Game Thread: Twins v Astros, May 31 @ 12:10pm CT

[diehardtwinsfan]

Happy Wednesday everyone, and I do emphasize the happy, as there hasn’t been much happy around these parts of late, and to be fair, for good reason.  Our Minnesota Twins along with something they call a bull pen will attempt to defeat the Houston Astros, who currently hold the best record in baseball and are up 2 games to none on this series.  Before we continue with the tarring and feathering of the entire front office, the scouting staff, the players, and TC Bear, I should note with full disclosure that our Twins are 0-2 on game threads that I start.  That means that I am clearly to blame as my win percentage in game threads is worse than that of the Twins pen… think about that for a second, but just remember that you must be able to find me to string me up. 

 

Things to think about:

 

1. El Cajon – now before you start throwing the ‘family friendly’ accusation out there, I should note that our opponents starting pitcher hails from El Cajon, CA. The term is Spanish for ‘the box’ and the city has earned the nick name “big box” because 99% of the world’s card board boxes are made there. Cardboard lines the streets and in honor of the title, all buildings are required to look like boxes. 

 

2. The end of the world – believe it or not TD, the recent turn of events is not the end of the world, and I’d add that the Twins are still exceeding most of our expectations at this point in the season. It is not the end of the world as we know it, and we know this because we do not feel fine.

 

3. Stomach Flu – we all know it. Your kids got it earlier in the evening and it is now 2:00 AM and you are wide awake, knowing, but not wanting to believe that you have it too. That feeling in your stomach continues to grow, and you want to tell yourself that it is all in your head. But finally it does its thing, kind of like the Twins’ bull pen.  We all knew it wouldn’t last, right? Hopefully, the pen is like the real stomach flu with everything back to being what it was 24 hours later.

 

4. History – Quite a bit happened on this day in history. Walt Whitman was born in 1831 and somehow managed to live nearly 180 years to finally die in his meth lab, all of which was filmed by AMC. In 1929, Ford signed an agreement with the Soviet Union, and in 1988, the Reagan-Gorbachev summit ended, clearly foreshadowing modern day US and Russian relations. Clint Eastwood was born in 1930, and the Yankees lost a major battle during the Civil War, despite being heavy favorites to win.

 

5. Hector Santiago – Here’s to hoping he can turn one around. We need him to be a functional pitcher this season, so let’s send lots of good vibes his way.

[Craig Arko]

[twinsnorth49]

http://media.guitarcenter.com/is/image/MMGS7/Americana-Series-Stage-Cajon/J34026000000000-00-500x500.jpg

 

Win Twins!

[Halsey Hall]

One glaring weakness on this team I feel is the catchers position. Is framing more valuable than hitting? We have 2 catchers that can't hit. I'd of much rather had Suzuki at bat in the catchers spot the last 3 games than what we had. That spot in the lineup is dead space now. I'm tired of it. Runs win games.

 

Today could be another double digit day for the Stro's.

[Jerr]

I hope to be on this thread by the 6th inning and want to see twins with a lead.

Pressure is on, for those that will be on here, when I get on...........  

Twins really need a win today!!!!

[Mike Sixel]

 

One glaring weakness on this team I feel is the catchers position. Is framing more valuable than hitting? We have 2 catchers that can't hit. I'd of much rather had Suzuki at bat in the catchers spot the last 3 games than what we had. That spot in the lineup is dead space now. I'm tired of it. Runs win games.

 

Today could be another double digit day for the Stro's.

 

Have you compared Castro to other catchers?

 

He's a couple hits from being median for catchers on offense.

[Halsey Hall]

 

Have you compared Castro to other catchers?

 

He's a couple hits from being median for catchers on offense.

No, only what I've seen. Takes called strike 3 to often. At least Suzuki would get a clutch hit now and again. Castro doesn't do anything with men on.

[stringer bell]

Lineups:

 

Astros

    DH: George Springer
    2B: Jose Altuve
    SS: Carlos Correa
    C: Evan Gattis
    LF: Marwin Gonzalez
    1B: Yulieski Gurriel
    3B: Alex Bregman
    RF: Norichika Aoki
    CF: Jake Marisnick
    SP: David Paulino

Twins

    2B: Brian Dozier
    SS: Jorge Polanco
    RF: Max Kepler
    DH: Robbie Grossman
    LF: Eddie Rosario
    3B: Eduardo Escobar
    1B: Chris Gimenez
    C: Jason Castro
    CF: Byron Buxton
    SP: Hector Santiago

[sampleSizeOfOne]

An obvious strength of our ball club is the fans. Clearly we have the most insightful bunch.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I gotta be nearly hall of fame calliber in the self-congratulatory standings.

 

Now if i can only get my jinx ratio under 1...

[stringer bell]

Not loving the lineup, but it is what it is. It hurts not to have big Kennys right now, with Mauer getting a rest day and Sanó apparently still not well.

[rghrbek]

 

No, only what I've seen. Takes called strike 3 to often. At least Suzuki would get a clutch hit now and again. Castro doesn't do anything with men on.

And Zuke couldn't throw me out trying to steal...or frame a pitch...i'm not happy with the offensive production, but compared to league wide, I will take the fielding over the hitting.  Fielding has been one of the biggest reasons people are saying we are winning more this year....

 

I don't need catcher #2 though, to be even more of a dumpster fire with the bat...who sometimes plays first base (this one baffles me).  Bring up Mitch already.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

No, only what I've seen. Takes called strike 3 to often. At least Suzuki would get a clutch hit now and again. Castro doesn't do anything with men on.

Hey look at that...

 

Both catchers are in today's line up.

 

I expect they're going to set the record straight today!

[rghrbek]

 

Hey look at that...

Both catchers are in today's line up.

I expect they're going to set the record straight today!

Just...my god...no words here....why??????

[ashbury]

http://www.christiansteinerphotography.com/wp-content/gallery/sidegallery/lionel-hampton-fw.jpg

[Mike Sixel]

 

Not loving the lineup, but it is what it is. It hurts not to have big Kennys right now, with Mauer getting a rest day and Sanó apparently still not well.

 

It was important Ruzcinski (sp?) come up for 1 game.....way more important than having Vargas here for 10 days.

[Aggies7]

Houston simply resides on an another planet than the twins

[rghrbek]

and Hector is who some of us thought he was...back end guy

[mickeymental]

well, more outs than runs. that woulda done the trick on monday ...

[bighat]

Santiago is just awful.

[whydidnt]

Is Mauer sick? I don't understand why you decide to rest him on a day Sano is out, especially with a right handed pitcher on the mound. Seems like we are just punting this one. Couldn't Molitor wait a day to give Mauer a break, when he could flip Sano over there and not have to count on Gimenez to do anything other than catch? 

 

[Jham]

Polanco with maybe the woody swing I've ever seen. Stepping in the bucket on a high and away fastball...

[akmanak]

The Twins team is finally coming back to earth. Hopefully fans and ownership will realize how much this team needs high level pitchers who can win against above average teams.

[Mike Sixel]

Can't get gameday to load in Espanol. Sigh.

[Aggies7]

 

Can't get gameday to load in Espanol. Sigh.

don't worry, it's just as bad in Spanish, I'm sure

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Screw you Neil Allen is basically what Santiago did by going back to the wind up after the home run . Minor league move going from the stretch and drawing a huge arrow on the mound. This is the second time Twins have tried to change Santiago.

[Aggies7]

I'll say this, I will be pulling for this Astros team to go all the way, assuming that we don't stay in it. Never have won a ring, home grown guys, etc

[Cap'n Piranha]

The lineup today has only 3 players over a .700 OPS.

[ashbury]

Giminez making fans forget Joe Mauer at first base, with those two catches of foul pops in the first two innings.

[Cap'n Piranha]

I'm listening to the Astro broadcast, and their color guy, Steve Sparks, is claiming there is visible cottonwood spores in the air today?  True, or not true?

[rghrbek]

 

Giminez making fans forget Joe Mauer at first base, with those two catches of foul pops in the first two innings.

...and with his power, he took Perkins deep twice yesterday