Game Thread: Twins@Rangers 6/27 7:05PM

[Riverbrian]

Game-time forecast: Sunny. Winds blowing in from center field at 15-20 m.p.h. Temperature near 85.

 

I'm beginning to believe that ChiTown is somehow behind this losing streak. Maybe she could help us out if she considered posting the lineups in a new font?

 

Ummm ... okay ...

 

TWINS:

SP, Correia

 

Dozier 2B

Suzuki C

Mauer 1B

Willingham LF

Morales DH

Arcia RF

Escobar 3B

Fuld CF

Florimon SS

 

RANGERS:

SP, Tepesch

 

Choo LF

Andrus SS

Pena 1B

Beltre DH

Rios RF

Martin CF

Gimenez C

Sardinas 3B

Oder 2B

------------------------------------------------------------

 

Things to Think About:

 

1. Dallas/Arlington -- I don't know who turned the Dallas area into such an affluent area of the United States but there is a bunch of money in that town. Perhaps Debbie did it... Whatever you do in Dallas... I really don't know... But they have lots of money and they like to drink while wearing big hats and talking loudly. The population is a little over 1.2 million souls. The largest employer in Dallas is American Airlines with over 24,000 employees... After that... Nobody works in Dallas... They just own stuff and they don't pay state income tax in Texas. The Rangers play in Arlington... Arlington is just a city south of Dallas and Ft. Worth where they store stuff. Things like sport stadiums and Six Flag Theme Parks. The State of Texas does have a rather vicious strain of a lethal disease called capital punishment that they haven't found a cure for.

 

2. The Rangers -- A team in a death spiral right now... They have lost 8 games in a row and currently sit 13 games behind the AL West leading Oakland A's. Obviously effected by the injury bug... Kevin Kouzmanoff underwent back surgery and how any team can overcome this... I have no idea. I think there are a couple of other players who don't really matter on the DL as well. The Twins have lost 3 in a row and the Rangers have lost 8 in a row... No doubt about it... They always have to have things bigger in Texas. This is a chance for the Twins to get healthy. If they don't get healthy this weekend. The Rubberband is broke for sure.

 

3. Nick Tepesch -- Starting for the Rangers tonight... Something called Nick Tepesch. He's 25 years old from Kansas City. He was 28th round pick of the Red Sox in 2007... Decided to turn down a bonus of Burger King coups and attended the University of Missouri. The Rangers later drafted him in the 14th round in 2010... By this time he had enough of all that learning and he signed. It was quick journey through the farm system. He became one of those players who was handed a chance to pitch in the majors after every other option was hospitalized.

 

4. Jorge Polanco -- Ladies and Gentlemen... Meet Jorge Polanco... He's 20 years old and he hails from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic which is known as the Shortstop capital of the world. Tony Fernandez, Jose Offerman and Cal Ripken all come from San Pedro de Macoris. Jorge is a young player that the Twins have high hopes for and he has made an early appearance in the majors because everybody else is hurt. It may not be his time right now but it's his time right now... yet we are all hoping his time does come... later.

 

5. Class Reunion -- This weekend is my 30 year class reunion... I'm looking forward to seeing some old faces. I've given it a lot of thought and I've decided that I'm going to tell everyone that I invented the Maroon colored Ink Pen. One day... I noticed the bright red pen and thought... Yeah... how about Maroon? and the rest is history... I'm that guy. I think they will believe me.

[ScottyB]

Sorry to see Florimon is starting over Polanco. If we're lucky Florimon will play his way off the 40-man this weekend.

[kdrupp09]

Sorry to see Florimon is starting over Polanco. If we're lucky Florimon will play his way off the 40-man this weekend.

 

My question is this, if he hasn't already played his way off the 40 man, what does he have to do to play his way off?

[adjacent]

I was thinking the same thing. If they DFA Florimon, Beresford or Bernier are OK options as utility guys.

[ashbury]

The State of Texas does have a rather vicious strain of a lethal disease called capital punishment that they haven't found a cure for.

 

You messin' with Texas, son?

 

I'm looking forward to seeing some old faces.

 

Besides the one in the mirror.

[ashbury]

My question is this, if he hasn't already played his way off the 40 man, what does he have to do to play his way off?

 

Gardy: We have no shortstop.

Ryan: Not to worry. I called up Florimon from Rochester just last night.

Gardy: I repeat...

[Joe A. Preusser]

Gardy: We have no shortstop.

Ryan: Not to worry. I called up Florimon from Rochester just last night.

Gardy: I repeat...

 

Ryan: Whats the problem, Floriman is exactly half the hitter Hicks is.

Gardy: Is it time for Molli to take over yet?

[Halsey Hall]

I smell a win, finally.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Ryan: We have no shortstop.

Gardy: Not to worry. I called up Florimon from Rochester just last night.

Ryan: I repeat...

 

ftfy

[jokin]

Gardy: We have no shortstop.

Ryan: Not to worry. I called up Florimon from Rochester just last night.

Gardy: I repeat...

 

Originally Posted by ashburyjohn

Ryan: We have no shortstop.

Gardy: Not to worry. I called up Florimon from Rochester just last night.

Ryan: I repeat...

 

ftfy

 

 

 

HBD nailed it.....Like I said yesterday...Ryan is making sure that Gardy owns this one for the time being.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Like I said yesterday...Ryan is making sure that Gardy owns this one for the time being.

 

you could be right about that, sad as it is to say

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Florimon could go 2-3 with a walk tonight, but he still needs to be DFA'd yesterday. Replaced by Romero, even if only for three days. And so Escobar can move back to SS.

 

The only rational thing I can think of is that Gardy wants him to get his average above .100 before he's gone, or what you said jokin. "He's all yours, Ron."

[ashbury]

HBD nailed it.....Like I said yesterday...Ryan is making sure that Gardy owns this one for the time being.

 

I'm satisfied with doing the "Florimon is not a good hitter" meme. The "Ryan is a passive-aggressive boss" meme is above my pay grade.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I'm satisfied with doing the "Florimon is not a good hitter" meme. The "Ryan is a passive-aggressive boss" meme is above my pay grade.

 

Agree. I just tried it on, above. It didn't feel right.

 

But then, what's your explanation.

 

 

Ok time to let it go … Tonight, Florimon's our guy.

[jokin]

I'm satisfied with doing the "Florimon is not a good hitter" meme. The "Ryan is a passive-aggressive boss" meme is above my pay grade.

 

Just tracking back to last weekend....Gardy begs and pleads to get an extra position player...and not to draw too fine a line here, but just for the sake of discussion....Ryan demurred, and is quoted (in an oh-so-passive-aggressive manner?) as saying he felt the Twins were adequately covered enough to not warrant risking losing someone off of the 40-man (I would assume, for Ron's "benefit", that he included Florimon in that explanation, too?)

[drock2190]

So is Polanco only going to pinch hit this weekend?

 

We all know hes going down when Plouffe returns on Monday. Why not start him at short for a couple games?

[Squirrel]

So, if I find a lucky penny on the street, pick it up and put it in my pocket, then forget about it and it goes through the wash ... is all the luck washed off of it? Just wondering ...

[drock2190]

According to Gardy, Florimon gets the nod because he has "experience"

 

Experience doing what exactly?

[JB_Iowa]

I really wish KC would just give us a nice, boring first inning sometime.

[Joe A. Preusser]

According to Gardy, Florimon gets the nod because he has "experience"

 

Experience doing what exactly?

 

He knows the return route from the batters box to dugout better than any other guy in the majors. You cant buy experience like that.

[glunn]

So, if I find a lucky penny on the street, pick it up and put it in my pocket, then forget about it and it goes through the wash ... is all the luck washed off of it? Just wondering ...

 

Maybe you are hanging out with Brian too much?

[aggies4]

This falling behind in the first inning thing is really getting irritating.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Maybe you are hanging out with Brian too much?

 

I think they make a cream for that.

[glunn]

Twins have been giving up a lot of runs early on. Maybe the pitchers are not properly warming up?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

So, if I find a lucky penny on the street, pick it up and put it in my pocket, then forget about it and it goes through the wash ... is all the luck washed off of it? Just wondering ...

I like to think it's just spread out all over your clothes in the washer

[ashbury]

I really wish KC would just give us a nice, boring first inning sometime.

 

If he's going to give up runs, it's in his interest to do it in the first inning. That way, he's not a good candidate to come in as a reliever, and Gardy has to keep him in the rotation.¹

 

¹ Right up to the day he is DFA'ed

[curt1965]

Can somebody tell Arcia to watch out for that 2 strike slider?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Mmmm...

 

Diving into first base!

 

I enjoyed the defense that inning.

[aggies4]

The twins were pretty good at avoiding long losing/winning streaks until recently. Surprised they've turned so hot and cold so quickly.

[70charger]

That's the kind of hit that doesn't fall in for Mauer in the month of May.