Sometimes it gets a little old starting every game chat with an injury update but after yesterday, yeah, we need to cover a few things. Mijares is going to the DL with a sprained knee and they officially called Manship back up to take his roster spot. I’m still not sure what that means for Perkins – and I don’t think they have quite figured it out yet either. Because we have yet another pitcher who can’t pitch right now. Jon Rauch screwed up a toe in such a way that even Gardy is talking/wincing about how “ugly” and black & blue it is. Really? How are we supposed to keep fielding a team this way?! The good news on the pitching front is that Slowey is throwing in the bullpen and feeling good so he’ll do his next start just fine.
As far as our fielders go, JJ Hardy did leave last night’s game because of a sore wrist. However, he says he’s going to play through it and it doesn’t require him to spend any time benched. We’ll see if Punto is ready to come back tomorrow but from the looks of things, it would be a good thing if he’s ready.
** update from Joe C: Punto and Morneau are planning to work out with the team on Friday. Punto will be activated this weekend. That would ALSO be very good news. **
Considering that we are now back in that tied spot for the division lead, I would love it if Frankie could bring it in that way we all know and love and get us back into that first place spot by ourselves. Again, that will require some freaking RUN SUPPORT!!! Let’s get to it!
| Minnesota | @ | Chi White Sox |
| Span, CF | Pierre, LF | |
| Hudson, O, 2B | Ramirez, A, SS | |
| Mauer, C | Rios, CF | |
| Kubel, RF | Konerko, 1B | |
| Cuddyer, 1B | Quentin, RF | |
| Thome, DH | Pierzynski, C | |
| Young, D, LF | Viciedo, DH | |
| Valencia, 3B | Vizquel, 3B | |
| Casilla, A, SS | Beckham, 2B | |
| Liriano, P | Floyd, G, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 0 |
| Chi White Sox | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! We’re back in first place and we own it! I would like to make sure that we keep that same attitude playing the A’s. But that was just a good game all the way around. They battled quite a bit and they had to EARN this win but it was unbelievable to see the nasty come out in Liriano when he needed it – got himself out of 3 bases-loaded situations. He wasn’t perfect tonight but I have always measured my respect for pitchers by how they perform when they aren’t having their best day – this was a HUGE game for Liriano. Orlando Hudson and Kubel both hit Homeruns tonight but Kubes… his was a 3 run shot that just seemed to put the nail in the coffin. And huge kudos for the bullpen – especially Matty G – for coming in and slamming the lid down a little earlier than we’d like to see them out there.
So, for all the happiness in the Chat – it was a REALLY tough call for the BOD voting. In the end, here’s how we broke it down: Hudson gets an ice cream cake for that homerun in the first inning – nothing like setting the tone. The bullpen gets a Keg and a Family bucket of KFC for being so finger-licking good! Matty, first cup’s on me! And finally, because we refuse to take the fun out of a good debate, we chose to assign CO-BOD status to both Kubel and Liriano for being really good at their jobs and keeping the morale of the team up where it should be. Thanks boys!
