Game Thread 9-2-22 @ 7:10pm CT: Twins vs White Sox

[Game7-91]

And a Happy Labor Day/End-0f-Summer greeting to TD regulars, guests, and visitors! Our hometown heroes begin the turn to fall with a 3-game set against the Pale Hose at Guaranteed Rate Field. It’s fireworks off the Dan Ryan as Sonny Gray looks for some payback. Gray’s only other start against the Sox was ugly, as he ended up going only 3.2 innings, allowing 6 runs on the way to a 12-2 loss back in July at Target Field. But in his last three starts, Gray has given up only 3 earned runs in 17 innings. Which Sonny shows up tonight?

Opposing Gray in a game –day change is Joe Kelly, making a spot start in replacing the previously scheduled rookie Davis Martin. Kelly’s line in 2022 lacks the luster of his glory years, showing up at  28.0IP, 7.07ERA, 29H, 23R , 22ER, 2HR,  18BB, 35K’s. Kelly has pitched one inning at a time throughout the season, so what's the plan tonight?  He is the proverbial opener, as the White Sox look for something new to spark this heretofore uninspiring team in the last month of what has otherwise been a dismal season.

The big news out of Chicago this week was Tony LaRussa’s sudden departure from the team. LaRussa returned to his home in Arizona to manage non-specific medical issues, and per the team’s release, will be out indefinitely. Bench coach  Miguel Cairo replaces LaRussa in the interim. The team held a players only meeting in the wake of their manager’s departure, which apparently helped, as they thumped the Royals 7-1 behind a strong outing from Johnny Cueto and a revitalized offense, at least for a day. Somehow, the Sox managed to finish the season series against the Royals underwater, at 9-10, a record which highlights one of the reasons why they currently reside in 3rd place in the AL Central, at 65-66, 3 games behind the Twins, and 4 behind Cleveland for Top Dog status. If they hope to turn things around, they need at least 2 wins against the Twins this weekend.

If the Twins would like to put the proverbial final nail in this coffin of a season for the White Sox, a 3-game sweep would do the trick. So will the Twins or Sox sweep, or will we see a split-decision, giving the Sox hope, however faint, of climbing back to the top of the division? Let the games begin!

 Here are your starting line ups:

 Twins                                              

    Luis Arraez (L) 1B

    Carlos Correa (R) SS

    Max Kepler (L) RF

    Jose Miranda (R) DH

    Nick Gordon (L) 2B

    Gio Urshela (R) 3B

    Jake Cave (L) LF

    Gary Sanchez (R) C

    Gilberto Celestino (R) CF

                                    Sonny Gray, RHP, 7-4, 3.04 ERA, 99 SO   

 

White Sox

1. Elvis Andrus (R) SS

2. Andrew Vaughn (R) 1B

3. Jose Abreu (R) DH

4. Gavin Sheets (L) RF

5. Yasmani Grandal (S) C

6. AJ Pollock (R) CF

7. Leury Garcia (S) LF

8. Josh Harrison (R) 3B

9. Romy Gonzalez (R) 2B

               Joe Kelly, RHP, 1 -3 , 7.07ERA, 35 SO

 

And to truly appreciate the South Side experience, take in 3 minutes of this classic, which helps us understand the behavior of these beer-addled brains that occupy space in Guaranteed Rate Field. I get to poke some fun, because I share the heritage of which they speak. The final verse explains so much:

 

 

 

[USAFChief]

Luis Robert to paternity list today. Let's hope Mrs Robert any new Roberts's all do well and Luis, just take the whole weekend off.

[CRF]

Gotta take at least 2 of 3 from the south siders. Every game is important now. If we go into Chi and play dead, then go into NY to get a whuppin...we're in big trouble. 

[mrtwinsfan]

Any Polanco news ?

[stringer bell]

Cease and Giolito for the rest of the weekend, so it is important to win tonight.  

[Squirrel]

I hate losing to the White Sox more than the Yankees. Yes, I really do. 

[PDX Twin]

2 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I hate losing to the White Sox more than the Yankees. Yes, I really do. 

Because you don't live in NY?

[IndyTwinsFan]

5 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I hate losing to the White Sox more than the Yankees. Yes, I really do. 

I wholeheartedly second that emotion. 

[Squirrel]

10 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Because you don't live in NY?

Probably has something to do with it

[AussieG]

Looking forward to the Joe Kelly  C4 at bat

[Parfigliano]

 Kepler hitting 3rd is not good for my mental health

[PDX Twin]

This would be a nice night for A2 to get his touch back and start setting the table.

[AussieG]

Just now, PDX Twin said:

This would be a nice night for A2 to get his touch back and start setting the table.

Has to see some pitches

[mrtwinsfan]

9 minutes ago, AussieG said:

Looking forward to the Joe Kelly  C4 at bat

??

[Parfigliano]

Chisux D shows up early

[KirbyDome89]

40 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Cease and Giolito for the rest of the weekend, so it is important to win tonight.  

Seeing Giolito might not be all that bad for this lineup

[AussieG]

Just now, mrtwinsfan said:

??

They have some history

[AussieG]

1 minute ago, mrtwinsfan said:

??

Kelly and Correa

[cHawk]

The White Sox are really flashing the leather

[mrtwinsfan]

ill look it up later, guessing  Kelly and c4 world series few years ago

[PDX Twin]

Just now, cHawk said:

The White Sox are really flashing the leather

Instead of using it to catch baseballs?

[cHawk]

Just now, PDX Twin said:

Instead of using it to catch baseballs?

Yes

[Nine of twelve]

The Twins need to do the White Sox a favor and sweep them. Put them out of their misery. It's the humane thing to do, really.

[cHawk]

Nothing to see there, just Kepler showing his inability to hit with RISP

[IndyTwinsFan]

2 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

The Twins need to do the White Sox a favor and sweep them. Put them out of their misery. It's the humane thing to do, really.

Nice humanitarian spin on that!

[CRF]

Kep is really struggling. It sure would be nice if he could figure things out. He's hurting us. 

[Nine of twelve]

That was a nice RISPy at bat for Gordon. We are seeing why he was such a high-rated prospect some years ago. Patience has paid off.

[AussieG]

Great swing Nick. And good job for staying at 2nd base

[IndyTwinsFan]

39 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I hate losing to the White Sox more than the Yankees. Yes, I really do. 

I wholeheartedly second that emotion. 

Began in the Hawk Harrelson era.

[cHawk]

Lovely at-bat by Urshela.