Category Archives: GameChat

GameChat – Twins @ Rangers #3, 2:05pm

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the baseball this weekend has been pretty disappointing. honestly. Let’s see if the Twins can’t do something to entertain us today. I may miss the beginning but I might actually get to WATCH some baseball today! It would be great if it was worth it.

Minnesota Texas
Dozier, 2B Choo, DH
Mauer, 1B Andrus, SS
Parmelee, CF Pena, C, 1B
Willingham, LF Beltre, A, 3B
Morales, K, DH Rios, A, RF
Arcia, O, RF Martin, L, CF
Escobar, E, 3B Chirinos, C
Fryer, C Choice, LF
Polanco, J, SS Odor, 2B
  Gibson, P   Lewis, P
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 0
Texas 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 8 0

so I was wrong… doesn’t happen often but there you go. I didn’t get to watch any of the game. *sigh*

And of course they WON!

Looking at the box score though, I have to make only one determination for BOD – I see that Gibson pitched 8 innings. That’s pretty rare these days so I’m taking it. Let’s hope they all get back to doing that again.

Kyle Gibson
Kyle Gibson

GameChat – Twins @ Rangers #2, 3:05pm

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I can’t even watch the game today so I really wish that last night’s had been more entertaining.. I didn’t even get to watch the end where they tried to come back. So here’s hoping that they actually give me something good to peek in on close to the end when I get a chance to come check the score!

Minnesota Texas
Fuld, CF Choo, LF
Dozier, 2B Andrus, SS
Mauer, DH Pena, C, 1B
Morales, K, 1B Beltre, A, 3B
Arcia, O, LF Murphy, DH
Suzuki, K, C Martin, L, CF
Parmelee, RF Gimenez, C
Escobar, E, 3B Choice, RF
Florimon, SS Odor, 2B
  Hughes, P, P   Darvish, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
Texas 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 x 5 11 0

I had no idea how this game went, so I asked someone how the Twins did today and I was told they got their asses kicked.

Seems that’s about accurate. I was not shocked. – JC

GameChat – Twins @ Rangers, 7:05pm

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Ok, let’s be honest here.. the Rangers are NOT the Angels.. let’s see what we have for a game!

Minnesota @ Texas
Dozier, 2B Choo, LF
Suzuki, K, C Andrus, SS
Mauer, 1B Pena, C, 1B
Willingham, LF Beltre, A, DH
Morales, K, DH Rios, A, RF
Arcia, O, RF Martin, L, CF
Escobar, E, 3B Gimenez, C
Fuld, CF Sardinas, 3B
Florimon, SS Odor, 2B
  Correia, P   Tepesch, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 6 0
Texas 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 x 5 8 1

Have to credit the Twins for finally mounting a come back in the 9th inning, but if you take 8 innings off, you really can’t expect things to work out well in the end.

Like seeing Jorge Polanco with that triple in the 9th that put the Twins in shape to complete that come back.  – JC

GameChat – Twins @ Angels #2, 9:05

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Another late night game and another chance to start a new winning streak.

Let’s see what Yohan Pino can do for an encore. – JC

Minnesota @ LA Angels
Santana, D, SS Calhoun, RF
Dozier, 2B Trout, CF
Mauer, 1B Pujols, 1B
Willingham, LF Hamilton, LF
Morales, K, DH Aybar, SS
Arcia, O, RF Kendrick, H, 2B
Escobar, E, 3B Cron, DH
Fryer, C Green, G, 3B
Fuld, CF Iannetta, C
  Pino, P   Richards, P
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 5 0
LA Angels 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 x 6 10 1

let’s face it, if you’re checking here for a post game report, you didn’t make it to the end of the game either… Sadly, Pino did not have a great outing. I didn’t get to catch any of the game on TV and only caught brief segments on the radio. I actually got HOME before the game was over but was too exhausted and not enthused by the score to watch.

That being said, it appears that the bullpen actually came in and did a great job of halting the Angels offense but it appears that the Twins bats didn’t really ever get swinging to any benefit. Can’t win if you don’t score…

GameChat – Twins @ Angels, 9:05pm

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SORRY!

You’d think with games starting in West Coast time, that I’d actually be able to get something up on time.. yeah, turns out it’s just enough time to get completely occupied in another task and lose track – holy crap there’s baseball on!

Minnesota @ LA Angels
Santana, D, SS Calhoun, RF
Dozier, 2B Trout, CF
Mauer, 1B Pujols, 1B
Willingham, LF Hamilton, LF
Morales, K, DH Aybar, SS
Suzuki, K, C Kendrick, H, 2B
Parmelee, RF Cron, DH
Escobar, E, 3B Freese, 3B
Fuld, CF Conger, C
  Gibson, P   Wilson, C, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 11 0
LA Angels 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 x 8 8 1

Not Kyle Gibson’s finest hour. His team matched five spot for five spot, but when Gibson gave up a second inning HR to Mike Trout, the game was effectively over.

Some very nice relief work by Sam Deduno, though. – JC

GameChat – White Sox @ Twins #4, 1:10pm

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Can we do it? A four game sweep would be pretty amazing. Hopefully, we’ll have a window of dry long enough to get the game in but I think we should all cross our fingers.

I also think we have a chance for a good pitching start today with Hughes out there. It would be a real shame if we had three bad starts in a row – the bullpen would greatly appreciate a little bit less need or their abilities today.

Chi White Sox Minnesota
Eaton, CF Santana, D, SS
Beckham, G, 2B Dozier, 2B
Abreu, 1B Mauer, 1B
Dunn, A, DH Willingham, LF
Ramirez, Al, SS Morales, K, DH
Gillaspie, 3B Arcia, O, RF
Sierra, RF Suzuki, K, C
De Aza, LF Escobar, E, 3B
Flowers, C Fuld, CF
  Danks, Jh, P   Hughes, P, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chi White Sox 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 0
Minnesota 1 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 x 6 11 1
Kinda says it all, doesn't it!?
Kinda says it all, doesn’t it!?

Woohoooo!!

No, really.. a 4 game sweep of the White Sox! (that hasn’t happened in literally 20 years) Actually, if you take it as simply four home games, the Twins haven’t had a four game home win-streak since 2007. But it’s just that much more special that it was a four-game sweep of a division rival – that we don’t like very much.

There were several really good performances in today’s game (not that I saw any of it) but surprisingly, none of them was from Phil Hughes. And he readily admits it. I feel bad for the bullpen that had been leaned on heavily for the last couple games and it turned out that they were leaned on again today. Swarzak came in and pitched two innings and Fien did a share but since Perkins has had the ninth the last two games in a row, Burton went out there today to get the Save and he got it well. I think the whole team was feeling the pressure though and some really awkward pitch rulings from the ump had Gardy out in force for a little Show Time – and the much more rare ejection.

Sam Fuld was there doing a little bit of everything and Willingham was holding his own but once again, it was Mauer who seemed to carry the team today. It’s really good to have you back and we’ll give you the BOD gain!

GameChat – White Sox @ Twins #3, 1:10pm

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Hello from Hrbek’s at Gate 14!!! JC and Babs (and Andrew, Baby Margaret and Molly) are enjoying a Happy Birthday celebration for KL!

It’s an absolutely stunning day for baseball and I hope that we’re able to gift KL with a sweep of the White Sox. Wouldn’t that be just the perfect birthday present? I think so.

Chi White Sox Minnesota
Eaton, CF Santana, D, SS
Beckham, G, 2B Dozier, 2B
Gillaspie, 3B Mauer, DH
Abreu, 1B Morales, K, 1B
Dunn, A, DH Arcia, O, RF
Ramirez, Al, SS Suzuki, K, C
Viciedo, RF Parmelee, LF
De Aza, LF Escobar, E, 3B
Nieto, C Fuld, CF
  Rienzo, P   Correia, P
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chi White Sox 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 9 0
Minnesota 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 x 4 9 2

man, what an absolutely beautiful day for baseball.. We all had a warm but wonderful time and the Twins were very generous to the series win for KL.

There was some really awkward ways to get on base today though. Walked in runs, hit batter walked in runs.. it was entertaining. It was a fun bit of small ball actually!

I think the most exciting inning of the game however was the 5th – and the return of Joe Mauer. He hit a patented double to knock in a pair of runs and then, crossed home plate himself on a single by Morales. That was all we needed to get the win – which is good because we didn’t get any more. The pitching kind of tried to give it up and Perkins made us all flash back to last night when he gave up one of the cushion runs but he held on and kept the Save instead of hoping they’d give him the Win. But since Josh Willingham’s kid as the Jr. PA didn’t actually improve the score and Mauer made the win possible, he is today’s BOD! I hope you’re actually back to stay this time.JOEMAUER

 

GameChat – White Sox @ Twins #2, 7:10pm

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ok, it’s finally not raining in Minnesota!!! This is especially joyous for me as the carpet from my two basement bedrooms are currently laid out in my driveway hopefully drying enough to continue to be used as temporary floor covering until we decide what the permanent replacement will be. Oh yeah and everything else that was in those two rooms in now removed and piled elsewhere while we attempt to dry out..  Just so much water in this state right now.

All that being said, it’s a hot but beautiful day for baseball in Minnesota. Let’s see if the boys can make use of that hot, humid air to let some long balls carry a ways!

Chi White Sox @ Minnesota
Eaton, CF Santana, D, SS
Beckham, G, 2B Dozier, 2B
Gillaspie, 3B Mauer, 1B
Abreu, 1B Willingham, LF
Dunn, A, DH Morales, K, DH
Ramirez, Al, SS Suzuki, K, C
Viciedo, RF Arcia, O, RF
De Aza, LF Escobar, E, 3B
Flowers, C Fuld, CF
  Noesi, P   Nolasco, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chi White Sox 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 10 0
Minnesota 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 7 0

Man, Glen Perkins owes the team a steak dinner… They pulled his butt out of an ignominious post-game lockerroom walk of shame.

beerchoiceThat being said, game long highlight player was really Kurt Suzuki! wow, did he ever perform – great defense and great hit leadership! That absolutely perfect pickoff to 2B was a thing of beauty for defense-lovers. For that, the beer is on us! Whatever you want.

Escobar also provided some hefty help to this team with timely RBI but the MOST timely RBI, of course, is the walk-off hit from Brian Dozier. After the 2 run lead melted away during Perkins’ 9th inning meltdown, it was hard to keep the optimism up but out came the Bull Dozier to pull it all back together in what has become a very consistent level of performance from him which should absolutely get him an All Star game slot. But for the more local honorifics, we just call BOD!

Brian Dozier
Brian Dozier

GameChat – White Sox @ Twins, 7:10 (Maybe)

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The radar in the Twin Cities area reportedly is making some folks doubt whether tonight’s series opener with the White Sox will actually get played, but if it does, it will be Yohan Pino’s MLB debut.

It would be a real shame (for me) if it isn’t played since it’s being televised on CSN (the Sox network), making it one of the rare times I would actually get to see a Twins game on TV. Yes I know it would be a shame for Pino, too, but it’s all about me.

I’ll be heading up toward Target Field about noon tomorrow to catch the Friday and Saturday games and I’m looking forward to that. – JC

Chicago @ Minnesota
Eaton, CF Santana, D, SS
Beckham, G, 2B Dozier, 2B
Gillaspie, 3B Mauer, 1B
Abreu, 1B Willingham, LF
Dunn, A, DH Morales, K, DH
Ramirez, Al, SS Suzuki, K, C
Viciedo, RF Parmelee, RF
De Aza, LF Escobar, E, 3B
Flowers, C Fuld, CF
  Quintana, P   Pino, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chi White Sox 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0
Minnesota 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 x 4 9 0

Let’s give the rookie and the vet co-BOD awards, shall we? Of course, in this case, the rookie pitcher, Yohan Pino, and the vet, Joe Mauer, aren’t all that far apart age-wise.

Pino started out by striking out the first two batters he faced and other than a couple hiccups in the 3rd inning, he pretty much cruised through his first seven innings of work as a Big Leaguer.

Mauer had a pair of hits and, more importantly, a pair of RBI. Kind of reminded you of a guy who used to catch for the Twins the last few years. – JC

Yohan Pino
Yohan Pino
Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer

GameChat – Twins @ Red Sox #3, 12:35pm

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yeah… I’m work.. you probably are too. But for those lucky few who have the opportunity to catch a little baseball today, here you go!

Minnesota @ Boston
Santana, D, CF Holt, RF
Dozier, 2B Bogaerts, 3B
Mauer, 1B Pedroia, 2B
Willingham, LF Ortiz, D, DH
Morales, K, DH Napoli, 1B
Parmelee, RF Nava, LF
Escobar, E, 3B Pierzynski, C
Fryer, C Drew, SS
Florimon, SS Bradley Jr., CF
  Gibson, P   Lackey, P
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4
Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 3

it was unanimously decided that pitching duels just aren’t as much fun to watch in the box score… doesn’t help when you lose. *grumble*