Squirrel

The players did ... not so sure about their FO.

Yes ... we'll see who read and who doesn't ... but ... it's all in fun. We all have different moments of the season where we found ourselves jumping up and down screaming at the television or in person ... so many, actually ... but felt that was all different for each of us ... so ... post your favorite highlights. Hard to choose one, but it doesn't matter if everyone does it, we'll have fun viewing the past season. Of course, everyone has to do it. So, we'll see.

Welcome to the game thread for last game of the regular season! Since we clinched a few days ago, I've sort of been on coast mode. I signed up for this day weeks ago because I figured there'd be plenty to say and I'd have lots to say. But I don't, not really. I just want to get this thing started! (By 'thing', I mean ... playoffs, baby!) But ... one last regular-season game to go. Do the Twins make it to 102 W? I don't really care. Do they take and hold the single season home run record? I don't really care, and, well, given the Yankees are in Arlington, they do have the advantage, so, it is what it is. At the start of this season, I never thought we'd be here, looking toward playoff games, sitting 8 games up on Cleveland and winning the division. I seriously didn't. Back in March I was thinking, of course it was possible, anything is possible, but was it probable? Probably not. I thought, "Okay, we'll at least have a better season than last year, but we'll still be around .500 or just above." I thought that's where we'd be because, well, pitching. But let's not get into that. Not today. Because I was wrong where we'd be today and how we'd get here. Because today we are about to close out One. Heckuva. Season!; a season I thought was improbable, yet here we are. It was an awesome season, and goes to show in this game of baseball, anything is possible. I could post a bunch of highlights, but I think it would be better if we all did because collectively, we'll cover more ground. So here is your one instruction: on your first post in today's game thread, post one highlight. Just one. Pick. Just. One. (I mean there are 304+ to choose from.) And if the highlight you want to post has already been posted, find another. Let's fill the thread with highlights of an improbable but obviously possible season. And get excited! Because ... PLAYOFFS, BABY! (Disclaimer: Because I started this thread, I'll post two highlights. It's my prerogative ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jk3icA8_mI And I really couldn't not post this, because, well ... I mean ... do I have to say it? SQUIRREL! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-rwRRuyJg Lineups: TWINS LaMonte Wade(L) LF Jorge Polanco(S) SS Miguel Sano(R ) DH C.J. Cron(R ) 1B Jake Cave(L) CF Jonathan Schoop(R ) 2B Jason Castro(L) C Ronald Torreyes(R ) 3B Ian Miller(L) RF Martin Perez(L) P ROYALS Whit Merrifield(R ) 2B Jorge Soler(R ) DH Hunter Dozier(R ) 3B Alex Gordon(L) LF Ryan McBroom(R ) RF Cheslor Cuthbert(R ) 1B Erick Mejia(S) CF Humberto Arteaga(R ) SS Nick Dini(R ) C Jorge Lopez(R ) P And no rain in the forecast today. At game time, partly cloudy, 82 deg F, 73% humidity, winds from the S at 12mph.

Okay ... I can buy that ... what is your lineup then, with no starters in it? Castro C Torreyes SS Schoop 2B (I guess, since you consider Arraez a starter) Wade, Miller and LaMarre in the outfield Um ... okay ... who else is on the bench that can play infield? Hmm ... okay, move Wade to 1B and put Cave in the outfield. Almost there ... Astudillo 3B Looks like a winner to me. Wait, who's the DH? Can't play Cruz, he's a starter. Seriously ... you can't sit ALL the starters. Unless your plan is to play a couple pitchers in position roles. I guess Rocco should have just forfeited all these games against KC and the 3rd game against Detroit. Because, can't play any starters until the playoffs. Yeah, most definitely Rocco's fault for writing Arraez into the lineup.

Okay, enough ,,, PDX Twin can approach each game as he wants, as can each of us. And for anyone who wants to comment more on today’s game, the recap is up and running. http://twinsdaily.com/topic/35094-front-page-twins-game-recap-928-cruz-homers-arraez-injured-twins-top-kc-4-3/

No. I don’t watch expecting to win, either. In some scenarios I might feel more hopeful and others far less, but I’m still hoping for a win and not watching with any kind of forgone conclusion or expectations. I’m boring that way.

Thanks for you ‘on the spot’ visual expertise.

Because we lost a spark plug

Pessimism and skepticism are not uncalled for. But predicting certain death is.

They all called it loud and clear on that last pop up.

Thanks. I was just looking where he was grabbing his leg and he seemed to be grabbing behind the knee/calf ... that worried me.

This team is not getting swept by the Yankees.

It is sports, and yes, people do get hurt. Could this have been avoided? Maybe. Duffy had backed off the play, Astudillo seemed to have it, and Arraez comes running over. Someone didn’t call it, or hear it being called, or something. We aren’t pointing a finger here to say, ‘Bad!’, just looking at it ... it probably could have been avoided. And I feel really bad for Arraez, and the team. We are likely out a little spark plug.

The tears could be from pain. And where he grabbed his leg ... ugh ... hope it’s not his Achilles.

Watching that replay, what was Arraez even doing there? We can’t have nice things.

And that deserves being said again ... **** ... and again and again ... **** **** **** **** ****

Well ****

woohoo ... let's go Twi-ins!!

Sorry, mrtwinsfan, I'm using you as an example, but this goes to everyone ... please stop with the derogatory nicknames. We are all in this together, we all have the same dislike - maybe to different degrees, but the same dislike - there is no need to go there, and it's against our comments policy. I know it's all meant in fun, and in some ways, part of the game, but let's keep it better than that. So ... no more Yankees, Yankees, Yankees, Spankmees, etc. And that goes for the White/Red Sox, too ... no more Sux, Sucks, etc.

Given where the Yankees are playing their final games, not sure the Twins take home the home run record

Gardy wasn’t the manager when Ortiz was here. It was Kelly who had his issues with him. Nonetheless, I don’t think Ortiz’ time in MN is a good comp to Sano anyway. I don’t know what an extension would look like or if he’s earned that yet. If he’s here two more years, I think talk about it next season. Let’s see what he does this offseason and if he can play the whole year next year.

You sound like a hopeful Red Sox fan.

You sound like a hopeful Boston fan ...

Given that the Yankees are finishing up their season in a homerun friendly park, aided by homerun friendly weather, they are going to have the record by season's end. I think accepting that is what we need to do. But not liking it. It just is what it is. But we hit 300 first.

Reverse Bremergasm