Feliz cumpleaños Jose Berrios! Jose Berrios was born (only) 24 years ago today in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. You might be curious, as I was, to know how Puerto Ricans celebrate birthdays. Well, it’s pretty easy to explain, because they celebrate much in the same way Americans do. Except, in Puerto Rico the legal drinking age is 18. Jose Berrios will be starting today’s game and hopefully the Twins can help get him a ‘W’ for his birthday.

 

Series Recap:

 

The Mariners (31-20, 2nd in AL West) are hosting the Twins (21-26, 2nd in AL Central) for game 3 of a 3-game series. The Twins dropped the first two games of the series to the Mariners, each 1-run losses. In 1-run games, the Twins are 3-10 and the Mariners are 15-8, most wins in the MLB. Today, look for the Twins to try and get to Leake early and often.

 

Note: After crashing into the wall, harder than your Uncle crashed your wedding, Byron Buxton is day to day and no corresponding roster moves have been made.

 

Since I’m writing the game thread, Riverbrian, our game thread virtuoso, can be lazy today. Or maybe he’ll find something better to do with his time? What’s there to do today in the Twin Cities and surrounding area?

 

1. Things Riverbrian can do today instead of writing a game thread

 

• Check out the Sportsology exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Want to pull a hamstring trying to run faster than a T-rex? Want to show off to little kids by jumping and touching a basketball 8.5 feet off the ground? Or my favorite, the motion lab shows you in slow-motion how truly bad your throwing mechanics actually are. They should have included a speed gun to see if I can still throw a whopping 75 mph.

• Book Club. No, I really don’t want to hear what you think about Fifty Shades Freed. No, I’m not talking about the new movie starring Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda, either. Check out the new Book Club restaurant on Penn Ave in Minneapolis, with food by Asher Miller (former chef of 20.21 restaurant at the Walker Art Center).

• Go see a floating concert. While you could perhaps make any concert a floating concert by inebriating yourself, head out to Lake Winona at 4pm to watch Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers perform on a floating stage. I’m guessing that jet skis are discouraged. 5-to-1 odds that there’s a major instrument or electrical malfunction in the 95-degree heat. 25-to-1 odds that a musician falls into the lake.

Disclaimer: The activities/events mentioned are in the Twins Cities and greater Minnesota, and do not necessarily reflect the current whereabouts or residence of Riverbrian.

 

2. Starting Pitchers and Key Matchups

 

Jose Berrios (RHP, Minnesota): 5-4 in 10 starts, 3.82 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 1.8 BB/9

• First career appearance at Safeco Field
• 1-1, 4.97 ERA career (2 starts) vs. Mariners
• Mitch Haniger vs. Berrios: 0 for 6 with 2 K’s
• Kyle Seager vs. Berrios: 2 for 5 with 1 HR and 2 RBI

 

Mike Leake (RHP, Seattle): 4-3 in 10 starts, 5.46 ERA, 5.8 K/9, 2.5 BB/9

• 1-0, 5.82 ERA career (3 starts) vs. Twins
• Brian Dozier vs. Leake: 1 for 9 with 1 HR and 3 RBI, 2 K’s
• Eddie Rosario vs. Leake: 3 for 4 with 1 double
• Eduardo Escobar career @ Safeco Field: 4 for 35 (.114) with 1 BB and 11 K’s
• Logan Morrison: Spent 2 years with Mariners. 91 for 422  (.216) career @ Safeco Field)

3. Our Twins: Who’s Hot and Cold?

 

 

Hotter than a Casserole Hotdish

• Max Kepler: 5 for 14 (.357 BA, 1.185 OPS) with 1 HR, 4 RBI last 7 days
• Logan Morrison: 9 for 28 (.321 BA, .972 OPS) 8 walks last 14 days
• Fernando Rodney: 0 ER and 2 hits allowed (.071 OBA) last 28 days

 

Colder than Embarrass

• Eduardo Escobar: 3 for 18 (.167 BA, .472 OPS) with 0 RBI last 7 days
• Mitch Garver: 4 for 25 (.160 BA, .422 OPS) with 0 RBI last 14 days
• Byron Buxton: 4 for 27 (.148 BA, .333 OPS) last 14 days
• Robbie Grossman: 1 for 11 (.091 BA, .305 OPS) last 7 days

4. OBP (One Bad Pun)

 

Last month after the April Blizzard my car hit a big pothole. It bent the hubcap on one of my rear wheels and even managed to crack the tailpipe. I had Discount Tire fix my tire and they did a great job. I decided to replace the tailpipe myself, but that was a terrible idea because it was way too exhausting.

 

5. Magic 8-Ball (2018 Prediction Rate: 1-0)

 

Shake 1: “Better not tell you now” (how about I go find my hammer?)
Shake 2: “It is certain”
Shake 3: “Most likely”

My Magic 8-ball says… Twins win today.

 

---------------------------------

 

Lineups:

 

 Twins

 

Lineup: TBA

 

P. Jose Berrios (RHP)

 

Mariners

 

Lineup: TBA

 

P. Mike Leake (RHP)

 

Forecast for Seattle, WA: 71 degrees F, Sunny, Wind 6 mph, Precipitation 0%

 

 

I'll be traveling today, so I would greatly appreciate if someone could post the lineups later, if I'm unable to at a reasonable time.

Love the intro Respy.

 

We could probably have a great thread competition discussing all the goofy things Brian would do... only to see Brian chime in and win the competition with all the goofy things he's done.

 

Love the intro Respy.

We could probably have a great thread competition discussing all the goofy things Brian would do... only to see Brian chime in and win the competition with all the goofy things he's done.

 

I love the idea because I'd be sure to win the competition. 

The Sportsology exhibit sounds interesting. I'd like to check out the motion lab to view myself in slo-motion typing on Twins Daily.  

The Sportsology exhibit sounds interesting. I'd like to check out the motion lab to view myself in slo-motion typing on Twins Daily.

 

Take me along.

 

I’d love to view myself moving in slo motion.

 

Wait, forget it. Pretty routine, actually.

¡Feliz cumpleaños Jose Berrios!

FTFY.

i'm gonna go ahead and guess that the reason is because they ARE americans.

 

You might be curious, as I was, to know how Puerto Ricans celebrate birthdays. Well, it’s pretty easy to explain, because they celebrate much in the same way Americans do. 

 

 

 

I love the idea because I'd be sure to win the competition. 

Challenge accepted.

 

I dare you to point to anyone else who's written a poem as an opener. 

 

Take me along.

I’d love to view myself moving in slo motion.

Wait, forget it. Pretty routine, actually.

Yeah, in my case, let's move to the "speed things up" camera.

The Twins have already lost more than they can afford in this series. I'm not gonna say that the season hangs in the balance today by any means, but salvaging a win in this series is an absolute must to stay within striking distance. 

 

Ideally, the Twins need to go into next weekend within striking distance of the Indians ahead of the already-important 4-game set between the two teams.

 

We can only hope that facing a struggling pitcher (Miike Leake) and then going to KC will help get the quiet bats making some noise again.

Yeah, in my case, let's move to the "speed things up" camera.

Cue the Yakkity Sax music.

The Sportsology exhibit sounds interesting. I'd like to check out the motion lab to view myself in slo-motion typing on Twins Daily.  

Seldom-seen footage of Brian in slow-motion.

 

Phil Hughes traded to the Padres!

So the Twins traded away pick #74 for about $6M or $7M dollars if I'm reading the trade correctly.

Trevor May got lit up today--5 hits, 4 BB, and 7 runs in 2.2 innings.

So the Twins traded away pick #74 for about $6M or $7M dollars if I'm reading the trade correctly.

They got a catcher named Janigson Villalobos as well as $6.5M. He played in rookie ball for SD last year.

Edited May 27, 20188 yr by Danchat

The Twins have scored 35 runs in the last 12 games (the pitchers have given up 37). I'm not a roster rule guru, but why not give Carter and Gordon a chance? Carter will strike out as much as Sano but at least he'll hit an occasional double and HR, which is more than you can say for a majority of the current line-up.

 

Trevor May got lit up today--5 hits, 4 BB, and 7 runs in 2.2 innings.

To the rescue!

Anyone watching the Gophers Purdue in the B1G Ten tourney? Terrin Vavra with a big home run in the middle stages.

Buxton back in the lineup, whew! Son, the wall always wins, and the team needs you on the field. Stop taking so many runs at the wall:

 

1. Brian Dozier ® 2B

2. Max Kepler (L) RF

3. Miguel Sano ® DH

4. Eddie Rosario (L) LF

5. Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B

6. Logan Morrison (L) 1B

7. Ehire Adrianza (S) SS

8. Bobby Wilson ® C

9. Byron Buxton ® CF

 

1. Guillermo Heredia ® CF

2. Ben Gamel (L) LF

3. Mitch Haniger ® RF

4. Nelson Cruz ® DH

5. Kyle Seager (L) 3B

6. Ryon Healy ® 1B

7. Chris Herrmann (L) C

8. Gordon Beckham ® 2B

9. Andrew Romine (S) SS

Weird to type this, but I wish Molitor had used Rodney last night over Magill.

Sounds like Mauer is improving and may be back later this week.

Just ate at book club when I was in town.....recommemd

Scoreboard watch, Indians up 3-2 on the Astros in the 8th, and the Stros score 6 to go up 8-3.

 

Hope the magic 8 ball is right, would be nice to get a game back today.

 

Sounds like Mauer is improving and may be back later this week.

I'll be in Minnesota for the last three games of the upcoming Twins/Indians series, so that's good info since that's likely the last bit of fun I'll be having this summer.

Edited May 27, 20188 yr by jimmer

I feel like the twins are a little better than our record. 8 walk offs? Basically almost coin flip games? Our pen isn't awful so that seems rough.

 

Second, we keep waiting for this team to kick it in. Remember what Cleveland did last year? I feel like they think they have us whenever they want. They're probably right. Don't believe we can hang around and then make a run. We're going to have to hit first place before the break in my opinion just to stay close at the end.

Edited May 27, 20188 yr by Jham

Phil Hughes traded to the Padres!

For a 21 year old catcher! No matter what this young man winds up doing this is the best deal Falvine have ever made. To get anything more than a used puck bag for Hughes is a coup.

I pay several hundred for MLB extra innings and they play the ****ing Yankees where it’s suppose to be the Twins game???

For a 21 year old catcher! No matter what this young man winds up doing this is the best deal Falvine have ever made. To get anything more than a used puck bag for Hughes is a coup.

They also gave up the 74th pick in the draft.... So no.

Edited May 27, 20188 yr by Mike Sixel