Article: Game Thread: Twins @ Dodgers, 7/24@9:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

The Dodgers have the best record in baseball and we’ve been looking at these games on the schedule assuming that it has already been decided.

 

The Twins expense sheet could be a little lighter if they just stayed home and saved on the travel costs. If they forfeit the games, our players could rest for 4 days and start fresh in Oakland on Friday.

 

The A’s won’t know what hit them.

 

Paper Logic for Paper Baseball in a Paper World.

 

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Los Angeles – Nearly 4 million people live in what is considered to be a basin. If Southern California had any water, it would be an excellent place to shave or wash your face. Without water the Los Angeles basin becomes an ideal place for all your hopes and dreams to circle around the drain. Four million people ignore the home prices, earthquakes, hair bands, smog, skateboarders, traffic, emergency room wait times, riots, scientology, Nicolas Cage and tar pits to call it home.

 

2. Our Twins – The Twins really laid an egg yesterday against the Tigers. The bullpen failed and the defense was not good and the clutch hitting was the opposite of clutch. Release is the opposite of clutch so the hitting was released upon us all. Every day is a new day and the Twins are still in this… 2.5 games behind the Indians and 1 game out of the wildcard. Bring on those artful Dodgers and watch your wallet.

 

3. The Dodgers – This team has been very impressive this year and there is no other way to interpret it. Here’s how good they have been… the 4th and 5th best records in baseball belong to the Rockies and Diamondbacks and despite how good those teams have been, the Dodgers have a 10.5 game lead over 2nd-place Colorado. The Dodgers have 7 players on the current roster who can produce a decent start on the mound. They have enough offense that Yasiel Puig bats 8th and one-time top prospect Joc Pederson is platooned. Yet… I was listening to Manager Dave Roberts on MLB Radio Talk about how they could use some bullpen help. I just cancelled my satellite subscription because I don’t want to hear that.

 

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

 

McCarthy: I’m not going to like this permanent hole in my head, Joe.

 

Mauer: Yeah… I am sure sorry about that. My intentions were good, though; I hope that counts for something.

 

McCarthy: It was a well-intentioned bullet to the head?

 

Mauer: Well, yeah… if you are going to put it that way, it doesn’t sound like it… but it was.

 

Maddon: We were trying to save you, Joe… you collapsed… we had no idea what was happening so we called 911.

 

Mauer: Yeah… Montana told me to make sure you were dead.

 

Montana: Hold on… I want to be very clear that I did not do that… there is no way I even suggested that… accept… yes… I did… I did.

 

McCarthy: For future reference… I’m already dead.

 

Maddon: Yeah… we kinda forgot that. The moment was tense.

 

Montana: Just remember you got friends, Joe.

 

McCarthy: I need friends like I need a hole in my…

 

Montana: Hey… It’ll be easier to attach your halo now.

 

5. Breaking the Rules – I walked past a place with the sign “Don’t Walk on the Grass” right in the middle of the yard. I wondered how the sign got there.

 

LINEUPS

 

Dodgers:

 

Chris Taylor® LF

Corey Seager(L) SS

Justin Turner® 3B

Cody Bellinger(L) 1B

Logan Forsythe® 2B

Yasmani Grandal(S) C

Joc Pederson(L) CF

Yasiel Puig® RF

Hyun-Jin Ryu(L) P

 

Twins:

 

Brian Dozier® 2B

Joe Mauer(L) 1B

Miguel Sano® 3B

Eduardo Escobar(S) SS

Eddie Rosario(L) LF

Robbie Grossman(S) RF

Jason Castro(L) C

Zack Granite(L) CF

Bartolo Colon® P

 

Weather: Don't know and am not looking it up. Posting lineups from my phone was hard enough. Will just go with the standard 'It never rains in southern California' and be done with.

 

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[Jerr]

I have hopes for the Twins to do well against baseballs' best team, unfortunately its on the West Coast and I will not know the outcome until morning, maybe a good thing.....

[Blake]

Hopefully, the BASB Road Twins play tonight. (Before All Star Break)

[gocgo]

I'd like to see a road sweep of the Dodgers...of course then there would be accusations of Russian collusion and it would just get ugly.  Hmmm...maybe a split would be better.

[Han Joelo]

The Dozier-Dodger Grudge match commences.  Come on, Brian, show them you were worth more than A Package Consisting of Jose Deleon and Three Extras from "Glee".

[Squirrel]

Um, Joe McCarthy is wearing a halo? He's not consumed by the flames of ... well, wherever he landed?

 

And minus the Nicholas Cage and tar pits, all those other descriptors could be describing Chicago. 

[Puckett34]

 

Hopefully, the BASB Road Twins play tonight. (Before All Star Break)

 

Well, given their winning every other game since the break they are due to win tonight.   Big Sexy with his first (possibly last?) Twins win.   Put it on the board.

[Respy]

Well honestly, they just need to get one win out of this series.  With Berrios and Santana going tomorrow and Wednesday, I'm hopeful.

[eLee612]

They've got at least one Twin-expat living out here in this basin!! I'll be at all three, unabashedly cheering for the boys. Unless they are getting crushed, in which case I will be crying silent tears in my seat with my hood up.  

 

Seeing the Braves (47-50) take down the Dodgers twice last week and break their streak was kind of spectacular and gives me added confidence. We can do this. [insert fist bump.] 

[Jerr]

 

They've got at least one Twin-expat living out here in this basin!! I'll be at all three, unabashedly cheering for the boys. Unless they are getting crushed, in which case I will be crying silent tears in my seat with my hood up.

 

Seeing the Braves (47-50) take down the Dodgers twice last week and break their streak was kind of spectacular and gives me added confidence. We can do this. [insert fist bump.] 

Please post some pics from the game.

[Squirrel]

There are several out there going to the games. I think Chief and glunn will be there. Blake? Dinger? Jimbo? Who will be there, raise your hand!

[Brandon]

Ill be at todays game. 2nd time to see Berrios pitch this year. Out in CA

[gocgo]

Just out of curiosity, when is Joe Morgan going to make an appearance in the Joe M conversations?   He could flap his left arm like a chicken wing and give advice on how to fly in a circle (kinda what happens to birds with one wing).

[SF Twins Fan]

[spinowner]

 

Big Sexy with his first (possibly last?) Twins win.

I prefer to refer to him as Big Squishy.

[Pardon My Dinger]

MPLS buddies are coming into town for a visit. We'll be in attendance Wednesday at the Ravine and Saturday in Oaktown. My second twins game of the year will also be my second Berrios start. I have been truly blessed.

[diehardtwinsfan]

OK guys, what's for dinner?  I'm grilling cedar planked salmon and asparagus. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Um, Joe McCarthy is wearing a halo? He's not consumed by the flames of ... well, wherever he landed?

 

And minus the Nicholas Cage and tar pits, all those other descriptors could be describing Chicago. 

 

Nicholas Cage and the Tar Pits are very important distinctions. 

 

McCarthy is from Wisconsin and they have their own version of... well, wherever he landed. 

 

When we all get to heaven... There will be nobody from Wisconsin there. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Just out of curiosity, when is Joe Morgan going to make an appearance in the Joe M conversations?   He could flap his left arm like a chicken wing and give advice on how to fly in a circle (kinda what happens to birds with one wing).

 

I believe that Joe Morgan is showing up on Thursday. I hope everybody treats him ok. 

[Squirrel]

 

Nicholas Cage and the Tar Pits are very important distinctions. 

 

McCarthy is from Wisconsin and they have their own version of... well, wherever he landed. 

 

When we all get to heaven... There will be nobody from Wisconsin there. 

Well, I'd make an exception for Sconnie. He seems like a good guy.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

OK guys, what's for dinner?  I'm grilling cedar planked salmon and asparagus. 

And to wash it all down?

 

 

[Danchat]

 

We've been pretty lucky with injuries so far. Even the best teams like the Astros and Dodgers have been hit by them. Let's hope our best guys can stay healthy.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

And to wash it all down?

 

 

Malbec for the adults.

[Puckett34]

 

OK guys, what's for dinner?  I'm grilling cedar planked salmon and asparagus. 

No chicken dinner tonight?

[Squirrel]

No chicken dinner tonight?

Your avatar goes perfectly with this post.

[Puckett34]

 

Your avatar goes perfectly with this post.

Ha! It does

[PDX Twin]

 

OK guys, what's for dinner?  I'm grilling cedar planked salmon and asparagus. 

 

Sounds great! One of our favorite meals! We used to get same-day-fresh Columbia River Chinook from a Native American fisherman at our local farmers' market and grill on cedar. A couple of years ago the old fisherman died and apparently the tribal fishing rights do not get passed down, so his family's fish stand has disappeared from our market.

[Jerr]

 

OK guys, what's for dinner?  I'm grilling cedar planked salmon and asparagus. 

Making a beef veggie soup here, from scratch. I'd have done chicken,but its too late of a finish, to have it after the game.

[Squirrel]

Dinner? I'll probably have a bowl of cereal.

 

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I contented myself with a box of mac and cheese.

 

Not thinking hard bout food at the moment.