Article: Game Thread: Twins @ Tigers, 8/11@6:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

The Twins begin a 3-game series against the Tigers in Motown riding a 5-game win streak. The Twins are in the forth portion of an extended back and forth.

The Twins are doing a little Tubthumbing it seems. Everybody sing, “I get knocked down… but I get up again… you are never gonna keep me down. I get knocked down… but I get up again… you are never gonna keep me down.” Those are the only lyrics that apply because the rest of the song is about getting drunk. Unless of course… the Twins are playing drunk and it’s helping.

That’s all I got… so… one more time… “I get knocked down… but I get up again… you are never gonna keep me down.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Detroit – There has been a lot of talk about the wall that Trump wants to build along the Mexico border, but I have another idea and it’s brilliant… (like usual)[sic]*. Try to follow along if you can. We never worry about Canadians sneaking into the U.S. and stealing all the good jobs. They used to try but when they crossed the border and ran into Detroit, they turned back immediately and ran back out because… it was Detroit and nobody would enter Detroit willingly. If they went to the East… there was Buffalo and once again… they turned back immediately. The Canadians stayed where they were and seem to be fairly happy now. So… obviously… in order to secure our southern border… we just need to build a massive Detroit and watch the conditions in Mexico seem better. A wall is a challenge to be overcome… a Detroit is nothing to strive for. Besides… it’s possible that a massive scale Detroit will cost less than a wall.

2. Our Twins – Am I surprised by this pleasant run of W’s? I am not and the reason I am not is… it’s baseball… Every team goes on a winning streak at some time and every team goes on the losing streak at some time. It happens to every single team… every single year. That’s right, Dodgers… you will go on a losing streak at some time. Playoffs would be ideal timing in my opinion.

3. The Tigers – I’m going to go ahead and make a prediction right now. The Tigers will continue their dismantling in the off season. They may have been dreaming of higher returns at the trade deadline, but that didn’t materialize. They may have been dreaming of trade partners willing to take on more of the fat contracts in their possession, but that didn’t happen, either. Now the Tigers have two choices… continue to spend insane amounts of money or try to get things under control and start rebuilding that pitiful farm system. The Tigers are on the hook already for 122 Million in 2018 with the contracts of Verlander, Cabrera, Upton, Zimmerman and Martinez alone. I’m betting that option #2 happens and AAAA roster filler will be lined up around the block trying to grab available 25-man slots in 2018. Shane Robinson’s agent is already making phone calls.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

McCarthy: What’ve ya got there, Joe.

Mauer: It’s one of those Google, self-driving cars.

Maddon: Detroit isn’t going to like that.

Mauer: I know… It’s taking me to the stadium tonight.

Morgan: Self-driving? Does that mean you drive it yourself?

Mauer: Take a look inside... no steering wheel and the back seats and front seats face each other. You just type in the location and the car takes me there while I play Angry Birds on my phone.

Montana: What’s that?

Mauer: It’s a “Feeling Lucky” button that takes you to someplace random. I pushed it once and it took me to a bathroom inside the Mall of America… on the 5th level.

McCarthy: Beach Boys songs are going to suck in that thing.

Maddon: How fast does it go?

Mauer: Not fast enough… I tried to drag race a guy in another one. It was a moderately paced tie.

5. Pregnant Women – I just happened to stop by the local YMCA yesterday. I walked past the pool and I noticed a very pregnant woman dive into the pool and start swimming. She seemed to do most of her swimming underwater; she’d go under water, surface, and then go down again. I couldn’t help thinking... she was basically a functional Submarine.

*[sic], as applied to the statement 'like usual' ... The Latin adverb sic ("thus"; "just as"; in full: sic erat scriptum, "thus was it written")[1] inserted after a quoted word or passage indicates that the quoted matter has been transcribed exactly as found in the source text, complete with any erroneous or archaic spelling, surprising assertion, faulty reasoning, or other matter that might otherwise be taken as an error of transcription.
____________________

Lineups:

TWINS
Brian Dozier 2B
Max Kepler RF
Joe Mauer 1B
Miguel Sano DH
Eddie Rosario LF
Eduardo Escobar 3B
Byron Buxton CF
Jorge Polanco SS
Jason Castro C

Kyle Gibson P

TIGERS
Ian Kinsler 2B
Mikie Mahtook CF
Justin Upton LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Nick Castellanos 3B
Victor Martinez DH
James McCann C
Andrew Romine RF
Jose Iglesias SS

Anibel Sanchez P

Weather: 73 deg F, mostly cloudy, winds at 9mph from the W, and I think the rains have passed for today.

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[diehardtwinsfan]

needed that pick me up this morning. Thanks RB for the humor.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Great stuff RB. Thanks.

[Blake]

Here's hoping the Twins kick the Tigers while they're down. Repeatedly.

[joefish]

Flush detoilet.Repeatedly.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Me, i just hope we play good.

Or well, if you prefer.

 

But shan't complain much if we win...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

If front seats face backwards, doesn't that make 'em back seats too?

 

Leastwise when backing up.

 

Which means everyone can backseat drive!

 

How'd Joe get one of these?

[ashbury]

Me, i just hope we play good.

Or well, if you prefer.

If we play good, I hope we are enough better to win.

[Riverbrian]

 

If front seats face backwards, doesn't that make 'em back seats too?

Leastwise when backing up.

Which means everyone can backseat drive!

How'd Joe get one of these?

 

He's Joe... He gets almost everything he wants. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

He's Joe... He gets almost everything he wants.

I think he wants a world series ring...

 

Or am i just being greedy om his behalf?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

If we play good, I hope we are enough better to win.

Concur.

[ThejacKmp]

One of the things I love about the Twins this year is how many switch hitters and lefties they have to run out there. When we face a righty, we have the positional advantage for 6 out of 9 matchups.

The Tiggers on the other hand, will be facing right handed Kyle Gibson and trotting out seven righties, one lefty and a switch-hitter - including five righties to start off the lineup.

 

Unfortunately, Kyle Gibson is pretty equally awful against righties and lefties but still, it's the principle that matters. Go Twins!



 

[caninatl04]

One interesting factoid about Detroit:

 

No matter what anyone tells you, there is no valet parking in Detroit.

[Puckett34]

 

One interesting factoid about Detroit:

 

No matter what anyone tells you, there is no valet parking in Detroit.

Another fun fact about Detroit is that it is the Potato Chip Capital of the United States World.

Edited August 11, 2017 by Puckett34

[Riverbrian]

 

One interesting factoid about Detroit:

 

No matter what anyone tells you, there is no valet parking in Detroit.

 

I once thought there was... Gave some guy my keys and off he went... didn't come back. 

 

 

[bighat]

Sano seems to be swinging and missing on that low and outside borderline pitch with regularity these days. Go the other way, man!

[Riverbrian]

 

Sano seems to be swinging and missing on that low and outside borderline pitch with regularity these days. Go the other way, man!

 

And when he misses it... I think it's possible he will see it again. 

[Riverbrian]

Hey Rosario

 

Jump

 

Might as well Jump

 

Go Ahead Jump

[Aggies7]

Hot dog Rosario ?

[Aggies7]

Gibby has always been a pretty good stopper. As in momentum

[Winston Smith]

 

Hot dog Rosario ?

I don't think you need the question mark.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Hey Rosario

 

Jump

 

Might as well Jump

 

Go Ahead Jump

Maybe he was waiting for the music to come around again.

 

I assume he did not jump high enough? And this has something to do with a 1-0 score?

[bighat]

Ump seems to have a liberal strike zone here.

[Aggies7]

Maybe he was waiting for the music to come around again.

I assume he did not jump high enough? And this has something to do with a 1-0 score?

He was in position to jump and rob the HR, but he just stood there with his back to the wall all cool like. When he realized he need to actually jump to catch it, it was too late.

[spinowner]

 

Gibby has always been a pretty good stopper. As in momentum

Tom Kelly once said that in baseball momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher. By itself, a dinger in the first inning is not a big deal. Let's see what happens over the next few innings. Either way TK knows of what he speaks.

Edited August 11, 2017 by spinowner

[mikecgrimes]

Is it to much to ask that the home plate umpire doesn't flip balls to the mound when the batter is standing right in front of him.  That ball must of missed Buxtons head by less then 3 inches.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Anybody notice how game thread comments have decreased since the Garcia and Kintzler trades? Makes me wonder if ticket sales are down also. And if the recent rally is bringing back the prodigal fans.

 

And that brings up another thought; do general managers consider the impact of trades on attendance? Is there like a formula for that?

[Riverbrian]

 

Maybe he was waiting for the music to come around again.

I assume he did not jump high enough? And this has something to do with a 1-0 score?

 

I think he could have robbed it but he got to close to the fence, giving up his room to jump and tried to kind of reach over and missed it by a few inches. 

 

A good ball boy might have got that one. 

 

 

[luckylager]

I think I'd be happy with an even split of Smalley, Torii and Hawkins in the FSN booth next year.  A good, entertaining, informative combo. 

 

[Riverbrian]

 

Is it to much to ask that the home plate umpire doesn't flip balls to the mound when the batter is standing right in front of him.  That ball must of missed Buxtons head by less then 3 inches.

 

I think you can ask

 

However... it is probably too much to get there in time to ask it.