Game Thread: Twins (Gray) v Guardians (Bibee), 9/5 @ 5:10pm CT

[GCTF]

So far I'm enjoying season 2 of Twins vs Guardians. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Remember also, Cleveland lost their top 2 starting pitchers (imagine the cries if Lopez and Gray had gone down to injury) 

They never really had a chance..

oh and Circus Boy update: 2-0 good guys

[Mortimerkenny21]

Nice!!

[USAFChief]

Jose Ramirez is a great ballplayer and a long time thorn in the Twins side, but...

He ugly 

[USAFChief]

Timely 

[stringer bell]

Gray pitches around a one-out walk. Julien gives me heartburn when he’s in the field (double clutch throw). 

[RickOShea]

1 minute ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Remember also, Cleveland lost their top 2 starting pitchers (imagine the cries if Lopez and Gray had gone down to injury) 

They never really had a chance..

oh and Circus Boy update: 2-0 good guys

I'm sure the Mets didn't expect to have Sherzer and Verlander pitching somewhere else.

[GusGus11]

Excellent shut down inning for Sonny

Now lets really make Bibee cry

[Nine of twelve]

Less than smooth fielding by Julien but Correa’s cannon gets us the DP.

[RickOShea]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

Jose Ramirez is a great ballplayer and a long time thorn in the Twins side, but...

He ugly 

Thank you Chief. Finally someone calling it.  Appreciate it.

[Nine of twelve]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Timely 

They almost always are. 

[USAFChief]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Gray pitches around a one-out walk. Julien gives me heartburn when he’s in the field (double clutch throw). 

Butt clench for me.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

Gray pitches around a one-out walk. Julien gives me heartburn when he’s in the field (double clutch throw). 

I am afraid that if Julien is playing second base in (knock on wood) the postseason, that, the ball is “going to find him” like what happened with Schwarber in left field in 2015. But for now, it’s good to get Julien the reps out there. 

[USAFChief]

Nice PA, Matt.

[Mike Sixel]

Cant throw a strike. What is Castro doing?

[Jocko87]

Vazquez too. Quality of at bat is up all through the lineup.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

World of hurt for the CLE pitching staff right now. and remember, 

 

[Parfigliano]

Good bunt

[stringer bell]

Looks like Bibee got squeezed on one pitch to Vázquez, but he’s been all over the place. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Parfigliano said:

Good bunt

Terrible to give up an out in the 2nd inning. It's awful strategy. 

[Teflon]

59 minutes ago, Road trip said:

I'm not that confident... I remember well the 2009 Twins (a pleasant memory, for once).  Trailed the Tigers big in September.  5.5 games on September 14!  Still trailed by 2 games with 3 left to play!  Yet, they came back to tie the Tigers, and won the one game playoff.  The Twins got very hot (finished 17-4), while the Tigers played relatively poorly.

Of course, the reward for the Twins was a playoff series with the D*#$ Yankees.

I want a sweep, and even then I won't stop looking over my shoulder until the Guardians are without hope.

 

Game 162 in 2009 was supposed to be the last regular season game in the Metrodome. Not so fast, souvenir seekers!  (It was actually the second year in a row the Twins played a game 163 - having lost 1-0 to the White Sox in 2008 on a Jim Thome 7th inning HR.)

[Parfigliano]

Just now, Parfigliano said:

Good bunt

Could have been better if Julian makes contact

[stringer bell]

Opportunity missed. 

[Azviking101]

Bibee not even close to the strike zone so let’s swing or bunt at 6 straight pitches after the 2 walks. The amount of times they get in their own way is astounding 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

Terrible to give up an out in the 2nd inning. It's awful strategy. 

Agree, go for the absolute knockout 

[USAFChief]

And that's why you don't sac bunt when you're not sure 1 run wins a game.

[Azviking101]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

Terrible to give up an out in the 2nd inning. It's awful strategy. 

With Castro up it’s normally a fine strategy but in this case with Bibee not even close to the strike zone it’s dumb

[bird]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Still alternating catchers, I see.....let's hope that trend ends in the playoffs.

Yep. However, this whole season is inexplicable. Undulating as hell on an individual player level. Very few constant success stories, among position players, and only three consistent disappointments (so far): Correa, Buxton, and Miranda. Weird year!

[William K Johnson]

Was wondering why Polanco did not turn the double play at second better, than realized he is not playing second base tonight.

[Azviking101]

4 of the 6 pitches he threw after the second walk of the inning were balls and they offered at every one of them. Why do they do this to themselves?