Game Thread: Twins @ Rangers, 6/12/2015 7:05 p.m. CDT

[JB_Iowa]

Looks like a warm and humid night in Arlington with just a light southerly breeze.   About 87 degrees at Game time but the humidity will make it feel a bit warmer.   Should have 3 days of sunny (or partly cloudy) weather – mostly in the upper 80’s.   Chances of showers overnight and on Saturday and Sunday.   They do not need more rain in the Dallas area right now so let’s all hope for sunny skies.

 

Here are the line-ups for tonight:

 

For YOUR Minnesota Twins (33-26):

 

Dozier 2B

Hunter RF

Mauer 1B

Plouffe 3B

Vargas DH

Rosario LF

Suzuki C

Escobar SS

Hicks CF

 

LHP:  Tommy Milone

 

For the Texas Rangers (may they eat too much barbeque and get logged down) (31-29):

 

DeShields LF

Choo RF

Fielder DH

Moreland 1B

Andrus SS

Gallo 3B

Corporan C

Martin CF

Alberto 2B

 

LHP:  Wandy Rodriguez

 

 

A few thoughts;

 

1.  Despite his 10+ years in major league ball, I don’t feel like I know that much about Wandy Rodriguez since he spent it all with the Houston Astros before being traded to Pittsburgh during the 2012 season.   The Rangers signed him for 2015 as a free agent ($507K).

 

His career ERA is .403 so this year’s ERA of .325 is a significant reduction – and isn’t far off of his FIP of 3.66.    He has started 9 games for the Rangers and has a record of 3-2.  He has given up 46 hits, 19 ER, 18 walks, 4 HR and has 43 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched.

 

36-year-old Rodriguez last pitched on Saturday, going 7 innings and giving up just 1 run with 4 strike outs and no walks against the Royals in a 4-2 Texas victory.   From what I can find, he is a groundball pitcher who relies primarily on his 4-seam fastball.

 

He sounds like a tough assignment for the Twins but it is time to show the Rangers that you don’t mess with the A.L. Central!

 

2.   Like the Twins, the Rangers started the year off slowly and finished April at 7-14.  Since then, they have gone 24-16 (.600).   They are 5-4 in June and currently have a 2 game losing streak after losing to Oakland the last 2 nights.   As we all know, Minnesota has gone 3-7 in June.

 

There are a number of similarities between the teams (although that huge Texas TV contract dwarfs Minnesota’s).  Both franchises began life as the Washington Senators.   Minnesota from 1901-1960 and Texas from 1961-1971.    Yes, I know, the “real” Washington Senators moved to Minnesota and the ones who moved to Texas were mere imposters.   Now if we could just figure a way to get most of the current “Senators” out of D.C., we might all be better off!!

 

Both teams also have a new manager after parting ways with long-time managers at the end of the 2014 season.    Ron Washington resigned on September 18 for personal reasons and returned to coaching with the Oakland A’s on May 22.   His buddy, Ron Gardenhire, is apparently enjoying his year’s pay and taking it easy.

 

The Rangers hired 51-year-old LaMarque, TX high school graduate Jeff Banister who had 29 years with the Pirates organization – 1 year in the majors, time in the minors and as a coach.   The Twins, of course, hired Hall-of-Famer Paul Molitor.   So we get 2 rookie managers in this game.

 

3.    No Josh Hamilton who is on the DL.   I, for one, am glad we’re spared the drama.

 

4.    Offense.   The Rangers have scored 269 runs compared to 250 runs for the Twins so neither team is having an offensive bonanza but the Rangers are capable of an explosion (15-4 over the Yankees on May 23; 8-0 over Boston on May 30; and 15-2 over the White Sox on June 2).   The Twins have to find a way to limit Home Runs and they need to find a way to score some runs or this could be a long series.

 

5.    I’m giving up on creating graphics of TC Bear and the other team for now.  Want to make sure I’m not double-whammying them.   Plus, I’m devoid of ideas.

 

6.    Let’s start a new winning streak here tonight, Twins!

 

Take it away.......

[Squirrel]

Spared the drama? May I introduce you to one ... Hunter, Torii

[JB_Iowa]

 

Spared the drama? May I introduce you to one ... Hunter, Torii

 

Yeah, but he's OUR drama.

[twinsnorth49]

This board and drama go hand in hand.

[Squirrel]

 

Yeah, but he's OUR drama.

Ahhh ... you meant ADDITIONAL drama!  heheh

[JB_Iowa]

 

Ahhh ... you meant ADDITIONAL drama!  heheh

 

Well, it also doesn't hurt to be spared Hamiltons 1.021 OPS.

 

 

[Bark's Lounge]

 

This board and drama go hand in hand.

I feel very confident in saying that I never bring that drama nonsense to the table.

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Well, it also doesn't hurt to be spared Hamiltons 1.021 OPS.

 OPS can be over .700? Who knew?

[JB_Iowa]

 

 OPS can be over .700? Who knew?

 

Yeah, even team OPS.  Texas is at .717.

[JB_Iowa]

THANKS TO CHITOWN for inserting the line-ups!

[Danchat]

Wait, so what happened to Torii's suspension? Is he appealing it? 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Wait, so what happened to Torii's suspension? Is he appealing it? 

I think so. It said something like that in an article on mlb site what i scanned.

 

Amard. That's backwards drama. Or drama backwards? Take your pick. Not sure if that's helpful...

[COtwin]

2 games isn't that big a deal.  Just means we have to watch Robinson for a couple days.  Watching the video of his outburst again got me thinking.  He threw almost all of his removable gear.  It's a good thing he forgot he was wearing a cup.  I bet the fine would have been at least 3 games for that one.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 games isn't that big a deal. Just means we have to watch Robinson for a couple days. Watching the video of his outburst again got me thinking. He threw almost all of his removable gear. It's a good thing he forgot he was wearing a cup. I bet the fine would have been at least 3 games for that one.

maybe he didn't wear a cup that day

 

"I'm glad I wore underwear today"

[sampleSizeOfOne]

So i hear we didn't do so well against KC.

 

Is that my fault for not being around?

 

Terrible apologies for that...

 

Did i miss anything else?

[Bark's Lounge]

Wow. The Rangers are batting Andrus 5th. That's something the Twins would do.

[JB_Iowa]

Torii still has a little speed down the line on that bunt.

[JB_Iowa]

C'mon Plouffe!!

[SwainZag]

Bases Juiced, no outs?! What a great time to turn on the game! Let's go boys!

[JB_Iowa]

Dozier comes home!!  on a Plouffe SF to left.

[SwainZag]

Damn, looks like Trev just missed that one.  A run is a run though!

[JB_Iowa]

Well, 1 is better than 0.

1-0 in the 1st with the Rangers coming to bat.

 

C'mon Tommy.  Be stingy!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Damn, looks like Trev just missed that one.  A run is a run though!

If a run is a run, what is a tautology?

 

(and do i really want to know)

 

Can't complain about a lead though.

[Craig Arko]

This is a big start for Milone, with Nolasco and Santana 2-3 weeks away.

[JB_Iowa]

Looks like the light breeze from this afternoon has gotten a lot stronger.

[JB_Iowa]

Tommy getting the calls tonight.

[Blake]

So that's how a run is scored. Lately, I'd kinda wondered if the home town 9 had forgotten.

[Craig Arko]

Looks like the light breeze from this afternoon has gotten a lot stronger.

Yeah, with that wind small ball seems like a good idea.

[JB_Iowa]

Good Inning for Milone.

 

1-0 Twins after 2 complete.

 

Top of the order coming to bat.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Yeah, with that wind small ball seems like a good idea.

 

A large ball is indeed affected more by wind.

 

Texas seems to like hitting it back to the pitcher. Doesn't seem to be working very well.