2011 Twins Game Logs

2011 Games Logs: Game 53 Minnesota @ Detroit

231 Comments

Brian Duensing

@

Max Scherzer

 

Alright, let's hope the Twins put 17 or 18 on the board tonight before the basketball game starts. Because, honestly, if the Twins keep it close and ultimately lose late or in extra innings causing me to miss hoops I am going to be bummed out.

Yep. That is what I've got for right now. It is 90 degrees out in Buffalo and I am going to soak up some sun.

231 thoughts on “2011 Games Logs: Game 53 Minnesota @ Detroit”

  1. From Joe C:

    Update: As expected, Jason Kubel is not in the starting lineup. He's still day-to-day and remains confident this won't keep him out of the lineup for long.

    Justin Morneau has been playing with a pinched nerve in his neck and left shoulder weakness, and today, Manager Ron Gardenhire said this is something that probably won't get better as the season goes along. Gardenhire has spoken to Morneau about going on the DL, but Morneau has been told by doctors that a DL stint probably won't help either, so he's going to just keep playing with it.

    Meanwhile, Joe Mauer continues to struggle through a slow recovery in Fort Myers. A long story that I'll touch on more in the notebook, but no one is sure when he'll start catching down there, let alone in the majors. Asked today if it's possible Mauer will play another position this year, Gardenhire said the following:

    No, Joe’s a catcher. He’s coming back as a catcher. He signed an eight-year deal to catch in the big leagues for the Minnesota Twins, so we’re trying to get him back as a catcher. If it doesn’t work out when he comes back, then we’re going to have to figure somewhere else, and that’s a lot harder than everybody makes it out to be. We have some corner people who are pretty good baseball players, and try not to fire the really good players that we have.

    He could play anywhere, Joe could probably move around pretty good. He played in the infield as a young player; we could probably make him the tallest shortstop since Cal Ripken. But right now he’s a catcher -- until Joe deems that he can’t do it anymore, or we deem that he’s not physically able to do that. But we believe he is, if he just gets healthy.

    Oh, and Francisco Liriano said his left shoulder has been bothering him on and off since spring training. He had two specialists look at the results of his recent MRI exam and was assured he has inflammation and tendonitis. He still hopes to start next Tuesday in Cleveland. More on him in the notebook, too.

    1. Justin Morneau has been playing with a pinched nerve in his neck and left shoulder weakness, and today, Manager Ron Gardenhire said this is something that probably won't get better as the season goes along. Gardenhire has spoken to Morneau about going on the DL, but Morneau has been told by doctors that a DL stint probably won't help either, so he's going to just keep playing with it.

      this team cant get a break when it comes to injuries. its not an excuse to lose 150 games, but it stink not to have a full compliment of players

    2. What comes first: Mauer in a Twins uniform and on the active roster, or the 4th of July?

      1. I'm guessing that sissy Mauer will just collect paychecks from us until his contract is up. He doesn't have any heart!!!

  2. Gardy, at least, is still at the top of his game:

    After Monday's defeat in Detroit, Manager Ron Gardenhire said, "The ballgame was frustrating to say the least. We actually battled our tails off pretty good. ... If we continue to play as hard as we did today, we’ll be OK. We’re getting after it pretty good."

  5. Avoiding 100 losses: The Twins need to go 47-63 to avoid 100 losses. That's a .418 pace or 68 wins over a 162 game season. That's more than doable, of course, but we just two games from being a third of the way through the season and the Twins are on a 109 loss pace.

  6. Nice to have a game to distract me from writing this stupid resume. I always knew I hated writing resumes for jobs I didn't even really want, but it turns out I don't like writing them for jobs I do want, either.

    1. Just remember, resume writing is not supposed to be an exercise in creative writing.

      1. Yeah, that's the problem. Writing and reviewing lists of facts is not my forte...that's why I'm one of the five non-lawyers here.

        1. I thought I was done, but today I had to create a new webpage for part of an application that I know is going nowhere. Boo.

        2. well, there are facts, and there are interpretations of facts, spooks. Lots of room for creativity.

          1. You know, you could change the rules so that the catcher isn't allowed to block the plate without the ball and the runner wasn't allowed to intentionally make contact with the catcher and I don't think anyone would actually care or even notice.

            1. Yeah, man. If you're "supposed to" attempt to injure someone, change the rule about what you're supposed to do...don't sit there and defend assault.

            2. Well, technically the catcher already isn't allowed to block the plate without the ball, it's just not enforced that way. If people want to see injuries, there's plenty of MMA out there from what I understand. I think we'd get along just fine without collisions at home plate.

            3. You know, you could change the rules so that the catcher isn't allowed to block the plate without the ball and the runner wasn't allowed to intentionally make contact with the catcher and I don't think anyone would actually care or even notice.

              Actually, I think those are the rules already. If you don't have the ball or are making a play on the ball, blocking the basepath is obstruction or interference. If the runner intentionally interferes with a player trying to catch a thrown ball, he is out.

              Rule 7.06(b)
              NOTE: The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the
              runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only
              when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.

              Rule 7.08 Any runner is out when—
              (b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to
              make a play on a batted ball;

              Running into the catcher who is trying to catch a thrown ball sounds to me like "intentionally interfering with a thrown ball".

              So, if the catcher is "blocking the plate" and doesn't have the ball, the runner is entitled to the base. The catcher has to allow the runner the opportunity to advance until he has caught the ball. But if the catcher HAS given the runner room to cross the plate, the runner has no right to bowl him over while he is waiting for the ball.

              There it is. This is on the umpire to determine whether the catcher has "blocked" the plate prematurely. If yes, the catcher is guilty of obstruction. The ump should call time and signal obstruction.

              If no, the runner is guilty of interference and should be out.

              Either way, the league office should have the authority and the guts to mete out punishment in order to deter behaviors that lead to injuries. Baseball ain't hockey.

                1. Maybe they could start their own league--collisions at all bases, no batting helmets allowed, and rosters reduced to 20 players so pitchers would be forced to throw more complete games. I bet they'd draw tons of talent from MLB!

    1. I think the opposite is the problem. Except its the other people with the clutch hits.

  12. The ii love continues. Don't these guys remember the FOTF's multi city audition?

    1. I do not get it. At all. I remember that, and I remember him swinging helplessly at balls in the left handed batters box in "clutch" situations. He's also being paid $18 million per season. Good riddance.

        1. Yes. And get this, my wife subscribes to it. It lands on my driveway every day.

      2. Posted only hours before the article fawning over Olivo. Something must have been in the sportswriters' water yesterday morning.

      3. I remember that guy unfollowed Gleeman last week when Aaron tweeted something non-worshipful about the FOTF.

      4. Where has Torii Hunter led his teams, exactly? Two playoff series wins over about 12 seasons? I mean, if we're going to start fawning over a guy's ability to make the rest of his team better through leadership, it seems like he ought to at least have a WS appearance or two.

  15. One time when I was in Little League an opposing runner knocked me over as I was standing on home plate with the ball. I went flying back, but held on for the out. He felt so guilty he came over and apologized to me after the game. Too bad he's a gentleman, or he might have made something for himself.

  18. Unfair! The Tigers have about two dozen extra outfielders. They're all seagulls, but still...

    1. We're making pan fried buffalo chicken, big salad, and a tall boy of high life. I wish I could grill.

      1. Roasted cornish hens for me and a pinot grigio from the Naked Grape. Possibly a triple for a night cap.

              1. Yeesh. Now, full disclosure, I've never had it. But it sounds terrible and its something that Peter King loves...

                1. I have to say, it's better than I thought it would be. Further, though, it couldn't have not been, since I was expecting manatee piss.

                2. I've had shock top. Meh. Not great, not awful. Reminds me of a blue moon?
                  But Rasp shock top? Ewww. I don't dig the fruit beers to begin with.

                  At my daughter's first communion party on Sunday, I spoke beer with the husband of my wife's friend and also with my sister-in-law's beau. Both were knowledgable beer drinkers. The former said he likes the fruity beers like Minnesota Tan and stouts, and the latter just American lagers, like Miller. The former said that he can't stand Furious.

                  To keep my "good stuff" from being plundered by my SiL, I bought a 12 pack summit summer mix: Pilsner (fka Grand), Hefeweizen, Red, and EPA. I think my SiL and I drank eight of those between us, and I have two left. Also had a case of High Life and a 12pac of Michelob Ultra for the Low-carbers.

                  Anyone wanna come over and have some Ultras?

                  1. Shock Top and Blue Moon have the same idea, but I greatly prefer Blue Moon. I can drink that stuff in a pinch. Shock Top is a watery version of the same drink.

                    I had a roommate who was watching his weight, so instead of drinking a half-case of Killian's he started to drink a case of Ultra.

                    1. I do have to hand it to the big boys for the ridiculously effective marketing they've apparently used for those super low calorie beers. A couple years ago I ordered an MGD at my wedding rehearsal dinner and they mistakenly brought out an MGD 64. Gross.

                  2. That Minnesota Tan was quite good, a very interesting beer. I would like to have some again to try to parse out the flavor a little better. Might have to swing by the brewery next time I visit my pa.

                    I do try to avoid fruit beers though, New Glarus fruit beers excepted. I had a traumatic experience with Berry Weiss and Boston Brewery's Cherry Wheat. (f'in marachino cherries, seriously?)

        2. I have no idea, as we are going to friends' for wine and conversation...but last night I made chicken enchiladas. Mmmm, I love enchiladas.

            1. Tex, I am a devotee of lazy-man's enchiladas. I buy the big cans of either red enchilda sauce or chile colorado. Corn tortillas, softened in the frying pan, dipped in sauce, with a couple tablespoons of shredded chicken and a sprinkle of cheese, then rolled. Rinse and repeat until the pan is full. Douse with more sauce and then shredded cheese, into a hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Garnish with diced avocado, chopped cilantro and hot sauce.

      2. We're making pan fried buffalo chicken, big salad, and a tall boy of high life. I wish I could grill.

        throw some stuff on your concrete, dude. INstant griddle!

    1. Bert got so excited he accidentally said "he hit that ball well" instead of "he hit that ball good".

      1. Yours was more emphatic though. And you have better beer. (right now anyway, as I have none next to me.)

        1. It is actually pretty terrific. I might have more than a few tonight.

          1. I'm strangely not surprised that something from that brewery is pretty terrific.

  23. I SPOOKIED THAT MORNEAU DINGER! I WANTED TO SAY "HE SURE GOT ON SCHERZER'S NERVES THERE, HUH!?!?"

    THAT WAS AWESOME.

      1. Hmm, with the way things go against the Twins, I'm surprised the percentage of solo shots is that high for the AL.

        2. I imagine that somewhere around 62% of all plate appearances occur with nobody on base.

          2. 55.8% so far this year and 55.3% last year. I expected it to be closer to 62%.

            1. Me too. If anything, I would guess that there would be more runners on base than average when a home run is hit--but not by much.

              1. I would have guessed the same. 2010 numbers, AL:

                2.87 HR/100 AB, none on
                2.84 HR/100 AB, runners on

                2.62 HR/100 PA, none on
                2.46 HR/100 PA, runners on

                7.82 BB/100 PA, none on
                1.19 IBB/100 PA, runners on
                8.13 UBB/100 PA, runners on

                I'm too lazy to do the math from this point, but I'd guess that the hitters walked with runners on base tend to have a higher-than-average HR rate, so strategery could be conspiring to keep HR rate lower with runners on base, which would make some sense.

  28. Alright, well, hate to be a downer here, but I think I will likely find other things to do tonight. Catch up on some shows and some reading.

    1. The IBB put an end to that, but it can always come back later.

      And now Delmon nails him at the plate. That's something I guess.

  36. These opposing team big innings seems to very popular with the 2011 Minnesota Twins.

      1. According to Bert's California math, 90% of every bad thing is Baker's fault.

          1. I'm sure there would be many great math teaching jobs there, unfortunately, they weren't very good at math and ran out of money.

  39. I actually kind of like Nick Swisher, but I know he is widely believed to be a douche. With that said, do you think Phillips/Norelco purposely chose two of the biggest supposed douches in baseball to sell their twirly electric razor thingies?

    1. I was pretty amused by the choices, though I like Swisher too. Hard to say if it's intentional or of it's someone so blind to everything but the AL East that they don't have any idea how the baseball country at large feels about those guys.

  41. The Tiger guys say Morneau is one of those guys "You just want to root for." I'm a bit surprised by that. He usually looks like he takes things too seriously - often a turnoff to outsiders - he often drops f-bombs after making outs and he barks at the umps a lot. Hell, I love him, but I never would have guessed other fans would.

    1. I figure he may have gotten that reputation after that home run derby. Despite all the bs, he seemed to my homer eyes to come across as a pretty humble dude and decent guy. Maybe enough so that the cussing and ump jawing looks competitive as opposed to douchey like when Youkilis or someone does it.

  42. I see that Duensing is pitching his way into the bullpen. On the bright side, with tonight's performance he will fit right in!

      2. Yeah, he can hardly pitch his way into the bullpen if nobody's pitching their way into the rotation. If only we had someone who never belonged in the bullpen in the first place.

        1. Ding ding ding ding! I assume it's easier to temper your frustrations with your role on the team when you're baked.

        1. What the hell, he might as well. At least then he wouldn't be allowed to hit.

  44. Morneau better punish them here for not pitching around him with the open base.

  46. Okay, now there's some Twins baseball. I never said that much in the past, but these days, it's about the best we can hope for.

  48. Seriously, no comments on Mountie's 2nd dinger of the night? I'm assuming we're all off searching for the perfect Creative Commons-licensed image for the occasion.

    1. I took several celebratory swigs of my Mirror Pond, but I try to temper my excitement these days. Then again, there's no tempering my excitement for the possible return of the real Mountie.

    5. I think most of us are thinking of what ways the Twins will cough up their second lead of the game.

    6. I've decided that catching up with Game of Thrones instead of the inevitable bullpen collapse is better for the psyche.

  50. At the opening of the inning, the Tiger color guy said "Now we'll see if the Twins 'pen can hold this lead." I involuntarily laughed out loud. Sigh.

    1. Do it for Slama! He doesn't yet know how to win, so someone needs to teach him how. I don't know who can though.

  56. Well, there's the inevitable coughing up of the lead. Not the first one of the game, but you know there's going to be one late.

    I used to love baseball. Oh, I loved it so...

      1. If Tolbert left, was signed by another team, and started hitting .275 I'd still consider it addition by subtraction.

  59. These close games would be interesting if the Twins were able to win some of them.

    1. Today was supposed to be the day the Wolves signed Rubio, if they were going to sign him for next season.

      1. From what I understand, even if they do sign him today it won't be announced until after his current team is eliminated from the playoffs/wins championship.

        1. That's good to know, given that the day is almost over and I haven't heard anything yet.

          1. Couldn't everything change with the new CBA anyway? I find it most fishy that Kahn hasn't found a new coach yet leading up to the draft. Seems like he just wants to have full control over the roster and then the new coach will just have to deal with whatever Kahn did.

            1. Today is the last day he can sign and get money guaranteed by the old rules, which is why it's such a big day for him to possibly sign. If he doesn't sign today, he'll have to go by whatever the new rules are.

  64. It would be easier to record outs if pitches which were strikes were called strikes by the umpire.

  69. Twins are 10-14 in one-run games? I could have sworn it was more like 2-58.

      1. I think it would be like 10-25, except that there were so many games when the 5-run eighth inning saved us from the one-run loss.

        1. Yeah, it's the blowout losses where the team really hits its stride. 7-21 in games decided by more than one run. They've won three games by more than two runs. Three.

          2. Our bullpen does a great job of keeping it close--as long as the Twins have a huge lead when they start pitching.

    2. Their offense is so bad that they are practically limited to winning by one run. First four wins were by one run, 10 of 17 wins overall by just one run.

      For me, this partially goes to my rant about how closers/relievers are valuable for bad teams, because even bad teams play plenty of close games, and wins are wins.

  71. The outfield is Kelly Jackson Wells.
    I don't know spooky's middlename, but that's possible (maybe if he were like 14).

    1. I've noticed Kelly and Wells playing for Detroit, of course, and it drives me crazy.

      My middle name isn't Jackson. Does Detroit have an Allen?

      1. We can hate their outfield in solidarity, as the Tigers also employ Boesch out there, making people pronounce my last name "Rosh."

  72. The Twins bullpen, entering today's game, had a combined fWAR of -1.0. Amazingly, they are not worst in baseball! They are tied with the Orioles and the Rangers are at -1.5 fWAR in the bullpen.

    On the other hand, the Twins have just two pitchers (Perkins and Burnett) with positive fWAR (O's 3, Rangers 4). And Perkins is on the DL. Of the non-Perkins relievers, the bullpen has a -1.6 fWAR. They haven't had good defense behind them, I'd guess, but good golly that's bad.

  74. The Twins have decided to stage their come back during half time of the hoops game. Excellent!

  76. It's a little hard to ask a guy to hit a third donger on the night.

    So a single, maybe?

  82. At least we scored 7 runs, bringing our offense to 4.2 runs/game over the last 10 games?

      1. I sure wish the bullpen would quit pitching to the score.

        This seems like a better plan.

  83. I didn't even realize the Tigers had scored the go ahead run in the 8th. Frown. This is really, really getting old.

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