Happy Labor Day weekend Twins fans and welcome back to more game thread action! The Twins are on a roll and finally playing with a little more fire in the belly. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer (technically it's September 22nd but whatever) my point is, there is not a lot of regular season baseball left to play. I would really like to see a 12+ game winning streak heading into the playoffs. Momentum will be the key to making it through the Covid type playoff system MLB designed this year. Also need to do a quick shout out to Byron Buxton, nice work last night!!!

 

When I walked outside this morning to survey last nights hail damage, I turned on the radio to start my day and Boston's "More than a Feeling" came on...it got me thinking about past Labor Day weekends...For some reason, Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer always made a mark on me when I was younger. I still vividly remember the popular songs that played on the radio those late August and early September days in the 70's and 80's. Then I started thinking about truly end of summer songs. Which songs qualify as "end of summer songs"? I'm not really sure but decided to make a short list anyway and share the ones that come to mind. I know there's a lot more but figured this was a good start. I might as well turn up the volume, play a few of these while enjoying the last of the sunshine, warmth and humidity (tomorrow's forecast in Minneapolis is 59 degrees and rain) while watching the Twins beat up on Detroit this afternoon.

 

End of summer songs. A short playlist by Twinssporto:

 

"Boys of Summer" by Don Henley

"Night Moves" by Bob Seger

"Wake me up when September Ends" by Green Day

"Summer Nights" by Grease cast

"Summers Almost Gone" by The Doors

"Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly and the family Stone (first of the fall and then she goes back, bye, bye, bye, bye there...)

 

Go Twins!

 

Today's Lineups: Brace yourself folks, it's kinda ugly...

 

TWINS:

1. Jorge Polanco (SS)

2. Luis Arraez (2B)

3. Miguel Sano (1B)

4. Eddie Rosario (LF)

5. Brent Rooker (DH)

6. LaMonte Wade (RF)

7. Jake Cave (CF)

8. Ehire Adrianza (3B)

9. W. Astudillo ©

SP - Rich Hill (LHP)

 

TIGERS:

1. V. Reyes (CF)

2. J. Schoop (2B)

3. M. Cabrera (DH)

4. J. Candelario (1B)

5. W. Castro (SS)

6. J. Bonifacio (LF)

7. T. Demeritte (RF)

8. G. Greiner ©

9. S. Alcanatra (3B)

SP - Casey Mize (RHP)

 

Weather: Partly cloudy and windy. 83 degrees with a 10% chance of rain.

Hill is pitching for a job at this point, as Odorizzi threw 60 pitches in St. Paul yesterday.

 

Here’s hoping Dick Mountain makes it a hard decision for the Twins.

Rocco is certainly not pushing Donaldson and Buxton in their return from the Injured List. I guess the Twins are basically a lock to make postseason but I'd sure like to see the regular lineup in there as a whole. 

 

Another test for Hill. In his two good starts, he's been good through five innings. In his two bad starts, he couldn't get over the hump with control issues.

I had really hoped to never see a lineup with Wade, Cave, and Adrianza again. 

I think Hill would be a great combo with Dobnak come playoff time

 

Rocco is certainly not pushing Donaldson and Buxton in their return from the Injured List. I guess the Twins are basically a lock to make postseason but I'd sure like to see the regular lineup in there as a whole. 

 

Agree, would like to see more of those two after so much time off. Gently seems to be Rocco's modus operandi when it comes to return from injury. Happy to see Arraez playing and batting second -- different look than Donaldson in the 2 spot for sure, maybe he'll be a spark -- and Rooker spelling Cruz will let us see more of the rookie. I thought Rocco took him out too early yesterday after his nice hit. It all worked out well enough though, so no complaints.

 

Picks to click? I'll go with Arraez and Rooker. Because why not?

Joe Jiminez still whining about Sano. Get over it dude. Sano showed you up after hitting a mammoth home run. Stop sucking at baseball and lower your over 5 career ERA from the bullpen. Until then, prepare to get shown up!

 

Go Twins! Sano cracks another bomba today!

"Hot town, summer in the city,

Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty..."

 

Summer in the City by The Lovin Spoonful

 

"See You In September"

 

-The Happenings

BTW...Lineup looks like a spring training road game.

Yeah, the lineup worries me. I'd rather Rocco start a more normal lineup and get those other guys some PT in games we are blowing people out in, or in games the twins are getting blown out in. Or start one dude here and there but to put all those guys in on the same day seems like too much. Hopefully they can beat up on mize today

Go Twins!

 

I made it.

 

I got no summer end of summer songs other than the grease one already mentioned...

Hurrah for stranding (their) runners at 3rd.

 

I approve.

Let's get some early run support for a change. Half a dozen or so.

We got warning track power, eh?

I'm heading out on a bike road soon, and this is more of a late-fall, heading into winter song, but I'll add a foreshadowing "Let it Sano, let it Sano, let it Sano." 

Rich Hill continues to look, quite frankly, washed up.

 

Where's Homer Bailey?

If Astudillo just catches the throw hes out by plenty.

Almost a play at the plate...

 

Astudillo dropped the ball.

Rich Hill continues to look, quite frankly, washed up.

 

Where's Homer Bailey?

Washed up... means his pitching is clean?

Yeah, Eddie's throw was perfect. Such a shame La Tortuga couldn't get hold of that ball.

Almost a play at the plate...

 

Astudillo dropped the ball.

Stranding a runner at home takes talent...

 

Almost.

Uphill battle.

 

I wouldn't mind not waiting until the last inning to get it back.

 

Uphill battle.

I wouldn't mind not waiting until the last inning to get it back.

 

Rich Hill battle...

Mize's WHIP entering this game: nearly 1.7.

The Dick Mountain signing has been a bustaroo

Rich Hill battle...

That too.

Mize's WHIP entering this game: nearly 1.7.

So you say he's regressing?

Oh, while obviously the State Fair wasn't what it normally is this summer, but i remember catching an NPR blurb about fair food delivery, or at least to go.

 

How did it turn out, anyone know?

I love the Twins, but it really hard to watch them lately, even when they win. Cleveland won something like 20 games in a row over 2 years against the Tigers, but they play us like they’re in ‘27 Yankees or something.