I wrote a Game Thread opener that had nothing to do with today’s game and very little to do with this year. Then the Twins won four games in a row and the intrigue about buying and selling heightened, as well as some great performances to talk about—Garver with four hits Wednesday and the gamer last night, Gibson with a great performance against the best team in baseball so far this year—and I’m reeled in to discussing the balance of the series versus the Rose Hose.

So, today Chris Sale faces Lance Lynn. Sale has been dominant of late, and Lynn has been a disappointment, if not and out-and-out dud. However, the Twins have played the Red Sox very well and done a respectable job against All-Star pitchers and former Cy Young winners. No lineups yet, and I won’t be able to post them, so if someone could post them as soon as they are announced, it would be appreciated.

Five topics (sorry, I’m not RB, so no humor):

1) Joe Mauer, Hall of Famer? If the Hall is good with Jack Morris and Allan Trammell, I think Joe eventually has a shot. I’d like to see him rise up and win another batting championship to close the deal, but he’s got a good resume already. Joe has been swinging well lately. I don’t know if he’ll get to .300 again this year, but he’s been one of the Twins better hitters.

2) 311-310. I’m not certain on the exact numbers, but Probus mentioned this on the radio broadcast last night. The Twins and Sox had played over 600 games in their histories and were dead even before last night. Hard to believe—like balancing a pea on the edge of a knife.

3) Molitor—There’s been some rumbling about last year’s Manager of the Year. I tend to believe most managers are good baseball men, who do well enough with the material they have, and that is the case with the Twins’ skipper. Molitor has two or three guys that can’t seem to get through even six innings putting pressure on the bullpen, and he has a bullpen that has been inconsistent. I can’t blame him for that. I question the use of veterans such as Belisle and Bobby Wilson, but most managers have a guy or two like that.

4) Buxton and Sano. For those of us, who had those two guys in the Hall of Fame, or at least perennial All-Stars, oops! Will they return this year or will the Twins get another service year from each? Two separate cases, but both guys seem a long way from their good half seasons last year.

5) Buy, sell or stand pat? Can this squad win 40 of the last 61 games? Can they catch Cleveland? TD has had this conversation for weeks. I think Cleveland is more perilous than last year, but it is the Twins only option to play post-season baseball and seven games is a lot to make up.

Sit back and enjoy the game at Fenway. I haven’t forgiven myself for going on a Boston city tour instead of taking in a game there several years ago.

Escobar was just traded to Arizona. Good luck Eduardo!

Sorry to see Escobar go. 

 

Astudillo brought up to replace him?

 

Good luck to Mr. Escobar and may he be playing for the D Backs when they meet the Twins in the Series.

 

Edited July 27, 20188 yr by Blake

 

2) 311-310. I’m not certain on the exact numbers, but Probus...

 

I don't believe/want anything to Probus

 

Edited July 27, 20188 yr by tvagle

Sorry to see Escobar go...

 

Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes well...

 

Maybe someone who's very athletic will be coming up to cover 3rd... Alas for i don't know.

Sorry to see Escobar go...

 

Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes well...

 

Maybe someone who's very athletic will be coming up to cover 3rd... Alas for i don't know.

Sano has been recalled. How's that for athleticism!

Hard to be optimistic about a Lynn vs Sale matchup, especially when the Twins just traded away their second best hitter.

I am sad.

 

Esco was my favorite Twin.

 

I am sad.

Esco was my favorite Twin.

Don't be sad Davey...he'll be back next year and in the mean time you can stay up late and watch him play for the D-backs

 

or is it wake up earlier to watch them for you?

Edited July 27, 20188 yr by tvagle

Don't be sad Davey...he'll be back next year and in the mean time you can stay up late and watch him play for the D-backs

 

or is it wake up earlier to watch them for you?

Heh...

I'm not even sure. I'm actually in the US right now, jet lagged as hell...

Go Twinkies, anyway.

Sano has been recalled. How's that for athleticism!

I think he's only athletic in the outfield... but i defer to other TD regulars from that era as to the particulars.

Up the lines:

 

Identical or fraternal?

 

1. Jorge Polanco (S) SS

2. Eddie Rosario (L) LF

3. Brian Dozier ( R) 2B

4. Mitch Garver (R ) C

5. Logan Morrison (L) 1B

6. Ehire Adrianza (S) 3B

7. Max Kepler (L) RF

8. Robbie Grossman (S) DH

9. Jake Cave (L) CF

 

Rose Hose

 

1. Mookie Betts ( R) RF

2. Andrew Benintendi (L) LF

3. J.D. Martinez (R ) DH

4. Xander Bogaerts (R ) SS

5. Steve Pearce ( R) 1B

6. Rafael Devers (L) 3B

7. Eduardo Nunez ( R) 2B

8. Sandy Leon (S) C

9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF

 

Gametime Forecast: 82°F • Partly Cloudy • 0% PoP

Edited July 27, 20188 yr by sampleSizeOfOne

the average MLB start goes 5.1 innings, so I'm not sure how going less than six is a unique issue for the MOY to manage......

 

as for Escobar? Wow, I really thought they'd wait another couple days.

Yes

Sano arrives just in time to pinch hit for the Doze in the top of the 9th and hits a 3 run bomb off of Kimbrel

 

Twins win 4-3 after FRE walks in a run in the bottom of the 9th

Hard to be optimistic about a Lynn vs Sale matchup, especially when the Twins just traded away their second best hitter.

There is a Lynn, MA just cross the Tobin and up the North Shore, if i got my geography down, so he should feel right at home.

 

And things hard are usually worth doing, just as it is the hopeless causes which are worth fighting for.

If only....

 

Were Buxton in the lineup, it would be quite conceivable that the Twins starting 8 in the field from here on out could/would be 100% homegrown:

 

C: Garver

1B: Mauer

2B: Dozier

SS: Polanco

3B: Sano

LF: Rosario

CF:

RF: Kepler

 

That has to be extremely rare these days.

Edited July 27, 20188 yr by Monkeypaws

 

There is a Lynn, MA just cross the Tobin and up the North Shore, if i got my geography down, so he should feel right at home.

And things hard are usually worth doing, just as it is the hopeless causes which are worth fighting for.

Nice foolisophical whimsy

 

If only....

 

Were Buxton in the lineup, it would be quite conceivable that the Twins starting 8 in the field from here on out could/would be 100% homegrown:

 

C: Garver

1B: Mauer

2B: Dozier

SS: Polanco

3B: Sano

LF: Rosario

CF:

RF: Kepler

 

That has to be extremely rare these days.

 

wow!

I'm gonna miss you El Caballo. I hope we re-sign you this offseason...

 

Go Twins and Go Tigers!

My prediction: Twins get no-hit by Sale tonight. Everything lining up perfectly for him.

(P.S. Hope I’m wrong!!)

Now we know one reason Sano was in Rochester....how long is the flight/drive?

Dozier,** rumors have him switching dugouts this weekend, or to the Brew Crew, might as well bring Buxton and Gordon up and go from there ? Sano in boston tonight ?

Cave finally gets to start against a lefty.....and it might be the best one in baseball......let's hope he shows the Twins what he can do!

Wilson and Mauer , only bench players tonight,

olbermann on the death of boston journalist clark booth has a tinge of 2018 if "red sox" is switched out with "twins":

 

It’s 32 years and I still remember him telling me of his Calvinist view of the mid-curse Sox: “If the Red Sox win today, it is only because losing TOMORROW will hurt MORE.”

Any thoughts on who we got for Escobar? I, like everyone else really like Escobar, so my view of who we received is jaded, not impressed. 

 

I ran into what may be the president and only member of the Bobby Wilson Fan Club.

 

 

I ran into what may be the president and only member of the Bobby Wilson Fan Club.

IMG_20180727_184729424.jpg

 

where is that? Never been to Fenway.

 

One of my good friends is there, or was last night. Must not be much city councilin' work to do in SLP in July....

15 pitches, just like I thought....