Game Thread: Angels@Twins 9/6 6:10PM

[Riverbrian]

Game-time forecast: Sunny. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Temperature around 70.

 

One Batter followed by another and you got a lineup. ChiTown is a lineup professional and she'll post them shortly. 

 

Brian ... I'm only a lineup professional if I were paid to create them.   But whatever, here they are ... and I didn't create them, just typed them up.  Free of charge.  

 

ANGELS:

SP, Rassmus

 

Calhoun RF

Trout CF

Pujols 1B

Kendrick 2B

Aybar SS

Freese 3B

Iannetta C

Boesch LF

Cron DH

 

TWINS:

SP, Hughes

 

Santana CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Vargas DH

Plouffe 3B

Arcia RF

Suzuki C

Escobar SS

Hicks LF

 

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

 

Things to Think about:

 

1. Cory Rasmus and His Committee -- It's the hot new band sweeping the nation... Featuring Corey Rasmus on lead Right Arm. Corey is supposed to throw a few innings before they sit him down regardless of production and move on to the next guy. It's quite possible that the Twins will face a different pitcher each time through the order. I hope at least one or two or three of those pitchers are bad. Cory Rasmus by the way is the younger brother of Blue Jays Outfielder Colby Rasmus. They faced each other once and Colby hit a double off his brother. Mom was both Happy and Sad about it. 

 

2. Twins Offense -- It's actually been kind of fun to watch them do their thing lately. Against the Angels... The Twins have produced against a couple of pitchers who haven't been allowing a bunch of production. That's nice to see... However.. The Pitching has been questionable and therefore all that offensive production has been kinda wasted as far as the Win Loss Column is concerned. Keep swinging boys... We got a decent pitcher going tonight. 

 

3. Phil Hughes -- He's been our primary decent pitcher thus far. I kinda look at tonight's game as a test of sorts. The test is something that people rarely think about. When Twins pitching and defense give up a bunch of runs... Is it because of the pitching or is it because the other team is swinging well. Sometimes we judge our Twins like the other team has nothing to do with the outcome. Fans of the Angels or any other team does the same thing. Hughes has been good... If the Angels put up a bunch of runs tonight... I think you can give them credit and even consider that when forgiving Nolasco and Gibson. Forgiving Nolasco... Ha Ha... I Crack me up!!! 

 

4. Santana in CF and Hicks in LF -- This may draw some comments from TD Faithful... Hicks is playing in LF while Santana is playing CF. Myself... I'm perfectly OK with Santana switching back and forth between CF and SS and I think it's possible that Gardy doesn't want to move Santana to a different OF Position after he has invested so much time in CF. I assume since Hicks has more OF experience that he will move to a corner easier. I know some would like to park Santana at SS for the rest of the year and let it buck. I hear ya... but I'm not totally on board because Escobar deserves SS playing time and I like the versatility that Santana is acquiring.  

 

5. September -- When it comes to the Twins... have any of you noticed how quickly it goes from... I can't wait for the season to begin to... screw this... to... the month of September. I'm thinking about this today and I believe this is exactly how I have aged very quickly.  

[Craig Arko]

This seems like the sort of thing some of you will appreciate.

 

 

Some of you probably won't.

[jokin]

4. Santana in CF and Hicks in LF -- This may draw some comments from TD Faithful... Hicks is playing in LF while Santana is playing CF.

 

 

  

 

I think this says a lot more about Hick's future with the team-  a former 1st round pick, and born CF, is clearly behind a born SS, for CF time-  This leaves Hicks now scrambling for reps at any OF position, and likely only in the lineup tonight because Shafer damaged his rib cage yesterday.  

 

I see "back-up 4th OF", behind Shafer, in his future, unless he can definitively change some organizational minds to the contrary in the next 3+ weeks.

[Squirrel]

This seems like the sort of thing some of you will appreciate.

 

 

Some of you probably won't.

I saw that awful thing on someone's (ahem) Facebook page yesterday.  While, yeah, I did laugh at all those people running, screaming ... and even shared with a friend saying it would make a great costume for his dogs, but if that were done to me?  It would kill me.  Spiders are just plain scary.

[Craig Arko]

I saw that awful thing on someone's (ahem) Facebook page yesterday.  While, yeah, I did laugh at all those people running, screaming ... and even shared with a friend saying it would make a great costume for his dogs, but if that were done to me?  It would kill me.  Spiders are just plain scary.

Oh, me too. I would engage in the Olympic event called "beating cheeks," as we call it in our gaming sessions.

 

My dogs would probably eat the costume.

[Squirrel]

Heh ... I like the 'ghost elevator' ones.  I'm not sure what I'd do with that, but that was pretty funny, too.

[ashbury]

5. September -- When it comes to the Twins... have any of you noticed how quickly it goes from... I can't wait for the season to begin to... screw this...

The Brooklyn Bums long ago perfected the formula.  Wait 'Til Next Year.

[ashbury]

Speaking of old time teams, what's the scariest team in major league history, apparently for this crowd?  The Cleveland Spiders.

 

_{^{/ their W-L record got scary at times too}}

[ashbury]

Our primary decent pitcher is giving up a decent number of runs tonight.

[stringer bell]

Escobar with the tying homer.  He now has more than Mauer. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Escobar with the tying homer.  He now has more than Mauer. 

Parmelee too has a tying homer...

[stringer bell]

Ok, I might be talking to myself, but I think there should be a role for Parm next year on the Twins.  The way he has hit left handed pitching solidifies his role as a backup at both corner outfield spots and first.  I like Nuñez in a backup role as well.  Those two guys might not have the highest upside, but they can play a lot of positions and have some pop.

[Squirrel]

I blame Brian.  For everything.  Because he can take it.  But I just got back from the grocery store.  It took me about 15 minutes to get everything I wanted/needed, then another 20 to stand in front of the ice cream section ... ice cream, gelato, novelty, ice cream, gelato ... what to get ... 20 minutes.  I blame Brian.

[Craig Arko]

I talk to myself all the time.

 

Santana out with back strain, apparently from a throw.

[ashbury]

Escobar with the tying homer.  He now has more than Mauer. 

But Mauer's not and never has been touted as a power hitter.  You can't expect him to keep up with the likes of Eduardo Escobar.

[ashbury]

Parmelee too has a tying homer...

That's the problem.  We keep tying things up, until, at some point, we don't.

[Thegrin]

This is too good

 

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9    R  H  E
Fort Myers
(2-0)
            0  0  0
Daytona
(0-2)
            0  0  0

Pitching:
    Dorris (DAY);  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,
Batting:
    Mejia (FTM)

HR:
    None.

[Squirrel]

Oh, great, and now I have gelato, with Doris Day songs in my head ... 'gonna take a sentimental journey ...'

[ashbury]

Parmelee too has a tying homer...

 

Ok, I might be talking to myself, but I think there should be a role for Parm next year on the Twins. 

I'd go along with "could", not quite ready to sign on for "should".  The various positions he plays are the easiest ones (defensively) to find someone for.  I keep hoping he'll show enough bat to suffice, but it remains too spotty.

[Squirrel]

The Miracle game is in rain delay, btw.

[ashbury]

This is too good

 

Pitching:

    Dorris (DAY);  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,

If he gets relieved by K. Serasera I'm going to be officially freaked out.

[Squirrel]

Kernels ... 1-1

[stringer bell]

Oh, great, and now I have gelato, with Doris Day songs in my head ... 'gonna take a sentimental journey ...'

Que sera, sera. BTW, it is interesting that both of the Twins' Class A teams are playing Cubs farm teams.

[stringer bell]

Another hit for Esco. Yeah, he doesn't have Santana's speed, but he's had a really good year.

[Squirrel]

Que sera, sera. BTW, it is interesting that both of the Twins' Class A teams are playing Cubs farm teams.

Well, it is interesting, but it makes sense, no?  Aren't the Cubs supposed to have a top-rated farm right now, like the Twins?

[Thegrin]

I notice lots of little problems when Santana plays SS.  I think EE is a much better fielder.

[Squirrel]

I notice lots of little problems when Santana plays SS.  I think EE is a much better fielder.

Well, maybe, right now, given he hasn't had as much time in the position as EE.  That doesn't mean he's not as good, or won't be better.

[stringer bell]

Good for Hicks! Maybe Hughes can settle down during the middle innings. Of course, as ineffective and beat up as the bullpen is right now, I don't see any lead as safe.

[Halsey Hall]

Hicks seems very confident right now.  I hope he keeps this up til the end this year. 

[stringer bell]

Well, maybe, right now, given he hasn't had as much time in the position as EE.  That doesn't mean he's not as good, or won't be better.

Danny has played SS more in his career than Esco. Of course, EE has gotten most of the time there this year. He just wasn't very good there in the spring. I honestly haven't seen him there enough with the Twins to have an informed opinion. I remain unconvinced that he will stay as a regular at short. However, with his hitting, speed, and arm, the Twins will find somewhere for him to play.