wsnydes

Can you feel me?

Feel bad for him tomorrow, please!

TYLER!!!

Out there in the cold...

They'll keep the light on...

Tyler.

Really like the top half of the order, particularly Miranda at cleanup. ...but it falls into an abyss after that...

Good evening Game Thread fans! I'm back for another Friday night thread opener! Please, please...hold your applause! Tip your waitstaff... Today's tilt features an old friend and a new friend. Unfortunately for the old friend, we hope he loses. Fortunately for the new friend, we hope that he doesn't. Of course, I'm referring Jose Berrios and Tyler Mahle. Berrios, after an awful first half of the season, had a pretty good July. Tyler Mahle, on the other hand, is making his Twins debut after being acquired from the Reds at the trade deadline. He faces a pretty tough lineup that beat up the Twins bullpen last evening. Before I get too far into this thing, I'd just like to mention that I always enjoy attending games against the Blue Jays. The fans travel well and they make for a fun atmosphere. They're enthusiastic, into the game and get behind their team. They're also very friendly people, which only enhances the experience that is seldom seen with fans of towns I won't mention like Chicago, Boston and New York. They're often good games, so good and friendly fans with a good crowd makes for an excellent atmosphere. So, I raise my Sazerac to the Blue Jays fans' and thank you for not being like those fans from towns I won't mention like Chicago, Boston and New York! Now that we have that out of the way, here are the lineups for this steamy evening matchup. Toronto: CF - Merrifield 1B - Guerrero, Jr DH - Gurriel, Jr RF - Hernandez SS - Bichette 3B - Chapman C - Jansen LF - Tapia 2B - Espinal Twins: 2B - Arraez SS - Correa DH - Polanco 3B - Miranda LF - Gordon RF - Cave 1B - Beckham CF - Contreras C - Leon Enjoy the game!

I agree with @Vanimal46, I think it has to be Maeda. Especially given the injuries to the rotation. The injury may have forced their hand to go out and get Mahle, but there's no reason that wouldn't have happened anyway considering the injuries the staff has suffered. On the offensive side, I think Lewis' injury was pretty deflating. It was a short stint, but it was quite a good one. If we're talking about expected Opening Day roster guys though, I think it has to be Kirilloff. Between filling in at LF, a very good defensive 1B is missing from this team. That's not a shot at Arraez or Miranda, but neither have the glove Kirilloff does there. The silver lining of AK's injury is that it allowed Miranda to come up and stay up. That's been a big plus for a lagging lineup.

What does the root beer guy have to do with any of this?

Agreed. It was bound to happen. Probably should have been earlier.

I'm not sure "mirage" is the right term, but I agree with your general point. They're benefiting from a terrible division. I don't think they really intended to be in this position this season, but are taking advantage of it. I think they're offseason plan was to keep the valley shallow instead of bottoming out by keeping a relatively competitive team intact with the intent of getting the youth some major league experience in the process. I think they're still largely doing that, they just happen to be on top of the division in the process. Their goal was always to be much more competitive next season, and like you mention, the deadline acquisitions bear that out too. And they did that without dealing a top 10 prospect in the process.

I actually sold my tickets to a friend, but that was before the concert was announced. I'm not a country fan either, but I may have stuck around because I do enjoy concerts. I'd be less than functional today if I did though.

I bet you missed the promo window.

Sucks that he's done...thankful it ain't TJ.

I'm just waiting to hear that all of these deals have a hidden PTBNL clause in them somewhere that requires that player to be plucked from the major league roster and has all-star appearance minimum requirements.

I heard that the asking price was absurd. Maybe it's a small blessing!

I saw that!

No, too many teeth. And no mention of number of beers.

I'm already down $90, so I fold.

We don't bother ourselves with details here!

Take 'em anyway you can get 'em, I always say!

Or a Game Threader that's had too much Scotch. Luckily for me, it's been documented that that isn't me!