Well, we’re here. It’s postseason time and there’s no game thread ready a few hours before first pitch so I’m typing this on my phone to get it out there.

 

Only have time for one thought: I love Greinke, he’s a delightful weirdo. But I hope the Twins effing demolish him.

 

Win Twins!

 

1. Arráez 2B

2. Buxton CF

3. Kepler RF

4. Cruz DH

5. Rosario LF

6. Sanó 1B

7. Polanco SS

8. Jeffers C

9. González 3B

I love Greinke too. He's exciting/interesting to watch pitch. I mean, how many other pitchers call their own signs, verbally?!

Interesting lineup for sure. A scenario I would like to see played out while Donaldson is out is pinch hitting Kirilloff for Gonzalez and shifting Sano over to 3B. That would temporarily give the Twins the most pop in the lineup without totally sacrificing defense.

 

It’s playoff time!!!1!! As John Bonnes would say, Giddy. Up.

 

Interesting lineup for sure. A scenario I would like to see played out while Donaldson is out is pinch hitting Kirilloff for Gonzalez and shifting Sano over to 3B. That would temporarily give the Twins the most pop in the lineup without totally sacrificing defense.

It’s playoff time!!!1!! As John Bonnes would say, Giddy. Up.

 

No chance that happens. 

I know that Stros lineup hasn't hit much but it still looks pretty frightening. 

I know that Stros lineup hasn't hit much but it still looks pretty frightening.

A lot of scary name recognition there, for sure.

Wow Polanco batting 7th, hmmmm....

 

Interesting lineup for sure. A scenario I would like to see played out while Donaldson is out is pinch hitting Kirilloff for Gonzalez and shifting Sano over to 3B. That would temporarily give the Twins the most pop in the lineup without totally sacrificing defense.

It’s playoff time!!!1!! As John Bonnes would say, Giddy. Up.

Sano will not move to third. If Kiriloff pinch hits for Marwin, then Adrianza comes in to play third. 

I attended this game in KC where we battered Greinke very nicely.

 

Valencia hit a first inning grand slam AND Anthony Slama got an inning.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA201007260.shtml

 

I expect similar results today.

A friend of mine told me this morning that Kiriloff was on the roster.  My reply was that I was either scared because that meant Buxton wasn't ready or thrilled because maybe we were leaving a pitcher off so we could have some extra pop.  Didn't think that a simple 'cramp' would keep Donaldson out of play.  We need to get that man some new calves.

 

Years and years ago, when Greinke was still a Royal, he showed up at an umpiring clinic my association conducted and he threw to high school hitters just to get some action before going to spring training (Johnny Damon was also there to hit since the clinic was being held at his HS alma mater).  We were rotating home plate umpires in every few batters and when my turn came, I got to call some Greinke pitches.  I'll say this much -- a high school curveball looks like a lollipop compared to the tight spinner a major leaguer throws.  Hopefully today, Greinke throws the Twins a few lollipops.

I'm gonna be contrary, and post the game thread intro i'd prepared anyway.

 

Not that it's any better than this one. In fact, it is distinctly worse, not existing in time to accommodate folk who want to comment on the game that early.

 

But we was given to understand that game threads go up ~an hour before game time so as not to tread to much on the toes of the pregame notes (indeed, that somewhat alleviates us writer types from havin' to pay close enough attention to how the team is doin' to make intelligent commentary thereupon)

 

Anyway, i know there are thread mergin' superpowers that will be wielded momentarily to make me look good. Or at least not as bad as i normally look, so that said, i'm totally fine with this post disappearing.

Some days ago, i entered into a dark forest and couldn't figure out what would be the most epickest of game thread intros to start off. Homer had already written the Illiad and Oddyssey (before he got DFA'd), and well, the Aeneid, i suppose might have worked well in '65 when the memory of the move from Washington was fresh in folks' minds, but this is 2020 when people just don't have the attention span for such long poetic forms.

 

But Dante's work at least has thematic points i can hit, and be on my way.

Post season = after life, or something like that. And he had a 3 game series too, before he got to the end of his journey.

 

So onward...

 

Game 1: "Abandon Hope all ye who enter here!"

Leastwise, mere smeer hope won't get the job done...

 

(I think that's as much as i thought about that. We're just travelors passing through)

 

But more appealing are the halls of Hrothgar being ransacked every night by a cunning old monster that tears limbs off and whatnot, which more accurately recounts our recent post season experience.

 

Yeah, now that fits!

 

So fill your meade bowls, put a few more logs on the hearth, as we wait to see the epic battle between Beo-Cruz and Greinkdol...

 

Indeed, Greinke with his formative years in KC is a most interesting opponent. I saw a bit of game 7 last year when he held Washington down, and wished they'd let him stay in.  He was fun to watch, as he eschewed this whole "hide the grip you are using from the batter in your glove" that everyone does, as he could throw what he wanted using the same grip.

 

Houston:

0. Zack Greinke (R ) P
1. George Springer (R ) CF
2. Jose Altuve (R ) 2B
3. Michael Brantley ( L) DH
4. Alex Bregman (R ) 3B
5. Kyle Tucker ( L) LF
6. Yuli Gurriel (R ) 1B
7. Carlos Correa (R ) SS
8. Josh Reddick ( L) RF
9. Martin Maldonado (R ) C

 

Twins:

0. Kenta Maeda (R ) P
1. Luis Arraez ( L) 2B
2. Byron Buxton (R ) CF
3. Max Kepler ( L) RF
4. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH
5. Eddie Rosario ( L) LF
6. Miguel Sano (R ) 1B
7. Jorge Polanco ( S ) SS
8. Ryan Jeffers (R ) C
9. Marwin Gonzalez ( S ) 3B

 

Man, i wish i knew more about Gilgalmesh, or the 3 kingdoms, or... well, i'm sure there are many other epics out there i don't know well enough to draw upon.

 

And honestly, i'm not sure i can't help but make fun of whatever i borrow. This could well be the beginning of Marco Pollo's journey to the far east in search of that illusive coop of chicken dinners. I'd like to think it'll be as smooth as silk...

No Donaldson is disappointing.

 

Well, go get em.

 

Wow Polanco batting 7th, hmmmm....

He has been lost at the plate, watching him close and the fact he has so many Bloopers to ss- l.f. area , His feet are moving way to much, he used to keep his Head down till contact, keeps dropping his shoulder when batting Left-handed, He is capable of Dominating, we need his old way of hitting, Keep your Head in there Jorge, Go TWINS

 

No Donaldson is disappointing.

Well, go get em.

Yup. All Donaldsons live up to expectations.

 

Sadly ours is out for this series, making room for Kirilloff's call up, as i understand it.

 

(full details, check Seth's article what i am too lazy to link to...

He has been lost at the plate, watching him close and the fact he has so many Bloopers to ss- l.f. area , His feet are moving way to much, he used to keep his Head down till contact, keeps dropping his shoulder when batting Left-handed, He is capable of Dominating, we need his old way of hitting, Keep your Head in there Jorge, Go TWINS

i wonder if Polanco is healthy. Hes off balance on almost every swing from the left side.

6 strong innings from Maeda, please. Thats most important anyway.

Anyone know what announcers we get, Hope its not still Ernie And  Ron Darling  ??

 

i wonder if Polanco is healthy. Hes off balance on almost every swing from the left side.

We see it -- Do they ?? i think if they were worried about Polancos health, Royce lewis ?? instead of Kiriloff ?

F.s.n.  has the Pre-game --- Good

 

i wonder if Polanco is healthy. Hes off balance on almost every swing from the left side.

He's clearly not healthy. 

 

F.s.n.  has the Pre-game --- Good

Sure would of been a nice day at the Ballpark,  use to go to about 50+ a year

And i guess i'm glad folk here warned me about national black outs on mlb.

 

Not sure if i'll just be listening to it all, or i'll find someplace to watch on local tv, but if i'm listening, i'll probably decide to do something away from the computer.

 

You all will have to maintain my steady stream of inanity for me!

 

Well, not really. But do take good care of the game in my absence!

ABC going with the cold open approach to this baseball game? Just turned it on and Good Morning America is playing.

 

Anyone know what announcers we get, Hope its not still Ernie And  Ron Darling  ??

Announcers: Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Eduardo Perez (analyst), Tim Kurkjian (analyst)

Source: https://programminginsider.com/2020-mlb-postseason-national-tv-and-announcer-schedule/

Arghhhh this last hour is interminable.

Just realized my TV provider just quit offering ABC. Thank goodness the internet is a thing...

 

Just realized my TV provider just quit offering ABC.

Who's your provider?

 

You might be able to stream it free (and legally) with Locast: https://www.locast.org/

Quit providing ABC? Couldn’t you just turn off the cable and bust out the attenna or digital box and get it free?

Left work early for this, don’t disappoint me!