Game Thread: Twins @ White Sox, 6/27/18 @ 7:10 PM CT

[Respy]

 

It feels like the Twins are gradually losing control. So far haunted by a major-league worst 3-13 record in 1-run games, the Twins have fallen to 7 games under .500, and 7.5 games back of the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. Cleveland helped their own cause last week, winning 7 games in a row against the Twins, White Sox, and Tigers.

 

But, there’s still a glimmer of hope. After two tough road series coming up in Chicago (Cubs) and Milwaukee (Brewers), the Twins have 14 consecutive games against league-worst Baltimore Orioles, second-to-league-worst Kansas City Royals, and the weak (though improving) Tampa Bay Rays. This includes the all-star break (July 16-19) for some much-needed rest, and the likely return of Jorge Polanco and Byron Buxton. After that, the Twins play 10 games against the Indians July 30 through August 30. Those 10 games will likely make or break the Twins season (if they can hold it together until then).

 

The Twins really need to pick up wins in both of the final two games of this series against the struggling White Sox.

 

Series Recap:

 

The White Sox (27-51, 4th in AL Central) are hosting the Twins (34-41, 2nd in AL Central) for game 2 of a 3-game series. The Twins dropped the first game of the series to the White Sox 8-4. Avisail Garcia hit his first homerun since returning from the disabled list. Twins hit 1.000 with runners in scoring position (but only had 1 runner in scoring position the whole game). The Twins did not have a single base runner against the White Sox bullpen (2 2/3 innings).

 

1. Notable Baseball Birthdays

• Wayne Terwilliger (93): “Twig” played 9 seasons in the majors primarily as a second baseman. He later had a long coaching career including first base coach for both Twins Championship teams in 1987 and 1991, and 12 seasons managing in the minors (1224-1089 record).
• Jim Edmonds (48): Center fielder who played mostly for the Angels and Cardinals, racked up a solid 60 career WAR, went to 4 all-star games, and received 8 gold gloves. Likely not a Hall of Famer but an impressive career.
• Jim Johnson (35): Still pitching with the Angels, led the league with 51 and 51 saves in 2012 and 2013, respectively, while pitching for the Orioles.
• Luis Rodriguez (38): Played 3 seasons for the Twins (2005-2007) playing second and third base.
• Jeff Conine (52): Known as “Mr. Marlin”, was third in 1993 NL ROY voting after being selected by the Florida Marlins in the expansion draft (from the Royals). Represented the Marlins in the 1994 and 1995 All-Star games.
• Gus Zernial (1923-2011): Feared slugger for the White Sox and Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics averaged 27.5 homeruns per year from 1950-1957.
• Rico Petrocelli (75): Known as a good defensive shortstop for the Red Sox over a 13-year career, hit 40 homeruns in 1969. Also had his major league debut against the Twins, September 21st, 1963. (Aside: This was also the same game that Harmon Killebrew hit three homeruns, the only time he did that in his career).

1b. On This Day in History…

 

Torii Hunter hit two homeruns against the Brewers on June 27, 2015. It was Torii Hunter’s 18th and final multi-homer game of his career, and also gave him 202 homeruns in a Twins uniform, passing Gary Gaetti for seventh all-time on the Twins list.

 

Video: https://www.mlb.com/video/hunter-goes-yard-twice/c-203994683?tid=63371196

 

2. Starting Pitchers and Key Matchups

 

Kyle Gibson (RHP, Minnesota): 2-5 in 15 starts, 3.25 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 4.0 BB/9

• 6-2 with 2.42 ERA career vs. White Sox
• Jose Abreu vs. Gibson: 6 for 26 (.214 BA) with 1 homerun and only 2 walks.
• Avisail Garcia vs. Gibson: 3 for 17 (.176 BA) with 4 strikeouts.

 

James Shields (RHP, White Sox): 2-9 in 16 starts, 4.59 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 3.5 BB/9

• 8-10 with 4.54 ERA career vs. Twins
• Brian Dozier vs. Shields: 13 for 42 (.310 BA) with 4 homeruns, 7 walks, 8 K’s.
• Logan Morrison vs. Shields: 8 for 27 (.296 BA) with 1 homerun.
• Max Kepler vs. Shields: 2 for 16 (.125 BA) with 5 K’s.

3. Our Twins: Who’s Hot and Cold?

 

 

Hotter than a Casserole Hotdish

• Eddie Rosario: 29 for 87 (.333 BA, 1.097 OPS) with 8 HR and 17 RBI in June.
• Mitch Garver: 5 for 10 (.500 BA) last 7 days
• Trevor Hildenberger: 0 runs allowed last 15 appearances
• Fernando Rodney: Converted 15 straight save chances
• Zach Duke: 1.04 ERA in June
• Taylor Rodgers: 1.93 ERA in June

 

Colder than Embarrass

• Joe Mauer: 3 for 19 (.158 BA) with 0 walks last 7 days
• Eduardo Escobar: 2 for 18 (.111 BA) with 0 RBI last 7 days
• Logan Morrison: 3 for 20 (.150 BA) last 7 days
• Max Kepler: 3 for 19 (.158 BA) last 7 days

 

4. OBP (One Bad Pun)

 

Since having our third kid, my wife has been getting cabin fever. Additionally, she has never traveled outside of the US before, so we’ve passed a few ideas back and forth like travelling to the Cayman Islands, New Zealand, or perhaps even an African safari.  I proposed going to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to watch the hippopotami.  She said that would be a bit too boring.  I replied that if she’s just trying to get out of the house and away from the kids for a while, she was being a bit hippocritical.

 

5. Magic 8-Ball (2018 Prediction Rate: 1-1)

 

Shake 1: “It is certain”
Shake 2: “It is certain”

My Magic 8-ball says… Twins win today.

 

---------------------------------

 

Lineups:

 

TWINS

 

1. [L] Joe Mauer (1B)
2. Eduardo Escobar (3B)
3. [L] Eddie Rosario (LF)
4. [R] Brian Dozier (2B)
5. [L] Max Kepler (CF)
6. Robbie Grossman (DH)
7. [L] Jake Cave (RF)
8. Ehire Adrianza (SS)
9. [R] Bobby Wilson ( C)

 

P. Kyle Gibson (RHP)

 

White Sox

 

1. Yoan Moncada (2B)
2. Yolmer Sanchez (3B)
3. [R] Jose Abreu (1B)
4. [L] Daniel Palka (DH)
5. [R] Avisail Garcia (RF)
6. Leury Garcia (LF)
7. [R] Tim Anderson (SS)
8. [L] Omar Narvaez ( C)
9. [L] Charlie Tilson (CF)

 

P. James Shields (RHP)

 

Forecast for Chicago, IL: 69 degrees F, Partly Cloudy, Wind 6 mph, Precipitation 10%

[DocBauer]

Shaking my head but LOL @ "hippocritical". Wonderfully awful!

[Blake]

Good job with the intro!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Good job with the intro!

Concur.

[Respy]

Correction: Jim Johnson had 51 and 50 saves in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

[Blake]

 

Correction: Jim Johnson had 51 and 50 saves in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Wow, lots of talent there. Winning coach at football along with an incredible race car driver. I wonder how he found time for all of that?

[Mike Sixel]

James freakin' Shields....I expect a Twins' win. blowout even.

[wsnydes]

Wow, lots of talent there. Winning coach at football along with an incredible race car driver. I wonder how he found time for all of that?

Don't forget about that hair!

[wsnydes]

James freakin' Shields....I expect a Twins' win. blowout even.

Gibson is pitching though. That means they'll be lucky to plate 2 runs.

[yarnivek1972]

Having Mauer back on the roster truly makes Morrison redundant. Especially when neither is hitting.

[Danchat]

That's why RISP can be a little deceiving - we hit .500 RISP in that inning and didn't get a run.

[Aggies7]

Oh my god our offense makes me want to vomit and never watch baseball again

[David HK]

So, after yesterday's debacle, we're now getting owned by James Shields.

 

Hmph.

[Blake]

Can Mr. Gibson swing a bat? Because, with the way he fields the ball, he could maybe fill in around the diamond.

[Aggies7]

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing us this was a playoff caliber team

[Danchat]

The White Sox hitters are looking really good right now. Hard to believe they're 24 games below .500, but perhaps it's more of us being so bad.

[h2oface]

 

So, after yesterday's debacle, we're now getting owned by James Shields.

 

Hmph.

 

Just stopped by to see the fandom excitement. 1 hit off Shields? Nothing to see here, I guess.

[Platoon]

I like Molitors out of the box thinking. Not everyone would take their lead off hitter, who is hitting so poorly they have to get him out of the one spot, and move him to the clean up spot. Now I know how you get to be MOY!

[h2oface]

Some would call that 5th pitch to Cave, right down the pipe, a mistake. I guess it is only a mistake if the batter can hit mistakes.

[h2oface]

Bobby Wilson, the .145 thunder turning the order around.

 

The fire on the base paths.

[Aggies7]

Someone put us out of our misery. Please. Kill this with fire immediately

[Aggies7]

For a guy who has gotten zero run support all year, you’d think Gibby would be hesitant to give up 4 runs to a terrible ball club

[Danchat]

Did I hallucinate that series against the Red Sox? I don't get this team.

[notoriousgod71]

Dick ripping on Abreu for being the leading vote getter at 1b as he takes Gibby deep is classic Dick.

[wsnydes]

I like Molitors out of the box thinking. Not everyone would take their lead off hitter, who is hitting so poorly they have to get him out of the one spot, and move him to the clean up spot. Now I know how you get to be MOY!

Unfortunately, viable options are limited or non-existent.

[Aggies7]

Did I hallucinate that series against the Red Sox? I don't get this team.

Aberration that you’d only see in a sport that plays 162 games.

[jun]

They brought this guy Bobby Wilson up to kill all the rallies. Based loaded ground out, runner on first DP.

[Jerr]

Well, 4-0 down to the Sox....going out to watch the full Moon, far more exciting. And the game will not be listened to, in order to NOT spoil the full Moon viewing.....................

 

[notoriousgod71]

 

I like Molitors out of the box thinking. Not everyone would take their lead off hitter, who is hitting so poorly they have to get him out of the one spot, and move him to the clean up spot. Now I know how you get to be MOY!

 

While moving your equally ineffective number two hitter to leadoff.

[notoriousgod71]

Mauer hitting the snot out of the baseball today.