Game Thread: Twins vs. White Sox, 8/9/21 @ 7:10pm CT

[twinssporto]

Good evening Twins fans and welcome back to more Game Thread excitement! The Twins did a nice job in Houston and now kick off a 9 game home stand against the Chicago White Sox tonight. Hopefully they can keep up the momentum. Not that it really matters this year but I would like to see some of our younger players start getting into the groove and build some confidence heading into 2022.

Speaking of confidence, I'd like to see the following players hit above .220 so I can have confidence we can actually score runs in 2022. I know batting average stats are no longer in vogue but let's look at some averages. The players: Kepler (.211), Rooker (.176), Garver (.220), Sano (.211), Simmons (.216), Cave (.186), Larnach (.229 on the bubble).

Speaking of guys that seem to have confidence....they include the following: Polanco (.272), Arraez (.318). Unfortunately it's a short list.

Enough complaining, Let's start this home stand strong and see some younger guys get more playing time just so they can build their confidence.

Did you pick up on the confidence theme tonight? I have all the confidence in the world that big Miguel Sano will go yard tonight and maybe drive in 4-5 runs. Now that's confidence! I might be delusional too but who cares.

Go Twins!

Tonight's Lineups:

TWINS:

1. Max Kepler, RF

2. B. Rooker, DH

3. Jorge Polanco, 2B

4. Luis Arraez, 3B

5. Miguel Sano, 1B

6. Jake Cave, CF

7. R. Jeffers, C

8. T. Larnach, LF

9. A. Simmons, SS

P - Beau Burrows, 0-0 with a 11.00 ERA YIKES!

 

WHITE SOX:

1. T. Anderson, SS

2. C. Hernandez, 2B

3. J. Abreu, 1B

4. E. Jimenez, DH

5. Y. Moncada, 3B

6. B. Goodwin, RF

7. L. Robert, CF

8. L. Garcia, LF

9. S. Zavala, C

P - Lucas Giolito, 8-8 with a 3.98 ERA

 

Weather: Hot and humid, 85 degrees

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Our pitcher goes to 11!

[Rosterman]

I we using AN OPENER?

 

[twinssporto]

5 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Our pitcher goes to 11!

Jack Morris style. I know he only did 10 but let's build confidence. Let the kid pitch into the 11th!

[twinssporto]

As long as I'm throwing out wild predictions, I think Arraez hits for the cycle tonight.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Do not Burrows your head in shame.

My wilda$$ prediction: the guy throws a no-hitter through 4 and 1/2 innings, then Rocco sees him taking a deep breath, concludes he's about to collapse under such a heavy workload, pulls Burrows, sends in the bull pen and they no-hit the rest of the game, TD fans across the state are so excited they become breathless, worried spouses call ambulances, ICU beds are filled to overflowing with gasping Twins fans, the governor declares a state of emergency, Kirk Cousins rushes off to get a coronovirus shot, trips over the dog, breaks his nose, his right hand and both knee caps, goes on the IR, Zim gets drunk, beats up Rocco and we all live happily Everafter... well, until the Vikings season starts anyway.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

51 minutes ago, twinssporto said:

Jack Morris style. I know he only did 10 but let's build confidence. Let the kid pitch into the 11th!

That works too, albeit in today's game, it seems a bit unlikely.

 

I just thought Spinal Tap would approve of his ERA...

 

 

[wsnydes]

1 hour ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Our pitcher goes to 11!

Hopefully their pitcher allows the Twins bats to go to 11!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

8 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Zim gets drunk, beats up Rocco and we all live happily Everafter... well, until the Vikings season starts anyway.

Zim is short for Zimmer right?

 

Not this feller?

 

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

5 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

Hopefully their pitcher allows the Twins bats to go to 11!

Concur.

[Unwinder]

1 hour ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Our pitcher goes to 11!

Should be able to fit in five or six innings by then.

[RickOShea]

23 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Do not Burrows your head in shame.

My wilda$$ prediction: the guy throws a no-hitter through 4 and 1/2 innings, then Rocco sees him taking a deep breath, concludes he's about to collapse under such a heavy workload, pulls Burrows, sends in the bull pen and they no-hit the rest of the game, TD fans across the state are so excited they become breathless, worried spouses call ambulances, ICU beds are filled to overflowing with gasping Twins fans, the governor declares a state of emergency, Kirk Cousins rushes off to get a coronovirus shot, trips over the dog, breaks his nose, his right hand and both knee caps, goes on the IR, Zim gets drunk, beats up Rocco and we all live happily Everafter... well, until the Vikings season starts anyway.

Am I having a stroke?  How does a pitcher throw for 4 1/2 innings?

[wsnydes]

3 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Am I having a stroke?  How does a pitcher throw for 4 1/2 innings?

I don't know, but if the thread opener has its proper effect, he does it with confidence!

[RickOShea]

I see Giolito is starting tonite.  All the hype about him during the off season and spring training, must have been meant for somebody else.

[Dave The Dastardly]

15 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Am I having a stroke?  How does a pitcher throw for 4 1/2 innings?

He throws 4 innings, climbs out of the dugout to start the 5th, gets out to the mound, Rocco sees him take that deep breath, runs out and gets him, the official scorer records Borrows as being relieved without throwing a pitch, scratches his head in consternation, calls his wife and says, "Honey? How do I score this?" She replies, "I don't know, but I think Rocco is half there."

From out of the mouths of babes.

[RickOShea]

3 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

He throws 4 innings, climbs out of the dugout to start the 5th, gets out to the mound, Rocco sees him take that deep breath, runs out and gets him, the official scorer records Borrows as being relieved without throwing a pitch, scratches his head in consternation, calls his wife and says, "Honey? How do I score this?" She replies, "I don't know, but I think Rocco is half there."

From out of the mouths of babes.

Thanks, I was really struggling with my insignificant thought.

[Squirrel]

Why is Burrows pitching? Is there something I'm missing?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

27 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Am I having a stroke?  How does a pitcher throw for 4 1/2 innings?

Would that be when he gets 13 outs, and the game ends after 14 outs?

 

The last inning was only 2 outs, and he got one of them. Sounds like half an inning to me...

 

But i suppose that was the less important question... I would hesitate to diagnose ya over a game thread (unless it be entirely obviously for comedic value alone, and not in the least for your therapeutic benefit) but gosh, i hope not!

 

Please remain cogent for the entire game and ensuing game thread, as i appreciate your thoughts!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 minute ago, Squirrel said:

Why is Burrows pitching? Is there something I'm missing?

Classic gamesmanship.

 

Never do what your opponent expects!

 

More likely some combination of giving us the best chance to win (see above) and a desire to evaluate him and give him a chance to show us what he can do, given half a chance.

[wsnydes]

4 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Why is Burrows pitching? Is there something I'm missing?

Whatever we're missing, Anderson didn't...

[shortround81]

Beau Burrows. Puke.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=929Wk-EWQ0s

 

[RickOShea]

3 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Would that be when he gets 13 outs, and the game ends after 14 outs?

 

The last inning was only 2 outs, and he got one of them. Sounds like half an inning to me...

 

But i suppose that was the less important question... I would hesitate to diagnose ya over a game thread (unless it be entirely obviously for comedic value alone, and not in the least for your therapeutic benefit) but gosh, i hope not!

 

Please remain cogent for the entire game and ensuing game thread, as i appreciate your thoughts!

Each team's half inning is divided into thirds.  So half of a 'teams half inning cannot exist'.  Only Trump can alter this phenomonon.

[Squirrel]

2 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

Whatever we're missing, Anderson didn't...

And neither did Jimenez. This sucks.

[Steve71]

Nice of Burrows to throw some BP for the Sox.  They, at least, are having fun.

Young man is not fooling anyone....

[wsnydes]

3 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

And neither did Jimenez. This sucks.

Indeed it does.  Indeed it does.

[Danchat]

We have legitimate options in AAA to take Burrows' place... just DFA him already. 13.03 ERA!!

[MVP Nick Punto]

I wonder if I could be a serviceable DH if I only had to hit against Burrows?

[Irishman]

I’m not impressed with Burrows.   See White Sox players are laughing!!!    Twins are laughingstock!      Twins are terrible!

[Squirrel]

Well ... maybe this is his final shot before being dfa'd.

and this is enough for me

[RickOShea]

Just now, MVP Nick Punto said:

I wonder if I could be a serviceable DH if I only had to hit against Burrows?

He'd embarrass you, something fierce.