Game Thread: Twins v Diamondbacks, 9/23 @ 7:10pm CT

[Squirrel]

Game-time forecast: Mostly cloudy. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Temperature around 65.

 

DIAMONDBACKS:

SP, Chafin

 

Inciarte LF

Pollack CF

Lamb 3B

Trumbo 1B

Montero DH

Owings 2B

Ross RF

Gregorius SS

Gosewisch C

 

TWINS:

SP, Gibson

 

Schafer LF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Plouffe DH

Arcia RF

Pinto C

Nuñez 3B

Hicks CF

Escobar SS

 

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Okay, Brian ... I was working so hard today I almost forgot to do this.  Hopefully you didn't forget to think today. 

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What? Um? Sorry... I found a switch in the back of my head... Underneath my hair so I didn't know it was there... It turns my brain on and off... It was off the whole time and I flipped it... Solved some things that I hadn't been able to solve in years... Now that's done... I turned it back off and I can't remember what I solved. With the Switch flipped to off... Here ya go!!! 

 

Things to Think About:

 

1. Games left to Play -- We have 6 games left to play. I know how this works... It'll be November and I'll be sad without baseball... I'll be waiting for Spring Training to start and baseball to begin again... However... Here it is September 23rd and I'm about ready for the season to conclude.

 

2. AL Playoff Race -- Seriously... The Twins are the Twins... It's the pennant races that have my attention right now. The Mariners are fading... 3-7 in their last 10 games.They are two games behind the Royals for the last playoff spot... The Angels and Orioles are in and the Royals are battling the A's and Mariners and the Tigers all at the same time. It looked like this race would be interesting but it's starting to not be interesting unless the Mariners can snap out of it. 

 

3. NL Playoff Race -- This thing is over... The Brewers need a miracle to catch the Pirates. The Giants are in and they could catch the Dodgers in the AL West but they are in. The Pirates could catch the Cards but both teams are likely in. When all is said and done... This could be one of the most boring playoff races in quite some time. 

 

4. Pinto -- He's playing today... Let the complaining begin!!! 

 

5. Finishing Last -- The Twins are guaranteed to finish last in the AL Central. If they win the last 6 games and the White Sox lose the last 6 games. They will both have 90 losses and that means the Twins are guaranteed to at least tie for last at best.

 

When you think about everything. All the work in the off season... Spring Training... The Careful instruction in the minor leagues... The Coaching in the Majors as well... Coaches are paid... Scouts are paid... Managers are paid... There is a whole organization of employees who have a job to do and that is win baseball games... Batting Practice... Fielding Practice... Bullpen Sessions... Film Study... Weight Room Training... Cardio... When you think of all the work that the organization has done this year to get ready to compete in 2014... When you think of all the work the players have put in... The Money Spent... When you think of everything... It Just occurred to me... The Twins could have done none of all this stuff and still finished last in the AL Central.  

[Squirrel]

I'm a little surprised Escobar is back in the lineup after reading earlier today that he wouldn't be and was iffy for the rest of the year.  Guess it goes to show you ... you can't trust anything you read nowadays. 

[Platoon]

Unless of course it is on TD!!

[Winston Smith]

Old man river you under  estimate, it ain't easy being bad.

[Squirrel]

Unless of course it is on TD!!

Heh ... no comment. 

[twinsnorth49]

Hockey's back, yaaaayyy!!

[Craig Arko]

Trust, but verify.

 

For example, I trust Sam Adams but am verifying the Octoberfest.

[Squirrel]

Hockey's back, yaaaayyy!!

Go Blackhawks!  

[Kwak]

I'm a little surprised Escobar is back in the lineup after reading earlier today that he wouldn't be and was iffy for the rest of the year.  Guess it goes to show you ... you can't trust anything you read nowadays. 

So Gardenhre still manang the Twins... (new line-up).

[Platoon]

Go Blackhawks!  

It took me almost 4 hours to drive thru Chicago a couple years ago, the guy in the toll booth said it was because the Hawks had a playoff game? I personally found it inconsiderate of the Balckhawks to cause such a disruption to my schedule!

[Squirrel]

It took me almost 4 hours to drive thru Chicago a couple years ago, the guy in the toll booth said it was because the Hawks had a playoff game? I personally found it inconsiderate of the Balckhawks to cause such a disruption to my schedule!

Oy ... don't get Brian started on Chicago traffic.  It'll end up the theme of the game thread.

[Riverbrian]

Oy ... don't get Brian started on Chicago traffic.  It'll end up the theme of the game thread.

Too Late!!!

 

That Lake... That Lake Forces everybody in the whole world thru Chicago. If you want to go from Madison to Flint. You gotta go thru Chicago. If you wanna go from Missoula Montana to the Bahamas... You gotta go thru Chicago... If you want to drive from Christchurch New Zealand to Moscow... You gotta go thru Chicago.

[Riverbrian]

It took me almost 4 hours to drive thru Chicago a couple years ago, the guy in the toll booth said it was because the Hawks had a playoff game? I personally found it inconsiderate of the Balckhawks to cause such a disruption to my schedule!

4 hours... You got off light. Everybody was watching the game... If there wasn't a game... It would have been 10 hours.

[Squirrel]

Too Late!!!

 

That Lake... That Lake Forces everybody in the whole world thru Chicago. If you want to go from Madison to Flint. You gotta go thru Chicago.

No, you don't gotta go through Chicago.  It's a choice to go through Chicago.

 

http://www.lake-express.com/

[twinsnorth49]

Go Blackhawks!  

 

Booooo!!!

[twinsnorth49]

It took me almost 4 hours to drive thru Chicago a couple years ago, the guy in the toll booth said it was because the Hawks had a playoff game? I personally found it inconsiderate of the Balckhawks to cause such a disruption to my schedule!

Bunch of jerks.

[Riverbrian]

No, you don't gotta go through Chicago.  It's a choice to go through Chicago.

 

http://www.lake-express.com/

If I get in a car accident on the boat... It'll take too long for the ambulance to swim to me.

[Platoon]

Oy ... don't get Brian started on Chicago traffic.  It'll end up the theme of the game thread.

That can't happen, you can't get started in Chicago traffic,,, but you can get stopped, and stopped, and stopped, and stopped, and stopped................

[ScrapTheNickname]

Glad to see that Santana is getting a rest.

[Platoon]

No, you don't gotta go through Chicago.  It's a choice to go through Chicago.

 

http://www.lake-express.com/

Normally I agree with Brian (great minds tend to think alike). But you can go to manitowoc, and take the ferry to Michigan,,, did that with the bike a couple years ago.... That said another inconsideration was putting that lake right next to Chicago! You would think Gary was enough of a hinderance

[Squirrel]

It's one thing if you have to drive through Chicago ... although I usually recommend driving well around it, depending on your final destination ... but if you are coming TO Chicago ... take the train and forget about driving.  You can get around the city well enough without a car; in fact, probably better than.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Pinto is playing! Hooray!

[Riverbrian]

It's one thing if you have to drive through Chicago ... although I usually recommend driving well around it, depending on your final destination ... but if you are coming TO Chicago ... take the train and forget about driving. You can get around the city well enough without a car; in fact, probably better than.

I agree... After the horrible traffic jam event... My next trip thru Chicago... I drove right up to the edge of the metro... Sold my car... Walked all the way across... And bought a new car on the other side.

 

I saved Three hours that way.

[Platoon]

I agree... After the horrible traffic jam event... My next trip thru Chicago... I drove right up to the edge of the metro... Sold my car... Walked all the way across... And bought a new car on the other side.

I saved Three hours that way.

I tried that once, but got tired of having to walk that slow in all the traffic

[Craig Arko]

The heck with hockey, it's this night.

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I agree... After the horrible traffic jam event... My next trip thru Chicago... I drove right up to the edge of the metro... Sold my car... Walked all the way across... And bought a new car on the other side.

I saved Three hours that way.

but you put yourself in terrible danger, especially walking in Gary

[Squirrel]

Gary is not Chicago.  It's not even in the same state.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Gary is not Chicago.  It's not even in the same state.

true, but Chicago traffic starts in Wisconsin and ends in Indiana.

[Riverbrian]

Gary is not Chicago.  It's not even in the same state.

Yes but it's still dangerous.... Same with Gary Busey and Gary Coleman.

[Platoon]

It's one thing if you have to drive through Chicago ... although I usually recommend driving well around it, depending on your final destination ... but if you are coming TO Chicago ... take the train and forget about driving.  You can get around the city well enough without a car; in fact, probably better than.

But the EL does not go thru Summit, home of the Giant Burrito!