Game Thread: Twins @ Cubs, 6/30 @ 1:20pm CT

[Squirrel]

Oh, where to begin. Wish I could be cheery, upbeat and witty, but I'm not sure I know how anymore with how the Twins have been playing. This is truly NOT their year ... even if there is still a sliver of hope to beat out the Indians and make the playoffs ... this is just NOT their year. So many things wrong, so many things to think about. We can bemoan the roster, who's up, who isn't, who gets picked up, who gets let go; we can bemoan the manager and the decisions he makes; we can bemoan individual players and their production, or lack thereof; we can bemoan the coahces; we can bemoan the FO. There is lots there.

 

That said and out of the way ... for this one game ... no need to drag all that into it. Each game is a new game. Just look at it in and of itself without all that stuff to bring it down. Each game is a new game. This is why I continue to watch (okay, truth be told, my watching has gone down significantly this year, but still), I continue to watch because it's baseball. And on any given day ... yes, any given day (and yes, I wish I knew which days were which ahead of time, but I don't) ... on any given day, the best can be the worst and the worst can be the best. Unless you are a team guaranteed to absolutely win every single game or lose every single game ... there's a reason to watch, because there are no guarantees of anything in baseball. There are high likelihoods, but no guarantees. And that is ... on any given day the best can be the worst and the worst can be the best. The player who is having a career worst year might still give you a career best day. The team who is playing their worst could pull it out for a really, great game. You never know ... so ... let's leave it all behind and take this game, this one game, in and of itself. That's why some of us continue to watch ... even if a little less so this season. Hopefully it's a day of surprises.

 

Another reason to watch and why I like baseball, you just never know when you are going to see something you haven't seen before. Baseball is just weird like that. There's always a play that has you scratching your head wondering ... 'What the heck just happened there?' in a good, amazed way. Or an obscure rule comes into play and you start searching the internet to understand why a particular call was made, because, hey ... I didn't know that. Whattaya know? In baseball there always seems to be something knew to learn and something new to see. But, you have to watch to see. Okay ... you could read about it in Tom's post-game write ups or in highlight clips of the game after ... but it isn't the same as seeing it in real time and not as a replay or rerun.

 

Now, for today. Cubs. Most peole who know me know what I think of Wrigley and Cubs fans. My general response is 'Ugh' to both. Heh. Sorry, but I am a Wrigley hater. I haven't been in every stadium, not even most, but I know enough about Wrigley to know, yuck. Yes, it's the most iconic stadium in all of baseball, from the sign on the outside to the ivy on the inside. It is 'the good ol' days' iconic, down to the Chicago-style hot dogs (if you like them with all that goop on them - I don't). But unless you manage to get a season ticket holder selling their seats, you are likely to have a seat where the sightlines are horrible. You are going to miss that great catch in the outfield, most likely, because yeah, bad sightlines. Or you could have the distinct pleasure of dodging a pillar all through the game and miss plays because you looked left instead of right or were switching left to right when the play happened. Don't get me started on the bathroom situation. Just hold it in, especially on ground floor. Ever seen a city rat? Yeah, Wrigley itself is ... Wrigley. And the fans? Diehard Cubs fans I take no issue with. They know their stuff. But the average Cubs fan is just a Cubs fan because, well, why not? They might know a couple names of players and that's about it. They don't know their team, they don't know their competition, they don't know the sport. They're just there for the beer, to get drunk, and to be seen getting drunk. They come during the 2nd inning and they leave by the 7th. No matter what. Just ... 'Ugh' to both. If I were forced to choose one Chicago baseball team or the other? I'd choose the White Sox ... that is how much I've grown to dislike the Cubs. (When I first moved here over 18 yrs ago, I'd have said the opposite. Just so you know ... this is based on years of first-hand experience.)

 

Today's game ... I don't know what you're going to get ... didn't I already say that above? You are going to get a game. So sit back and watch. Adalberto Mejia is pitching for the Twins. He's been on fire in the minors over his last several starts. We'll see what he does up here against the Cubs. I've liked him in my short experience of him. He's not an ace, but I think he gets after it. And he's a lefty that gets after it. Hopefully he gives us something good to see. Pitching for the Cubs is Tyler Chatwood. I read this line - "Chatwood still leads the National League in walks" - and laughed. Normally I'd say/think, 'I hope the Twins can capitalize on that,' but ... wasn't but a couple of days ago when the Twins were given three walks to load the bases with no outs and didn't score? Oh, wait ... we aren't going to do that today. This game is THIS game, in and of itself. Let's not bring into it all our past woes. Because who knows what will happen. Anything can.

 

On that note, here are today's lineups:

 

TWINS

Joe Mauer (L) 1B

Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B

Eddie Rosario (L) LF

Brian Dozier (R ) 2B

Max Kepler (L) RF

Ehire Adrianza (S) SS

Jake Cave (L) CF

Bobby Wilson (R ) C - Hmm, surprised it's not Astudillo who worked with Mejia more recently, but, whatever.

Adalberto Mejia (R ) P - wait, he's a lefty but bats rightie? Okay, then.

 

CUBS

Albert Almora (R ) CF

Jason Heyward (L) RF

Javier Baez (R ) 2B

Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B

Willson Contreras (R ) C

Ben Zobrist (S) LF

Addison Russell (R ) SS

David Bote (R ) 3B

Tyler Chatwood (R ) P

 

One more note ... the temperatures in Chicago are ... dangerous. At game time it will be 94 deg F with a heat index of 108. It won't cool much during the course of the game, either. I wouldn't be surprised if in such a confined space, those numbers are higher. Those are the days I would most hate to be a catcher. Stay hydrated out there!! And play ball! Go Twins!

[Jerr]

I may listen on the radio, but I had such high hopes for this season,makes it hard to get excited. Hope it's a good game and at least comes close to some of the soccer games I've been watching! They have been more entertaining then my beloved Twins. And that hurts to say....Go Twins!

[BoofBonser]

I would not be opposed to trading every player not named Ed... this season has been a disaster

[Squirrel]

 

I would not be opposed to trading every player not named Ed... this season has been a disaster

Unless today's game and the events in today's game involves trades, you're better off having that discussion in this thread:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30430-would-you-trade-eduardo-escobar/

 

Or this thread:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30433-article-deadline-doesnt-make-deals-imminent-for-twins/

[Craig Arko]

It’s not actually that warm. That’s just a hoax invented by the Chinese.

[BoofBonser]

 

Unless today's game and the events in today's game involves trades, you're better off having that discussion in this thread:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30430-would-you-trade-eduardo-escobar/

My apologies

[Squirrel]

 

My apologies

Or this thread:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30414-article-twins-daily-roundtable-sell-sell-sell/

 

[Squirrel]

 

My apologies

I'm just messin' with you ... but games do get harder to watch when bringing into it everything else that is wrong. I'd rather forget what's around us for just these 3 hrs and watch a game.

 

Yeah, yeah ... I know. We all know, actually.

[Mike Sixel]

Will molitor ever play the new catcher? As you recall, Kepler didn't play much that first year.

[operation mindcrime]

Carole, I bemoan the fact that you used the word bemoan 5 times in your opening paragraph!

[Squirrel]

 

Carole, I bemoan the fact that you used the word bemoan 5 times in your opening paragraph!

Lol ... I had to get it out of my system for this one game!

[Squirrel]

 

 

Will molitor ever play the new catcher? As you recall, Kepler didn't play much that first year.

I don't have all the info in front of me, so who am I to say ... but you'd think you'd want Mejia as comfortable as possible and wouldn't that be with the catcher he's most familiar with? But then, he could have worked some with Olson.

 

It just seems like we're looking for that exactly perfect moment to get a new guy into the game, when I think, hey ... just throw him in and make him swim. But I'm not the one making the decisions based on the least amount of info.

[bluechipper]

Tyler Chatwood has a BB/9 of 8.3 in 68 innings this year. That is ridiculous.

 

I'm surprised Grossman isn't starting in RF this afternoon.

[Squirrel]

 

It’s not actually that warm. That’s just a hoax invented by the Chinese.

Well ... whatever it is ... it's wreaking painful havoc on my arthritis.

[Danchat]

It'll be interesting to see Mejia in his first start as a Twin in 2018. He was decently effective last season but his starts were too short - too many pitches and he usually ran out of gas by the 5th inning. However, Twins rookie starters usually struggle in their first season in the majors, so I would expect a big step forward from Mejia.

 

It's also interesting to remember that Lynn's signing pushed Mejia out of his roster spot (for the most part). I wonder if he'll be more effective than his $12M replacement.

[Blake]

Why is Mejia up? I missed something somewhere. (yeah, yeah, I know, not the only thing I've missed, but, work with me here)

[Squirrel]

 

Why is Mejia up? I missed something somewhere. (yeah, yeah, I know, not the only thing I've missed, but, work with me here)

They never called up a starter to replace Romero. Motter went on the DL to open up a roster spot.

[Blake]

Why is Dozier still in the lineup? He needs to sit for a while. Or, maybe go on the DL. Something.

[drock2190]

Dozier whiffing on a pitch right over the plate. Not good.

[Blake]

 

They never called up a starter to replace Romero. Motter went on the DL to open up a roster spot.

I guess getting rid of Belisle never occurred to the, umm, brain trust.

 

Anyway, thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

[Bob Sacamento]

Go Cubs Go!! and sorry Carole but I've been to over 20 MLB stadiums and Wrigley over 100 times itself, it's special and after the renovations it's even better. And lumping all Cubs fans because of a few Bleacher Bums is like me lumping all Twins fans as pasty white folk who are allergic to the sun.

[Blake]

 

Go Cubs Go!! and sorry Carole but I've been to over 20 MLB stadiums and Wrigley over 100 times itself, it's special and after the renovations it's even better. And lumping all Cubs fans because of a few Bleacher Bums is like me lumping all Twins fans as pasty white folk who are allergic to the sun.

Considering I am a pasty white folk who is allergic to the sun, well, if the shoe fits....

[mickeymental]

where have the twins been hiding this mauer guy?

[Nine of twelve]

That was fun to watch.

[operation mindcrime]

Woooooooooooooo!

[Squirrel]

 

Go Cubs Go!! and sorry Carole but I've been to over 20 MLB stadiums and Wrigley over 100 times itself, it's special and after the renovations it's even better. And lumping all Cubs fans because of a few Bleacher Bums is like me lumping all Twins fans as pasty white folk who are allergic to the sun.

I think I was clear that the diehard Cub fans are good ... it's the other ones I go 'Ugh' about ... and the Ugh ones outnumber the diehards by plenty. I live here ... I see it and live it daily. I'll let you know tomorrow what I think of the enhancements. Nothing was different last year. The whole concourse area is a dump ... dank, dark, damp and icky.

[Squirrel]

 

 

That was fun to watch.

It was ... now ... for another something fun to watch ...

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYoKw3tPRKY

[mrmpls]

Busenitz sent down and Belisle still here, The way were going ,i guess it all makes sense, who goes ?when polanco comes back hopefully monday

[yarnivek1972]

Will molitor ever play the new catcher? As you recall, Kepler didn't play much that first year.

I think you need to remember that the “new catcher” is the defacto back up infielder. Until that changes, I would say there is no chance he starts behind the plate.

[yarnivek1972]

I think that was on Mauer. He ranged too far IMO. He should know where Dozier is. He should have covered the bag. No way was Mejia going to get there.