Article: Game Thread: Twins v Angels, 9/17 @ 7:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

The Angels are coming to town to play some meaningful September Baseball at Target Field. Meaningful for both the Twins and Angels.

Only 17 games remain and it's getting to the point for that final burst... Time for that dash for the finish line... that hot streak that catapults you. Both Teams need it and both teams should be starting to feel it right about now.

The Wild Card needs to get Wild

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Wild Cards -- Wild Cards can ruin a good game of poker. I have a Flush and you got a straight flush because the 2's and 7's were wild. If you end up playing poker with a guy who consistently declares wild cards when he names the game each of his turns as dealer, move the Thursday night game elsewhere and don't tell him where it gets moved to. Umm Bob... our wives won't let us play anymore... the weekly game is over. Now in Baseball... the 2's and 7's are a welcome sight, but losing two of three this late in the season is like not getting dealt a 2 or a 7. With the Angels in town... the Twins may have to bluff.

2. The Angels -- They are simply running out of time. The Angels have to move now. Three and a half back from the wild card spot and 2 games behind the Twins who are 1.5 back. The Angels have the chance to leap frog one of the frogs they need to leap frog. A 4 game sweep and they can gear up for a stretch run. If they split or lose the series it almost gets to the point that they would have to become impossibly hot to come back. This series has the potential to identify the Angels as pretenders or contenders in 2015.

3. The Twins -- It was a wasted opportunity in Detroit. A chance to win a series against a team that isn't playing very good baseball, and it just didn't happen. For everybody in contention... each game is important... this goes without saying despite the obviousness of the theme of thoughts 2 and 3. The Astros are the new target because the Rangers have cooled them off. The Twins will feel a lot better tonight if they can rough up the Angels a little. The Clock is ticking and continues to click.

4. Byron Buxton -- For some Byron Buxton doesn't play enough and for some he is playing too much. Paul Molitor threw him under the bus slightly when he made reference to how he has been doing at the plate while explaining his decision to pinch hit Danny Santana the other night. Yes Byron is struggling at the plate, but... sometimes actions suggest something else. The actions I'm talking about suggest that Molitor and Ryan feel he can still help the team win with his defense in CF. Buxton has been placed into the starting lineup on occasion despite not having the luxury of messing around. What this suggests to me is sometimes Managers make decisions that are not based by offensive metrics alone.

5. Birthdays -- This Sunday is my birthday... Don't feel obligated to get me anything because chances are I didn't get you anything for your birthdays. If the Twins win on Sunday... that'll be enough for me. All in all... I like birthdays but I believe that having too many of them will kill you.

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Game-time forecast: There are 'possible, intermittent thunderstorms' predicted for this afternoon, but by game time, things should be moving on so we'll have temps at about 72 deg F, cloudy but clearing by 9, possible precipitation (12% chance), winds from the WNW at 7mph. It could be another late start tonight.

Lineups:

ANGELS
Aybar SS
Calhoun RF
Trout CF
Pujols DH
Cron 1B
Freese 3B
Victorino LF
Iannetta C
Featherston 2B

Santiago P

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

Milone P

Go Twins! Play ball!

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[Craig Arko]

This is a huge series. Really gotta take three of them. I see it's Gibson for the Pub Crawl game; that should be one, anyway.

[Craig Arko]

 

This is a huge series. Really gotta take three of them. I see it's Gibson for the Pub Crawl game; that should be one, anyway.

Oh, now it looks like Pelfrey Saturday night. Oh boy.

[ashbury]

 I like birthdays but I believe that having too many of them will kill you.

I dunno, Brian. Stop having them, and it could prove fatal.

 

Maybe moderation is the key. One birthday every 5 or 6 years?

[gopherman23]

Nunez has 2 homers in 5 career AB's against Santiago. Probably should find a way to get his bat in the lineup tonight even if it's a small sample size.

 

Maybe a lineup of:

 

RF Hicks

2B Dozier

1B Mauer

DH Sano

3B Plouffe

LF Escobar

SS Nunez

C Suzuki

CF Buxton

[ashbury]

Nunez has 2 homers in 5 career AB's against Santiago.

OTOH that may turn out to be his entire career allotment.

[Squirrel]

 

I dunno, Brian. Stop having them, and it could prove fatal.

 

Maybe moderation is the key. One birthday every 5 or 6 years?

Those born on leap day are lucky.

[D. Hocking]

I looked up people who were born on Sept. 20th to see if I could determine your true identity in the real world.  

 

I have it narrowed down that your real world identity is either Sophia Loren or George R.R. Martin.  You have the worldliness of sophistication of Loren (and it clear English is your second language) but your writing has the focus and brevity of Martin's style.

[Halsey Hall]

 

I looked up people who were born on Sept. 20th to see if I could determine your true identity in the real world.  

 

I have it narrowed down that your real world identity is either Sophia Loren or George R.R. Martin.  You have the worldliness of sophistication of Loren (and it clear English is your second language) but your writing has the focus and brevity of Martin's style.

Although River's writing style is great, I'm pulled toward the points of personality of Sophia. 

[ashbury]

I looked up people who were born on Sept. 20th

Tommy Tresh. Jason Bay. Ian Desmond. Steve Lombardozzi Jr.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Those born on leap day are lucky.

A most ingenious paradox...

[Squirrel]

 

I looked up people who were born on Sept. 20th to see if I could determine your true identity in the real world.  

 

I have it narrowed down that your real world identity is either Sophia Loren or George R.R. Martin.  You have the worldliness of sophistication of Loren (and it clear English is your second language) but your writing has the focus and brevity of Martin's style.

The writing focus could be attributed to his editor. Just sayin'.

[Cap'n Piranha]

True Fact:

 

The Los Angeles Angels translates to The The Angels Angels.  Least creative team name ever.

[twinsnorth49]

In the Twin Cities, looking forward to this series.

 

Win Twins!

[DaveW]

4 would be good. 3 is a must. 2 or less and the season is over.

[twinsnorth49]

Indeed Let it Roll is a very good beer.

 

That is all.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

4 would be good. 3 is a must. 2 or less and the season is over.

5 is right out?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

In the Twin Cities, looking forward to this series.

 

Win Twins!

Be you at the game? Or just tangentially in the Cities?

 

Either way, enjoy yerself! And Let It Roll as well. (would that be "all night long?") or was Indeed part of the name of the brew?

[AlwaysinModeration]

4 would be good. 3 is a must. 2 or less and the season is over.

I don't think that means what you think that means.

[Riverbrian]

 

I dunno, Brian. Stop having them, and it could prove fatal.

 

Maybe moderation is the key. One birthday every 5 or 6 years?

 

You are correct and I'm counting on the moderators to keep me young. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

(Oh yeah, play ball!)

 

Milone is aggressive, hitting the bat for a dribbler to Mauer and the first out.

 

Well done, sire!

[Riverbrian]

 

Those born on leap day are lucky.

 

My Birth was a giant leap for mankind. 

 

Does that count? 

[Riverbrian]

 

I looked up people who were born on Sept. 20th to see if I could determine your true identity in the real world.  

 

I have it narrowed down that your real world identity is either Sophia Loren or George R.R. Martin.  You have the worldliness of sophistication of Loren (and it clear English is your second language) but your writing has the focus and brevity of Martin's style.

 

And the driving ability of Juan Pablo Montoya and the math skills of Mike Matheny. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Tommy Tresh. Jason Bay. Ian Desmond. Steve Lombardozzi Jr.

 

Tommy Tresh you listed First? 

[Riverbrian]

 

The writing focus could be attributed to his editor. Just sayin'.

 

It is

[Riverbrian]

 

Indeed Let it Roll is a very good beer.

That is all.

 

That's got Roadhouse Blues all over it. 

[Riverbrian]

In an effort to include more fruit in my diet. I purchased those fruit cups things. 

 

All I gotta say... When you peel the plastic lid off... I usually end up spilling Fruit Juice all over the place on that last big pull to get the last of it off. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

In an effort to include more fruit in my diet. I purchased those fruit cups things. 

 

All I gotta say... When you peel the plastic lid off... I usually end up spilling Fruit Juice all over the place on that last big pull to get the last of it off.

Try just opening it a little, then chugging the excess fluids?

 

Then you can open it the remainder?

[Riverbrian]

 

Try just opening it a little, then chugging the excess fluids?

Then you can open it the remainder?

 

Good idea but I like saving the Juice for last. 

[Hrbowski]

 

In the Twin Cities, looking forward to this series.

Win Twins!

You mean you ain't in Canada tonight?