Game-time forecast: 86 deg F, partly cloudy, very slight chance of rain, but not likely, winds from the S at 6mph.

 

Lineups:

 

YANKEES

Ellsbury CF

Young LF

Rodriguez DH

Texeira 1B

Beltran RF

Headley 3B

Murphy C

Ryan SS

Drew 2B

 

Sabathia P

 

TWINS

Dozier 2B

Hicks CF

Plouffe 1B

Sano DH

Hunter RF

Escobar 3B

Robinson LF

Suzuki C

Santana SS

 

Milone P

 

Oh, where to start ... hmmm ...

 

1. We beat them last night, and good. One could say we spanked them, and good. I'm not sure we can expect the same tonight, but given our home record, we can hope. But I loved last night's game. It's always way more than fun to beat the Yankees than most teams, or maybe any team, and last night we got to call them 'The Yankees.' But that was last night. This is tonight. It's true for any game, but we really need to keep the bats swinging, play good D and hopefully the good times will roll again.

 

2. Milone v Sabbathia. Milone is going to have to find his pre-Athetics form against CC. The Athletics flattened him but I’m hoping that is not the trend going forward and it was just 'one of those games.' He was rollin’ prior to that and I hope he can get back to rollin’ and roll right over the Yankees. He’s going to have to pitch against CC. CC has been regaining some of his old form and has been pretty tough his last couple of outings not to mention has pretty good career numbers against the Twins. I'm not good at prognosticating so I won't even try to wonder about the outcome.

 

3. There’s been lots of discussion about the Twins and bunting. Mostly what I read of opinions on this board is the Twins bunt too much in the wrong situations and not enough in the right ones; or too much all around. Personally, I’d like to see the Twins bunt more than usual against CC. He hates it. I’ve seen him fall over trying to get to a bunt. And it’s pretty funny, imo. His shape just makes him so … inept … against the bunt … putting it mildly. The only problem with a strategy of bunting against CC is the team risks injury. He gets mad and plunks batters in retribution. I guess it's his only means of defense - send the message out … bunt at your own risk. Still, watching him retrieve bunts is entertaining, but not at the expense of him injuring anyone. So, it's not really a strategy I'm endorsing. Maybe it would be more fun to watch another team bunt a lot against CC.

 

4. Okay, I mean, hmm, this lineup. Really? I'm not sure what to say except that I expect some grumbling, me included. I mean, why no Mauer? Yeah, okay, I see he doesn't have the best line against CC; but if Plouffe moves to play first, Sano should play 3rd and Arcia should DH. Oh, wait. Okay, rethinking ... I'm going to stop there. I'll let the rest of you sort it out.

 

5. Despite thinking I'd have the whole weekend off, I'm here at work. I wasn't supposed to be. But I am. And my thoughts are on work, and getting this project done. So, not the best game thread lead in ... but that's why the rest of you are here. To add and enhance. So have at it. Hopefully I'm home in time for the game.

 

Go Twins! Play ball!

5. Despite thinking I'd have the whole weekend off, I'm here at work. I wasn't supposed to be. But I am. And my thoughts are on work, and getting this project done. So, not the best game thread lead in ... but that's why the rest of you are here. To add and enhance. So have at it. Hopefully I'm home in time for the game.

 

Go Twins! Play ball!

Hope the work goes smoothly and painlessly!

 

Sounds vaguely like a Clerks reference might fit here somewhere... Would that count as adding/enhancing?

There's still one game left in this series. If NeedsABathia plunks batters because they have the audacity to bunt, you do exactly that.

 

Piss that guy off. He's not the pitcher he once was and take advantage of that.

 

There's still one game left in this series. If NeedsABathia plunks batters because they have the audacity to bunt, you do exactly that.

Piss that guy off. He's not the pitcher he once was and take advantage of that.

Mostly, it's for my own entertainment to call for bunts against him. Because it IS hilarious watching him. And I do think it's a strategy to get to him. And yeah ... you take advantages of an opponents weaknesses. But, it still is risky. Someone will get plunked and he's an ass for doing that, but, I'd still hate to see someone get hurt. Then again ... this is sports, good or bad, it's a gritty business.

If need be we can bring Graham in late in the game and he can accidentally lose control of a 97-mph'er.

Hicks in the two-hole. Not something you see every day.

I also think Sano should be playing third. He showed fine skills the one game he played there. No reason to not play the youngster in the field, damn it.

There was some discussion on his ankle not being fully healed? I think this was Ryan to Bernadino.

 

I also think Sano should be playing third. He showed fine skills the one game he played there. No reason to not play the youngster in the field, damn it.

 

They don't think his toe/foot is quite ready.

 

Hope Plouffe's baby holds off long enough for Sano to get back in the field.

I also think Sano should be playing third. He showed fine skills the one game he played there. No reason to not play the youngster in the field, damn it.

Meh, he twisted his ankle a week ago. I'd not push it if it perhaps isn't 110%...

 

Good to keep Escobar sharp and all.

 

Hicks is indeed doin' pretty well for himself. Hope he handles that 2 hole.

And i guess i'd say, if it works, bunt until it don't.

 

They should thank us for helping them work out their weaknesses.

 

But i wouldn't get involved in a bean barrage...

 

Only like a quarter hour 'til the game!

 

Almost there!

Hmmm, Cole Hamels no-hits the Cubbies.

Another win would be nice.  I really hope the Yanks don't make the playoffs.  I'd like to see Toronto heat up.

Play ball!

I also think Sano should be playing third. He showed fine skills the one game he played there.

Consistency seems to be his bugaboo. Like a lot of young talented players I suppose. He can make a tough play look easy, and next play make an easy one look tough. Get ready for some second guessing if his fielding pct hovers around .900 in the early going.

 

In my softball days, I was a consistent outfielder. I made the tough plays look difficult. Ditto the easy ones. Consistent.

Five-Four-Three!!1!

5-4-3 double play ends the yankee's half o' the first.

 

Nice pick up by Escobar.

Dozier shows bunt, takes the ball.

 

Then singles to left.

 

Not bad.

I'm calling a bunt.

 

There's still one game left in this series. If NeedsABathia plunks batters because they have the audacity to bunt, you do exactly that.

Piss that guy off. He's not the pitcher he once was and take advantage of that.

 

That, and he was never fast. 

Hicks puts it in the bullpen.

 

"As expected."

THAT is why HIcks is batting second. Mollie's a genius!

HICKS!!!!!

THE OPPOSITE OF A BUNT! Wooohoo!

Wow, Hicks!!!  

I hope hitting HRs is contagious.

 

Seems to be working that way.

 

I'm calling a bunt.

That was a 400' bunt.

 

Screw bunting.

Aaron Hicks.... Yankee killer.

Now that Hicks has deposited a ball there, should we be surprised if he withdraws one later?