Game Thread: Twins @ Kansas City, 5/22/22 @ 1:10pm CT

[twinssporto]

Good afternoon Twins fans and welcome back to more Game Thread fun! The Twins are going for the sweep today against their division rivals the Kansas City Royals...Will the Twins take game three to complete the sweep? Tune into the game to find out and don't forget to participate with the rest of the Game Thread fanatics to experience the thrill and excitement of Twin's baseball.

The Twins own a .600 win percentage at the moment and have a 4.5 game lead over the Chicago White Sox. If the Twins can get through some of the injuries plaguing it's pitching staff I think we can jump into an even more comfortable position by the All-Star break. This team really does have some intriguing possibilities as the season progresses. I feel much more comfortable about our depth at certain positions should more injuries come along...

Bailey Ober steps back on the mound today to face-off against the Royals right hander Brady Singer. It also looks like we will be playing the "B" lineup today as Correa, Buxton and Gio are playing left bench. 

Hope you enjoy your Sunday!

Today's lineups:

TWINS:

1. Luis Arreaz, 1B

2. Jorge Polanco, 2B

3. Max Kepler, RF

4. Gary Sanchez, C

5. T. Larnach, LF

6. Kyle Garlick, DH

7. Nick Gordon, SS

8. Jose Miranda, 3B

9. G. Celestino, CF

SP - Bailey Ober, (R) 1-1, 2.75 ERA

 

ROYALS:

1. W. Merrifield, 2B

2. A. Benintendi, LF

3. H. Dozier, RF

4. MJ Melendez, DH

5. E. Rivera, 3B

6. C. Santana, 1B

7. Kyle Isbel, CF

8. Nicky Lopez, SS

9. S. Rivero, C

SP - Brady Singer (R) 1-0, 2.84 ERA

Weather: Party cloudy and 63 degrees. 0% chance of rain. 10mph wind blowing in.

[twinssporto]

My pick to click today is Mr. Miranda. It's gonna be epic!

 

 

[CRF]

I can't say I care for both Buck AND CC sitting at the same time. If you're going to rest them, stagger it so they aren't sitting out the same game(s). Hopefully they aren't in the dug out wearing sweats and could play if it was necessary.  It's definitely nice to see Larnach back. 

[Danchat]

Interesting to see Gordon at SS and Miranda at 3B… but yeah, having both Buck and CC on the bench sounds like a bad idea. Hopefully they can get the ‘60 to 90 minute warm up required’ to pinch hit late (that’s a direct quote from Rocco).

[stringer bell]

I presumed Buxton would get a day off today and frankly he hasn;t been very dynamic on this road trip. The Twins' depth appears to be showing itself right now. I do hope Miranda can build off his two-hit day on Friday, but honestly he should be in St. Paul. 

[CRF]

Must be some kind of minor epidemic...yesterday it was Winder to the IL with a right shoulder impingement. Today it's Stashak with the same thing. Maybe they can infect Bundy or Archer with it next!

[Mill1634]

Obviously not a very good lineup (on paper) but was to be expected after Buxton played 2 straight in CF and the Twins won both games. Playing with house money now, as the kids say. Interested to see Gordon at short (not in a good way, though). And obviously very glad to have Larnach back. He was crushing the ball before his injury.

Royas 5, Twins 2

 

[stringer bell]

I don't think Polanco has signed on to the lower launch angle, use the whole field approach. 

[PDX Twin]

Why weren't they shifting?

[Mill1634]

Sigh. Can't be giving away opportunities like that with this lineup. 

[Muppet]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I don't think Polanco has signed on to the lower launch angle, use the whole field approach. 

Polanco is never any good until July when he starts hitting .450 with a hr every 6 abs. 

[stringer bell]

Weird GDP there. Takes away a promising rally.

[CRF]

These damn GIDP's have got to stop! Kep cues one to 3rd and the guy doubles us up again!

[stringer bell]

Good thing it was Kepler running instead of a Sanchez or Urshela or that would have been a triple play.

[Vanimal46]

Whataburger has made its way up to Kansas City??

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I missed a double play , huh?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

Whataburger has made its way up to Kansas City??

I am in one now...

 

Not in a Kansas City... A Whataburger.

 

Any recommendations?

[Mill1634]

uh, i don't think that was a swing, but thanks home plate ump.

[Parfigliano]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

Whataburger has made its way up to Kansas City??

Shocked me too.  Thought they were a TX NM thing.

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

I am in one now...

 

Not in a Kansas City... A Whataburger.

 

Any recommendations?

Can’t go wrong with the patty melt. Or the original Whataburger. Get the spicy ketchup! 

[rwilfong86]

13 minutes ago, CRF said:

These damn GIDP's have got to stop! Kep cues one to 3rd and the guy doubles us up again!

I think teams usually shift against Kepler, that was probably the flukiest I've seen in awhile.

[rwilfong86]

3 minutes ago, Mill1634 said:

uh, i don't think that was a swing, but thanks home plate ump.

Dick Bremer called it a make-up call from the "swing" before ?

[Mill1634]

Not ideal to have Ober throw 25 pitches in the first inning. Command just not there yet.

[rwilfong86]

12 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Good thing it was Kepler running instead of a Sanchez or Urshela or that would have been a triple play.

No joke, for a second I thought that was exactly what it was gonna be. the Old 5-4-3 around the horn triple play. 

[Mill1634]

Danny Coulombe completed a rehab "start" for AA-Wichita, throwing the first inning, allowing 1 runner on a walk but allowing no runs or hits. He didn't strike anyone out. I assume he gets one more appearance, but maybe not. I assume he will replace Megill or Cano on the active roster sometime next week. Matt Canterino is following Danny.

[Parfigliano]

That was a quick 1-2-3 half inning

[Vanimal46]

I’m a fan of Brady Singer. Kid’s got a good head on his shoulders. Except today I’d like to see a few more earned runs. 

 

[shortround81]

11 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

I am in one now...

 

Not in a Kansas City... A Whataburger.

 

Any recommendations?

I don't know if it's an all day thing but I've heard the honey butter chicken sandwich is pure magic

[Vanimal46]

Just now, shortround81 said:

I don't know if it's an all day thing but I've heard the honey butter chicken sandwich is pure magic

100%. It’s only available for breakfast ? but I had my fair share of those sandwiches during my days in Austin. 

[Mill1634]

Much, much better 2nd inning from Ober. Should get him back on track to potentially get through 5 innings.