2011 Twins Game Logs

2011 Game 105: Twins at Rangers

192 Comments

After suffering the beatdown for the ages, just a couple days later, the Twins are poised for - at worst - a season split. Plus, their best pitcher is going. Well, how about that?

Scott Baker 8-5, 115.2 IP, 8.48 K/9, 2.41 BB/9, 2.88 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 3.48 xFIP, 2.4 WAR
Matt Harrison 8-7, 118 IP, 5.95 K/9, 2.90 BB/9, 3.05 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 3.88 xFIP, 1.9 WAR

Is Matt Harrison the Scott Baker of the south? Their numbers are similar enough, outside of Ks, that I'm guessing he's probably underappreciated down there. Or maybe I'm just cynical because of Bert's endless whining about the bullpen and all that.

Setting aside the usual snark about Baker's unwarranted strained relationship with the jagweeds in the media, he really is having a nice season. To date, Baker's best season was 2008, and this one is on pace to surpass it.

The Twins are six games out as well as six games under, and that seems to be the way it's been for a week or two. Let's take another step in the right direction tonight.

192 thoughts on “2011 Game 105: Twins at Rangers”

  1. Just FYI - 5.5 out, the Tigers lost today and V-Mart and Brad Penny had a spat on the mound during the game. Awwwww yeeeeeeeeah.

    As an aside, every time I see the name Brad Penny I get the song "Bad Penny" by Big Black stuck in my head. All day.

      1. I'm just trying to pretend that its some first year jitters and that next year he'll be awesome.

    1. It's excessive to feel this way about a no-gamer who floats between AAA and the big club, but I find myself filling with rage every time I see Tolbert.

      1. He looks like a miniature Morneau to me, so I usually start giggling first, then I get angry.

        1. Mini Mountie, Yeah good times. I don't mind him being up on the bench if there are no other option . . . but there are other options.

  6. Two girls holding a pro-Robby sign? If they're not relatives of his, that's the most awful thing I've seen on a Twins broadcast all season, Matt Capps excepted.

            1. We've been stuck in a massive heat/humidity wave of our own for about two weeks, so I'm also about ready to smack down some stupid people.

        1. Its better than being eaten by a bear any time anyone returns from a somewhat lengthy absence.

  11. Remember that one time Delmon walked twice in a game? Did that really ever happen?

  14. Silver lining of Casilla being out- whichever stand-in radio guy they had last night kept calling him "Cays-ee-uh" or something like that. Bugged the crap out of me.

      1. Any idea of which it really is? I'm used to the second, but it wouldn't shock me if the announcers had been messing it up for forever.

    2. Casilla is the only current twin I've talked to for more than 30 seconds, I hope he gets back soon.

  15. Listen children and you shall hear
    about the third inning fly out of Ben Revere

    3. One if by grounder, two if by flyball

      I submit mine was slower, but grounder: land

  16. Rangers broadcast is okay tonight since I'm on the balcony w/ a cigar. Oh yeah the wife is out of town. TWINS baseball.

      1. I was about to ask the same question. (An old GF from Toronto supplied me with a box once twice. She loved Havana.)

        1. Nothing super: first up a Medallas de Oro and I might make through that and feel like another I have a Punch. Didn't have time to make it to the Cigar Store. They're kinda hard to come by in Downtown DC.

          Both are far from my favorite but usually its my bro or dad who has em when I visit Fargo.

    2. The wife being far, far away is the only time I get cigars. Small favors, right?

      1. hells yes! Any way to get my butt down to first base faster!

        Carew had been called out a couple times though for (allegedly) stepping out of the batter's box during his swing.

  23. So I grabbed a glass of wine to take the edge off this crummy day, and out of nowhere, Sour Cream ran up and slapped me in the junk while I was taking a sip. In addition to the pain, I dropped the glass.

    This isn't my day, I guess.

    2. A few weeks ago, my 5-year old daughter did the same to me as I was leaning on a wall, with my 3-year old boy wedged between me and the wall. My reflex twitch trying to avoid the punch bounced his head into the wall, so I had the sore sack and a screaming 3-year old that I felt terrible about hurting. Kids are great!

      1. I hate to be a jerk, especially with Spooky having a bad day, but both these stories made me laugh quite a bit. I'm sure I'm storing up some bad karma for a serious nut shot of my own down the road, though.

          1. Fear not, the whiskey is putting an end to any bad feelings I may have had today.

                  1. Neither taste so sweet.

                    (seriously, this stuff is almost oddly sweet on the tongue.)

                    4. Death's Door White Whiskey, made from Wisconsin.

                      I would have thought it would taste earthier, with hints of beer and cheese.

    1. I like the thought by Texas to stay out of the double-play. Not so much with a runner at third, though.

  27. I'm amused at how many times in the series Mauer has thrown out a runner by 10 feet.

  30. The next person who says Thome's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer should get a surprise nut shot from Sour Cream or the nearest available child.

    2. Ooh, I like the edited version even better. Especially if we can keep a ticked-off fifteen year-old sumo wrestler in every radio booth around the country.

  32. What is going on with Tolbert? Two hits? He's going to be useless for weeks after this power display.

  36. What, you don't have to go home on the weakly-hit infield grounder? Why didn't we know this a couple games ago? And then Yoshi makes it a moot point.

  38. Anyone else think Nishioka could use a game or three off? Before Casilla was hurt at least?

  39. Each man's out diminishes me,
    For I am involved in Twinskind.
    Therefore, send not to know
    For whom the Bert tolls,
    It Tolberts for thee.

        1. I feel the most bad for Blackburn, I think he's going to be affected the most by this curse.

  44. Alright, Gameday gave me a badge for 2 Cuddy hits. I could also get one for a _elm_n home run. I will not be getting an _elm_n badge.

    1. Does it count if a ball bounces off his head and over the fence? 'Cause I think that's more likely than a homerun coming off his bat.

      1. That might be the only way for _elm_n to be mentioned in the same breath as Jose Canseco.

  45. Oh Danny boy, the fans, the fans are calling
    From left to right, and down the third base line
    The inning's done, and all our hope is falling
    'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

      1. I'm guessing spooky didn't even have to request that smile- looks like she's a natural imp.

  55. I am getting here just in time to see a Twins comeback victory. Excellent.

  57. I saw the best men on base of this game stranded by Nishi, starving hysterical naked,
    dragging themselves through the Texas field at night looking for a well placed hit.

    3. I had logged off last night to go home, just saw this bit of poetry. Well done.

  58. Well, I'm headed for my drive home, bring this one back, boyos! I'll be in my car cursing.

    3. Amost missed this gem. Sometimes it's fun to go back the next day to see where a game log headed.

    1. Valencia will find himself under the bus after this game, I guarantee it. But the real f-up here is throwing Dumatrait out there in a close game. Bring in Perkins.

  68. If elm'n hits a home run I will call him by his proper name for the rest of my life.

  71. after giving up a billion runs the first game, the Twins played well the next three...so theres that

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