Game Thread (8/1): Twins vs. Cleveland, 12:10 pm CT

[Tom Froemming]

Twins | 49-57 overall, 30-23 at home, 5-5 in their last 10

Adalberto Mejia, LHP | 1-0, 3.65 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 1.60 K:BB

 

Cleveland | 58-48 overall, 26-27 on the road, 5-5 in their last 10

Carlos Carrasco, RHP | 12-5, 3.89 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 4.92 K:BB

 

Lineups:

https://twitter.com/MikeBerardino/status/1024676491941040128?s=19

 

Additional notes:

As we turn the page from July to August, the Twins will also attempt to turn the page after a crazy week leading up to the trade deadline. I'm sure things didn't work out the way the guys in the clubhouse would have wanted, but at least it's all over now and we know who's here, who's not and the focus can be on moving forward.

 

Let Day 1 of the Logan Forsythe Era begin

 

For some reason, August has been a defining month for the Twins under Paul Molitor. In three years with Molly at the helm, they've been great, terrible and average this month, and the end result matched.

 

2015: 14-14 in Aug., 83-79 overall

2016: 9-20 in Aug., 59-103 overall

2017: 20-10 in Aug., 85-77 overall

 

If August gets off to a good start, it seems there's a good chance it'll be behind a big game from Joe Mauer. He has a .406/.441/.625 line against Carrasco in 34 career plate appearances. Also, the Twins going to need guys to step up and take advantage of opportunities.

 

Mejia is taking over the rotation spot vacated by Lance Lynn. Since he hasn't been around much this year, it's easy to forget how instrumental Mejia was to last season's team. He pitched the fourth-most innings and posted respectable numbers as a 24-year-old rookie in 2017. There's a good argument to be made that the Twins should have never sought out to replace him in the rotation in the first place, but you know what they say, "you can never have too much pitching."

[rileyroy]

"There's a good argument to be made that the Twins should have never sought out to replace him in the rotation in the first place, but you know what they say, "you can never have too much pitching."

 

The Twins have a history of replacing promising young pitchers with retreads.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

'em

 

1. Francisco Lindor (S) SS

2. Rajai Davis (R ) CF

3. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B

4. Edwin Encarnacion (R ) DH

5. Brandon Guyer ( R) RF

6. Yonder Alonso (L) 1B

7. Yan Gomes ( R) C

8. Melky Cabrera (S) LF

9. Erik Gonzalez ( R) 2B

 

us

 

1. Joe Mauer (L) DH

2. Eddie Rosario (L) LF

3. Jorge Polanco (S) SS

4. Logan Morrison (L) 1B

5. Miguel Sano ( R) 3B

6. Max Kepler (L) RF

7. Mitch Garver (R ) C

8. Jake Cave (L) CF

9. Ehire Adrianza (S) 2B

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I hope we win!

 

I miss Dozier, but am interested to see this new fellow, even if he is probably still travelling today.

 

Am i right in thinking Mauer is in the final year of his contract? Is it time to get nostalgic yet?

[rileyroy]

 

I hope we win!

I miss Dozier, but am interested to see this new fellow, even if he is probably still travelling today.

Am i right in thinking Mauer is in the final year of his contract? Is it time to get nostalgic yet?

You are correct about Mauer's contract and if Joe was as upset about the Dozier trade as Bremer made it sound during yesterday's game- this very well could be Joe's last season with Twins.

[yarnivek1972]

You are correct about Mauer's contract and if Joe was as upset about the Dozier trade as Bremer made it sound during yesterday's game- this very well could be Joe's last season with Twins.

And maybe that was the point all along. To make Mauer not want to return. As long as he is here, it prevents Falvine from making this team theirs.

[operation mindcrime]

Why is this game not televised? How pathetic!

[yarnivek1972]

Why is this game not televised? How pathetic!

I believe it’s a facebook game.

[Blake]

 

I believe it’s a facebook game.

Ah, with as well as it appears the facebook thingy works, it's the same as the game not being available for viewing.

[70charger]

Facebook game? Seriously? I'm trying this out, the game hasn't even started yet, and this is already a garbage way to watch.

 

Laggy, poor quality (I'm testing 120 Mbps down, so it's not me), and incredibly irritating thumbs up icons floating around the screen.

 

I pay for mlb.tv, and being seven hours ahead of Minnesota, I hardly get to watch live. This ****ing sucks.

[Squirrel]

You are correct about Mauer's contract and if Joe was as upset about the Dozier trade as Bremer made it sound during yesterday's game- this very well could be Joe's last season with Twins.

He wasn’t happy at all about Escobar either. Describes losing him to a hard punch in the gut.

[Squirrel]

And maybe that was the point all along. To make Mauer not want to return. As long as he is here, it prevents Falvine from making this team theirs.

I’m sorry but you don’t create that kind of upheaval for one player. I’m calling conspiracy theory on this.

[70charger]

 

I’m sorry but you don’t create that kind of upheaval for one player. I’m calling conspiracy theory on this.

 

Seriously. That's ridiculous. You know how you get rid of Joe Mauer? You don't resign him. Simple as that.

[70charger]

Anybody know how to get rid of the floating thumbs ups on the facebook screen? 

[Platoon]

The Twins have a myriad of problems to solve before they get to Joe Mauer being one. lol

[Mike Sixel]

I, otoh, love that baseball is giving fans free baseball.....

[Jerr]

 

Anybody know how to get rid of the floating thumbs ups on the facebook screen? 

Go full screen.

 

[70charger]

I'm out. **** facebook, it's just a complete garbage platform, and if it's not going to be usable, I'm not going to fight it. See you in another game thread, I guess.

[yarnivek1972]

Seriously. That's ridiculous. You know how you get rid of Joe Mauer? You don't resign him. Simple as that.

Sure, but there is potential fan backlash there. If he chooses to retire, there is none.

 

As for “conspiracy theory”, I’m not saying that was their primary goal, but I’d say their jobs are made less complicated if Mauer doesn’t want to return.

[Mike Sixel]

Odd, I've never had an issue with FB watching any game, either on my phone, iPad, or computer....

[Mill1634]

Don't hate the stream on facebook as much as I thought I would. Mejia looks good early. 

[Mill1634]

Offense seems punchless

[Mike Sixel]

That's the skinny version of Sano? Hmmmmmm.....

[ewen21]

 

I believe it’s a facebook game.

GRRRRRR!!!!

 

Has to be today?

[slash129]

 

Don't hate the stream on facebook as much as I thought I would. Mejia looks good early. 

 

The stream is fine. Just had to figure out the quiet mode that gets rid of the stupid stream of emoticons.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

I believe it’s a facebook game.

You mean the Russians are broadcasting it?

[yarnivek1972]

You mean the Russians are broadcasting it?

Da

[slash129]

Carrasco is just mowing through the lineup.  Tall order for Mejia.

[Aggies7]

Laughable first 3 innings offensively

[yarnivek1972]

28 pitches. 24 strikes. The image that comes to my head is Chewie mumbling when Leia plants one on Luke in Empire Strikes Back.