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Game Thread, Twins @ Royals, 7/4, 6:10 PM

Hosken Bombo Disco

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Hosken Bombo Disco All-Star

Hosken Bombo Disco

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Twins try to rebound after an entertaining loss last night. Also, Perkins will be fresh to go a minimum 4 innings tonight. 

 

Pitching probables: Mike Pelfrey (5-5, 3.81) versus Joe Blanton (2-1, 3.14). Also probable: Glen Perkins.

 

Weather: Absolutely gorgeous day for baseball in KC.

 

Lineups

 

TWINS

2B Dozier

1B Mauer

RF Hunter

3B Plouffe

LF Rosario

DH Sano

CF Hicks

C Herrmann

SS Santana

 

Third Base Coach: Gene Glynn*

 

* why list third base coach, you ask? Read on...

 

 

ROYALS

SS A. Escobar

3B Moustakas

CF Cain

1B Hosmer

DH Morales

LF Gordon

C Perez

RF Rios

2B Infante

 

Third Base Coach: Dick Jirschele

 

Happy 4th of July to everyone. As Riverbrian says, try not to blow your fingers off. This is for your own good, because you’ll find it much harder to gripe about Joe Mauer without your fingers positioned on the asdf jkl;.

 

TRIVIA: When was the last time the Twins played in KC over the 4th?

 

Answer at bottom. (Hint #1: The Twins won the division that season)

 

Other things to think about:

 

1. There are many good write-ups tying baseball to the 4th of July and the American experience; some more romantic than others, here and here are a couple, if you are in the mood. And of course there was the famous Chevy commercial. As for me, I’m just looking for another good, entertaining, cleanly-played ballgame tonight, and ideally it will end in a win.

 

2. There is reason to be optimistic again tonight. The Twins have had very good results against Blanton. Mauer is hitting 11-27 versus Blanton with a 1.059 OPS. Trevor Plouffe is 3-9 with two homers. Torii Hunter is 4-16, but also with 2 homers. Even Aaron Hicks is 2-2 against Blanton. So this figures to be one of those games KC intends to go to the bullpen right after the 5th inning, regardless of the score. We need to get to him early, so it will be interesting to watch if Molitor and the Twins play for the big inning and let guys swing away, or resort to more small ball, such as sacrifice bunts. 

 

(Hint #2: Last time the Twins played in KC over the 4th, Joe Mauer had the day off.)

 

3. Then we have the slumping guys, like Brian Dozier, who is 0-9 in the series. He’s had a couple line drive outs, but he’s also missed on a couple of his high inside fastballs, which are his specialty. And of course, the bullpen is in a prolonged slump. But perhaps the guy in the biggest slump right now is Gene Glynn. That’s right; the third base coach.

 

4. The guys on the radio said that Rosario had to run through a stop sign to score on Sano’s single last night, and there was the game in Cincinnati where a throw from the outfield hit Glynn’s foot with no one backing up third. Clearly Glynn needs a day off, or even a stint on the DL. But as bad a slump as Glynn is in, it’s nothing compared to the guy on the other side of the field, Dick Jirschele. What Jirschele did to that bushy-tailed rookie last night, Dusty Coleman, was downright cruel. Letting him tag up on that shallow fly ball and allowing him to be put out easily on the throw.

 

5. We all know what kind of villain Dick Jirschele is. It’s common knowledge that in the World Series last year the Royals came within one frantic windmill motion of Jirschele’s right arm* from losing Game 7 in the most exciting way possible, a play at the plate. Or perhaps it would have been a rundown. Either way, it was an exciting finish to the World Series and an incredible run by the Royals last year. There’s nothing saying the Twins can’t do something like that this year or next. Life is funny. And whatever your opinions on the team, it’s good to watch fun, meaningful games in July for a change.

 

* or left arm, not sure.

 

TRIVIA: So when was the last time the Twins played in KC on the 4th?

 

Hint #1. The Twins won the division.
Hint #2. Mauer had the day off that day.
Hint #3. But, Mauer was batting .391 on the season.

 

The last time the Twins played in Kansas City was 2006. They were 9 games behind the Tigers at that point, and would actually fall further back than that, before that season’s remarkable finish, winning the division on the final day. If the Twins can do it in 2006, and the Royals in 2014, there's no reason to think the Twins might not do it again, too. 

 

Enjoy the fireworks, and don’t let the third base coaches ruin your 4th of July tonight!

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sampleSizeOfOne Cooperstown

sampleSizeOfOne

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...

As Riverbrian says, try not to blow your fingers off. This is for your own good, because you’ll find it much harder to gripe about Joe Mauer without your fingers positioned on the asdf jkl;.

 ...

But please feel free to blow on your fingers, if you need to. I know hamburgers don't flip them selves (usually) and not everyone feels the need for utensils like spatulas or prongs.

 

Good job w/ the intro! I'm actually old enough to remember 2006, but i guess i wasn't paying that close attention to 4ths of July.

Hosken Bombo Disco All-Star

Hosken Bombo Disco

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And, I had no idea, but Blanton was retired last season. He actually operated a vineyard in California, apparently.

 

He seems like one of those journeyman guys who's always coming and going, but I had no idea he was completely out of the league.

 

I guess the money is better in MLB?

JB_Iowa Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

JB_Iowa

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I didn't think Mauer's ball was out without a Bremergasm.  Who is this guy with Bert?

 

I assume it is whoever does play-by-play for KC.

 

I think that when they broadcast on FOX rather than on the regionals, they use one broadcaster from each team -- unless its a truly national broadcast then they use their "A" team.

Circus Boy First Round Pick

Circus Boy

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Here's a day brightener...

 

The Twins last year didn't win their 42nd game until game 91. We hit that milestone this year on game 79. Another hot streak would definitely make this summer funner than usual.

 

Let's have a good game!

glunn St Paul Saints

glunn

Community Moderator
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Happy 4th of July my fellow fans.  I am at work, but leaving soon to go home to watch this over dinner then out to see fireworks.

JB_Iowa Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

JB_Iowa

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These jerseys are okay but the caps should have been gray.

 

The TC doesn't show up well on the red.

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