Game Thread: Twins v White Sox, 9/2 @ 5:10 pm Pac time (7:10pm CT time) Journeyman Edition

[Blake]

Normally, I have these game thread thingies written a couple of weeks before I'm supposed to post them.

 

However, writers block set in about the same time the Twins went from road kill to road killers.

 

What's even worse, the Twins were going to play the White Sox, a team who's best pitcher has been awful against the Twins.

 

So much low hanging fruit yet the old brain was not bearing game thread fruit.

 

I also admit to some trepidation yesterday, because I figured Chris Sale would be on a mission to get some revenge.

 

It turns out I was wrong, Sale was on a mission to be the Sale the Twins have grown to love.

 

Then, things got interesting, Duffy left, and the Sox took the lead.

 

But, was I worried? Not really, because I knew the Twins could still count on White Sox fielding giving the Twins the edge. (Okay, I was a little worried.)

 

And again, the Sox fell to the occasion, throwing the ball around with little regard for throwing to the person at the base along with balls skipping between the legs of a hapless Sox fielder.

 

In other words, a typical win against a hapless Sox team.

 

If I weren't as lazy as I am, I'd look up how many errors the Sox have committed against the Twins. It has gotten to the point this year that it isn't a game against the Sox if there isn't some sort of errant throw by a Sox player somewhere into the outfield.

 

So, what's the over/under on Sox errors in today's game? I see a trend of 2 per game, one of which will be some sort of egregious throwing error.

 

Your take?

 

Go Twins!

 

Twins pitching probable: Milone

 

White Sox pitching probable: Rodon

 

(if mlb.com can use "probable" when listing pitchers, good enough for me)

[Blake]

Lineups:

 

SOX

Saladino SS

Cabrera LF

Abreu 1B

Garcia RF

Thompson CF

Soto DH

Sanchez 2B

Flowers C

Beckham 3B

 

Rodon P

 

TWINS

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Plouffe 3B

Sano DH

Hunter RF

Rosario LF

Escobar SS

Suzuki C

Buxton CF

 

Milone P

[DaveW]

I don't like that hunter is hitting right behind Sano again. If I am the white sox I wouldn't give Sano a single pitch to hit all night. I'd think about putting mauer, dozier, plouffe or even Escobar behind him, someone that isn't hitting so poorly the last two months.

[Squirrel]

 

I don't like that hunter is hitting right behind Sano again. If I am the white sox I wouldn't give Sano a single pitch to hit all night. I'd think about putting mauer, dozier, plouffe or even Escobar behind him, someone that isn't hitting so poorly the last two months.

I'd even put either Rosario or Escobar behind Sano before Hunter. I didn't like that last night … don't like it anymore tonight.

[SwainZag]

 

I don't like that hunter is hitting right behind Sano again. If I am the white sox I wouldn't give Sano a single pitch to hit all night. I'd think about putting mauer, dozier, plouffe or even Escobar behind him, someone that isn't hitting so poorly the last two months.

 

Combine that with Plouffe hitting in front of him with his .190/.245/.368 slash since Aug 1....

[Halsey Hall]

Hunter's no worse there than Ploofe. Mauer, Esco or Roserio would be better. 

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

I don't like that hunter is hitting right behind Sano again. If I am the white sox I wouldn't give Sano a single pitch to hit all night. I'd think about putting mauer, dozier, plouffe or even Escobar behind him, someone that isn't hitting so poorly the last two months.

You're right.

[JB_Iowa]

I don't like that Sano's hamstring feels "bad".

[Comrade Bork]

Why wouldn't you put Rosario in the 5 hole? He has been mashing! Moli must not want to break up Rosario Escobar and Suzuki, who have been very productive together as of late..

[DaveW]

Hunter's no worse there than Ploofe. Mauer, Esco or Roserio would be better.

yes he is.

[DaveW]

Why wouldn't you put Rosario in the 5 hole? He has been mashing! Moli must not want to break up Rosario Escobar and Suzuki, who have been very productive together as of late..

It's because a leftie is on the mound. Dumb. But at least I understand the logic sort of.

[twinsnorth49]

 

Hunter's no worse there than Ploofe. Mauer, Esco or Roserio would be better. 

Well both Hunter and Plouffe certainly couldn't be any worse than your spelling......................

[Squirrel]

 

Well both Hunter and Plouffe certainly couldn't be any worse than your spelling......................

Aww … lay off Halsey … he's trying … hard to change from a season of calling him something else.

[Craig Arko]

I don't like...

 

Actually I'm pretty okay with this.

[Platoon]

There is no way Plouffe should be batting 3rd in any batting order. I like Escobar in the two hole more than Mauer. Without Hicks, Dozier is the only experienced leadoff guy we have and with Buxton's inexperience and struggles you don't want him batting leadoff. Hunter may be struggling but he does have the most game experience batting in a five role, I don't know who else you put in there, I would try Vargas at 1st batting fifth, Mauer DH'ing against these lefties and Sano at third the next two games but that is my preference because I think Plouffe has looked like dog poopie the last three weeks at the plate. Sano having a sore hamstring likely prevents him from playing third base right now.

 

As poorly as Hunter has been at the plate to me Plouffe has struggled even more and has looked worse. Yeah he has had some bad luck and hit some bad luck out's Plouffe has but to me he is letting his hitting struggles frustrate him to much. All of that foul language he used and you could hear last night on the radio towards the umpire, indicates the guy is getting far to frustrated at the plate to be batting 3 or 5 for that matter. I think Plouffe could use a couple days off and some work in the batting cage.

You could hear some of what Ploof said on TV. I thought one of the words was one Bert got suspended for? Anyway, I did no know you could use language like that to MLB umpires. You can't even do that to MN town ball umps.

[stringer bell]

Three guys aren't hitting at all--Plouffe, Hunter, and Buxton. I hope a couple of them get it going.

[ashbury]

 

Hitting 190 since August 1st is worse than Drew Butera like light hitting.

 

Drew Butera hit .167 for an entire season as de facto starting catcher. Plouffe for one month is a piker by comparison.

[Willihammer]

Alright! Another lefty for the Twins to poop on!

[USAFChief]

 

Drew Butera hit .167 for an entire season as de facto starting catcher.

Are you sure? Seems to me you might be exaggerating.

 

There's no way Butera hit that well.

[SwainZag]

It seemingly would make a lot more sense to bat Rosario 3rd with the way he has been hitting.  Maybe it makes too much sense.

[DaveW]

It seemingly would make a lot more sense to bat Rosario 3rd with the way he has been hitting. Maybe it makes too much sense.

When hicks is back:

 

Hicks

Mauer

Sano

dozier

Rosario

plouffe

Escobar

Suzuki

Buxton

[Puckett34]

 

When hicks is back:

Hicks
Mauer
Sano
dozier
Rosario
plouffe
Escobar
Suzuki
Buxton

That's...actually a solid lineup.  Think I'd flip Dozier and Sano, but its kind of splitting hairs.

[SwainZag]

 

When hicks is back:

Hicks
Mauer
Sano
dozier
Rosario
plouffe
Escobar
Suzuki
Buxton

 

Holy, I totally meant to type Escobar 3rd and not Rosario.  I like that lineup.

[Riverbrian]

 

When hicks is back:

Hicks
Mauer
Sano
dozier
Rosario
plouffe
Escobar
Suzuki
Buxton

 

Yep That's Close to mine.

 

I'm a hot hand guy though so I reserve the right to adjust constantly

 

For Today with Hicks off the Roster and against Rodon... I'd Go

 

Escobar  -- Leading off because he's as hot as anyone right now.. Get him to the plate more often. 

 

Mauer   -- He's built for the #2 Slot

 

Sano    -- Move him up one spot to get him to the plate one spot quicker

 

Dozier -- The Only Guy in the lineup that truly protects Sano

 

Plouffe -- If Sano had a healthy enough Hamstring. I'd be tempted to go with Vargas in this spot at DH... For now Plouffe plays decent D and has decent Pop... If he would just starting Popping. 

 

Rosario -- Doing well... We could use some triples and White Sox thrown out on the base paths.

 

Robinson -- I'm playing him today because Hunter didn't get to a couple of balls in RF last night and Hunter isn't hitting well either. Hunter needs a break... I'm Tempted to go with Nunez because Nunez can run into one at the plate on occasion but I'd like some D in the OF. Nunez would have to play SS and Escobar would have to move to LF and that makes us weaker in the field.  

 

Suzuki -- The Best Option running the pitching staff

 

Buxton -- Play Some D young man and get some more live MLB experience at the plate. Hopefully connect a couple of times and see what happens with his feet. 

 

[twinsnorth49]

 

It seemingly would make a lot more sense to bat Rosario 3rd with the way he has been hitting.  Maybe it makes too much sense.

At the very least 5th, there is just no reason whatsoever to bat Hunter anywhere ahead of Rosario.

[twinsnorth49]

Plouffe is going to have a big September, starting tonight, book it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making his trade value considerably higher.

[USAFChief]

6 good innings from Milone tonight.

 

Book it.

[Riverbrian]

 

6 good innings from Milone tonight.

 

Book it.

For Whom The Bell Tolls

 

 

Book It

[Squirrel]

Uh, Chief … did you leave work early?

[twinsnorth49]

Hoping for an actual strike zone tonight.