Article: Game Thread: Twins v Yankees, 7/17@7:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

Not often do you get a chance to type “Pigmeat Markham” in correct context so when opportunity presents itself… do not… ever... pass it... by. As 'Pigmeat' Markham once said, "Here comes da Judge… here comes da Judge… here comes da Judge… here comes da Judge."

The Yankees are in town for a 3-game series and Aaron Judge has been incredible. He has a .319 Batting Average and 30 Home Runs; those are incredible numbers… clearly frontrunner MVP type numbers.

Every year, in late March, I participate in a fantasy baseball draft for a 12-team keeper league. The draft is 30 rounds and I had Aaron Judge on my list of fall back options. I decided before the draft began that I would try and get Hunter Renfroe as my 5th OF selection in the 23rd round and if he wasn’t available I would grab Judge. Renfroe was available and I was happy. As we reached the final round… Aaron Judge was still available. I needed a 2B and I needed some power so that final pick was between Ryan Schimpf and Judge. I had Brandon Drury already and he was going to be 2B eligible in about 10 games so I could grab an OF despite the need for a 2B. I had 1:30 on the clock to make my selection, and I used up almost all of the available time to think about it. It was a long Saturday afternoon and most people were ready to wrap it up and go home, someone shouted at me, “IT’S THE 30TH PICK!!! It’s not like you are deciding the fate of the FREE WORLD HERE”. So I picked Schimpf and 2 picks later… the guy who shouted at me grabbed Judge. Since this is a keeper league, he will have Judge next year and the year after that.

Moral of the Story – A run of Padres isn’t great draft strategy and… and… SHUT UP WHEN I’M DRAFTING… and… and… it’s one of those drafts that I will be Judged on.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. New York Mills – With a population of 1,225 people, New York Mills is pretty close to the middle of Twins Territory, located about 78 miles east of Fargo and 1,255 Miles from Plattsburgh, NY. The town got its name because the area sawmills were owned by a New York Compan - those Yankees decided on the name of the town and Minnesotans didn’t argue. It could have been called Minnesota Mills or Mills Fleet Farm instead. Back in the late 1800’s, sawmills sprung up in order to increase the amount of sawing that could be done. There isn’t much to see but people wanted to saw it anyway. I have driven through New York Mills, I saw it. The town was primarily settled by the Finnish, but when I saw it, it didn’t look totally Finnished, there were still improvements that could be made. One thing they could do… is take those perfectly fine and totally usable fishing boats off the top of the 'Welcome to New York Mills' city signs. As you enter the city limits there are actual fishing boats up in the air and visible to all. I don’t know how they got up there, perhaps a huge flood or something but it’s pretty lazy to not take them down after all this time. Lund Boats are manufactured in New York Mills at the same factory that produced high school basketball legend Janet Karvonen. She Finnished her high school career as the leading scorer in Minnesota History.

2. Our Twins – OK… three games with the Houston Astros after the all-star break, one win with two losses and ground was actually gained because the Indians got swept by the mighty A’s. This thing ain’t over yet. Byron Buxton has been swinging pretty well lately but he has been placed on the DL because that is what happens when you finally start playing well with the Twins.

3. The Yankees – Not only are the Twins trying to catch the Indians. They are also trying to catch the Yankees and they are both equal distance away. The Yankees used to be a bunch of old talent but they quickly transformed to a bunch of young talent. A-Rod, Jeter, and Roger Maris are gone, replaced by Judge, Sanchez and Hicks. Yankee fans travel well and tend to show up at road parks around the country. This is because you can buy a Twins ticket, flight, rental car, hotel, food and a My Pillow for less than a cost of a Yankees ticket.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

McCarthy: These ribs are delicious… my compliments, Joe

Maddon: Thank you… Carolina-style barbecue. Vinegar, mustard base, with applewood chips in the smoker.

Mauer: Joe… I gotta ask you… how do you know so much about food?

Maddon: I don’t know… it just kinda happened… I’ve always been a bit of a foodie.

Montana: Foodie?

Maddon: Yeah, foodie… I actually coined that phrase.

Mauer: You coined that phrase?

Maddon: Yep… I called myself a foodie once and the rest is history.

McCarthy: That’s nothing… I coined the phrase… “Coined a phrase”.

5. Projects - I was asked to oversee a project at work that I didn’t have time for. I decided to overlook it, things will be fine as long as nobody understands the difference.
____________________

Lineups:

YANKEES
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Clint Frazier LF
Aaron Judge RF
Matt Holliday DH
Starlin Castro 2B
Didi Gregorius SS
Chase Headley 3B
Garrett Cooper 1B
Austin Romine C
Brian Mitchell P

TWINS
Brian Dozier 2B
Zack Granite CF
Joe Mauer 1B
Miguel Sano 3B
Max Kepler RF
Kennys Vargas DH
Eddie Rosario LF
Ehire Adrianza SS
Jason Castro C

Adalberto Mejia P

Weather: Woo! Looks like a hot one in the TC today! (Yes, Chief, we know that it's twice as hot where you are ... yes, I'm leaving that comment open to interpretation.) Wunderground says that at game time it will be 89 deg (with a heat index of 96), getting cloudier throughout the evening as the rain is coming, but hopefully after the game is complete, with the winds from the S at 15mph. (Currently it's sunny, 94 deg with the heat index at 106 ... and it's a lovely upper 70s and sunny here in ChiTown ... perfect topless driving weather.)

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[Blake]

Good job!

[Han Joelo]

The Joe M. conversation reminded me of the time I coined the phrase "Falvine"  Granted it's not a phrase, and I haven't actually monetized that yet, or copywrighted it or anything, and actually I don't even like it anymore.

 

 If it makes you feel better, Judge is hitting .239 in July, so either he's regressing towards thirtieth round pick status, or he will regress back towards MVP status after a few games with the Twins.  Here's one I stole from Steven Wright:

 

I once dated a rich girl whose dad had been the guy who invented that little diagram that tells you which way to put batteries in things.

[Blake]

Hopefully, the Twins will only pitch to Judge when they have to. 

 

There are times I honestly have to wonder what Molitor and Co. are thinking when they pitch to someone rather than pitch around someone.

[Mike Sixel]

True story:

 

While in Nebraska for Christmas with the extended family, I was maybe 4-5....as the minister walked down the aisle, I yelled out "here come da judge". My grandmother was not amused, and asked how often we went to church back home....

[Winston Smith]

 

True story:

 

While in Nebraska for Christmas with the extended family, I was maybe 4-5....as the minister walked down the aisle, I yelled out "here come da judge". My grandmother was not amused, and asked how often we went to church back home....

Laugh in classic:

 

[Vanimal46]

I just read this interesting tid-bit on Fangraphs' Sunday Notes Article:

On July 17, 1990, the Twins turned two 5-4-3 triple plays in a 1-0 win against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The following day, the teams combined to turn 10 double plays — six by Minnesota, and four by Boston — in a 5-4 Red Sox win.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Headed back to MPLS this week. I gotta be honest, I'm not liking the idea of staying up late for these 7 pm starts.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I just read this interesting tid-bit on Fangraphs' Sunday Notes Article:

On July 17, 1990, the Twins turned two 5-4-3 triple plays in a 1-0 win against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The following day, the teams combined to turn 10 double plays — six by Minnesota, and four by Boston — in a 5-4 Red Sox win.

Cool!

 

Reminds me o' that 11hit shut out Silva twirled, also with 6 double plays.

 

Gotta ask though, were runners just slower in those days? Was that when the molasses flood finally reached Fenway?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

For me, New York Mills has an unfortunate association with New Horizons in musical appreciation.

 

"It's a wonderful night for a concert, not a cloud in the ceiling..."

[mickeymental]

aside from the lacerating wit and wisdom displayed at twins daily, all the "clever" judge-related wordplay can't end soon enough ...

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Cool!

Reminds me o' that 11hit shut out Silva twirled, also with 6 double plays.

Gotta ask though, were runners just slower in those days? Was that when the molasses flood finally reached Fenway?

Actually the bases were further apart back in those days. But then the owners decided baseball games were too long and the old fans were spending too much time standing in the bathroom line and not in the $8 hot dog line so they moved the bases closer together to shorten up the game and spice up the hot dog sales. And in a clear case of unintended consequences, professional baserunners suddenly became faster.

 

The owners also began offering free sauerkraut for the increased sales of hot dogs which resulted in more gas being passed by the old farts, thus convincing fans of all ages to push for open air outdoor stadiums to replace domed stadiums. Which of course the owners didn't have to pay for.

 

I know this to be true because many a Twins fan said baseball in the old Metrodome stunk.

 

 

 

 

[Craig Arko]

aside from the lacerating wit and wisdom displayed at twins daily, all the "clever" judge-related wordplay can't end soon enough ...

[Blake]

 

aside from the lacerating wit and wisdom displayed at twins daily, all the "clever" judge-related wordplay can't end soon enough ...

Not that you're judging or anything.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Judge not, less you be judged.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

...

 

5. Projects - I was asked to oversee a project at work that I didn’t have time for. I decided to overlook it, things will be fine as long as nobody understands the difference.

 

 

Is this the fine art of projecting?

 

Where can i sign up for all of the credit and none of the blame... er, i mean responsibility?

 

I am dusting off my brooms even now...

[ashbury]

aside from the lacerating wit and wisdom displayed at twins daily, all the "clever" judge-related wordplay can't end soon enough ...

The moderators will be the judge of that.

[ashbury]

5. Projects - I was asked to oversee a project at work that I didn’t have time for. I decided to overlook it, things will be fine as long as nobody understands the difference.

 

The United States House Committee on Oversight will need to not have a look into this.

[Puckett34]

 

Not that you're judging or anything.

The jury is out on us I think.

 

Am I doing this right?

[Craig Arko]

The jury is out on us I think.

 

Am I doing this right?

[Puckett34]

 

Motion denied.  Got it.

[Dave The Dastardly]

When I was younger I was judged mental.

 

Now that I am older I've become judgmental.

 

Personally, I can't tell the difference.

 

You be the judge.

[Han Joelo]

These puns rule.

[Squirrel]

 

The jury is out on us I think.

 

Am I doing this right?

Yes, and no, the jury is not out on any of you!

[Craig Arko]

These puns rule.

[Puckett34]

 

Yes, and no, the jury is not out on any of you!

Could you say, don't judge a book by its cover?

[Squirrel]

 

These puns rule.

I think this is where the judge (me) yells, 'SUSTAINED!'

[Squirrel]

 

Could you say, don't judge a book by its cover?

How do you know I haven't read the book? I have secret powers, you know. Mwahahahahahaha!!!

[Puckett34]

 

How do you know I haven't read the book? I have secret powers, you know. Mwahahahahahaha!!!

What's the ruling on secret powers?

[Squirrel]

 

What's the ruling on secret powers?

It's a secret.