Welcome to Summer Camp baseball. The Twins take on the Cubs for their first and only July exhibition before they start the postponed 2020 season. The season figures to be dramatic and entertaining. It is guaranteed to be different with a scant 60 games scheduled, all against Central Division foes (AL & NL), featuring roster and rule changes that will further change the grand old game. 

 

First, a word about this game thread and all of the regular season game threads. The idea of a game thread is to provide a place to discuss today's game, as if you were at the game watching with friends. Introductions set the stage and give some of our talented members a chance to present their thoughts. We previously had the brilliant and zany RiverBrian do many introductions, but now it is open to all with a chance to share your thoughts . Much like conversations with friends or family, sometimes things devolve but many game threaders do want to talk about the game, so let's be considerate of others. 

 

I expect game threads to be well-attended with plenty of posts. We've got an exciting, talented team to talk about in a sprint for postseason, with a chance to reverse recent history by making noise in October. 

 

Now for my thoughts on tonight's tilt. This will be the first live professional baseball I've watched since I was in Fort Myers when the remainder of the exhibition season was cancelled and Twins' spring training was eventually closed. There will be a thirst to be quenched. The result of tonight's game matters not at all, but how the players look and how prepared they are for the mad dash 60-game season are important. 

 

Much has changed since a baseball game that mattered has been played. We've added many terms to our personal dictionary and most of us now know exactly where a mask is. This should be fun tonight and entertaining for the coming months!

 

Lineups:

 

Twins

 

Garver C

Donaldson 3B

Cruz DH

Polanco SS

Sano 1B

Rosario LF

Gonzalez RF

Kepler CF

Adrianza 2B

 

Bailey P

 

Cubs

 

Bryant 3B

Rizzo 1B

Baez SS

Schwarber LF

Contreras C

Heyward RF

Bote DH

Kipness 2B

Happ CF

 

Lester P

Looks like it's streaming on MLB.TV for those of you out of market who have that package.

No Bux in the starting lineup tonight. Disappointing!

Hmm, Katniss is a Cubbie, I didn’t know that

Looks like it's streaming on MLB.TV for those of you out of market who have that package.

free from T-Mobile this year

Bailey getting drilled, yeeps.

I thought Rizzo looked thin

Good pitch to get Schwarber

Sounds like the Cubs' fake audio guy needs to work on his skills. Sounds like a 1990's video game or something.

SMH

Bailey not making a good first impression. 

 

Looks like it's streaming on MLB.TV for those of you out of market who have that package.

 

I'm taking the opportunity to listen to the top-notch Pat Hughes on the Cubs network. 

 

He's joined by Cubs and Twins legend Ron Coomer. My analysis of Coomer is that his problem is he's too average. Whereas Ron Santo was technically lousy, he was such a homer (while not being obnoxious like the Avian-named South Sider) that he was great fun to listen to when paired with Hughes. Coomer is much better that Santo, but he's not excellent, so you can't help but think about how good things could be with Hughes. 

 

Bailey has a "beefy" ERA of 5.20 against the Cubs, per Hughes. He is, however, one of five active pitchers with a pair of no-hitters.

Sounds like the Cubs' fake audio guy needs to work on his skills. Sounds like a 1990's video game or something.

just leave it quiet, like the Twins in the early 80’s

 

I'm taking the opportunity to listen to the top-notch Pat Hughes on the Cubs network. 

 

He's joined by Cubs and Twins legend Ron Coomer. My analysis of Coomer is that his problem is he's too average. Whereas Ron Santo was technically lousy, he was such a homer (while not being obnoxious like the Avian-named South Sider) that he was great fun to listen to when paired with Hughes. Coomer is much better that Santo, but he's not excellent, so you can't help but think about how good things could be with Hughes. 

 

Bailey has a "beefy" ERA of 5.20 against the Cubs, per Hughes. He is, however, one of five active pitchers with a pair of no-hitters.

Pat Hughes is great, I lived in Chicago for 12 years and loved listening to him. Effortless style.

 

Baily on the other hand is anything but effortless.

Won’t you go Home er Bailey, won’t you go home

Bailey at 24 pitches and not out of the first inning. I'll be curious to see how many pitches they let him throw before pulling him.

I wish we had an "official tankless water heater of the Twins Radio Network" like the Cubs have Navien.

 

He’s trying to rope a dope them

Good to see the boys back on the Field, But not sure about watching w/o fans- Grew up on the portable  radio, might be doing it again, Gonna take getting used to , 

 

Won’t you go Home er Bailey, won’t you go home

 

Crazy, isn't it. Hope he's not walkin' too many after midnight.  

Well, I can see why Cubs hit a lot of homers. The second homer was a routine fly to center.

Gotta crush those 88 mph fastballs from Lester

Sano in mid season form

Attaboy Rosie! two-bagger.

Rosario never saw a pitch he didn’t like

Never seen Wrigley empty

 

Never seen Wrigley empty

I have. I went on a Wrigley Field Stadium tour once - they do that in the summer when the Cubs are on the road. Got to see the clubhouses, dugout, press box, whole nine yards. Pretty cool actually.

Bux "feeling better" and "gaining confidence" - heard it before. Translation: we might see him in 2 weeks.

Jon Heyman reports that MLB and MLBPA have re-engaged on the possibility of a 16-team playoff. 

Bailey's improving already!