Blake

Good morning, Twins fans! (game time is late morning where I live. And, since I'm your humble host for this particular thread, good morning it is!) I'm dispensing with my usual video and snark, due to time constraints. Believe it or not, it takes time to hunt down video and then come up with snark. Today features two teams who are featuring players the teams are trying to get to know at the MLB level. Neither team is close to featuring a winning season, so, might as well find out if they have players that can help next year. Last night, and it pains me to admit it, I was rooting for Lopez because I've never seen a perfect game. Lopez was three outs from getting the perfecto. Cool to watch though it was against my favorite team. Lest anyone thinks Lopez's efforts last night were harbingers of a bright future, let me toss a name out there for you: Philip Humber. Lopez may have a future as an MLB pitcher but ace material? Too soon to tell. It was nice to see Mr. Berrios go 6 innings after the string of 5 dismal starts. Not much to say about the rest of the team, simply because 24 outs without a hit or base runner leaves little to be discussed, though Mr. Froemming makes a valiant effort. Random observations about last night: 1. Lopez tossed a gem and got some great fielding behind him. 2. It was interesting to hear Smalley talk about how players behind the pitcher tighten as a no-hit game progresses. Sounds like the pressure is intense. 3. Hopefully, Berrios took a step toward righting the pitching ship. 4. Is it too early to think perhaps Berrios/Gibson might be the Blyleven/Viola combination of next year's Twins? 5. Play ball! Pitching for the Twins: Chase De Jong. Pitching for KC: Ian Kennedy.

Well, shoot. Okay, Twins, come back and win.

Yes, I do. Perfect games are so rare that I've yet to see one. Plus, it's not like the Twins are in a playoff race or anything.

I'm on the edge of my seat over this one and I'm a Twins fan!

Not that I like that it's against the Twins, but, perfect game through 6 is cool to watch.

invented the phrase, "age and treachery will overcome youth and skill."

I find that as I age, I'm rediscovering things daily. Such as that coffee mug I left perched on the fence last winter...

I refuse to answer that question on the grounds it may date me even more than I already have.

Lineups:

I expect to get the lineups posted in time for the game. I'm taking a breather from work and settling in to watch this one. A month and a half of 50+ hour weeks takes its toll and I'm not that young any more.

I'm *Hard to believe these old guys can still rock like they do. The Twins: *Took a tour of an ore carrier in Duluth, a small one. Still huge. The cargo hold, one of them, was big enough to play football in. Or, so it seemed. Musical interlude: *For Chi, I mean, Carole. "Danse Macabre." Some thoughts on thinking that I think might be worth some further thought: Some observations from the game last night that I didn't watch, and, therefore, have to crib from the various sources: 1. Football season has started, so why not a football kind of score?2. I'm glad to see Gonsalves get a chance. I'm sorry it appears he's not getting the job done.3. May has 4 wins? Interesting.4. I see Hildenburger got the ninth. Someone will need to fill me in if this has become standard practice for Mr. Molitor.5. Opener? Opener is now a thing? Or, is it the only way to hide a lack of starting pitching these days? Play ball! Pitching: Twins: Jose Berrios KC: Jorge Lopez

Late to the thread, away from a lot of online because of work, but just going to toss this out there; The FO realized this was a lost season going into the trade deadline. So, the fringe players are getting a look ahead of the players who are clearly better, because, decisions need to be made. Never know when someone might show the experts how wrong they are. The Twins need a fourth outfielder. Who is it? Give those people extended looks, increase the sample size while expecting that Buxton will play next year. Also maybe gives the team a look at alternatives if Buxton flames out again. Just spitballing here, I admit.

You double as an MLB umpire?

Doubt I'll have time to get line-ups up in time for the game. Thanks in advance to whomever takes care of that chore!

Today is a getaway day for the Twins and I'm sure their baggage has been securely and neatly stowed in preparation for getting out of Dodge, I mean, Chicago: *Some images just beg to be used in a game thread. In looking at the game write-up, looks like it was a wild one in Chicago: *It's no Mitch Williams, though. But, for now, our Twins head out on the road, looking for new adventures, and, hopefully, on this road trip: *West Coast road trip coming up! And now for something completely different: And now, for some thoughts on last nights game: 1. That Kopech guy putting 98mph heat on the corner is unfair. 2. It's unfair, because that kid needs to be a Twin. 3. Berrios was Berrios. 4. Rain delays are aggravating. 5. Yay Twins for the win! 6. I got nothin. Play ball! Pitching for the Twins: Kyle Gibson Pitching for the White Sox: Carlos Rodon. Looks to be a good one!

I won't have time to get in the lineups today. Thank you to whomever gets the job done!

Good morning, one and all! Yes, I'm here to fulfill my duty as your game thread guide: *It's no "Young Frankenstein" though. Anyway, I've been looking for a reason as to why the team underperformed this year, and came across this novel theory: *About the only part of that particular episode that was any good. You'd think they could have dubbed in some better voices. Sheesh. Since I've gone hopping down the bunny trail, I'll leave this here just because: *Yes, that is Michelle Dockery of "Downton Abbey" fame. Well, enough chit chat, as it's time for me to leave a random image that has nothing to do with anything and on the relevance scale is less than zero: Some observations from last night: 1. I felt bad for Mr. Gonsalves. His debut was underwhelmingly underwhelming. 2. From what I saw, it looked like Busenitz did okay. 3. Bats were there, pitching wasn't. 4. No doubt there's some young talent on the Sox team. 5. Go Twins! 6. The burning question: Did I manage to get the right team, time and date? We shall see. Pitching for the Twins: Jose Berrios. Pitching for the White Sox: Michael Kopech

Honestly, don't remember. I was so surprised when I looked up Mauers stats in regards to RISP I really didn't pay attention.

If you look at the stats, Mauer's are rather surprising. Mauer's BA is something like .426 with RISP. (in that particular category, last I looked, he was 2nd among all AL 1B.) He is a pitchers nightmare in that scenario. Good job, Mr. Mauer.

Hi all. I still live, sort of. Working 10 to 12 hours a day sort of limits one's online activities. Go Twins!