GameChat – Orioles @ Twins #2, 7:10pm

Justin Morneau returns to the lineup as the DH, so that’s encouraging (though perhaps it would be more encouraging if he were hitting better since returning from the DL).

Nick Blackburn has an “entrapped nerve”. I have no idea what that is but it doesn’t sound like something you should be pitching with, so I’m going to assume he won’t be pitching for a while. Maybe that’s OK, though.

Today was apparently “picture day”. So y’all make sure to line up early to buy the team picture when it goes on sale. I’m sure you will want to remember THIS team for generations to come! Heck, even Bert Blyleven didn’t even bother showing up for his traditional “mooning” on picture day. Though, as Gardy observed, maybe that’s not something a HOFer does.

Finally, the Twins are facing a 6’6″ starting pitcher tonight. As if these guys aren’t intimidated enough, as it is, whenever they step in the batters box.

Here’s a late update I found interesting… courtesy of Rhett Bollinger, the Twins beat writer from mlb.com: Tonight is the first time Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer and Kubel have been in the same line up since April 12.

Gosh. I wonder why this team hasn’t won more games.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Baltimore 0 4 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 8 13 0 Minnesota 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1

Brian Duensing got off to a good start in the first inning, but after reaching for a ground ball with his pitching hand in the 2nd inning, things went to hell in a hurry. The good news is that new pitcher Lester Oliveras didn’t totally suck and Mijares, Burnett and Nathan pitched just fine. On the other hand, the offense, once again, managed just one run and made Alfredo Simon look like the next superstar, striking out 8 times and managing just 3 hits against the Baltimore starting pitcher, in 8 innings.

Anyone else starting to feel like Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day”?