glunn

Please also keep in mind that we moderators are not responsible for policing negativity. So long as people are civil and follow our rules, they can be as negative (or positive) as they wish.

Kepler could tie this with a grand slam.

Kepler's first hit -- good to see that today.

I would like to see Nunez back next year. It seems to me that he is a pretty good utility player.

This might be a good time to pinch hit Kepler.

It's hard for me, but I am trying to balance it by celebrating the fact that the Twins played meaningful games in October and with the hope that this season was a big step in the right direction.

Astros have an 18 run lead in Arizona in the top of the 9th. It looks like they gelled tonight.

Moderator note -- please stay on topic and be civil.

Moderator note -- let's try to be a little more civil. I understand the anger over what happened, but we are all Twins fans whose team has played a meaningful game in October. Let's turn our anger on the problem, not each other. As I grow older I have less sympathy for those who say we cannot do better. I am also frustrated by mind-closing bickering about what might or might not work. It seems to me that there have been some good ideas in this thread and that combining those ideas would probably make a big dent in the problem. Personally, I believe that the most effective strategy would be to spend a lot more on mental health, including preventative measures starting with parenting classes. I would rather spend $100,000 on a teen to provide intensive counselling for him and his family than wait for his life to spin out of control at which point he goes nuts and kills people (or ends up in prison where he will cost us $50,000 per year). If I were in Congress, tomorrow I would propose a plan to raise $10 billion or more per year from taxing new guns, sales of existing guns and sales of ammunition, with the revenue to be devoted to helping school districts hire more psychologists and social workers to treat students and their families and hopefully make millions of lives better. I also agree with those who see our culture as different and somewhat warped. I was raised to believe that I had a right to have guns. People don't like having rights taken away. But I have to admit that people in other countries seem to do quite well without a Second Amendment and without keeping a huge percentage of their citizens in prison. I also realize that my entire arsenal would be a liability in terms of civil insurrection -- even a 10 gauge shell is not going to stop a tank or a drone.

Rangers win 5 to 3. Angels announcers praying for help from Diamondbacks and Royals.

Rangers SS makes 2 great plays and the Angels get nothing in the 8th. Go Rangers!

Texas gets a run on 2 sacrifice flies in a row, both of which made it to the CF warning track. Now Texas faces Trout and Pujols in the 8th.

Rangers are winning 4-3 in the bottom of the 7th, with men on 1st and 2nd and no outs. Insurance runs please.

Thanks, Bob.

I agree that the Twins need to aim for 4-0, but that's tough against the Royals. I am hoping that the universe might be generous in terms of the Astros and Angels faltering.

With all due respect, it seems to me that there must be at least a 10% chance that the Astros could lose 2 out of 3 and the Angels could lose at least 2 out of 4. If not, at least we are guaranteed to see at least one meaningful game in October.

Potential phenom Brandon Poulson. What is he doing to improve his control and develop an offspeed pitch? http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-100-mph-throwing-art-school-kid--an-incredible-story-of-a-twins--scouting-find-052923193.html

Maybe Houston could lose 2 of 3 in Arizona and the Angels could lose 3 of 4 (or get swept) in Texas.

Now the Angels won,

Not yet. I am watching the game and it looks like they will win, but a strikeout and a double play could change that. Fernando Abad pitching for Oakland.

Angels have bases loaded in bottom of 9th with no outs.

And Oakland comes up short.

Oakland just put the lead runner on second.

Oops, but I am glad that they lost.

Oakland has tied the game in the top of the 6th. Astros have a 1 run lead and Texas won.