GameChat – White Sox @ Twins #3, 12:10pm

Getaway Day! This  is the last day of the series of course and I would be GREAT if the Twins could manage a series win by taking this afternoon’s game. That makes it a pretty big deal of a game for Mike Pelfrey. He’s going to have to continue to improve rather than backslide – and to me that means: a) keeping the pace moving – if this game goes 4 hours, it better be because we played 3 extra innings (not that I want to); b) keeping hits and walks to a minimum – he doesn’t have to be perfect but both those items have come back to bite him on the rear already this season; and c) going deep into the game – we’re past the point in the season where 4-5 innings is acceptable from a starting pitcher, our bullpen needs the rest.

Who knows who will be around to chat during the middle of the work day – I’ll be watching the curiousity that the strike zone has become on gameday while the rest of you enjoy the radio or whatever.

Chi White Sox

@

Minnesota
Wise, CF Carroll, 2B
Ramirez, Al, SS Mauer, DH
Rios, RF Willingham, LF
Dunn, A, 1B Morneau, 1B
Konerko, DH Doumit, C
Gillaspie, 3B Arcia, RF
Viciedo, LF Hicks, CF
Keppinger, 2B Escobar, E, 3B
Gimenez, H, C Florimon, SS
  Axelrod, P   Pelfrey, P

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3

4

5

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8

9

R

H

E

Chi White Sox

0

0

2

1

2

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2

2

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9

14

0

Minnesota

1

1

0

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2

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4

11

0

Ouch.

Ok, it wasn’t all bad. Mauer has extended his hitting streak to 14 games (I believe his personal record is 16) so that is cool. According to Dustin Morse, he also now has 7 games with at least 3 hits, currently tied for the most in baseball (Loney, Lowrie). That’s great too..  it just didn’t translate into enough RUNS to compensate for those given up by our pitching.

Really, I’m trying to temper my frustration because that is what I knew this season would be like but I still can’t help but say we need to expect more from Pelfrey than he is giving us. It’s just not enough. Sadly, the bullpen didn’t really do all that well for us today either – except for Perkins who came in after a several day break dealing with an oblique strain and looked pretty good.

But still.. the White Sox.. ouch.