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Posts by CapitalBabs

GameChat – Twins @ Angels #3, 9:05pm

May02
2012
4 Comments Written by CapitalBabs

I have to say that I’m probably not the only person who will be glad to be done playing the Angels.. I wish that meant we were done with late night games but no, we hit Seattle next. I just won’t be sorry to not have Torii kicking our butt each night.

I am really hoping for good outing from Liam tonight AND for a little bit better run support than we gave Liriano. I don’t care how good your pitching is or isn’t, you aren’t going to win very many games with 3 hits.. And I swear to God if Clete Thomas can’t get at least ONE hit tonight, I don’t want to see him out there anymore.. ditch his ass and go see if we can find Luke Hughes. I might be starting to get a little worked up about poor roster management…

 

Minnesota

@

LA Angels
Span, CF Aybar, SS
Casilla, A, 2B Wells, V, LF
Mauer, DH Pujols, 1B
Willingham, LF Morales, K, DH
Doumit, C Hunter, To, RF
Parmelee, 1B Kendrick, H, 2B
Plouffe, 3B Trumbo, 3B
Thomas, C, RF Iannetta, C
Carroll, SS Bourjos, CF
  Hendriks, P   Weaver, P
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LA Angels 1 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 x 9 15 0

It appears that it has finally happened… the Twins offense has become as impotent as their pitching.

The Twins managed to make history tonight by being no-hit by the Angels’ Jared Weaver. They managed only two baserunners… a Josh Willingham walk and a strike out with a passed ball allowing Chris Parmelee to reach first base. Nine Twins were strike out victims.

On the other side of the ledger, Liam Hendriks lasted just 2 1/3 innings, giving up 6 runs, all earned, and 9 hits. But hey, he didn’t walk anyone! Most of the Twins’ bullpen got some work tonight, but they all have tomorrow’s off day to prepare for the series with the Mariners.

GM Terry Ryan is reportedly in Rochester. Friday’s off day could be interesting if he’s as fed up with the performance of the Twins as the rest of us are. – JC

Posted in GameChat, Twins baseball
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WE DID IT!! & We Have A WINNER!

May02
2012
3 Comments Written by CapitalBabs

I finally figured out a benefit to west coast games! Besides the fact that our coastal friends get a prime time game, of course. 

The benefit is that there was a nice little contingent of Knuckleballers sitting in the game chat when we got that special visitor!!! It is still just amazing to me that we are still here doing what we so haphazardly do for a third baseball season and that so many people have joined us in the process.  We can’t thank you all enough for continuing to show up, to comment, to chat, to share your knowledge and insights, and in general join us in the love of baseball and, of course, the Minnesota Twins.

But speaking of amazing… we have a winner for that cool Kirby Memorial!! The winner’s guess was literally within 15 minutes of the actual visit time AND had the right state as well… To be frank, I’m a little weirded out by that. But that’s a win no matter how you slice it.

Congratulations to Lindsay Guentzel!! This is your year!

Lindsay, send me info to where you would like the picture shipped – whether home or NY or wherever and I’ll get it out to you!

Sadly, we don’t know who that actual special visitor was – I wish I was one of those hacker type people who could figure those things out but I’m satisfied with knowing  that someone special from San Francisco was the one to put us over the top.  Here’s their particulars, whoever they are!

Knuckleballs
By Location > Visit Detail
Visit 100,000

Location
Continent  : North America
Country  : United States  (Facts)
State  : California
City  : South San Francisco
Lat/Long  : 37.6534, -122.4231 (Map)
Time of Visit   May 1 2012 10:50:17 pm
Last Page View May 1 2012 10:50:55 pm
Visit Length 38 seconds
Page Views   2
Referring URL unknown
Visit Entry Page http://knuckleballsblog.com/
Visit Exit Page http://knuckleballsblog.com/

I wish we knew who you are but thank you for sharing a brief period of time with us.

I wonder what our next milestone will be…

Posted in General
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GameChat – Twins @ Angels #2, 9:05 pm

May01
2012
Leave a Comment Written by CapitalBabs

I’m not a negative person by nature even if I have a critical streak… but today, I gotta admit I just don’t see how the Twins couldn’t have come up with a better way to manage their roster.. yet again. Today they DFA’d Burroughs in order to make room for Drew Butera to come up so that Mauer & Doumit had backup. Butera doesn’t bug me so much – in fact, knowing that Gardy’s had both his catchers in the lineup just about every day, with one “day to day” it is actually a good idea. However, since Morneau is off with inflammation and fluid build up in his surgically repaired wrist, it just seems like there were other options… the same options they have been refusing to use all season..  Whoever is in charge of the DL: you won’t reduce your chances of a repeat of 2011 by just refusing to admit that people are getting injured!

*shakes head* I just don’t really understand and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only fan who is confused and frustrated already.

 

Minnesota

@

LA Angels
Span, CF Trout, CF
Casilla, A, 2B Callaspo, 3B
Mauer, DH Pujols, 1B
Willingham, LF Hunter, To, RF
Valencia, 3B Trumbo, DH
Doumit, C Kendrick, H, 2B
Parmelee, 1B Wells, V, LF
Thomas, C, RF Aybar, SS
Carroll, SS Iannetta, C
  Liriano, P   Williams, J, P

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

R

H

E

Minnesota

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

LA Angels

0

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

x

4

7

0

*sigh* combining these struggles with west coast time zone issues is really making Twins fans grumpy.. at least me if no one else. Chat discussion pointed out that Liriano did better tonight than he ever had this season AND it was one of the better outings anyone in our pitching rotation has pulled off lately.. it’s a glass half full/half empty thing.. because while that is true, it’s a very, very sad truth.

And tonight, no one could hit – except Span… seriously guys, we have to put both out there – pitching AND hitting.. neither is going to give this team a losing record.. oh, wait…

Posted in GameChat, Twins baseball
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Sunday Morning Comic Relief

Apr29
2012
Leave a Comment Written by CapitalBabs

Saw this last night – yes, I’m one of those late night channel surfers who LOVE the Red Green Show! But you’ll love it. It might even be the best 5 minutes of your day (if you have to rewind and watch that knuckleballs part again!)

 

Posted in General
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GameChat – Royals @ Twins #2, 12:10 pm

Apr28
2012
Leave a Comment Written by CapitalBabs

Oooops. Spent too long at Menards shopping for the yard work supplies I need but can’t actually do because it’s raining. But that’s ok because it’s on rain delay anyway… Not sure how long this will last because it’s really kind of unpleasant out there. Cold & damp and probably matches the mood of players & fans alike in Twins Territory right now.

NOTE: today’s broadcast is on Fox9 – forgot to include that in the post title!

Today’s #Twins game vs. the #Royals is officially postponed. Will be made up on June 30 at 12:10 p.m. 2nd game at 6:10 p.m.

Posted in GameChat, Twins baseball
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GameChat – Royals @ Twins, 7:10 pm

Apr27
2012
1 Comment Written by CapitalBabs

By now y’all have probably heard about the trouble Delmon got himself into… If you haven’t, you really should sign up for twitter or something and/or you have my sympathies because you have a really really busy life.

The reports thus far have Mr. Young pulling a Mel Gibson in NY – a drunken altercation with a Jewish gentleman that have authorities considering hate crime charges in addition to assault charges. Who knows what the end result of such discussions will be but my only comment will be that I’m glad this event didn’t happen while he was wearing a Twins jersey. Is that selfish? probably. Don’t care, it’s still the truth.

So tonight let’s concentrate on the guys who actually ARE on our team and see what they can do. For the record, Willy is still on paternity leave so we have Revere starting again tonight. Not sure what the move will be but he’ll have to be back tomorrow and there will have to be a corresponding roster move.. I admit that I’m curious. In the category of He’s BA-aack! is Doumit. Good to see. Also have to admit that my little brain went to a funny place…  Pavano is pitching – he clearly still wants “other” when given the choice between whomever and Mauer. I don’t actually have a problem with that, it’s just something I noticed and may or may not be true… Whatever contributes to wins is fine with me so as long as management is ok with it and it works in whatever system they are trying to put in place, whatever.. If it doesn’t contribute to wins than we have hella bigger problems to worry about.

Kansas City

@

Minnesota
Dyson, CF Span, CF
Gordon, LF Carroll, SS
Butler, DH Mauer, DH
Hosmer, 1B Morneau, 1B
Francoeur, RF Doumit, C
Moustakas, 3B Valencia, 3B
Betancourt, Y, 2B Plouffe, RF
Pena, B, C Revere, LF
Escobar, A, SS Casilla, A, 2B
  Teaford, P   Pavano, P

 

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kansas City 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 7 10 0
Minnesota 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 6 12 1

After a while, you just want to type, “they did it again,” and let it go at that. Starting pitcher wasn’t good enough (in this case Justin Morneau’s first inning error didn’t exactly set a positive tone and ended up costing a run), hitters scored enough runs to win, but pitchers found a way to give up just enough runs to avoid getting a W. Oh, and the umpiring sucked again, but what else is new?

The Twins will have a couple of tough decisions to make soon. Josh Willingham should be rejoining the team very shortly and if reports  that the Twins are indeed trying to sign former Tiger Brandon Inge are true, it means two of the current Twins will need to come off the active roster. But which two? Honestly… to my mind, there’s no shortage of guys who have no room to bitch if they find themselves on the outside looking in, but most of them are pitchers. UPDATE: The Twins announced after the game that Ben Revere had been optioned back to Rochester to make room for Willingham’s return from paternity leave. I guess it makes as much sense as anything, given that they still aren’t likely to play either Revere or Willy in RF and Revere still needs to play every day.

I just have a tough time right now getting all worked up about this guy or that guy not “deserving” to lose his job.

Arguably, most players on a team that’s won only five games at this point in the season deserve exactly that. – JC

Posted in GameChat, Twins baseball
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Get Your Votes In Before Time Runs Out!

Apr26
2012
Leave a Comment Written by CapitalBabs

This is a reminder post for a couple of opportunities for Knuckleballers to participate in! Afterall, it’s an off-day (much necessary for both team & fans) so what else do you have to do? It’s not like we have lives, right?

First, don’t forget to put in your guesses to win this amazing collectible memorial for Kirby Puckett. I’ll happily ship it to you if you win! We are coming up on the big 100,000 visitor mark far more quickly than I would ever have guessed.

See the original post to submit your vote so that we have all the contest guesses in one place!

 

AND we can’t forget to go support Lindsay in the MLB FanCave! Having her there has definitely given us all sorts of entertaining moments in Twins games that are somewhat lacking in that particular feature lately. Gotta love the bullpen doing the shark thing just to say hi to her during games!

Go VOTE and make sure we keep her around!

 

Posted in General
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GameChat – Red Sox @ Twins #3, 7:10pm

Apr25
2012
Leave a Comment Written by CapitalBabs

First things first – we extend our heartiest congratulations to Josh Willingham and his family on their newest addition! Per twitter earlier today:

Congrats to #Twins OF Josh Willingham and his wife Ginger on the birth of son #3. Rogan Jaynes born at 1:39 pm. 8 lbs, 6 oz, 21 inches.

Given the paternity leave that Josh is taking to spend time with the youngest Willy Jr, we are granted the pleasure of the return of Ben Revere. Also according to twitter today, he’s been told that his length of stay is completely unknown – could be three days, could be the season. I’m curious to know what the will do when Josh comes back..

At any rate, do I think Revere is the key to beating the BoSox? yeegods, no. But whatever the key to beating them is, I hope the boys figure it out tonight. I really don’t relish the thought of being swept at home, especially by the Sox and I most definitely don’t really want to watch it.. I hope someone is able to do something about that.

 

Boston

@

Minnesota
Aviles, SS Span, CF
Sweeney, RF Carroll, SS
Pedroia, 2B Mauer, C
Gonzalez, Ad, 1B Morneau, DH
Ortiz, DH Parmelee, 1B
Youkilis, 3B Plouffe, RF
Saltalamacchia, C Burroughs, 3B
Ross, C, LF Revere, LF
Byrd, CF Casilla, A, 2B
  Buchholz, C, P   Hendriks, P

 

 

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

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…

The Twins starting pitcher struggled to miss bats and even get outs, giving up six runs in the first three innings as the Twins found themselves in a deep hole. The bullpen did a good job and the bats finally woke up… and fell just short of the win.

Tonight’s failed starting pitcher was Liam Hendriks. Anthony Swarzak, Glen Perkins and Jared Burton kept the game from getting totally out of hand and the Twins put together a big inning, scoring five run in the 6th. But they left runners in scoring position that inning and again in the ninth. Was the third base coaching extremely conservative? Yes. But the bottom line is that players failed to deliver when it was needed.

That completed the Red Sox sweep.

Chris Parmelee was beaned by a 93 mph fastball, but after a few scary minutes, walked off the field. He’ll be reevaluated on Thursday.

Thursday is an off day, by the way… so the Twins shouldn’t lose another game at least until Friday. Then again, if it’s possible for a team to find a way to lose a game on an off day, this team will figure out how to do it.

An interesting note… paid attendance was just 32,254… for a game with the Red Sox. Ouch. – JC

 

Posted in GameChat, Twins baseball
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GameChat – Red Sox @ Twins #2, 7:10pm

Apr24
2012
Leave a Comment Written by CapitalBabs

Wow, those BoSox boys are lucky as blazes to be in Minnesota today.. what a fantastically gorgeous day to play baseball!! I’m really jealous of my friends who are enjoying that beautiful view in Target Field tonight.

That being said, there is some interesting news for the pregame tonight.

A) Ben Revere is on the way to Minnesota to fill in for Willy who will leave for paternity leave tomorrow for the birth of his 3rd son. Our sincerest congratulations to Josh & his family! The maximum paternity leave is 3 days so Willy will be back sooner rather than later.

B) This will be Blackburn’s return after a long rest.. Whether he’s ready or not seems to be somewhat under debate since he’s on a limited pitch count. I was called “negative” for pointing out that given his history when in long rest situations, he’ll likely overthrow the first 30 pitches or so which means his sinker won’t sink – which also means to me that he’ll only start getting comfortable right about the time they are going to start looking to pull him out. Oh well, let’s just hope that it’s a good outing because our bullpen could sure use it.

I’m hoping for a better game than last night – or at least a better ending.

Boston

@

Minnesota
Aviles, SS Span, CF
Sweeney, RF Carroll, SS
Pedroia, 2B Mauer, 1B
Gonzalez, Ad, 1B Willingham, LF
Ortiz, DH Morneau, DH
Youkilis, 3B Doumit, C
Ross, C, LF Valencia, 3B
Byrd, CF Parmelee, RF
Shoppach, C Plouffe, 2B
  Beckett, P   Blackburn, P

 

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston 3 0 2 2 3 0 0 1 0 11 18 0
Minnesota 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 0

I didn’t see or listen to any of the game… and I’m really glad.

It seems this team has some pitching issues… who knew? (OK… we ALL knew.)

By the way, have I mentioned what a GREAT idea it wasn’t to make sure we got this start out of Blackburn, even though it cost the Twins Luke Hughes to get those 3 innings? Oh yeah… I have. – JC

Posted in GameChat, Twins baseball
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Coming Up On The Big 100,000!

Apr24
2012
11 Comments Written by CapitalBabs

We’ve been trying to come up with a way to celebrate the landmark visitor and tried to find out if we could determine who that lucky person was going to be… yeah we aren’t that technologically savvy. But we still wanted to celebrate hitting the mark so…

It’s time for another Knuckleballs contest! 

We have a gorgeous prize available – a framed Kirby Puckett memorial that was donated by my brother (HUGE Puckett fan).

Hopefully, that whets your appetite to play along! So here’s what we’re going to do.

You can see the current visitor count at the top right-hand column of the main page. You can even get a good summary of the visit history if you click on it.

Next, I’m looking for three pieces of information for you to offer:

A) The DAY you think we’ll hit 100,000.

B) The HOUR you think is the likely time to hit.

and lastly, the tie-breaker

C) Where in the world you think that visitor is going to log in from.

I can guarantee you that we never thought this was a mark we would hit when we started.. just wasn’t something that even occurred to us. But here we are and we hope you guys get to celebrate with us!

Posted in General
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