Game Thread: Twins @ Oakland 7:07 PM PST (9:07 PM CST) 7/02/2019

[Blake]

We interrupt your day with this important announcement: The Twins will be on the West Coast, enjoying the hospitality of the Oakland Athletics. This special announcement was made possible by a generous grant from the following company:

 

 

*Sponsor note: May also be of use to calm some Twins fans. 

 

Now, on to the game itself, but first a word from our sponsor:

 

 

*Coming soon to a store near you

 

The Twins are coming off a tough outing against the Sox, but, the "June Swoon" this year saw the Twins go 15-12, which I suspect is an acceptable outcome, all things considered. 

 

Now, on to Oakland, but first, a brief commercial break:

 

 

*Man,  I wish the IT department where I work was this good. Oh wait, I am the IT department....

 

Oakland/Twins series has the makings of a fun stretch of games, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the Twins match-up against Oakland.

 

With that said, on to our regularly scheduled "5 Thoughts, questions and random musings" section of the Game Thread Series Opener.

 

But first another word from our sponsor:

 

 

1. Odorizzi: All Star!

2. Polanco: All Star!

3. Rosario: Should be an All Star!

4. Cron: Should be an All Star!

 

 

*Decided I needed some more music.

 

5. Play ball!

 

 

[Blake]

Disclaimer: The author in now way is implying that sponsors influenced anything he might have said today. The author remains committed to artistic integrity buy grit and will not allow anything to influence his artistic vision.

 

Thank you.

 

The author.

 

Pitching for the Twins:

 

Jake Odorizzi

 

Pitching for Oakland:

 

Daniel Mengden

[Dave The Dastardly]

Does that Nap Time stuff work on school board members?

[yarnivek1972]

Kepler is considerably better than Rosario.

[Blake]

Twins lineup:

 

1. Max Kepler (L) RF
2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS
3. Nelson Cruz ® DH
4. Marwin Gonzalez (S) LF
5. C.J. Cron ® 1B
6. Luis Arraez (L) 2B
7. Miguel Sano ® 3B
8. Jason Castro (L) C
9. Byron Buxton ® CF

 

Nothing for Oakland yet.

[ashbury]

I wonder if this is what it would be like if RandBall's Stu started a game thread.

[Blake]

 

I wonder if this is what it would be like if RandBall's Stu started a game thread.

I swear, I have absolutely no idea where Randball's Stu got to....

[Blake]

 

I wonder if this is what it would be like if RandBall's Stu started a game thread.

Eh, probably not, I think he's a bit more serous than I am.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Oh, i get it...

 

This is a serious game.

 

Thread.

[Dantes929]

 

Kepler is considerably better than Rosario.

I have found them to both be rather streaky and as this is in the midst of a great streak by Kepler I am sure others would agree with you.    I suspect you may be right but if Rosario gets hot and Kepler slumps I am sure the pendulum of opinion will turn.

[Halsey Hall]

I like that Arraez is in for Schoop.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Twins lineup:

 

1. Max Kepler (L) RF
2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS
3. Nelson Cruz ® DH
4. Marwin Gonzalez (S) LF
5. C.J. Cron ® 1B
6. Luis Arraez (L) 2B
7. Miguel Sano ® 3B
8. Jason Castro (L) C
9. Byron Buxton ® CF

 

Nothing for Oakland yet.

 

They've already conceded? Wow. I did not expect that.

[yarnivek1972]

At this point, you have to say that Rosario is better than Kepler. Rosario has performed at a high level for 2 years and 3 months; Kepler for 3 months. Just look at the stats from 2016 forward when they both started getting pretty regular playing time.Rosario OPS the last 3 years and then this one - .716, .836, .803,, this year .841; Kepler the last 3 years and then this one - .734, .737, .727, this year.892. Rosario has outperformed Kepler over the last 2 plus years and it's not really even close.

 

I love Kepler's breakout this year and I hope he becomes as good some day as Rosario already is. But let's not kid ourselves, he's not there yet. Rosario is an established above average to very good MLB outfielder who can hit 3 or 4 on a contending team. Kepler was an a good field, below average hitting outfielder until this year.

 

The discussion was about the all star game THIS year. This year it isn’t close. Kepler is considerably better.

[Squirrel]

I wonder if this is what it would be like if RandBall's Stu started a game thread.

Maybe they could be persuaded to start one? Stringer? You should ask.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Maybe they could be persuaded to start one? Stringer? You should ask.

 

and I know he's retired, but ask RB for the occasional guest game thread too.  

[David HK]

For the Oaklands: 

Psst- LF and C sure look familiar....

 

Oakland A's (46-39)

 

Marcus Semien, SS
Matt Chapman, 3B
Matt Olson, 1B
Khris Davis, DH
Mark Canha, RF
Ramón Laureano, CF
Robbie Grossman, LF
Chris Herrmann, C
Franklin Barreto, 2B

Daniel Mengden, RHP (2-1, 4.03 ERA)

[sampleSizeOfOne]

and I know he's retired, but ask RB for the occasional guest game thread too.

Retired you say?

 

I hope they're Michelin. Their mascot's face has a similar aspect ratio to face on Mad Magazine.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Hey look...

 

The game started!

[a-wan]

 

Hey look...

The game started!

 

What game? Oh, wait 15 pitch first inning for Odorizzi.

[Blake]

Need to post, try and get the comment count past 10.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Need to post, try and get the comment count past 10.

Well on the East Coast, it's already 10:30...

[operation mindcrime]

Why does Oakland's pitcher have a rat on his lip?

[a-wan]

 

Well on the East Coast, it's already 10:30...

 

Don't worry if Sano strikes out there will be multiple posts.

[operation mindcrime]

SANO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twinssporto]

SANO!!!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

What game? Oh, wait 15 pitch first inning for Odorizzi.

 

I'll let the wisdom of the ages answer this...

[MNT1996]

Stay hot Sano. Make the doubters eat their words

[jimbo92107]

I think Miguel has fixed his swing.

[Aggies7]

Take that, haters

[bighat]

Sano bomba. Great to see him coming around!