Hello Game Threaders and welcome to another double header edition of the game thread!  Today, your Twins try to remain above .500 on the season and keep their ever fading hopes of staying alive in the division alive.  

Before we get too far into this, I'd first like to welcome Matt Wallner to The Show!  He'll man right field today as Kepler was put on the IL.  At the very least, that gives us something to look forward to today.  Good luck in your debut, Mr. Wallner!

Of other interest to many, myself included, is that today is the birthday of my favorite cartoon character!  Wile E. Coyote debuted on this day in 1949 in "Fast and Furry-ous".  How can you not enjoy the endless fails, antics and crazy schemes hatched by this guy.  All to be outsmarted by a road runner.  Over.  And over.  And over.  And over again.  Maybe it's because misery loves company, but as a Twins fan, I have some sympathy for him.  He tries and tries and tries to catch that damn bird, but ultimately comes up empty every time.  It's akin to the Twins playoff win drought.  ACME may as well be a sponsor!

Since we've got some time before first pitch, or even for the break between games, I've linked a nearly 32 minute video of all 641 epic fails of Mr. Wile E. Coyote below.  Enjoy!

Now, on to the contests of the day.  In the first game, Louie Varland takes the mound for his second big league start opposite Shane Bieber.  This could be a fun and intriguing pitching matchup.  In the nightcap, the Twins will send Josh Winder to the bump to take on Konnor Pilkington.  Not quite as interesting a matchup as in Game 1, but a relatively even one in my estimation.

Lineups for Game 1:

Twins

DH - Arraez

SS - Correa

1B - Miranda

2B - Gordon

3B - Urshela

LF - Cave

RF - Wallner

CF - Contreras

C - Leon

 

Indians

LF - Kwan

SS - Rosario

3B - Ramirez

DH - Naylor

RF - Gonzalez

2B - Gimenez

1B - Miller

C - Hedges

CF - Straw

 

Game 2 lineups will be posted when they're, umm, posted...

Enjoy the games!

 

 

Can you tell that I wrote the opening before the lineups were posted?  Woof...

When that's the lineup you have to roll with in a must-win game, well, it's pretty difficult to be optimistic.

We've endured some bad Twins seasons. Some were disappointing,  Others were downright depressing.  But I don't think I've ever seen a season this frustrating.  

This is a very weak and very winnable division.  This Cleveland team is not exactly the '27 Yankees.  The flaws in how this team was constructed notwithstanding, there's enough talent there that a postseason appearance should have been a layup.  But thanks to what seemed like a never-ending stream of bad moves, bad decisions and bad luck, the Twins are going to finish 3rd.

I think the chances of us getting swept today/tonight, are much better than the chances of us doing the sweeping. If anyone is looking for me, I'll be out on the ledge. 

Silver lining is that Miranda, Gordon, Wallner, Varland, Winder, Duran, Jax, etc. are all getting a small taste of playoff type baseball at the big league level. Must win games in September this year maybe helps them when they're in the actual playoffs in the future.

Wallner:

Let's hope the hometown boys (Louie and Matty) help pull this first one out.  Wouldn't that be great!

Well I will just listen along today and take it for what it is. I really do hope Varland & Wallner have a great day though. We'll celebrate the moral victories because that might be all we can enjoy instead of an actual victory.

Six games back. Time to charge.

12 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Six games back. Time to charge.

Hmmn...could be interested. How much are you charging?

Need to win both games!!! ????

14 minutes ago, Peter said:

Need to win both games!!! ????

No, I don’t think so.  I have no faith in them.    They are real bad team now.   

Miranda seems to frequently hit doubles or double plays.

 

RowTheBoatSkiUMahGoGophers.

It appears the bloom is off Varland.

It's a shame that at such a crucial time of the season, we have to depend on such young and inexperienced players.  I know that it's part of the game, but it would be nice to have a little more consistent and talented team.  This is especially true, when you have such an inept manager.

9 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

RowTheBoatSkiUMahGoGophers.

Surprised you're ready to be hurt so soon 

12 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

RowTheBoatSkiUMahGoGophers.

I will watch Gophers on TV today.   Not much fun watching Twins!

its pretty clear the Twins are far too depleted to compete with Cleveland right now. They are not a playoff team by any stretch. I can see them losing all 5, unless Cleveland gives us a mercy game after taking the 1st four to pretty much kiss us goodbye for 2022. yeah we can beat KC---but Cleveland has 6 remaining against them and I suspect they can beat them too!

This isn't even a fair fight.

4 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Surprised you're ready to be hurt so soon 

Pfft.

I have another full week to bask in my futile hopes and dreams.

2 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I will watch Gophers on TV today.   Not much fun watching Twins!

Last time I watched the Gophers, and it has been a long time, they led Michigan 28-0 and still lost the game.

1 minute ago, insagt1 said:

its pretty clear the Twins are far too depleted to compete with Cleveland right now. They are not a playoff team by any stretch. I can see them losing all 5, unless Cleveland gives us a mercy game after taking the 1st four to pretty much kiss us goodbye for 2022. yeah we can beat KC---but Cleveland has 6 remaining against them and I suspect they can beat them too!

This isn't even a fair fight.

I agree with your post!   
 

Start housecleaning from top!

19 minutes ago, RpR said:

Last time I watched the Gophers, and it has been a long time, they led Michigan 28-0 and still lost the game.

Never happened. Seriously. You're making that up. 

Twins too often fall into one of two categories: They score early and lose late, or, they score late but not enough to win.?

They gave away last nights game...when they still had a pulse. Gift-wrapped..like many other games against this team. That pretty much was it. Todays first game isn't even a contest.

18 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I will watch Gophers on TV today.   Not much fun watching Twins!

Watching for varland and wallner dont expect any win

Just now, insagt1 said:

They gave away last nights game...when they still had a pulse. Gift-wrapped..like many other games against this team. That pretty much was it. Todays first game isn't even a contest.

Looking to be a beatdown

28 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Never happened.

 You are right , it was against Ohio St, and they led 31-0 in the second quarter.

It was more years back than I thought, but the last time I watched even part of a Gopher game.

They did lead Michigan 28-7 at the end of the third quarter in 2003 and still lost.

The passing of time has not made me want to watch any more.

 

I see this is going swimmingly. Back to chorin'.

17 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Looking to be a beatdown

And I fear the rest of the series will be this way. If the Twins win 1/5 that will be a moral victory.