Put me in couch I'm ready to play...today..OK nvm who can we get from AA to fill out the roster?

 

Thielbar not looking good today.

Over/Under is 2 on how many runs Thielbar allows here? I'm gonna go with over. Anyone wanna play?

Watching this bullpen is the top joy of my life.

It would be smart to have someone warming up now.

Everyone gets a break, and everyone gets a turn, this is the only way all these injuries make any sense. Right?

1 minute ago, notoriousgod71 said:

Watching this bullpen is the top joy of my life.

It gives the blood pressure a rise doesn't it?

1 minute ago, sdtwins37 said:

Everyone get a break, and everyone gets a turn, this is the only way all these injuries make any sense. Right?

Depth can be a good thing.

6 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

“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)

Great intro! Enjoy the train ride too. Make sure you stop at Perry's in Dallas and order their monster pork chop. It's huge but oh so tasty. 

Who said they were happy to see thielbar warm up lol

Ump is giving Thielbar some friendly calls.

7 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

He did a Darrell Evans imitation. 

I wonder how many here have any idea what you're talking about.

 

1 at least.

Just now, Aggies7 said:

Who said they were happy to see thielbar warm up lol

Me, and now I would like to retract that post.

1 minute ago, rwilfong86 said:

It gives the blood pressure a rise doesn't it?

The Twins should dole out Lisinopril or Losartan to fans as they enter the stadium.

Just now, USAFChief said:

I wonder how many here have any idea what you're talking about.

 

1 at least.

I was only a 1 year old at the time, but any real twins fan would know 

2 minutes ago, twinssporto said:

Great intro! Enjoy the train ride too. Make sure you stop at Perry's in Dallas and order their monster pork chop. It's huge but oh so tasty. 

Huh. I didn't know you could get a pork chop from a  monster.

Whew.

3 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I wonder how many here have any idea what you're talking about.

 

1 at least.

I'm old...make it two.

Whew. The drugs didn't work tho

It worked, but I can't say I think much of letting Thielbar face Perez.

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Huh. I didn't know you could get a pork chop from a  monster.

No, it's an actual pork chop from a pig. The monster meat I think you're referring to is very bland and tastes like chicken. 

1 minute ago, CRF said:

I'm old...make it two.

I agree.

 

You're old.

Another insurance run, please.

15 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

He did a Darrell Evans imitation. 

I'll help the young 'uns

https://diggingdetroit.com/remembering-darrell-evans-worst-day-as-a-tiger/

I don't like this Peacock character. Rather...showy if you ask me.

5 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

I'll help the young 'uns

https://diggingdetroit.com/remembering-darrell-evans-worst-day-as-a-tiger/

At about 1:05 here: 

 

Seems like either Urshela or Correa could have caught that running full tilt. I wonder if Larnach mistakenly called them off or if they just assumed he would get there.

Pagan has to give up at least one run here, it's just the way it works.

19 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I wonder how many here have any idea what you're talking about.

 

1 at least.

I do. Remember it well 

Pagans last couple outings have been much better. He's throwing more strikes. Not his previous 28 pitch per inning. WINNER