IndianaTwin

The second paragraph asks, "If Minnesota is to come out on top, which players will need to carry the load?" The last paragraph of the intro says it's looking to see who is most critical to the team's success. Not quite the same question. To the former, the studs are always going to carry the load. So, yeah, Arraez, Buxton, Correa, Gray, etc. To the latter, a winning team always needs role players and guys who don't screw things up. So, yeah, many of the names which were suggested for various reasons, including Pagan righting himself, Mahle missing no more than a start, Maeda chipping in, etc. My personal keys/hopes on the latter are Lopez being the monster we hoped for, Fulmer putting out fires, and Sanchez going on a tear.

It will be. ? I've been struck by the uniqueness of the Maeda contract. Very low guarantee ($3.125M), with very attainable bonuses for innings and starts on a continuum that could get him up to an additional $9.5M. That's really what you're talking about. In your scenario, remember that he's already getting $2.75M for his buyout, so you're really just adding $1.25M for next year. I'm a little intrigued by the notion, but I just think there's too much redundancy with others on the roster, assuming Kirilloff and Larnach are healthy.

When I was a kid, WHO in Des Moines was on the Twins network, which was wonderful. Their slogan was “coast to coast, border to border, and then some.” I remember hearing it as far away as northern Florida when on vacation.

Oh, there’s plenty of static on Twins Daily!

It’s a steal. I enjoy it tremendously. Not only can I listen to all the games, with no blackout, but I have the freedom to switch to the opposing team’s broadcast during the middle three innings.

A great nighttime driving song, particularly at loud volumes…

The Perseids.

Duffey signed with the Rangers.

Perhaps. But he's also on target to end up with about 28 starts, his most since 2017. Something, perhaps the shortness of his outings, has seemed to keep him healthy. That's worth something in a starter. We yelp because he's only on target for 118 innings, but this is also his coming back from Thoracic Outlet surgery season. From 2014-2017, he averaged 202 innings (with a 3.66 ERA), so he HAS been able to provide significant, quality workload in the past. In the years since that he's thrown 148, 119, 0, 19 and now a projected 118. By the end of June, he'd gotten his ERA down to 3.08. It's tracked up since then, but that seems consistent with someone who's running out of gas in his recovery year. I don't think the shortness of his outings this year needs to be assumed going forward. If he indeed gets through 28 starts at 115-120 innings, I suspect his personal goal for next year would be 28-30 starts in the 150 innings range, with an ERA in that 3.66 range. That's worth something, and it might as well be for us. If he makes it through the season healthy (even with a transition to the bullpen or even shorter outings), he starts to look a little more tempting to bring back. I don't think it's a given to pick up the option and see him as a starter, but I don't think it's a given not to either.

Have you ever played Tri-Bond? It’s a board game where three items are listed, and the guesser is to identify what the three things have in common. For example, here’s an easy one: Metropolitan Stadium, HHH Metrodome, Target Field. The answer, of course, is “Stadiums the Minnesota Twins have called home.” So, that’s the subject of tonight’s Game Thread. Take a shot at these, which may or may not have anything to do with tonight’s game, and check out the answers below: The Queen of Soul, the Sultan of Swat, the King of Rock and Roll. Dick Howser, George Brett, Frank White. Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, Jack Morris. Archibald Leach, Bernard Schwartz, Lucille LeSueur. John the Baptist, Winnie the Pooh, Attila the Hun. First, we’ll pause for a little commentary, here mainly as a way of separating the questions from the answers. Our favorites will be taking on the Royals tonight, hoping to put together back-to-back wins for just the third time since the All-Star Break. Yowch. I knew they’ve been struggling, but I didn’t expect a stat like that. Not to get the cart in front of the horse, but if they were to win tonight and tomorrow, it would be the first three-game winning streak since June 25-27 and their first three-game sweep of a series since May 20-22. The good news is that that sweep also came against the Royals, so we know it can be done. And now, on to the Tri-Bond answers: The Queen of Soul, the Sultan of Swat, the King of Rock and Roll were each cultural legends in their own way, but something they have in common is this day in history. Each died on August 16 – Aretha Franklin in 2018, Babe Ruth in 1948, and Elvis Presley in 1977. August 16 is also a noteworthy day in my family history. My brother and his wife were married on this day in 1980. They are the only couple I know of who had their wedding reception in a pig nursery. It was supposed to be in the bride’s back yard, but massive rain throughout the day made that an impossibility. Without a Plan B in place, someone came up with the idea of having it in the nursery, which had recently had pigs moved out and had been completely washed down. It made sense to do it there, given that my sister-in-law was very active in her dad’s hog operation and had been president of the FFA, etc. The local paper heard about it and sent a photographer, resulting in a big feature story that included the lovely couple holding a recently weaned pig. Royals legends, obviously, these are the three people for whom numbers have been retired by the Royals, in addition to the MLB-wide Jackie Robinson. Howser wore No. 10 while leading the Royals to the 1985 World Series title and eventually succumbing to a brain tumor. Brett wore No. 5 in his Hall of Fame career. White wore No. 10 and was, along with Ron Washington and U.L. Washington, one of three players to make the majors as a product of the Royals Academy, a player development system of the Kansas City franchise. Perhaps the low-hanging fruit in this set of questions, Molitor, Winfield and Morris were all Twin Cities products who played briefly for the Twins on their way to the Hall of Fame. Though they are the birth names for Cary Grant, Tony Curtis and Joan Crawford, you’ll have to watch this clip to see what they have in common: Finally, in a bit of a trick question, what John the Baptist, Winnie the Pooh and Attila the Hun have in common is the same middle name, “the.” And with that bit of frivolity, you might be wondering – is there a prize? Why, certainly. To those who correctly identified all five, send me your name, address and twenty bucks for shipping and handling, and I’ll send you an autographed photo of me. I know, you probably don’t need a picture of me, but I’d be glad to have your twenty bucks. Shucks, let’s make it a participation trophy. For anyone who wants to send me a spiffy Hamilton, whether or not you got any of them correct, I’ll send you a photo. And now, without further adieu, the lineups… The visiting Kansas City Royals (48-69) M.J. Melandez (L), rf Bobby Witt, the Younger (R), 3b Salvador Perez, the Ancient (R), c Vinnie Pasquantino (L), dh Michael Massey (L), 2b Michael A. Taylor (R), cf Nick Pratto (not Punto) (L), 1b Kyle Isbel (L), lf Nicky Lopez (L), ss Zack Greinke, also The Ancient (R), p The homestanding Minnesota Twins (59-55) Luis Arraez (L), 2b Carlos Correa (R), ss Byron Buxton (R), dh Jose Miranda (R), 1b Max Kepler (L), rf Gio Urshela (R), 3b Nick Gordon (L), lf Gilberto Celestino (R), cf Sandy Leon (S), c Sonny Gray (R), p

Yes, I'd noticed he was missed. Same net cost as Bundy, when you consider Bundy's buyout. Slightly better results for Archer, but in slightly fewer innings. Say what we will about the tendency toward short outings, but they each lead the team in starts, and each has more than Paddack, Ober and Winder combined. I can't see them doing both, but I could see them doing one or the other if one finishes strong. Of course, if he finishes strong, Archer might take it out of their hands by declining his side of the option and trying his luck on the market.

Cleveland did it for the 52nd time yesterday. And my White Sox fan friend is about ready to jump off a bridge because they've done it 58 times. You're right -- it's the pitching that has done them in.

They could be the White Sox. They've done it 58 times. And Cleveland did it for the 52nd time today. It's frustrating, but we haven't cornered the market on doing it.

O for 14 was the total, but who's counting?

Well, matchups give you Cave pinch-hitting in the sixth and Beckham in the eighth. That means the choice for left field is leave in Beckham or go with Gordon, Leon or a pitcher. EDIT: Ninja'ed by JKCarew

Sounded like he wasn't being held at first, so I assume they're trying to stay out of the DP. Perhaps it's on Rengifo for not taking the first pitch to let Ohtani steal if they are giving it to him.

Only way Ohtani bats there is if Fletcher singles to make it first and third, and even then, I'm not sure they pitch to him.

Then don't watch.

Thanks.

Watching on the radio. I'm assuming you're meaning Gordon should have pulled up and given the single?

Definite agreement there. I thought you were referencing Kepler's tendency to pull.

Not sure I see a huge difference:

Our bullpen could use John Gatling. (Chief, I'll save you the math. The movie's 28 years old, so I suppose Gatling would be about 58, so maybe not.)

Or, "Why didn't we re-sign Bundy?"

Do Golden Sombreros use standard hat sizes? Bummer for Miranda, but hopefully he can use the "We got the win, and that's what's important" line.