Game Thread 7/12: Twins vs. Tampa Bay, 7:10 pm CT

[Tom Froemming]

Per the Red Wings, Buxton was lifted due to an "apparent hand injury" 

[Mike Sixel]

Per the Red Wings, Buxton was lifted due to an "apparent hand injury"

****

[Cap'n Piranha]

Mejia went 6 strong and only gave up 1 run ... Maybe he'll get another shot when the heat index isn't 112F.

Only issue is that we need a starter for Sunday—I’m guessing Bert Mejia won’t be good to go on two days rest, which is a missed opportunity, in my mind. With Rochester just coming off their all-star break, the rotation could easily have been shuffled to allow him to get Sunday’s start.

[slash129]

 

Per the Red Wings, Buxton was lifted due to an "apparent hand injury" 

 

Ouch ... Hope it comes back negative ... They called me Mr. Glass.

[Squirrel]

Any word on how long the delay will be?

[snepp]

 

Any word on how long the delay will be?

 

This is where we really miss Pseudo being part of the game threads, his weathermanish abilities were second to none.

[GCTF]

 

Used in arbitration....plus, you get to be known as an All Star forever.

 

I'd totally want that.

Engle and Coomer are thumbing their noses at Rosario right about now.

[GCTF]

 

This is where we really miss Pseudo being part of the game threads, his weathermanish abilities were second to none.

Ollie Williams is still my go to guy.

[slash129]

Ober's pitching another gem so far.

[Danchat]

Are they still thinking about playing a game today?

[Tom Froemming]

Kyle Gibson is heading out to the bullpen to get warmed up, so it would appear this one will get started eventually.

[LaBombo]

 

Are they still thinking about playing a game today?

 

Electricity has been restored in my neighborhood, and with it my ongoing internal debate about how much time and interest this Twins team deserves to have invested in it.

 

But hats off to the xcel employees who got the power back on so quickly; it's not their fault the Twins are meh.

[Tom Froemming]

I guess first pitch is tentatively scheduled for 9:05. I may need to switch back from beer to coffee.

[snepp]

 

I guess first pitch is tentatively scheduled for 9:05. I may need to switch back from beer to coffee.

 

I'm not switching back.

[slash129]

 

I'm not switching back.

 

Same

[Cap'n Piranha]

Ollie Williams is still my go to guy.

I have no idea if you’re aware, but the below is also Ollie Williams.

 

https://goo.gl/images/uvYMkh

[Cap'n Piranha]

I just visited Vancouver Island for a few days, and I concur.

Nice!! Were you in Victoria, and did you make it to the city of Vancouver? Two of my favorite places on earth.

[slash129]

 

Nice!! Were you in Victoria, and did you make it to the city of Vancouver? Two of my favorite places on earth.

 

Yes to both.  I had a bad driving experience in downtown Vancouver, but the steam clock was cool. It was also strange seeing and smelling weed stores that looked liked they should be selling Louis Vuitton.

 

Victoria was very nice. We went to the Butchart Gardens there. Amazing!!

[jimbo92107]

 

Hmm, I would have thought it would be due to a Left Swing impingement for Logan - thanks for the update!!  Grossman batting 4th make me a little uneasy but he has been hitting better lately and looking at the rest of the choices I don't see too many other options.  

"Left Swing impingement." Heh-heh, I always love that one!

 

For ten points, who always used to say that?

[Mill1634]

Waited all day for this to start....now lets get the W!

[jkcarew]

"Left Swing impingement." Heh-heh, I always love that one!

 

For ten points, who always used to say that?

You mean if I get this, I get 10 deducted from my Warning Points?!

[LaBombo]

 

"Left Swing impingement." Heh-heh, I always love that one!

 

For ten points, who always used to say that?

 

Grouchy political analyst and terrifying Gollum lookalike James Carville?

 

http://oi68.tinypic.com/2en8ghl.jpg

[Danchat]

Interesting how the Rays have played so well even with having many proven veterans (Longoria, Odorizzi, Dickerson, Morrison, Cobb) gone. They only have one guy over the age of 33. Maybe playing the young guys isn't such a bad idea... right, Twins?

[Mill1634]

Why are we not seeing Garver at either DH or catcher tonight?

[Old Twins Cap]

 

Twins | 41-49 overall, 26-21 at home, 6-4 in their last 10

Kyle Gibson | 3.59 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 3.9 BB/9

 

Rays | 48-44 overall, 22-27 on the road, 7-3 in their last 10

Blake Snell | 2.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 3.4 BB/9

 

Lineups:

Additional Notes:

The Twins have been playing well of late, but the Rays arrive at Target Field red hot. They’re on a five-game winning streak in which they’ve outscored their opponents 31-13. Here’s how weird the American League is in 2018: Despite being six games better than the Twins, the Rays are actually farther away from a playoff spot (9.5 games back in the Wild Card) than Minnesota right now (8.5 games back in the Central).

 

So even though Tampa Bay is four games over .500, they’re in pretty much the same position as the Twins as we head closer and closer to the trade deadline.

 

Darren Wolfson tracked down Twins GM Thad Levine and got some updates on Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. Here’s the video on Twitter:

 

 

Buxton pinch-hit for during an AB in the 3rd inning tonight.

 

And Corcino struck out on Buxton's dime.

 

Fouled one off his foot?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Buxton pinch-hit for during an AB in the 3rd inning tonight.

 

And Corcino struck out on Buxton's dime.

 

Fouled one off his foot?

 

This has already been covered. 

[Blake]

Aaaannnnnddd we're off!

[Danchat]

 

Why are we not seeing Garver at either DH or catcher tonight?

That's a good question, I have no idea. Molitor is set on Wilson being the starter catcher for whatever reason and he doesn't seem keen to penciling Garver in the lineup that much.

[Blake]

 

Grouchy political analyst and terrifying Gollum lookalike James Carville?

 

http://oi68.tinypic.com/2en8ghl.jpg

Interestingly enough, I believe my son ran into Carville and said he's actually, in person, a very pleasant person.

[LaBombo]

 

Why are we not seeing Garver at either DH or catcher tonight?

 

Because milking the last ounce of baseball from a 35 year old quad A catcher might make the difference between 90 losses and 92 losses?

 

This is the kind of answer that happens when you just ask "why...?" instead of 'is there a good reason why...?'. 'Cause then I got nuthin.