Article: Game Thread: Twins v Mariners, 7/30 @ 7:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

While we hear nothing but trade deadline silence coming out of the Twins camp, other teams have been eating us alive.

The little bit of cushion we once had in the wild card chase has almost gone away. We had a larger lead a couple of innings... umm... weeks ago but that lead is shrinking... I got the innings... weeks thing mixed up because the end of July is starting to feel like our bullpen.

Hey... Here come the Mariners to town for a 4 game series and we need to right the ship. Get it back on course.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. The Mariners -- Seattle is a team that had been expected to be contenders yet they just can't seem to find their way. This from a team that sports a compass for a logo. Seattle has pitching... they've spent money on bats... yet they appear to be lost and I think it's because of that logo. Look at it... go ahead... open up another browser and look at it while you read this. The N for north is almost due south and just a tish to the east. E for East is pointing 3 directions... NW... ENE and SSE. The S for south is located in two directions and you can't go west at all because you can't find a W anywhere. And if you are sailing out of Seattle... you'd have to go west at some point. This is why they are stuck at port, folks. The Mariners need to stop worrying about players until they fix this obvious faulty navigation. Maybe upgrade to GPS or something.

2. The All Star Break -- Remember when the Twins came from behind to beat the Tigers and then won 2 more games to head into the All Star Break? Those were good times. Let me say this... Screw the All Star break for sapping all that momentum and leaving us to restart almost exactly like we started the season, all cold and stuff. If there wasn't an all star break... the Twins probably would be on 15-game winning streak right now.

3. Crickets -- On a quiet night... you can hear the sound of crickets. Crickets have enlarged thighs and those thighs are what produces that well known sound. Crickets will rub their legs together to fill the night with chirps. Only the male can chirp... so I assume it's the male that tells the female to take out the garbage and to quit drinking so much in the cricket world. The primary reason for chirping is to attract a mate. Right now... those of us listening for news on trade deadline deals to improve our club are hearing nothing but crickets. It's good to know that Terry Ryan is busy rubbing his legs together.

4. Deals Deals Deals -- I suppose it's possible that the Twins make a deal between the time 'Thought #3' is posted in the wee morning hours and game time... (Pause) Nah... that wouldn't happen. Meanwhile… everyone else is busy making deals. Hamels is heading to the Rangers... the Dodgers made a 45-team deal picking up two players off the roster of every major league club plus 15 Japanese teams... Carlos Gomez was almost moved to the Mets which made Wilmer Flores cry... Tulo to the Jays... the deals are happening and the deadline expires soon.

5. Days off -- I've been busy at my job. I'm lucky when I can get a day off… However, when I do... I catch up around my place. Laundry, cooking, cleaning and shopping. All I'm thinking is... this is what they call a day off?

--------------------
Game-time forecast: 82 deg F, sunny and clear, 0% chance of precipitation, winds from the WNW at 12mph.

Lineups:

MARINERS
Jackson CF
Seager 3B
Cruz RF
Smith LF
Trumbo 1B
Gutierrez DH
Miller SS
Taylor 2B
Zunino C

Happ P

TWINS
Dozier 2B
Hicks CF
Mauer 1B
Sano 3B
Hunter RF
Rosario LF
Escobar DH
Suzuki C
Polanco SS

Hughes P

Go Twins! Play ball!

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[Craig Arko]

They're still playing games? I thought the season was over.

[Winston Smith]

Remember the good old days when people here would laugh and point fingers at how bad the White Sox were? They are now only 2.5 games behind the Twins.

No need to be in a hurry to fix this team, is there?

[blindeke]

v goodjob

[Danchat]

 

Remember the good old days when people here would laugh and point fingers at how bad the White Sox were? They are now only 2.5 games behind the Twins.

No need to be in a hurry to fix this team, is there?

I think the White Sox are going to pass us.

 

This thought scares me.

[SwainZag]

Dozier 2B
Hicks CF
Mauer 1B
Sano 3B
Hunter RF
Rosario LF
Escobar DH
Suzuki C
Polanco SS
Hughes P

 

Sano and Polanco on the left side of the infield, could it be a look Twins fans will see for years to come?

[Craig Arko]

 

Dozier 2B
Hicks CF
Mauer 1B
Sano 3B
Hunter RF
Rosario LF
Escobar DH
Suzuki C
Polanco SS
Hughes P

 

Sano and Polanco on the left side of the infield, could it be a look Twins fans will see for years to come?

Looks worth watching.

[Mike Sixel]

Polanco at SS.....yes. Escobar as DH? Is this a different Escobar?

[Platoon]

I was sure when Sano played third that Arcia wou....... Whoops sorry!

So Brian, if your chores are piling up, maybe it's you that need to be rubbing your thighs together to attract your mate. But if it works I would not start off the discussion with, "take out the garbage, and don't drink so much"! What to say? I have always found the term, "fetch me a beer" to be a real conversation starter!

[stringer bell]

OK, OK, let's not panic. Stringer is back in Minnesota. I left Minnesota for a family visit after the Twins beat the Yankees 10-1 on Friday. Since then, the team has tanked and the competition has added parts while the Twins have done.........well nothing to stop the bleeding.

 

A terribly disappointing Mariners team shouldn't have too much fight and, of course, the Twins won't face Felix this weekend. However, if Seattle gets a lead in games, they might build some momentum and knock off the Twins a few times, probably knocking our Twins out of that #2 wildcard spot.

 

I am hoping my team rolls through Seattle at Target Field and keeps it interesting for the next several weeks.

 

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

How do frogs fit into the cricket conversation? If the puff out their throat enough, can the get a relief pitcher? They sound cool, anyway.

 

If the Twins respond to the sluggish second half start like they did in May, i think i'll like August. But yeah, a 15 game winning streak woulda been nice...

[Squirrel]

 

Polanco at SS.....yes. Escobar as DH? Is this a different Escobar?

It should be Arcia. Oh, wait … hmmm ...

[stringer bell]

Oswaldo is 5-36 in his last ten games. Didn't play against a lefty yesterday. Sure, 2014 Arcia was good enough to help the Twins, but her hasn't done much at AAA.  Hmmm, that might start a little conversation.

[Kwak]

 

I think the White Sox are going to pass us.

 

This thought scares me.

The image I have is the #3 dog on the sled.

[Craig Arko]

Not sure if this was mentioned:

 

@MikeBerardino: Teddy Plouffe (18.5 inches) was born at 11:32 p.m. Wednesday. Mom was induced at 7 a.m., so a long day for the whole family.

 

Trevor due back Saturday.

 

Ok, so much for happy news. Return to your regular bitchfest.

[DaveW]

Escobar at DH.

 

JFC

[sampleSizeOfOne]

The image I have is the #3 dog on the sled.

I'm not sure i'm familiar with the significance of the image.

Trying to remember my Jack London, as i've no actual dog sledding experience...

 

If it wouldn't be detrimental (like explaining a joke) would you care to illuminate the idea?

[Winston Smith]

I see Plouffe is a fan of my work  .   Baby boy: Theodore Winston James Plouffe.

 

Kind of hard keeping up with all the Twins trade rumors at this point.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Wait a moment!

 

There is a conspicuous absence of a Cano in the Seattle line up...

 

Oh, he's abdominally strained. Tough luck for the Mariners.

[spinowner]

No Cano. No Felix (in a 4-game series!) So much the better for us.

[Kwak]

 

I'm not sure i'm familiar with the significance of the image.
Trying to remember my Jack London, as i've no actual dog sledding experience...

If it wouldn't be detrimental (like explaining a joke) would you care to illuminate the idea?

Consider the view of the third dog on the sled team.

[Vanimal46]

Guys, our trade deadline woes are over! Vanimal was DFA'd by the Pirates today......

[JB_Iowa]

 

Guys, our trade deadline woes are over! Vanimal was DFA'd by the Pirates today......

 

Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger  · 9m9 minutes ago 
Twins GM Terry Ryan: “I have every intention of trying to improve this club.”

[spinowner]

Grrrrrrr.

[Vanimal46]

Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger  · 9m9 minutes ago 

Twins GM Terry Ryan: “I have every intention of trying to improve this club.”

It's a meticulous process digging through the dumpster these days.....

[Riverbrian]

 

OK, OK, let's not panic. Stringer is back in Minnesota. I left Minnesota for a family visit after the Twins beat the Yankees 10-1 on Friday. Since then, the team has tanked and the competition has added parts while the Twins have done.........well nothing to stop the bleeding.

 

A terribly disappointing Mariners team shouldn't have too much fight and, of course, the Twins won't face Felix this weekend. However, if Seattle gets a lead in games, they might build some momentum and knock off the Twins a few times, probably knocking our Twins out of that #2 wildcard spot.

 

I am hoping my team rolls through Seattle at Target Field and keeps it interesting for the next several weeks.

 

Cool... bout time... it's getting dicey.

[TNTwinsFan]

Not able to watch the game...how did Sano look in the field that first inning?

[mickeymental]

well, sano looks good it third ...

[JB_Iowa]

Dear Mr. Pohlad,

 

The Twins are becoming unwatchable and your GM is fiddling.

 

You deserve to LOSE money (although under baseball's plan that would never happen.)

 

LAUGHINGSTOCK of a GM.

[JB_Iowa]

BULL - DOZIER IS BACK!!

 

Leadoff Hr.