Article: Game Thread: Twins@Astros, 7/14@7:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

Break time is over… back to work everyone because we got to make the donuts and these donuts won’t make themselves.

The Twins will all meet up in Houston to take on the mighty Astros for a 3-game series and that can be a bit of a challenge when you consider that the Astros win almost every game they play.

What do we hope for in the 2nd half of the season? Myself personally… I want donuts. I want the pitching staff and defense to hang as many donuts on the scoreboard as possible. Just regular cake donuts each inning is what I’m talking about. An occasional Long John is tolerable but not too many.

There are no two- or three- or four-shaped donuts that I’m aware of… I’m good with the donuts thing.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Houston – When you combine nearby oil and a good port, a connoisseur will probably notice and spit it back into the glass. Every sommelier will also tell that the combination also creates a boomtown and this boomtown is still booming. Demographers have said that Houston will surpass Chicago shortly and become the 3rd largest city in the United States and maybe then… Houston will finally get a hockey team. Houston city planners are obviously zoned out because the city doesn’t have any zoning laws and this means a Dunkin Donuts can be built right next to your house or you a factory next to a church or train tracks above a left field wall or a hill with a flag pole next to center.

2. Our Twins – All-Star Break Math for You. The left hand column is bigger than the right hand column with a record of 45-43. The Twins are in 2nd place in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind the Indians and currently just one game out of the Wild Card behind the Yankees and Rays. The Twins are 18th in runs scored and 28th in runs allowed. As it stands… the Twins will draft 20th next year while the Cubs draft 18th. Jim Pohlad is worth $3.6 billion and Seth Stohs is worth a little less than that. Alright… obviously… I can’t verify the previous sentence with complete certainty.

3. The Astros – How good have the Astros been this year? Here comes the perspective… last year the Cubs won 103 games with a .640 winning percentage. The Astros right now have a .674 winning percentage so they have been better. Yeah… I know… stats can be twisted into anything. OK… how 'bout this… last year the Twins won 59 games and the Astros have already won 60 this year. However… as good as the Astros have been… they do not have the best record in MLB, because that distinction belongs to the Dodgers who have been buoyed by getting rid of Jose DeLeon. It is rough getting the Astros when you are fighting for a playoff spot in July but it could be worse. Just imagine, hypothetically, if we had to face the Dodgers in July as well… Uff Da. Sometimes hypothetical situations can be quite scary with an active imagination. We should probably do without hypothetical situations to keep things calm so I’ll just imagine a world with no hypothetical situations.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

McCarthy: So, the Cubs picked up Quintana from the White Sox. How do you feel about that, Joe?

Maddon: I am head over heels happy about it.

Montana: Umm… everybody’s head is over their heels. That is normal human… umm… stuff.

Maddon: OK… I’m just happy then.

McCarthy: Congratulations, Joe… we should go celebrate. Let’s try that new Italian place.

Mauer: No, no, no… I’m not paying again. I always pay when we go someplace.

Montana: We’ll go Dutch.

Maddon: That’ll work.

Mauer: No, no, no… I’m not wearing those uncomfortable wooden shoes again.

McCarthy: If you don’t wear the shoes… we can’t go Dutch.

Mauer: All right… damn it… I’ll pay.

5. Exception to the rule – I really don’t know what to do with this new information I just read about. Scientists in New Mexico have discovered that there is an exception to the rule that states that there are exceptions to every rule.
____________________

Lineups:

TWINS
Brian Dozier 2B
Zack Granite LF
Miguel Sano 3B
Max Kepler RF
Robbie Grossman DH
Kennys Vargas 1B
Jorge Polanco SS
Jason Castro C
Byron Buxton CF

Jose Berrios P

ASTROS
George Springer CF
Jose Altuve 2B
Josh Reddick RF
Carlos Correa SS
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran DH
Yulieski Gurriel 1B
Marwin Gonzalez LF
Alex Bregman 3B

Charlie Morton P

Weather: 89 deg F with 72% humidity = a heat index of 97. Yuck. But that's better than the current 100 with 73% humidity = a heat index of 119. Double yuck. Partly cloudy with a breeze at 8mph from the SSE.

Play ball and keep hydrated!! Go Twins!

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[laloesch]

 

2. Our Twins – All Star Break Math for You. The left hand column is bigger than the right hand column with a record of 45-43. The Twins are in 2nd place in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind the Indians and currently just one game out of the Wild Card behind the Yankees and Rays. 

 

 

Not for long.

[Oldgoat_MN]

5. Exception to the rule – I really don’t know what to do with this new information I just read about. Scientists in New Mexico have discovered that there is an exception to the rule that states that there are exceptions to every rule.

 

And there we have it!

The exception that proves the rule.

[ashbury]

Jim Pohlad is worth $3.6 billion

The New York Times has picked up your scoop, and backdated it with a year 2009 byline and inserted Carl's name instead. With prudent investment, Jim should have grown his inherited portion to approximately 14 trillion dollars in the intervening time, or not quite enough to pay off the US national debt.

 

3. The Astros – How good have the Astros been this year? Here comes the perspective… last year the Cubs won 103 games with a .640 winning percentage. The Astros right now have a .674 winning percentage so they have been better. Yeah… I know… stats can be twisted into anything.

I'm going to stick my neck out and guess that the Cubs also did better in one half of that season than in the other. It's a long season.

[Don Walcott]

I prefer bagels. But let's save some doughnuts for big Bart!

[ashbury]

Not for long.

I agree.

[ashbury]

There are no two- or three- or four-shaped donuts that I’m aware of… I’m good with the donuts thing.

Some bakers get creative.

 

http://www.cafe-future.net/news/pics/13492-org.jpg

[Vanimal46]

 

I prefer bagels. But let's save some doughnuts for big Bart!

 

There's a new Jewish-style deli that opened up down the road from my place... They make NY style bagels in a variety of flavors, and of course shmear! I've had more bagels over the last 3 weeks than I care to admit.... 

[amjgt]

 

Some bakers get creative.

 

http://www.cafe-future.net/news/pics/13492-org.jpg

Is that a picture of our winning percentage on Sunday morning?

[Blake]

The Dodgers and Houston in July. Talk about a dose of crushing reality.

 

But,that's okay, because the Twins have gone from doormats to competitive in just a year, which is great.

 

Speaking of great, great job, RB!

 

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I can only sympathize with Mr. Mauer on the clog issue. It probably has painful bilateral associations.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

 

2. Our Twins – All Star Break Math for You. The left hand column is bigger than the right hand column with a record of 45-43. The Twins are in 2nd place in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind the Indians and currently just one game out of the Wild Card behind the Yankees and Rays.

 

 

Not for long.

Indeed. We are going to catch the Rankees, right?

[Squirrel]

The Dodgers and Houston in July. Talk about a dose of crushing reality.

 

But,that's okay, because the Twins have gone from doormats to competitive in just a year, which is great.

 

Speaking of great, great job, RB!

I actually think playing them both in July is a good thing and perfect timing. It will be telling one way or another, but likely just one way. Gives us enough time to make some decisions and hopefully a transaction or two or few to follow.

[yarnivek1972]

Could be worse. The Twins could face the Yankees in July too.

 

Oh wait...

[Craig Arko]

Gotta play the better teams sometime if you ever want to improve.

[Blake]

I have to wonder what Falvey and Levine are thinking right now.

 

The Twins are on the fringe of contending and, meanwhile, the FO duo is still trying to find their way around the organization along with trying to figure out what's for real and what is smoke and mirrors.

 

Sell? Buy? Grin and Bear it while standing pat? Run shrieking from the organization? Wondering if they should take up drinking and drugs?

[Squirrel]

 

I have to wonder what Falvey and Levine are thinking right now.

 

The Twins are on the fringe of contending and, meanwhile, the FO duo is still trying to find their way around the organization along with trying to figure out what's for real and what is smoke and mirrors.

 

Sell? Buy? Grin and Bear it while standing pat? Run shrieking from the organization? Wondering if they should take up drinking and drugs?

I think it might take Falvey/Levine some time to put it together. It's not knowing what they have, it's realizing what they don't have, and what more they don't have to get what they need. I continue to remain neutral in my 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst' state of mind ... que sera sera.

[Riverbrian]

 

The New York Times has picked up your scoop, and backdated it with a year 2009 byline and inserted Carl's name instead. With prudent investment, Jim should have grown his inherited portion to approximately 14 trillion dollars in the intervening time, or not quite enough to pay off the US national debt.

.

 

Does Forbes have anything on Seth Stohs? 

[Riverbrian]

 

Some bakers get creative.

 

http://www.cafe-future.net/news/pics/13492-org.jpg

 

The way are bullpen has been at times. They have to

[Riverbrian]

 

I actually think playing them both in July is a good thing and perfect timing. It will be telling one way or another, but likely just one way. Gives us enough time to make some decisions and hopefully a transaction or two or few to follow.

 

I agree completely

[Don Walcott]

I have to wonder what Falvey and Levine are thinking right now.

 

The Twins are on the fringe of contending and, meanwhile, the FO duo is still trying to find their way around the organization along with trying to figure out what's for real and what is smoke and mirrors.

 

Sell? Buy? Grin and Bear it while standing pat? Run shrieking from the organization? Wondering if they should take up drinking and drugs?

Looks like Falvine picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue . . . .

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Does Forbes have anything on Seth Stohs? 

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the window industry doesn't pay quite as well as banking and baseball.

[Don Walcott]

One thing I am thankful for is that we're not all waiting on that shiny new pitcher to start a game while Dozier clobbers us for the Dodgers (probably batting 5th).

[USAFChief]

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the window industry doesn't pay quite as well as banking and baseball.

http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/56d747676e97c623008bb0a1-480/bill-gates-windows.jpg

 

Windows pays quite well, thankyouverymuch.

[Puckett34]

 

Could be worse. The Twins could face the Yankees in July too.

Oh wait...

Or they could play the Dodgers in July as well.

 

Dang it...

[Blake]

 

Looks like Falvine picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue . . . .

I see your mind went there too. You should probably seek professional help. Or write TD game day threads.

 

I suspect certain moderators prefer the latter to the former.

[bluechipper]

Zack Granite hitting in the 2 hole tonight and playing LF. Looking forward to that.

 

Dozier

Granite

Sano

Kepler 

Grossman

Vargas

Polanco

Castro

Buxton

[Mike Sixel]

 

Zack Granite hitting in the 2 hole tonight and playing LF. Looking forward to that.

 

Dozier

Granite

Sano

Kepler 

Grossman

Vargas

Polanco

Castro

Buxton

 

I admit to being surprised he's playing. I still expect him to go down when they need another SP.

[Don Walcott]

Zack Granite hitting in the 2 hole tonight and playing LF. Looking forward to that.

 

Dozier

Granite

Sano

Kepler 

Grossman

Vargas

Polanco

Castro

Buxton

I don't like Buxton hitting behind Castro, except for the distinct possibility that he'll pass him on the bases one of these games.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I don't like Buxton hitting behind Castro, except for the distinct possibility that he'll pass him on the bases one of these games.

 

I think the goal is to have Buxton in front of Dozier, and I can buy that goal. It's like hitting the pitcher 8th in the NL, super tiny advantage.