Blake

Here we are, September 3 and the Twins are contending for a playoff spot. As we all know, make the playoffs, anything can happen. See: Kansas City, last year. Am I expecting the Twins to make the playoffs? I hope they do, because I want a playoff game thread. Though, with all the work by Riverbrian, USAFchief, chitown, always33, Hosken Bombo Disco, glunn and others, it may take a bit of Tanya Harding magic to make that happen. (think keyboard across the wrists) The Twins were dreadful initially, wonderful in May, tanked after the All Star break and turned their fortunes around on the road against the AL East. Yes, you read that right, a winning road trip. 6-4 no less. A road trip that could have easily been 7-3 if the Ray's somewhat eccentric ballpark would not have robbed Mr. Sano of a home run. But hey, that's baseball. Anyone remember the speakers at the Metrodome being in play? Good times, memories and World Series wins. After the series against Houston, the "good team, bad baseball," to use Hawk's phrase, came to town. I was looking forward to see if Chicago is still trying or trying to go through the motions. However, it seems Chicago has reached the point where the harder they try, the worse they get. So far, the Twins have taken 2 of 3 with assists by Sox fielding. Can the Sox fielding carry the day again for the Twins? Although, since last night was a shutout, Sano's home run actually carried the day. Sox fielding merely added some salt to the road rash of the Sox skid. Ah, baseball and mockery of opposing teams. I much prefer being the mocker rather than the mockie. Since these last few years have been on the somewhat lean side for Twins fans, it's nice to be magnanimous and humble during this fun year. Oh, who am I kidding? The Sox are the Keystone Cops of baseball when playing the Twins. Enough said. Go Twins!

Give it another day or so.

"It has gotten to the point this year that it isn't a game against the Sox if there isn't some sort of errant throw by a Sox player somewhere into the outfield." I may not often be right, but when I am, I gloat.

Sanoooo!! (hey, I was busy and couldn't join the party)

Lineups: SOX Saladino SS Cabrera LF Abreu 1B Garcia RF Thompson CF Soto DH Sanchez 2B Flowers C Beckham 3B Rodon P TWINS Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Plouffe 3B Sano DH Hunter RF Rosario LF Escobar SS Suzuki C Buxton CF Milone P

Normally, I have these game thread thingies written a couple of weeks before I'm supposed to post them. However, writers block set in about the same time the Twins went from road kill to road killers. What's even worse, the Twins were going to play the White Sox, a team who's best pitcher has been awful against the Twins. So much low hanging fruit yet the old brain was not bearing game thread fruit. I also admit to some trepidation yesterday, because I figured Chris Sale would be on a mission to get some revenge. It turns out I was wrong, Sale was on a mission to be the Sale the Twins have grown to love. Then, things got interesting, Duffy left, and the Sox took the lead. But, was I worried? Not really, because I knew the Twins could still count on White Sox fielding giving the Twins the edge. (Okay, I was a little worried.) And again, the Sox fell to the occasion, throwing the ball around with little regard for throwing to the person at the base along with balls skipping between the legs of a hapless Sox fielder. In other words, a typical win against a hapless Sox team. If I weren't as lazy as I am, I'd look up how many errors the Sox have committed against the Twins. It has gotten to the point this year that it isn't a game against the Sox if there isn't some sort of errant throw by a Sox player somewhere into the outfield. So, what's the over/under on Sox errors in today's game? I see a trend of 2 per game, one of which will be some sort of egregious throwing error. Your take? Go Twins! Twins pitching probable: Milone White Sox pitching probable: Rodon (if mlb.com can use "probable" when listing pitchers, good enough for me)

I think you may have nailed it. Probably happened after the Sano home run.

Lightning, in the form of Sox Fielding, does strike twice.

And White Sox fielding, or lack thereof, strikes again.

I think Buckner is mentally flipping a coin before he calls balls and strikes.

I'm starting to feel sorry for Chris Sale. hahahaha... (if anyone believed me, then I have a really cool stone arch bridge for sale)

I'm so right handed I can barely scratch my bu..I mean, head, with my left.

Broadcasters needed a bar by which they are all measured and decided to set the bar very low?

Go Twins!

Hah, Seth is worried? I'm on the hook for the White Sox game threads in a week or so. I still have no idea what I'm going to say and the Twins are not making it any easier for me to find the trenchant/pithy commentary needed for my effort. I may pick on the White Sox, but, honestly? Low hanging fruit.

Sano! Hicks! Plouffe?

Unfortunately, that kind of whiff seems to be part of the Mauer 2.0 we've come to know this year.

Yesterday, in order to celebrate the beginning of the silly season, I purchased a flat nose shovel. Seemed appropriate. Go Twins!

That was some baseball smarts. As soon as I saw Escobar extend the run down I knew the Rangers were not paying enough attention to Rosario.

What to do with Joe Mauer? If Joe does not improve this year, then, after the season is over, Terri Ryan calls Joe Mauer and invites him into a meeting that also involves Paul Molitor. The conversation goes somewhat like this: Terry Ryan: "Joe, unfortunately, you're not the player you were. Is there any chance we can renegotiate your contract?" Joe: "No." Ryan: "Joe, then, are you willing to consider retirement? If so, that will save all of us the embarrassment of cutting you next spring, right Paul." Molitor: "Joe, at some point, a player has to realize that his best days are well behind him." Joe: "?!?!?!?!"

Not sure if Hicks can dance, but he sure can golf.

I really thought someone was kidding when they mentioned Achter has an ERA of 40. Surprise, surprise, surprise.

I would turn this game off, but I really want to see what Sano and Hicks do the rest of the game.

Go Pelf!!

Aaron Hicks has been a pleasure to watch this year. The Twins are in line to have an incredible outfield over the next few years.