Month: August 2013

Talk to Contact Episode 48: Cody’s Sweaty Twinkie Costume

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Episode 48 of the Twins baseball podcast,  Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

Circle me, Bert!
Circle me, Bert!

Paul went camping this weekend and we never heard from him, so while he’s PROBABLY not dead, he CERTAINLY isn’t on the podcast this week.  Don’t fret, because we’re joined by Jesse Lund (@TwinkieTown) from TwinkieTown.com to talk all things Twins and Twins blogging, and Cody and I do our regular exciting Twins talk.  Join us for 84ish minutes of baseball noise.

 

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan.  You can follow Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) or read his writing at  Puckett’s Pond.  And of course, you can find me on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) and read my writing at Knuckleballs!

– ERolfPleiss

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

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I’m still waiting for them to put up the rosters for the second game of today’s double header so hopefully by the time I’m done writing my pregame comments – however limited they may be – they will be available to post. If not, I will add them shortly.

So this afternoon’s game was entertaining and more importantly, we won! Or perhaps that is why it was entertaining – I can be somewhat superficial like that sometimes.

Since I was at work and my attention was extremely limited however, I would love if they kept this evenings outing equally as entertaining. We have brought up Liam Hendriks to start tonight – he’s been doing pretty well in AAA so I hope he’s able to keep that up.

Minnesota

@

 Chi White Sox
Dozier, 2B De Aza, LF
Carroll, 3B Beckham, G, 2B
Morneau, 1B Ramirez, Al, SS
Willingham, DH Dunn, A, 1B
Arcia, LF Viciedo, DH
Colabello, RF Gillaspie, 3B
Herrmann, C, C Danks, Jd, RF
Thomas, C, CF Phegley, C
Bernier, SS Tekotte, CF
  Hendriks, P   Leesman, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Minnesota 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 9 0
Chi White Sox 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 8 0

It always feels good to sweep the Bitch Sox, no matter how bad the season is going and no matter how bad the South Siders are.

It’s hard to pick a Boyfriend of the Day though. The only Twins hitter with more than one hit was Jamey Carroll, who went an impressive 3 for 5. But Carroll didn’t figure at all in any of the Twins’ scoring.

Chris Herrmann had a solo home run, as did Josh Willingham. Then Oswaldo Arcia added a solo dinger of his own in the 10th inning. Certainly all of those guys deserve baked goods of some sort.

Brian Duensing earned his second win in one day. How often does THAT happen?

But Liam Hendriks, who was called up from Rochester specifically just to pitch this game, gave the Twins 6 1/3 innings of pretty good pitching. He gave up 2 runs on 7 hits and that ain’t bad for an emergency start.

For that effort, Hendriks is our BOD. And it just seems appropriate somehow to use a “throwback” picture of Liam, since he’s likely to be thrown back to the minors after the game. Thus, here’s Hendriks from a few years back as a member of the Beloit Snappers. – JC

Liam Hendriks
Liam Hendriks

 

GameChat – Twins @ White Sox, 1:10pm

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So we have a makeup game this afternoon before the regularly scheduled evening game – Surprise! Honestly, I wish that the Twins could figure out how to update (or just do it) their iCal schedule for those of us who watch it – changes are never updated so let’s hope I’m paying attention… never a good bet.

At any rate, a little injury rotation notation – it’s Friday and I’m in a goofy mood:

Doumit is on the 7-day concussion DL. Not terribly good news but at least we have Chris and things are good there. Honestly, I always had the impression that Doumit’s noggin was especially armored the way he shrugs off most knocks to the helmet. I’m sure this is yet another occasion where he told himself, “wow, that rung my bell” and just kept going – until he got dizzy. He doesn’t strike me as a “get dizzy” kind of guy at all.

BACK from the DL is Josh Willingham. Convenient. Let’s see what he can do with that surgically repaired knee. It’s hard to believe he’s out there after only 5 weeks but they can do remarkable things with surgery and rehab these days. Let’s hope that his bat comes back as well…

I’ve lost track on Gibson’s schedule whether this is supposed to be a good start or a hittable start.. LOL Just joking but I sure hope that it’s a good day. We aren’t in any danger (at this point) of trading places with the White Sox who are just not playing good baseball as a rule this season BUT that never seems to stop this particular rivalry from throwing odd wrenches into the gears. I’ll maintain my general mode of “beat the Sox, whenever & wherever you can” and go from there.

Minnesota

@

 Chi White Sox
Dozier, 2B De Aza, LF
Mauer, C Beckham, G, 2B
Willingham, DH Ramirez, Al, SS
Morneau, 1B Dunn, A, DH
Colabello, RF Konerko, 1B
Arcia, LF Gillaspie, 3B
Plouffe, 3B Danks, Jd, RF
Thomas, C, CF Flowers, C
Florimon, SS Tekotte, CF
  Gibson, P   Danks, Jh, P

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

R

H

E
Minnesota

0

1

0

0

0

0

4

1

1

7

7

0
Chi White Sox

0

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

5

7

0

Well that was certainly an enjoyable afternoon! It would be really easy to say today was all about the homerun.. Which is probably true but to be honest, those homeruns were so costly because of all the WALKS. We actually got runs with RISP!

But yeah, in a return to the Justin we remember, a very timely Grand Slam makes him the BOD for this afternoon…

MorneauST11d

GameChat – Twins @ Royals #3, 7:10pm

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Fresh off of a fabulous Andrew Albers performance, the Twins have an opportunity to win a series in Kansas City less than a week after being swept by this same team in Minnesota.  The Twins will send their “lead starter” (which as Babs pointed out on Twitter, is a lot more accurate than “staff ace”) Samuel Deduno out to do the job.

The Royals are sending Danny Duffy to the mound tonight, making his 2013 debut.  Duffy started 20 games for the Royals in 2011, and then just six starts a year ago due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament, requiring Tommy John surgery.  Duffy had mid-90s velocity from the left side, which could cripple this Twins lineup, but who knows what he has left post-Tommy John.

Oh, and no Joe Mauer tonight, so that’s one less lefty bat against Duffy.

 Minnesota Twins

@

 Kansas City Royals
 Dozier, 2B  Lough, RF
 Carroll, 3B  Hosmer, 1B
 Morneau, 1B  Butler, B, DH
 Colabello, RF  Gordon, A, LF
 Doumit, C  Cain, L, CF
 Plouffe, DH  Moustakas, 3B
 Arcia, LF  Tejada, M, 2B
 Thomas, C, CF  Hayes, C
 Florimon, SS  Escobar, A, SS
   Deduno, P    Duffy, P

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 0
Kansas City 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 x 5 14 0

Let’s be honest, we didn’t REALLY think our guys would win two games in a row, did we?

Sam Deduno certainly didn’t stink, but you aren’t going to win many games when you only score two runs. You’d think with 10 hits, you could scratch a few more runs, though, wouldn’t you? Twins were 2 of 11 with runners in scoring position and the Royals were 5 for 14.  Pretty easy to tell from that which team won.

Those 16 strikeouts didn’t help, either. – JC

GameChat – Twins @ Royals #2, 7:10pm

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It’s Tuesday so I am not here tonight but I thought I would still throw this out there for any of you fans who want to see if the Twins can do anything interesting in Kauffman besides have a bench player pitch an inning…

Btw, Carroll is back at his traditional place on the corner.. I’m ok with that.

The other interesting thing tonight is Albers MLB debut! Honestly, no matter what happens tonight, my guess is that he won’t be out-pitched by a 39-yo utility infielder.. just saying.

Minnesota

@

 Kansas City
Dozier, 2B Cain, L, CF
Carroll, 3B Hosmer, 1B
Mauer, 1B Butler, B, DH
Morneau, DH Gordon, A, LF
Arcia, LF Maxwell, RF
Colabello, RF Moustakas, 3B
Herrmann, C, C Tejada, M, 2B
Thomas, C, CF Kottaras, C
Bernier, SS Escobar, A, SS
  Albers, P   Shields, P

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

R

H

E
Minnesota

3

1

0

1

0

2

0

0

0

7

8

0
Kansas City

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

1

boy, howdy was THAT a game!!

I really can’t fault Twins fans if they didn’t tune in after last night’s drubbing but it’s awfully nice when they come back with a drubbing of their own.  Considering the Royals really haven’t made losing a habit since the All-Star break – especially against the Twins – this was a nice surprise. We actually HIT THE BALL! WE HIT IT A LOT!! AND THEY HIT IT REALLY FAR! They actually had three homeruns in tonight’s game – Dozier, Mornea and Colabello – which brings the Twins season total to 100. (which is more than the Yankees, I might add). Considering two of them were in the first inning – Doziers in the first AB of the game – it was a great way to come back and start and a huge surprise.

OMG though TALK ABOUT SURPRISES! I had high hopes for the kid coming up and making a good showing for himself since yeah, he couldn’t really be worse than the starters we have been running out there already.. but HOLY COW! He not only made a good show of getting Royals hitter after hitter out but he did it for what was temptingly close to a complete game shutout for an MLB DEBUT!!!! good gravy. Yes, he “only” went 8 1/3 innings but that is apparently four games for Correia so that’s well above my expectations. It was just a great game for any starting pitcher much less a kid in his first shot. Good on ya Alby! You have more than earned today’s BOD!

Andrew Albers #95 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a portrait on February 19, 2013 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (February 18, 2013 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)
Andrew Albers #95 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a portrait on February 19, 2013 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.
(February 18, 2013 – Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

GameChat – Twins @ Royals, 7:10pm

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A-Rod.. blah blah blah… can’t be rid of him soon enough I say and I’m pretty sure that anyone in Kauffman Stadium will likely be able to hear the boos coming from Chicago..

At any rate, after just barely beating the worst team in MLB three games in a row, we’re back to what has already proven to be a REAL challenge for us – the Royals.

God, I hope Correia is better this time than last..

Minnesota

@

 Kansas City
Dozier, 2B Cain, L, RF
Mauer, C Hosmer, 1B
Morneau, 1B Butler, B, DH
Doumit, DH Gordon, A, LF
Arcia, LF Tejada, M, 2B
Plouffe, 3B Moustakas, 3B
Herrmann, C, RF Kottaras, C
Thomas, C, CF Escobar, A, SS
Bernier, SS Dyson, J, CF
  Correia, P   Guthrie, P

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

R

H

E
Minnesota

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

0
Kansas City

0

6

0

0

0

3

4

0

x

13

16

0

I’m not sure that even deserves to be called baseball.. God, that was ugly. Thanks to Parker (@Overthebaggy), we do have this moment to remember:

Yes, Jamey Carroll pitched a 1-2-3 8th inning with a fastball.. er.. changeup.. er.. something topping out at an effective 78 mph. He kept the ball..

Kernels Video: Joel Licon’s Walk-off Single Tops Quad Cities

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Heading in to Sunday afternoon’s game with the Quad Cities River Bandits, the Cedar Rapids Kernels held a slim 1/2 game lead over QC for the top spot in the Midwest League’s Western Division for the second half of the season.

Each team scored once in the first inning and the Bandits scored in the top of the ninth to take a 2-1 lead. Jorge Polanco singled with one out in the Kernels’ ninth and Adam Brett Walker followed with a single to CF. The Bandits’  center fielder let the ball get by him for a two-base error, allowing Polanco to score the tying run  and Walker to reach third base.

After a strike out, Joel Licon came to the plate with Walker on third base and the game tied 2-2. Which led to this:

Was it fair or was it foul? I’ll refrain from opining, but I will say this much: IF it was foul, it certainly wasn’t the first call this particular plate umpire blew in the game.

Kernels Manager Jake Mauer was ejected for pointing out a previous mistake by the same umpire, which is perhaps why it’s  hitting coach and acting manager Tommy Watkins (8) congratulating Licon (2) in front of the dugout.

– JC

GameChat – Astros @ Twins #3, 1:10pm

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The Twins bullpen has done a fantastic job of keeping the Astros off of the board this weekend, but after back-to-back games of heavy use, the Twins will be looking to Mike Pelfrey to pitch deep into the game.

The Twins are not necessarily running out the typical Sunday B-Lineup, but that might be because their everyday lineup is pretty bad on its own.  Trevor Plouffe has the day off, and it looks like Pedro Florimon is still nursing his sore wrist as Doug Bernier is starting for the second day in a row.

Go Twins!

 Astros

@

  Twins
 Grossman, LF  Dozier, 2B
 Altuve, 2B  Herrmann, C, RF
 Castro, Ja, C  Mauer, DH
 Wallace, 1B  Morneau, 1B
 Carter, DH  Doumit, C
 Krauss, RF  Arcia, LF
 Dominguez, 3B  Thomas, C, CF
 Barnes, B, CF  Carroll, 3B
 Villar, SS  Bernier, SS
   Peacock, P    Pelfrey, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 9 0
Minnesota 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 x 3 5 0

I didn’t watch or hear anything about the game, but if you hit the home run that leads to the win, I think you get BOD, right?

Minnesota+Twins+Photo+Day+Arcia

GameChat – Astros @ Twins #2, 6:10pm

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UPDATE: Pedro Florimon is a late scratch with wrist soreness, Bernier will start in his place.

I don’t know if you count it as an exciting game or a really boring games when two bad teams play extra innings, maybe both, but I was not around to see it all as I fell asleep some time around the 4th inning.

Failing to make a roster move to replace Scott Diamond, even if they just brought up an extra bat for a few days, cost the Twins last night as they were working with a thin bench and they ended up losing the DH.

Things should be a little more normal today, but the Twins will need a strong performance out of their starter to save the bullpen.  But hey, Andrew Albers arrives today, so there’s that!

Go Twins!

Astros

@

 Twins
Villar, SS Dozier, 2B
Altuve, 2B Mauer, C
Castro, Ja, C Morneau, DH
Carter, DH Doumit, RF
Wallace, 1B Plouffe, 3B
Dominguez, 3B Arcia, LF
Grossman, LF Colabello, 1B
Barnes, B, CF Thomas, C, CF
Hoes, RF Bernier, SS
  Bedard, P   Gibson, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 10 1
Minnesota 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 x 6 9 0

Kyle Gibson had a great opportunity to rebound from a poor start in Seattle and he couldn’t keep it together, failing to pitch into the fourth inning.  Luckily the Twins’ bullpen was back in full force again tonight after a marvelous performance a night ago.  Six scoreless innings from the pen, topped by a great performance from Anthony Swarzak.  For coming into the game and calming things down (3IP, 5K, 0H, 1BB), tonight’s BOD is Anthony Swarzak, with ice cream for the rest of the bullpen.

052811-MLB-Minnesota-Twins-Anthony-Swarzak-PI_20110528221233867_660_320

GameChat – Astros @ Twins, 7:05pm

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The Twins welcome the Astros to Target Field for the first time as American League opponents. The Twins haven’t won a baseball game for almost a week, so don’t expect a lot tonight, but against the worst team in baseball, a little something would be nice.

Oh, sorry, I’m a little negative today.

Anywhoo, the sun is shining and it is a beautiful day in Minnesota, exactly the kind of day that makes Target Field a great place to take in a ball game.

Aaron Hicks will be replaced in centerfield by Clete Thomas, and I while that doesn’t seem great, it is an offensive upgrade.

Go Twins!

Astros

@

 Twins
Villar, SS Dozier, 2B
Elmore, 2B Mauer, C
Castro, Ja, DH Morneau, 1B
Wallace, 1B Doumit, RF
Corporan, C Arcia, LF
Krauss, RF Plouffe, 3B
Dominguez, 3B Colabello, DH
Barnes, B, CF Thomas, C, CF
Grossman, LF Florimon, SS
  Cosart, P   Deduno, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 R H E
Houston 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 7 1
Minnesota 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 11 0

Ok, so I missed MUCH of this game since I ran off to the bar to see my little brother’s band play… BUT they did have it on at the bar so I was able to see things here and there and check score every once in awhile – I just couldn’t hear rulings or WHY things were done certain ways..  so I was pretty lost – and then heard the bottom of the 13th on the way home from the bar.

Can I tell you that I wasn’t any less confused at all!?!?!? I had to go read the play-by-play!!! (It didn’t help) How on earth are we in the position that we’re grabbing starting pitchers (admittedly former NL guys) as pinch hitters when it’s ONLY the 13th?!?!! Yes, I know that is still a lot of extra innings but come on guys, it’s not like we never do that. I definitely missed some things and yeah, I feel like there was some poor roster management in there as part of it. I would very much appreciate any comments you guys can add to help explain wtf happened.

All THAT being said, it sure made for a DRAMATIC ending! I have a feeling that if we had LOST after all that, I would be pretty damn crabby this morning.. seriously.. losing to the Astros is nothing to sneeze at especially when it looks like things got very loosey-goosey down the stretch. But all that being said, I’ll take a win. And THANK YOU to Dozier for finally ending it! For that, he gets today’s BOD!

Dozier at bat