The Twins look to even the series tonight in a 6:15 tilt against the Houston Astros. The Twins version of an ace, José Berríos, will face Luis Garcia of the Astros. Garcia has impressive numbers. I don't know anything about him.

Yesterday, the Twins hit four homers (all solos) and still lost to Houston 6-4. The Twins lead MLB in homers, yet their offense is only 11th best in scoring runs, while they are third worst allowing runs. Too many solo homers, too few innings where hits were strung together. 

A couple of comments about the big talker--substances pitchers have been using to "get a grip" and spin the ball effectively. Offense is way down again this year. Just about every box score I check, I see hitters in the lineup who aren't over the Mendoza line. Strikeouts are continuing to surge and an old timer like me sees pitcher after pitcher with velocities over 95 mph and wonders what Juan Berenguer and his 90 mph fastball would do in today's climate. 

I'd personally like to see the ball in play more and more facets of the game on display. When there are 20 strikeouts in a game, there are fewer chances for great defensive plays. All of the all or nothing at bats also discourages base stealing and advancing on the bases. Maybe something will happen to change the focus of the game. 

What I still love about baseball is that you never know with even near certainty how a game will play out. The pitchers might enter the game with terrible stats, but for one day, anything can happen. Over the course of a season, teams with better health and talent win out, but on any given day, the lesser team can win.

 

Pitchers:

PLAYER	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	H	K	BB	HR
L. Garcia	5-3	2.75	1.00	59.0	40	68	19	8
J. Berrios	6-2	3.58	1.11	70.1	59	73	19	8

Lineups--Astros

 

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
J. Altuve2B	64-217	30	12	2	.295
M. BrantleyLF	59-180	17	3	0	.328
A. Bregman3B	63-216	33	7	1	.292
Y. AlvarezDH	59-194	33	8	0	.304
Y. Gurriel1B	71-213	46	10	1	.333
K. TuckerRF	60-230	40	11	5	.261
R. GarciaSS	4-26	2	0	0	.154
C. McCormickCF	15-76	19	5	2	.197
M. MaldonadoC	27-159	17	4	0	.17

	Twins

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
J. Polanco2B	51-211	27	8	3	.242
J. Donaldson3B	44-176	26	10	0	.250
N. CruzDH	53-184	30	12	1	.288
T. LarnachLF	22-88	8	3	0	.250
M. Sano1B	30-165	31	13	0	.182
A. KirilloffRF	30-115	18	4	0	.261
N. GordonCF	10-27	2	1	3	.370
A. SimmonsSS	41-163	14	2	0	.252
B. RortvedtC	5-36	3	1	0	.139

22 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

 

What I still love about baseball is that you never know with even near certainty how a game will play out. The pitchers might enter the game with terrible stats, but for one day, anything can happen. 

With Berrios' stuff one of these days he's going to have a game where he's totally unhittable. Why not tonight?

Today's game is on Fox locally tonight. I guess everybody will be able to watch tonight.

Game is on free TV tonight (FOX), at least in Minnesota.

If you don’t have an antenna or otherwise get FOX, you may be able to watch using the Locast site/app.

edit: stringer beat me to it!

Not going to lie, it’s so good seeing the FOX graphics and hearing the FOX music again.  

Well that a horrible at bat by Sano. Swung at 3 pitches well out of the strike zone. 

Tuned in to see Berrios have a nice fourth inning.  Let's get the poor fellow some runs, why don't we!

Sano comes through with someone on base!

As expected.

Why is a pitcher blowing into his fist when it's 80+ degrees tonight?  It's not to keep the fingers warm.

6 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Why is a pitcher blowing into his fist when it's 80+ degrees tonight?  It's not to keep the fingers warm.

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

Today's game is on Fox locally tonight. I guess everybody will be able to watch tonight.

Nope. Northern Indiana gets Cubs and Cardinals, so it’s another night of struggling through the Gladden Hour. 

Love this presentation of the lineups, SB. 

POLANCO!!!!

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Luis Garcia of the Astros has impressive numbers. I don't know anything about him.

 

 

Pitchers:

PLAYER	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	H	K	BB	HR
L. Garcia	5-3	2.75	1.00	59.0	40	68	19	8
J. Berrios	6-2	3.58	1.11	70.1	59	73	19	8

Lineups--Astros

 

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
J. Altuve2B	64-217	30	12	2	.295
M. BrantleyLF	59-180	17	3	0	.328
A. Bregman3B	63-216	33	7	1	.292
Y. AlvarezDH	59-194	33	8	0	.304
Y. Gurriel1B	71-213	46	10	1	.333
K. TuckerRF	60-230	40	11	5	.261
R. GarciaSS	4-26	2	0	0	.154
C. McCormickCF	15-76	19	5	2	.197
M. MaldonadoC	27-159	17	4	0	.17

	Twins

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
J. Polanco2B	51-211	27	8	3	.242
J. Donaldson3B	44-176	26	10	0	.250
N. CruzDH	53-184	30	12	1	.288
T. LarnachLF	22-88	8	3	0	.250
M. Sano1B	30-165	31	13	0	.182
A. KirilloffRF	30-115	18	4	0	.261
N. GordonCF	10-27	2	1	3	.370
A. SimmonsSS	41-163	14	2	0	.252
B. RortvedtC	5-36	3	1	0	.139

Well...which is it?

Yaaaaaay! A lead our bullpen can blow!

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Well...which is it?

Um, "yes"?

38 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Sano comes through with someone on base!

As expected.

Ditto Rortvedt. As expected. 

Also, Eric Karros needs to stop talking

4 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

Yaaaaaay! A lead our bullpen can blow!

Don't be ridiculous. No Twins bullpen has ever blown a 4 run lead.

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

Don't be ridiculous. No Twins bullpen has ever blown a 4 run lead.

Is Rick Aguilera warming up?

3 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Don't be ridiculous. No Twins bullpen has ever blown a 4 run lead.

2 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

Is Rick Aguilera warming up?

Dunno. Didn't know he was cold. 

 

Hahahahahabaha. I kill me.

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Hahahahahabaha. I kill me.

Don't go to any trouble, we'll be happy to.

Bad day for me...some *** in a wheelchair stole my camouflage jacket. 

 

Listen up pal...you can hide but you can't run.

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Bad day for me...some *** in a wheelchair stole my camouflage jacket. 

 

Listen up pal...you can hide but you can't run.

"This game is so difficult.  To continually produce.  Year in and year out.  And yet I did."

20 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

Yaaaaaay! A lead our bullpen can blow!

No.

 

The number of the Berrios innings shall be 9.

 

And 9 shall be the number he pitches.

Just now, sampleSizeOfOne said:

No.

 

The number of the Berrios innings shall be 9.

 

And 9 shall be the number he pitches.

I'll take the under.

2 minutes ago, ashbury said:

"This game is so difficult.  To continually produce.  Year in and year out.  And yet I did."

He really produced during the off season?

 

Winter ball! That's right.

 

(except it is Summer in the southern hemisphere...)

4 minutes ago, ashbury said:

"This game is so difficult.  To continually produce.  Year in and year out.  And yet I did."

It's like me, and game threads.