Game Thread - Twins v Nationals, 9/12 @ 6:40pm

[obtusebanter]

As all on these boards are aware, Justin Verlander’s third no-hitter was a pretty big deal. He joined a short list of all-timers. Nolan Ryan’s seven remain the benchmark. Sandy Koufax’s four had sat in the pole position for ten years before the Ryan Express tied that record when he blitzed the Royals, Tigers, Twins, and Orioles across a two year period in the mid-70s.  With three no-hitters, Verlander joined Larry Corcoran, Cy Young, and Bob Feller on a short-list of six: four hall-of-famers, another hurler who is sure to join them, and Larry Corcoran. That last fella’s story is to follow.

 

All of this came to my attention when Dick and [ex-ballplayer] were bantering back and forth shortly after Verlander struck out 14 Blue Jays while twirling his no-no. One of the two remarked that one of those six guys was not like the others. Jokes were cracked. It was fun. Y’all’s guy banter was intrigued.

 

Larry Corcoran burst on to the NL scene in 1880 at the age of twenty with the Chicago White Stockings (they weren’t to be the Cubs until 1903 following flings with the names Colts and Orphans). Little Corcoran stood 5’3”, had a pair of curveballs (one fast, one slow), and threw from both sides of the stripe (though I gather that he preferred to pitch as a righty). Along with Fred Goldsmith, Corcoran was a member of the very first pitching rotation. Skipper Cap Anson had Larry start the first five games of the season before turning to Goldsmith for the next four. Anson then began alternating the two every other game through the rest of the season. The season was highlighted by Corcoran first no-hitter (though I will note that the Chicago Tribune reported that a rain delay in the third inning resulted in a ball that was “mushy and shapeless for the greater part of the play”). Surely such a ball aided in stymieing the hapless Red Stockings of Boston (they weren’t to be the Beaneaters until ’83 and, finally, the Braves until 1912). Corcoran ultimately tossed 536¹/₃ innings going 43-14 with a 1.95 ERA and 268 strikeouts in his rookie season as the White Stockings won their first of three straight pennants. 

 

Beginning in 1881 (due to league-wide pitching dominance and too many underhanded hurlers) the front of the pitcher’s box was moved back from forty-five to fifty feet. Nonetheless, Corcoran continued to dominate the league posting a 31-14 record with a 2.31 ERA across 396²/₃ innings. 1882 brought much of the same including no-hitter #2 against a wretched Worcester Ruby Legs squad playing out their string of existence. Little Larry finished his third season with twenty-seven wins against twelve losses matched with a league-leading 1.95 ERA across 355²/₃ innings. 

 

1883 brought a change of fortune to Mud City. The White Stockings and Beaneaters engaged in a back and forth pennant race with both squads leading the pack through the spring and summer. It all came to a hilt on the 10th of September. With Chicago atop the league by a game and half they squared off with Boston for a four game series and were promptly swept. Chicago closed the season with a 7-2 mark but Boston was not to be caught as they ran away with the pennant trouncing three squads lost to history (Detroit Wolverines, Buffalo Bisons, and Cleveland Blues) by a combined margin of nine games to one. Our protagonist thrived once again going 34-20 with a 2.49 ERA across 473²/₃ innings.

 

Prior to the 1884 campaign, Larry Corcoran held out for a higher salary. Chicago offered $2,100; Corcoran countered with $4,000. Such a sum was deemed outrageous and, thanks to a National Agreement (established in 1883) between the National League, American Association, and Northwestern League, a reserve rule left Corcoran with little recourse. Larry flirted with the upstart Union Association but, in the end, signed for what was offered and got back to work. Unfortunately, the season was quickly lost.

 

A dreadful May put the Pale Hose of yore in a hole from which they would never recover. There was to be one more highlight, however, when Little Corcoran dueled with the Old Hoss himself when the White Stockings faced the Providence Grays in late June. These Grays were fearsome. They took the pennant with an 84-28 record and won the inaugural World Series in a three game sweep of the New York Mets. Their lineup was anchored by the should-be-HOFer Paul Hines (he earned the first Triple Crown in 1878 for starters) while Charles Radbourn manned the box. This was peak Radbourn as he sported a record of 59-12 and an ERA of 1.38 across 678²/₃ innings with 441 strikeouts. None of this mattered on June 27th. Corcoran pitched no hitter #3 and finished off his fifth season with a record of 35-23 and an ERA of 2.40 across 516²/₃ innings.

 

And that was basically it. Little Larry had pitched 2,279 innings across five years and his arm was dead. John Clarkson had come on for a similarly spent Fred Goldsmith in 1884 and shown great promise with his newfangled, just-legalized overhand method of delivery (though he often alternated his arm slot). He was the new White Stockings ace going forward in 1885 and went on to have a hall of fame career. Corcoran bounced around the NL for a couple more seasons with his last chance coming in the May of 1887 with a 2-9 Indianapolis Hoosiers ballclub looking for a spark. As fate would have it, Larry faced off with the same Chicago club with whom he made his name. He surrendered 11 runs on 12 hits and 10 walks while taking the L. His final start came against the Giants of New York one week later.  The Indianapolis News had a write-up declaring “A study of the score is suggestive of profanity.”

 

Four years later, at the age of 32, a penniless Larry Corcoran was dead and buried in an unmarked grave. He deserved better.

 

That's my tribute. Here go some lineups. Let's hope the Twins fare better against the Tribe this weekend than those old socks did against them legume munchers in the September of '83.  

 

Twins:

 

 

Nationals:

 

[ashbury]

Adrianza instead of Polanco?

[yarnivek1972]

Adrianza instead of Polanco?

Unless they are locked into those lineups (if or) when the game is actually played, I don’t think it will matter. The storm is going to drop the hammer at about 5 and not stop until after 9. I doubt they wait until 10 to start a game on getaway day.

[MMMordabito]

Random Thoughts:

 

1) Perfect opportunity against a tough lefty to move Rosario down a few clicks.  Maybe he can see a few more pitches and get out of this slump.

 

2) Nevermind #1 .... Eddie's batting 4th.

 

3) Polanco off to Romper Room.

 

4) Garver can hit a home run followed by an Arraez single.

 

5) If the subjects in #4 switched, wouldn't the Twins get more runs?

 

6) Ryan LaMarre is a starting outfielder on a team trying to hold a division lead in September.

 

 

 

 

[MMMordabito]

 

Unless they are locked into those lineups (if or) when the game is actually played, I don’t think it will matter. The storm is going to drop the hammer at about 5 and not stop until after 9. I doubt they wait until 10 to start a game on getaway day.

 

Accuweather is showing only a 20% chance of rain after 8 PM.   

 

Where is scottz? He's the expert.

[bighat]

 

Unless they are locked into those lineups (if or) when the game is actually played, I don’t think it will matter. The storm is going to drop the hammer at about 5 and not stop until after 9. I doubt they wait until 10 to start a game on getaway day.

 

I think due to the fact that these two teams don't play again this year, it's going to be deemed crucial that they get the game in tonight. Otherwise they are gonna have to fly the Nationals into Minnesota on a shared off-day in the next 3 weeks.

[MMMordabito]

 

I think due to the fact that these two teams don't play again this year, it's going to be deemed crucial that they get the game in tonight. Otherwise they are gonna have to fly the Nationals into Minnesota on a shared off-day in the next 3 weeks.

 

Yeah, September 30 is the only option.  That could conflict with possible game 163s for either team.  Tough mudder!

[yarnivek1972]

I think due to the fact that these two teams don't play again this year, it's going to be deemed crucial that they get the game in tonight. Otherwise they are gonna have to fly the Nationals into Minnesota on a shared off-day in the next 3 weeks.

I already checked that. There are none. Each team has one off day remaining.

 

The game may not turn out to be crucial at all. Regardless, I doubt they wait three hours (and possibly more) when both teams have to fly out.

[twinbythebay]

 

I think due to the fact that these two teams don't play again this year, it's going to be deemed crucial that they get the game in tonight. Otherwise they are gonna have to fly the Nationals into Minnesota on a shared off-day in the next 3 weeks.

 

Unfortunately, each team has only one more off-day remaining, and it's not the same day. If they do end up having to play a make-up game, I guess it would have to be on Monday, 9/30, and I'm sure that's the last thing that either team wants. My hope is that each team finishes far enough ahead in their respective races so that a make-up would be unnecessary.

 

Edit: Ninja'd multiple times!

[Bomba2026]

Maybe Polanco's hand hurt from hitting that homerun? We need to win this and since we are a good road team I am not too worried about Cleveland next... Although the thought of watching Clevenger hop around on the mound annoys me, maybe we can knock him out early. Go Twins, hit some Bombas tonight!

[AlwaysinModeration]

By Sunday evening, the Twins will be anywhere from 0.5 games ahead of the Indians to 7.5 games ahead of the Indians. However, 12 of the 16 possible outcomes leave them anywhere from 2.5 to 5.5 games ahead. They will only be under 2 games ahead if they are swept, and similarly, they will only be more than 6 ahead if they sweep.

[yarnivek1972]

By Sunday evening, the Twins will be anywhere from 0.5 games ahead of the Indians to 7.5 games ahead of the Indians. However, 12 of the 16 possible outcomes leave them anywhere from 2.5 to 5.5 games ahead. They will only be under 2 games ahead if they are swept, and similarly, they will only be more than 6 ahead if they sweep.

Your scenarios assume they play tonight. VERY far from certain.

[USAFChief]

 

Adrianza instead of Polanco?

Scheduled day of rest, prolly.

[yarnivek1972]

Scheduled day of rain, apparently..

[ashbury]

 

Scheduled day of rest, prolly.

 

Scheduled day of rain, apparently..

Adrianza starts on rain days? I like Rocco's thinking! Keeps the scrubeenies from getting rusty.

[USAFChief]

 

Adrianza starts on rain days? I like Rocco's thinking! Keeps the scrubeenies from getting rusty.

Wouldn't staring on rain days result in rust? I mean, when I leave stuff out on a rainy day, it ends up rusty.

 

Mrs Chief was just kindly reminding me of this phenomenon during our summer monsoons. And reminding me.

 

 

And reminding me.

[notoriousgod71]

Ryan ****ing Lamarre, ladies and gentlemen,

[Squirrel]

 

Wouldn't staring on rain days result in rust? I mean, when I leave stuff out on a rainy day, it ends up rusty.

 

Mrs Chief was just kindly reminding me of this phenomenon during our summer monsoons. And reminding me.

 

 

And reminding me.

 

Because staring will do that to you

[mrtwinsfan]

Polanco had a dental issue,  60 day d.l.

[howeda7]

 

Adrianza instead of Polanco?

Never mind that he was our entire offense last night. Scheduled day of rest.  

 

Can't it wait until Monday when we're not playing a play-off team and at least some of the wounded are back?

[howeda7]

 

 

I say, LETS GO RAIN! Helps the rotation, helps the lineup with another off day and we avoid Patrick Corbin. Leaves me with nothing to watch as I drive home tonight. Well, except the road and other cars and who wants that.

You watch games while driving, eh? Or is Cory Provous just that good?

[MMMordabito]

 

Ryan ****ing Lamarre, ladies and gentlemen,

 

Huma llama numa numa

 

Oh sacred circa April 2018 god of the baseball's seeing eye

 

Please bestow your blessing on your faithful subject of AAAA once again

 

If you see fit to answer this prayer, give us a sign via extreme darkness in the 5 o'clock shadow

[howeda7]

 

Ryan ****ing Lamarre, ladies and gentlemen,

You'll be eating your words around 1 AM when he flares a single to right to make it 6-1 and help the Twins avoid being shut out.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This forecast suggests the rain should clear soon -- "minutecast" says around 6:30. Hourly forecast chance of precip drops from 59-49-20 at 6, 7, and 8 PM, respectively.

 

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/target-field/55403/minute-weather-forecast/53242_poi

[LVTwinsfan]

Where is Sano

[USAFChief]

According to LEN, "emergency dental work" for Polanco.

 

 

[USAFChief]

 

This forecast suggests the rain should clear soon -- "minutecast" says around 6:30. Hourly forecast chance of precip drops from 59-49-20 at 6, 7, and 8 PM, respectively.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/target-field/55403/minute-weather-forecast/53242_poi

Yeah, unfortunately, they'll probably get this one in.

[yarnivek1972]

Future radar on weather.com shows rain until about 8 in Minneapolis.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Future radar on weather.com shows rain until about 8 in Minneapolis.

Actually seems to clear up at Target Field before 7:10. No guarantee they start at that time, of course, with clearing the tarp and everything.

 

[Blake]

Outstanding opener!

 

Huge history buff and this is the kind of thing I love to read.