Game Thread: Twins vs Rockies, 5/17/17 @ 7:10 PM CT

[BK432]

Well, here we are, an interleague game on a Wednesday evening in Minneapolis with the getaway game scheduled for tomorrow....and the weather ain't looking fun tonight at all. The beat writers aren't confident at all that a game will be played. Which really sucks, since the wife is out of town and I'll have nothing else to do.

 

Ah, but maybe, just maybe, we'll have a delay and a late start. Read: after the 4-year old goes to bed.

 

Hope springs eternal.

 

If the game is postponed, since it's interleague, I'm guessing the players will grumble through a doubleheader tomorrow and the Rockies will fly out to Cincinnati without their requisite night of rest.

 

In any case, it's an Ervin Santana game, so even if it starts late, it's a must-watch. I seemingly enraged some of the Twins Daily community earlier this month by suggesting that Brandon Kintzler's 2017 performance thus far as closer, although effective, probably isn't sustainable. So I won't do the same for Santana, but there's some reason to go down that road. The FIP is pedestrian, BABIP against is thus far well under the Mendoza line, and K%-BB% is a yawn-inducing 9.9%.

 

But hey, I believe. Santana has had a sneaky good career overall, accumulating 26 WAR now since his debut. If a little luck is going his way, he's earned it. He's no ace but he's pretty fun to watch and gives the Twins a chance to win almost every time out.

 

German Marquez, the pitcher for the Rox, is at least interesting. He's #52 on the preseason prospect list on Fangraphs. He's been just OK in 7 MLB starts between 2016 and 2017, but he turned 22 after spring training started this year. Worth watching him against the Twins lineup, which slots Kepler in as clean-up, Mauer at the 2-hole, Gimenez getting a start, but is a pretty typical lineup for the Twins these days.

 

Okay, do your anti-rain dance, say your prayers, whatever you do in your life. Make this game happen. Otherwise, I'll have to resort to drinking heavily which isn't good for my expanding waistline. Enjoy the evening.

 

-------

 

Lineups
 
Twins
2B Brian Dozier
1B Joe Mauer
3B Miguel Sano
RF Max Kepler
DH Kennys Vargas
SS Jorge Polanco
C   Chris Gimenez
LF Eddie Rosario
CF Byron Buxton
 
SP Ervin Santana

 

Rockies

CF Charlie Blackmon

2B DJ LeMahieu

3B Nolan Arenado

DH Mark Reynolds

RF Carlos Gonzalez

1B Ian Desmond

LF Gerardo Parra

SS Alexi Amarista

C   Tony Wolters

 

SP German Marquez

[Mike Sixel]

Nice intro!

[Joe A. Preusser]

Dear Jobu, please stop the rain.

 

That's all I got.

[Old Twins Cap]

Let us know when the game is post-poned and what time the double header starts tomorrow.

 

thanks

[mikecgrimes]

Looking at the radar I wouldn't be shocked if Target field doesn't see much more then a sprinkle the rest of the night.  Lightning will be close at game time even if they miss that part of the storm but I'd be shocked if they didn't get at least 5 in.

[yarnivek1972]

Looking at the radar I wouldn't be shocked if Target field doesn't see much more then a sprinkle the rest of the night. Lightning will be close at game time even if they miss that part of the storm but I'd be shocked if they didn't get at least 5 in.

I'm looking at future radar and it seems to show that rain intensity will heighten at about 7:15, become spotty for a bit, but then intensify for most of the rest of the night. The worst case scenario of course is having Santana start and have it washed away. Not only do you burn Ervin, now you probably have to play a DH with him starting neither game. Up until the first pitch, it's the Twins decision. If I were them, I'd postpone.

[mikecgrimes]

This first big edge of the storm is so close to not hitting Target Field, I'd say it's 70-30 that it does but if it doesn't they can get 4 or 5 innings in before the potential delay hits.  It shouldn't be a long one but at that point it might chase Santana, still I have to think the Twins prefer that over a 4th double header.

[Old Twins Cap]

There is a scenario in which this game gets played, and I hope, for once, they try to work with Mother Nature  instead of running from her.

 

 

[yarnivek1972]

I'm in Winona, so all I have is radar. It shows light rain at the stadium now. Future radar on weather.com shows the heavy stuff starting at about 8 and not letting up until midnight. 8. So, maybe 3 innings, if they are quick. Again, if I'm the Twins, that's the nightmare scenario. You burn Ervin for 5 days and still have to play two tomorrow.

[Cap'n Piranha]

I like the intro, but one question. You said drinking heavily wouldn't be good for your expanding waistline, suggesting your waistline is expanding independent of the drinking. My question, therefore, is--why not double down and drink heavily anyways?

[jud6312]

I'm in Eden Prairie and it's coming down pretty good right now. I'll be shocked if there's not a serious delay.

[jud6312]

Correction, it's now pouring in Eden Prairie.

[David HK]

 

I'm in Winona, so all I have is radar. It shows light rain at the stadium now. Future radar on weather.com shows the heavy stuff starting at about 8 and not letting up until midnight. 8. So, maybe 3 innings, if they are quick. Again, if I'm the Twins, that's the nightmare scenario. You burn Ervin for 5 days and still have to play two tomorrow.

They have radar in Winona now?

[David HK]

 

Correction, it's now pouring in Eden Prairie.

Are you sure it's not Eden Valley instead?

 

(Points for snarky reference).

[Mike Sixel]

I like the intro, but one question. You said drinking heavily wouldn't be good for your expanding waistline, suggesting your waistline is expanding independent of the drinking. My question, therefore, is--why not double down and drink heavily anyways?

My waistline likes the way you think...

[yarnivek1972]

They said on radio that the game will not start on time.

[jud6312]

 

Are you sure it's not Eden Valley instead?

 

(Points for snarky reference).

What's Eden Valley? (Minimal snark)

[spinowner]

If they try to play tonight there will almost certainly be one or more delays. Wonder if it might be best to try to wing the pitching with bullpen pitchers in short stints and save Erv for tomorrow.

[Craig Arko]

Heading on to Eden?

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

I live about three miles from the stadium and it's drizzling. Given how the entire sky is nearly black, I'm not hopeful they'll get this game in tonight.

[spinowner]

 

Heading on to Eden?

Star Trek's effort to try to say that hippies were misguided.

[wsnydes]

I live about three miles from the stadium and it's drizzling. Given how the entire sky is nearly black, I'm not hopeful they'll get this game in tonight.

I'm with you. I stayed home instead of wasting my time downtown for a game I believe will get rained out. Looking forward to a double header instead!

[David HK]

 

Heading on to Eden?

Yeh-haaaaay, Brother....!

[BoofBonser]

No way they get this game in... looking at the radar, it's supposed to stop for about 45 minutes then rain the rest of the night 

[mikecgrimes]

Looks like a huge hole in the storm after this wave.  Something might pop up and hit the game but they should be able to avoid any delays.  Santana should be good to go.

[mikecgrimes]

I like that our amateur opinions are as opposite as can be.

[snepp]

Rain, rain, go away, come again #5 starter day.

[yarnivek1972]

 

Looks like a huge hole in the storm after this wave.  Something might pop up and hit the game but they should be able to avoid any delays.  Santana should be good to go.

 

 

I'm curious to what radar you are looking at.  I am at weather.com.  It agrees with Boof.

[BoofBonser]

 

Looks like a huge hole in the storm after this wave.  Something might pop up and hit the game but they should be able to avoid any delays.  Santana should be good to go.

wrong

[BoofBonser]

Game officially postponed