In each of the last two seasons, the American League Central was decided by one run in the 163rd game of the year. I don’t expect things will be quite so close this year. The Twins, who lost 1-0 to the White Sox in a one-game playoff in 2008 then beat the Tigers 6-5 in the 12th inning of Game 163 last year, are the clear class of the division, as much because of the backward steps taken by Chicago and Detroit (the Yankees’ just-completed series loss to the Tigers notwithstanding), as because of the slight improvements to the Minnesota squad.
In conjunction with their move into their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, the Twins finally healed some of the wounds from the horribly-botched Johan Santana trade by ridding themselves of out-machine Carlos Gomez (who came over from the Mets in that deal and posted a .293 OBP in 963 plate appearances over the last two seasons) just in time for Santana’s supposed successor, lefty Francisco Liriano, to finally return to something resembling his his 2006 All-Star form three years after Tommy John surgery.
Liriano’s reemergence as the staff ace has been a key to Twins early success this year as the Twins have been the second stingiest team in the AL (albeit well behind the Rays and only slightly ahead of the Yankees[!]). While you’re still in a good mood from the mention of the Yankees right there I’ll add that another reason for that success has been Carl Pavano, who (brace yourself) leads the Twins in innings and K/BB (thanks to just seven walks in as many starts) and is second to Liriano with a 3.30 ERA.
The Twins also rival the Tigers for the junior circuit’s best bullpen. No Joe Nathan? No problem. Jon Rauch thrived as a closer for the Nationals in 2008 before being traded to Arizona, and he’s thriving in the role again for the Twins, posting a 1.93 ERA making like Pavano by posting a stellar K/BB largely due to a dearth of walks (just two in 13 appearances). That on top of typically fine work from Matt Guerrier and strong early showings from sophomore lefty Brian Duensing and veteran LOOGY Ron Mahay give the Twins an excellent end game.
At the plate, the Twins trail only the Yankees in all of baseball in on-base percentage with a team mark of .358. Credit defending AL MVP Joe Mauer (.413), major league OBP leader Justin Morneau (.486), center fielder Denard Span (.379), free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson (.369), and the man who eliminated the Twins with a solo homer in 2008 and has recently eliminated a struggling Jason Kubel from the lineup, 39-year-old Jim Thome (.384).
Unfortunately, despite finally going out and getting a qualified middle infield duo this winter, the Twins still have Nick Punto and Brendan Harris in the lineup. Harris because J.J. Hardy, the shortstop acquired from the Brewers for Gomez, was hit in the write with a pitch and is on the DL. Punto, because while they got Hudson and Hardy to fill the middle infield, they forgot to get a third baseman. Punto is now in his sixth (sixth!) season as a starter or replacement starter for the Twins. In that time, he has hit .250/.323/.328 yet the Twins still haven’t figured out that they win despite him, not because of him.
Nonetheless, with their pitchers keeping runs off the board and the bulk of their lineup keeping outs off the board, the Twins are on pace to post the second best record in franchise history and best since the original Senators went to the World Series in 1933. I don’t expect the Twins to keep up their 105-win pace (they haven’t faced the Yankees, Rays, or Rangers yet), but I do expect them to win the AL Central with ease.
Scott Baker starts tonight for the Twinks. The team’s best pitcher a year ago, he’s third in line this year despite little change in his own performance save some BABIP correction (from .277 to .311). In his last two starts, against the Tigers and Orioles, Baker has put up this line: 15 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 14 K. He faced the Yankees once last year and gave up five runs on eight singles, a double, and two walks in just three innings. He faces A.J. Burnett, who looks to get back on the ball after his failure at Fenway.
Francisco Cervelli starts for Jorge Posada, who gets a routine day off after two days on, which might be a pattern going forward. Brett Gardner continues to bat second (though I’m waiting for the Yankees to swap him and Jeter in the order). The lineup behind Robinson Cano is Nick Swisher, back from biceps tightness, Marcus Thames, in left against a righty, Juan Miranda at DH, and Cervelli.
Minnesota Twins
2010 Record: 22-12 (.647)
2010 Pythagorean Record: 22-12 (.647)
2009 Record: 87-76 (.534)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 86-77 (.528)
Manager: Ron Gardenhire
General Manager: Bill Smith
Home Ballpark: Target Field
Baseball-Reference Park Factors: 103/102
Who Has Replaced Whom:
- J.J. Hardy replaces Orlando Cabrera and a lot of Brendan Harris (though Harris is filling in for the injured Hardy right now)
- Orlando Hudson replaces Joe Crede and Carlos Gomez
- Jim Thome is switching roles with Jason Kubel, who thus replaces Mike Redmond and Brian Buscher
- Drew Butera is filling in for Jose Morales (DL)
- Kevin Slowey is taking over the starts of Glen Perkins (minors)
- Carl Pavano is taking over the starts of Anthony Swarzak, Jeff Manship (both minors) and two others
- Francisco Liriano is reclaiming Brian Duensing’s starts
- Jon Rauch is replacing Joe Nathan (DL)
- Ron Mahay is replacing Bobby Keppel, Craig Breslow, and Sean Henn
- Alex Burnett is replacing R.A. Dickey
- Brian Duensing is taking over Luis Ayala’s innings
25-man Roster:
1B – Justin Morneau (L)
2B – Orlando Hudson (S)
SS – Brendan Harris (R)
3B – Nick Punto (S)
C – Joe Mauer (L)
RF – Michael Cuddyer (R)
CF – Denard Span (L)
LF – Delmon Young (R)
DH – Jim Thome (L)
Bench:
L – Jason Kubel (OF)
S – Matt Tolbert (IF)
S – Alexi Casilla (IF)
R – Drew Butera (C)
Rotation:
L – Francisco Liriano
R – Scott Baker
R – Nick Blackburn
R – Kevin Slowey
R – Carl Pavano
Bullpen:
R – Jon Rauch
R – Matt Guerrier
L – Jose Mijares
R – Jesse Crain
L – Ron Mahay
L – Brian Deunsing
R – Alex Burnett
15-day DL:
SS – J.J. Hardy (wrist contusion)
C – Jose Morales (wrist surgery)
RHP – Pat Neshek (right middle finger inflammation)
RHP – Clay Condrey (elbow strain)
60-day DL:
RHP – Joe Nathan (Tommy John surgery)
Typical Lineup:
L – Denard Span (CF)
S – Orlando Hudson (2B)
L – Joe Mauer (C)
L – Justin Morneau (1B)
R – Michael Cuddyer (RF)
L – Jim Thome (DH)
R – Delmon Young (LF)
R – Brendan Harris (SS)
S – Nick Punto (3B)
Agree it makes more sense to hit Gardner first and Jeter second.
I thought so too, but thinking of the double-play situation, it may.... might.... could be right now.
Very fast man on first... Jeter up. How many DPs?
Brett up, POSADA on first. How many DPs?
Granted, having the stolen base guy bat lead off is always fun.
The way Jeter is pounding the ball into the ground, I'd rather have him lead off, until he gets his stroke back.
Quiet night on the Banter.
Pray for our Offense.
AJ had better have *it* tonite ...
Looking like "not very good" AJ tonight.
Not-very-good-A-Rod.
good lord turn the game on and it is bases loaded no outs
Urge. To. Kill. Rising.
Good night, folks. I guess I'll go watch hockey. This is not going to be a fun night for baseball.
So, when Meat-Tray is forced to come in and pick up the AJ disaster tonite, at least it means I get to see an Ivan Nova start on Sunday ... silver lining, right?
right???
EVening, Team. Looks like we're in a tight spot.
And mk gets to say, "derisive cheer."
Pfew!
Saved the game right there.
[9] haha - good for you. i was just thinking it sucks that the nba western conference don't start til monday!?! cause this doesn't look promising.
though that was a huge dp..
Bravo, AJ.
Bravo.
wow, pretty damn good to get out of that mess with just 1 run.
Well, that could have been a lot worse.
Phew.
Jesus, that was *so* exciting.
What an amazing postseason we had.
That's not a fucking strike, dickwad! That was a ball for AJ!
Evening folks!
Cano has no sense of balance these last three weeks.
God, our hitters all look aenemic.
[20] And this was supposed to be The Year.
Why do I think of "torn bicep" all of a sudden?
Ugh.
UGLY swing by Swisher there.
This could be more problematic than originally thought.
[22]
He started reading his clippings, and began overswinging .... sigh.
Goddammit, Joe!
take. him. out.
If I'm the Twins .... I run on Swisher every chance I get.
[25] Sigh.
Oh My God, did Thames just make that play?
hallelujah thames caught it.
[25] Or, he does what he has always done most years ... hit well, hit poorly, hit well, hit poorly ...
Nice.
Nicely turned, boys.
It's really nice to have such a great infield.
BoSox up 5-1 in second on Tigers ....
Baker throwing quality pitches right now ..
Like that one to Frankie Brains.
Damn, that was Maddux like ... and I don't mean Mike.
Can't anyone here play this game?
Jesus, Jeter couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat right now ...
Buh bye, Swish.
Good. Swisher had no business playing tonight.
[38] Sigh.
It's for the best, but ... sigh.
I have a feeling we're gonna need some 40 man roster space here soon ...
[40] It's just ridiculous already. But the truth is, we have the offense to ride it out, if only they'd actually hit.
It's time for Alex to carry the team on his back for a little bit.
Brett Gardner has more homers and more SBs than Grady Sizemore.
Holy crap. Brett Gardner has been positively unreal.
my god where would this team be without gritner?!?!?
That was kind of Damonesque ....that Gardner swing ...
Jebus. He might not hit many, but that's 2 no-doubt-at-all homeruns from Gritner.
i think baker is shell-shocked after gritner took him yard.
C'mon Robbie!
nicely done robbie
(thought the grd sucks)
So I jumped in the car just in time to hear, "Gardy! Goes yardy!"
I really hope they're getting an MRI on Swisher's bicep right now.
[50] how lucky of you.
[51] i would think they have to.
Yes, mk, the catcher is going to come out and taunt, "Dude, man, he fucking owns your ass! Remember that last homerun he hit? Fucking jacked that sucker! You better watch out, chief, cause you're in the soup with this one!"
[53] he is such a clod - and someone who clearly never really played sports.
[52] And then the shout out to Sweeny Murty's fiancee, who apparently came up with that gem.
Jebus ... we're not going to score again here, are we?
Help me Juan Miranda, you're my only hope!
[54] It's funny, too, 'cause he's the hulkiest guy in the booth. Put him next to Leiter and if you didn't know, you'd never guess which was the athlete.
[56]
A holographic image of Juan Miranda is projected on the Yankee Stadium videoboard ....
(from the screenplay)
nice pitch - but the triumvirate of winn, thames, and miranda doesn't bode too well.
I just want it known that on May 14th, 2010 at 8:15 pm, ms october has proclaimed the statement official.
"my god where would this team be without gritner?!?!?"
Papi and the Gnat... ouch,
[58] Looks like some mid-level bureaucrat kicked in the extra 47 Million to armor plate that exhaust port, doesn't it?
[57] yeah he is the hulikiest dude in the booth (i could just never get over how tiny coney looked in the booth compared with mk, singelton, leiter, o'neill) - but i bet mk was a fatty as a kid.
[51] Confirmed.
[51] We have a winner!
Can I take you to Vegas??????
Swish may be out now. Our OF isn't even ML level without Swish.
OK.... Salary dump for St. Louis so they can afford Albert.
Joba for Holiday... straight up.
[63] I know, Coney looked like the incredible shrinking man next to mk.
[60] hey, i can give him all the credit in the world. everyone else has had extended periods of shitiness - he is the only one (if you don't count frankie b) who has not had an extended slump. thank goodness.
[65]
Heh ... the way things are going, I think they should have gotten one PRIOR to the game ...
In fact, considering the $1.5 billion spent on the Stadium, they should have an MRI machine (AND STAFF) in the stadium available on game days.
Holy fuck.
FUck.
Did you see that?
Goddamn.
Well-splayed Mauer!
fucko - that mauer has such a beautiful swing.
The head stays so still through the swing ..... beautiful.
hmm team - with the injuries and lack of production from the big hitters - that fast start we have been waiting years for just might be headed down the toilet in may.
[72] [73] Indeed. Something to behold.
How 'bout that Gardner?
[74] I know. We went 11-3 and since, 11-9. Damned good thing we got off to that start. But we've still only lost two series and split one, is that right?
[66] my interpretation of Mozeliak taking *that* call from Cashman.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA
CLICK.
[77] Ugh ... John Mozeliak has made a mess of things!
Oh, Derek.
Brutal.
Just brutal.
[68] Simply set your Way-Back machine a mere 4 months. Ready? It's January. You log on to the Banter. Now imagine someone says that one day, these words.... these very words would be uttered.
“my god where would this team be without gritner?!?!?”
There goes Mr. Don't let me bat win a man on first.
[78]
I fixed it
(I have that power) :-)
There's another one.
HOly fuck.
Wow!
Speed kills.
Speed kills.
Lovely.
[81] thanks!
Fastest white guy in Yankee history? Faster than Dave Collins?
Gritner sets this team on fire.
I'll bet any other regular is thrown out at home on that play.
Come on, Alex, settle down.
End of the 3rd inning: Blue Jays 11, Rangers 9.
Nice hit, anyway.
Well ... lack of speed sometimes kills as well ...
Teixeira is no Gardner.
Hmmm ..... Teix didn't red-ass Mauer.
[87] I don't think anyone else even tries.
[86] Dave Collins. God, I vaguely remember that guy. Wasn't he from Cincinnati?
Don't send him, no, don't, no----
oh.
Drat.
Somehow, Seattle is up on TB, 3-1, after 5.
still in sss territory, but derek's #s against rhp is stark:
ld/gb/fb:
rhp-10.3/77.0/12.6
lhp-16.3/55.8/27.9
his babip is 310 vs lhp and 262 vs rhp; woba is 341 vs lhp and 310 vs rhp.
he is just chopping the shit out of everything and mostly to the ss.
[95]
Yes .... Boss George got it in his head that he wanted his own Rickey Henderson ... that the Yanks needed speed .... they got Collins from Cincy, and he bombed out in his only season with NY.
That right there is why current defensive metrics are the mixed bag they are.
Bad defensive alignment, that's a hit, or a *very* hard play.
Proper defensive alignment, Cano didn't even move.
C'mon AJ one more here...
Fuck Nick Punto...
[102] ya mean little nicky punto :}
[99] Was that '83?
nicely done frankie b.
NICE THROW!
Wow. That was just a gorgeous throw!
BRains is awesome.
I'm sorry, but Jorgie has no business being behind the dish.
I love him and all, but it's time to start transitioning.
FRANKIE!
(hey everyone)
[104]
close ... 1982
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/collida02.shtml
Oh, bullshit, that's not a strike!
oh good, maybe robbie is hitting well again
[110] He stole 79 bases two years prior to being with the Yanks and then just 13 with us? Man, did someone bust his kneecaps?
Nice hit, Robbie.
oh no, is the pu pu platter part of the lineup already?
Ugh ... another awful fucking at bat for Winn.
Winn and Thames in a race to the bottom ...
Ugh.
u-g-l-y
[115] Hehe heh ehhe. Well put.
Oh, Christ.
Brutal.
Bru-tal!
jesus christ - po couldn't have dh'd tonight?
[120] Mystifying, no?
[121] Not at all.
The result may suck, but the logic is merely unfortunate in its consequences ...
[122] The logic being?
[121] really the only way to maximize this roster right now is to catch frankie b, dh po and live with winn and thames in the corners until swish is okay.
weren't there a few minor league outfileders that had good springs - i know that means shit but see if there is a flash in the pan - cause it really isn't happening with winn or thames, and the thought of both - my god.
[124] Where's Mary Shelley Frankenstein's Duncan these days, speaking of flashes in the pan? Or Shane Spencer, for that matter.
[122] i don't think the concern of losing the dh if frankie b gets hurt and po has to cathc is strong enough to not dh po consistently right now.
End of the 4th inning in Toronto:
Blue Jays 15, Rangers 10
(no lie!)
Nice work, AJ.
[123] The stated belief is that when JoPo gets tired, he's more susceptible to injury. They're just be cautious with Jorge given that he's coming off an injury.
This ain't game 163 ...
[126] True, but that isn't the logic tonite.
[126] Oh, is that all it is? Of course it's a risk worth taking, considering the alternative. I mean, if you lose the DH because Brains has to come out, you just suck it up. Doesn't seem like a reason to play all our scrubs instead.
[129] [130] okay - i can definitely understand giving him some rest - and he does need it - but given the roster and injuries right now, it seems getting po in as dh and frankie b at catcher, especially while he is hitting makes sense.
[129] Ah, is that it? Jorgie's tired? He's an old man and needs his rest? I thought DH'ing *was* rest.
Oh, fuck me.
Fuck me.
oh fro fuck's sake - marte.
From Jennings at LoHud.
[135] thanks - hard to argue with that.
especially after seeing swish leave a game that he perhaps should not have been in.
shoulda went with Logan...
[135] Yeah, fair enough. Still, I'd think DH'ing would be all right.
Somebody shoot me.
fuckkkkkkkk
christ alive - i really only like playoff marte.
he's only the goddamn best fucking hitting first baseman in THE LEAGUE!
;Wow ... well, *that* just upped the SUCK quotient ...
Even mk's wondering wtf.
hopefully they make up these runs - otherwise it's gonna be a tough one to lose.
girardi with that 'i'm gonna get clobbered on the banter tonight' look on his mug.
I'm glad william's not here to see this.
Unless, of course, he's at the game.
[145] hehe heh eh eh eh eh.
[146] haha - he might be. i think last year he had a friday night package.
Marte continues to be, I think. my LEAST favorite Cashman decision, year-over-year.
Why does it feel like Girardi just gift-wrapped this game away?
[146] i think he's there.
fuck marte. cocksucker.
fuck, bard got out of a bases loaded jam that laptop handed him...
[151] Poor bastard. I can only imagine what he's feeling.
[153] what about AJ? he's gonna load explosives in Marte's cloves..
FWIW ... I would have pinch hit Posada here.
Way to go, Brains!
Bunt, Jeter, bunt!
Or hit-n-run.
[154] what is the opposite of pieing someone?
3-32, is Derek.
Damn, that's beyond abysmal.
why isn't he bunting?
[158] peeing in their Sunday shoes?
Ah, thank God.
haha derek needed that luck
[158]
3.14ing them?
OFFA THE KNEECAP. OWWWWWWWie
Well, that was a "HIT" and run, can I call it or what?!?!?!
[161] ha that'll work.
Why bring in a lefty to face Gardner? He hits lefties, and he always has.
[164] wouldn't that be the equivalent of pieing someone?
[168] clearly gardenhire doesn't have a binder.
c'mon Grit! Fuck this shit up.
Remember when Chad Curtis got pissed at Derek for fraternizing with the enemy?
damnit
Shit. Played him perfectly.
FUCK.
How about a pull bunt to the right side?
Too much to ask?
Dammit.
Come on, Alex.
Do this thing.
here comma 1-1 grady salami. On the 3rd pitch.
[169]
yes .... my bad!
Hey, that was a great hockey game!
I'm not a big fan, but Game 7 in the playoffs, wow.
Anyway.
Marte, huh?
[178] Marte.
[169] You're right!
Maybe Gardenhire thinks this is not your father's A-Rod?
YYAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
I meant 0-1 pitch. :)
hell fucking yes - clearly gardenhire doesn't have a binder!!!!
Holy cow!
Well, looks like we're not the only ones who can come up empty in bullpen roulette ...
I came back just in time.
[178] since you gave ZERO info, i checked it out. that is wonderful that a boston team lost a 7-game series after being up 3-0. that just rules! and i'm glad it was philly, since i have a few college friends that are flyers fans. do they advance to the stanley cup now or are there more rounds?
pfft. who needs Kate Hudson?
Damn, NYYfan22, that was pretty fucking good. Holy shit.
[178] What's the who now?
Oh, yeah, couldn't have happened to a nicer city ...
FUCK YEAH!!!
nyyfan22 - nice work! but don't steal my thunder [ya know, i am Nostralarmis 'round these parts! ; ) ]
I know the US hasn't ratified the CTBT, but we've still signed it. We can keep testing these A-Bombs.
Delmon Young is gonna get in trouble with the unwritten rules police. CF should get the ball.
[189] me.
[188] There's another round.
Sorry, dude, I didn't know you'd be interested.
I don't hate the Bruins like I hate the Sox (and I hate the Celtics even more). But you always like to see an epic comeback, and it's nice that now Boston fans know what it feels like...
[189] ha - for all the kate hudson lovers (i'm looking at you thelarmis) she filmed a movie at my job last week - they were in the office right next to mine - but there was so much commotion the day they filmed we worked on a different floor that day - so i didn't see her.
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Let it be good Joba comin into this place...
[198] :)
[196] this post season has really not gone well for us celtic haters.
Miguel Cairo got ejected from the game tonight for griping about strike calls. Only he didn't know it, and sat down in the dugout for another half inning. Until the umpire noticed, and stopped the game until he left.
[200] Argh.
Ugh.
The NBA has been nothing but pain for my entire adult life. Well, there were those nice Junes when the Lakers beat the Celtics. That was okay.
[196] wait... so now people can no longer cite the '04 ALCS as the only time a professional team was up 3-0 and lost a best-of-7 series?
I like that.
[197] wanna switch jobs?! ; )
[196] i do hate the celtics.
[201] his BFOG+ is now league leading!
Joba! Stop trying to break the catcher!
[203] I believe that there were already 2 previous series in which an NHL team came back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
rays coming back. it's 4-3 M's.
[203] Actually, it's happened in the NHL before.
But yes, that's the spirit of the thing. Epic.
[207] you're right. i was just about to post that. have both been since '04? ah, whatever, who cares...
good for the flyers!
[203]
Actually, it did happen one prior time in the NHL.
The Islanders overcame a 3-0 deficit against the Penguins,
http://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_1975.html
[209] But I thought I kept hearing that it had never happened before in professional sports?
[202] yeah. i don't really like the lakers much either - so the nba has not been much fun rooting wise my entire life.
i tolerated the bulls and pistons so that was about it.
i have been "cheating" on the knicks with the suns and then the cavs the last few seasons - so more disappointment.
better yet, the hawkey game was in beantown! oh good.
suck it boston!
Well, it ain't Joba 1.0, but Joba 3.0 is fun to watch pitch.
1942 Maple Leafs also.
http://www.whowins.com/features/comeback.html
[212] I thought that too. Something about an olympic series, but never in pro sports. Guess whomever said that wasn't a hockey fan. Like me.
jesus christ joba looks like a pink pig.
[212]
Hockey isn't a professional sport, perhaps? :-)
[212] 2x
nice work sir chamberlain.
Nasty.
Just nasty.
[218] That'll do pig, that'll do!
Fuck yes.
Damn, Joba.
[218] sweatin like a fish!
wow!
i remember this Joba. love it!
3 K's, all swinging
[221] Does he promise "peace in our time"?
[217] [219] Hehehh. Indeed.
[223] Hah ah ah aha a hah ahh ah ah ah ah ah ah ah !!!!!!!
[213] I would not like the Lakers at all, except that they were preventing the Celtics from winning championships in the 80s. So, now I love Magic, James, and even Kareem.
FUCK OFF KAY. what is this, american gotdamned idol?
i had forgotten that alex's hr would move him past frank robinson (as per chad at lohud).
pretty cool that he is continuing to pass so many names.
Joba: 16.2 IP, 5 BB, 21 K, 1.02, 2.16 ERA
old man moyer in line for yet another win.
i hope braden gets destroyed by the halos later tonight...
[223] Comment of the night!
[232] yes! that''s 587 homers. i hope he passes Sosa this season, too...
[227] he does with that slider.
[230] yeah - it's one of those lesser of 2 evils things - and they were a fun team to watch.
He was safe.
ding dong... you're out.
From ESPN News:
Stat of the night: No NHL team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit AND a 3-0 deficit in a Game 7. #sportshistory
Ye Olde Fallacy of the Predetermined Outcome!
oh yes - we got a "fallacy of the pre-determined outcome"
I'm guessing Alex confused Orlando for Kate. Just another "me-first, selfish" grand-slam.
[240] wait... you mean they were down 3 goals to none in tonight's game??
[244]
yes!
[244] [245] I told you, it was a hell of a game.
Its not like baseball. EVERY PLAYER IN THE GAME HAS A STICK.
[245] holy chit!
btw, I don't dislike hockey... I LOVE going to hockey games. I just lose the puck too much when I try to watch it on TV. Course, now I have an HDTV, so it might be easier.
that was weird - seeing "A Burnett" pitching to Frankie Brains!
[247] It is!
I know, I always used to have that problem. But my big screen and HD makes it much easier.
braves finally got through to ipk here in the atl. ian out after 6.1 innings of 1-run (so far) ball...
Someone make them stop that nonsense.
more asshats doing the wave.
Doing the Wave in the Legends Seats should be cause for ejection from the Stadium.
wow, another triple for frankie b.
Brains, baby, Brains.
TRIPLE!
HE WILL EAT YOUR CHILDREN!
We have the two best little guys ever. Grittner and the BRains. What'd we do without them?
Let's not trade Frankie after all.
BRAINS!!!
i love that kid. his 2nd triple!
[253] Agreed. Deportation, even, back to midwest or whencesoe'r they're in town from.
[253] Shouldn't those Miller High Life guys come and take something away from those dingbats?
i hope i get to see a highlight of this one. i couldn't find the other triple online...
That was one of the best swings I've seen from Derek in a long time.
Just in case you are wondering ...
Most triples by a Yankee catcher in a season (10) ... Bill Dickey 1931
So, no Mo?
damn - his foul ball swings were much better than the one he connected on.
[261]
Well-played Mauer!
[265] mk is trying to make sense of it all now.
[265] naaa, he'll bring out Robbie Robertson.
looks like Fuckett will be healthy enough to start against us on Tuesday. i hope we feast off him again...
Don't you dry hump Mo now, Coffee Joe, you hear me?
rays lost
Rays lost to Mariners
[272] YAY!
Can someone tell me how many pitches Gardner's seeing per ab?
[270] Yeah. I don't believe it. I think whatever's wrong with him is worse than they're letting on.
[269] Oh, for the Last Waltz, huh?
that dorky kid doesn't go with that mom in the pre-owned bmw commercial.
[277]
GMTA
I think he is too old, also.
it's Mo...
[278] yeah - also way too old
[271] Damn straight you'd best be bringing him in for this inning after getting him up twice!
nicely done robbie
Fucking hell.
Jesus.
My God.
I wonder ... could Cano handle shortstop if/when ...
mo is looking sharp as hell.
Weeping [275], it's 4.60 pitches per plate appearance this year.
[284] cano will be 67 years old when you know who finally concedes shortstop.
my son just lost his Yankee-watching privileges tamara. day game, too. That hurts.
Mariano Rivera, ladies and gentlemen.
It's nice to win a baseball game.
Praise be to Mo.
the best ever vs. the best. best ever wins!
11 pitches!
praise. all of it. to MO!!!
easy peasy 1,2,3
way to go alex, frankie, gritner, cano - nice to see some score trucking
Off to Phillies/Brewers on MLBN.
Thanks be to Mo.
At around 7:30 it was shaping up to be a crappy sports night.
Worked out real nice.
[286] Cheers!
gardenhire'll be wandering around EWR with a fistfull of slim jims after walking Tex to get to Arod. dope.
[294] funny how that shapes up - now we need the magic to keep steamrolling come sunday.
boBBy!!!! double with 2 outs in the 1st - fuck you braden, haha!!!
[296] That was awesome.
I guess the idea was to set up the DP, huh? (I returned just after that.) I hate that IBB when we do it.
Gardenhire will convince himself it was the right move and just didn't pan out. He's terrible. He's a terrible, horribly over-rated manager.
texas and toronto aren't interested in run prevention tonight.
[286] And NJ's at 4.37. If he can keep this up, he belongs permanently in the #2 hole. I love his ability to foul off pitch after pitch after pitch. It's good to be able to do that before Teix and Alex. I really hope he can stay like this all year. With his speed and his short swing, there's no apparent reason he shouldn't be able to.
[301] Yeah, and that kind of thing kills me when other teams do it to Phil Hughes. That's how I know it must be a great talent that NJ has. (And Brett, too.)
And speaking of Phil Hughes, we all do know that eventually he's going to have a bad start, right? And nobody's going to be crushed, right?
I am. I know it happens to everyone, and I can handle it when CC has a lousy start. But it's going to make me very unhappy when Phil has his first crappy start of the season. I know it's going to happen, and I'm going to be miserable.
[303] :)
We'll be here for you when it does.
How exactly did Marte get the win here? Wasn't he the pitcher of record? If he finished the top of the 7th and the Yanks took the lead in the bottom half, that makes him the winner. Unless they've changed the rule, the official scorer doesn't get to choose, no matter what Michael Kay might think. Am I wrong?
[303] yeah, but you went to the 1978 tie-breaker game! DEEP TO LEFT!
[305] dude, I'm right there with you. I don't get it!
[305] You are indeed wrong.
The official scorer may always rule that the reliever who was of record when the winning run was scored, was "ineffective". Then he doesn't get the W.
That's what the scorer did, and so Joba gets the win.
[306] Yes, and I'll always have Paris.
But I'll still be upset when Hughes gives up five runs in four innings and Mitre has to take over.
[305] Well f me sideways. Found this on wikipedia:
[308] Thanks for the explanation. I know I've heard MK say just that on the air, but I always just assumed he didn't know what he was talking about.
For the record, it's Rule 10.17:
[311] A perfectly understandable assumption, to be sure.
[311] Yes, I can see how MK saying something would make you think the opposite is likely to be true! Good general principle, just happened to fail in this case. Blind squirrel, etc.
braden w/ 3 more shutout, no walk innings. boBBy hit a double, so there's a hit...
[315] Hey, look, boBBy took a dump on the mound right behind Braden!
[316] behind the mound is fine. dump. behind. P.U.
hinske doing well for the bravos.
melky w/ a chance to tie/win the game here. he's below the mendoza line. nope, walking him. bases now loaded...
braden still throwing a shutout. 3.2 innings
exciting walkoff win for the bravos. good for them!
the IBB to load the bases comes back to strike the opposing manager in the tuchus once again...
good news via LoHud:
Swish is OK! mri is negative. he's day to day, w/ a slight strain of the left bicep.
me - my biceps are the same size as my wrists and i can easily overlap my thumb and index finger around my wrist! ; )
[318] Yep. I feel vindicated.
Why walk Melk to get to Prado, anyway? Again, just to set up the DP or force at home, I guess. But it puts so much pressure on the pitcher not to walk in the tying run.
in Joba's postgame interview with Kim Jones, he said "you don't want to sleep a waking dog..."
Also, he might be on speed.
[316] "How he loves the little birdies that he gives them this to perch on..."
[319] We must be related. I'm not exactly a power hitter, either.
But it's "biceps". There is no such word as "bicep".
[321] Sounds like sage advice!
[322] "Dallas, you can go ahead and step right over my mound, if you want to."
[323] If you look in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, you'll note that the word "bicep" was just recently added to the lexicon as late as five minutes ago, followed by the footnote "Brett Gardner was here"...
[321] i would screw up my idioms if i were talking to kim jones, too!
no speed for me, but i'm about to get into a 6-pack of sierra! : )
dallas gives up a 2nd hit. and now a 3rd! the runs can't be far off...
[323] skinny, huh? right on. i have a small frame. hopefully you're tanner than me. it wouldn't be hard. i'm about a half-step above albino... : ~
[326] Wow! He darted in, scribbled it, and then took the subway home, all before the eyes of observers could focus.
Chad Jennings says, by the way, that although Brett looks tiny and gritty in pinstriped context, if you saw him on the subway you'd think, "Dude is ripped."
[326] well, you're partially right...
- AND -
[323] you're partially wrong - if you go to dictionary.com and press in "bicep", it comes up. it's a word. i guess...
- BUT -
in my hard copy dictionary, it's only "biceps" or even "bicepses", which seems weird.
word press, says bicep is indeed a word, but bicepses is not.
hmm...
[325] Plant some tradescantia fluminensis around that mound and we'll have a sparkler of a ballgame there...
[320] exactly - set up a dp and force at every base. but melky has been awful and so has qualls. he shoulda pitched to melk.
[328] yeah, gritner would prolly dwarf me. we're the same height, but he's got 40 lbs on me. then again, i have A LOT more hair than he does! : )
old man moyer wins again! that's 262 in his career...
[328] Actually, the new editions came out about two minutes later...
[329] One says that bicep is not a word, but bicepses is. Another says bicep is a word, but bicepses isn't. Does that mean the root is contingent on a biceptual relationship?
and braden finally gives up a freaking walk. it took boBBy, of course, to draw it. now...SCORE of this chump! will ya, please?!
(i hate rooting for the halos, i just really don't like braden...)
wahoo!!! kendry komes thru. 1-0.
MATSUI!!! 3-run job. 4-0. now, that's more like it.
stick it, dallas!
I'm glad I'm not the only sick hater who is staying up to watch old Dallas suck it. God, he really has nothing, he makes Jon Lieber look like Nolan Ryan. But he's not afraid of contact and he doesn't walk anybody and against certain teams in certain parks that can be enough. I was really hoping that Hunter would fly out and run across the mound but a Matsui homer is pretty great too.
[337] and a leadoff double in the 7th! i hope another run gets scratched across right now...
yeah, but lieber was, by all accounts, a really good guy! dallas is a fucking cocksucker. i think it'd be great if every runner started running across "his mound". that would rock!
ah damn, runner out at home. oh well. hopefully dallas will be saddled with a big, fat LOSS!
but, i'm out...