Game Thread: Twins @ Angels, Wednesday, July 22, 9:05 p.m. CDT

[JB_Iowa]

Mostly cloudy throughout the day, with a high temperature of 80° around 3 PM, and a low of 68° around 11 PM. The sun rose at 5:57 AM and will set at 8:00 PM.

 

Line-ups

 

For the Twins, RHP Mike Pelfrey

1. Brian Dozier ® 2B

2. Torii Hunter ® RF

3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B

4. Miguel Sano ® DH

5. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B

6. Eddie Rosario (L) LF

7. Aaron Hicks (S) CF

8. Eric Fryer ® C

9. Danny Santana (S) SS

 

For the Angels, LHP C.J. Wilson

1. Johnny Giavotella ® 2B

2. Kole Calhoun (L) RF

3. Mike Trout ® DH

4. Albert Pujols ® 1B

5. Erick Aybar (S) SS

6. David Freese ® 3B

7. Chris Iannetta ® C

8. Matt Joyce (L) LF

9. Daniel Robertson ® CF

 

When you are in a slump and face some challenges, there is nothing else to do but “get your chin up off the floor.”     Let’s hope the Twins can get something started tonight.

 

1.   I’ll admit it.   I did not watch a minute of last night’s game.   When I saw the score, I was hoping that Gibson turned in a good game but that the BP failed again.    Alas, Kyle went south, too.   Overall, it looks like the entire team was in a funk.   Welcome back, Sano.

 

2.  Anaheim.   While most of us think of the Angels, Disneyland and peppers, “Anaheim” actually means “home by the Santa Ana River”.   Founded in 1857 by German American families, it was famous for its grape growing and wine-making for the first 25 years of its existence until disease wiped out the vines.   They were replaced by orange and lemon groves and walnut trees – I suspect not many of these exist any longer.   Now we have Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Frontierland and hotels.   Tourism to the max!

 

3.  I have been fascinated by how many Midwesterners moved to Southern California around 1900.   They homesteaded their farms here in the 1870’s and, after building the value, sold them.   From my area, most moved to Pasedena and bought orange groves.   I wonder if any of them still have those Iowa “roots”?

 

4.  Dog Days.   We’re entering the “Dog Days of Summer”.   Per Wikipedia, Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time "the Sea boiled, the Wine turned sour, Dogs grew mad, and all other creatures became languid; causing to man, among other diseases, burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies." according to Brady’s Clavis Calendaria, 1813.

 

Little did I know that the Dog Days were such a risk.   According to Sassi, every day is a “Dog’s Day”!

 

5.  Pelfrey vs. Wilson.    Ugh.    RHP Mike Pelfrey has a 7.59 ERA over his last six starts.    LHP C. J. Wilson is coming off eight scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Friday.   May we experience a reversal of fortunes.

 

6.  Thursday’s game:   Finally, a day game.   Hooray!

 

Have fun watching tonight.   I’ll undoubtedly be snoozing away.

[Craig Arko]

Sano is back.

 

Makes me feel like this...

 

[USAFChief]

Thanks JB!

[Danchat]

Yes! Sano is back in the lineup! We have a chance of scoring runs!

[COtwin]

I think I am ready for a new lineup. Based on the last 30 or so games I would like this.

Hicks

Mauer/Rosario

Dozier

Sano

Rosario/Mauer

Plouffe

Hunter

Catcher

Shortstop

Am I an ignorant idiot or would that have a better chance of scoring runs?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1.   I’ll admit it.   I did not watch a minute of last night’s game.   When I saw the score, I was hoping that Gibson turned in a good game but that the BP failed again.    Alas, Kyle went south, too.   Overall, it looks like the entire team was in a funk.   Welcome back, Sano.

Gibson escaped a couple of early jams allowing 1 run each as out field assists caught runners going to third for the third out.

 

When he left with the bases loaded and no outs, it was only 3-0. The only thing that kept Boyer from giving up a grand slam was the fact he had just given up a sac fly.

 

Not great for Gibson, but coulda been worse.

 

I been napping more than i care to admit, so i might actually catch the whole game...

[JB_Iowa]

Thanks for the info, SSS.

 

Watching Pirates-Royals.  Trying to bring the Royals bad Mojo

[JB_Iowa]

 

I think I am ready for a new lineup. Based on the last 30 or so games I would like this.
Hicks
Mauer/Rosario
Dozier
Sano
Rosario/Mauer
Plouffe
Hunter
Catcher
Shortstop
Am I an ignorant idiot or would that have a better chance of scoring runs?

 

I don't know.  But I'd like to see what happens with moving Hicks up.

[Squirrel]

Thanks, JB! Enjoyed the intro ... working tonight but might get home in time to catch the end ... if it's worth it at that point to watch, I will.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

4.  Dog Days.   We’re entering the “Dog Days of Summer”.   Per Wikipedia, Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time "the Sea boiled, the Wine turned sour, Dogs grew mad, and all other creatures became languid; causing to man, among other diseases, burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies." according to Brady’s Clavis Calendaria, 1813.

 

Little did I know that the Dog Days were such a risk.   According to Sassi, every day is a “Dog’s Day”!

Not to muddy the musical waters, as the A-team intro is fantastic. (Who knows, they might be at the game. Did anyone think to explain to them our plight?)

 

But the dog day discussion made me think o' this...

 

[twinsnorth49]

Sano's back, today is a good day.

 

 

[Vanimal46]

Is it selfish of me to hope for an 11-10 win where Pelfrey goes 2 IP 10 ER? Gotta find a way to get May his spot back in the rotation.....

[Riverbrian]

I think I am ready for a new lineup. Based on the last 30 or so games I would like this.

Hicks

Mauer/Rosario

Dozier

Sano

Rosario/Mauer

Plouffe

Hunter

Catcher

Shortstop

Am I an ignorant idiot or would that have a better chance of scoring runs?

Very close to mine. I'd hit Rosario 7 Hunter 6 and Plouffe 5. Mauer would be my everyday 2 hitter. And Escobar would be that SS you don't mention by name.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Is it selfish of me to hope for an 11-10 win where Pelfrey goes 2 IP 10 ER? Gotta find a way to get May his spot back in the rotation.....

If that's the case, is it selfish of me to want him to have the lead at that point? I want to see the bullpen hold a one run lead for 7 innings, and for the Twins to remember how to score runs early.

 

I'm not sure. There are probably somethings i don't mind being selfish about as well.

 

"It was under a big W. Say, what is a big W?"

 

I really just hoping we get a big W.

[Gibby]

 

If that's the case, is it selfish of me to want him to have the lead at that point? I want to see the bullpen hold a one run lead for 7 innings, and for the Twins to remember how to score runs early.

I'm not sure. There are probably somethings i don't mind being selfish about as well.

"It was under a big W. Say, what is a big W?"

I really just hoping we get a big W.

 

  Thanks pal. You just made me think of Ethel Merman.

[stringer bell]

Regarding Gibson's start last night: He gave up 10 singles in 22 at-bats, I believe he walked one and struck out 6.  So....He got 15 outs, the Angels lost two runners on the bases (outfield assists) plus had a runner picked off.  That means that 10 of the 16 balls put in play were hits. Even if his stuff was lackluster, it is nearly impossible to have that many hits fall, especially for a guy who had allowed less than a hit per inning. I have to chalk it up to "one of those days". 

[Bark's Lounge]

Well, since a few choice theme songs were already used for Sano's return - I am going to have to lean on an old standard that I use to listen to/watch as a young-mid teenager with my grandparents.

[twinsnorth49]

I didn't have much of an issue with Gibson last night, he got a but lucky for sure but he didn't give up any extra base hits, struck out 6 and battled pretty hard knowing he didn't have his best stuff, he just fell behind too many guys. Hell even at that he was one bad throw to 2nd away from very likely keeping the score 2-0 after 6 instead of 7-0 PB.

 

The fielding and and plate discipline are what depressed me, they were awful.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Thanks pal. You just made me think of Ethel Merman.

Where are my manners?

 

You're welcome!

[spinowner]

 

  Thanks pal. You just made me think of Ethel Merman.

I'll always remember when they retrieved the car keys...

[Riverbrian]

I wonder how many innings before

 

 

I go to bed

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I didn't have much of an issue with Gibson last night, he got a but lucky for sure but he didn't give up any extra base hits, struck out 6 and battled pretty hard knowing he didn't have his best stuff, he just fell behind too many guys. Hell even at that he was one bad throw to 2nd away from very likely keeping the score 2-0 after 6 instead of 7-0 PB.

 

The fielding and and plate discipline are what depressed me, they were awful.

That's right! I remember that throw. Shoulda been a double play, but Gibson saw no one was at second as he threw it, so he took something off of it to keep it from going into center.

 

Escobar crossed the bag and came off to catch it, but the runner slid in safely, and the batter beat it out, so no outs, just a fielder's choice...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I wonder how many innings before

 

 

I go to bed

Is there anything wrong with sleeping on the couch?

 

Or moving the tv/computer into the bed room?

 

Oh yeah, CBU, 0-0 entering the second.

 

Dozier ripped a foul in his first strike out...

[Riverbrian]

Is there anything wrong with sleeping on the couch.

Setting the precedent... If I do it once... Pretty soon... I'll keep doing it more and then I turn my bedroom into a storage closet but I'll be too lazy to put stuff in there as my living room fils up with TV dinner cartons and empty licorice bags... I also soon decide I'm not shaving any more... I'll get a couple of nose piercings.

 

Baseball can be dangerous if you don't manage it correctly.

[twinsnorth49]

Complain about Santana but the kid has an arm.

[COtwin]

Pelfrey getting hit pretty solidly.

[Gibby]

A .199 hitter.

[twinsnorth49]

OOOPS!

[clank2000]

Well, this game's over.

[twinsnorth49]

 

A .199 hitter.

His average is significantly higher when it's batting practice.