Game Thread Thursday: Twins @ Yankees, 6:05 PM ET, 9/8/22

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The funny thing is, I assumed the Twins would scratch out a win in one of those games yesterday. I mean, a person can’t be that jaded to believe the Yankees will sweep the Twins again, can they?

 

Tonight is Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.10 ERA) for the Twins, versus Nestor Cortes (9-4, 2.68 ERA) for the Yankees.

Lineups as they are available.

   (EDIT 4:30 PM - Lineups at bottom of this post)

 

In the doubleheader yesterday, both the Twins and the Yankees blew chance after chance in Game 1, and in Game 2 a grand slam by former Twin Isiah Kiner-Falefa, off of current Twin Joe Ryan, was enough to seal a win. The grand slam came while Thad Levine was talking on the radio broadcast, and was interrupted by Gladden’s home run trouble call. Funny enough, I think Levine’s last words before being interrupted were “six-plus innings”. Maybe next spring training, while Twins starters are building stamina to complete those six innings, and Twins baserunners are practicing their base stealing, Levine can practice on the radio by speaking in clause breaks which coincide with the pitch delivery!

The Twins only shot at the postseason now is to win the AL Central division. But the Twins now have a record of 1-15 against other division leading teams this year. So, yeah.

Notice to Twins management: The NFL football season begins tonight, and the Vikings kick off on Sunday. Hockey and basketball are right around the corner. Competition for eyeballs will only get more intense.

• Trivia: Aaron Judge hit home run number 55 off of Louie Varland, a St. Paul kid who was making his MLB debut. Who was the first Twins pitcher to surrender a home run to Judge? (First clue: Year was 2017. Second clue: If you are looking for a "big" and "sexy" answer, forget it. It wasn't him.  Third clue: It was a starter, however.)

 *** Remember, there is an ancient old commenting policy we should all best follow. The big thing is nothing personal and no name calling is allowed. ***

Otherwise, fire away in the comments! 

Comedy is preferred, especially if there is farce on the field. Memes also appreciated.

 

LINEUPS

YOUR MINNESOTA TWINS

1. Kyle Garlick (R) RF

2. Carlos Correa (R) DH

3. Jose Miranda (R) 1B

4. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

5. Gary Sanchez (R) C

6. Gilberto Celestino (R) CF

7. Jermaine Palacios (R) SS

8. Nick Gordon (L) 2B

9. Billy Hamilton (R) LF

 

NEW YORK YANKEES

1. Aaron Hicks (S) LF

2. Aaron Judge (R) RF

3. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B

4. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 3B

5. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 1B

6. Miguel Andujar (R) DH

7. Estevan Florial (L) CF

8. Kyle Higashioka (R) C

9. Oswald Peraza (R) SS

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I’ll start: 

[Dave The Dastardly]

My dad, an unassuming WW II veteran, wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, always told us kids if we have nothing good to say about somebody or something we shouldn't say anything at all.

In the forty years I knew the man he hardly spoke.

I fear I shall remain tight-lipped today.

[insagt1]

Most of us felt Twins wouldn't win one of these games...mainly because the Twins never win games against the Yankees. At least never when it remotely counts for anything. Michael Kay said it during game two...somehow the Yankees always find a way to beat the Twins.

As bad as the Yanks have been lately, they never look bad against Minnesota, because the Twins always look worse. Always, Somehow, if they can remain just 2 back heading into the first Cleveland showdown, the division hopes will flicker on. Its right in front of them, if they want it. I don't think with who is currently healthy that Twins have much going for them. And while their starters can't go more than 4 innings, the pen has really let them down., with maybe one, possibly two exceptions. The heralded trade for Lopez hasn't worked. He looks like a pitcher with no confidence and easily rattled right now.

Remember the old saying: its not over, until the Twins play the Yankees. Then its definitely over.

[CRF]

1 hour ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

My dad, an unassuming WW II veteran, wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, always told us kids if we have nothing good to say about somebody or something we shouldn't say anything at all.

In the forty years I knew the man he hardly spoke.

I fear I shall remain tight-lipped today.

I'd like to thank your father for his sacrifice and his service. I'm sure that you're proud of that.  I am, of my father's military service. Those kinds of things are important. The game tonight...not so much. 

[ashbury]

"Good luck tonight."

[Aggies7]

I am under no such restraints to not speak ill. Oh my god this lineup is a bleeping JOKE. I can’t even post it it’s so bad. I’m done, I can’t do it anymore. Our best hitter getting an off day when we’ve lost 6 of 7 and about to get swept? The team is a soft directionless disaster

[Vanimal46]

Billy Hamilton starting in LF. Oh boy! The Twins are also running a buy one, get one free ticket promo the rest of the season. 

[Aggies7]

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Billy Hamilton starting in LF. Oh boy! The Twins are also running a buy one, get one free ticket promo the rest of the season. 

Regarding the ticket giveaway, I made a joke on Twitter earlier that said I left two twins tickets on my car dashboard and someone broke in and left 2 more!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

"Good luck tonight."

Luck?

Good?

Tonight?

 

I give up. What is the connection?

 

(and so as to minimize the fallout of making a fool of myself... Is that the Queen?)

[sampleSizeOfOne]

3 hours ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

I fear I shall remain tight-lipped today.

Light-tipped, eh?

A veritable beacon!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

3 hours ago, insagt1 said:

Remember the old saying: its not over, until the Twins play the Yankees. Then its definitely over

So... I should take the over?

[ashbury]

11 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Luck?

Good?

Tonight?

 

I give up. What is the connection?

 

(and so as to minimize the fallout of making a fool of myself... Is that the Queen?)

Well, it's not the Queen anymore, strictly speaking.

There's no particular wordplay intended.  I just ran across a cheerful gif of her, and attached a game relevant caption, as we are in opposition to the Yankees.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

4 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

6. Gilberto Celestino (R) CF

7. Jermaine Palacios (R) SS

8. Nick Gordon (L) 2B

9. Billy Hamilton (R) LF

Piranhas, anyone?

 

Is it my imagination, or are there slower bottom halves of the line up we could have put out there?

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Aggies7 said:

I am under no such restraints to not speak ill. Oh my god this lineup is a bleeping JOKE. I can’t even post it it’s so bad. I’m done, I can’t do it anymore. Our best hitter getting an off day when we’ve lost 6 of 7 and about to get swept? The team is a soft directionless disaster

I expect the leftists sitting on the bench will come into the game once the Yanks bring in a proper Tory from the bullpen to pitch.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

Well, it's not the Queen anymore, strictly speaking.

There's no particular wordplay intended.  I just ran across a cheerful gif of her, and attached a game relevant caption.

Thanks in both cases. I had heard elsewhere of the passing, and this made me think of it, but necessarily being able to pick her out of a line up, i knew i had tread carefully.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

28 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

 but necessarily being able to pick her out of a line up, i knew i had tread carefully.

I would bat her no higher than 7th in a lineup.

I guess after today, not even that?

Edit: too soon? sorry 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Hey lets LIGHTEN THE MOOD!!

Has anyone seen the two teams' lineups tonight?

A bunch of suspects, if you ask me!

 

[mrtwinsfan]

33 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

Piranhas, anyone?

 

Is it my imagination, or are there slower bottom halves of the line up we could have put out there?

Minnows, Bait Maybe

[Vanimal46]

I’m beginning to think the game thread starter can’t tell time. It’s well past 6:05 ET and no game yet. 

[ashbury]

5 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

I would bat her no higher than 7th in a lineup.

I guess after today, not even that?

Edit: too soon? sorry 

"You'd probably brush back the Queen of England."

"I probably would, if she was crowding the plate."

 

[mrtwinsfan]

See Garlick batting 1st after his sterling performance of late,  where can anyone get a HONEST assessment of  Kepler-Polanco-Buxton  ??? Rocco does nothing but repeat B.S.  ANY HOPE OF GETTING THESE GUYS ??

[RpR]

Hamilton is NOT a bad fielder; for fielding I am a lot more concerned with Second and Short Stop.

This is probably the game the Twins will win and confound New York announcers with what is wrong with the Twins organization.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

"What's in that purse the Queen carries around, anyway? Pine tar? Spider tack? Small cheat cards?"

His Majesty forgive me please

[LVTwinsfan]

9 minutes ago, RpR said:

This is probably the game the Twins will win

I was thinking the same thing. No lineup that they have used in this series has done much, this one can’t be any worse

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

C'mon people, there are jokes being told, but I'm hearing crickets.

I'm also hearing cricket:

 

[RpR]

2 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

C'mon people, there are jokes being told, but I'm hearing crickets.

I'm also hearing cricket:

 

is that Celestino?

[LVTwinsfan]

Perk said Garlick slowed up halfway to first, that’s inexcusable

[LVTwinsfan]

4 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

C'mon people, there are jokes being told, but I'm hearing crickets.

I'm also hearing cricket:

 

Where was there a joke

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Well looks like the Twins bowed down and curtsied in order in the first, before I could think up another joke