Game Thread: Twins @ Rays, 8/26, 6:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins are in the midst of a five game winning streak, a number commonly referred to as “half a dozen” by Bert Blyleven.

 

Today’s game will see beautiful western Florida weather at 86 degrees game time but none of that matters because Tropicana Field makes the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome look like the Ritz Carlton, even accounting for the current state of said Metrodome.

 

In celebration of this winning streak, I have compiled a half dozen talking points about today’s game.

 

1. Tyler Duffey. The righty is taking the mound for the fourth time in a Minnesota Twins uniform. After being on the unfortunate end of a whooping stick in Toronto, he has strung together 13.2 innings of very good baseball, confounding hitters with a curve that bounces no fewer than three times before it reaches home plate. He has struck out an impressive 15 hitters and allowed only two runs during that time. He’s still confused why they haven’t opened the roof in Tropicana Field. It’s a beautiful day outside, after all.

 

2. Chris Archer. The right-hander has quietly become one of the better pitchers in the American League since entering the Tampa rotation in 2013, pitching 492 innings of 3.11 ERA ball while striking out 8.8 batters per nine innings. He has also won 30 games for the Rays, which is important because Wins. He comes at hitters with a 95-96 mph fastball and a very good slider that clocks in at nearly 90 mph. Also, he doesn’t walk anyone. He’s kind of a pain in the ass, when you get right down to it.

 

3. Miguel Sano. He is what insiders like to refer to as “very good at baseball”, which is slightly odd because he seems to carry an intense dislike for actual baseballs; he rarely catches them and often physically rejects them with a large wooden stick he carries around the field most of the time. Paul Molitor, Twins manager, seems to believe his left hand is severely allergic to leather.

 

In other Sano news, his career OPS+ currently sits at 167, one point lower than Ty Cobb’s career 168 mark. We can only hope Sano will not suffer the same fate as Cobb, and that is dying alone and friendless somewhere in Georgia.

 

4. Byron Buxton. Since being unanimously declared a Bust in late June of 2015, the young centerfielder - whom I’m told has a tool or two in his arsenal, though I’m not sure why that matters in baseball - knuckled down and worked out some issues in the minor leagues, the biggest of which was, reportedly, "my thumb really hurts". He has since returned to post a respectable .668 OPS in five games. He swings at the baseball and misses a lot but I still hold out hope he can turn into an acceptable platoon candidate on a winning team.

 

5. Eduardo Escobar. In recent seasons, the Twins have been experimenting with two takes on their own version of Moneyball: drafting college relievers and putting infielders in the outfield. One can only assume the latter was in hopes of entertaining the crowd with an MLB version of the Washington Generals but, again, that’s only an assumption on my part. Anyway, Escobar has been a pretty good player since moving back to the difficult side of second base, posting an .812 OPS in the month of August. I look forward to seeing him play at short for the rest of the season before moving behind the plate in 2016.

 

Lineups:

 

Twins:
1. Byron Buxton - R - CF
2. Brian Dozier - R - 2B
3. Joe Mauer - L - 1B
4. Miguel Sano - R - DH
5. Trevor Plouffe - R - 3B
6. Eddie Rosario - L - RF
7. Eduardo Escobar - S - SS
8. Chris Herrmann - L - C
9. Shane Robinson - R - LF

P. Tyler Durden - R - P

 

Rays:
1. Daniel Nava - S - RF
2. Grady Sizemore - L - LF
3. Evan Longoria - R - 3B
4. John Jaso - L - DH
5. Logan Forsythe - R - 2B
6. Asdrubal Cabrera - S - SS
7. James Loney - L - 1B
8. Kevin Kiermaier - L - CF
9. Rene Rivera - R - C

P. Chris "Stop Calling Me Sterling" Archer - R - P

[JB_Iowa]

Thanks for posting this, Brock.  You done good.  And I see Chief's appeal for game thread starters cleared out late August/early September.  Yea, game threaders!

 

Here's hoping the streak continues today on:

 

 

[Halsey Hall]

Escobar at catcher?  That could lose that smiley face. 

[formerly33]

 

Thanks for posting this, Brock.  You done good.  And I see Chief's appeal for game thread starters cleared out late August/early September.  Yea, game threaders!

 

Here's hoping the streak continues today on:

 

Don't forget that it is

 

 

Day!

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Great article by John Sickels on today's starter, Mr. Tyler Duffey:

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/8/26/9208253/who-is-minnesota-twins-rookie-tyler-duffey

 

[AlwaysinModeration]

Twins haven't had a 6 game winning streak since they won 8 straight back in June of 2011.  Seven of those eight games were at Target Field.

[JB_Iowa]

 

Great article by John Sickels on today's starter, Mr. Tyler Duffey:

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/8/26/9208253/who-is-minnesota-twins-rookie-tyler-duffey

 

Thanks for posting the link.  It was a good article and interesting to see a reliever being converted to a starter.

 

Here's hoping Mr. Duffey continues his fine outing from last time.

[stringer bell]

 

Twins haven't had a 6 game winning streak since they won 8 straight back in June of 2011.  Seven of those eight games were at Target Field.

Eight straight in 2011, that was like 15% of their wins!

 

Nice job, Brock. You might have a future, but again you might end up AAAA.

[Craig Arko]

 

Eight straight in 2011, that was like 15% of their wins!

 

Nice job, Brock. You might have a future, but again you might end up AAAA.

Small sample size.  Plus or minus 1.

[Hrbowski]

 

Eight straight in 2011, that was like 15% of their wins!

 

Nice job, Brock. You might have a future, but again you might end up AAAA.

You know, he did steal it from me...

[Craig Arko]

It's also Heroes' Day in Namibia.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes%27_Day_(Namibia)

 

[gocgo]

Baseball been berry berry good to Brock Beauchamp!

 

I see this game as one of those where the Twins need to take a lot of pitches, play small ball when the opportunity arises, foul pitches off, and just wear down Archer while limiting any damage on the other side of the ball.  Hang in there and get to the bullpen.

[Hrbowski]

It is also Beat the Rays Day.

[James]

 

Great article by John Sickels on today's starter, Mr. Tyler Duffey:

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/8/26/9208253/who-is-minnesota-twins-rookie-tyler-duffey

Sickels posted a great article about Sano a few days ago as well.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/8/22/9189335/miguel-sano-superstar

 

And good job, Brock.  Good talking points for the day.

[glunn]

Great setup by Brock.  

[Craig Arko]

Sounds like Boyer is back, and Graham to the DL.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Sounds like Boyer is back, and Graham to the DL.

Hmmm. Trying to generate some reaction to this. I'm at a loss.

[AlwaysinModeration]

While the Twins face Archer....Rangers get David Price and Angels get Verlander. What is it, Friday night college night?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Hmmm. Trying to generate some reaction to this. I'm at a loss.

It's (probably) the right move. Graham has been terrible lately. Since the ASB, he has pitched 16.2 innings, given up 25 hits, and allowed... wait for it... 20 earned runs.

[James]

 

It's (probably) the right move. Graham has been terrible lately. Since the ASB, he has pitched 16.2 innings, given up 25 hits, and allowed... wait for it... 20 earned runs.

http://foodretro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pretty-gross.jpg

[twinsnorth49]

Tyler Durden taking a break from Fight Club to pitch a game for the Twins, nice. Won't Duffey be upset though?

[gocgo]

 

It's (probably) the right move. Graham has been terrible lately. Since the ASB, he has pitched 16.2 innings, given up 25 hits, and allowed... wait for it... 20 earned runs.

Rule 5 guy.  Right?  Can't send him down....time for the fictional injury. 

[spinowner]

 

Sounds like Boyer is back, and Graham to the DL.

Has Graham been diagnosed with ineffectiveness of the right arm?

[Danchat]

 

It's (probably) the right move. Graham has been terrible lately. Since the ASB, he has pitched 16.2 innings, given up 25 hits, and allowed... wait for it... 20 earned runs.

I wonder if they'll stash Graham there for the rest of the season to keep him for 2016 and on. 

 

I wonder how long of a leash Boyer will get. Probably an unreasonably long one.

[gocgo]

 

While the Twins face Archer....Rangers get David Price and Angels get Verlander. What is it, Friday night college night?

Verlander isn't scaring anyone.  Gotta be tough to pitch with Kate Upton on your mind.

[Craig Arko]

But wait, there's more.

 

@MikeBerardino: Terry Ryan has headed to Rochester. First game is tonight. Berrios starts. Hmmm. #MNTwins

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

But wait, there's more.

@MikeBerardino: Terry Ryan has headed to Rochester. First game is tonight. Berrios starts. Hmmm. #MNTwins

I refuse to get my hopes up.

[Craig Arko]

 

I refuse to get my hopes up.

Could be about Vargas, too.

[DaveW]

Archer threw a gem last time out and is one of the better pitchers in baseball, but I have a gut feeling he is due for a bad start.

 

Sano HR

buxton first 3 hit game

Mauer 3 times on base

 

Duffey shuts down a weak offense.

 

Twins win 7-2

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I'm guessing Terry is in Rochester making a September Call-up wish list, and won't make any moves before the deadline for playoff rosters unless there is another injury.