106 thoughts on “2012 Game 118: Minnesota Twins vs Not Felix Hernandez”

1. I like these green Mariners uniforms.

2. Haven't checked in on the Twins in a while. Leading off doesn't seem like the worst place in the world for Mastroianni. He's got no power but has had a decent walk rate, especially in the minors.

   1. he also loves stealing bases.

      1. And running into outs.

   2. He's been a good pickup. Solid defensive and above average OBP. Up to 1.1 rWAR, so the perfect 3.5th outfielder.

      1. Seems like a stereotypical TR pickup. Not a bold stroke, but it helps the team a little.

3. Blackburn hasn't been good since 2009. Not that the Twins are brimming with pitching talent in the minors.

4. "He'll be one of our pitchers again next year...he's the veteran of this staff now."

5. Blackbum off to his usual start, why am I even watching.

   1. For the half-innings when Blackburn isn't involved? There should be some hitting equivalent to a "quality start," maybe give the hitters a quality start if they score five runs before the seventh inning.

      1. A quality start is a 4.50 ERA, so how about five runs or more after six?

   2. To see the first back-to-back perfect games in MLB history.

6. Blackburn is beyond worthless. If we tried to send him down Rochester would refuse to take him.

   1. Sometimes--most of the time--when I watch him pitch, I wonder how anyone swings and misses against him.

7. nice sinker Blackie. yeesh

8. Blackburn now up to a 22 HR/25 BB rate

   1. 23/25
      🙁

   2. 23

   3. Maybe he can get to a 1:1 ratio tonight before he's pulled.

9. I just laugh to keep from crying.

10. shoulda drafted signed prior...

11. I wonder if Blackburn can give up a home run every inning. I mean, I know he can, but I wonder if he will in this game.

12. Nick Blackburn: No velocity, no movement, no location, all meat. I know the rest of the team are professionals, but it has to be demoralizing to see him on the mound at this point.

13. Nick Blackburn has probably passed Scott Aldred, Scott Klingenbeck, Mike Lincoln, and Sean Bergmann as the worst pitcher in Twins history

    1. what about he who should not be maimed?

       1. I'm going with the assumption dw was referring to starters.

       2. I dont know who that is..Jose Mijares?

          1. Rhu_Ru might be able to help you there.

          2. We used to call him "The Big Guy With Glasses". In case Rhu_ru is still here

             Spoiler	SelectShow
             Ron Davis

             1. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

             2. ahhh yes. he was a little before my time.

             3. As bad as Davis was from '86 to '88, he never had an FIP as bad as Blackburn's this year.

                1. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                   1. I'm not adding a shortcode for that.

14. I wonder if Blackburn can challenge Bert for the home run record.

    1. It would be a stretch, but if the Twins give him enough innings he could top 40.

    2. Tonight?

    3. He's got his work cut out for him, but I'm not going to be the one to underestimate him.

15. Florimon's batting stance reminds me of Cristian Guzman

16. RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!!

    well, I just finished "Clash of the Titans" and it seemed to help there...

17. Evening, gents.

18. Worst FIP, Minnesota Twins, 80+ innings:

    6.22 -- 1994 Jim DeShaies
    6.21 -- 1994 Pat Mahomes
    5.98 -- 2012 Blackburn
    5.86 -- 1997 LaTroy Hawkins
    5.84 -- 2006 Silva
    5.61 -- 1997 Rich Robertson
    5.57 -- 1995 Mike Trombley
    5.50 -- 1996 Rich Robertson
    5.49 -- 2003 Lohse
    5.44 -- 1995 Radke
    5.41 -- 1991 Allan Anderson
    5.31 -- 1985 Mike Smithson

    That's over the last 30 years. The numbers are not league-adjusted, though, and pitching in the mid-90s was no walk in the park. At the least, Blackburn is in the conversation for worst single season in the last 30 years, with Deshaies and Mahomes.

    1. Wow - I remember Viola's horrible '83 season, and 5.15 is still well short of this list.

       1. Hell, Viola had 1.1 fWAR that year. Check out this list (I believe fWAR is adjusted for league):

          Worst Twins starting pitchers by fWAR, 1983-2012, 80+ IP:

          -0.6 fWAR -- 2012 Blackburn
          0.0 fWAR -- 2006 Silva
          0.2 fWAR -- 1991 Anderson
          0.2 fWAR -- 1997 Hawkins
          0.2 fWAR -- 1994 Deshaies
          0.2 fWAR -- 1994 Mahomes
          0.4 fWAR -- 2010 Blackburn
          0.4 fWAR -- 2003 Mays
          0.5 fWAR -- 1990 West
          0.6 fWAR -- three pitchers tied

          It's pretty tough to be this bad and get this many innings.

    2. Rich Robertson. woof

19. Huh. This really does have that kind of feel to it. Wonder what the record is for most consecutive outs for one team's pitching staff? They're up to 42 now.

    1. And there it remains.

    2. Wonder how the start before Harvey Haddix ended? I'll check.

       1. Heh, the Pirates had a Blackburn with the win for the game before.

       2. Last baserunner before Haddix (http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195905260.shtml) was in the 7th of the prevoius game (24th) with two out. So 40 in a row.

          1. What about the top of the ninth? Pinson singled against Blackburn with two outs.

             1. I scrolled too fast, it seems. I stand corrected.

          2. Something there doesn't compute. Blackburn got the win.

20. perfect through four.

    1. At this point I'm almost hoping it happens.

       1. Well, seeing history being made does have its attractions. And with Blackbum starting no one was really expecting a Twins victory.

21. To see the first back-to-back perfect games in MLB history.

    this is becoming less and less funny.

    1. Maybe I wasn't joking...

       1. There goes the perfecto...

22. Dad and I bottled our cherry porter. I feel it was a better use of out hour.

23. Phew, I was just joking!

    1. I'm going to hope this game goes the same way when we ended Buehrle's perfect inning streak

       1. That was a seriously great game.

          1. I was at that game. It did turn out pretty fun.

24. huzzah!

25. There we go, Mountie. Thank you. THANK YOU.

26. Dicks says longest streak by a team since 1974.

27. way to go, guy I never heard of until 10 hours ago

28. Huh, so far this year (SSS), Iwakuma's actually been better with men on base than with the bases empty. Probably a statistical anomaly.

29. Carson has almost matched Dozier's RBI total for the season tonight.

    1. Ouch

30. wait, who's in RF?

    1. Matt Carson

    2. some dude they plucked off the street

       1. this round goes to DW.

31. I just had to give up the TV so my brother and his GF could watch "The Vow".

    1. ugh... at least Linds saw that in theater with her girlfriends so that I never have to go through it.

32. Nice '70's style retro facial hair on Brendon Ryan.

33. Finally done with Nick "Here, hit this" Blackburn tonight...

    1. Once again about an inning too late.

34. wait, who's on the mound?

    1. some dude they plucked off the street

    2. Tyler Durden

       1. that can't be it, his nametag said Cornelius.

       2. you didn't link his B-R page...

          1. The first rule of B-R is don't talk about B-R.

35. bedtime. here begins the miraculous turnaround. later, Citizens

36. wait, who's at SS?

    1. Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon

       1. i thought aragon was king of men.

          1. That's Aragorn.

             1. NERD TEST!!!

                (actually, i should have known that)

    2. Floremon hazte con todos!!

       1. This round goes to Rowsdower.

37. Let's see Dozier just try to make that catch!

38. Pauer!

39. 

    1. +2 years hard labor

40. And now Hammered!

41. Hey, something back-to-back did happen!

42. The Willing Hammer!!!!!!

43. SlackSnot is back!

44. Blackburn entered last nights game with a 7.33 ERA. It ended the day higher.

    1. yet somehow 5.1 IP, 5 ER feels like a good outing.

       1. it was good after he stop throwing meatballs that were crushed for homeruns

45. I missed the game, but it sounds like we lost and Blackburn didn't pitch very well. If only we had a starter doing well in Rochester that we could bring up. Oh, well, I guess we'll just have to settle for 94-68!

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