Game Thread 7/25: Minnesota Twins (1-0) @ Chicago White Sox (0-1) 1:10pmCT

[thuuuuney]

Catch-Up
We finally made it and it was beautiful. The Twins led Major League Baseball in HR's last season and on the first pitch of last night's game, Kepler started us right back on the path to break records, maybe this season will be the most in a 60 game stretch? Despite Berrios' rough start, the bullpen looked fantastic. May lighting up the radar gun, Stashak's slider looked vicious, and now after not having baseball for four months, the Twins have an opportunity to win their first series of the year within a 17 hour window.

 

Where to Listen

WCCO 830, TIBN

 

Where to Watch

Fox Sports North
 

Starting Pitchers

• Minnesota: Randy Dobnak*| 2-1, 1.59 ERA, 28.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP in 5 starts and 4 relief appearances in 2019.
• Chicago: Dallas Keuchel| 8-8, 3.75 ERA, 112.2 IP, 1.37 WHIP in 19 starts in 2019.

*=Randy Dobnak: Per Twins Daily writer Ted Schwerzler on twitter: Dobnak vs. CHI in 19'

 

Minnesota Batting Order*

1. C, Mitch Garver 0-3, SF RBI 
2. 3B, Josh Donaldson 0-3, 2 BB's
3. DH, Nelson Cruz 2-4, 2 Run's Scored
4. SS, Jorge Polanco 2-5, 2 RBI's
5. 1B, Miguel Sano 0-4, Run Scored
6. LF, Eddie Rosario, 1-4 RBI & Run Scored
7. RF, Marwin Gonzalez, .264BA, 15 HR's, 55 RBI's, .736 OPS in 114 games in 2019.
8. CF, Max Kepler, 2-5, 2 HR's
9. 2B Ehire Adrianza, .272BA, 5 HR's, 22 RBI's, .765 OPS in 83 games in 2019.

*=Per Baseball Reference, against a starting LHP in 2019, the Twins as a club batted .286 and slashed .357/.529/.885 in 39 games.

 

Chicago Batting Order

1. SS, Tim Anderson, 2-5 2 Run's Scored
2. 3B, Yoan Moncada, 3-5 3-Run HR
3. 1B, Jose Abreu, 0-4 RBI
4. DH, Edwin Encarnacion, 0-4
5. LF, Eloy Jimenez 2-3 Run Scored
6. RF, Nicky Delmonico 0-4
7. CF, Luis Robert 2-4 in MLB Debut last night.
8. C, James McCann .273, 18 HR's, 60 RBI's 19' AL All-Star in 118 games.
9. 2B, Leury Garcia 0-3 Run Scored

Storylines

1. Per Twins Daily writer Tom Froemming on Randy Dobnak, Notebook 7/25

• Dobnak basically gained instant notoriety due to both his performance and incredible back story. It’s amazing to think he’s developed such an identity across Twins Territory despite logging just 30 1/3 innings with the Twins (including the postseason).Dobnak faced the White Sox in his second MLB game. He gave up two unearned runs on five hits over three innings out of the bullpen. With Odorizzi on the IL and now Hill being pushed back, the team’s rotation depth is already being tested. Good thing this club has as good of backup options.

2. The Twins bullpen combined last night between May, Clippard, Duffey, and Stashak went a combined 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB's, and 7 K's and still have a fully-rested Taylor Rodgers, Sergio Romo, Zach Littell, and more ready for today's push to win the first series of the year.

 

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

60-0 here we come.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I’m so used to Trevor May being the closer!

[thuuuuney]

 

I’m so used to Trevor May being the closer!

It was fun seeing him for real yesterday. I'm happy I finally got to write a game-thread about the real club!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Not a fan of needing to turn to Dobnak for the second game of the season against a competitive division rival, but it's not as if I'm terribly scared of Keuchel, either.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It was fun seeing him for real yesterday. I'm happy I finally got to write a game-thread about the real club!

I’m still basking in your sim season for sure!

[thuuuuney]

 

I’m still basking in your sim season for sure!

I'm very lucky I had an opportunity to do that and I'm thankful it got me in contact with so many great people here, also happy you enjoyed it!

[Danchat]

 

Not a fan of needing to turn to Dobnak for the second game of the season against a competitive division rival, but it's not as if I'm terribly scared of Keuchel, either.

At least we're turning to a guy who had a 1.59 ERA in the majors last year, instead of most previous seasons we'd likely be throwing out AAAA guys who were mostly cooked.

[Diesel]

Dobnak passed the eye test for me last year. Has legit movement on all of his pitches and has enough velo and spin on his fastball to make hitters sweat. Wouldn’t be shocked if Homer Bailey moves to the pen once Odorizzi returns

[operation mindcrime]

60-0 here we come.

That would be 73-0!

[twinssporto]

So glad baseball is back. It felt like a holiday watching the game last night.

 

By the way, Sano is going to light up Keuchel today...Trust me.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That would be 73-0!

It would be like the 1940 NFL Championship game, all over again!

 

[Nine of twelve]

 

It would be like the 1940 NFL Championship game, all over again!

It was bad enough wearing helmets that didn't do much with no face guards, but look at those cleats. Someone could be impaled.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It was bad enough wearing helmets that didn't do much with no face guards, but look at those cleats. Someone could be impaled.

Helmets? Who needs helmets?

 

Wikipedia:

 

This game also marked the last time that an NFL player (Bears end Dick Plasman) played without a helmet.[8]”

[Mill1634]

Great inning from Randy

[Danchat]

Nice first inning for Dobnak. Hopefully we can get about 5 clean innings from him.

[twinssporto]

Randy looks better than Berrios already. Notched his first strike out within 15 pitches versus Berrios going 75 pitches to notch a strike out.

[bighat]

The way the ball's coming off the Twins' bats today, you'd think Keuchel was bowling. Really dead sounding off the bat.

[twinssporto]

Instead of piping in fake fan background noise they should be pumping in some loud rock n roll throughout the whole inning. That would be fun to see.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Randy looks better than Berrios already. Notched his first strike out within 15 pitches versus Berrios going 75 pitches to notch a strike out.

All that requires today is getting a ball within eight feet of the plate.

 

This strike zone is ridiculous.

[PDX Twin]

 

Instead of piping in fake fan background noise they should be pumping in some loud rock n roll throughout the whole inning. That would be fun to see.

 

How about Mozart?

[Mill1634]

Put him away Randy

[Danchat]

13 pitch strikeout... not bad!

[bighat]

Bulldog performance for Dobnak there against Delmonico.

[Mill1634]

Eff bomb after the K lol

[Brock Beauchamp]

Polanco showed up today.

[Mill1634]

Polanco has made 2 great plays coming in today, good to see. He said he wanted to work on his range, and it looks better

[operation mindcrime]

That was quite the battle with Delmonico!!!!!

[PDX Twin]

Impressed with Polanco's glove today. SSS I realize, but maybe he can improve.

[bighat]

Two great defensive plays from Polanco in the first 2 innings, showcasing range and a strong arm.