Game Day Thread: Minnesota Twins at Chicago Cubs; 9/22/2021; 6:40pm

[shortround81]

Happy First Day of Fall!

Well, this season didn’t turn out like anybody expected or wanted. When the 2021 season started, we had hoped our beloved Minnesota Twins would be playing deep within the autumnal glory. For a myriad of reasons that have been hashed out on Twins Daily alone, the hometown nine will not be making a play-off run this season.

It’s going to be a long offseason. Maybe now is a good time to pick up a hobby to occupy our lonely, baseball-loving hearts. Macramé? Decoupage? Day trading?

Apparently, some of the Twins players have side interests to keep their minds off their apparent 2021 baseball playing ineptitudes. We all remember Trevor May’s love of video games. Or Pat Neshek’s autograph obsession. Currently, it looks like maybe Tyler Duffey is gunning for Brace Hemmelgarn’s team photographer gig.

(Photo Credit: Minnesota Twins)

What other avenues do you think our boys partake in during their downtime? Does Max Kepler ferment his own sauerkraut? Is Willians Astudillo a yoga instructor at the YMCA? Maybe Kenta Maeda is really into claymation.  

Any other wild guesses?

Minnesota Twins

1. Luis Arraez (L) 2B

2. Brent Rooker (R) LF

3. Josh Donaldson (R) 3B

4. Max Kepler (L) RF

5. Miguel Sano (R) 1B

6. Nick Gordon (L) CF

7. Ryan Jeffers (R) C

8. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS

9. Joe Ryan (R) P

 

Chicago Cubs

1. Rafael Ortega (L) CF

2. Frank Schwindel (R) 1B

3. Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B

4. Ian Happ (S) LF

5. Matt Duffy (R) 2B

6. Robinson Chirinios (R) C

7. Nico Hoerner (R) SS

8. Trayce Thompson (R) RF

9. Kyle Hendricks (R) P

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Woah...

 

Kenta Maeda likes claymation?

 

Here's a some for him!

 

Not quite Gumby, but entertaining for a minute or two...

[shortround81]

17 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Woah...

 

Kenta Maeda likes claymation?

 

Here's a some for him!

 

Not quite Gumby, but entertaining for a minute or two...

That's awesome! I also love that Good Mythical Morning is next video recommended

[Squirrel]

Maeda 'designs' t-shirts and then sells them for charity ... I think? Hard to get by the Japanese on his IG account. But I suppose these days his off season activity will include a healthy dose of rehab work

[shortround81]

54 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Maeda 'designs' t-shirts and then sells them for charity ... I think? Hard to get by the Japanese on his IG account. But I suppose these days his off season activity will include a healthy dose of rehab work

Oh I love that! He's a good dude!

[downunder twins fan]

LETS GO KEPLER!!

[downunder twins fan]

Seems like the boys came out swinging today, all hard hit balls this inning. 

 

[PDX Twin]

Tuned in just in time to ... miss Kepler's homerun.

[PDX Twin]

"Nolan" Ryan?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

13 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Tuned in just in time to ... miss Kepler's homerun.

I missed it too.

 

Got distracted by the internet...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 hour ago, shortround81 said:

That's awesome! I also love that Good Mythical Morning is next video recommended

I think the next recommended is tailored to viewer, so sadly i got something different...

[PDX Twin]

"Deep to left!" Caught by shortstop!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

4 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

"Deep to left!" Caught by shortstop!

As i said last night, left is just deep shortstop...

 

Which makes it long stop?

[PDX Twin]

I didn't miss that one, nor did Max.

[downunder twins fan]

Kepler is on fire. 

[downunder twins fan]

Just now, PDX Twin said:

I didn't miss that one, nor did Max.

Guess he wants to get to 20 on the season. 

[h2oface]

I wonder if Jeffers knows that he closes his eyes right as he catches the ball?! That close up of him catching that third swinging strike to Happ leading off the 4th was another example, but I have seen several others. That wasn't just a one of......

[sampleSizeOfOne]

12 minutes ago, downunder twins fan said:

Guess he wants to get to 20 on the season. 

How far does he have to go?

[PDX Twin]

1 minute ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

How far does he have to go?

One more.

[downunder twins fan]

1 minute ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

How far does he have to go?

one more I think

[Brock Beauchamp]

Joe Ryan not dominant against a bad lineup but he doesn't look awful, either.

[Danchat]

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

Joe Ryan not dominant against a bad lineup but he doesn't look awful, either.

8 Ks in 4 innings is still pretty darn good. Only 4 baserunners in that stretch.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Agreed. The velocity makes one wonder how he is this successful so far but it seems to be working. he does look a little tentative. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, Danchat said:

8 Ks in 4 innings is still pretty darn good. Only 4 baserunners in that stretch.

At least a few of those Ks were gimmes, though. This Cubs lineup is terrible.

[MMMordabito]

I think that swirly pop foul that he missed got in his head a little. He seems to be turning it back on.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

multitasking during a meeting, putting kids to bed, watching the game a bit... I'm maybe not paying as close attention to any of the three as much as I should... I missed both of Kepler's homers

[LA Vikes Fan]

This is a bad Cubs lineup. Hopefully a good way to build some confidence. By the way, with Polanco and Buxton out ours isn't that much better. I'd like to see Ryan pitch against Houston or the Yankees and see how he fares. He's looked good but 2 starts against Cleveland and 2 against the Cubs definitely helps. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I do have to say though, 9 SOs in 4 2/3 is nothing to sneeze at no matter how good the other lineup is. Make that 10 SOs in 5 innings. That part is impressive even if I don't get it. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

From that shot it looks like Ryan is trying to talk his way into another inning. I hope they give it to him. I know he's at around 87 pitches but let's see if he can go 100 pitches, get into the 3rd time around the order, and show us something. Can't learn if you don't get a chance. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

When Kepler wants to humiliate a pitcher, he really goes all-in.