GameChat – Indians @ Twins, 7:10

For a day that seriously started out like CRAP here in the Twin Cities, it’s sure awfully nice now.  The sun came out, the sky is clear and the temp has finally climbed up to about 70 for the start of the game.  That’s WAY better than I thought it was going to be.  It’s still a bit breezy and the boys really don’t want to think about pushing the game to extra innings since there are thunderstorms on their way in right about when the game SHOULD end.

The sun seems to be shining on our injury situation too.  Mauer’s knee situation really isn’t serious and he should be back soon.  Kubel is feeling MUCH better and Gardy says he’s champing at the bit to get back out there but they are giving one more day to be sure.  It will definitely be a relief to have a couple of our biggest bats back soon.

Today was the Two-out Hit Parade!  If my count is right, all 9 of the Twins runs were scored with 2 outs.  But maybe they were trying to add a little tension/spice into a game that otherwise seemed to be flowing pretty well.  Of course, given my difficulties in staying awake – completely un-game related – maybe it’s just my imagination how easy it seemed to be.

But there was some beautiful baseball tonight and the magic number currently sits at 3 for however much longer.  It could be down even further depending on what happens out in Oakland tonight with the White Sox.  And still, the Twins are right at the top of baseball with the Yankees and Rays – all within a game of each other – again for now.  The boys are pretty excited and they should be because for them, it appears the sky is the limit.  Span and Young both had good nights at the plate and Duensing really held steady as the starter out there again when we really needed a comeback feel – so they all get cookies and all the milk they can drink.

Then there was Hardy – quietly getting on base time after time.  It’s so much fun to see the confidence he has in himself when he approaches the plate now that he’s healthy.  He’s a completely different player than he was 2 months ago and still flashing the glove – NIFTY double play with a no-look backwards shovel pass from Alexi Casilla to Hardy on 2B.  This isn’t possible without an extreme amount of trust in these players that they know he’s going to be there to do his job no matter what.

And with the opposite – loud and in charge – Danny Valencia kicked off the scoring drive tonight by hitting yet another DEEP homerun into the OF upper deck.  It’s really great to see him be successfull as a rookie.    So both he and Hardy can help themselves to as many Krispy Kremes as they want.

But tonight’s BOD vote goes to the man who is still just making it happen day after day.  Michael Cuddyer went 2/4 with 3 Runs and 2 RBI.  Yes, I know I keep calling for him to get a day off but it’s not because I think he’s failing in any way or looking tired.. it’s just because, wow, he’s really doing it right day in and day out.