Game Thread: Twins vs Mariners, 7/31/15, 7:10 PM CDT

[sampleSizeOfOne]

"Fingers in the ears and humming loudly" Game Thread intro.

Here's to avoiding all the speculation, and catching the actual factual moves perhaps after the fact, but waiting builds character. "Just because [i am] a character doesn't mean have character..." So if everyone else is doing it, that means i can do it too, right? Here goes...

"There has been an unprecedented three team swap between Minnesota, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Unlike previous trades, where a few noteworthy players move around, this one is wholesale. The entire teams are moving, including mascots. In one fell swoop, Minnesota upgrades to one of the best bullpens. Matt Carpenter is reported to be looking forward to home field advantage in the World Series. And the (St. Louis) Twins suddenly become the owners of the best record in baseball. Not all this is well received. Some Kansas City fans are irate that they have to wear a whole new color. Sano is left without the DH spot, unless he's willing to pitch. The player's union is quietly looking into the matter to see if this violates various no trade clauses, but, as on the surface they are still playing on the same team, it is likely to hold up. Not surprisingly, national coverage takes no notice." -me

See even i get distracted by this, and not a word of it is serious. At least now it's out of my system. I hope...

But i digress...

Round 2 between Seattle and Minnesota features Taijuan Walker #32 going toe to toe with Tommy Milone #33. Or rather they'll both be toeing the rubber, just not simultaneously. But that's toe to toe on average... #32 vs. #33? Looks pretty even to me. Looking further (the paragraph description on mlb's site) Walker's in a bit of a tough stretch, but has also been pretty good at times. He has more than twice Milone's K total, but probably 'cause he didn't spend time in AAA. Milone of course has been pretty sharp. I hope he can hold 'em.

I'm sad our pitchers don't get to lock horns with Cano. But if that makes a win more likely, i guess i can't really complain.

Presumably, we get to see Sano manning the hot corner again, and probably Polanco at short, but as the line ups aren't up, i probably shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch. How were they last night, as i only half paid attention? I recall a good pick by Polanco followed by an errant throw, but that's all...  This is about the time they got Vargas up and swinging last season, so it wouldn't be without precedent to set that sort of thing up again.

 

Is that enough thoughts for today? I haven't kept track...

Oh yeah, left as exercise to your friendly neighborhood moderator, updating the weather and the line ups:

Seattle Mariners:

P Taijuan Walker, North Paw

Marte 2B

Seager 3B

Cruz DH

Gutierrez LF

Trumbo RF

Jackson CF

Montero 1B

Miller SS

Zunino C

Minnesota Twins:

P Tommy Milone, South Paw

Dozier 2B

Hicks CF

Mauer 1B

Sano 3B

Hunter RF

Rosario LF

Nunez DH

Fryer C

Polanco SS

Enjoy the game!

[USAFChief]

Thanks SSOO! Great job as always!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Can i take my fingers out of my ears yet?

[formerly33]

 

Can i take my fingers out of my ears yet?

If you want to put an end to this horrible mental image that is haunting me, yes, please do.

 

http://www.rookiestew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/finger-in-your-ears.gif

[sampleSizeOfOne]

If you want to put an end to this horrible mental image that is haunting me, yes, please do.

That fella is cheating! By using a headset, he doesn't even have to hum. Someone else can hum for him. Or he could be listening to real music even.

 

Why didn't i think of that?

 

Thanks! I'll use it next year...

 

What real music should i have been listening to?

[formerly33]

 

That fella is cheating! By using a headset, he doesn't even have to hum. Someone else can hum for him. Or he could be listening to real music even.

Why didn't i think of that?

Thanks! I'll use it next year...

What real music should i have been listening to?

I'm listening to the Beatles right now, if you care to join me.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I'm listening to the Beatles right now, if you care to join me.

Beatles sound pretty good. (More appealing than crickets, at least)

 

I guess now that the deadline is past, i should catch up on the actual carnage. Did we win?

[DaveW]

Going to be another high scoring game: my guess is Twins 12 Mariners 7.

 

Sano HR

Mauer 3 for 4 2 doubles, 3 RBI

Dozier HR

hicks 2 for 5 2 runs

 

Cruz HR

Gutierrez HR

Zunino HR

[drjim]

Polanco back at SS, has to be the end of Santana right?

[Mike Sixel]

Maybe Santana should go to AAA to make room for Jepsen? Or, do they really need this many infielders?

[ashbury]

(More appealing than crickets, at least)

They weren't any slouches eitherhttp://www.nctheatre.com/sites/nct/files/3_buddyholly3_700.jpg.

 

 

[ashbury]

Going to be another high scoring game: my guess is Twins 12 Mariners 7.

Nah, Jepsen will shut 'em down when needed.

[Craig Arko]

http://youtu.be/4X7b2E_Jq-k

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Nah, Jepsen will shut 'em down when needed.

Will he get here in time?

 

Miami's like, just about as far from Minnesota as just about any other ballpark.

 

(and they're playin' San Diego, so even if they were away, it wouldn't really help)

 

And the $64 question: who gets bumped from the active roster to accommodate him?)

[SwainZag]

 

Will he get here in time?

Miami's like, just about as far from Minnesota as just about any other ballpark.

(and they're playin' San Diego, so even if they were away, it wouldn't really help)

And the $64 question: who gets bumped from the active roster to accommodate him?)

 

Yeah, I'm thinking he's probably not going to get there and will suit up tomorrow.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

They weren't any slouches eitherhttp://www.nctheatre.com/sites/nct/files/3_buddyholly3_700.jpg.

I knew i was leavin' myself open to a lack of pop music knowledge...

 

I can only hide behind Riverbrian's intro last night, and say i wasn't sure to which crickets he was referrin'...

[USAFChief]

 

I knew i was leavin' myself open to a lack of pop music knowledge...

 

That'll be the day.

[Craig Arko]

That'll be the day.

That I die.

 

You just made me think of another one. Gotta hunt for it...

 

Here we go.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That I die.

You just made me think of another one. Gotta hunt for it...

Here we go.

NOW you're speaking my language

 

 

(Pete Seeger, not alcoholism or dying of thirst)

[Craig Arko]

Though not strictly correct, I think, here's one for Brock on SysAdmin day. Yeah, there really is such a thing.

 

[ScrapTheNickname]

To win today, The Blue Jays traded away 12 players from their major and minor league systems. I wonder if it was worth it? I'd like to see the Twins beat them down the stretch, and then watch them slowly try to rebuild once again.

[Craig Arko]

To win today, The Blue Jays traded away 12 players from their major and minor league systems. I wonder if it was worth it? I'd like to see the Twins beat them down the stretch, and then watch them slowly try to rebuild once again.

Within three years, they'll be the Expos.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

 

Polanco back at SS, has to be the end of Santana right?

Far too early to say. But I liked Polanco's range on the ground ball deep in the hole. His throw, which went for an error, was actually a one-hopper that Mauer should have caught. My thought: if Polanco's errors (which were numerous in the minors) look like that we can live with it. (I suppose they don't all look like that though).

[sampleSizeOfOne]

NOW you're speaking my language

 

 

(Pete Seeger, not alcoholism or dying of thirst)

Version o' that song i grew up with was sung by Tex Ritter, on the flip side of 'Blood on the Saddle', and i think it prominently featured the phrase 'Jack o' Diamonds' so i'd often find an excuse to bring it up when playing Euchre later in life.

 

But Pete Seeger's great too. But i forget... How deep in the big muddy were we again?

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

 

Within three years, they'll be the Expos.

Ex-pros?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Far too early to say. But I liked Polanco's range on the ground ball deep in the hole. His throw, which went for an error, was actually a one-hopper that Mauer should have caught. My thought: if Polanco's errors (which were numerous in the minors) look like that we can live with it. (I suppose they don't all look like that though).

You can thank Mauer for Polanco's error last night.

 

Mid-hops aren't easy to field but MLB first baseman do need to field them regularly.

[Gibby]

 

But Pete Seeger's great too. But i forget... How deep in the big muddy were we again?

 

  I love Beautiful Loser.

[Riverbrian]

 

You can thank Mauer for Polanco's error last night.

Mid-hops aren't easy to field but MLB first baseman do need to field them regularly.

 

Thanks Joe

 

I think its important to say thank you every once in awhile.

[Gibby]

 

 

  I love how they are marketing the Twins like some kind of offensive juggernaut.

[Craig Arko]

I love how they are marketing the Twins like some kind of offensive juggernaut.

It was probably thought more effective than 'team Twins Daily loves to hate.'