Game Thread: Twins @ Royals, 8/20 @ 6:15 CT

[Danchat]

Game Thread: Twins @ Royals, 8/20 @ 6:15 CT

Probable Starters: Hector Santiago (10-7, 4.80 ERA) vs Ian Kennedy (7-9, 3.78 ERA)

 

1. Strat-o-Matic Baseball
It’s time for the return of Strat-o-Matic baseball! If you weren’t reading the game threads from about a week and a half ago, you missed my Strat-o-Matic simulation of the Twins VS the Astros. Since the real game got rained on, I wanted to try again today. Here’s what the game looks like (though I’m using a newer version of it:

 

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

 

I’ve whipped up the Royals roster and both teams are ready to go. I’ll be reporting how the board game is doing right alongside the real game, so don’t read my posts and think that’s how the real game is going.
The Twins defeated the Astros 8-2 last time on Strat-o-matic baseball. Let’s go for another win!

 

2. No more rain, please!
I’m really hoping for no rain today… at least in Kansas City. I was actually under the impression that yesterday’s game was canceled until I realized today at noon that they actually finished the game and the Twins lost. But what really stunk was the 5-0 lead that was erased by rain on August 10th, which is also when I had the last game thread.
Luckily, the forecast for Kansas City shows no rain, so I think they’ll be good… I just hope there won’t be a rain delay like yesterday or else I could be playing Strat-o-Matic baseball at 2 AM!

 

3. Lineups

Twins
Hector Santiago (L)

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

 

Royals

Ian Kennedy ®

1. Jarrod Dyson (L) CF
2. Cheslor Cuthbert ® 3B
3. Lorenzo Cain ® RF
4. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
5. Kendrys Morales (S) DH
6. Salvador Perez ® C
7. Alex Gordon (L) LF
8. Alcides Escobar ® SS
9. Christian Colon ® 2B

 

4. Baseball Simulation/Games

Since I enjoy Strat-o-matic Baseball, I was wondering about other baseball games I could play. Here’s two that intrigued me.

http://i65.tinypic.com/a1n39f.jpg

A month or so ago, I pulled out an old pinball-like board game that I found in my relative’s basement and I tried it out. It didn’t look exactly like this, but I found that playing a baseball game via pinball with two players to actually be fun.

http://i67.tinypic.com/zwc9xt.jpg

So apparently there’s a baseball dartboard. It looks kind of fun, and I’d actually like to try this out. I haven’t played with darts in years… I wonder what would happen if you missed the dartboard? Would it count as an out? Or maybe a HBP? Or more like a HBD (hit by dart)?
Are there any other baseball games/simulation/board games I’ve missed? If so, do tell me.

 

 

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

[Mr. Brooks]

Did Sano have a setback with his elbow?

[Craig Arko]

I had that dart board; I don't recall the rule but am pretty sure missing the board counted as an out.

 

Played this as a kid, mostly because it was from Avalon Hill. Baseball Strategy. It used a kind of rock, paper, scissors game mechanic.

 

[Danchat]

Strat-o-matic Top of the 1st Report

 

Dozier singles to left.

Polanco grounds into a double play (6-4-3).

Mauer walks.

Plouffe singles to center, Mauer to 2nd.

Rosario strikes out.

 

The Twins got 3 baserunners but did nothing with them...

[Danchat]

Bottom of the 1st

 

Orlando flies out to left.

Cuthbert flies out to left.

Cain HR. (KC 1-0).

Hosmer HR (KC 2-0).

Morales singles to right.

Perez strikes out looking.

 

Santiago is going full Nolasco. His tendencies to give up HRs is costing him.

[USAFChief]

Oh for pete sake.

 

Gross, man.

 

 

[Danchat]

Top of the 2nd Report

 

Escobar grounds out (4-3).

Grossman strikes out swinging.

Suzuki flies out to right.

[Danchat]

Bottom of the 2nd Report

 

Gordon grounds out to short.

Escobar singles.

Escobar is caught stealing.

Colon grounds to the the pitcher.

 

I gotta have dinner, I may be a tad late on the next report.

[Riverbrian]

C'mon Escobar

 

You are moving toward first and the pitcher is moving away from first. 

 

That's your ball.

 

Oh... And Polanco... You got to cover 3B. 

 

C'mon Now... Play Ball Twins

[Aggies7]

Hard to believe Santiago could be so much worse than nolasco. But believe it.

[jimbo92107]

Hector Santiago makes me yearn for the relative mediocrity of Scott Diamond. 

[Aggies7]

Hector Santiago makes me yearn for the relative mediocrity of Scott Diamond.

 

I think Dustin diamond would be better at this point.

[USAFChief]

Not a major league team on the field right now for the Twins.  

[Aggies7]

Not a major league team on the field right now for the Twins.

 

Right now?

[Danchat]

Strat-o-Matic 3rd Inning Report

 

Top 3rd

Santana singles.

Santana takes 2B on a wild pitch.

Dozier pops out to the catcher.

Polanco grounds out to 3rd.

Mauer singles to on a groundball to 2nd base, Santana to 3rd.

Plouffe flies out to left.

 

Bottom 3rd

Orlando singles to center.

Orlando is caught stealing 2nd.

Cuthbert grounds out to short.

Cain singles, advances to 2nd on error by LF Grossman.

Hosmer grounds out to 3rd.

 

Suzuki has caught 2 runners stealing! That's insane.

[Riverbrian]

 

Not a major league team on the field right now for the Twins.  

 

Not sure what Rosario was doing there. If he was going to let Grossman catch it... He would have needed to give him a little more room. 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

Good News: We should get our first look at Mejia tonight

 

Bad News: I really believe... it would have been fun to watch Vargas take a couple of whacks at a pitcher like Kennedy. 

 

No News at All: I'm going to have some Gelato tonight. 

[jimbo92107]

If Mejia is up for insurance, maybe it's time to bring him in. Santiago, as usual, got nuttin.

[USAFChief]

 

Good News: We should get our first look at Mejia tonight

 

Bad News: I really believe... it would have been fun to watch Vargas take a couple of whacks at a pitcher like Kennedy. 

 

No News at All: I'm going to have some Gelato tonight. 

You know what they say...no news is good news.

[USAFChief]

 

Not sure what Rosario was doing there. If he was going to let Grossman catch it... He would have needed to give him a little more room. 

And vice versa.

[Guest]

Can someone (Santiago) be put on waivers while a game is in progress?

[Aggies7]

Maybe we're wrong about Santiago and he'll figure it all out. But it's mind blowing that he's won 10 games this year

[Danchat]

4th Inning Report

 

Top 4th

Rosario strikes out looking.

Escobar strikes out swinging.

Grossman flies out to center.

 

Bottom 4th

Morales HR. (KC 3-0)

Perez singles.

Gordon singles, Perez to 2nd.

Escobar sacrifices, both runners advance (3-1).

Colon singles, Perez scores. Gordon to 3rd. (KC 4-0)

Orlando grounds into a double play (3-6-1).

 

Wow, this game's score is the same as the real one's! But that's a bad thing... well, it's going to be Mejia time in the 5th inning. I think we'll see him in real life too.

[Guest]

Maybe we're wrong about Santiago and he'll figure it all out. But it's mind blowing that he's won 10 games this year

He had Superman playing CF.

[Riverbrian]

 

Can someone (Santiago) be put on waivers while a game is in progress?

 

Good question... There are also times when I wonder if a player can be benched while it's in progress.

 

I wonder this because I've only seen it like 3 times since 1980. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Maybe we're wrong about Santiago and he'll figure it all out. But it's mind blowing that he's won 10 games this year

 

In all seriousness... He's as polar as it gets.

 

When he gets hot... He can carry a squad for awhile. 

 

When he gets... all... what he is right now. He will kill the team he plays for. 

 

He doesn't seem to have a middle ground. 

[LaBombo]

Fifth inning already?!?! What the bleep?

 

I guess this is what I get for setting my alarm clock an hour too late when turning in after the first game of the doubleheader ended this morning.

 

Well, at least I won't need to put my pj's on during the 7th inning stretch. Already good to go.

 

http://a.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/imagecache/1280/poster/2014/08/3034180-poster-p-1-how-circa-ceo-matt-galligan-trained-himself-to-wake-up-at-630-am-without-an-alarm-cl.jpg

 

 

 

 

[Platoon]

Hmmm. Let's see? We have our SS at third, our MiLB 2B at SS, our 3B at first, an IF in RF a LF in CF and Robbie in LF? And Kurt is behind the plate. What could go wrong?

[Platoon]

In all seriousness... He's as polar as it gets.

 

When he gets hot... He can carry a squad for awhile. 

 

When he gets... all... what he is right now. He will kill the team he plays for. 

 

He doesn't seem to have a middle ground.

 

Fortunately we don't have any other players like him!

[LaBombo]

 

 

He had Superman playing CF.

And hitting third. Our superman CF was Aquaman at the plate.

 

Minus the ability to speak Fish.