2011 Twins Game Logs, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 46: Twins at Diamondbacks

151 Comments

The Twins narrowly averted another tragedy late Saturday night when Hall of Fame inductee Bert Blyleven was hit in the head by a baseball thrown by Scott Baker but not seriously hurt. The motive behind the throw was not entirely clear, but Baker was heard to yell "Is that enough attitude for ya?" after the throw.

The baseball glanced off the top of Blyleven's head and knocked him to the ground. He did not lose consciousness and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. An emergency room physician was concerned that Blyleven was showing signs of a serious concussion before fellow television announcer Dick Bremer told the doctor, "No, that's the way he always talks." The doctor immediately admitted Blyleven into the hospital for observation and referred him to a specialist in dementia.

Baker was demoted to Triple-A Rochester immediately after the incident. The Twins did not say whether the demotion was a punishment for the incident or if the incident was just the last straw in their disappointment in Baker's inability to get the ball down.

The incident was just another bad moment in a season full of them for the Twins. However, they finally seem to have found their offense despite the absence of Joe Mauer and Jim Thome and have an opportunity to salvage a winning road trip with a victory today.

The Twins will send Francisco Liriano to the mound. He pitched the Twins to a 2-1 victory in his last start that ended a nine-game losing streak and will probably be asked to go as deep as possible in this one. The Diamondbacks will be sending former White Sox prospect Daniel Hudson, who has won four of his last five starts after losing his first four.

151 thoughts on “Game 46: Twins at Diamondbacks”

  1. Sheesh, Cleveland up 12-4 on Cincinnati. I have to say, if the Twins aren't going to surprise me with the comeback of their history, I wouldn't mind a return to prominence for Cleveland. I'd definitely take it over the Sux or the Miguel Cabrera.

  4. The Twins have scored seven and six runs in the last two nights, Bert. So, no, running here is not the answer to their problems.

    ...uh, granted, starting the runner saved an out this time. Ahem.

      1. It is just the combo with that goofy facial hair that throws me off then.

        1. obviously, the handlebars aren't working out for morneau. time to try something different. i say pussy tickler.

  7. I hate to say it, but given the state of Twins' catching right now, they actually do kind of miss Henry Blanco.

      1. Wilson Ramos is batting .280 with an .811 OPS in 100 AB for the Nats this year.

    2. I agree. I look forward to his 5.2 innings, 7K, 4 BB, 3 hit, line.

  12. Bert's backtracking now, since Baker said he was good to keep going last night. "It was the way he went about his business, not shutting the door with a three-run lead that bothered me."

    Well, it bothers all of us when the opposition scores, Bert. But that's their f*&^ing job, and sometimes they do it no matter what we want.

  13. My God, I think I'm most excited that I don't have to hear the D'Backs announcers for the rest of the season after this game.

    I really try not to complain about announcers, but sweet [redacted] mercy.

    2. It is worth the extra 10 bucks a year for mlb.tv premium.

    3. With rare exceptions, I tune it into DicknBert. The main consideration being that are the first or second biggest topic in any gamelog.

      I pay for it by being forced to listen to Hawk 18 games a year.

      1. I try to listen to the opposing feed at least once a series. If it's a team with announcing that I like - the Dodgers, Padres, Red Sox and Rockies spring to mind - I'll do it for every game. Orioles too, I think, but I'm stretching my memory here.

  15. Okay, that's enough talk of the grand slam, booth. I think we as a fanbase are strong enough to deny that it ever happened.

  17. any computer literati available today, I've got a query over in the CoC regarding my ongoing Man vs. Computer saga. Helpful hints appreciated. Also, if you just want to point and laugh, I'll take that.

    1. I believe he now has the highest batting average on the Twins roster. He is at least tied.

  19. Hahahahaha!!

    That's how it is done, Lexi. Learn something!

    Our pitchers are hitting .400. I haz a sad.

  20. Keeping Tolbert or Casilla over Plouffe might make me have a StatFreak-like outburst.

    1. That isn't the rumor, is it? I would have to start drinking if that were the case.

        2. nothing like throwing good money after bad. Who the hell would want him if the twins dfa'd him?

      2. Since I know you already enjoy the occasional snifter of wine at Christmas, I assume you mean you'd start drinking gasoline.

            1. Might help. I mean, I don't want to get all exaggerating here, but Casilla really sucks.

              1. I'd take Rivas over Casilla because at least he could occasionally hit (fake)home runs. [img of Frank Robinson choking himself].

  22. 34 steals, 15 16! caught stealing.

    Kirk Gibson is either an idiot, or really desperate for offense.

  23. F-Bomb has induced ten swings and misses today. Silly boy, you are not pitching to contact!

  25. This elm'n/Kirby/eye-eye defense conversation is awful. That dinger was a welcome reprieve.

  26. So the fan interfered, then made a point to lean over and mock the Twins fielders, who had nothing to do with the pitch. What an asshole.

  31. I thought the Twins were supposed to be awesome at Inter-league baseball?

  33. When Bert says Casilla's bat can hurt you "at any time" does he mean literally, like in a non-baseball sense? Because that is something I would understand. Someone assaulting another person with Alexi Casilla's baseball bat would hurt someone, anytime.

      2. I would watch an animated short about someone breaking into Laddie's home with Laddie chasing the burglar with a baseball bat, taking swings at the crook, missing wildly, and breaking valuables.

        1. Okay, in the animated short Lexi can now hit a vase, missing the burglar, with his baseball bat but the vase doesn't move, not even an inch. Is that better? Laddie could then throw the bat on the ground in disgust.

    1. Does he get credit for one there? Either way, that's about as much as you can reasonably ask from an AL pitcher in that situation.

          1. Explain the save rule in full. Oh wait, that has nothing to do with actual play.

  35. It sounds like there was some severe weather in Minneapolis today. I hope everyone is doing alright.

  37. nice catch by revere, though i was waiting for him to snap his wrist with our luck.

  45. I wish Bert was so quick to correct all of his errors as this Span/starting mix up.

    1. I can't believe he was frozen on a pitch down Broadway after getting rung up on a questionable strike call just two pitches earlier.

      1. Would the rapture have been preferable to this series? I think so. If the Twins score two in the top of the 9th and then lose, there won't be any "think" about it.

  62. I ALMOST wish Hughes gave up 30 runs so the Twins could just be done with him already.

    1. Best case scenario, the Twins score 32 runs this inning to follow Hughes' hypothetical implosion up.

    1. This club does, but once we get Mauer and Nishioka back I trust they can turn it from a 100-loss club into a 90-loss club.

  71. the Twins have hit a slug of home runs this week, although the last what 4 or 5 have been solo shots. I hope the HR barrage continues back at Target Field

  72. 3-2 losses are sad, but not pathetic. Mauer and Nishi back will improve the offense noticeably. DSPAN got the day off. Morneau has to "find himself" soon, however.

    2. Before today, Morneau was hitting .350/.409/.550 in his previous 10 games. This ended a 10-game hitting streak.

  73. The Twins have hit as many home runs at Chase Field as at Target Field this year: 6.

    1. It seems like they've also played as many games at Chase Field as at Target Field this year, too.

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