Game Thread: Twins vs. Royals, 5/29/22 @ 1:10PM CT

[IndianaTwin]

“Riding on the City of New Orleans…”

Well, actually, I’m on Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, which goes through Joliet and St. Louis on the way to Dallas and beyond, rather than through Kankakee and Memphis on the way to the Big Easy. But we still rolled along past houses, farms and fields.

I love traveling by train, so I took the two-hour ride to Chicago’s Union Station yesterday morning and then got on board for the 24-hour therapeutic jaunt. Mrs. IT flies in tonight, and we embark on the “Take a Tums Tour,” searching for barbecue and chili (no beans). Next Sunday, we’ll take in a game in Arlington, allowing me to recheck the Rangers’ stadium off the list and return to being able to say I’ve seen a game in all 29 Major League Stadiums, plus the Monument to Cement in Chicago where The Team That Shall Not Be Named plays.

• Aside: Vanimal gave me a few good recommendations early this week, but I’m also up for more. Where’s the best places you know for barbecue or chili in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and places in between? Oh, and milkshakes? Mrs. IT and I have a hankerin’ for those as well.

So why lead with a reference to the City of New Orleans, the classic song by Steve Goodman (foreshadow alert)? Perhaps it’s because of the Big Train. When we talk about the best player in franchise history, we’re usually arguing about Harmon, Rodney, Joe, Kirby, Tony O, etc. Here’s a tidbit for you. Remember that the franchise started as the Senators, and I came across this amazing fact the other day. At least I think it’s amazing, and this is my GT intro. The Big Train, Walter Johnson, racked up more bWar (164.9) for the franchise than Carew (63.8) and Killebrew (60.4) combined. Add in the third Twin HOF hitter, Oliva (43.0) and the Twins’ Big 3 only tops the Big Train by 2.3 WAR. In the discussions of what constitutes an Ace, I think we can generally agree that the pride of Humboldt, Kans., was a capital A-C-E ACE.

But Johnson isn’t it. Rather, let’s talk about Goodman. As Annie Kinsella almost said, “Fine. But what does Steve Goodman have to do with baseball?” Turns out the great folksinger from Chicago not only wrote the classic railroad ballad, recorded by Arlo Guthrie, John Denver, the Highwaymen and Judy Collins, before Willie Nelson won a Grammy with it in 1985, he also had a couple songs about our Pastime.

Just before the 1981 season, Goodman wrote “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request,” the story of a Cubs fan looking back at years of frustration following his hometown team. For those not familiar, in the song, the dying old man tells his friends to carry his coffin around Wrigley Field before having his ashes thrown into a bonfire on the field. Two players are mentioned – “Hey, Ernie, let’s play two” and “Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly.”

As it turns out, cynicism in the form of asking, “Do they still play the blues in Chicago when baseball rolls around?” and “When the snow melts away, do the Cubbies still play in their ivy-covered burial ground?” will get you on the outs with the team. That’s especially the case when you answer by saying, “When I was a boy, they were my pride and joy, but now they only bring fatigue to the home of the brave, the land of the free and the doormat of the National League.”

He goes on, noting that the last time the Cubs had won the National League pennant was “the year we dropped the bomb on Japan.” The Cubs made him a criminal, leading him to flagrant truancy as he sat in the bleachers, followed by taking part in alcohol, gambling, dope, football, hockey, lacrosse...

Our fair fan has season tickets to watch the Angels now. “But you, the living, you’re stuck here with the Cubs.”

Yeah, that honked off management, and they banned him from playing it at Wrigley Field.

But he redeemed himself in the eyes of management, coming up with “Go, Cubs, Go,” which went on to become the official Cubs victory song. WGN, the team’s radio broadcast partner, requested the song, which he wrote in 1984. Several 1984 Cubs appeared on the recording, but regretfully, Goodman lost his 16-year battle with leukemia and died on Sept. 20, just days before the Cubs clinched their first postseason appearance in nearly 40 years.

And now, in the words of another Chicago legend, you know “the rest of the story.”

But that’s Chicago and Dallas – today’s Twins tilt is against another barbecue-based team, the Royals of Arthur Bryant’s and Gates & Sons. The Walleyes need a win to salvage a series split. They’ll go after it with Sonny Gray on the hill, opposed by Zack Greinke, in a challenge between grizzled veterans. Let’s hope Gray is a little more grizzled.

For the Ribs

1. Whit Merrifield, CF (R)
2. Andrew Benintendi, LF (L)
3. Bobby Witt Jr., SS (R)
4. Salvador Perez, C (R)
5. M.J. Melendez, RF (L)
6. Hunter Dozier, 1B, (R)
7. Carlos Santana, DH (L or R, depending on opposing pitcher's handedness)
8. Emmanuel Rivera, 3B (R)
9. Nicky Lopez, 2B (L)

For the Walleyes

1. Byron Buxton, DH (R)
2. Carlos Correa, SS (R)
3. Luis Arraez, 1B (L)
4. Jorge Polanco, 2B (L or R, depending on opposing pitcher's handedness)
5. Gio Urshela, 3B (R)
6. Kyle Garlick, RF (R)
7. Royce Lewis, CF (R)
8. Trevor Larnach, LF (L)
9. Ryan Jeffers, C (R)

[IndianaTwin]

Today's game time weather forecast at Target Field: 79 degrees with clouds, headed to 85.

Today's game time weather forecast in Dallas: 87 degrees and sun, headed to 93. 

[Squirrel]

12 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

plus the Monument to Cement in Chicago where The Team That Shall Not Be Named plays.

lol ... I would still rather watch a game there than at Wrigley. Wrigley might be the iconic stadium in town, and certainly is a must see/experience, but unless you have very specific seats, it's a terrible, terrible place to watch a game with all its partial view or obstructed view seats, not to mention, more difficult to navigate to/from/into, higher crime in the area, more expensive.

Impressive, though, you've been to them all! (once your re-checked the Rangers stadium off your list.)

[Squirrel]

7 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

Sorry folks -- is the font really small on your screen, like it is on mine? 

Not anymore since I edited your post and changed it back to the default font  

[stringer bell]

I've enjoyed Amtrak rides to Chicago, Seattle and the east coast. It is an interesting way to travel for sure. I hope to have an opportunity to do it again sometime. 

[SwainZag]

 

[LA VIkes Fan]

MLB app has Lewis starting in RF and hitting #7. Sounds like Kepler to the IL. 

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

MLB app has Lewis starting in RF and hitting #7. Sounds like Kepler to the IL. 

Garlick in right, Lewis in center, Larnach in left. Buxton DH. 

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

lol ... I would still rather watch a game there than at Wrigley. Wrigley might be the iconic stadium in town, and certainly is a must see/experience, but unless you have very specific seats, it's a terrible, terrible place to watch a game with all its partial view or obstructed view seats, not to mention, more difficult to navigate to/from/into, higher crime in the area, more expensive.

Impressive, though, you've been to them all! (once your re-checked the Rangers stadium off your list.)

I'm not a big fan of Wrigley either. My son's a Cubs fan, so we've gone a couple times when the Twins were in town, but that's about it. The last couple times I've gone, we've parked on the southwest side (a reasonably accessible lot when driving from Indiana) and taken the El. 

[LA VIkes Fan]

8 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Garlick in right, Lewis in center, Larnach in left. Buxton DH. 

You're right, and it's Lewis up, Maranda down. Nothing on Kepler. Looks like they might be giving Garlick some run by starting him against RH pitching. Interesting... bigger part of the team? Showcasing him for a trade? 

[IndianaTwin]

58 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I've enjoyed Amtrak rides to Chicago, Seattle and the east coast. It is an interesting way to travel for sure. I hope to have an opportunity to do it again sometime. 

For our 25th anniversary, we got the USA Rail Pass, where you get eight segments anywhere for $400 (at least then). We went from home to Chicago to San Francisco to Portland and back home, with extra days in Salt Lake City, SF, Portland and Glacier Park. Loved it.  

[stringer bell]

Lineups: Royals (16-29) @ Twins (28-19)

Royals

 

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
W. MerrifieldCF	41-185	22	3	7	.222
A. BenintendiLF	53-164	18	2	0	.323
B. Witt Jr.SS	41-167	24	6	7	.246
S. PerezC	29-140	16	6	0	.207
M. MelendezRF	16-70	8	4	0	.229
H. Dozier1B	43-156	16	5	1	.276
C. SantanaDH	18-113	10	2	0	.159
E. Rivera3B	16-66	11	3	0	.242
N. Lopez2B	31-146	5	0	4	.212

 

Twins:

HITTERS	H-AB	RBI	HR	SB	AVG
B. BuxtonDH	25-124	21	11	1	.202
C. CorreaSS	39-135	16	3	0	.289
L. Arraez1B	47-131	12	1	2	.359
J. Polanco2B	37-160	26	5	2	.231
G. Urshela3B	36-139	17	3	0	.259
K. GarlickRF	11-39	10	4	0	.282
R. LewisCF	12-39	5	2	0	.308
T. LarnachLF	24-83	11	2	0	.289
R. JeffersC	21-103	14	3	0	.204

 

Starting pitchers:

PLAYER	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	H	K	BB	HR
Z. Greinke	0-3	4.53	1.30	47.2	54	23	8	4
S. Gray	2-1	2.60	1.12	27.2	21	35	10	3

•  

 

 

 

 

[SwainZag]

28 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

You're right, and it's Lewis up, Maranda down. Nothing on Kepler. Looks like they might be giving Garlick some run by starting him against RH pitching. Interesting... bigger part of the team? Showcasing him for a trade? 

With Kepler getting banged up yesterday and Celestino on the COVID list it only leaves Gordon and Garlick as our other OF's with Buxton at DH.  

[bighat]

 

31 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

 Looks like they might be giving Garlick some run by starting him against RH pitching. Interesting... bigger part of the team? Showcasing him for a trade? 

It's got to be the former, the Twins certainly aren't playing Garlick more to showcase him for a trade.

At this point he's one of the few Twins who's been pretty consistently hitting, and as the Twins can't seem to score more than 3 runs per game against Detroit and KC, they kinda have to start playing him. Plenty of others have received opportunities but nobody's really stepped up much less caught fire.

[CRF]

Wow! Lewis back up and starting in CF! Nice to see him back and to get his bat in the line up. 

[Danchat]

Great to see Lewis up, definitely needed him in the lineup. Contreras can come up if Kepler needs to go to the IL. Gotta split this series, losing 3/4 to the Royals would be embarrassing.

[LA VIkes Fan]

Interesting OF lineup. Arguably better hitting group = Lewis, Garlick and Larnach. Better defensive group = Buxton, Kepler, Celestino. Latter group better overall but we do need some offense. 

[mnfireman]

6 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Interesting OF lineup. Arguably better hitting group = Lewis, Garlick and Larnach. Better defensive group = Buxton, Kepler, Celestino. Latter group better overall but we do need some offense. 

Celestino is on the Covid IL, Kepler may be headed to the regular IL and Buxton has been fighting nagging knee and hip injuries and is used as a DH about every 3rd or 4th game, so they aren't available in the field today. 

If Kirilloff continues to hit I wouldn't be surprised to see Buxton and Kepler both go to the IL.

[rwilfong86]

Good lineup to try to salvage a series split. 

[LA VIkes Fan]

6 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Celestino is on the Covid IL, Kepler may be headed to the regular IL and Buxton has been fighting nagging knee and hip injuries and is used as a DH about every 3rd or 4th game, so they aren't available in the field today. 

If Kirilloff continues to hit I wouldn't be surprised to see Buxton and Kepler both go to the IL.

I know about that. My point was that these 3 guys may be our best OF at the plate without considering the other issues. Maybe we use these 3 guys plus Buxton regularly in the OF, with Kepler playing 1B, or even better have Garlick play 1B in a platoon with Arraez and the one of these 4 guys sitting is the DH. The lineup needs a boost at the plate. I'm wondering if more regular playing time for Garlick and Lewis might provide that boost. 

By the way, I read that Kirilloff is still feeling pain in his wrist, even though he is overpowering AAA pitching.  I think he's still a ways away unless it's a real emergency and another surgery would not be surprising. 

 

[mnfireman]

3 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I know about that. My point was that these 3 guys may be our best OF at the plate without considering the other issues. Maybe we use these 3 guys plus Buxton regularly in the OF, with Kepler playing 1B, or even better have Garlick play 1B in a platoon with Arraez and the one of these 4 guys sitting is the DH. The lineup needs a boost at the plate. I'm wondering if more regular playing time for Garlick and Lewis might provide that boost. 

By the way, I read that Kirilloff is still feeling pain in his wrist, even though he is overpowering AAA pitching.  I think he's still a ways away unless it's a real emergency and another surgery would not be surprising. 

 

Because this the game thread for today I was just stating who wasn't available today.

[LA VIkes Fan]

I used to Live in San Antonio years ago and still have family there. BBQ? Rudy's, BBQ Station, Smokeshack, County Line. Depends on how up or down scale you want to go.  Payne's in Burnet, Opie's in Spicewood, Alice's in Dripping Springs, and the Switch in Austin also worth your time. 

[LA VIkes Fan]

Just now, mnfireman said:

Because this the game thread for today I was just stating who wasn't available today.

No worries. I was just thinking forward - we need offense, maybe these guys might be a way to help that. Frankly, I think the way to improve the offense is to put Lewis in the lineup instead of Urshela, make Urshela the primary super utility and the RH 1B (since Arraez can't hit LH pitching), keep playing Larnach daily at DH or LF,  and have Celstino and Garlick fight it out for ABs as the other LF/DH spot. Sanchez plays only C, no DH.  

[TheLeviathan]

Anyone know what the available bench looks like for today?

I assume no Kepler, yes to Sanchez, but are there any other warm bodies?

[blindeke]

Amtrak is the fun, if you're not in a hurry to get anywhere. Enjoy the ride! 

PS I miss Kepler already.

[h2oface]

Kinda odd timing on Miranda...... last 7 games stat hitting .316 with an OPS of .824 and finally hitting his stride and here comes the reward. Great to have Lewis back, though. Also odd to see Buxton with the lowest BA in today's lineup.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/05/twins-call-up-royce-lewis-option-jose-miranda.html/comment-page-1#comment-2576100

[Sielk]

How nice of the Royals to give Royce some additional practice in center field!

[stringer bell]

The ball will find you! First two balls hit to center fielder Royce Lewis. 

[PDX Twin]

Just now, stringer bell said:

The ball will find you! First two balls hit to center fielder Royce Lewis. 

He's an out machine! (Hopefully not in the bottom of innings...)

[stringer bell]

Was Jeffers giving signs?