Game Thread: Twins @ White Sox 6/26 @ 5:10 pm PT (7:10pm CT)

[Blake]

Because I like the classics, I thought I'd throw this out there:

 

 

*Yeah, yeah, I know, I qualify as a "classic" myself. Maybe even "antique." 

 

What, exactly does this have to do with the Twins playing the White Sox? I have absolutely no idea. But, hey, baseball! Speaking of which, did you know the Twins are currently 6-3 against the White Sox? (I couldn't find an official source, so, I added it up myself. Fortunately, I had enough fingers.)

 

 

*I may or may not have used this method of counting.

 

 

Though the Twins have fared well against the Sox, I blame the Twins troubles on the Sox games that were postponed early in the season.

 

 

*Trouble, I say you got trouble, son!

 

And with that, I leave you with these incredibly irrelevant thoughts:

 

 

Some random observations from Sunday:

 

1. Hard to believe, but Colon really grew on me though I hated the signing last year. And he showed why he's still pitching in the big leagues on Sunday.

2. Berrios: Showed the big dog the young dog can get it done too.

3. The Twins seem to know how to get on base. It's after getting on base the problems seem to start.

4. Hildenburger is looking like the real deal.

5. I cannot say enough good things about Fernando Rodney. Seems to be the bullpen equivalent of Bartolo when it comes to keeping calm and taking care of business.

 

Play Ball!

 

Pitching for the Twins:

RHP Lance Lynn

 

Fun note: Lance Lynn has posted a 2.88 ERA over his last nine starts.

 

Pitching for the White Sox:

 

RHP Reynaldo Lopez

 

Not so fun note: Last time Reynaldo pitched against the Twins, he allowed only 1 hit over seven innings and wound up with a no decision.

[Blake]

Lineups will follow later. If someone beats me to it, great.

[Dantes929]

"3. The Twins seem to know how to get on base. It's after getting on base the problems seem to start." 

 

 Maybe just a little.   Hard to know the impact of getting guys picked off the bases at what feels like about 6 runners per game but the Twins are 23rd in scoring, 23rd in average and 23rd in OBP.   Getting on base is   something the Twins are pretty bad at.  Staying on base without making outs is something they are horrible at and getting them in once they are on is probably something they are about average at given their poor numbers in getting on base and staying on base.

 

According to Baseball Reference there are only three regulars above league average in OBP (Rosario, Escobar and LaMarre) and only three above league average in average.  (Same three)   Mauer hasn't played enough.    Last year the team OBP was .334 compared to .309 this year.    They are not good at getting on base.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

"Hey Inego.

 

I hope we win."

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I will be distracted by my own softball game, where i probably will ground out to short stop.

 

Last week the opposing short stop wore a Twins shirt. I think i gidp to him on one occasion, and was erased on the basepaths by him in similar fashion. But i got a liner by him that ticked off his glove.

 

He repayed the favor by hitting a towering fly over my head, the kind my dad told me as a kid just to turn my back on the ball entirely and run. I did so, looking back for the ball over my shoulder in time to see it and fall clumbsily to the ground trying to adjust the last few feet, only to have it tick off my non-gloved hand... So close!

 

Oh well. I'm used to disapointment.

[Blake]

 

[Vanimal46]

Annnd we're here reporting LIVE in Chicago dor this ELECTRIC series. Let's speak to this woman who's been sitting in front of the White Sox' stadium all day. Ma'am? What do you think of the Twins' chance of winning today?

 

Oh, you don't like baseball?

 

You won't believe how crazy these Twins fans are for the game today!!!

[Doomtints]

Stormy night in Chicago. Don't expect this game to finish.

[Shaitan]

 

Stormy night in Chicago. Don't expect this game to finish.

+ Lynn pitching.

 

Predictions for what time the game will end?

[yarnivek1972]

My weather spies tell me there is a window from about 8 to 11 to get the game in.

[VATwinsFan]

Littell pitching for Rochester tonight against the not so vaunted Syracuse Chiefs (currently last in the Intl League Eastern Division), who are of course not to be confused with the Syracuse Bulldogs of Slap Shot fame.

 

"It's him!!"

 

"Oh this young man has had a very trying rookie season, with the litigation, the notoriety, his subsequent deportation to Canada and that country's refusal to accept him, well, I guess that's more than most 21-year-olds can handle... Ogie Ogilthorpe!"

 

[Brandon Brooks]

Certainly miiighty proud, I say, I'm always mighty proud to say it...

 

Perhaps seeing my favorite musical in the gamethread will be a lucky charm for us tonight.

[Shaitan]

 

My weather spies tell me there is a window from about 8 to 11 to get the game in.

So 3 innings of Lance Lynn ball?

[yarnivek1972]

So 3 innings of Lance Lynn ball?

I’m thinking a delayed start.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Certainly miiighty proud, I say, I'm always mighty proud to say it...

 

Perhaps seeing my favorite musical in the gamethread will be a lucky charm for us tonight.

My favorite musical as well. Of all time. By far.

[S.]

Did I miss the 7:30 update they claimed we were going to get? If so, did they give an estimated time for the start?

[FlauerPauer]

Yawn.  The rain ruins everything.

 

Got to get over to the Red Wings/Chiefs game yesterday. Buxton looked rough; weak contact, a lot of swinging strikes. Granite put some good wood on the ball; dude is super small. Gordon looked solid at the plate and in the field. Trevor May was in uniform and kicking ass at Fortnite. Mejia looked great; gave up a couple deep fly balls, but had a no hitter through 5 and 1/3 innings and only had two walks. John Curtiss looked rough in his one inning. He got a couple strikeouts, but loaded the bases and lacked command. I didn't stay for the second game. Probably going back to watch Romero tomorrow if the rain gods allow that to happen here in Syracuse,

[S.]

Would be nice if they would give us an update here. Over an hour after start time and they still haven't told us a thing.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

My favorite musical as well. Of all time. By far.

It is a good musical.

 

I didn't know Far wrote it though...

 

What else has Far written?

[S.]

For those of you who have changed the channel, tarp is coming off, start time announced as 8:55.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Buxton looked rough; weak contact, a lot of swinging strikes.

 

Thanks for the update. That's a huge bummer. I was hoping the strikeouts could be chalked up to a lot of called strikes he was taking trying to track pitches better.

[S.]

Ouch. Lucky neither of them got hurt on that one, he got clocked pretty good in the back of the head.

[Monkeypaws]

Hah, noticed as the were treating Moncada that he had the Yankees logo tattooed under his ear.

[Monkeypaws]

Lynn Ks Abreu with 96 mph gas. Wow.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dozier reminds self he will be a free agent

[Danchat]

Well, Dozier is still a pretty decent player when there's nobody on base. It's just too bad that he hits around .150 in high leverage situations.

[FlauerPauer]

I'll take those Dozier homers this year. He can hit them for someone else next year though.

[FlauerPauer]

Ya love to see that.

[FlauerPauer]

Gotta love the Big Strong Mathew LeCroy references by Morneau.

[gocgo]

Anyone else notice the blond behind home plate?  I'd throw one to the backstop for the sake of my catcher.