As Batgirl always used to tell us, sometimes you have to go through the Sucking Times. I’m pretty certain that we could all agree that right now is the Sucking Time that the Twins seem to go through every year. However, as much as I now almost dread watching a Twins game (although much like a serious car crash, you can’t quite look away), I’m still watching for that miracle moment that seems to turn the tide and causes the Twins to turn back into Twins.
A moment happened last night after that horrible game that just might be the turn of the tide. Twitter has definitely changed the act of following the happenings of our favorite team off the field. It turns out that Gardy called a team meeting after the game. Several of the players apparently thought it was about time that SOMEBODY called a meeting, however it does seem appropriate that it was the manager. *shrug* Maybe I’m just being old fashioned about such things. It was reported that Gardy’s general mood was equal parts “supportive” and “pissed off”. I’m wondering where he found the energy to be supportive! But good for him since that’s kind of his job. Ok, so Gardy does his thing and then you have this big quiet vacuum of players attempting to sort out how to respond. So who is it that takes the step forward? Which one of our much-vaunted team leaders that gives the “jump on my back” speech? Morneau? Cuddyer? Pavano? Our great team veterans? Nope.
Can you believe it was Denard Span? Actually I can but good for him for being one of the younger but most dependable guys we have right now. LEN III quoted him, “I didn’t plan on it,” Span said, “but, at my church, they say, ‘when the spirit moves you, it moves you.’ ” Span reported that the 8th inning especially just made him boil over with frustration. Yeah, we fans know that feeling pretty well.
What it did was cost him the normal day off he would have gotten. Gardy said that after the speech, he had to put him out there.
I really hope it works. Someone has to step up and say, “knock this shit off”. I honestly don’t care who it is as long as it gets done and something starts to change.
| Minnesota | @ | Kansas City |
| Span, DH | Dyson, CF | |
| Repko, CF | Aviles, M, 2B | |
| Morneau, 1B | Gordon, A, LF | |
| Kubel, RF | Butler, DH | |
| Valencia, 3B | Francoeur, RF | |
| Tosoni, LF | Betemit, 3B | |
| Hughes, L, 2B | Ka’aihue, 1B | |
| Butera, C | Treanor, C | |
| Casilla, A, SS | Escobar, A, SS | |
| Pavano, P | Hochevar, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Kansas City | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | x | 10 | 15 | 0 |
*sigh* In the words of one of my friends on Twitter? Yuck. This puts the losing streak at 6 games. I think we can all relate to Carl on this one.
Yeah the weather in Dallas was ugly so flights were delayed and I didn’t get to my hotel until this game was over… thank God!
I probably shouldn’t comment, since I didn’t see the game and maybe Pavano pitched really, really well and didn’t deserve to get charged with 7 ER and 12 hits in just over 5 innings… but on the face of things, it would seem that perhaps he should put a bit more effort in to not sucking on the mound and less in to trash can assault.
As for Denard, I’m not sure that going 0 for 5 is what you want the guy who speaks up at the prior night’s team meeting to do, but hey… at least Lexi seems to have hit the ball well!
The BitchSox lost again, too… which still leaves me wondering how these two teams are going to figure out how they can both lose the games they play against each other this week.
I dreamed last night that CC Sabathia hit an inside the park homerun against us. With the team we’re currently fielding, I think it might actually be possible.
Er, no Twin was eaten in that dream, I hope. :O