AlwaysinModeration

I’m not saying the spelling makes sense.

Excellent point. All but five starts by the starting five. I don’t think that can be underestimated. That is huge.

Fortunately, late inning German heroics.

Buxton late inning defensive replacement.

Surprised Graterol isn’t in for the ninth here.

I stand in judgment of the Planet Fitness banner behind home plate. Or at least the spelling.

Unfortunately, Miguel Cabrera homered. Fortunately, Ehire homered with a man on.

Lineups: Twins (84-52) Jake Odorizzi ® P 14-6, 3.55ERA 1. Max Kepler (L) CF 2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS 3. Nelson Cruz ® DH 4. Eddie Rosario (L) LF 5. Mitch Garver ® C 6. Luis Arraez (L) 2B 7. C.J. Cron ® 1B 8. Jake Cave (L) RF 9. Ehire Adrianza (S) 3B Tigers (40-94) Jordan Zimmermann ® P, 1-9, 6.24 ERA 1. Victor Reyes (S) LF 2. Willi Castro (S) SS 3. Miguel Cabrera ® DH 4. R. Rodriguez ® 2B 5. Harold Castro (L) CF 6. Dawel Lugo ® 3B 7. Jordy Mercer ® 1B 8. John Hicks ® C 9. T. Demeritte ® RF

Whew. What a week. There was so much Twins news, our heads are spinning. There was good news. There was bad news. There were bombas. There were games (ok, game) without bombas. There were opposite field singles. There were lots of opposing team singles. It kind of reminds me of that classic children’s book by Remy Charlip, “Fortunately”: Fortunately, my friend lent me an airplane. Unfortunately, the motor exploded. Fortunately, there was a parachute. Unfortunately, there was a hole in the parachute. Fortunately, I landed on a haystack. Unfortunately, there was a pitchfork on the haystack. In honor of that timeless book and the head spinning Twins goings on, today’s game thread will take up the fortunately mantle. Let’s see what we’ve got. FORTUNATELY, the Twins have extended their division lead over the Indians to 5.5 games. UNFORTUNATELY, the Twins play the Indians 6 more games in September. Fortunately, the Twins played their last four series against the White Sox and Tigers. Unfortunately, they started that stretch 1-3. Fortunately, they finished that same stretch 7-1. Unfortunately, that stretch is over. After today, anyway. Fortunately the Indians went 5-7 during those same 12 games, losing 3 games to the Twins in the standings. Unfortunately, the Twins play their next four series against the Red Sox, Indians, Nats and Indians again, and unfortunately, could easily give those 3 games in the standings right back. Fortunately, the offense is beastly, having hit the most home runs by any Major League Baseball team ever, with a month to spare. I don’t know if you heard. Unfortunately, the Yankees and the Astros, the likely first round and *cough* second round playoff opponents for the Twins, are also beastly home run hitting machines, on pace to do exactly the same record breaking thing as the Twins. Fortunately, the Twins rotation has been amazingly healthy! Their starting five pitchers have stayed in the rotation almost the entire season, starting all but seven games. Unfortunately, they haven’t been great shakes, especially recently, and three of them seem like they are unreliable or downright unhealthy right now; Berrios is losing velocity and has been lousy in August, Perez has turned back, more or less, into the pitcher he was in Texas, and Gibson was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, which just seems cruel and unnecessary. Fortunately, there is time to get them healthy. Smeltzer and Thorpe (and Stewart) are up and can take a start or two from Gibson, and hopefully Berrios, and hell, hopefully Perez, too. Unfortunately, those starts may be coming against the aforementioned Red Sox, Nats and Indians. Fortunately, the Twins bullpen is here to save the day. What?!? Oh right. Unfortunately, the bullpen has been pretty rough all year. Fortunately, Brusdar. Oh, and fortunately Sergio. And fortunately May and fortunately Duffey, and yes, fortunately Dyson, too. And, Fortunately, Taylor. Rogers. Unfortunately, Nelson Cruz ruptured his tendon. Fortunately, Nelson Cruz is made of kryptonite forged from the fountain of youth. Unfortunately, Byron Buxton keeps running into walls and banging his face on the ground. Fortunately, he’s back now, and seems to be talking about things like “feet first slides” and running into fewer walls. Unfortunately, he may just be a defensive replacement and pinch runner for now. Fortunately, it’s ok, because, well, Tortuga. And fortunately, it’s Labor Day, and fortunately you don’t have to go to work, and fortunately there is baseball on, and fortunately it is your first place Minnesota Twins, and fortunately they are playing against Gardy and his last place Detroit Tigers one last time before it gets real. Go Twins!!

Agreed. But, having him up now, see how it goes. There is time for him to establish himself as a real option. And then again, maybe he goes all Luis Arraez on the league.

Rodriguez? (“K-Rod”)?)

I know everyone on this site hates Gibson, is ready to be done with him, etc. But I will say, he’s got an ERA+ of 100, and is posting his career best walk and strikeout rates. He’s started every game, and isn’t an ace, but he is a very serviceable. He’s not at the top of his game right now, but he’s average, and he’s had stretches where he has been well above that. I think that the animosity towards him is overwrought and undeserved. And the incessant “nibble” comments kind of drive me nuts. When pitchers get ahead with two strikes, they try to get the hitters out with pitches out of the zone. That’s what pitchers do. If he were to throw more two-strike pitches down the middle, people would complain about giving players good stuff to hit with two strikes.

Gibson gets more Ks, gives up fewer hits, fewer walks, fewer home runs, has a lower ERA, a lower WHIP, a lower FIP, has more wins, and has three times as many career WAR. Other than that, they are the same, I guess.

Bob Sacamano had it first! Wasn’t exactly a closely held secret, though. Gleeman says he immediately will become the hardest throwing pitcher to ever play for the Twins. I think he immediately becomes the player with the most awesome name to play for the Twins.

69 points. When looking at last night’s boxscore, that’s the difference between the Tigers highest OPS (Ronny Rodriguez; 715) and the Twins’ lowest OPS (Adrianza; 784, Castro; 788). And I assume Garver and his 941 OPS will be in against the lefty today.

With Cleveland’s loss, they have 27 games left and could finish with 106 wins. Twins would need 24 wins to get to 107, so the magic number is 24, with 28 to play. If Cleveland goes 20-7 down the stretch, they finish with 99 wins. The Twins would need to go 17-11 to finish with 100 wins.

Hope this is true, and he is available for the postseason roster. All signs have certainly been pointing this way.

Blake Bivens, I am sorry. W.T.F.

Are you sure? I’m getting the distinct feeling that hating on Gibson is quite enjoyable for many.

This is a bit of an in the weeds point, but I think the Twins will have a lineup of players all OPSing 800 or above tomorrow.

Dyson in the 8th? No one else available with a nine run lead?

Rays wins, lead should be 4.5 after this one is over.

5IP, 4 runs. Not great. But maybe not deserving of the vitriol handed out this evening.

This is just demonstrably false.

Duffey knows what to do with an 8-run lead.