I think the schedulers of MLB did a good job putting the White Sox on our schedule just after the Yankees. We needed the pick-me-up that the Sox provide. We played the Yankees tough and lost a very, good game, epic even, in the process … yes, you can lose and it can still be a very, good, epic even, game, even though it sucks we lost, imho … and only won one of the three. Our July over all hasn’t been so good, our last home stand wasn’t so good, Cleveland appears mostly healthy again and is bearing down on us … so … it’s good timing for us and our morale to be playing the White Sox right now. They are a good pick-me-up. And I’m glad that the Yankees are having their post-Twins Sox experience, too, for very different reasons. Their Sox experience is a ‘pick-me-down’ and good for them.

 

We’ve won two of two so far against the White Sox. I thought for sure we’d lose the first one to Giolito, the Sox’s ‘ace’ … yeah … I’m using that term very generally and not in the true ‘What really is an ace pitcher’ kind of discussion way. But, he’s a good, young pitcher and getting better and could become that ace we all dream of; and the way our team has been so far, I didn’t like our chances. Even with Berrios on the mound. But, we done did it, and then some. And Pineda seems to be gaining, so yesterday’s win was good, too, even though we didn’t win by seven runs, as Brock thought we would. But, we reached 200 home runs for the season yesterday, and did it faster than any team ever has, so who cares if we didn’t win by seven. We won and reached 200 home runs thanks to Kepler.

 

And that brings us to today, with the matchup of Pérez vs Nova. At the beginning of the season, well, no, actually in Spring Training, I really thought Pérez was going to be that pitcher, ace-like, that he had finally ‘found’ that magic component. But as the season has worn on, well, he’s kind of ‘normalized’ into what he always has been. Still, for that early part of the year, he seemed to have found something. And I’m hoping that the ‘pick-me-up’ of playing the Sox, he will show some flashes of that today. Nova is coming off a very good win … a one-run, complete-game victory. Given his season so far, I’m not looking at him to repeat that. Hoping he doesn’t repeat that.

 

And that’s all I have to say. You guys do what you do and fill in the rest.

 

LINEUPS:

 

White Sox

Leury Garcia(S) LF
Yoan Moncada(S) 3B
Jose Abreu(R ) 1B
James McCann(R ) C
Welington Castillo(R ) DH
Jose Rondon(R ) SS
Yolmer Sanchez(S) 2B
Adam Engel(R ) CF
Ryan Cordell(R ) RF

 

Ivan Nova (R ) P

 

Twins

 

Max Kepler(L) RF
Jorge Polanco(S) SS
Nelson Cruz(R ) DH
Eddie Rosario(L) LF
Mitch Garver(R ) C
Marwin Gonzalez(S) 1B
Miguel Sano(R ) 3B
Jonathan Schoop(R ) 2B
Byron Buxton(R ) CF

 

Martin Pérez(L) P

 

Weather: upper 80s, but not overly humid, partly cloudy, breezy … but the rain is coming. So far doesn’t look like it will hit until after the game, so, I think we’ll be good.

 

Have a good Saturday … whatever your plans. I’ll be at work until 5.

 

Go Twins!

Excellent intro, Ma'am, err, Miss!

 

I still can't believe how long the Twins were stuck on 200 home runs. What was it, two innings or some such?

 

 

Excellent intro, Ma'am, err, Miss!

 

I still can't believe how long the Twins were stuck on 200 home runs. What was it, two innings or some such?

I think they're still stuck on it, aren't they?

 

They got 199 and 200 yesterday.

 

But yeah, they're like grapes these days.

I think they're still stuck on it, aren't they?

 

They got 199 and 200 yesterday.

 

But yeah, they're like grapes these days.

Yesterday was 200 and 201.

Yesterday was 200 and 201.

Yeah, and how long have they been stuck at 201 now? Over 12 hours, at a minimum? Maybe longer. Something needs to be done.

But yeah, they're like grapes these days.

Crushing them.

Yesterday was 200 and 201.

I stand corrected...

 

For some reason i thought they said Cruz' was 200...

 

Object lesson for y'all...

 

Pay attention.

I completely forgot that Ivan Nova was still in baseball.

 

And, looking over his stat line, what a fun surprise for the Twins offense.

I stand corrected...

 

For some reason i thought they said Cruz' was 200...

 

Object lesson for y'all...

 

Pay attention.

What?

 

I stand corrected...

For some reason i thought they said Cruz' was 200...

Object lesson for y'all...

Pay attention.

Why would we start now?

 

Typical, someone comes along and thinks we need to change a proven method of operation.

What?

Second base. We've been over this.

 

What?

 

 

Second base. We've been over this.

I'll never be over this. It transcends time.

It transcends time.

Also, all understanding.

Crushing them.

That works too.

 

I was thinking that they have the same number of letters...

 

bombas

grapes

 

Or maybe they come in bunches.

 

but people really seem to like them when they are crushed.

 

Just don't operate heavy machinery after crushing too many of them.

Second base. We've been over this.

It's halfway home.

 

Zeno approves.

Why would we start now?

 

Typical, someone comes along and thinks we need to change a proven method of operation.

I stand corrected...

 

Again.

 

That works too.

I was thinking that they have the same number of letters...

bombas
grapes

Or maybe they come in bunches.

but people really seem to like them when they are crushed.

Just don't operate heavy machinery after crushing too many of them.

And don't be such a winer.

It's halfway home.

 

Zeno approves.

I award you a half a Like. And then half of what's remaining, and then half of that. Oh, what the heck, half again more...

 

I completely forgot that Ivan Nova was still in baseball.

And, looking over his stat line, what a fun surprise for the Twins offense.

If Ivan's nickname isn't "Aldo" then what are we even doing here?

 

Crushing them.

 

https://youtu.be/PM5_dgKDsrc

Goes straight to your head, don't it?

 

Please crush on moderation. Excepting of course the Twins. They professionals after all.

That seemed like a long half inning to get out of on just 14 pitches.

Bases loaded, nobody out for Cleveland in the top of the 1st inning....

Bases loaded, nobody out for Cleveland in the top of the 1st inning....

Yeah, they're not going to lose the rest of the year. Didn't you hear?

 

Bases loaded, nobody out for Cleveland in the top of the 1st inning....

 

annnnnnnd Kipnis hits a grand slam.

It would be nice if the Twins make Nova throw more than 7 pitches this inning.

It would be nice if the Twins make Nova throw more than 7 pitches this inning.

Mick Jaeger said you can't always get what you want

 

If Ivan's nickname isn't "Aldo" then what are we even doing here?

 

Fantasy? 

Tonight’s bombas will be courtesy of Garver, Buxton and Sano, not necessarily in that order.

Edited July 27, 20197 yr by VATwinsFan

Tonight’s bombas will be courtesy of Garver and Sano.

Didn't G-sauce strike out 3 times yesterday? I'm not saying I doubt our highest OPS hitter, but I'd be happy with 2 hits and a double.