2011 Game #92: Royals at Twins

I had a post written up about how much Matt Capps sucks, but I wrote it while angry and somewhat inebriated. Today when I read it, I realized that it wasn't even quarter-bakef. We can't have substandard stuff like that, so instead, I'm going to half-bake it on the fly.

Carl Pavano (6-6, 97 ERA+)

Jeff Francis (3-10, 84 ERA+)

The 'stacheless 'stacheman has been pulling it together as of late, that one game in Milwaukee excepted. We've beaten Francis around a little bit in couple of times we've played him this year, so I'm feeling pretty good about tonight's game. I predict Ben Revere will hit an inside-the-park home run in which he will run the last 80 feet backwards.

Matt Capps sucks....but we'd better score a few more runs tonight than we did last night.

204 thoughts on “2011 Game #92: Royals at Twins”

  1. .

    1. Revere, CF
    2. Casilla, 2B
    3. Mauer, DH
    4. Cuddyer, 1B
    5. Young, LF
    6. Valencia, 3B
    7. Plouffe, RF
    8. Butera, C
    9. Nishioka, SS

    1. Getz, 2B
    2. Cabrera, CF
    3. Gordon, LF
    4. Butler, DH
    5. Hosmer, 1B
    6. Francoeur, RF
    7. Moustakas, 3B
    8. Pena, C
    9. Escobar, SS

  2. I liked how far past the base Revere was when the first baseman caught the ball.

  3. If you're thrown out at 3rd base with your best hitter at the plate, it might not be a very good move.

    Brilliant analysis by Coomer.

      1. I'd be okay with Capps coming in in the first inning, provided the Twins are down by 11 already, or up by several and a rain delay knocks out the starter.

          1. Amazing, isn't it? Seems like just yesterday the conventional thinking was that losing Fuentes, Rauch, Crain and Guerrier was no big deal because relievers are easily to replace.

  4. Club America(Mexico City) is playing Manchester City at (Corporate name here)San Francisco Giants ballpark right now.

    It'd take quite the errant kick to get in into McCovey cove though.

    1. A perfect bunt is when Guzman put one down, the Indians threw it up the right field line, and Guzman circled the bases.

      Perfect bunt.

          1. You have been to way cooler games than I have. Outside an FOTF grand slam, I've primarily seen highlights for non-Twins teams.

            1. I had the opportunity to go to game 163 two years ago, but I chose instead to keep my job.

  5. Ladies Choice tonight, and the Milkmaid went with a Blue Moon sampler pack, which I guess I can live with.

    Right now I'm quaffing a Pale Moon, a very drinkable brew because there is absolutely nothing going on. It's not unpleasant, but even water might be more exciting.

    1. It's among the best non-union, mass-produced session beer out there.
      I'm firing off a Torpedo in a minute.

      Salad nicoise tonight.

      1. referring to the Blue Moon line, not the Pale Moon per se. I think the flagship Blue Moon itself is pretty quaffable.

        1. Right, right. This is my first Pale Moon, and it's a bummer, because I dig what they do in general and Pales are my favorite style at the moment.

      2. Yeah, I have nothing against the Blue Moon, to be sure. It was basically part of the big step I took between crummy beer and my current tastes, and I still enjoy it occasionally.

    2. I have a PBR, collard greens sauteed with bacon, and some carne adovada-based burritos.

    3. I grabbed a 22 oz (the only size available) of Madhouse's new Honey Pilsner. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either.

      1. Up next I have a 22oz Minobii ESB from Leech Lake Brewery. Gotta support the locals, although they use Fuggle hops in literally everything.

      1. ok, what KIND of chocolate milk?

        I used to buy a grip-n-go choc. milk from a local dairy at the store occasionally, but recently noticed it was chock full of HFCS. Boo. The name-brand stuff, on the other hand -- no HFCS, but 30 pct more expensive.

            1. If he makes it to his 17th, I'm pretty sure his K-rate will lead that category that year.

  6. I remember that game in Philly last summer when Butters hit that home run in extra innings. I remember saying to mo chailín something like "Dang it, he's the worst hitter on the team, why is he pinch hitting?" seconds before he teed off.

  7. "Okay, Royals, we'll put in Capps right now if you agree to swing at every first pitch tomorrow so we can go a while without using him again."

          1. Oh, me, too. It's just that he's shown very little of the old Jeebus in 130+ PAs. Not a huge sample size, mind you, but big enough to suggest that a little trepidation is not completely unfounded.

            1. .317 for July, but only 1 extra base hit. I don't expect 20 HRs; I would like to see a few more of his "slap-hitter" singles and doubles.

  8. I don't think I will ever get tired of this "every kid should get a chance to learn a second language" advert.

  9. Attebery: "Nishioka...is having an introduction to ... Joe West."

    Hmm. What's Japanese for "you're an idiot, Fat Man"??

    1. Frigging Joe West. It's obvious his goal in life is to make all the borderline competent umps look great.

      1. West actually does well in the players' ump evaluations, I think, although nobody anywhere (especially the players) actually likes him.

  10. I'm "studying" *. What were the extra outs?

    *Checking in here & on GameCast.

    1. Nishioka got the out at second, but didn't get the call. Butler was out at first, but wasn't called.

      In fairness, both plays were very close.

  11. Angel...Campos.

    For a second there, I thought that Angel Hernandez and Joe West were on the same crew. The Dread Pirate's head would probably asplode.

  12. Well gents, I'm off to see the last Plopper movie. Enjoy the Twitchy ninth!

  13. Pussy single. Le sigh.

    Do you suppose that the Swing At Anything Twins can get a hit between them now?

  14. Just finished a 7th birthday party for my oldest. 12 young girls running through the house. Im tired to say the least. Party ended with me on the roof holding a pinata for the girls to swing hat. I entertained myself by letting each girl get a hit on it and then lifting it up and tapping the girl on the head.

  15. Nathan in because Gardy is gone?? I mean he made it very clear that "Capps is our closer". Just some an interesting number. My daughter turns 7 today. Games behind in the AL central - 7. Blown saves for Capps - 7.

      1. I think it would be hard to be a sports beat writer. The aggressive cynic in me would want so badly to really go after all the bull shit managers push out with such force. That or be very sarcastic looking to just set people off. Like tonight Id love to ask Gardy if the offense did its job and that was the difference in Nathan's performance.

        1. That BS is what makes Gardy a great manager. Instead of blaming one player, or letting the team point fingers, he makes sure they realize they could have done more to allow the team to win. Win as a team, lose as a team. Plus, him adamantly saying that Capps was the closer was his way of making sure that he informed Capps of the "demotion" before announcing it to the media, which is the way it should be.

          1. While I agree with you, Gardy doesn't have a perfect record of not pointing fingers

    1. BTW - moussaka featured in future NBB recipe post - keep your eggplant at the ready.

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