AlwaysinModeration

While they've lost 3 of 4, they just completed a 4-2 homestand and lost the opening game of a road trip. They have a lead for the last wild card game, and plenty of games left. Get 'em tomorrow night...let's get the bats going. (And yes, getting Sano back would be ok too.)

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I remember a while ago when this was a game.

They have been shutout five times in their past five games. Their veteran leadership seems to be failing them. What I can't figure out, though, is how Joe Mauer got four hits with Alex Gordon playing left field.

As of this morning, Sunday, Sept 3, the Twins have played 28 of their final 55 games. Let's take a look back at the wish list and see how the Twins are doing: They are hewing pretty close to the script, except for that Colón guy. What will the second half of those 55 games bring? (A 56th game, perhaps? And hopefully more?)

Gibson: 3.21 ERA in six starts since being recalled from Rochester August 1. (3.64 in 8 starts since July 16).

First game thread intro of the year, that went fairly well.

I like to think of myself as the Niko Goodrum of TD.

Lineups (can no longer edit my game thread). 1. Whit Merrifield ® 2B 2. Lorenzo Cain ® CF 3. Melky Cabrera (S) RF 4. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B 5. Salvador Perez ® C 6. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B 7. Brandon Moss (L) DH 8. Alcides Escobar ® SS 9. Alex Gordon (L) LF 1. Brian Dozier ® 2B 2. Joe Mauer (L) 1B 3. Byron Buxton ® CF 4. Jorge Polanco (S) SS 5. Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B 6. Mitch Garver ® DH 7. Eddie Rosario (L) RF 8. Chris Gimenez ® C 9. Ehire Adrianza (S) LF

Twins (70-64) vs Kansas City (66-67) Target Field, 7:10pm Onelki Garcia vs Kyle Gibson Starting lineups TBD The Minnesota Twins Baseball Club tries to even the series against the Royals, after losing the opener 7-6, with the game ending on a strike out with the bases loaded. The Twins almost came all the way back from a 7-3 deficit, but couldn't quite pull off the improbable two nights in a row. Luckily the Yankees and Angels both lost, so the wild card chase remains kind of similar to the day before: 1. NYY, 71-63 2. Twins 70-64, 1 GB of the Yankees 3. Angels 69-66, 1.5 GB of the Twins 3. Orioles 69-66, 1.5 GB of the Twins Tonight the Twins start polarizing Kyle Gibson. Gibson has generated some intense discussion on Twins Daily of late, including an article by Nick on his changed mechanics and increased swinging strikeout rate in his recent run of success. Gibson apparently has also changed where he stands on the rubber in order to change his pitch angle. Many are skeptical of Gibson and dismiss his recent run (3.90 in five August starts). Regardless of what you think of Gibson, he is in the rotation right now. So if we want the Twins to keep ahold of their wild card aspirations, we need Kyle to keep rolling with his recent success. Here are some things to think about, other than Kyle Gibson, that are polarizing: 1. Sunglasses 2. A Twenty One Pilots song 3. The Arctic? 3. "Climate Change" 5. Joe Mauer's Hall of Fame credentials Let's gloss over 1-4 for a second, and skip right to #5, as we can never beat this horse to death enough. Last night Joe got a pair of hits, bringing his average on the season up to .297. It also brings his career hit total to 1,953, leaving him 47 short of 2,000. In August, Joe played in 28 games, racking up 36 hits. The Twins have 28 games left in the season. If Joe keeps up this hit rate--and plays/DHs every day, he would finish the season with 1,989 hits. I think he gets a gold glove this year. If he can creep over .300 for the year, I think those will be two nice additional building blocks for his career hall of fame case. Once he gets over 2,000 hits, that is another. If he gets to 150 hits on the season, that will be 150 hits in two of the last three seasons. Here is a slightly less polarizing question than the "Joe Hall of Fame" question for folks: Can Mauer get to 2,500 hits? Stepping back a bit, the Twins are down 0-1 in this 7 game series against the Royals (separated by a three-game series with the Rays, but whatever). We all want to see the Twins playing meaningful seven-game series very soon. Well, they are, and they are down 0-1. Definitely don't want to go down 0-2 in this series, especially since the final four games are on the road. Stepping back a bit more, the Twins have 28 games left, and stand at 70 wins, with a 1.5 game lead over two teams. Does 16-12 get them in? If they go 16-12, that means the Angels or Baltimore have to go 17-10 to tie the Twins, which is a tall order. I think that 87 wins is enough to get an AL wild card spot this year, and 86 might be enough. Finally, today's Joe M conversation: Joe Mantegna: Riverbrian, what is the deal? You invite me to join in with the other Joe Ms that one time, and I though it went great. We had good rapport, things were going swimmingly. How come you never invited me back? RiverBrian: Joe, I loved your work on The Simpsons. Mantegna: You're not answering the question. RB: And you and Gary Sinise do amazing hosting the Memorial Day concert! Mantegna: Still not answering. I mean, you could of at least given me a reason! RB: Godfather III, though, questionable. Mantegna: It was frankly, a bit rude to give me the wrong directions to the conversation. RB: And Three Amigos....hmmmm. Mantegna: Is it an Italian thing? José Mesa: Is it a Dominican thing, RiverBrian? How come you never invite me to the Joe M conversation? RB: Well, Joe Table, you are technically aren't a Joe M. Mantegna: I don't know, RiverBrian, I just find you very polarizing. Let's go Twins!

....buttons he buttons, the better the Twins do?

I have the opposite reaction. That seems like a good haul the Tigers are getting for Verlander. The equivalent in the Twins' system seems like...I don't know...Romero, Wander Javier, and Ben Rortvedt, or something like that. Would you do that trade, Chief?

Kind of shocking that someone didn't hit two home runs today, but hey, a win is a win.

I don't mean to be conspiracy theorist, but has anyone seen scraggly scrawny Alan Busenitz and Steve Busenitz in the same room at the same time?

Yes, it is possible. It is also possible your refrain is getting old. Nick brings up some interesting points in the article worth noting. Gibson pitched a 3.90 ERA in 5 August starts. Getting 12.5% swinging strikes is a big deal - and it has helped him get out of some innings that he has otherwise been unable to escape. If he really redid his motion, that is a big deal, and it makes sense that it would take a long time to solidify. Gibson also confirmed that he moved to a different spot on the rubber, giving himself a better angle. Gibson has certainly been teetering for awhile. But maybe he isn't quite ready to get off the merry-go-round yet.

Very glad the Twins Mike Pelfrey Era is over.

Not sure it's huge, but a win would be nice. Baltimore seems serious.

Fair enough. I'll take one, as I haven't done one this year. But no jokes.

That's a WHIP under 1.20. Isn't that good? Gibson has had five starts in August. He lost to Hamels on August 5, giving up 3 runs (2 after two batters on a just-barely Mazara homerun) in 5.1 innings. Then he got pulled up 5-3 after 4.2 innings against Detroit on August 11. On August 17, he wasn't good, getting pulled in the 5th against Cleveland, down 3-1 with no one out. Then 7 innings, 1 run (8Ks) against Chicago, 6.2 innings, 2 runs (7Ks) against Tronno. His ERA is 3.90 in those five August starts, all with Molitor having an extremely short leash. I don't know if he's turned a corner, but he's been pitching just fine for the past month.

Good joke, but you kind of spoiled the punchline..."I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you!" In term of running people down, the Yankees lost the first half of a double header against Cleveland, and are down 4-1 in game 2. Of things break right, the Twins could end today closer to the Yankees than the rest of the Wild Card field.

Chief, I think you could / should copy and paste this at the bottom of every TD thread.

I'd rather get Verlander than Mike Leake, who is a worse pitcher and is owed nearly as much money (and was just traded to the Mariners). If Verlander gets the Twins across the finish line to the play-offs (and maybe wins a wild card game in NY?), that would be worth it right there. I agree that if the Twins take the entire contract, the asking price shouldn't be too high. However, the Tigers would likely need to get something back, to save some face with the fans. I think Kohl Stewart seems like a decent offer. Maybe Stewart and the new reliever, Moya?

https://mobile.twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/902633040651935744

There is the infamous "mystery team" inquiring about Verlander. Could it be the Twins? Verlander sure would make a nice fifth starter....

Hope it is nothing. Much rather shut him down than have him pitch in the minor league playoffs and risk serious injury.