BOD – Page 7 – Knuckleballs

GameChat – Twins @ Royals #2, 7:10pm

Posted on 6 August, 2013 by CapitalBabs

It’s Tuesday so I am not here tonight but I thought I would still throw this out there for any of you fans who want to see if the Twins can do anything interesting in Kauffman besides have a bench player pitch an inning…

Btw, Carroll is back at his traditional place on the corner.. I’m ok with that.

The other interesting thing tonight is Albers MLB debut! Honestly, no matter what happens tonight, my guess is that he won’t be out-pitched by a 39-yo utility infielder.. just saying.

Minnesota	@	Kansas City
Dozier, 2B		Cain, L, CF
Carroll, 3B		Hosmer, 1B
Mauer, 1B		Butler, B, DH
Morneau, DH		Gordon, A, LF
Arcia, LF		Maxwell, RF
Colabello, RF		Moustakas, 3B
Herrmann, C, C		Tejada, M, 2B
Thomas, C, CF		Kottaras, C
Bernier, SS		Escobar, A, SS
Albers, P		Shields, P

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

boy, howdy was THAT a game!!

I really can’t fault Twins fans if they didn’t tune in after last night’s drubbing but it’s awfully nice when they come back with a drubbing of their own. Considering the Royals really haven’t made losing a habit since the All-Star break – especially against the Twins – this was a nice surprise. We actually HIT THE BALL! WE HIT IT A LOT!! AND THEY HIT IT REALLY FAR! They actually had three homeruns in tonight’s game – Dozier, Mornea and Colabello – which brings the Twins season total to 100. (which is more than the Yankees, I might add). Considering two of them were in the first inning – Doziers in the first AB of the game – it was a great way to come back and start and a huge surprise.

OMG though TALK ABOUT SURPRISES! I had high hopes for the kid coming up and making a good showing for himself since yeah, he couldn’t really be worse than the starters we have been running out there already.. but HOLY COW! He not only made a good show of getting Royals hitter after hitter out but he did it for what was temptingly close to a complete game shutout for an MLB DEBUT!!!! good gravy. Yes, he “only” went 8 1/3 innings but that is apparently four games for Correia so that’s well above my expectations. It was just a great game for any starting pitcher much less a kid in his first shot. Good on ya Alby! You have more than earned today’s BOD!

Andrew Albers #95 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a portrait on February 19, 2013 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (February 18, 2013 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America) — Andrew Albers #95 of the Minnesota Twins poses for a portrait on February 19, 2013 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.
(February 18, 2013 – Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

GameChat – Astros @ Twins #3, 1:10pm

Posted on 4 August, 2013 by Eric Pleiss

The Twins bullpen has done a fantastic job of keeping the Astros off of the board this weekend, but after back-to-back games of heavy use, the Twins will be looking to Mike Pelfrey to pitch deep into the game.

The Twins are not necessarily running out the typical Sunday B-Lineup, but that might be because their everyday lineup is pretty bad on its own. Trevor Plouffe has the day off, and it looks like Pedro Florimon is still nursing his sore wrist as Doug Bernier is starting for the second day in a row.

Go Twins!

Astros	@	Twins
Grossman, LF		Dozier, 2B
Altuve, 2B		Herrmann, C, RF
Castro, Ja, C		Mauer, DH
Wallace, 1B		Morneau, 1B
Carter, DH		Doumit, C
Krauss, RF		Arcia, LF
Dominguez, 3B		Thomas, C, CF
Barnes, B, CF		Carroll, 3B
Villar, SS		Bernier, SS
Peacock, P		Pelfrey, P

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

I didn’t watch or hear anything about the game, but if you hit the home run that leads to the win, I think you get BOD, right?

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!

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)

GameChat – Twins @ Mariners #2, 9:10pm

Posted on 26 July, 2013 by CapitalBabs

I gotta admit that I don’t have a whole lot of faith in Scott Diamond these days, especially not when matched up against King Felix…

But it has to be better than Correia last night, right? *knock on wood* *spin three times* *spit*

Minnesota	@	Seattle
Dozier, 2B		Bay, RF
Carroll, 3B		Franklin, 2B
Morneau, 1B		Ibanez, LF
Doumit, DH		Morales, K, DH
Herrmann, C, RF		Seager, 3B
Thomas, C, LF		Smoak, 1B
Hicks, CF		Ackley, CF
Butera, C		Ryan, SS
Florimon, SS		Blanco, H, C
Diamond, P		Hernandez, F, P

Scott Diamond pitched into the 7th inning and gave up just a single run, but was left with a no decision thanks to a Twins offense that could only manage one run of support. After the 13 inning game was over the Twins had walked 15 times (compared with just 2 walks), but they managed to score a couple in the top of the 13th to take their first game in three days.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	R	H	E
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	3	8	1
Seattle	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	12	0

I didn’t see the end of the game, because of sleep and things like that, but it seemed like Scott Diamond and Chris Colabello (game winning RBI) were the BOD candidates. Colabello needs something to get him started at the MLB level, and maybe winning the BOD will give him a bump.

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.

GameChat – Twins @ Angels, 9:05pm

Posted on 22 July, 2013 by CapitalBabs

arrgghh.. the bane of my blogging existence – west coast baseball.

I’m sure that any number of west side knuckleballers are ecstatic with each visit to the left coast because at least then they get prime time baseball instead breakfast games or some such idiocy. So, TallDrinkOfWater and Twink – these games are for you. I gotta figure out how to get teach one of you how to put up the box score when the games are over and I’m passed out in the other room…

ANYWAY.. back to baseball!

So the lineup looks a little different than you’re used to seeing.. that Bernier kid (no clue how to SAY that properly) that no one knows except the minor league geeks is batting second. I don’t know if it’s the start times or the younger and younger kids in the lineup that is making me feel old but.. yeah.

Minnesota	@	LA Angels
Dozier, 2B		Shuck, LF
Bernier, SS		Trout, CF
Mauer, C		Pujols, DH
Morneau, 1B		Kendrick, H, 2B
Doumit, RF		Callaspo, 3B
Plouffe, 3B		Trumbo, RF
Colabello, DH		Hawpe, 1B
Thomas, C, LF		Conger, C
Hicks, CF		Aybar, SS
Deduno, P		Blanton, P

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	12	0
LA Angels	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	9	1

Woohoo!! I’m so glad that TDOW got to see a great game of baseball in which HER team won!! The Twins aren’t always so good at doing that for their fans – especially fans in far flung areas of the country…

That being said, while I really really really TRIED to stay awake for the whole game, I just couldn’t do it. My husband managed to see the end though and TDOW kindly came back to the chat and gave her revelations of game end as well. But from what I’m hearing, (I made it through the 6th inning) things continued to the end much like they were in the first half.

Deduno had a ROUGH first inning that had us all terrified of what the progress of this game was going to be like but we managed to get out of that only giving them 1 run – he owes SOMEONE a steak. But after that, he “settled down” into his ridiculously wild self and had them chasing balls all over. He had 5 BB and 5 Ks in his 7 innings and while I never really appreciate those numbers being the same that way, for him it might be just the way the numbers end up looking but can’t really describe how effective his pitching actually was the way the boxscore does. He’s definitely improved/matured into a SOLID starting pitcher and is likely the one I trust the most these days to give us a good game of baseball – for that he gets a beverage of his choice on us.

Joe Mauer also continued to do his Mauerly thing getting three hits and all the while catching Deduno which is getting to be an art-form. Mind you, they are doing a pretty good job behind the plate of making that art look easy and instinctive. He also gets the beverage of his choice – a tall glass of Land O’Lakes milk perhaps?

I was especially proud of the lineup full of young kids – wow do we have a lot of young guys getting their first taste of big league ball in this batting order. Especially Bernier who made his MLB debut among family and friends because he grew up just a couple hours away. I’m sure he made them very proud with his first hit and a couple really nice plays at short stop! I’m always impressed with solid fielding when a guy comes up. Colabello and Hicks also did well getting solid hits and even a run but the real ‘new kid’ story of tonight was Clete Thomas. This kid is really starting to grow on me! SOLID hitting including the game’s only Homerun, a double, 2 Runs 2 RBI and a couple LOVELY catches that brought a tear to the eye. For that, he was voted the BOD! I believe it’s his first! Congrats Clete Thomas!

GameChat – Indians @ Twins, 7:10pm

Posted on 19 July, 2013 by CapitalBabs

So the boys are back in Minnesota and the weather is perfectly timed for some GLORIOUS baseball. The heat streak has resided for the last week with ridiculous heat indices but now that has changed – at least the humidity has gone to tolerable levels. It’s still in the 80’s but suddenly that doesn’t matter – it is just a lovely summer evening for baseball.

The way the rumor mill is going, everyone quick enjoy the M&M boys – including their bobblehead to 10k fans tonight – before Morneau is traded somewhere else for a paltry nothing on a soft market..

So other than another losing season and the possible loss of a popular player for no particularly good reason, let’s just try to enjoy a great weekend of great baseball weather and see if we can’t take down a beatable division rival!

leveland	@	Minnesota
Bourn, CF		Dozier, 2B
Cabrera, A, SS		Plouffe, 3B
Kipnis, 2B		Mauer, C
Swisher, 1B		Morneau, 1B
Brantley, LF		Doumit, RF
Santana, C, DH		Colabello, DH
Chisenhall, 3B		Hicks, CF
Gomes, Y, C		Thomas, C, LF
Stubbs, RF		Florimon, SS
Kazmir, P		Pelfrey, P

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

Now THAT is how you come back from the the All-Star break! (and come back in the game for that matter..) It really was a beautiful night for baseball. And wow the Indians had some HORRIBLE defense out there – Defense was the theme for tonight.

There were also some great stories from tonight: Mauer got the game-winning base hit in the 8th which is normally enough to earn you a BOD, Dozier with some gorgeous fielding and baserunning, Perkins finally getting to use all that ASG energy to get his Save..

But BOD tonight goes to Pedro Florimon! He’s the one who got us to the tie in the first place, had two different miraculous solo fielding plays, a stunning double play with Dozier but in general understanding and playing GREAT baseball on both sides tonight. LOVED it. Defense lost this game, and Defense won it. Great job boys.

GameChat – Twins @ Yankees #2, 12:10

Posted on 13 July, 2013 by Jim Crikket

You know, you look at the line up the Yankees are putting out there right now and you just can’t believe that’s a New York Yankees team. It’s just as hard to understand how the Twins simply can’t beat them.

Maybe Sam Deduno hasn’t had time to figure out he’s not supposed to beat any team wearing pinstripes in Yankee Stadium.

TWINS	@	YANKEES
Dozier, 2B		Gardner, B, CF
Mauer, DH		Suzuki, I, RF
Morneau, 1B		Cano, 2B
Doumit, C		Wells, V, DH
Plouffe, 3B		Overbay, 1B
Parmelee, RF		Almonte, LF
Hicks, CF		Cruz, L, SS
Thomas, C, LF		Gonzalez, Al, 3B
Florimon, SS		Romine, A, C
_Deduno, P		_Hughes, P, P

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

YES!!!

The losing streak is OVER! Both of them, even! 6 game losing streak AND 6 consecutive losses to the Yankees. It feels good to have the boys on the winning side of things this time.

That being said, we still haven’t solved the RISP problem – the boys just decided if they weren’t going to have the guy behind them bring them home, they were just going to have to get home on their own – 3 homeruns in today’s game from Plouffe, Doumit and Florimon! It was great to get the long ball though because it was such a morale booster!

And what is it about the officiating at Yankee Stadium?!?!?! Gardy got tossed after a HORRIBLE (not even close or rational) call at 1B. Clete Thomas was called out for interference/leaving the base path. You know what is funny about that call? Video is really great to show if a runner ever does that.. and sure enough, never happened. No clue where that call came from – even Overbay looked a little surprised. Gardy was more than surprised of course – and as Ron Coomer predicted the moment the call was made, Gardy was tossed for explaining to the ump exactly the relative positions of his head and his ass.

Maybe that was what was necessary because the 1-1 tie didn’t last long after that..

The real story for today is Samuel Deduno. He really kept the Yankees off balance – like he did when he faced them last time in Minnesota on July 4th. At least this time, his colleagues gave him the win! 7 solid innings with only 1 earned run is just about the best we have seen from any of our pitchers lately! So today, he earns our BOD!