Hey, the White Sox! This should be fun.
Carl Pavano 5-6, 4.19 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 4.13 xFIP, 1.5 WAR
Philip Humber 8-4, 2.69 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 4.02 xFIP, 2.1 WAR
Well, that looks like a personnel decision that hasn't worked out for the Twins, but I suppose we knew that when Santana was traded in the first place.
Humber strikes out a lot more guys than Pavano at this point, but he walks considerably more, too. It would appear that this very good year is thanks in part to a .222 BABIP, but his 103 innings aren't an insignificant sample, so it looks like Humber might just be a better than average starter.
Pavano, meanwhile, continues to look more like Blackburn, striking out nobody and being prone to the occasional shelling. The Twins have been owning the White Sox in recent years, but I'm not all that comfortable tonight. Hopefully I'll be able to see it - the internet at the place in Phoenix isn't great. Hopefully Dumatrait and Burnett won't get anywhere near it, either.
Poor Steve Stone.
Anytime you can make a move that gets Drew Butera or Rene Rivera's bat in the lineup more frequently, you've got to make that move.
+ 3 catchers.
So who's this new first baseman?
I just thought this link needed to be pointed out.
http://www.sportspickle.com/news/7056/derek-jeters-range-gives-up-its-3000th-hit
Hey, only two sub-200 hitters in the lineup!
So... stolen base, then?
Through the miracle of the internet I am simultaneously able to watch Joe Mauer's first MLB game at first base and participate in a conference call.
Over the fence was negative two?! SOOOooo much about our team has just been explained.
Hmm, maybe there's something to this position switch.
Is that TK in the TV booth with Dick?
Certainly is
Damn it. Of all the days to be locked into the ChiSux feed.
He has a voice made for newspaper.
I'm not even giving him the chance to annoy me. I'm watching the game in total silence.
you aren't even swearing out loud?
Where is Geoff, anyway?
Utah.
That's what I always say about Reusse.
So bad it's good.
I watched Humber pitch against the Cubs in his last start. He was not like the Humber that pitched for us.
Well, that was a pretty snazzy play.
MOVE HIM PERMANENTLY!
MORNEAU TO LEFT FIELD
If we totally tank, let's do a St. Louis Browns-style promotion and play everyone out of position. Butera to Closer! Kubel to Starter! Jerry White to Catcher!
This could actually be better than what we've got. We should actually try this.
I would absolutely pay to see this game.
Ooo, player manager(s)!
I really wish these still existed. Gardy would be the ultimate scrapper.
They do.
You see, this is why I love indie ball.
And Jim Caple, aka: the only good writer at ESPN.
The only reason I even occasionally head that direction.
First base is EZ!
Gold Glove!
Trade Jason Morneau.
Future Gold Glover, Joe Mauer.
Gold glover!
Wow. Baby Jesus turns an unassited DP in his first inning!
Nice leather, Joe.
Does this mean we can stop hearing about how good the Douche is with the glove?
TK: "On-Base Percentage."
Awesome.
Given where they are in the standings anyway, is it wrong to half hope the Twins to fall far enough out in August that Gardy feels Mauer can pull a Cesar Tovar?
That would be such a great game on so many levels.
TK: "Sorry, Dick. Did I interrupt?"
Me: "Don't apologize, just keep doing it."
What a dick.
Evening, folks. What's new?
THE TWINS FOUDN THERE NEW FIRST BASEMAN!
WELL PLAYED MAURER!!1!
Meh. Some banjo-hitting pussy is playing first base like he was born there.
Tom Kelly can measure time in 1000ths of a second.
Can Joe personally record 27 outs?
baby jeebus is perfect, so, yea. He can.
but he's so unassuming that he will let some other guys get putouts too.
I had no idea Mauer would be so dominant at first!
either did hawk.
sweet citrus!
Nice hit by Sweet Danny V.
Humber is not looking as hard to make square contact against as Hawk stated prior to this game starting.
ooh. a "productive out"!!!111one111!!!
That's two innings in a row with one of those!
If it had been over the fence, it would've cost him two points.
Nishi!
Ha, the one time he throws someone out, the baseman drops the ball.
ah. I stand corrected. But AJ still suh-hucks.
Speed kills. Or does AJ just suh-huck?
Uh, yea. 8 for 67. He suh-hucks.
Definitely the pitcher's fault.
.
[o]
[o]
[o]
God I love scoring against the Sox
I love it when Hawk adopts this tone.
I may turn the volume back up a bit, then.
I balls Sweet Ben.
He's going to be massively overrated by fans, but I really like this Revere guy.
I'm sure I'm going to really hate him (or hate the general perception of him) within a couple years, but right now I like him so much more than Delmon it's ridiculous.
Flat brim and all.
Ahhh, there's the DK we all know and love /ikid,ikid
But me, too.
I like his enthusiasm, and the way his incredible speed makes infielders do stupid things. I love his range in the outfield.
I still think the "Pierre upside" seems apt.
and more than acceptable. Pierre is +13.6 rWAR in 12 seasons, with high seasons of 3.3, 2.8 and 2.4.
He's also been making $7 mil or more for the past five years, which is a little more than I'd like to pay for a guy who gives a little over a win per season, so I hope Revere doesn't hang around here long enough to make that much.
Noted, and concurred. But 1-3 rWAR per season through his serfdom is a winning combination.
Agreed completely.
Hey, I totally agree. Pierre gets very little respect for what he has done. He's a great contact hitter who plays good defense (minus the arm, of course). If Revere can do what Pierre's done, it's no small accomplishment.
So Revere is stealing here, right?
Ok, maybe a bad idea on a pitchout.
In fairness, a very timely pitchout.
Dazz: "GOML."
Me: you need a new routine, Dazz.
So, Revere can't outrun the pitchout?
It was pretty damned close though.
Only if 'Anthony' uncorks the throw of his life.
Literally, he will never throw another baseball that perfectly.
Heh, at least it was still pretty close.
The first infielder throw caught by Mauer. We have entered a new dawn.
f-ing Rios. Otherwise Joe would be catching a perfect game still.
That was quick. I ran off to take a leak and missed the bottom of the inning.
FSN reports Baker will miss his next start and be reevaluated after the all-star break. I assume this means he'll be out until at least September.
of 2012.
Blargh.
I'm maintaining hope because:
a) I have high hopes for Baker's season...
and b)..........yeah I don't really have any other reasons.
Flexor strain, right? I know a guy who knows a guy whose uncle knows a trainer who says that's not a real injury...
One of the guys I know at the hospital says the same thing... of course, he's an admitting clerk.
So, I'm rocking the last beer I'm probably going to be getting from overseas for quite some time (a nice Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen). What's in the glass for the rest of you?
water. But I have a New Belgium Somersault in my future.
some of the reviews just slay me. Case in point:
Oh noes! It has hops! Go back to your Budweiser, dude.
Haha, I never said anything really stupid here. You can't prove anything.
Now I wish I'd seen it before the edit.
[sadface.jpg]
Ah, I just asked what beer he was drinking, without paying any attention to that fact that he had just linked to it in the comment before.
I have to check that out, btw. I bought a New Belgium sampler last week (mostly for the bottles, though I do enjoy their product), but I did not get the enjoyment of the Somersault.
Huh, we're quaffing the same brew tonight. Well, I've got a New Belgium Folly Pack so I've got a few options (currently it's the Mothership Wit, which I adore) but I opened with a Somersault.
The Somersault is surprisingly hoppy for the style, I'll give it that. From me that's not a criticism, of course.
A hoppy blonde ale seems like something I should try.
ahem.
wait, I don't think that said "ale" when I first replied! Damnit.
It almost didn't until I realized what I was saying. My mind resides in the gutter oftentimes as well.
so, I had the Vulcan mind meld going, but you broke it somehow?
It was because I realized my wife could probably be considered a hoppy blonde, so I have already tried one.
So has Beau then.
Come to think of it, perhaps I should make a hoppy blonde ale, that would be fun.
I just made an imperial blonde ale. Not overly hoppy, though.
sounds more like an Imperious Blonde Ale.
1.5oz Brewer's Gold
.5 oz Cascade
It's not like it's Goldy Light or something. 😛
70'ish IBU's in a blonde? You're mad!
My count says about 30?
Maybe I should have put some grains into my recipe calculator and not been a moron. I think I'm just tired, you're not mad.
although 70 would have been...interesting.
What recipe calculator do you use?
I use Beersmith and love it.
bS, you're tempting me.
do it 'toy. You know you want to.
Dooooo iiiiiit, 'toy.
Or I will. And I'm sure the finished product won't be nearly as glorious.
I'm already working on the recipe.
I'm interested in hearing it once you come up with it.
Alright, here's what I'm thinking:
7 lbs 2-Row Pale Malt
2 lbs Wheat Malt
1 lbs Carapils Malt
1.5 oz Simcoe hops at 60 minutes
1.0 oz amarillo hops at 2 minutes
0.5 oz simcoe hops at 2 minutes
(maybe dry hop, haven't decided on that yet.)
American ale yeast from Wyeast
If you're interested in seeing the brewsheet, nibbish (or anyone for that matter), hit me up a peterson dot jessea at gmail dot com.
I'll be sending you an email shortly. I'll call it a "Cheaptoy Blonde Ale" and noone I know will have the slightest clue what I mean by that. I just know my dad will find it undrinkable.
Are you doing extract or all-grain? I can whip the recipe up in extract with grains format if that's what you're doing.
I've done all-grain to this point in my meager brewing career. What would you suggest?
I suggest all-grain, I find it to be more satisfying. Most people start with extract, so I wasn't sure if you were doing that as a new brewer or not.
spooks, we are on the same wavelength. I also bought the mixed 12er.
Whilst waiting for Chinese takeout, we imbibed Mendocino Imperial BarleyWineAle. Not bad.
Dude's from Chicago. Probably a B!tch Sox fan.
Just finished a glass of some "pilsener" and trying to decide what to have next.
Light Minute Maid Lemonade. Only 5 calories per can!
Not 4, not 6...... 5. Nice round number.
When at any fast food restaurant, I always mix it with my diet coke. Lemonoke is my favorite.
Capital's Supper Club, left over from a party we had. Meh.
I started the night with a Wisconsin Spring Porter that I made. Very dark, minimal hoppiness, super heavy on the alcohol without a heavy alcohol taste. I like, but I think one or two in a sitting would be the most that I'd be down for.
You went dark to light? tsk, tsk.
I wanted to test my new creation. It's the first I've been able to have (while not totally buzzed... I had a couple over the fourth weekend, but it wasn't really the best time to be savoring anything). I regret nothing!
Nordeast.
Ah, that's a favorite at my in-law's barbeques the last year or so. Approved.
no CSN, and blocked on mlb.tv, but i really like all this stealing on AJ.
Good lord. It's like the Dread Pirate's boyfriend is behind the plate for the Sox.
Is there really a rule for that? If so, I take back anything negative I said about TK's ability as a color guy, because he'll have informed me more than Bert ever has.
Honestly, I'm enjoying him. I didn't see that coming.
In fairness, I'm enjoying him one metric tonne more than Bert. Bert usually gets turn down in favor of random music by the 4th inning. I doubt I'll be hushing TK.
Ahhhh. Damn.
Oh Danny Boy, so close.
It doesn't seem fair that he hit that foul like that, then grounds out weekly to end the at-bat.
Dammit. That pitch had "Juicy" written all over it.
Good Evening Everybody! Has Cuddy gotten 3 steals yet?
No, but the Twins as a whole have!
/sticks his head down into the basement/
I had decided to put the Twins on the backburner for a month while I buckle down for the bar exam...you can see how well that's going. TK in the booth and Joe owning the 3 spot is just too much for me to miss. F*ckin' bar exam.
/grumbles his way back upstairs/
You'll be back...
You know how the original WGOM got started, right?
Too much studying for the bar exam can make you go blind.
Not sure I saw the
post.
I started it to avoid studying for the bar.
Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you.
And yet, all you really needed to do was order a Coors Light to pass...
+1 Super cold!
I'm studying for my LGSW exam, but I passed both pre-tests before even studying, so I'm kind of half-assing it.
I just completed etching my first litho plate at my home clubhouse. I'm excited that I still know what I'm doing. Now I have to clean up. boo.
did you do a rendering of that backhair-shaved Mauer replica jersey?
That I'm reserving for my blue period.
Thank you for not breaking your ankle, Nishi.
In fairness, it was Swisher who broke his ankle the first time.
Mauer is inspiring the defense.
He's calling pitches from first, right?
All fastballs.
I must admit it's amusing to hear TK call Dick "Richard" over and over.
I'm getting a kick out of TK, I have to admit.
It's weird seeing Mauer at first. I suppose it is necessary though, considering the other options can't really catch the ball.
I still think he could pitch. It would be like the King and His Court -- we could dispense with at least 2/3 of the defense.
Did Dazz just diss Mauer?
something about a catcher "folding up nicely behind the plate. He stays out of the training room..." something something.
I like this version of Yoshi
Nishioka coming to life? I love it.
TK. Please be the color guy forever.
TK was never huge on bunting if I recall.
I'm starting to think that bunting isn't very old school at all. I was just reading Davey Johnson's comments on that suicide squeeze Washington attempted last night and he said he really doesn't like to bunt at all.
Has Nishi always left his hands on his knees like that even when planning to steal? That might explain why he kind of sucks at it.
Yes, I do like Revere.
I'm glad I picked him up in the Half-Bakef Crap league.
who needs xbh?? dink, doink.
Four pick-off attempts and then you let Butters get a hit. Sheesh, Sux baseball.
I love playing the White Sox. Please cut to Ozzie pacing and muttering to himself in the dugout, camera guys!
Has Hawk thrown a fit like the one Dazzl had tossing his glove after missing the popup yet?
Not yet, but I think it's coming if the Twins keep getting those grounders through.
I hope it happens.
I enjoy Nishioka getting on, moving to second, then scoring on a Revere single.
Damn, that's twice thus far. Twins are owed a home run, dammit!
Olivic AB by the Laddster.
That looks like a foreign language, but Google Translate can do nothing with it.
Oliva'esque at bat by Laddie. Yet still got the K. But Sox still in peril.
Casilla making like Tony O.
(I speak NBB)
I thought that was what it was, but the accent threw me off 😉
Poopzynski is going to get tossed if he does that much more.
It's critical that he stays in the game.
OMFG! That was the greatest thing ever!
Sux baseball!
TwinsSox baseball!ahh, the "make-up call". Gotta love baseball culture.
another pussy single. And Paulie shows how it is NOT done. All-star!
White Sox Baseball.
heh.
white sox baseball.
Did Konerko get confused and think Mauer was playing first there?
That flip is utterly brilliant. Maybe one of my favorite plays so far this year.
You know, if the Twins don't stop getting hits and runs here, I'm not getting any work done for the rest of the night.
Beckham, you chaunce.
Dazz: "Boy, the Chicago White Sox playin' Chicago White Sox brand of baseball tonight."
Heh.
This game is awesome.
Twins/White Sox, following the usual script.
I'm almost tempted to wander over to SouthSideSox just to see the venting.
I registered over there, so I probably should stay away.
It probably looks a little like this. (With lots more cursing.)
I owe you some thanks, sir. I picked up a copy of Freedom yesterday and I'm halfway through and then some. Terrific, to this point.
It really is a terrific book. I'll be curious to see your final thoughts.
So you don't have to:
Stay classy, South Siders.
The joke would have been on Pierre if he'd tried as I think Nishi's shin would have stopped him dead in his tracks.
That comment has me legitimately angry.
oh, this one is rich.
Comments like this are why I try to avoid inter-team shite-talking.
Those type of comments are why I just ignore 90% of sports fans when they start talking about other teams.
Yea, no good can come from actually posting anything there, as much as we like and respect Sox Machine.
I'm more Chicagoan than Minnesotan and I can tell you this is pure projection.
Imagine a fan base composed entirely of StatFreaks. You can get 670 WSCR up in the twin cities at night. Listen to that for awhile and see the nature of White Sox fans. It ain't pretty.
I will confess to not knowing who plays 1B for the Cards when Pujols is on the DL.
But other than that, it sounds like his reference is actually Vikings fans that follow the Twins until training camp.
Bears fans could say similar things about Vikings fans if their reference was me.
I really feel for our friend Sox Machine. What was he thinking?
He must have gotten ESPN shaped stars in his eyes after they partnered up. (It was ESPN, right?) Its too bad them's some impossible odds.
Well, they aren't all morons.
This game is why I pray to the BABIP Gods.
I think we're 'bout one more good half-inning away from Hawk pouting.
Okay, much as I chuckle at TK calling Dick "Richard", I love him calling A.J. "Anthony".
Too bad A.J. can't hear it. I'll bet TK has some interesting stories about his former catcher.
Was AJ here when TK was skipper? I think not.
He certainly was. First partial year was '98.
I'll be damned.
He played parts of four seasons for TK.
Both names make me laugh. I wanna call A.J. "Tony", now.
Ozzie waves the white flag.
Ok, gotta head home. Take care of this one, kids.
Okay, so TK really dislikes the walk, then?
I jokingly sent in a quick guess to the us bank trivia from my ihatepunto email and then looked and found that I was right
Dang. That kept Hawk in the game.
It got my sound turned off. His home run call makes me want to punch things.
He's crowed "Don't stop now boys!" about three times already.
Some day I'm going to get to the bottom of why he could possibly be such a home for a team that he didn't grow up watching and never played for. Maybe its because its the only team in the league dumb enough to give him a steady paycheck?
I consider "Don't stop now boys!" as part of his new material.
Having Steve Stone there has tempered him a bit though.
crap. I shoulda left a couple minutes earlier. My bad.
Ugh, really Carl, Mark effin Teahan?
On the whole, if the Sox are going to go yard, I'd rather it be Konerko than Teahen.
This is what I don't like about watching games live anymore. My fast forward button doesn't work for innings like this.
I probably wouldn't watch them live if this site didn't exist.
Yeah, I probably wouldn't either. I didn't watch many live Wolves games last year.
TK chanelling his inner Bert.
Only thing to do here is grab a Premium, see if it brings that mojo back.
It worked!
Joe can play first.
This feels like a good time for that DK signal.
I was going to suggest it under the nibbish comment immediately following this one, actually...
That would have been a better one. I thought the same thing after posting it here.
So... first base can be fielded by any reasonably capable major leaguer? Who knew??
I love how Joe is fielding like a catcher.
Hoover over at 1st.
Nice, Nishi!
Nishi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sweet Lord Joe, I'm falling in love with you all over again.
Pujols couldn't have made that play without breaking his arm.
Not last week, anyway.
Huh. Much as I might dislike Nishi at shot, he can come up with a nice play every now and again.
Ooooh... Sick pitch by Pavano.
I'm super glad Gardy resisted the urge to bench Valencia.
Also, Hughes would totally not have picked that one.
See my comment below. I very nearly included a postscript about Hughes' inability to pick anything.
Joe's gonna make the infielders lazy.
Out by a step on that play? Nice arm, Danny.
If Rios had run instead of admiring it for a second, I think he'd have made it by a couple steps.
Okay, I'm going to go ahead and say it. I want Mauer to play first base as long as Morneau's out. I know the consequences of that statement.
This just in.... Mauer is better than Cuddyer at first. I'm sure his teammates hate him for it.
Mijares certainly does.
Mauer is better than Cuddyer at every position.
RH PH is Cuddy Territory
Just let Joe flip it around.
That's a diamond cutter.
[diamondallaspage.jpg]
Thome needs to mash a tater just for the post game entertainment on THE SCORE.
Hey gang -- what have I missed?
Nothin' much. Beating the Sox. AJ can't throw baserunners out. Everything is as it should be.
Big story so far is Anthony throwing Revere out- on a pitchout. And it was pretty darn close.
You missed the greatest error in the history of anything ever.
Yuss.
How so? Konerko flipped it to the 7 foot rabbit at first.
Some new guy playing first. Seems alright.
Another bad call.
Negated.
Now that's a comical way to end an inning
I was just thinking the same thing.
That play confused the hell out of Hawk.
Gotta love Hawk carping about the strike zone.
TK saying that he wouldn't "sell his soul" to allow a pitcher to go out an extra inning.
Hey Bert, take as much time as you need. We're cool.
Dick's love of Revere is going to get him burned
aww, i just realized i either get the TSN or hawk and the stone for the rest of the week. i was really digging on what i heard of TK yesterday.
I think Saturday's game is on FOX so that could be a wildcard.
I'd take the FOX crew over Hawk any day of the week.
It's almost always includes one of the regulars of one of the teams.
For all the angst at losing Breslow, Ramos, et. al., it's nice to know there's an Humber.
He's been really good this year.
He's an Humber.
Perk in the 8th. Means he's gonna pitch 2, right? Right?
i wouldn't mind seeing nathan in this situation.
Gorman is a clown.
That wasn't even close.
Sometimes a man has a hot date.
Adam Done looks good in black.
I see what you did there.
I was considering that pun for my LTE below- you did it better than I would have.
I like the new and improved Perkins.
I love it too. His crappy facial hair adds to the allure for me.
He really does need to grow out the cheek portion of that beard.
He looks like he's getting ready to audition for the role of prisoner #3 in a WWII POW movie.
So that was him in The Great Escape...
You know. I don';t complain about umps, because it all evens out (other than Cuzzi/Mauer, frak Cuzzi)
Da's coo'.
I remember when I was a little worried about the Sox getting Dunn. That seems like a long, long time ago.
I certainly don't regret dropping him from my fantasy team. I'm surprised Perkins gave him as good a pitch to hit as he did, but the dude is just totally off his game right now.
The guy who was supposed to buy my gym has flaked out on me twice now. He's supposed to come back tomorrow, but if he doesn't show, I think I'm done dealing with him. I did manage to sell my bookshelf, though!
He keeps doing it; I'll keep posting it
Capps preparing for a non-save. He could still get the blown save, though.
That sounds like a demotion.
Or maybe Gardy has gotten even worse at math.
Is Capps' recent suckitude attributable to his brush with the Kardashian?
Yes.
I assume Butters' suckitude is already enough to protect him from any possible contamination.
How would Perkins save his ass now, though?
Let Joe pitch.
From first.
He can bounce it off Capps' stomach.
That might take off a little too much velocity.
This needs to happen.
Like a trampoline.
I don't believe you can get a BS if it's not a save situation. You get something even worse, a BNS.
(I need to remember to keep watching Fangraphs' Lockdown vs Meltdown stats.)
Crapps time? *holds breath*
Question: Are four runs enough?
This is the type of situation I want Capps pitching in.
Mauer has had a lot of chances.
It's like he's a natural athlete!
Joe Mauer--dominant first baseman.
Nice catch Butters, damn.
No WAY, Butera.
I'm amazed he wasn't shanked when he went in there.
Ova!
That'll do.
Butters 4TW!
It's not a permanent switch to 1st Hawk.
Nice catch, Butters.
No runs, no hits, no errors, no save.
priceless.
Oh hey that was easy. Don't stop now, boys!
Man, I love owning the White Sox.
It really does make everything else worth it.
Now that was a thoroughly enjoyable game.
Tee hee. Even Capps dominates the White Sox? Beautiful.
Man, is Incmikowski an ignorant jerk...his interview of Nishioka was insulting
Elaborate?
He just asked Mauer if he expected to be indoctrinated that quickly at first base.
It was talked about a couple times in the game thread, but I learned more about baseball listening to TK for 3 inning than I have listening to Bert for 15 years. Richard seemed more focused on the game than he is when Bert is in there