Game Thread: Twins @ Rangers, 7/10 @ 2:05pm CT

[Squirrel]

Hey, Game-Threaders ... how's it going?

 

It's a beautiful day today in Chicago so haven't decided yet how I'll spend it. I've already played tennis this morning and I'd like to get out on my bike this aft, so we'll see. It was a nice win yesterday, so it's tempting to stay in and watch the game today. We took the Rangers for 2 of 3 up north, so it would be a nice to take them for 2 of 3 down south with a win today. And it would be a nice finish to this first part of the season, before the All-Star break.

 

But let's see what we have before counting the chicken before the dinnah ...

 

Frankly, Milone vs Griffin ... at this point it's anyone's guess. Tommy did well in his last start, but, he's Tommy. And Griffin, after starting out the season well, hit the DL and has been shaky since his return. So, we'll just have to see.

 

And since lineups aren't out yet, I have nothing to say on that. Rosario had a great game last night, so hopefully we'll see him out there again today ... 'riding the hot hand' as they say.

 

Since I'm tired of thinking, I'll let you all provide some thoughts for today, baseball related or not, your choice. I only ask for peaceful respect of one another throughout the day. It's easy to let frustration and disagreement override peaceful sensitivities but don't. Thanks.

 

Lineups:

 

TWINS

Brian Dozier (R] 2B
Joe Mauer (L) DH
Miguel Sano (R] 3B
Kennys Vargas (S) 1B
Max Kepler (L) RF
Robbie Grossman (S) LF
Eddie Rosario (L) CF
Kurt Suzuki (R] C
Eduardo Escobar (S) SS

 

Tommy Milone (L) P

 

RANGERS

Shin-Soo Choo (L) RF
Ian Desmond (R] CF
Adrian Beltre (R] DH
Ryan Rua (R] LF
Prince Fielder (L) 1B
Jurickson Profar (S) 3B
Rougned Odor (L) 2B
Elvis Andrus (R] SS
Bobby Wilson (R] C

 

A.J. Griffen (R] P

 

Game-time forecast: 90 deg F (will feel like 98), 36% cloudy, small to no chance of rain, 55% humidity, winds from SSE at 10mph.

 

Play ball! Go Twins!

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I would prefer to take 'em 3 of 4 down south, all things being equal. But 2 of 3 works for now...

 

If only we could save sunny days for a rainy day, but alas, that isn't so easy...

 

Spend it wisely. Next best thing, i guess. I gonna be trying to play music roughly an hour into the game myself...

[Squirrel]

 

I would prefer to take 'em 3 of 4 down south, all things being equal. But 2 of 3 works for now...

If only we could save sunny days for a rainy day, but alas, that isn't so easy...

Spend it wisely. Next best thing, i guess. I gonna be trying to play music roughly an hour into the game myself...

Oy ... right ... heh ... okay, yes, change that to 3 of 4.

[spinowner]

Batting orders and lineups have been posted:

 

Twins:

1. Brian Dozier ® 2B
2. Joe Mauer (L) DH
3. Miguel Sano ® 3B
4. Kennys Vargas (S) 1B
5. Max Kepler (L) RF
6. Robbie Grossman (S) LF
7. Eddie Rosario (L) CF
8. Kurt Suzuki ® C
9. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS

 

Texas:
1. Shin-Soo Choo (L) RF
2. Ian Desmond ® CF
3. Adrian Beltre ® DH
4. Ryan Rua ® LF
5. Prince Fielder (L) 1B
6. Jurickson Profar (S) 3B
7. Rougned Odor (L) 2B
8. Elvis Andrus ® SS
9. Bobby Wilson ® C

 

Nunez gets a day off. Considering the Texas heat and the fact that he doesn't get the next four days off like everyone else, that makes sense. I'm hopeful we'll have a big enough lead in the late innings that he won't be called on to pinch hit or pinch run.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Oy ... right ... heh ... okay, yes, change that to 3 of 4.

Sorry. I guess nits are there to be picked...

 

That said, there is also something to be said for setting achievable goals, or setting oneself* up for success.

 

(one'self? ones'elf? i like to at least keep faillure interesting...)

[AlwaysinModeration]

Here is a random question. About a week ago, Sano fielded a slow high hopper right down the line behind the bag, and fired a bullet to get the runner by half a step.

 

Is there anyway or anywhere to find out how fast he threw the ball?

[HitInAPinch]

 

Sorry. I guess nits are there to be picked...

That said, there is also something to be said for setting achievable goals, or setting oneself* up for success.

(one'self? ones'elf? i like to at least keep faillure interesting...)

One's Ugly Elf...

[spinowner]

 

Here is a random question. About a week ago, Sano fielded a slow high hopper right down the line behind the bag, and fired a bullet to get the runner by half a step.

Is there anyway or anywhere to find out how fast he threw the ball?

If you have access to a video of the play there's this:
Determine the distance the ball traveled and divide it by the time it took for the ball to get from his hand to the first baseman's mitt. Each of those numbers would need to be accurate to three significant figures. The distance would probably pretty easy to estimate accurately but you'd need to determine the time to the nearest hundredth of a second and that would be much more difficult. The stopwatch app on my iPhone does go to hundredths of a second but you'd probably have to take numerous readings and average them. In theory there could be a way for someone to get the time electronically from the video but I don't know anything about that first hand.

[Craig Arko]

If you have access to a video of the play there's this:

Determine the distance the ball traveled and divide it by the time it took for the ball to get from his hand to the first baseman's mitt. Each of those numbers would need to be accurate to three significant figures. The distance would probably pretty easy to estimate accurately but you'd need to determine the time to the nearest hundredth of a second and that would be much more difficult.

Next guess how the ump felt.

[Craig Arko]

Nice to see Escobar back out there.

[Halsey Hall]

another win before the break would be great.  Got a hunch on Vargas today!

[HitInAPinch]

Sano, Vargas and Kepler in middle of the order.  Pretty cool!

Dozier leading off?  Why not Rosario or Escobar?  Or anyone not named Grossman or Suzuki?

[h2oface]

Dozier is 2 for his last 25.... and Molitor is batting him lead-off. Amazing.

[jimbo92107]

Here is a random question. About a week ago, Sano fielded a slow high hopper right down the line behind the bag, and fired a bullet to get the runner by half a step.

 

Is there anyway or anywhere to find out how fast he threw the ball?

Looked about 95mph to me. I remember thinking that it looked faster than the pitcher's fastball, which was clocking around 90 to 93. 

 

I'm glad they've put Sano back at his natural position. He looked terrible in RF, but he's a pretty good 3B. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

another win before the break would be great. Got a hunch on Vargas today!

What hump?

[HitInAPinch]

And there off !!

[HitInAPinch]

Well, at least Dick is catching on.  They young players are contributing the most now!!

[jimbo92107]

I just noticed something extraordinary about Kennys Vargas. Standing in the batter's box, HE DOESN'T LOOK FAT. If he does nothing else this season, I congratulate Kennys for losing...what, 30 pounds?

 

Same goes for Sano, too. He looked positively trim in the box. 

 

Big young baseball players should look like NFL linebackers, not NFL offensive linemen. A big gut doesn't belong on a guy in his 20's. 

[jimbo92107]

With Milone out there, I assume they have a plan B if he starts getting shelled. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

I just noticed something extraordinary about Kennys Vargas. Standing in the batter's box, HE DOESN'T LOOK FAT. If he does nothing else this season, I congratulate Kennys for losing...what, 30 pounds?

 

Same goes for Sano, too. He looked positively trim in the box. 

 

Big young baseball players should look like NFL linebackers, not NFL offensive linemen. A big gut doesn't belong on a guy in his 20's. 

Well, there are reason's why few MLB player look like NFL linebackers....

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

With Milone out there, I assume they have a plan B if he starts getting shelled. 

Bullpen?  

[jimbo92107]

Sano will commit his share of errors, but I think he's going to be better than merely acceptable at 3rd. 

[HitInAPinch]

Oh Sano!   Footwork looked a little ugly, but still had a chance to make a play.

[HitInAPinch]

 

With Milone out there, I assume they have a plan B if he starts getting shelled. 

Gut feeling is Milone will be around for 1 more start if he wins today.  Berrios has been much better in June and the start of July.  He should be the next call-up.

[jimbo92107]

Oh Sano!   Footwork looked a little ugly, but still had a chance to make a play.

Smalley was right on - Sano froze up on an in-between hop. Happens in tennis just like that. Odd bounce, lots of time, you dump it into the net for no apparent reason. 

[HitInAPinch]

Great hustle all around !

[jimbo92107]

Wow, what a great play by both Grossman and Rosario. I think Rosie has found his swing. Some little adjustment he needed to start mashing the ball like he's used to.

[jimbo92107]

Hate to say it, but Rosario's out.

[HitInAPinch]

umm, is #12 pushing Rosario's leg off the base?

[Willihammer]

Rosario screwed three times by the umpires.

 

Pitch one, off the plate, called strike.

Pitch 3, off the plate, called strike.

Challenged call after the batter had reached the batters box.