Twins | 61-67, 39-27 at home, 6-4 last 10

Stephen Gonsalves, LHP | 27.00 ERA, 6.00 WHIP, 1.50 K:BB in 1.1 IP

 

Athletics | 77-52, 38-26 on the road, 6-4 last 10

Mike Fiers, RHP | 3.21 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.00 K:BB in 137.1 IP

 

Additional Notes

Gonsalves had a rough debut, but it was under less than ideal circumstances. The game was delayed due to weather and it began to rain again while Gonsalves was on the mound. It was an ugly performance, but it's the kind of thing you give him a mulligan for and just hope things go more smoothly the second time around. 

 

This will be Fiers' fourth start for Oakland since coming over in a trade with Detroit. He's been incredible as an A, giving up just three runs on 11 hits and one walk over 18 1/3 innings (1.47 ERA, 0.65 WHIP). In five starts at Target Field, Fiers is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA. 

 

Lineups:

Game Thread Update

Starting Monday I'll have to step away from posting game threads due to some other projects that are going to be demanding more of my time. It looks like going forward we only have 11 games where someone has previously volunteered to start the thread. So, if you happen to notice we're creeping up on first pitch and nobody's started a thread, you can go ahead and get it started yourself. There's really no standard format you have to abide by, just kick off the conversation.

Did we almost beat 'em yesterday?

 

Let us go just a little bit further today!

We finally get to see Astudillo catch... will we figure out why Molly refused to have him catch at all during his first stint?

"Lend me your ear, and i'll sing you a song.

And i'll try not to sing out of key..."

Tough crowd tonight...

 

Must be round about time for the State Fair, eh?

I am torn between a "why isn't Garver catching" post, or a "it's about time Austudillo gets to catch" post? I think I'll wait until I see how Austudillo does before I post.

Another delayed start? Is it just me or have almost all of Stewart's and Gonsalves' starts been delayed for one reason or another.

The old Powder Blue uniforms (sorta) are back for tonight? Is this 70s Disco Night?

Ball 2, to start the game. Season over.

He's got Caveman on the back of his jersey, but he's no Gloveman.

 

Nice recovery to get the lead runner, though.

When Cave dropped that flyout my first thought was here comes a big inning, but a nice recovery to force out the base runner kept Oakland off the board. Hopefully Gonsalves can find the strike zone a little more consistently next inning.

Was that a baltimore chop?

Scorer in running position.

 

What do we do now?

Rosario's pitch recognition has seemed to regress recently. Striking out on a pitch that bounces 6 inches in front of the plate is not a good look.

Scorer in running position.

 

What do we do now?

Fly out to right...

 

0-0 after 1.

Astudillo seems nice and quiet behind the plate. And Gonsalves's command is, shall we say, marginal, yet no balls to the backstop as yet, 39 pitches into this young game. So far, I'm not seeing what gives the dugout braintrust qualms about him as catcher.

I thought Rosie had the runner at home, but his throw was a little high...

 

Could be worse though.

I thought Rosie had the runner at home, but his throw was a little high...

This is the problem with Astudillo behind the plate. If we had 6'5" Joe Mauer still back there, instead of our 5'9" guy, that throw from left field would have been only 5 feet too high.

According to my facebook memories feed, I attended my last game at the HHH Metrodome 9 years ago today.

Think there is a chance we see Austudillo do a Cesar Tovar and play all 9 positions in a game in September? Pitching and first base would worry me the most.

This is the problem with Astudillo behind the plate. If we had 6'5" Joe Mauer still back there, instead of our 5'9" guy, that throw from left field would have been only 5 feet too high.

What's Mauer's vertical leap these days?

 

Oh, right, the pads would weigh him down somewhat...

 

This is the problem with Astudillo behind the plate. If we had 6'5" Joe Mauer still back there, instead of our 5'9" guy, that throw from left field would have been only 5 feet too high.

Fortunately, 6'5" Stephen Gonsalves was there to back up the throw, or both runners would have advanced.

 

//yes, I know. that's the joke.

According to my facebook memories feed, I attended my last game at the HHH Metrodome 9 years ago today.

I take my business elsewhere now.

 

Lots of happy memories associated with that dump, though.

Does anyone get annoying pop ups while viewing gameday on mobile or is it just my dinosaur phone? It sometimes happens on this site as well. Usually not any others though.

Edited August 26, 20188 yr by yarnivek1972

I switched to CenturyLink about 2 months ago.

 

So far, their rates really haven't changed.

 

Does anyone get annoying pop ups while viewing gameday on mobile or is it just my dinosaur phone? It sometimes happens on this site as well. Usually not any others though.

Yeah, I keep getting these ads I assume are politically motivated, given the current investigation: "Meet Russian Women."

 

Does anyone get annoying pop ups while viewing gameday on mobile or is it just my dinosaur phone? It sometimes happens on this site as well. Usually not any others though.

 

It's just you. Might want to uninstall and reinstall your web browser. Use the Chrome browser on your phone if possible.

I switched to CenturyLink about 2 months ago.

 

So far, their rates really haven't changed.

Man, i'd get in such trouble if i didn't change my socks for 2 months...

Nice throw from Cave, there! The runner had no business going to third, but still, gotta give credit where it's due.

OK, Caveman can stay on my team for another inning, after that nice throw from RF to third.