Written by I’m making a call – and probably about as right as Dick & Bert usually are – here’s the new Twins giveaway when they return to Target Field:
What is with all the media love of Carl Pavano’s gamma radiation-fed growth on his upper lip???? After each and every start from the big italian (or even during the broadcasts), the home and away announcer teams will make repeated references and the game recaps – even on ESPN! – will include some reference to how follically blessed the game was.
I can only hope that they are determined to make the best of a bad situation and are trying to turn their horror into cash. Because, no matter how much we talk about it – no matter how many times Joe Mauer is asked if it’s a distraction – no matter how much Carl Pavano has to feed it during opponents half-innings – it’s UGLY. Sorry Pav, it does you no favors. I was shocked to discover in some behind-the-scenes video that, when you smile, you are actually a truly good-looking guy! Hot even! When on the mound and staring down an opposing batter with your lip curled back to your left ear, not so much. I’m hoping that is a positive and you are just intimidating them. But the mustache? It’s just not working for you. Your face needs some balance. Bring back the Van Dyke or see what happens if you have a full beard a la Jeff Reardon. It might not be better but I don’t think it could be worse *knock on wood* so can we please end the mustache experiment and move on to something else?
Oh yeah, I bet we could move on to the game we’re suppose to play today and lineups, right? It’s a little sad that we couldn’t just end the series yesterday and leave Philly on that note but no, now we have this rubber match to play today – a game day, a getaway day. I really hope the boys went home and got some rest after that marathon yesterday and are ready to smack the ball around a bit today.
| Minnesota | @ | Philadelphia |
| Span, CF | Victorino, CF | |
| Hudson, O, 2B | Polanco, 3B | |
| Mauer, C | Utley, 2B | |
| Morneau, 1B | Howard, 1B | |
| Cuddyer, 3B | Werth, RF | |
| Kubel, RF | Ibanez, LF | |
| Young, D, LF | Schneider, C | |
| Punto, SS | Valdez, W, SS | |
| Pavano, P | Halladay, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Minnesota | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Wow, today really WAS all about Pavano. That was just a spectacular performance from a pitcher at a time when the team really needed an innings eater. *bows*
