2012 Twins Game Log

2012 Game 128: Mariners at Twins

202 Comments

First Pitch - 7:10 p.m. CDT
Television - FSN

Poor Liam Hendriks. Just his second game back in the show after spending most of the summer in Rochester and he's pitted against King Felix, who rolled a perfect game just a couple of weeks ago. Twelve strikes in a row, a Thanksgiving turkey. But Felix wasn't just the king for that one game this season, he's been pretty awesome throughout. In just his last 13 outings he's won eight and lost none while holding hitters to a .184 batting average. Yeah, the dude has the unique abilitiy to turn everyone he faces into something worse than Drew Butera or Danny Valencia with a bat in their hands. Hernandez has led something of a second half surge for the Mariners with team going 25-16 since the All-Star break. Hendriks is also going into tonight's game without much in the way of backup. The bullpen is pretty gassed after throwing a ton of innings in the Texas series. So I wouldn't expect much from the Twins' pitching staff tonight, and not much from the offense, either. If you need a reason to watch, we might see Joe Mauer break the franchise records for games caught if he crouches behind the plate tonight. I used to know who holds the record, but I Earl Battey'd the guy. That's got to be worth tuning in for one inning, anyway. Is it football season yet? Basketball? Hockey? Bueller? Anybody? Bueller?

Play ball!

202 thoughts on “2012 Game 128: Mariners at Twins”

    1. oh, and sorry about the vid. i've been busy all day. dunno what buffalo's excuse is.

    2. I'm currently watching F-bomb pitch against my new home town team. I missed the Ford dinger, however.

      I'm guessing this game will be more exciting than the T___s.

            2. And I won't have to be on drugs to watch it!

              Just saying, a future commission could strike your LTEs if considered written whilst doping.

                1. I stripped myself of those when I walked away from the game a decade ago.

                  Golf is a good walk spoiled.

                  --Mark Twain

                  2. Speaking of Twain, I just finished a biography of Tesla (Man Out of Time) - turns out one of his BFFs was said Clemens. They used to hang out in various oyster joints and exchange quips.

  4. That's got to be worth tuning in for one inning, anyway. Is it football season yet?

    NBCSportsNet is showing Canadian football right now

  6. Serious question? Are there more games that feature Bert this season or games that don't?

    1. Bert is contracted for only 100 games. He was suppose to work this game, but stayed in Florida because of the huricane.

  9. Is Casilla in the lineup? I think it would be comical to watch him bat against FHer.

  10. Fish tacos: Mahi mahi, Napa cabbage, garden tomatoes, jalapeño dressing. De-lish.

              1. I've gotten over to Saratoga and West Hurley/Kingston for triathlon/biking - obviously need to venture further west.

                1. It is the greatest sandwich in the world that doesn't feature cheese.

      2. Putting chicken and home fries on the grill right now. Rounding it off with a romaine salad, garden tomato, watermelon, cantaloupe and iced tea. Beer for desert.

              1. A couple of years back, the A.L.'ers were doing the gift exchange thing where they roll dice and people steal gifts from each other.

                Turns out, the hot commodity was the item that had to be broughten in from the garage (i.e. meat).

                Since then, meat has become the predominant xmas flavorite.

                So last year, I got a huge box of bratwurst (of every style/flavor). Not wanting to leave them in the freezer in Minny, I loaded up the suitcase and brought them to H'town. I was on edge thinking the TSA lights would start to flash and they would confiscate my Sconnie meat brigade for some minor infarcation.

                But the delivery was made without problems, and we had those wild rice brats - man were they good.

                1. Wild rice brats from the local meat locker are my favorite summer food.

                  Meat is a great gift at any time. Brats are about as good a Xmas gift as can be given.

                  2. I forgot to mention another New Richland phrase earlier.

                    "It's all."

                    i.e. whatever it is, it's done - we are out of bread cubes, the turkey is done cooking, etc.

          2. Is there some pork mixed in to give it some fat? I love venison sausage and steaks, never had a venison brat though.

            1. I believe there is. It's got a fair bit of moisture to it, without losing that distinctive venison goodness and without feeling greasy.

              1. How the eff did I miss this thread. Boo on hurricane Isaac. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

  15. It's good to see us go back to the old strategy of trying to assassinate the opposing pitcher.

  18. Hendriks looking better than he has in any start I've seen. Too bad he's facing off against a guy who's as likely to no-hit us as he is to give us any runs.

  22. Since I haven't seen Scott Baker pitch yet this season it probably isn't fair for me to say but I think Felix Hernandez is better than any of the Twins pitchers.

          1. I know some rabbis who might be willing to put a pareve stamp on bacon because it is so awesome it couldn't really come from a non-kosher animal.

    2. Now Crain and AJ are fighting because AJ didn't try to turn two after a force out at home.

  33. Predictable.

    Ok, I'm out. Could you guys please chase F-HER to the showers while I head home?

  34. That kid shooting baskets at the Minnesota State Fair made like 8 shots in a row.

    2. Have to admit - favorite draw at the State Fair is the DNR Fish Tank. Then the 4-H stuff (Hubbard County!!). Then the plough-horses. Then beer. Wait, reverse that order.

  36. FSN graphic says David Ortiz is going on the DL with a "bothersome right achilles tendon". Now that's a made-up injury if I ever heard one.

    1. Then Dick talks about Gutierrez having something called "plantar fasciitis". No one I know has ever heard of such a thing.

      2. I look forward to him turning into a semi-slick-fielding infielder who barely cracks the Mendoza line but starts at either second or short for an entire season anyhow.

  41. I was really hoping for a hard fought pitcher's duel, but with the Voodoo Chile on the mound, I didn't think I'd have a chance of seeing one. Well played, Liam.

      1. Nope, just three grounders to infielders and Morneau left standing at third, grinding his teeth.

  55. that inning went by so quick, Morneau hasnt caught his breath from legging that triple.

  62. Well, unless Jeff Grey comes into the game, I'm expecting this one to finish at 1-0. I should find something else to do.

    1. Even if it is a loss, Hendriks pitched a heck of a game. Lowered his ERA about a full point.

  72. with 2 stolen bases tonight, Mauer is only 6 of 46 (13%) in throwing out base runners.

    1. JeffA has been right about a lot of our minor leaguers. Bring up Esmerling and Parmelee!

      1. From the Padre's lips to Terry Ryan's ear.

        Candidates to be called up from Triple-A include first baseman Chris Parmelee, shortstop Brian Dozier and starting pitchers Esmerling Vasquez and P.J. Walters. Ryan also wouldn't rule out calling up a player from Double-A, so outfielder Oswaldo Arcia is a strong possibility.

        1. That's not what I mean. I'm saying, one good outing against a terrible lineup doesn't exactly erase the times he's been shellacked against other major league lineups this year.

          1. I think most people here are familiar with sample sizes.

            On the other hand, he's Only 23 and has a decent minor league record. I don't believe in things "clicking", but I do believe that skills evolve and improve. Is this The Game where he's shown he can pitch in the big leagues? Doubtful, but it's encouraging to see.

            1. I think most people here are familiar with sample sizes.

              In my experience at Costco, typically about one bite.

      2. to be fair, the M's have been playing pretty good baseball as of late. and... uh, i don't know how to end that.

  83. Awesome outing by Hendriks. Granted, the Seattle lineup isn't that great, but it's just as good as it was last week when they scored four in five innings against him, so it's improvement. Maybe it'll be a confidence boost. The Twins batters were the opposite of awesome, but they don't call him King Felix for nothing. We'll just have to settle for 86-76!

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