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

[Platoon]

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.

The police chief in Atwater would just cut it's head off with a shovel?

[ashbury]

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

Too many plays-not-made by EE.  He is a good backup because he won't hurt you even at the most demanding position, but he's not an above-average SS - the bar is set pretty high these days.  I'm not sure he's even quite average, though as I said he's close enough.

[Platoon]

On a more serious note.... I listened to Marnies expert analysis on Rasmus. And she passed on that the boys were supposed to skip working the count tonight because he would not pitch long enough to bother to drive out of the game! Which caused me to ask........ With some of today's strong bull pens, and specialists is it always a good idea to work the count to that extent? See the fast ball hit the fast ball. Hmm should I have started this comment with: Well Marnie....

[ashbury]

Well Marnie, Rasmus should have known this too, and chosen to nibble at the plate more to see if his opponents would get themselves out.  Indeed, the box score shows 18 strikes in 36 pitches, not exactly nibbling but no evidence he went right at them either.

[Squirrel]

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.

Yeah, I wasn't all that impressed with his play in ST, but, well, could've been a number of things.  Will just have to see how that all shakes out.

[Squirrel]

Kernals game is still 1-1 through the 5th; still no start in Daytona.

[Squirrel]

And the Florida game is now underway.

[Halsey Hall]

And Turner drives in 2 with a double to put the Miracle up in the 1st!

[John Kelsey]

I love Phil Hughes.

[ashbury]

I love Phil Hughes.

http://boydwonder.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/baseballheart.jpg

[John Kelsey]

http://boydwonder.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/baseballheart.jpg

 

Yes, something like that. 

[ashbury]

Yes, something like that. 

j/k

[ashbury]

What is your view on Casey Fien (he of the two-run 8th inning to snatch away a win from Hughes)?

[Platoon]

Well at least it was quick and painless..... Except to hughes

[D. Hocking]

What is your view on Casey Fien (he of the two-run 8th inning to snatch away a win from Hughes)?

Sometimes loving certain people can hurt.

[GCTF]

Fine his ass.

[drock2190]

I'm sick of Burton.

 

Anyone else?

[Squirrel]

Well, crap.

 

On other fronts, the Miracle game is tied 3-3 and the Kernels are down 1-3.

[Bark's Lounge]

What is your view on Casey Fien (he of the two-run 8th inning to snatch away a win from Hughes)?

Fien's skillz have been blown out of proportion. He is a major league caliber reliever - but he should be buried on the depth chart of importance in the bullpen.

[Bark's Lounge]

I'm sick of Burton.

 

Anyone else?

Me too. I hope everyone is... a month or two ago.

[D. Hocking]

I remember back in May or maybe it was April -- it seems like a long, long, time ago in a ball field far, far, away -- being encouraged how the Twins came from behind and won a few games.  Now it seems like we can't keep any lead.  Kind of like Lucy pulling the football in the latter part of every game. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I know Perkins lost a tie game in the 9th on Thursday night, but... he's got to be a better option than Burton, right?

 

It seems like, in some respects, we are playing the Angels hard despite the losses... but it would still be cool to see our manager treat one of these things like our own little playoff game.  Particularly after some tough losses.

[D. Hocking]

Perkins has some neck issues:

 

In other Twins injury news, All-Star closer Glen Perkins is day to day with neck soreness that started bothering him Thursday night. An MRI Saturday revealed no structural damage or pinched nerves.

[Bark's Lounge]

This game was a knife to the stomach. Hughes has been getting the shaft from this team. He wasn't his best today, but he gutted it out and pitched a decent game and should have won... if he had a bullpen he could rely on.

 

These games against the Angels have been ****ty to the **** degree.

 

I hope they choose Oliveros or Tonkin for these roles going forward. I'd rather lose with them in the late innings.

[ashbury]

S'long Jared, your good outings were appreciated but it's time to part company.

[Platoon]

Is it my imagination, or did it seem unfair that we brought up Arcia and Suzuki in late inning clutch time, and they brought in Trout an Pujols!

[DocBauer]

You know, Kelly and Such, or Gardy and Anderson, McPhail or Ryan, the Twins have always found a way to put together a solid to very good bullpen. They've also found some real steals over the years.

 

But for whatever reason, this bullpen, despite an OK season, has hit a big wall and been a huge disappointment the past few weeks.

 

I really like what Fien has done since we acquired him, but he is NOT an 8th inning guy who can occasionally close. He's a really solid 6th/7th inning guy who can occassionaly pitch the 8th. I really want to toss the pen spots open to anyone who wore a jersey for a Twins team this year...and there are some awesome candidates on the way...and I believe at least a few of them will make their presence known at some point in 2015...but I think it would be a fool's venture to do so. I think one major BP FA signee for 2015 would go a long way to helping the team.

[Danchat]

It appears that the Twins have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory for the third straight night.

[Ben B]

I think the pen is just getting overworked at this point. I feel like I've seen Swarzak every other night for a month. 

[snepp]

I think the pen is just getting overworked at this point. I feel like I've seen Swarzak every other night for four years.

 

ftfy