Game Thread: Twins @ Rays 12:10pm cdt 09/05/2021

[Matthew Lenz]

Starting Pitcher Preview
Griffin Jax takes the hill for the Twins giving up 15 earned runs over his last two starts. His assignment today won’t be an easy one as the Rays boast the 7th best OPS against right handed pitchers and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Moreover, Jax has been very susceptible to the long ball this season and the Rays hit just blasted six on Saturday. He has not faced Tampa Bay this year. This is the line up he’ll face:

The Twins slumping offense will face righty Luis Patiño who is in his first season with Tampa Bay after being shipped over from San Diego in the Blake Snell trade. Patiño hasn’t been great in his 11 starts struggling with walks and bombas. Patiño did face the Twins when they were at Target Field throwing 3.0 innings, allowing seven baserunners (five walks), and two earned runs. The Twins will give Miguel Sańo the day off today with Astudillo taking over at first. Here’s the rest of the Twins line up:

Conversation Starter:

“The Trop” is one of the stadiums I haven’t been to, although doesn’t seem like I’m missing much. What is your favorite stadium aside from Target Field? Of the ones I’ve been to, PNC Park sticks out as being cool being right in the rivers and the yellow bridge in the backdrop.

[swanny132]

Of the ones I've been to, Wrigley is cool just because of the history.

[Brock Beauchamp]

My interest in ever seeing a game at Tropicana Field is basically zero.

[Matthew Lenz]

As they say, every no-hitter has at least one hit robbing play ??

[Matthew Lenz]

Wow, that shift on Polanco is nuts!

[Squirrel]

34 minutes ago, swanny132 said:

Of the ones I've been to, Wrigley is cool just because of the history.

I can never resist the Wrigley comments, heh ... go there for the history, but once you've been, no need to return. It's a horrible place to watch a game, imho. I go, though, if the tickets are free or if I happen to score a ticket when the Twins play them here in Chicago

[RickOShea]

Just now, Squirrel said:

I can never resist the Wrigley comments, heh ... go there for the history, but once you've been, no need to return. It's a horrible place to watch a game, imho. I go, though, if the tickets are free or if I happen to score a ticket when the Twins play them here in Chicago

Ditto, Squirrel.  It's not a great experience, except for saying that you were there.

[Matthew Lenz]

3 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I can never resist the Wrigley comments, heh ... go there for the history, but once you've been, no need to return. It's a horrible place to watch a game, imho. I go, though, if the tickets are free or if I happen to score a ticket when the Twins play them here in Chicago

IDK….the atmosphere/energy in the OF bleachers is pretty fun. Throw-in the pre-game/post-game venues near the ballpark, I think it’s a fun stadium.

[RickOShea]

So, what's the story on Sano?  On the IL? I swear if you take a player and turn him upside down, you'll see, "Made in China".

[Matthew Lenz]

2 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

So, what's the story on Sano?  On the IL? I swear if you take a player and turn him upside down, you'll see, "Made in China".

 

[RickOShea]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Lenz said:

 

Thanks.  A contusion?  That's a friggin' bruise.  If my grandson bops me with one of his toys, I get a contusion, too.

[shortround81]

Yeah, I've been to Wrigley and the atmosphere is what I loved. Wore a Twins shirt and got booed. Loved it!

I enjoyed Kauffman. Mostly because there was a college football game going on next door at Arrowhead. Great tailgating. It's kind of a pain to get to.

Safeco (or whatever it's called now) has a soft spot in my heart because I lived in Seattle. Garlic fries for the win

[Matthew Lenz]

An Astudillo walk...has hell frozen over? 

Per broadcast, his first walk since taking back-to-back walks earlier in the season.

[shortround81]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Lenz said:

An Astudillo walk...has hell frozen over? 

Per broadcast, his first walk since taking back-to-back walks earlier in the season.

I thought Dick was gonna piss his pants

[Matthew Lenz]

6 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

Yeah, I've been to Wrigley and the atmosphere is what I loved. Wore a Twins shirt and got booed. Loved it!

I enjoyed Kauffman. Mostly because there was a college football game going on next door at Arrowhead. Great tailgating. It's kind of a pain to get to.

Safeco (or whatever it's called now) has a soft spot in my heart because I lived in Seattle. Garlic fries for the win

Old Kauffman or renovated Kauffman? I was there about 16 years ago and Orioles left fielder Jay Gibbons would come over and talk to me and a friend between innings and pitching changes...pretty cool. Renovated Kauffman looks nice!

[RickOShea]

Alright, rocco's going to  be on paternity leave pretty soon.  Maybe he'll decide to stay away for some time.  Give everyone a fresh perspective.  Probably not.

[shortround81]

5 minutes ago, Matthew Lenz said:

Old Kauffman or renovated Kauffman? I was there about 16 years ago and Orioles left fielder Jay Gibbons would come over and talk to me and a friend between innings and pitching changes...pretty cool. Renovated Kauffman looks nice!

Probably renovated because it was about 3-4 years ago. 

[RickOShea]

In some stadiums, replacing the toilet paper holders, constitutes a renovation.

[Matthew Lenz]

13 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Alright, rocco's going to  be on paternity leave pretty soon.  Maybe he'll decide to stay away for some time.  Give everyone a fresh perspective.  Probably not.

IMO if this happened, this would show that coaching staff isn't on the same page and would be of greater concern to me than disagreeing with Rocco's decisions.

[Squirrel]

36 minutes ago, Matthew Lenz said:

IDK….the atmosphere/energy in the OF bleachers is pretty fun. Throw-in the pre-game/post-game venues near the ballpark, I think it’s a fun stadium.

Yeah ... I'm too old to be messing around bleacher seats drunk off my ass ... 

[Matthew Lenz]

14 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

Alright, rocco's going to  be on paternity leave pretty soon.  Maybe he'll decide to stay away for some time.  Give everyone a fresh perspective.  Probably not.

IMO if this happened, this would show that coaching staff isn't on the same page and would be of greater concern to me than disagreeing with Rocco's decisions.

[mrtwinsfan]

?

[Matthew Lenz]

New pitcher and Astudillo comes in hacking at three straight with bases loaded?

[Matthew Lenz]

 

[Squirrel]

oh crap

[shortround81]

Of course

[RpR]

Arraez showed why he should not be a regular infielder twice in a row; closed his glove before ball was there the first time and darn near lost the second one.

It should be 4 to 1 not 4 to 2.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, swanny132 said:

Of the ones I've been to, Wrigley is cool just because of the history.

Try Fenway sometime too.

[Squirrel]

13 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Try Fenway sometime too.

I've been there ... was so long ago, though ... don't recall enough to compare them other than my sightlines were far better at Fenway

[Matthew Lenz]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

Try Fenway sometime too.

Fenway is very cool and probably ranks above Wrigley for me. Bucket list item to watch the Twins from the top of the Green Monsta one of these years...