Game Thread: Twins @ Angels, 7/23/15, 2:35 PM CDT

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Generic game thread intro 132

Weather is well, okay, i hope.
(Yeah, 78F, Partly cloudy says the line up site)

Line ups are cloudy with a chance of lightning strikes and thundering booms.

Here's the fine print. Judge for yerselves...

Twins
Ervin Santana {R} toes the rubber.

1. Aaron Hicks {S} CF
2. Eduardo Nunez {R} 2B
3. Joe Mauer {L} 1B
4. Miguel Sano {R} DH
5. Trevor Plouffe {R} 3B
6. Eddie Rosario {L} RF
7. Shane Robinson {R} LF
8. Kurt Suzuki {R} C
9. Danny Santana {S} SS

Angels
Garrett Richards {R} toes the rubber.

1. Johnny Giavotella {R} 2B
2. Kole Calhoun {L} RF
3. Mike Trout {R} CF
4. Albert Pujols {R} DH
5. Erick Aybar {S} SS
6. C.J. Cron {R} 1B
7. Matt Joyce {L} LF
8. Carlos Perez {R} C
9. Taylor Featherston {R} 3B

0: Will we play? I expect so. As the saying goes, god willing.

1: Will we win? Yes. Maybe. Outlook cloudy. Ask again later. You can always count on a magic 8 ball parody for um, something. Someone's gotta win. Might as well be us.

2: Will we pitch? Odds are we will. Santana is coming off a pretty good showing in Oakland. And if we need 'em, our bullpen does have a way of coming through more often than not. It's just the nots that everyone remembers. Perkins is well rested too, i think. Time to get him back in the saddle, to mix metaphors. Or if we're not in the ideal position. He can even get in the saddle lite. So long as he ain't involved with any moon shots.

2b: Will we field? Well enough. But just for the gripers, i'm sure there will be something to complain about.

3: Will we hit? I hope so. This is kinda the contra-positive of question 2, because it's the opposite of the symmetrical question that is implied there: will they pitch? But the answer is different, 'cause it can get split up between 9 plus batters. The battery, as it were. I hope it's a 9 volt line up, though i couldn't say who will lead the charge.

3b: Will we run? "First chance we get!" -#6... I think Molitor makes sure it's meaningful, But yeah, controlled aggression is a useful tool.

4: Will we bunt? That should have been my leading question, and by all means, it is a loaded one. I'll bring the ten foot polls for anyone willing to touch it.

5: Thank goodness the road trip is over. It wasn't long, but golly it wasn't short. One would think, bein' the Twins, they'd deal well with such trip-lets...

5b: Be prepared. Shelter, sustenance, comfort, company. If they are easier to arrange before the game starts, while your not distracted.

5c: Pretzels. Do they make sheep-shank ones? Personally, i'd like a bowline one.

5d: Parenthetical are not just for parents.

Enjoy the game!

 

I may miss the first chunk, which is why i thought it worthwhile to remind you to prepare yourself. No, 5b was not a Tom Lehrer reference.
 

[JB_Iowa]

I'm looking forward to seeing Hicks lead off.  (I know, I know, it's only because Dozier is getting a day of rest).

 

Does anybody else think Plouffe is distracted waiting on this baby?  I know he denies it but thinking you could get a call anytime has to be distracting.  C'mon kid, tomorrow is a great day for a birthday.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm seeing this game as a 2:30 central start. Does MLB have that wrong?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

I'm seeing this game as a 2:30 central start. Does MLB have that wrong?

 

 

Good catch!

 

Feel free to correct it for me, as i don't think my editing capabilities include the title.

 

Being on the east coast finally caught up to me in that... And i guess i was cutting it closer than i thought in posting it.

[Winston Smith]

"Angels third baseman David Freese was hit by a pitch from Minnesota’s Mike Pelfrey last night and will be placed on the disabled list with a fractured in his hand, tweets Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com."

 

I remember Dick going on and on last night about Freese faking and that he was not hit at all.

[James]

 

"Angels third baseman David Freese was hit by a pitch from Minnesota’s Mike Pelfrey last night and will be placed on the disabled list with a fractured in his hand, tweets Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com."

 

I remember Dick going on and on last night about Freese faking and that he was not hit at all.

It's true.  Freese wasn't hit by the ball.  His finger was broken by fear!

[70charger]

Well, no Dozier. But it's really nice that Sano's back. Let's see if he really is the difference maker.

[rghrbek]

A struggling Rosario bats against Wilson last night (L vs. L) and Robertson bats against their rhp ace???

 

Not sure that logic flies unless there are extreme splits in Molly's favor...

[Willihammer]

Featherston fills for fake finger fracture-Freese.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Kazmir dealt to the Astros today - will that be enough to hang with the Angels?

 

 

Hoping for a solid start today from Ervin against his former team...

[Mike Sixel]

That is one scary good lineup..........................

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

A struggling Rosario bats against Wilson last night (L vs. L) and Robertson bats against their rhp ace???

 

Not sure that logic flies unless there are extreme splits in Molly's favor...

Hunter is the guy taking the day off today - Rosario is in the lineup again. He's an everyday guy for Molitor now, no platooning.

[mickeymental]

 

That is one scary good lineup..........................

angels lineup looks good, too.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

somebody told these guys to swing at the first pitch...

[COtwin]

Yaaaay. Shane Robinson and Suzuki in the lineup. That will get the offense going.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Pfft. This Trout guy is overrated...

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's a good thing 2015 Albert Pujols is not 2010 Albert Pujols or the score would be 2-0 right now.

[Winston Smith]

 

Pfft. This Trout guy is overrated...

Lucky they drafted Gibson rather than Trout.

[JB_Iowa]

Not pretty but Santana escapes.

 

CBU:  0-0 after 1

[rghrbek]

 

Hunter is the guy taking the day off today - Rosario is in the lineup again. He's an everyday guy for Molitor now, no platooning.

Yup, good catch, my miss there.

Makes a little more sense.  A little....

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Arcia instead of Sugar Shane would make the most sense...

 

Yup, good catch, my miss there.

Makes a little more sense.  A little....

 

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

2 strikeouts in one inning? he must be on something...

 

^{Too soon?}

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Lucky they drafted Gibson rather than Trout.

Nobody thought Trout would be anything like the player he is today.

 

Nobody.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

eesh - that was a quick half inning...

[Brock Beauchamp]

Hunter catches that standing.

 

Blindfolded.

 

Twice.

[FattCrapps]

Play 2nd.

 

Bat 2nd.

[JB_Iowa]

Fairly quick inning for Santana.

 

CBU:  0-0 after2.

[70charger]

 

Nobody thought Trout would be anything like the player he is today.

 

Nobody.

 

I did. Granted, I figured that out about a week ago, but still.

[Winston Smith]

 

Nobody thought Trout would be anything like the player he is today.

 

Nobody.

Lighten up

[FattCrapps]

Was that a 95mph slider from Richards?