Eric Pleiss – Page 8 – Knuckleballs

GameChat – Astros @ Twins #2, 6:10pm

Posted on 3 August, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

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.

GameChat – Astros @ Twins, 7:05pm

Posted on 2 August, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

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!

Talk to Contact – Episode 47: The Sexy Mustache Episode

Posted on 2 August, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

Episode 47 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

povano — Top Google Image Search Result for “sexy baseball fans Twins Minnesota mustache”

For the first time in many moons Cody takes a break and Paul and Eric are forced to go it alone. We talk about Aaron Hick’s demotion to AAA, whether or not the Twins are “rebuilding” and who the winners and losers were at the trade deadline. Adam (AJ) Pettersen is this week’s minor league prospect profile; will he ever get a cup of coffee in the big leagues? Google image search black holes, good summer beers and lots more on this week’s episode of the Talk to Contact podcast.

Enjoy 67 minutes of fun.

GameChat Twins at Mariners #3, 3:10 pm

Posted on 27 July, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

The Twins stole a win from Felix Hernandez last night, and they should have a little easier sledding this evening against Harang, so maybe the boys will score a couple more runs.

And Chris Colabello was rewarded for his extra inning work with a start at DH tonight.

Go Twins!

Minnesota	@	Seattle
Dozier, 2B		Miller, B, SS
Herrmann, C, RF		Franklin, 2B
Morneau, 1B		Ibanez, LF
Doumit, C		Morales, K, DH
Colabello, DH		Seager, 3B
Thomas, C, LF		Smoak, 1B
Plouffe, 3B		Chavez, En, RF
Hicks, CF		Quintero, C
Bernier, SS		Ackley, CF
Deduno, P		Harang, P

A very strong performance from Samuel Deduno and a couple of solo home runs powered the Twins to victory. A victory only seen by the lucky few to have a ticket to see the game at Safeco Field because the game was not broadcast.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	4	7	0
Seattle	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1

For his seven innings of shut out ball Deduno is today’s BOD!

Sam Deduno (Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Talk to Contact Episode 46: The Swingin’ Clete Meat Thomas Episode

Posted on 26 July, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

Episode 46 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

This week my brother returns for a long journey at sea with the US Coast Guard and Cody and I clap for him. We talk about Clete Thomas, Drew Butera (known fondly to us as the Boat Anchor), and we drink way too many beers.

This might be the most enjoyable show I have ever recorded.

80 minutes of bafoonery.

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 @ Angels #2, 9:05pm

Posted on 23 July, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

The Twins just know how to win. Simple as that folks. The Twins are just at the beginning of a string of 20 games against teams with records under .500, so they should play pretty competitive baseball for the next few weeks. It will be fun while it lasts, as they run into the Tigers and Indians for what seems like two straight weeks after this is over.

Should be fun tonight with Kyle Gibson on the mound.

EDIT: Joe Mauer was a late scratch from the lineup and is headed back to Minnesota because his wife’s water broke. The babies were not due for another month, so let’s hope everything is okay for the Mauers.

Minnesota Twins	@	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Dozier, 2B		Shuck, LF
Carroll, 3B		Trout, CF
Morneau, 1B		Pujols, DH
Doumit, RF		Kendrick, H, 2B
Colabello, DH		Callaspo, 3B
Thomas, C, LF		Trumbo, 1B
Herrmann, C, C		Conger, C
Hicks, CF		Cowgill, RF
Florimon, SS		Aybar, SS
Gibson, P		Hanson, P

Time to start a winning streak.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Minnesota	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	7	10	15	0
LA Angels	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	10	0

What a finish! For the 2nd night in a row the Twins almost give one away in late innings. Tonight the Twins did give up the lead in the 9th, but stormed back in the 10th, capping things off with a Chris Herrmann grand slam to put the Angels away.

I was long asleep, but Herrmann certainly gets BOD for his 3-5 night with RBI after not expecting to start tonight.

Talk to Contact Episode 45: Breaking Down the All-Star Break

Posted on 22 July, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

Episode 45 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

This week on the podcast, Cody and Eric break down the Twins’ recent series wins against New York and Cleveland, recap their 1st half Twins MVPs, and contemplate the future of Ron Gardenhire.

Down on the Pond they talk about Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels’ RHP Dallas Gallant, and they even try and give away a “Magic in Minneosta” DVD, listen up for details.

To close out the show the two talk Beers from Around the World and then go Around the League, finishing with a couple of BOLD predicitons for the 2nd half.

68 minutes of internet money!

– ERolfPleiss

Talk to Contact Episode 44: Minor Leauge Caps

Posted on 17 July, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

Episode 44 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

This week Cody and Eric get down on a bunch of Twins news from the past week+, including a mediocre Kyle Gibson, roster transactions, a surging Aaron Hicks and a slumping EVERYONE else.

Down on the Pond is about the Twins’ recent #1 draft pick Kohl Stewart. After that Cody and Eric talk beer, baseball, and the news.

76 minutes of unmitigated baseball talk.

– ERolfPleiss

GameChat Twins @ Rays 6:10pm

Posted on 9 July, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

I’m struggling to get reliable internet service today, so I’ll get the chat up and update rosters as the internet is available.

Sorry gang.

I got it, Eric! – JC

TWINS	@	RAYS
Dozier, 2B		Jennings, D, CF
Mauer, C		Scott, DH
Doumit, DH		Zobrist, 2B
Morneau, 1B		Longoria, 3B
Plouffe, 3B		Loney, 1B
Arcia, LF		Joyce, RF
Parmelee, RF		Johnson, K, LF
Hicks, CF		Lobaton, C
Florimon, SS		Escobar, Y, SS
_Gibson, P		_Archer, P

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	0
Tampa Bay	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	x	4	5	1

Crap. One bad inning of pitching and then, in the 9th, tying run at the plate with no outs and we get three straight Ks. I know Rodney was throwing 100 mph, but still. Disappointing. – JC

GameChat – Yankees @ Twins #2 7:10pm

Posted on 2 July, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

The big news out of the Twins today was that Josh Willingham has been added to the 15-day Disabled List with a bum knee, and that youngster Aaron Hicks has been reinstated from his rehab stint in Triple-A to fill Hammer’s roster spot. Hicks is starting in centerfield and hitting 8th tonight, but don’t worry Twins fans, Clete Thomas is still available off the bench.

Yankees	@	Twins
Gardner, B, CF		Dozier, 2B
Suzuki, I, RF		Mauer, C
Cano, 2B		Doumit, DH
Hafner, DH		Morneau, 1B
Almonte, LF		Plouffe, 3B
Overbay, 1B		Arcia, LF
Stewart, C, C		Parmelee, RF
Adams, D, 3B		Hicks, CF
Gonzalez, Al, SS		Florimon, SS
Hughes, P, P		Deduno, P

Hopefully the bullpen can show up today…

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	3	0	4	0	0	7	10	0
Minnesota	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	9	1

Well, that went about how Twins/Yankees games go. The Twins perform well for a while, and then they get Yankee’d. Twins will need to win back to back games now just to earn a split. Good luck, Twinkies!