Game Thread, Twins @ Royals, 7/5, 1:10 PM CDT

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Big game today, with Ervin Santana returning from his suspension to make his first start of 2015. He faces off against Danny Duffy (2-4, 5.44)

 

Lineups TBA

 

Weather: High 80s, summerlike, small chance of passing shower.

 

Lineups

 

TWINS

2B Dozier

1B Mauer

RF Hunter

3B Plouffe

DH Sano

LF Rosario

SS Nunez

C Suzuki

CF Hicks

 

ROYALS

SS A. Escobar

3B Moustakas

CF Cain

1B Hosmer

DH Morales

LF Gordon

2B Infante

RF Dyson

C Butera

 

Thoughts:

 

1. I was disappointed to hear that the lineups were announced for this game. Not disappointed with the players in the lineup, but that the lineup itself even existed. Instead of Lineups TBA=To Be Announced, we need something like TBRATMOT=To Be Revealed At The Moment Of Truth. The players wouldn’t appear in the game until the last possible instant. Today, for example, we would be surprised to see Drew Butera in the lineup. "Hey look, it's Drew Butera! Adjust! Adjust!" It's a clear competitive advantage. The strategy would be easier for the first team to bat (in baseball parlance, the visiting team), because you could just hide guys in the dugout. The home team would have it more difficult, but it could still work. 

 

2. For example, when in the field, the Twins could use this strategy to their advantage by huddling Escobar, Santana and Nunez all behind second base until the pitch was about to be thrown, and then have them sprint out to their position, surprising the batter. Who will go to shortstop? Who will go to left? I think this could be a thing. Very similar to a football team running a trick formation, confusing the defense to gain an advantage. What say you?

 

3. Today is the 4th time in the past three weeks we will see the guy we’ve been waiting to see: Buxton, Meyer, and Sano have all made their debuts, and now the veteran starting pitcher Ervin Santana will make his debut. This comes following his 80-day suspension.

 

The fan base has had a crazy sort of courtship and breakup with Ervin Santana, which in my opinion was summed up best in this post from early April. But, bygones and all that—let’s hope he extends an olive branch back to the fans today.

 

4. Santana can and should be considered the Twins top pitcher, but he has competition. Gibson gave the Twins a gutty performance on Thursday, and Milone followed up with a good one Friday. Two of Hughes last three starts have been excellent, each were 8 innings while allowing just a single run. Santana should be fresh but he also needs to be “on” as the Twins don’t match up well against Duffy to give Santana much run support. Santana pitched for Kansas City in 2013, and in his two wins against Detroit that season, he did not allow a run and allowed only 9 base runners, and recorded 11 strikeouts. The Twins host Detroit for a 4-game series this upcoming weekend and Santana will pitch on Friday.

 

5. It still amazes me how well the Twins are doing, relative to the rest of the league. Kansas City has the third best Win % in baseball, and yet we trail them by only 3 ½ games for first place in the AL Central.

 

Too soon to think about the wild card game? Probably. But let’s look at what an 86-win pace will get us. Here is a snapshot of win totals for the two wild card teams since the wild card era began in 2012. The first two numbers are win totals of the wild card teams, the third number is the win total of the next best team that didn’t make it:

 

2012 AL: 93-93-90
2013 AL: 92-92-91
2014 AL: 89-88-87

 

2012 NL: 94-88-86
2013 NL: 94-90-86
2014 NL: 88-88-82

 

In the National League, 88 seems to be the magic number. In the A.L., a team probably needs to aim a little higher. It’s worth noting though, that Detroit won the division with 88 games in 2012, the fewest wins of all the A.L. postseason teams. Naturally they went to the World Series. But like most people will agree, it’s a little too soon to be even thinking about any of this.

 

It's been a very good first half. A win today wraps up a 5-5 road trip and would continue to spark post season discussion. A 5-5 trip would be about as good as you can ask for. So, let’s get ‘er done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twinsnorth49]

Another beauty HBD!

 

This isn't a glass half empty comment, but damn we're an 8th inning single away from being 3-0 up on the best team in the AL.

[Jerr]

I want Santana to show how much he wants to be on the team, by shutting the Royals down today

And shut them down hard!!!

[mudcat14]

Suzuki in the #8 spot.  Hallelujah!!!  Finally a spot befitting his offensive talents.

[JB_Iowa]

Off the wall musing - relative to nothing.

 

In a Designing Women episode entitled "Mr. Bailey", there was a little latin dance with the words "Kitty, Kitty, Yum, Yum; Kitty, Kitty, Yum, Yum".  I've tried to find it on YouTube but I'm not good at it.

 

Anyway, every time I read, "Hosken Bombo Disco", I set it to that rhythm.

 

Fits perfect.

 

Hosken Bombo Disco.  Hosken Bombo Disco.

[Blake]

 

 

Suzuki in the #8 spot.  Hallelujah!!!  Finally a spot befitting his offensive talents.

I suspect the only reason Suzuki isn't batting 9th is due to the 9th place hitter frequently leading off an inning.

[Jerr]

 

Off the wall musing - relative to nothing.

 

In a Designing Women episode entitled "Mr. Bailey", there was a little latin dance with the words "Kitty, Kitty, Yum, Yum; Kitty, Kitty, Yum, Yum".  I've tried to find it on YouTube but I'm not good at it.

 

Anyway, every time I read, "Hosken Bombo Disco", I set it to that rhythm.

 

Fits perfect.

 

Hosken Bombo Disco.  Hosken Bombo Disco.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRqZOTtpGFw

 

That's that episode.

 

edit: what has become of these game threads? lol And why did I feel compelled to find that??? lol lol

[70charger]

So far this year, Kyle Gibson has pitched better than Ervin Santana has ever pitched in any season. We'll see how Gibson closes it out, but it's a bit of an indictment on the whole "the Twins can't develop pitchers" meme. And, perhaps even moreso, an indication of how crazy expensive competent pitching is on the free agent market.

[spinowner]

I think the Royals' Sunday uniforms are sissy blue.

[spinowner]

Hicks catches that.

[70charger]

Dozier is such a slick fielder when he's not literally tripping over himself.

 

Anyway, good first inning back to the bigs for ESantana.

[USAFChief]

I'm making a call...Sano gets his first MLB dinger today.  

[spinowner]

 

I'm making a call...Sano gets his first MLB dinger today.  

That one was close.

[Jerr]

Good guys jump into the lead!!!!

[70charger]

Well done, Sano! That was a hit that most hitters would have turned into a weak fly-out.

[USAFChief]

Cain doesn't catch that. 

 

[drock2190]

Rosario killed another inning by trying to bunt!

[Blake]

 

I suspect the only reason Suzuki isn't batting 9th is due to the 9th place hitter frequently leading off an inning.

Wow, that didn't take long.

[USAFChief]

Santana is throwing pretty hard, at the least.  Good to see.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Cain doesn't catch that.

Did Plouffe and Sano hit it over his head?

 

Maybe he was shallow? Like this observation?

[jimbo92107]

Sano has huge power. Notice that his swing is very powerful, but completely under control. Cain didn't realize how hard Sano had hit that ball, and it surprised him by carrying over his head.

 

Hasn't Sano factored in at least one run in every game so far? He really doesn't look like a rookie. He looks as professional as Rosario, with an even better bat. Should be interesting when he finally gets a chance at third base.

[70charger]

Hicks hits that.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Mr. Hicks' (ball) has left the field.

[SwainZag]

Hicksieeeeeeee!

[jimbo92107]

Hicks!! Boom!

[spinowner]

Gordon doesn't catch that.

[Jerr]

It is once again fun being a Twins fan, as they are back!!!!

[Thegrin]

Hicks ? If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it  

[spinowner]

 

Sano has huge power. Notice that his swing is very powerful, but completely under control. Cain didn't realize how hard Sano had hit that ball, and it surprised him by carrying over his head.

 

 

It was the same thing with his two spring training dingers. It doesn't look like he's swinging hard but the ball still goes far.

[Blake]

Spectacular catch followed up by a spectacular home run.

 

Buxton, Rosario and Hicks..what's not to like about the outfield of the future?