Game Thread: Twins @ Royals, 6/5 - 7:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Lineups:

 

Twins:

Eduardo Escobar 3B

Joe Mauer C

Josh Willingham LF

Justin Morneau 1B

Ryan Doumit DH

Chris Parmelee RF

Brian Dozier 2B

Aaron Hicks CF

Pedro Florimon SS

(P.J. Walters P)

 

Royals:

Alex Gordon LF

Eric Hosmer 1B

Salvador Perez C

Billy Butler DH

Mike Moustakas 3B

Lorenzo Cain CF

David Lough RF

Chris Getz 2B

Alcides Escobar SS

(Jeremy Guthrie P)

[ashbury]

Except maybe against lefties, looks like Gardy's settled on his starting lineup. Platoon at third base to lead off, then same as yesterday. I kinda like it.

[Riverbrian]

Except maybe against lefties, looks like Gardy's settled on his starting lineup. Platoon at third base to lead off, then same as yesterday. I kinda like it.

 

As long as they are performing... Stay on the bus as long as you can.

[stringer bell]

No one is being hurt by the lineup. The bench of utility infielder(s) Carroll/Escobar and non-prospects Herrmann and Thomas isn't very strong, but they are drawing major league salaries for watching basically the best nine the Twins have take their hacks.

[Riverbrian]

Where is Snepp and Glorm with our badges?

[fairweather]

Makes you wonder where Plouffe fits in if the Team continues to succeed with this lineup.

[Top Gun]

Can we do it again?

[Riverbrian]

Makes you wonder where Plouffe fits in if the Team continues to succeed with this lineup.

 

Plouffe will jump right back into the lineup I assume.

[ashbury]

As long as they are performing... Stay on the bus as long as you can.

 

I suspect this is Gardy's reasoning. Not some kind of superstitious thing like wearing the same underwear during a winning streak. Just a conviction that this is what's best. When it goes well, this is the Gardy I like - though I'm willing to second guess when it doesn't go well.

[fairweather]

Maybe Dozier will be gone and Carroll and Escobar will be platooning at 2B or Plouffe will be benched or Dozier will lead off? Anyway you slice it Plouffe doesn't fit as this batting order is currently constructed and having moderate success. Take your time getting healthy Trevor because if you're not "hitting the fire out of the ball" when you come back you may not have a starting job.

[Ultima Ratio]

Plouffe will jump right back into the lineup I assume.

 

 

...leading off. I like it.http://deephousepage.com/smilies/wave.gif

[Riverbrian]

Can we do it again?

 

Gun... Yes we Can!!!

 

Personally... I once made a half court shot with my eyes closed... I was asked if I could do that again... I said Yes I Can... One month later... I did it again.

 

You gotta believe!!!

[Riverbrian]

I suspect this is Gardy's reasoning. Not some kind of superstitious thing like wearing the same underwear during a winning streak. Just a conviction that this is what's best. When it goes well, this is the Gardy I like - though I'm willing to second guess when it doesn't go well.

 

Gardy better be wearing the same underwear!!! You don't mess with a streak.

 

Wait a sec... Mess... Streak... Underwear...

 

I think I'm about to be misunderstood.

[Riverbrian]

Maybe Dozier will be gone and Carroll and Escobar will be platooning at 2B or Plouffe will be benched or Dozier will lead off? Anyway you slice it Plouffe doesn't fit as this batting order is currently constructed and having moderate success. Take your time getting healthy Trevor because if you're not "hitting the fire out of the ball" when you come back you may not have a starting job.

 

This is Plouffes year to prove he is more that a one month guy.

[ashbury]

Makes you wonder where Plouffe fits in if the Team continues to succeed with this lineup.

 

My guess is Gardy would be running him out there every day, assuming he was putting up acceptable numbers (Dozier = acceptable for instance), and shuffle the lineup to put someone else at leadoff (Dozier for instance, again).

[fairweather]

What I'm really wondering before this game is can PJ Walters be this season's Scott Diamond? The Twins need someone that can consistently go deep into games.

[Riverbrian]

What I'm really wondering before this game is can PJ Walters be this season's Scott Diamond? The Twins need someone that can consistently go deep into games.

 

We all are... We all are... Just keep us in the game PJ... Just keep us in the game...

 

Why did I repeat myself? Why did I repeat myself?

[fairweather]

Dozier's swing has looked so much better over the last week. I just worry he'll change up what he's doing if they move him up to lead off again.

[Riverbrian]

Dozier's swing has looked so much better over the last week. I just worry he'll change up what he's doing if they move him up to lead off again.

 

I don't think you have to worry about that... Swings are temperamental. A batters head can lose itself and start chasing pitches.

 

There's a good chance he will regress all by himself without a lineup spot change.

[ashbury]

What I'm really wondering before this game is can PJ Walters be this season's Scott Diamond? The Twins need someone that can consistently go deep into games.

 

If Walters is this season's Diamond (in the rough, hyuk yuk yuk), it won't be all that much like Diamond himself - a 28 year old coming into the season with 100+ innings of 6.00 ERA after having been granted free agency the previous two winters isn't a good bet to suddenly have found himself. If he did, on some other teams you would suspect PEDs or an illegal pitch; things the Twins aren't really known for promoting or harboring.

 

Can always hope for the best of course. "Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you If you're young at heart..."

[ashbury]

A leadoff walk. Should be a big inning.

[Riverbrian]

Lead Off Walk... I approve!!!

[Riverbrian]

A leadoff walk. Should be a big inning.

 

Are you trying to kill us?

[Riverbrian]

That Mauer K was your fault.

[CairoCrown]

Mauersie continues on his quest to strikeout more this season than all of his previous seasons combined.

[Guest USAFChief]

K number 51 on the year for Mauer.

[Riverbrian]

K number 51 on the year for Mauer.

 

Yeah but how many of those 51 strikeouts can be directly attributed to Ashbury?

[ashbury]

K number 51 on the year for Mauer.

 

That Mauer K was your fault.

 

Please explain the other fifty.

 

/ edit - our posts crossed in teh intertubes

[Guest USAFChief]

It looked like the KC rightfielder got caught staring at some female in the crowd when Willingham hit that.

[CairoCrown]

Nice hit and run