Game Thread Sun. 7/15: Twins vs. Tampa Bay, 1:10 pm CT

[S.]

 

Any lip readers out there?

I think he said, "serve the fudge up" but I don't see any chocolate.

[nicksaviking]

Haven't seen this in awhile!

[yarnivek1972]

I'm going with Rodney has been traded and, if the Twins come back, Hildenburger will get the ninth.

If the trade already was finalized, Rodney wouldn’t have pitched at all.

 

I have no problem giving Rodney an inning in this game. But why the 5th. Has he pitched earlier than the 8th in any other game?

 

Like I said, I just don’t like the “we give up” message it sends.

[nicksaviking]

Doesn't look like Chris Archer wants to be a Twin after all.

[notoriousgod71]

Somehow Gomez contains himself.

[Aggies7]

Baseball has become so soft

[nicksaviking]

So can the relievers take the new BP carts the no one use out to a skirmish?

[bighat]

We've got a donnybrook folks!

[Aggies7]

Lol and they go to a commercial as it heats up again

[Han Joelo]

 

If the trade already was finalized, Rodney wouldn’t have pitched at all.

I have no problem giving Rodney an inning in this game. But why the 5th. Has he pitched earlier than the 8th in any other game?

Like I said, I just don’t like the “we give up” message it sends.

I'm not following (not being argumentative) as I had the exact opposite reaction--seemed to me like putting Rodney in to put out that fire sent the exact opposite message.

[glunn]

I have no idea what that was all about, but nice to get the lead.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I still think the guys in the bullpen should come out in carts, even to a bench-clearing brawl

[notoriousgod71]

Escobar: "Hurry up! I have reservations at Fogo in an hour!"

[notoriousgod71]

 

 

So can the relievers take the new BP carts the no one use out to a skirmish?

 

 

That would be the funniest thing I've ever seen on a baseball field.

[S.]

 

I still think the guys in the bullpen should come out in carts, even to a bench-clearing brawl

I have a hard time calling 50 grown men having a shouting match a "brawl" but I'd agree regardless.

[Blake]

And this game just became entertaining. 

[Aggies7]

The rays probably didn’t like what Dozier did or how he reacted (I assume) and the next pitch almost hit Escobar right? Then the jawing? Did I get that right?

[Shaitan]

I'll assume it started with TB challenging that attempted double as they ran up the score in the 8th yesterday.

[tvagle]

 

I still think the guys in the bullpen should come out in carts, even to a bench-clearing brawl

Would be a great car chase scene as they exchange paint on the way in

[Blake]

 

The rays probably didn’t like what Dozier did or how he reacted (I assume) and the next pitch almost hit Escobar right? Then the jawing? Did I get that right?

You know, after Escobar was hit for no good reason a few weeks ago, I can see him taking exception to a ball inside.

[S.]

 

You know, after Escobar was hit for no good reason a few weeks ago, I can see him taking exception to a ball inside.

It didn't seem like Escobar took any exception with the pitch until something was said.

[bighat]

This is weird.

[Blake]

 

I'm not following (not being argumentative) as I had the exact opposite reaction--seemed to me like putting Rodney in to put out that fire sent the exact opposite message.

No matter what, it was something out of the ordinary for Molitor.

 

Good for him!

[yarnivek1972]

I'm not following (not being argumentative) as I had the exact opposite reaction--seemed to me like putting Rodney in to put out that fire sent the exact opposite message.

Because that isn’t the role he has been used for all season. He’s pitched almost exclusively in the 9th with a lead.

 

It doesn’t seem very likely to me that Molitor has all of a sudden decided to use his closer in a non-conventional way.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

So can the relievers take the new BP carts the no one use out to a skirmish?

You ninja'd me!!

[notoriousgod71]

 

You know, after Escobar was hit for no good reason a few weeks ago, I can see him taking exception to a ball inside.

 

I thought he was visibly angry when he got hit his last AB, which was the pitch after fouling off his knee cap. He seems testy today.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Would be a great car chase scene as they exchange paint on the way in

LOL

[bighat]

To me it looks like the Rays catcher said something to the Twins dugout, and Escobar then said something to him. Then Robertson started jawing at Escobar, which led to the scuffle. Escobar struck out and told Robertson to gtfo, got ejected. Meanwhile Archer was yapping the entire time, told someone to meet him outside later in the parking lot.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Any lip readers out there?

Shut the **** up!!

[Han Joelo]

 

Because that isn’t the role he has been used for all season. He’s pitched almost exclusively in the 9th with a lead.

It doesn’t seem very likely to me that Molitor has all of a sudden decided to use his closer in a non-conventional way.

I agree it was out of character.  Maybe Molitor has been saving this ace up his sleeve?  Maybe Rodney volunteered?  Maybe Molitor was taking a bathroom break and someone else made the move?  No matter how out of character it was, I'm just not seeing how putting your "best" relief pitcher constitutes waving the white flag.