Game Thread: Twins v Rays, 9/4 @ 3:05pm CT

[Squirrel]

Andrew Albers.

You say the name and it elicits all kinds of comments from all of us regarding the state of our pitching staff to the FO then to the coaches and manager. None of them good comments. The only reason we are seeing him pitch is because of the year we are having. So frustrating. And there were groans from everyone when he was called up and then when he was slotted to start last week.

But, he's done this so far: 

Who'da thunk it? I certainly didn't. And his start against Milwaukee, who isn't exactly a slouch team, he did ... good. But we will see what he does today because, well, it's just difficult to imagine a near-36 yr old all of a sudden becoming ... that. So, I'm still skeptical. But I'm also still hopeful. I can't imagine there are plans for him on this team next year, but the Twins need pitchers to pitch this year and I don't think either Strotman or Balazovic are ready to be thrown to the wolves, as much as we argue they should be making starts with the Twins this year. I would like to see each of them make at least one start before the season is over, but I guess not yet. So, we need pitchers to pitch ... if this is what Albers does when he's on the mound, he's going to make another start until ... he doesn't? Hoping he continues. Maybe he has found magic? Skeptical but hopeful.

Lineups:

TWINS

1. Luis Arraez (L) DH
2. Byron Buxton (R ) CF
3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
4. Josh Donaldson (R ) 3B
5. Max Kepler (L) RF
6. Miguel Sanó (R ) 1B
7. Rob Refsnyder (R ) LF
8. Ryan Jeffers (R ) C
9. Andrelton Simmons (R ) SS
Andrew Albers (L) P

RAYS

1. Randy Arozarena (R ) LF
2. Wander Franco (S) SS
3. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH
4. Sandy Diaz (R ) 3B
5. Jordan Luplow (R ) 1B
6. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
7. Manuel Margot (R ) RF
8. Mike Zunino (R ) C
9. Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF
Chris Archer (R ) P

Play ball ... go Twins!

 

[Thegrin]

Your thoughts about Albers mirror mine. However, I am a bit more hopeful. I believe he can be a competent #5 starter for the next couple years, allowing us to focus on signing premier pitchers during the off-season.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Half the line ups...

1. Luis Arraez (L) DH

2. Byron Buxton (R) CF

3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

4. Josh Donaldson (R) 3B

5. Max Kepler (L) RF

6. Miguel Sano (R) 1B

7. Rob Refsnyder (R) LF

8. Ryan Jeffers (R) C

9. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I am rooting for Mr. Albers, same as i'll root for Mr. Thielbar.

 

And i'm still glad Torii Hunter came back for another stint.

[Nine of twelve]

When I heard Albers was back in the organization, my hope was that he wouldn't see any major league time because if he did that would mean the Twins had a very bad season. And indeed that is essentially what happened. That said, there are cases where pitchers, especially lefties, are able to pitch way better than their stuff for many years after most players retire. If Albers could become Jamie Moyer 2.0 I would be ecstatic. 

[shortround81]

Damnit, Nelly. Don't make me feel my feelings

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Thegrin said:

Your thoughts about Albers mirror mine. However, I am a bit more hopeful. I believe he can be a competent #5 starter for the next couple years, allowing us to focus on signing premier pitchers during the off-season.

Well ... my 'skeptical but hopeful' is really a start to start thing. Although I mentioned next season, I'm more hoping he can string together some starts to get us through this season. If he has found something, yeah, I guess he'll get a look for next year because, well, pitching, but I'm more skeptical about that happening than anything. Hey ... but what do I know?

[Squirrel]

1 minute ago, shortround81 said:

Damnit, Nelly. Don't make me feel my feelings

All I have to say is ... awwwww, how sweet  

[shortround81]

3 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

All I have to say is ... awwwww, how sweet  

All of the comments about these two being future teammates when Nelly comes back

[h2oface]

Well.... there goes the no-hitter......

[h2oface]

And there goes the one-hitter. And the shutout.

[h2oface]

And there goes the two-hitter.

[Brock Beauchamp]

This team sure isn’t good. 

[shortround81]

Ohhhh! I think we'll be on the next Jomboy breakdown

[h2oface]

How does it even happen that our AAAA pitcher, after all these years, hasn't come up with a windup/stretch move that is not controversial? HOW? 30-what years old and this crap. 

[GCTF]

Starting to look like Albers won't be the opening day starter next season.

[h2oface]

So I'll set the over/under at 10 - how many runs will Baldelli let Albers get slammed with before he sits him. 7 for Barnes. 9 for Jax. I go 10 for Albers for the push.

At 43 pitches after two, he has at least 3 more runs to give up in him, easy.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

6 minutes ago, h2oface said:

How does it even happen that our AAAA pitcher, after all these years, hasn't come up with a windup/stretch move that is not controversial? HOW? 30-what years old and this crap. 

What was wrong with it?

 

I got back to watching during the long discussion after run 3 came across on a balk. And i couldn't tell what had been called, and heard this was the second time that had happened.

[LastOnePicked]

4 minutes ago, GCTF said:

Starting to look like Albers won't be the opening day starter next season.

Don't speak too soon. He might the only guy left with two working arms by April.

[Aggies7]

We can still lose 100 games and it looks like we’re going to try 

[h2oface]

Sure would be nice for Buxton to find the stroke again.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Okay. So the Andrew Albers experiment was fun and everything but now it’s time to call up Stroman or Balazovic. 

[GCTF]

Uncle.

[RickOShea]

I still say it's a breach of contract every time the Twins sell or have sold a ticket.  Win or lose, there has to be some semblance of MLB being attempted for the sale of a ticket.

[h2oface]

....and even Baltimore can beat the Yankees........

[operation mindcrime]

1 minute ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Okay. So the Andrew Albers experiment was fun and everything but now it’s time to call up Stroman or Balazovic. 

The Andrew Albers experiment is excrement!

[RickOShea]

Baldelli's post game remarks:  " I love the ways our guys battle.  We keep working hard, but injuries and the black magic spell really make it tough.

Reporter;  "How do you seem so calm and subdued, in the dugout when we're getting our asses kicked"?

Baldelli: " It's my meditation and weekly donations to various cults.,  Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm pretty messed up".

[Aggies7]

This is why MLB should end their regular season on September 1. We have a month left of this dreck and the only bright spots would be IF the young pitchers are brought up. Football is starting and I find myself not giving a flip about this group

[Rosterman]

The Albers story wsa a good one, while it lasted. Sadly, time to send him back to help St. Paul win. Four homers in three innings? We can bring in Strotman or Balazovic and let them get hammered, which isn't always bad thing to guys who have yet to pitch in the majors.

 

Andrew Albers, was rooting for you (no, not quite as the opening day starter). Was even thinking long left out of the pen to compliment John Gant as long righty out of the pen.

But.....

 

[RickOShea]

I need an explanation:  Why do a lot of hitters take advantage of a pitcher's mistake, while Twins hitters foul that pitch off?