Game Thread: Blue Jays @ Twins 1:10 9/26/2021

[Danchat]

The Twins will face off against the Blue Jays one more time today, as they will try to avoid losing 90 games, which will require a 4-3 finish or better. But instead of talking Twins, let's go over a few things that are more interesting than the Twins!

-- The AL Wildcard Race --

With 7 games remaining, the Blue Jays find themselves 2 games back behind both the Red Sox and Yankees. The Mariners are also 3 games back (somehow), but let's have a look at who's left on the schedule for those three teams:

Blue Jays

At Twins

Vs Yankees - 3 games

Vs Orioles - 3 games

Yankees

At Red Sox

At Blue Jays - 3 games

Vs Rays - 3 games

Red Sox 

Vs Yankees

At Orioles - 3 games

At Nationals - 3 games

 

The Blue Jays don't control their destiny, but their 3 game series against the Yanks will be their most important one of the year. Then they get 3 freebies against the Orioles. It is fair to wonder about how much the Rays will try with their #1 seed locked up, which could provide an easy final series for the Yankees. As for Boston, well, if they screw this up, they have no one to blame but themselves.

-- Mike Baumann Debuts for the Orioles --

While this may not be related to today's game, I wanted to give some congratulations to Michael Baumann for making it to the big leagues with the Orioles. Baumann attended Mahtomedi High School, and just so happened to be in the same grade as I through Kindergarten to 12th grade. It's quite the surreal feeling to have someone you grew up with reach the elite of elite levels of their craft.

Here is how he's pitched over his career:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA+	FIP	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9	SO/W	Awards
1 Yr	1 Yr	1 Yr	1 Yr	1	1	.500	9.90	4	0	0	0	0	10.0	13	12	11	2	6	5	48	6.87	1.900	11.7	1.8	5.4	4.5	0.83
2017	21	BAL-min	A-,Rk	4	2	.667	1.28	11	10	0	0	0	42.1	27	13	6	2	19	43			1.087	5.7	0.4	4.0	9.1	2.26	ADN,OLS NYPL,GULF
2018	22	BAL-min	A+,A	13	5	.722	3.17	24	24	0	2	0	130.2	105	49	46	9	53	106			1.209	7.2	0.6	3.7	7.3	2.00	FDK,DEL CARL,SALL
2019	23	BAL-min	AA,A+	7	6	.538	2.98	24	22	1	2	2	124.0	85	43	41	4	45	142			1.048	6.2	0.3	3.3	10.3	3.16	BOW,FDK EL,CARL
2021	25	BAL-min	AA,AAA,A	4	3	.571	3.44	18	18	0	1	0	70.2	47	32	27	6	34	71			1.146	6.0	0.8	4.3	9.0	2.09	BOW,NFK,DEL AANE,AAAE,LAE
2021	25	BAL	AL	1	1	.500	9.90	4	0	0	0	0	10.0	13	12	11	2	6	5	48	6.87	1.900	11.7	1.8	5.4	4.5	0.83

He's had a rocky time in the majors so far, but I will be rooting for him! And hopefully the Orioles get better at baseball, eventually.

Lineups

Alek Manoah (R)
1. George Springer (R) DH
2. Marcus Semien (R) 2B
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
4. Bo Bichette (R) SS
5. Teoscar Hernandez (R) RF
6. Corey Dickerson (L) LF
7. Santiago Espinal (R) 3B
8. Danny Jansen (R) C
9. Randal Grichuk (R) CF

Griffin Jax (R)
1. Luis Arraez (L) 3B
2. Byron Buxton (R) CF
3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
4. Josh Donaldson (R) DH
5. Max Kepler (L) RF
6. Mitch Garver (R) C
7. Miguel Sano (R) 1B
8. Nick Gordon (L) SS
9. Jake Cave (L) LF

P.S. Coincidentally, while I was writing this, I looked outside and I saw a Blue Jay! Is that an omen that Toronto will win today?

[big dog]

Seeing a Blue Jay- interesting, but I say no. I think looking at our starting pitcher is a pretty good omen for the Blue Jays, though.

Let's get to Manoah and win this thing. Twins 9, Jays 7. Garza Jr with a three-inning save. Go Twins!

[stringer bell]

The Blue Jays do control their own destiny. If they win all seven of their remaining games, they will pass New York   

[RpR]

I see Donaldson, Polanco and Simmons had the only hits yesterday;  we will see if today is another hit-less wonder;if it is, it will be a 90 loss season for sure.

[stringer bell]

Encouraging to see Buxton being a bit more selective. When he’s doing that and driving the ball to right-center, he’s really fun to watch. 

[Danchat]

Already 0 for 3 in RISP. Ugh.

[RickOShea]

I thought Morneau had a nice speech yesterday.  His stories were a bit mundane, but at least they seemed probable and credible.

[RickOShea]

How thick can this kid be?  22 homers? Unbelievable.

[big dog]

Hey Griffin, when they say "Chicks dig the long ball", they mean the hitter, not the pitcher.

[stringer bell]

Not exactly a good matchup for Jax, since Toronto leads MLB in homers while Jax is allowing them at an historic rate. 

[stringer bell]

And they get one run. 

[RpR]

From Cave's single!

[RpR]

Sadly it was not Jax's last inning.

[big dog]

Byron Buxton {clap, clap, clap-clap-clap}

 

[Danchat]

Alright Clutch Gordon, here's your shot!

[big dog]

11 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Alright Clutch Gordon, here's your shot!

Eeep. 0-3, 3 Ks, 5 LOB.

I think the clutch needs to be re-lined. I smell something burning when I shift.