Article: Game Thread: Twins v White Sox, 6/20@7:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

The Twins home stand continues as the White Sox roll into town. We will be asking Ervin Santana to be a stopper after a really rough weekend against the Indians.

All I wanna say is that I love cold chicken. Don’t get me wrong… I love chicken cooked and freshly served but I actually prefer it as a leftover straight out of the fridge.

We don’t need to think about the Indians right now. We can forget about them and focus on the White Sox... until Friday!

Revenge is dish best served cold… Cold Winner Winner Chicken Dinner will be alright with me.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Walnut Grove – This is the town of Ma and Pa, Half Pint and the one who went blind and was never loved enough to get a nickname. Farmers in this area are all tan and often work shirtless with suspenders holding their pants up. Walnut Grove is also the only area of Minnesota where the landscape looks exactly like California. You get a clear view of the Santa Susana Mountains off in the distance. As for the Walnuts… they are incredible but a completely different show on CBS.

2. Our Twins – There are 95 games left to play… Brunnhilde has not sung yet. I know many are waiting for the flatline because the original diagnosis was dire. If you listen close… you can still hear the beep beep beep of the monitor. Shh… quiet… listen to it… beep beep beep beep. The Twins are still alive… the beeps confirm that they are still alive. It started faintly and is getting stronger with each beep… It has almost the same sound of a... (Pause)… never mind… it’s a garbage truck backing up.

3. The White Sox – If the season ended today… the Cubs would not be in the playoffs. Same goes for the White Sox… and… and… the Bears… let’s not forget to count the Bears out early. If it wasn’t for the Blues Brothers and Italian beef and ChiTownTwinsFan… do we really need Chicago?

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation

Maddon: Some interesting stuff in here.

Mauer: Yeah it’s a pretty cool shop. I never thought I’d be interested in Antiques.

Montana: Hey, Joe… what’d ya think of this one?

McCarthy: We had that exact dining room table back when I was a young lad.

Mauer: You had this exact one?

McCarthy: Yep… see these notches in the side? I carved them myself, trying to
whittle the table into a pointy stick.

Maddon: What are the odds of that? Of all the antique shops… in all the world… that we could walk in to… here it is… your childhood table.

Mauer: I would think the odds of walking into any antique shop would be high enough by itself.

Montana: I didn’t know the McCarthy family was into antiques.

Maddon: They may not have been called antiques back then.

Mauer: What were they called?

Maddon: Tables.

McCarthy: I want this table back… the memories… this is my past. This table is priceless. I got to have this table. Help me get it out to the truck… everyone grab a side… let’s carry it out.

Mauer: Shouldn’t you pay for it first.

McCarthy: No need to pay… like I said… it’s priceless.

5. Vacuum - My wife said that we need a new vacuum… I asked her why and she said that the old vacuum sucks. I told her that we should wait until it doesn’t.
____________________

Lineups:

WHITE SOX
Adam Engel CF
Melky Cabrera LF
Jose Abreu 1B
Todd Frazier 3B
Avisail Garcia RF
Matt Davidson DH
Tim Anderson SS
Kevan Smith C
Yolmer Sanchez 2B

Derek Holland P

TWINS
Brian Dozier 2B
Eduardo Escobar SS
Miguel Sano 3B
Robbie Grossman RF
Joe Mauer 1B
Kennys Vargas DH
Eddie Rosario LF
Byron Buxton CF
Jason Castro C

Ervin Santana P

Weather: 75 deg, partly cloudy to clearing, no real chance of rain tonight

Play ball!

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[Blake]

Average job, RB! (hey, you set the bar)

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I hear Chicago also hosts a big band conference in December. Cementing its reputation as the windy city, i think.

 

But yeah, perhaps i could offer up a friendly ammendment to the game thread intro to include ChiTown amongst its assets. (something like "if not for the coorage of ChiTownTwinsFan, Chicago would be lost")

 

If we only had a wheel barrow, that would be something.

[ashbury]

… never mind… it’s a garbage truck backing up.

... off the Empire State Building.

 

[Squirrel]

 

I hear Chicago also hosts a big band conference in December. Cementing its reputation as the windy city, i think.

But yeah, perhaps i could offer up a friendly ammendment to the game thread intro to include ChiTown amongst its assets. (something like "if not for the coorage of ChiTownTwinsFan, Chicago would be lost")

If we only had a wheel barrow, that would be something.

Reread it now ... it was amended ... thanks to Brian's editor ... ChiTownTwinsFan

 

Do you ever come to the Midwest Clinic? If so, you should hit me up for tickets for the annual CSO Brass concert.

[Respy]

Some matchups to watch today:

 

• Derek Holland is already 0-2 against the Twins this year
• Holland is a lefty, and look for righties like Grossman (5 for 14 against Holland) and Escobar (4 for 7 against Holland) to make an impact today.
• Mauer might get the day off today, only hitting 4 for 20 against Holland with 6 strikeouts.  Vargas or Sano might be at 1B today.
• Ervin Santana looks to bounce back after going only 4.0 and 5.0 IP in 2 of his 3 last starts.
• Santana should be careful pitching to Melky Cabrera (12 for 38 lifetime against Santana and 17 for his last 40) and Abreu (6 for 15 lifetime against Santana and 12 for his last 29).  But he'll try to mow down the rest of the lineup which is collectively hitting around .200 against Santana.
• The Twins' X-Factor: The Twins need a deep start from Ervin Santana. If he can pitch deep into the game, look for a Twins W.
• The White Sox X-Factor: Todd Frazier's bat. Frazier has been in a prolonged season slump, hitting .205 with 'only' 11 homeruns.  After going 0 for 18 last week, he hit a homerun Saturday and has been putting the ball in play. The White Sox need Frazier to pick it up and knock in more runs for their offense to be competitive.

My magic 8-ball says: Twins win 6-3

[sampleSizeOfOne]

A group i played with last fall went enmass last fall. I think i had made a few other commitments, and was also experiencing a rare bit of car troubles, Trying to remember how that played out... And i never got around to hearing all the juicy tales of their travels either, because i guess it was no longer news the next time they played after winter break.

[ashbury]

 

Some matchups to watch today:

 

• Derek Holland is already 0-2 against the Twins this year
• Holland is a lefty, and look for righties like Grossman (5 for 14 against Holland) and Escobar (4 for 7 against Holland) to make an impact today.
• Mauer might get the day off today, only hitting 4 for 20 against Holland with 6 strikeouts.  Vargas or Sano might be at 1B today.
• Ervin Santana looks to bounce back after going only 4.0 and 5.0 IP in 2 of his 3 last starts.
• Santana should be careful pitching to Melky Cabrera (12 for 38 lifetime against Santana and 17 for his last 40) and Abreu (6 for 15 lifetime against Santana and 12 for his last 29).  But he'll try to mow down the rest of the lineup which is collectively hitting around .200 against Santana.
• The Twins' X-Factor: The Twins need a deep start from Ervin Santana. If he can pitch deep into the game, look for a Twins W.
• The White Sox X-Factor: Todd Frazier's bat. Frazier has been in a prolonged season slump, hitting .205 with 'only' 11 homeruns.  After going 0 for 18 last week, he hit a homerun Saturday and has been putting the ball in play. The White Sox need Frazier to pick it up and knock in more runs for their offense to be competitive.

My magic 8-ball says: Twins win 6-3

You should consider signing up to do a game-thread starter sometime.

[MN_ExPat]

Business trip to ChiTown a few weeks ago.   Sorry... but not going back there ever again would be too soon.  Not that the food wasn't good (the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago has awesome Osso Bucco btw), but I'll go back to NYC and that zoo before I willingly head back to the windy city.   Think my left eye is still twitching after the last trip

 

[Squirrel]

 

Business trip to ChiTown a few weeks ago.   Sorry... but not going back there ever again would be too soon.  Not that the food wasn't good (the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago has awesome Osso Bucco btw), but I'll go back to NYC and that zoo before I willingly head back to the windy city.   Think my left eye is still twitching after the last trip

Heh ... I have lived in Chicago for the last 17+ years. And I live downtown adjacent. Work takes me to NYC fairly often ... and your sentiment above re Chicago has pretty much been my sentiment re NYC. It's fine to visit, but give me Chicago over NYC any day. I'm so happy when I return home after a trip to NYC.

[USAFChief]

I concur. With both of yous. I'll stay out of New York AND Chicago.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Heh ... I have lived in Chicago for the last 17+ years. And I live downtown adjacent. Work takes me to NYC fairly often ... and your sentiment above re Chicago has pretty much been my sentiment re NYC. It's fine to visit, but give me Chicago over NYC any day. I'm so happy when I return home after a trip to NYC.

Hey, I'm happy because I never have to go to either NYC or ShyTown ever again. I'll admit it, I'm a BigCityphob. Man was never meant to live in hives or swim upstream on cement highways hoping to fertilize something (an idea, a paycheck or a fellow human being) before they die. Give me the wide open spaces where men are men, women are naturally gorgeous and you can catch a baseball game from the comfort of your own couch where the beer's cheaper, the refrigerator is a few steps away and the bathroom's just down the hall.

 

Wait a minute... I just heard a car go by. First one this morning. Damn traffic! Going to ruin the neighborhood if this keeps up!

 

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

 

You should consider signing up to do a game-thread starter sometime.

Don't do it. It's addictive.

[Squirrel]

 

Hey, I'm happy because I never have to go to either NYC or ShyTown ever again. I'll admit it, I'm a BigCityphob. Man was never meant to live in hives or swim upstream on cement highways hoping to fertilize something (an idea, a paycheck or a fellow human being) before they die. Give me the wide open spaces where men are men, women are naturally gorgeous and you can catch a baseball game from the comfort of your own couch where the beer's cheaper, the refrigerator is a few steps away and the bathroom's just down the hall.

 

Wait a minute... I just heard a car go by. First one this morning. Damn traffic! Going to ruin the neighborhood if this keeps up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMnLoOnrwbg

[Squirrel]

 

 

I concur. With both of yous. I'll stay out of New York AND Chicago.

When I retire I'll be leaving the big city splitting time between a less big city (Minneapolis) and a big town (Fort Myers) ... but that is still at least 10 yrs away.

[USAFChief]

When I retire I'll be leaving the big city splitting time between a less big city (Minneapolis) and a big town (Fort Myers) ... but that is still at least 10 yrs away.

Nevis, MN is in my future. A little big for my tastes, but compromise is part of marriage,

[Squirrel]

Hey, I'm happy because I never have to go to either NYC or ShyTown ever again. I'll admit it, I'm a BigCityphob. Man was never meant to live in hives or swim upstream on cement highways hoping to fertilize something (an idea, a paycheck or a fellow human being) before they die. Give me the wide open spaces where men are men, women are naturally gorgeous and you can catch a baseball game from the comfort of your own couch where the beer's cheaper, the refrigerator is a few steps away and the bathroom's just down the hall.

 

Wait a minute... I just heard a car go by. First one this morning. Damn traffic! Going to ruin the neighborhood if this keeps up!

Oh, and by the way, I don't often swim upstream on cement highways ... I usually get to work (in non-snow and ice weather) via bike through the park. The flowers are always beautiful even if the statues are ... weird ...

 

http://www.aklehr.com/chicago/wp-content/uploads/galleries/post-53/full/skylines003.jpg

 

 

[Squirrel]

 

 

Nevis, MN is in my future. A little big for my tastes, but compromise is part of marriage,

Too far away from Target Field, imo.

 

But when you do come to town for a game, stop by my condo or loft near the Field for pre-game libations.

[Respy]

 

You should consider signing up to do a game-thread starter sometime.

 

Consider it considered!

[Oldgoat_MN]

ChiTownTwinsFan and the blues are enough for me to appreciate Chicago.

Love that town. To visit.

[Squirrel]

 

Consider it considered!

Nope. Won't. Can't. Not until you've gone here and have PM'd me and Chief with a specific date you want to claim!

 

(No pressure, of course!)

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Oh, and by the way, I don't often swim upstream on cement highways ... I usually get to work (in non-snow and ice weather) via bike through the park. The flowers are always beautiful even if the statues are ... weird ...

 

http://www.aklehr.com/chicago/wp-content/uploads/galleries/post-53/full/skylines003.jpg

 

 

I see what you mean. I love the flowers but what are those big brown things? Rotten molars? And that green guy... one of the Transformers?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I see what you mean. I love the flowers but what are those big brown things? Rotten molars? And that green guy... one of the Transformers?

 

I vote that the brown things are zombies that have had their head and shoulders removed.

 

I think the green guy is a Buddha impersonation completed by a Wall-E clone.

[Blake]

 

Heh ... I have lived in Chicago for the last 17+ years. And I live downtown adjacent. Work takes me to NYC fairly often ... and your sentiment above re Chicago has pretty much been my sentiment re NYC. It's fine to visit, but give me Chicago over NYC any day. I'm so happy when I return home after a trip to NYC.

I was in Chicago once. Played in the "Windy City Open." Wound up walking around on the hotel roof after one of the patrons got a window open. I saw a guy using a valet to have his luggage taken up to his room. The luggage consisted of a small overnight bag and several cases of beer. Also got hit on by a stripper. (I think she thought I had money or she was desperate) Nice gal, good looking, working her way through college. It was my first encounter with someone who was employed as such. At the time, I didn't know that was the "stripper standard statement" By 9pm every single ice machine on every floor was empty in the hotel. No, the guy with the overnight bag and beer was not atypical.

[Blake]

 

Consider it considered!

Yep, definitely game thread material. 

[Mike Sixel]

I love to visit both chicago and NYC. But then, I love being in the city sometimes. I love the action, and food, and the art, and the music. Of course, I also love hiking in the mountains and stuff. hence, Portland.....I can't even imagine living in a small town. Well, I can, but it doesn't sound fun for me.

[Squirrel]

 

I see what you mean. I love the flowers but what are those big brown things? Rotten molars? And that green guy... one of the Transformers?

 

Brown things.

 

Green guy.

 

Diehard was pretty correct in his response.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I was in Chicago once. Played in the "Windy City Open." Wound up walking around on the hotel roof after one of the patrons got a window open. I saw a guy using a valet to have his luggage taken up to his room. The luggage consisted of a small overnight bag and several cases of beer. Also got hit on by a stripper. (I think she thought I had money or she was desperate) Nice gal, good looking, working her way through college. It was my first encounter with someone who was employed as such. At the time, I didn't know that was the "stripper standard statement" By 9pm every single ice machine on every floor was empty in the hotel. No, the guy with the overnight bag and beer was not atypical.

I'll say this Chicago does have some nice open air bars up on roof tops...

 

I'll also note that those seem to be the areas where the beautiful people like to hang out... that and ugly guys who have diamond status with the hotel that runs said bar.... 

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Consider it considered!

How considerate!

 

"The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far is as needed?"

[Blake]

 

I vote that the brown things are zombies that have had their head and shoulders removed.

 

I think the green guy is a Buddha impersonation completed by a Wall-E clone.

Nah, I'm sure the artists who created the leg sculptures was making a point about how the world of adults looks to small children and, by extension, trying to remind us adults just how small we are in the macroverse.

 

Me, I lean more toward ugly a** art that no one with any sense would ever buy, so, therefore, this was commissioned by city government to reward the second cousin of a nephew who's mother was once married to a member of the city council.