Game Thread Twins@A's 8/10 3:05PM

[Craig Arko]

Now, I can't quote again!  Anyway, Lee was famous for his low-speed change-ups.  Earlier, there was a left handed reliever, who spent one year with the Twins named Dave LaRoche, who threw a pitch that was nicknamed "LaLob".  I can't remember Rip Sewell, but they did name his off-speed pitch the "eephus pitch".

Livan Hernandez threw something like it as well.

[Willihammer]

Game-time forecast: Sunny. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Temperature around 65.

 

 

I'm going to see my Dad today. Hopefully he will have the game on so I can listen to him tell me that the Twins don't swing at the first pitch in the zone.

 

ChiTown will be along with the lineups and WX shortly.

 

TWINS:

SP, Hughes

 

Danny Santana(S) CF

Brian Dozier® 2B

Kurt Suzuki® C

Kennys Vargas(S) 1B

Josh Willingham® DH

Chris Parmelee(L) RF

Eduardo Nunez(S) 3B

Eduardo Escobar(S) SS

Jordan Schafer(L) LF

 

ATHLETICS:

SP, Hammel

 

Coco Crisp(S) DH

Sam Fuld(L) CF

Josh Donaldson® 3B

Brandon Moss(L) LF

Stephen Vogt(L) 1B

Josh Reddick(L) RF

John Jaso(L) C

Alberto Callaspo(S) 2B

Eric Sogard(L) SS

 

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

 

Things to Think About:

 

1. Trevor May -- So much anticipation from us all and complete disappointment after it's all said and done. Let's not make too much out of it. Anyone could see that the pitcher on the mound last night was struggling with something more than simple ability. That was my first time seeing Trevor pitch and without ever seeing him before... Simple logic will tell you... That wasn't him. It is simple logic... Any pitcher who struggles like that... Any Pitcher... If you see someone throwing like that... You know something is wrong. There is no way a candidate for a MLB rotation could throw like that. You can't walk 7 batters in 9 innings of work and stay in the majors. Walking 7 in 2 innings... that's just a guy who forgot how to throw the ball from the mound to the catcher. A guy who was thinking way too much out there. Take the start... file it... in the garbage and get ready for his next start. Let's wait for the real Trevor May to show up before we make any assumptions.

 

2. Kevin Correia -- I remember it well... It was December 2012. The Twins had just traded Denard Span to Washington for Alex Meyer and Ben Revere to the Phillies for Vance Worley and Trevor May. We had come off a horrible 2011 and the mood had changed on Twins Daily from ugly to happy. Everyone was so happy with the acquisitions... And then it happened... The Twins signed Kevin Correia to a two year contract. The Happiness was gone and Twins Daily exploded with disbelief and anger. Kevin Correia by himself destroyed the good feeling created by Meyer, Worley and May. I was never that concerned about it. Kevin Correia was an average at best pitcher but at the time... The Twins lacked even average pitchers because the entire rotation was a nightmare. Correia wasn't Kershaw but he was an improvement over what we had ready to go. His stats in Pittsburgh were just not that bad. Yes he lacked K's but he kept the Pirates in games more often then he didn't. As 2013 played out... Correia was an average pitcher and he kept the Twins in games more often then he didn't. Yet... The Distaste for him never really waned. If Kevin had a good stretch of games... People would say just wait. If he had a bad start... which happens on occasion... Everybody went see. When he threw a decent game... Everybody returned to just wait... he'll be bad again. In 2014... Correia started pretty badly and the chorus was back on... "Get rid of this guy"... When he straightened out and started pitching OK again... Not Kershaw but average... It didn't matter. I never really understood the anger toward Correia. We signed him to a fairly light contract and he delivered innings. He was never on the D.L.... He took the ball when it was his turn and he kept us in games more often then he did not. Many people are happy that he has been traded to the Dodgers. I am also happy but only happy because his contract his up and it's time to move on and the roster has to turn over. However... I will not say "Good Riddence... Don't let the Door hit you on the way out". I say... Thanks Kevin and Good Luck to ya. You deserved better treatment from the some of the fans in Minnesota. You were worth the money spent.

 

3. Sam Deduno -- I have been a huge supporter of Sam Deduno. I also believe that I had good reason to be a supporter of Sam's. Last night... Sam held a finger in the dyke for awhile but then the dam burst on him. As we look to 2015... I simply haven't seen much of Sam in 2014 as a long reliever. As the roster turns over... I wonder if we are starting to see the end of Sam. If he isn't going to be used more often... there isn't much sense in moving forward with him. Roster moves will have to be made and I'm thinking that Sam may need to be part of that. I'll be sad about it because I truly enjoy his energy and ability but he's starting to stiffen up from under use.

 

4. Jason Hammel -- Jason is 31 years old... He was born in Greenville South Carolina but went to High School in Port Orchard Washington. He was born in South Eastern Rain and he Moved to Northwester Rain. He probably stands outside when it rains and says... "Yeah... This is Life". Jason is one of those pitchers who has managed to hang on to a job long enough to have a career year this year while pitching for the Cubs. There is nothing amazing about him but he takes the ball and throws it well enough that he gets to hold down the 5th spot on a team that looks like they will make some noise this year. If the Twins are going to win a game this series... Hammel is the guy they got to beat and we have Phil Hughes on the other side. Let's see if the Twins can do something today.

 

5. Heavy Metal -- When I was a teenager... I was into Heavy Metal... Judas Priest... Iron Maiden... Dio... I remember thinking that I was going to like Heavy Metal my whole life. I'm 48 years old now... I think I'll give Heavy Metal one more year.

Like

[USAFChief]

Livan Hernandez threw something like it as well.

He called it his "four seam fastball."

[stringer bell]

And the Twins get red-hot KC for their next home series!  That should be fun.

[USAFChief]

oferpetesake.

[LaBombo]

He called it his "four seam fastball."

If only he'd gotten to throw it as a reliever after 7 innings of Bob Tewksbury and The Dominator, they'd have been swinging at it a day late and change.

[USAFChief]

I was told claiming Jordan Shafer was a non event because he would never play.

[jorgenswest]

Anyone ever seen a worse at bat?

 

He can't hit. He can't bunt. He is a below average fielder. Give me Florimon or Butera.

[ScrapTheNickname]

It's like Gardenhire is testing his players to see if they're e fundamental sound,

but it's August,

and they're not.

[stringer bell]

I was told claiming Jordan Shafer was a non event because he would never play.

One-man bench today. Can't complain when the only guy on the bench is the backup catcher. I am "watching" on GameDay, I presume that Schafer couldn't get the bunt down against the relief pitcher. However, at least they tried something. I like that even though it didn't work.

[alskntwnsfn]

Schafer seems to be a pretty terrible bunter. Is Plouffe hurt?

[glunn]

I was told claiming Jordan Shafer was a non event because he would never play.

I read this as well.  Last night I think that Gardy was looking for Shafer's defense to help May.  Today, Arcia is injured.  

 

That failed squeeze bunt attempt and the subsequent strikeout by Shafer were painful to watch.  On the other hand, it made the As announcers very happy.

[jorgenswest]

You don't call the play when Schafer can't bunt. We have already seen failed attempts in less important situations this week. Pitchers on the bench bunt (and probably hit) better.

[stringer bell]

Anyone ever seen a worse at bat?

 

He can't hit. He can't bunt. He is a below average fielder. Give me Florimon or Butera.

He's got the one skill, for sure--he can steal bases. If he were truly the 25th man, it wouldn't be bad, however with the short benches nowadays anybody on a big-league team needs to be more than a stolen base specialist.

[glunn]

Schafer seems to be a pretty terrible bunter. Is Plouffe hurt?

Plouffe has a bruised foot from a ball that he fouled off it last night.

[USAFChief]

One-man bench today. Can't complain when the only guy on the bench is the backup catcher. I am "watching" on GameDay, I presume that Schafer couldn't get the bunt down against the relief pitcher. However, at least they tried something. I like that even though it didn't work.

I'm unsympathetic about the one man bench when one of the 10 players available is a guy you claimed off waivers who has no business being on the team in the first place.

 

YMMV.

[jorgenswest]

They ned to DFA Schafer for Mauer and still add another bat for a pitcher. Can Farris bunt?

[LaBombo]

oferpetesake.

"What was Jason Bartlett's box score line in every single game as a 2014 Twin?"

[Willihammer]

Kansas City completed a sweep of SF today.  The Tigers are in extra innings at Toronto.

 

If Day-twah loses, they will be 0.5 games ahead of the Royals for the ALC lead.

Bases juiced for Joey Bats, 2 outs. Lefthander on the mound.

[glunn]

You don't call the play when Schafer can't bunt. We have already seen failed attempts in less important situations this week. Pitchers on the bench bunt (and probably hit) better.

It seemed to me that Shafer should have been more ready to move his body across the plate to make sure he made contact if the pitch was outside.

[ScrapTheNickname]

One-man bench today. Can't complain when the only guy on the bench is the backup catcher. I am "watching" on GameDay, I presume that Schafer couldn't get the bunt down against the relief pitcher. However, at least they tried something. I like that even though it didn't work.

S. waved at the bunt. (He's tried to bunt like 10 times since he's arrived and I think he's got one down), but it was probably Nunez's fault because it seemed to be a safety squeeze and he got caught off third.

[LaBombo]

I was told claiming Jordan Shafer was a non event because he would never play.

And he won't.

 

Except when someone needs a day off.  Or is nicked up.  Or goes into a slump. Or goes on the DL.  Or gets sent down.  Or gets moved before the waiver deadline.

 

Other than that...

[Willihammer]

Bases juiced for Joey Bats, 2 outs. Lefthander on the mound.

And a groundout to 2nd. ONto the 14th...

[alskntwnsfn]

Are they just trying to makea point to schafer? Two bunt attempts ina row?

[Craig Arko]

Better DFA Dozier, too.

[alskntwnsfn]

Yeah that throw by Fuld last week was awesome.

[LaBombo]

Are they just trying to makea point to schafer? Two bunt attempts ina row?

Maybe it's an organizational protest statement against the evils of Moneyball.

[glunn]

Nice framing by the As catcher.

[alskntwnsfn]

Double down on the safety squeeze Ron?

[stringer bell]

Here we go again. Supposedly, the Twins most reliable hitter for getting runners in from third. Can't ask for much more.