arcia or Dan San would certainly be welcomed, but don't forget Eric Fryer, who has been outstanding at AAA so far, and could be a nice bat off the bench come August or September.

 

4- Trade Deadline -- The deadline is 38 days away, but it isn't too early to start thinking about it. The question is, will the Twins buy at the deadline? If they do their main priority will likely be a bat, but they have options in the minor leagues, so they might decide to do nothing since there are few rental types, and although we could still see the Twins do something surprising, I'm not very impressed with the trade targets out there.

 

5- Nothing -- Think about this for a minute.

 

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Sports/AP_VENTURA_140814_DG_16x9_992.jpg

 

Lineups and weather...

 

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light south southwest in the evening.

 

Pale Hose

 

Adam Cory Eaton CF

Avisail Antonio Garcia RF

Jose Dariel Abreu DH

David Adam LaRoche 1B

Melky Cabrera LF

Alexei Fernando Ramirez SS

Conor Michael Gillaspie 3B

Geovany Soto C

Yolmer Carlos Sanchez 2B

 

Twins

 

James Brian Dozier 2B

Eddie Manuel Rosario LF

Joseph Patrick Mauer 1B

Trevor Patrick Plouffe 3B

Torii Kedar Hunter RF

Eduardo Michelle Nunez SS 

Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki C

Kennys Vargas DH

Byron Keiron Buxton CF

Edited June 23, 201511 yr by Hrbowski

Lineups and weather...

White Sox

Pitcher. Jeff Samardzija [R]

 

1. Adam Eaton [L] CF

2. Avisail Garcia [R] RF

3. Jose Abreu [R] DH

4. Adam LaRoche [L] 1B

5. Melky Cabrera LF

6. Alexei Ramirez [R] SS

7. Conor Gillaspie [L] 3B

8. Geovany Soto [R] C

9. Carlos Sanchez 2B

 

Twins

Pitcher. Mike Pelfrey [R]

 

1. Brian Dozier [R] 2B

2. Eddie Rosario [L] LF

3. Joe Mauer [L] 1B

4. Trevor Plouffe [R] 3B

5. Torii Hunter [R] RF

6. Eduardo Nunez [R] SS

7. Kurt Suzuki [R] C

8. Kennys Vargas DH

9. Byron Buxton [R] CF

 

Weather

Gametime Forecast: 78°F • Partly Cloudy • 0% PoP

Why are they not batting Buxton first again...?

because they wanted to create a stir on twins daily.

let's take 2.

Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger  · 1h1 hour ago 
Molitor said the fan in him was tempted to keep Byron Buxton as the leadoff hitter but it just didn't make sense against RHP Jeff Samardzija

Lineups and weather...

 

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light south southwest in the evening.

 

Pale Hose

 

Adam Cory Eaton CF

Avisail Antonio Garcia RF

Jose Dariel Abreu DH

David Adam LaRoche 1B

Melky Cabrera LF

Alexei Fernando Ramirez SS

Conor Michael Gillaspie 3B

Geovany Soto C

Yolmer Carlos Sanchez 2B

 

Twins

 

James Brian Dozier 2B

Eddie Manuel Rosario LF

Joseph Patrick Mauer 1B

Trevor Patrick Plouffe 3B

Torii Kedar Hunter RF

Eduardo Michelle Nunez SS 

Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki C

Kennys Vargas DH

Byron Keiron Buxton CF

I must admit it. You are better than i am.

 

Almost a 50% increase in names in your line up. I bow to your expertise in "Nameology"

What happened to Alan? Or Allen? Does anyone know someone born after 1985 named Alan?

 

Solid name.

 

What happened to Alan? Or Allen? Does anyone know someone born after 1985 named Alan?

 

Solid name.

Yes.

A whole hour until game starts...

 

"I hate waiting!"

-Sr. Montoya

 

A whole hour until game starts...

"I hate waiting!"
-Sr. Montoya

 

First 1/2 hour is fine -- it's time for JEOPARDY.

 

But I'm not a fan of either Wheel of Fortune or the pre-game in that 2nd 1/2 hour.  

 

Eduardo Michelle Nunez SS

Life ain't easy for a boy named Michelle.

 

Life ain't easy for a boy named Michelle.

Or Margaret Ann...

What happened to Alan? Or Allen? Does anyone know someone born after 1985 named Alan?

 

Solid name.

Hispanic kid in the 1st grade class I helped out this year had that name. I didn't inquire.

 

Yes.

Good to hear. Does he go by Al?

 

Lineups and weather...

 

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light south southwest in the evening.

 

Pale Hose

 

Adam Cory Eaton CF

Avisail Antonio Garcia RF

Jose Dariel Abreu DH

David Adam LaRoche 1B

Melky Cabrera LF

Alexei Fernando Ramirez SS

Conor Michael Gillaspie 3B

Geovany Soto C

Yolmer Carlos Sanchez 2B

 

Twins

 

James Brian Dozier 2B

Eddie Manuel Rosario LF

Joseph Patrick Mauer 1B

Trevor Patrick Plouffe 3B

Torii Kedar Hunter RF

Eduardo Michelle Nunez SS 

Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki C

Kennys Vargas DH

Byron Keiron Buxton CF

Now we know why it's there are two Kennys. Thank you Hrb. You answered a question that's always been at the back of my mind.

 

Good to hear. Does he go by Al?

Nope.

Two sets of lineups posted ... does that mean there are two games?

Oh great! We have to watch Soto throwing the ball back to the pitcher again tonight. Can't he just drop the ball each time and have the ump throw it back?

Oh great! We have to watch Soto throwing the ball back to the pitcher again tonight. Can't he just drop the ball each time and have the ump throw it back?

I think he should roll it back.

Two sets of lineups posted ... does that mean there are two games?

It was my failing...

 

I saw the empty "lineups and weather" post, and thought i was helping.

 

It since got edited to be somewhat less empty.

 

I double checked (i think) and the line ups include the same people in the same order.

 

So at worst, perhaps it is a branch point into an alternative universe. The other leg of the trousers of time, as Pratchett put it...

Hrbowski, much as I'd like to credit you with getting Robin Ventura fired, should it happen after you attend the game, more credit needs to go to the abysmal play of the Sox.

I'll have to call up Trevor and Joe to start a 'guys with the middle name Patrick' crime-fighting trio. 

 

 

It was my failing...

I saw the empty "lineups and weather" post, and thought i was helping.

It since got edited to be somewhat less empty.

I double checked (i think) and the line ups include the same people in the same order.

So at worst, perhaps it is a branch point into an alternative universe. The other leg of the trousers of time, as Pratchett put it...

Points for the discworld reference.

 

 

It was my failing...



So at worst, perhaps it is a branch point into an alternative universe. The other leg of the trousers of time, as Pratchett put it...

 

This might be the understatement of the year -- creating or opening a gateway to alternate universes never ends well.  

 

It is not like the alternate universe will have things like strange but wonderful things like a dynamic, animated Joe Mauer or a five time super bowl champion MN Vikings -- it is more like this:

 

http://d.justpo.st/images/2013/01/0222510b8139f113390a9aa6332a91d9.jpg

 

A whole hour until game starts...

"I hate waiting!"
-Sr. Montoya

And your other options?????

 

Or Margaret Ann...

 

Or Margaret Ann...

Or Sue....

Edited June 24, 201511 yr by Jerr

2006: The year the Twins went 19-1 at one point in June; 12-1 in July; and 6-1 in August ... streaks that add up to 37-3.

 

The rest of the way they went 59-63.

 

(For what it's s probably not worth.)

Edited June 23, 201511 yr by ScrapTheNickname

I would be thrilled to see Ventura get Tossed out of the game today!