Game Thread: Astros @ Twins, 8/10 @ 7:10 CT

[Danchat]

Game Thread: Astros @ Twins, 8/10 @ 7:10 CT

 

Probable Starters: Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56 ERA) vs Ervin Santana (5-9, 3.62 ERA)

 

1. Jose Altuve
The current favorite for the AL MVP, Jose Altuve is just killing MLB pitching. Altuve is batting an insane .361/.427/.570 – and that’s no small sample size. He’s whacked 19 HRs – which is pretty darn good for a guy with 36 total career HRs in 5 previous seasons. He’s also had an amazing K/BB ratio of 49/48. He’s also fast, stealing 26 bases in 31 tries. What can’t this guy do? Move over, Mike Trout, ‘cause Altuve is no doubt a superstar in his own right. And he does all this at the tiny size of 5’6” & 165 lbs! He’s basically the same size as me and he’s the best player in the American League! I don’t get how he does it, but I like him a lot. I don’t see anyone else being the AL MVP.

 

2. Finally, Chargois!!
I was originally planning on using this section to complain about Chargois not being on the Twins roster. The good news is that he is (May on the DL)! J. T. was tearing up AAA with an ERA of 1.80 and a K/9 over 9. He is definitely a candidate for a closer or at least setup guy of the future, so let’s hope the next month and a half can be used for Chargois’ development.

 

3. Lineups
Astros
Dallas Keuchel (L)
1. George Springer ® RF
2. Alex Bregman ® 3B
3. Jose Altuve ® 2B
4. Carlos Correa ® SS
5. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 1B
6. Preston Tucker (L) DH
7. Jake Marisnick ® CF
8. Jason Castro (L) C
9. Tony Kemp (L) LF

 

Twins
Ervin Santana ®
1. Brian Dozier ® 2B
2. Robbie Grossman (S) LF
3. Miguel Sano ® DH
4. Trevor Plouffe ® 1B
5. Max Kepler (L) RF
6. Jorge Polanco (S) 3B
7. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS
8. Kurt Suzuki ® C
9. Eddie Rosario (L) CF

 

4. Today’s Special Event
Now it’s time for that event I foreshadowed earlier… it’s time for some Strat-o-matic Baseball!

http://i66.tinypic.com/kb7hut.jpg

Has anyone else played this game before? If you haven’t it’s basically a baseball board game, but it functions like a simulator. Every player has a card with numerous outcomes on it – Sano’s card would have lots of strikeouts and more HRs than the average player, and so on. You roll dice to see what outcome will happen. But why do I mention this game?

Well, that’s because… during today’s baseball game, I will be simulating the same game using the Strat-o-matic Baseball Board Game! You can’t actually purchase this year’s set of players until the year is over and they’ve been made, but that won’t stop me. Years ago I developed a way to play the game without the need of buying more sets of cards. All I need are the players’ current stats and I can simulate the game with maintained accuracy.

During today’s thread, I will be reporting what happens in the board game. After each inning’s over, I’ll tell you guys what has happened. I hope you find this as exciting as I do!

 

 

OK Twins, not only do you need to win, but you also need to beat the Astros at a board game version of baseball! Let’s go for the double victory!

[USAFChief]

That Altuve, at 5' 6" 165 is one of the best players in the game is just another reason why baseball is fabulous!

[Platoon]

Now it’s time for that event I foreshadowed earlier… it’s time for some Strat-o-matic Baseball! >>>>>>>>I bought one, but they didn't send along the cord to hook it into my box, so I took it back! Only a complete fool would send out a computer game without all the hardware!

[Vanimal46]

I've got a Kurt Suzuki card...

 

Umm, go fish?

 

I think I'm catching onto this game.

[wsnydes]

That Altuve, at 5' 6" 165 is one of the best players in the game is just another reason why baseball is fabulous!

This 5'4" guy nods his head in approval...

[operation mindcrime]

Astros designate Carlos Gomez for assignment.

[Danchat]

 

Astros designate Carlos Gomez for assignment.

Yeah, I just saw that right after I finished writing my article. I would have talked about it, but I did mention him struggling in yesterday's thread.

[operation mindcrime]

Yeah, I just saw that right after I finished writing my article. I would have talked about it, but I did mention him struggling in yesterday's thread.

I just saw that Gunnarthor already started a thread in Other Baseball.

[Halsey Hall]

In the midst of a huge thunderstorm up here on the Great Lake.  No way to do anything outside now with lightning and thunder. 

[spinowner]

 

 

http://i66.tinypic.com/kb7hut.jpg

Has anyone else played this game before? If you haven’t it’s basically a baseball board game, but it functions like a simulator. Every player has a card with numerous outcomes on it – Sano’s card would have lots of strikeouts and more HRs than the average player, and so on. You roll dice to see what outcome will happen. But why do I mention this game?

Well, that’s because… during today’s baseball game, I will be simulating the same game using the Strat-o-matic Baseball Board Game! You can’t actually purchase this year’s set of players until the year is over and they’ve been made, but that won’t stop me. Years ago I developed a way to play the game without the need of buying more sets of cards. All I need are the players’ current stats and I can simulate the game with maintained accuracy.

During today’s thread, I will be reporting what happens in the board game. After each inning’s over, I’ll tell you guys what has happened. I hope you find this as exciting as I do!

 

 

OK Twins, not only do you need to win, but you also need to beat the Astros at a board game version of baseball! Let’s go for the double victory!

I did play this game a few times many years ago. Thought it was a fairly realistic game simulation because even though it started with basic stats there were several levels of randomization which made the outcome unpredictable.

[Vanimal46]

In the midst of a huge thunderstorm up here on the Great Lake.  No way to do anything outside now with lightning and thunder.

 

We could use the rain down here in Texas. I think it's been stormy one time here since June.

[Halsey Hall]

Can't you hear the thunder down there?

[Craig Arko]

We could use the rain down here in Texas. I think it's been stormy one time here since June.

That's when all that bad flooding in Houston was, wasn't it?

[Halsey Hall]

Almost game time and no reception on Dish up here yet. Where's my old crystal radio?

[HitInAPinch]

Been waiting to see Kuechel pitch. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

Almost game time and no reception on Dish up here yet. Where's my old crystal radio?

My great, great grandparents used to tell me that if you take a thin wire and connect it to the spindle on the Victrola and keep cranking it, you could sometimes pickup an AM signal of the game. 

 

http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad258/leilad2000/Dogs/his_masters_voice_vintage_rca_dog_a.jpg

[Willihammer]

Looks like we might get clipped. http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/st-cloud-mn/56303/weather-radar/948

[Vanimal46]

That's when all that bad flooding in Houston was, wasn't it?

Yep in May it was a record setting month for rain totals, and it continued for the first 2-3 weeks in June. Since then it's been bone dry, sunny, and hot.

[HitInAPinch]

Game On !!

[HitInAPinch]

Plouffe at 1st ?  Interesting lineup moves.  Don't like Grossman playing now...

[kydoty]

Why even bother starting the game right now?  It's going to be the wrath of God in less than 30 minutes and that means both starters will be out of the game by the 2nd or 3rd inning.

[HitInAPinch]

1st time I've seen Polanco flub one. 

[Halsey Hall]

 

Why even bother starting the game right now?  It's going to be the wrath of God in less than 30 minutes and that means both starters will be out of the game by the 2nd or 3rd inning.

Radar doesn't look to bad there, take a look at Duluth.

[Willihammer]

Why even bother starting the game right now? It's going to be the wrath of God in less than 30 minutes and that means both starters will be out of the game by the 2nd or 3rd inning.

Umpire's call isnt it?

[USAFChief]

 

Why even bother starting the game right now?  It's going to be the wrath of God in less than 30 minutes and that means both starters will be out of the game by the 2nd or 3rd inning.

 

pfft. The Twins EAT lightning and crap thunder!

[Danchat]

Alright, here's my first report from the Strat-o-matic game:

 

Top of the 1st 

 

Springer grounds out (5-3).

Bregman strikes out looking.

Altuve strikes out looking.

[Craig Arko]

 

pfft. The Twins EAT lightning and crap thunder!

Nice selfie.

[USAFChief]

Dozierzee!!1!

[Riverbrian]

DOZIER!!!

[USAFChief]

 

Alright, here's my first report from the Strat-o-matic game:

 

Top of the 1st 

 

Springer grounds out (5-3).

Bregman strikes out looking.

Altuve strikes out looking.

Uncanny!