Game Thread: Twins @ Cleveland, 6/27/22 @ 6:10pmCT

[twinssporto]

 

Good afternoon Twins fans and welcome back to more Game Thread fun! Well the big news that most everyone has already heard is Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson will be leaving the organization after Thursday's game against Cleveland to be the new pitching coach at LSU. I can't believe he would leave in the middle of the season but I guess he has his reasons. I suspect he wants to get there sooner in order to recruit new players to LSU. I've read he will be making more money but I doubt that was the reason. I know its all speculation at this point but I bet the MLB schedule, being away from family played a role. He might just like the amateur ranks more than the pro ranks...I guess we will find out later if it even matters. I hate to see him go but "it is what it is"....Pete Maki is being promoted and will take the place of Wes on Friday. Good luck Pete! We need this staff sharp for October!

The Twins kick off a big 4 game series against division rival Cleveland tonight. With a 2 game lead over Cleveland it would be nice to see the Twins have a 6 game lead after Thursday's final contest. Cleveland has been in a mini-slump since leaving Minnesota last week and have lost 4 games in a row. Taking the mound tonight for the Twins is Sonny Gray (3-1, 2.53 ERA). Sonny will be pitching against Cleveland righty Triston McKenzie (4-5, 3.51 ERA). After the news of Wes Johnson leaving the Twins it will be interesting to see how the pitching staff responds. I read that Wes was a huge influence on Sonny getting his confidence back this year. 

Apologies for posting the Game Thread so early but I need to leave for a fishing trip this afternoon. "Need to leave" is maybe a little dramatic but if I don't get out of the office for a little break I may pull a Wes Johnson and leave for good....Heading to the upper Mississippi River north of Deerwood, MN to hammer some small mouth bass and walleye. I will be listening to the game on the radio in the boat though!

I tried to post the lineups but at 2:30 only Cleveland had theirs posted...If someone could post the Twins lineup for me I'll send some frozen walleye fillets to your house.

Let's go Twins!!!

Today's Lineups:

TWINS (41-33):

TBD

CLEVELAND (36-32):

1. Steven Kwan, LF

2. Amed Rosario, SS

3. Jose Ramirez, 3B

4. Josh Naylor, 1B

5. Oscar Gonzalez, RF

6. Andres Gimenez, 2B

7. Owen Miller, DH

8. Luke Maile, C

9. Myles Straw, CF

SP - Triston McKenzie, (RHP)

 

Weather: Game time temperature 74 degrees and sunny. 0% chance of rain. Wind 12mph blowing L-R.

 

[twinssporto]

My pick to click tonight is Byron Buxton. Trust me!

 

 

[LA VIkes Fan]

I live in LA. I will pay for the shipping if you will send frozen walleye Filets to me. The Twins lineup was posted six minutes ago and here it is:

2B Luis Arraez 

CF Byron Buxton

SS Carlos Correa

RF Max Kepler

1B Alex Kirilloff

3B Gio Urshela

DH Gary Sanchez

LF Nick Gordon

C  Ryan Jeffers

Interesting lineup and looks like Polanco is not ready yet. Go twins!

 

[Old fox]

This should be a good game with the winning by 2. 

[strumdatjag]

This is a big series.   I hope Tyler Duffey can string a few more good appearances together like the last two - one of the many positive developments of the last few games 

[BH67]

Given their venue for the evening, here's hoping the Twins rock and roll.

[rwilfong86]

Let's get a 5 game sweep and go into the weekend with a 7 game division lead!

 

#wishfulthinking

[rwilfong86]

32 minutes ago, strumdatjag said:

This is a big series.   I hope Tyler Duffey can string a few more good appearances together like the last two - one of the many positive developments of the last few games 

I feel ya, I want to see him succeed and bounce back and become the Duffman of old.

[Doctor Gast]

Yes, it'll be interesting to see how the club reacts

[LVTwinsfan]

Kepler will hit a home run 

[Mill1634]

I'm hoping the Twins come out and put up a "statement" with the news frenzy around the team and put up a dominant win.

 

Twins 7, Guardians 3

PTC: Kepler

[CRF]

Let's hope they brought their bats to Cleveland. We can't go there and struggle at the plate. I'm pleasantly surprised to see Buxton playing. I figured after the workout he got yesterday, he'd be sitting tonight. Let's also hope our pitching holds up. We need to take at least 3 games there. If we could win 4 of them, that would be outstanding! 

[Mill1634]

Perkins in the booth, great to see/hear

[Mill1634]

Just now, CRF said:

Let's hope they brought their bats to Cleveland. We can't go there and struggle at the plate. I'm pleasantly surprised to see Buxton playing. I figured after the workout he got yesterday, he'd be sitting tonight. Let's also hope our pitching holds up. We need to take at least 3 games there. If we could win 4 of them, that would be outstanding! 

I think they "have" to play him today because he's almost guaranteed to take off one of the games tomorrow (which I completely understand)

[Winston Smith]

3 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I live in LA. I will pay for the shipping if you will send frozen walleye Filets to me. The Twins lineup was posted six minutes ago and here it is:

2B Luis Arraez 

CF Byron Buxton

SS Carlos Correa

RF Max Kepler

1B Alex Kirilloff

3B Gio Urshela

DH Gary Sanchez

LF Nick Gordon

C  Ryan Jeffers

Interesting lineup and looks like Polanco is not ready yet. Go twins!

 

https://www.walleyedirect.com/category/walleye.html

[mrtwinsfan]

Nice 1st, Sunny and 7 pitches, !!!

[Azviking101]

What's the deal with Miranda, Rocco? Went from top 100 prospect to benchwarmer in 2 months so that Gary and Gio can play every day.

[Winston Smith]

2 minutes ago, Azviking101 said:

What's the deal with Miranda, Rocco? Went from top 100 prospect to benchwarmer in 2 months so that Gary and Gio can play every day.

Rocco just does what the computer printout tells him.

[RpR]

2 minutes ago, Azviking101 said:

What's the deal with Miranda, Rocco? Went from top 100 prospect to benchwarmer in 2 months so that Gary and Gio can play every day.

Rookies earn their spot on the field, it not given due to magical numbers.

[rwilfong86]

3-0 Gary!

[Mill1634]

GARY! GARY! GARY!

[mrtwinsfan]

GARY,  

[LVTwinsfan]

Nobody banging a drum, that was there mojo

[Vanimal46]

2nd time we’re making McKenzie look absolutely pedestrian in less than a week. 

[Mill1634]

Gary giving Wes a hug after knowing him for 5? months tells you all you need to know about how he's viewed in the clubhouse

[Azviking101]

7 minutes ago, RpR said:

Rookies earn their spot on the field, it not given due to magical numbers.

Jose hitting  .302/.351/.491 over last 17 games but I know stats mean little to you. 

[mrtwinsfan]

Sanchez hugging Wes, nice to see, Cant blame Wes , the man is a big Family Man, and his baseball Heart and Wallet are in the S.E.C. , Living up here we dont see how Rabid they are about L.s.u. sports, and its half the schedule of MLB, gOOD LUCK Wes

[RpR]

1 minute ago, Azviking101 said:

Jose hitting  .302/.351/.491 over last 17 games but I know stats mean little to you. 

His fielding is lacking sorely; Celestino was was the top batter on the team, until he wasn't.

17 games earns a maybe, and that is all.

[Winston Smith]

4 minutes ago, mrtwinsfan said:

Sanchez hugging Wes, nice to see, Cant blame Wes , the man is a big Family Man, and his baseball Heart and Wallet are in the S.E.C. , Living up here we dont see how Rabid they are about L.s.u. sports, and its half the schedule of MLB, gOOD LUCK Wes

I think the main factor is that they have mosquitoes year around.

[BH67]

Entering tonight:

PA necessary for a Twin to qualify for the batting title: 229.4

Buxton: 228

It's weird seeing him go in and out of the AB/HR leaderboard at MLB stats as a result.