GameChat – White Sox @ Twins #2, 7:10 pm

So I spent the day wearing my Thome is my Homey t-shirt.  *laugh*  Boy, was that fun after last night – sooooo many people stopping me to ask where they can get one.  If you want one, here’s the info: Thome is my Homey t-shirt.

But as for the rest of the fall-out from last night’s game, you would think it was the last time we played them this year!  Talk about “playoff atmosphere” – I kept thinking, “wow, we have five more games, what’s going to happen next??”  But for all the stuff that was shared after the game last night, almost all of it was amusing – from the video of the player melee, the replays of Hawk’s non-existant “homerun call”, the Spanish language homerun call from Tony O., and even Nick Punto’s joyous declaration of man-love at the plate.  There was a lot to love about last night’s game even after the game was over.

I think I was most entertained by the comments from Ozzie afterwards – because that is ALWAYS fun.  Here’s a couple great ones from Phil Mackey about the Twins/White Sox rivalry and his reaction to kicking Thome to the curb.

Like I said, we still have 5 games left.  Tonight, I think it would be better for everyone if Frankie threw better than Baker did last night.  I love the late – or extra – inning heroics but…  I wouldn’t mind getting a lead and keeping it either.  And it will be interesting to see if Delmon gets plunked today…

Chi White Sox @ Minnesota
Pierre, LF   Span, CF
Ramirez, A, SS   Hudson, O, 2B
Rios, CF   Mauer, C
Konerko, 1B   Kubel, RF
Quentin, DH   Cuddyer, 1B
Pierzynski, C   Thome, DH
Jones, An, RF   Young, D, LF
Vizquel, 3B   Valencia, 3B
Beckham, 2B   Hardy, SS
  Floyd, G, P     Liriano, P

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chi White Sox 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 6 10 0
Minnesota 2 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 x 7 13 0

 

Two down, one to go! (yeah and then the other series) But that was definitely a fun game.  It was a frustration to everyone, Frankie included, that Liriano didn’t have his best stuff.  He pushed through anyway and it wasn’t a HORRIBLE outting.  You could just tell that the focus wasn’t where he wanted it tonight.  That being said, it was still a team outting and they all worked hard to pick each other up when it was necessary.  Offense showed up to play and the bullpen pitching was MARVELOUS!  Manship, Crain, and Capps all did their jobs in spectacular fashion.  For that, they have earned as many Krispy Kremes as they can put away without making themselves sick.

As for that offense I mentioned?  SWEET!!  Span was 2/4 with 2 runs.  Cuddy was 3/4 with a run and an RBI.  JJ Hardy NEARLY hit a HR into the bullpen but instead got a sweet Sac Fly that scored what became our winning run.  They also are hereby awarded access to the Krispy Kreme buffet.

However, we had another Target Field first tonight.  Joe Mauer FINALLY got a homerun at HOME!  It was a wall-skimmer but it still counts! Good to have that off his back now.  And besides that piddly homerun, the man was 4/5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.  The pace he’s been on since he returned from the shoulder issue is just RIDICULOUS! But I’m definitely not complaining.  It sure served us well tonight and THAT is why he is today’s BOD! Congrats Joe Mauer!

Minnesota Baseball Icon – TC BEAR!!

Ok, not everyone has the same kind of feelings about TC that I do but as KL can tell you, I’ve taken every opportunity I could over the years going WAAAAAY back to collect fun shots of TC and followed his career.  But I know there are a few of you like me out there – yes, you, Jamar, and you, Betsy, and I’m sure there are others.  So, this post is for you!

Most Knuckleballers figure out in about 5 minutes that I kind of have a thing for kids.  I also take my responsibilities for passing on the love of baseball to the next generations seriously!  That includes the love of TC BEAR!  So when he informed me, via Twitter (@TC_00 if you’re interested), that he would be a library near my house doing a reading for kids, I knew what to do!

Oh yeah, I took a few kids along too!  My youngest brother, Ben, my nephew Camden, and his mommy and Aunt Lexi and her friend ALL went to the library to see TC Bear.  It was a really wonderful event.  They read a great baseball story while TC and a couple volunteers acted it out.  I’ve always been amazed by the hitting and catching that TC accomplishes given his limitations but he goes ALL OUT when he’s acting out a story.  He really knows how to commit to an action and not only that, the kids loved every minute of it!  So did the adults quite frankly.  Thanks TC!  And of course, I had to take lots of pictures!

I have no idea what kind of schedule TC has to keep in addition to his game schedule but a) it’s heavy and b) he is a wonderful reflection on baseball and the Minnesota Twins.  I don’t care what your job is, when you do it THAT well?  You are an honorable person.. err.. Bear.  😀