Weather Alert: according to RotoGrinders: "Just an ugly night for baseball. It's cold (50 degrees), a bit breezy, and wet. Rain will gradually be tapering off, moderate rain around first pitch (unlikely they can start on time), then very light rain for most of the evening beyond that." Now that we have that out of the way, let's get back to our regularly scheduled game thread.

The first full day of autumn is officially here, so it's only fitting that the Twins will try and stop their own “fall” tonight against the Los Angeles Angels. Minnesota enters the game having lost 7 of the 8 games to division opponents and have dropped to 73-77. They will have to go 8-4 over the last 12 games of the season in order to finish with a .500 record. The Angels (65-85) sit 33.5 games back in the AL West and have long since been eliminated from post-season play.  

That said, there are several reasons to care about tonight’s game. First, I saw tickets are going for as low as $11 online and it’s “Fan Appreciation Night” at Target Field. That means all fans in attendance will receive a free Twins beanie upon entrance. Those same lucky fans will get to watch the other-worldly Shohei Ohtani showcase his versatility tonight. Ohtani (13-8, 2.43) will take the mound, and if (when) he strikes out 4 Twins tonight, he’ll hit the 200 strikeout mark for the first time in his career. He’s also batting .271 with 34 homers and 89 RBI in what absolutely must be a 2nd consecutive MVP season. Sure, Aaron Judge has had a nice year but he’s light years behind what Ohtani is doing in a double-duty role. Ohtani’s teammate Mike Trout leads the Angels with 36 homers and he’ll also be in the lineup tonight. How this Angels team is 20 games below .500 is beyond me, but the baseball world seems to wonder about this every year. 

The Twins counter with St. Paul native Louie Varland (0-1, 5.23). Varland is auditioning for any kind of role on Minnesota’s major league pitching staff next season, so let’s wish the kid luck tonight. He’s averaging exactly 1 strikeout per inning pitched so far in his only two starts with the club. 

Fellow rookies Jose Miranda, Nick Gordon, Mark Contreras, Matt Wallner and Jermaine Palacios will join Varland in the lineup tonight.

Weather: Cold and drizzly. Possible PPD in the making.

Lineups:

 

Twins:

1. Luis Arraez (L) DH

2. Jose Miranda (R) 1B

3. Nick Gordon (L) 2B

4. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

5. Jake Cave (L) LF

6. Gary Sanchez (R) C

7. Matt Wallner (L) RF

8. Mark Contreras (L) CF

9. Jermaine Palacios (R) SS

P. Varland (R)

 

Angels:

1. Luis Rengifo (S) 2B

2. Mike Trout (R) CF

3. Shohei Ohtani (L) P

4. Taylor Ward (R) RF

5. Mike Ford (L) 1B

6. Matt Duffy (R) 3B

7. Mickey Moniak (L) LF

8. Max Stassi (R) C

9. Livan Soto (L) SS

P. Ohtani (R)

Good Lord, Palacios at SS , that is an insult to Twins fans, Simmons is still available and they would do better to sign him to a X Hundred Thousand to end of year contract.

Unless Correa twisted his little toe, not one single intelligent reason for him not to start.

A home game and they rest Correa  ,,,

The front office better be reading these threads because we are not getting our money's worth  and the twins aren't getting their money's worth on the Correa contract  ...

Only a dozen game left , play the best players available  ...

I was going to go to the game tonight  but going now to Saturday  , better weather tomorrow and Correa should be in lineup and rested ... 

I wish my employer would have given me paid off days ...

At some point you have to question whether we're better off playing guys that are hurt rather than some of the options in the minors.

I like the rookie line-up. Might as well give the kids every opportunity to pick up as much experience as possible. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

1 hour ago, bighat said:

Weather Alert: according to RotoGrinders: "Just an ugly night for baseball. It's cold (50 degrees), a bit breezy, and wet. Rain will gradually be tapering off, moderate rain around first pitch (unlikely they can start on time), then very light rain for most of the evening beyond that."

In other words, the perfect night to play the guys from Southern California, where it is sunny and 84 at game time!

Palacios...doh!

25 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

I like the rookie line-up. Might as well give the kids every opportunity to pick up as much experience as possible. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I'll go along with that , maybe o was a not hasty but had I went to the game I would have been alittle pissed ....

Raining here 50 miles west of Minneapolis....

We can still win 85. Go Twins

31 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

I like the rookie line-up. Might as well give the kids every opportunity to pick up as much experience as possible. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Every thing to lose and nothing to gain.

Big game for Jake Cave coming up... batting 5th. 

Correa didn't want to face Ohtani?

15 minutes ago, AussieG said:

Big game for Jake Cave coming up... batting 5th. 

Showtime

Caveman delivers! 

17 minutes ago, AussieG said:

Big game for Jake Cave coming up... batting 5th. 

You did your part, next time up  ?

Hopefully they can try to finish at .500. 

What i miss?

Edited September 24, 20224 yr by sampleSizeOfOne
other than a space...

Not sure why Cave would be coming up swinging when Ohtani was struggling. Another great example of their lack of plate discipline.

2 minutes ago, AussieG said:

Caveman delivers! 

That lead stood practically forever!

Aaaand it’s tied.

There goes the no hitter + shutout

Nice catch --to bad had to  be 2nd Deck

46 minutes ago, RpR said:

Every thing to lose and nothing to gain.

Ya lost me...

Listening to the angels tv guys, pretty good, 

Edited September 24, 20224 yr by mrtwinsfan

6 minutes ago, AussieG said:

There goes the no hitter + shutout

I think a no hitter is intact...

9 minutes ago, rwilfong86 said:

Hopefully they can try to finish at .500. 

so 8 wins 4 loses. can only hope

3 minutes ago, AussieG said:

so 8 wins 4 loses. can only hope

Well, the players might be able to do something more than hope...

 

But not much else i can do.

6 minutes ago, mrtwinsfan said:

Listening to the angels tv guys, pretty good, 

Not a fan of Dick, Smalley?

Just now, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Well, the players might be able to do something more than hope...

 

But not much else i can do.

They could pray

3 minutes ago, AussieG said:

Not a fan of Dick, Smalley?

Can put up with Bremar--, Smalley is a NO NO