Article: Game Thread: Twins@Royals 6/30@7:10PM

[Riverbrian]

It’s a 4-game series over 3 days in Kansas City this weekend. If all 4 games are played, the Twins will reach the 81 game mark for the year at the conclusion of Sunday’s game and that is the midway point.

Being in the middle isn’t always a good thing. Being in the middle of a project means you are not done yet, in the middle of the night means more sleeping needs to be done… or more partying if you are Vanimal. Being in the middle of a tornado is usually a bad place to be, you don’t want to get in the middle of a mama bear and her cub. Jan Brady didn’t handle being the middle child very well and middle management means that you are going to wake up, go to work and get hit from both sides until you put up those funny desk signs that are actually true statements disguised as humor so you can get away with it.

Yep… 81 games is the equivalent of lunch time Wednesday during the work week. You are smack dab in the middle of it and you got to keep at it and try not to kill anyone accidentally… or… on purpose.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Ames, Iowa – If you are going to road trip from Minneapolis to Kansas City, Ames Iowa is basically the midway point. Ames Iowa is also pretty close to the middle of nowhere. Unless, you feel that corn fields and hog farms are somewhere and if that’s the case… you are in the middle of somewhere. Ames is the home of Iowa State University… they call themselves the Cyclones because cyclones rotate around the middle of a deep low pressure system and in Ames, you experience deep emotional lows and the pressure to live somewhere else is intense. Ames is also almost exactly in the middle of Iowa and this causes people from Ames to give up trying to escape Iowa because it seems like a never-ending task no matter what direction you flee.

2. Our Twins – The Twins were 12-11 in April, 14-12 in May and they are currently 14-14 in June with one final game to go in June. If the Twins win tonight, it will be the third straight winning month of baseball. If the Twins lose tonight, our fans will start watching bowling instead. Only Ervin Santana can save us from buying Pete Weber T-Shirts.

3. The Royals – When it comes to June performance in the AL Central, the best team this month has been the Kansas City Royals with a 16-9 record. As a matter of fact, the Royals have the best record in the American League for the month of June. Something clicked because they had the worst record in the American League in April. My guess is that somebody reminded all those soon to be free agents on the roster that they were soon to be free agents and they may want to kick it up a notch.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

Mauer: Here comes Joe with the Food!

Montana: Thank God… I’m starving!

McCarthy: Hey, Joe… what did you bring this morning?

Maddon: Real simple today guys… peanut butter on toast.

Mauer: I love peanut butter on toast… did you bring any honey?

Maddon: I did… here ya go.

Mauer: Why does honey come in a bear bottle?

Montana: It should come in a bee bottle.

Maddon: Well… bears like honey… so… it works.

McCarthy: Yeah, but the bees make the honey… what would bears be without bees?

Mauer: Ears?

5. Driver’s License – When I took the picture for my driver’s license photo… they asked me to smile, and so I did. I got pulled over for speeding… the officer asked for my license… I wasn’t happy about it so I wasn’t smiling at the time and the officer thought it was a fake. Next time I take a photo for my license… I’m going to have Chief stand in for me and that should take care of the problem.

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[spinowner]

 

1. Ames Iowa – If you are going to road trip from Minneapolis to Kansas City, Ames Iowa is basically the midway point. Ames Iowa is also pretty close to the middle of nowhere. Unless, you feel that corn fields and hog farms are somewhere and if that’s the case… you are in the middle of somewhere. Ames is the home of Iowa State University… they call themselves the Cyclones because cyclones rotate around the middle of a deep low pressure system and in Ames, you experience deep emotional lows and the pressure to live somewhere else is intense. Ames is also almost exactly in the middle of Iowa and this causes people from Ames to give up trying to escape Iowa because it seems like a never-ending task no matter what direction you flee.

My wife was born in and grew up in Ames. Her parents still live there. Her dad is a retired ISU aerospace engineering professor. We all await your apology.

[spinowner]

 

It’s a 4 game series over 3 days in Kansas City this weekend. If all 4 games are played, the Twins will reach the 81 game mark for the year at the conclusion of Sunday’s game and that is the midway point.

Interesting coincidence because Sunday is also middle day 2017. It's the 183rd day of the year, with 182 days before and 182 days after.

[Craig Arko]

Off-topic post of the game...

 

Happy Asteroid Day!

 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/2017/jun/30/happy-asteroid-day-a-conversation-about-peaceful-global-scientific-collaboration

[Riverbrian]

 

My wife was born in and grew up in Ames. Her parents still live there. Her dad is a retired ISU aerospace engineering professor. We all await your apology.

 

I'm big enough to apologize when necessary.

 

I'm sorry that she grew up in Ames? 

[Squirrel]

As I sat down this morning to read (edit) the game thread I was eating my breakfast. My breakfast was a toasted English muffin with peanut butter and honey on it.

[Blake]

Excellent intro, RB!

[Dave The Dastardly]

Been through Ames many a time. You know, because it's in the middle. If it was at the end I wouldn't go "through" it. It's a nice place to go through, just like my home town is a nice place to be from. They both look good in the rearview mirror; one says you're on the road to greener pastures and the other says you're not there yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Off-topic post of the game...

Happy Asteroid Day!

https://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/2017/jun/30/happy-asteroid-day-a-conversation-about-peaceful-global-scientific-collaboration

I would like to insert Manson, Iowa into the middle of this game thread. Not so far from Ames, and it has some previous experience with astroids. (er, the orbital masses, Not the video game)

 

Is that okay with folk?

[wsnydes]

 

I would like to insert Manson, Iowa into the middle of this game thread. Not so far from Ames, and it has some previous experience with astroids. (er, the orbital masses, Not the video game)

Is that okay with folk?

Any experience with Space Invaders (the alien type, not the video game)?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

...

 

McCarthy: Yeah, but the bees make the honey… what would bears be without bees?Mauer: Ears?

 

...

 

 

More inane wordplay... If you are in the middle of an apology... Wouldn't that be an

 

An apol a day...

Edited June 30, 2017 by sampleSizeOfOne

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Any experience with Space Invaders (the alien type, not the video game)?

Personal?

 

Yes lots.. No none at all.

 

No personal experience with Space Invaders... Unless perhaps it is personal space they are invading....

 

(and don't get me started on burahobbits)

[Respy]

Some matchups to watch today:

 

• Ervin Santana: 10-4, 2.80 ERA (4th in AL)
• Eric Hosmer has a 1.168 OPS lifetime against Santana in 32 plate appearances.
• The rest of the KC lineup has hit a combined 0.221 AVG and 0.626 OPS against Santana

 

• Jason Vargas: 11-3, 2.29 ERA (1st in AL)
• Mauer is 14 for 36 (.389) against Vargas lifetime with only 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
• Vargas is a lefty, and Eduardo Escobar has a cool .974 OPS versus lefties this year.

 

• Twins X-Factor: Miguel Sano.  Since sitting two consecutive games last week, Sano is 1 for 18 with 8 strikeouts.  He needs to turn it around for the Twins offense to be productive, especially against lefties.
• Royals X-Factor: Jason Vargas. He had one bad outing against the Yankees in May, but has allowed 3 ER or less in all of his other 14 starts. He also has a MLB-best 1.92 ERA at home.  He is likely to play in his first All-Star game this season at age 34.  Can the Twins get to him tonight?

 

• My magic 8-ball says....Twins win 4-1.

http://home.ncscredit.com/sites/default/files/Blog%20Images/Magic%208%20Ball.jpg

[Mauerpower]

 

I would like to insert Manson, Iowa into the middle of this game thread. Not so far from Ames, and it has some previous experience with astroids. (er, the orbital masses, Not the video game)

Is that okay with folk?

I went to High School in Ft Dodge, IA, which is not far from manson and about 45 min north of ames. I was home last week visiting my mom and Manson had their Crater Days annual celebration! 

[FunnyPenguin]

I can't figure out how Jason Vargas is so successful, just from watching replay videos.  The guy's fastball doesn't really have any movement and 85-87 and none of his off speed stuff has any nasty bite.  I guess good command must go a long ways!

[Blake]

One of the more interesting things about Kansas is the fact that you can drive for a long time without appearing to get anywhere.

 

Sort of a metaphor for the Twins season.

 

And, evidently, I cannot tell the difference between Kansas and Iowa.

Edited June 30, 2017 by Blake

[twinsnorth49]

 

(and don't get me started on burahobbits)

Oh, we won't , not a problem. 

[Jerr]

Absolutely love those Joe conversations!!!!!!!

[theBOMisthebomb]

A split of this weekend series would be a relief.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Gaurentee Twins win tonight. 4-0 on the year with my predictions.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Oh, we won't , not a problem.

Glad that is sorted out.

[Joe A. Preusser]

 

And, evidently, I cannot tell the difference between Kansas and Iowa.

 

I believe legally they are the same state. It's in the Constitution somewhere...

[Joe A. Preusser]

As I sat down this morning to read (edit) the game thread I was eating my breakfast. My breakfast was a toasted English muffin with peanut butter and honey on it.

 

No bacon? No steak? No ham? No fried chicken? No sausage?

 

I might need to change my diet..,

[Platoon]

My wife was born in and grew up in Ames. Her parents still live there. Her dad is a retired ISU aerospace engineering professor. We all await your apology.

I tried to find a Chinese restaurant in Ames one evening. It was not easy. Ames is a huge city!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I actually drove to Ames. It was in fact my destination. A King was there.

[yarnivek1972]

Throw a double play ball here.

[Aggies7]

Already 20 pitches

[yarnivek1972]

20 pitches. Not what the Twins need with a double header tomorrow.

[70charger]

 

20 pitches. Not what the Twins need with a double header tomorrow.

 

I just tuned in and was going to post: 24 pitches in the first inning? Not good.

[70charger]

Hopefully he settles in from here. I want to see good Santana today.