Welcome to another fun filled, sometimes mostly agonizing Game Thread.  With a Twins record of 55 and 96 it can be difficult to stay interested and focused on a team playing this way.  Being 32.5 games back at this point of the season can be demoralizing if not downright depressing.  Your average fan has moved on from this mess and started watching football or scheduling root canals. 

 

For the die-hards, the truly passionate Twins fans out there (if you’re reading this you probably are one) what can you do?  After all of the complaining, arm chair quarterbacking and second guessing that’s occurred this season there is only one thing left to do:  Fantasize. That’s right, fantasize about next year.

 

Webster’s Dictionary defines fantasize as:  to indulge in reverie:  Create or develop imaginative and often fantastic views or ideas.

 

I’ve already developed a few imaginative and fantastic ideas for the 2017 Twins franchise.  Here they are:

 

• Joe Maddon has a blowout argument with Cubs current GM after winning the World Series.   Calls Pohlad and asks       to be Twins new manager replacing Molitor (I know Pohlad already said Molitor will be the manager next year but this is my fantasy…stay out of it).

• Twins new GM pulls off the trade of the century between 4 teams:  Sends out Perkins, Santiago, Light and Boshers for Rick Porcello, J.A. Happ, Jon Lester and David Price.   Santana becomes our #5 starter.

• Buxton becomes a serious contender for A.L. MVP

• The Twins start off April with a 15 game winning streak

• Dozier ends season with 52 home runs

• Polanco finishes season with a .399 batting average. Just misses hitting .400 (don’t want to over fantasize here)

• Kepler ends up with 130 RBI’s and 125 runs

• Sano wins a gold glove at 3rd base and hits 53 home runs

• Vargas replaces Mauer at 1st base and hits 44 home runs with 145 RBI’s

• Mauer goes back behind the plate to finish his career the way he started it.  Hits 29 home runs with .310 batting average

• Twins win A.L. Central by 20 games

• Twins sweep the Yankees in A.L. Championship Series

• Twins sweep the Dodgers to win the World Series

 

The band Traffic said it well:

 

Dear Mister Fantasy play us a tune
Something to make us all happy

Do anything take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy
You are the one who can make us all laugh…

 

What’s your 2017 Twins fantasy?  Can’t wait to see them below!

Go Twins!

 

 

LINEUPS:

 

TWINS

1. 2B Brian Dozier [R]

2. SS Jorge Polanco

3. DH Joe Mauer [L]

4. 1B Kennys Vargas

5. RF Max Kepler [L]

6. LF Robbie Grossman

7. 3B Eduardo Escobar

8. C Juan Centeno [L]

9. CF Byron Buxton [R]

P  Jose Berrios [R]

 

TIGERS

1. CF Cameron Maybin [R]

2. 2B Erick Aybar

3. 1B Miguel Cabrera [R]

4. RF J.D. Martinez [R]

5. DH Justin Upton [R]

6. LF Tyler Collins [L]

7. C James McCann [R]

8. 3B Andrew Romine

9. SS Jose Iglesias [R]

P Buck Farmer [R]

 

Weather:  70 degrees and overcast skies.  High probability for rain 65%

Does Kaat outduel Koufax this time? Cause that would be sweet.

 

I enjoyed the ride through fantasy world. Thanks for the mental break, now back to work I go!

Edited September 21, 201610 yr by wsnydes

This was the album cover I meant to put on the intro.  Sorry.

 

http://www.teatrionline.com/wp-content/uploads/Traffic.jpg

I hope that the Negativity Police don't get on my case, but I have to say it: Traffic sucks. They suck so hard.

Like so hard.

I hope that the Negativity Police don't get on my case, but I have to say it: Traffic sucks. They suck so hard.

I think you're confusing road congestion with a band.

I think you're confusing road congestion with a band.

Or... preferring, to.

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/AB1K2K/show-in-progress-sign-in-theatre-foyer-during-edinburgh-festival-AB1K2K.jpg

What's the chances of getting this in before the Ark floats by?

Maybin already on 2nd.....

 

 

 

What's the chances of getting this in before the Ark floats by?

Maybin already beat the Ark to 3rd   http://gdbaif.com/images/sad-face/sad-face-01.jpg

Based on the view wide shots I've seen of the stands, it appears that almost everyone holding a ticket for this... event... would rather waste it than risk the possibility of being rained on.

 

 

What's the chances of getting this in before the Ark floats by?

...Or of the Lost Ark having anyone around it swept away by the wrath of God?

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dOcnD5TlsBw/Up0HMA9pnEI/AAAAAAAAk-4/pt6iUOsRQgc/s1600/raiders16.png

Edited September 22, 201610 yr by LaBombo

Corgi waiting patiently to enter the ballgame...

 

http://www.alettertomydog.com/wp-content/uploads/corgi-carousel.jpg

 

Edit: Corgi stands down... for now. Nice work, JOBerr.

Edited September 22, 201610 yr by LaBombo

MLB Game day is telling me bases loaded, two out, full count

Based on the view wide shots I've seen of the stands, it appears that almost everyone holding a ticket for this... event... would rather waste it than risk the possibility of being rained on.

Last night someone said 23k, I didn't see the k. Tonight I don't thing all 23 showed up! There is only so much the Target Experience can do?

Talk about pitching out of a jam!

 

What's the chances of getting this in before the Ark floats by?

1%

After Parker's article about Berrios tipping his pitches, I've been watching his wrist angle as he brings the ball behind him and have been able to call every fastball or changeup he's thrown before he starts forward. It's plain as day. No way the hitters don't see that too.

Detroit deserves not to score any runs that inning because they ordered a sacrifice bunt in the 1st inning. Against a struggling Berrios who can't throw strikes.

 

The Tigers should be learning from our mistakes. 

Well, Berrios got out of it.  All it took was 29 pitches.  Berrios has big problems pitching from the stretch.

There's so many places gods wrath might be of use, why waste it on entire Twins season?

Silver linings update:

 

Berrios got 7 swinging strikes in the first inning, not counting the foul tip...

 

 

 

Which puts him 60% of the way to the total number of swinging strikes accumulated by the rest of the rotation from the start of the season.

keeping that e.r.a. under 9. small steps.

 

MLB Game day is telling me bases loaded, two out, full count

While accurate, I'm not sure that conveyed the spine-tingling excitement of watching a hundred ballplayers and staff and another hundred or so people in the stands hoping that a downpour would send everyone home early

Look at the bright side, when you put your umbrella up you won't be blocking anyone's sight line

 

There's so many places gods wrath might be of use, why waste it on entire Twins season?

I thought that wrath has already been put forth onto this team.

I don't think he was calling the BP that early. Most likely Dominoes, "we're gonna need something to eat here before this is over"

The name of the pitcher for Detroit tonight is Buck Farmer.

 

Careful, everyone.

This Farmer guy makes Berrios look really good!