httpv://youtu.be/cqhYchnDNfA
This is the time of year when teams are either playing to make the playoffs or playing spoiler. Tonight's series opener against the Cleveland Clevelanders at Target Field pits the former against the latter. Cleveland is seven games out of first place in the division but just four games back in the wild card race. Picking up one game a week on Detroit positions them for a shot at the division title, while picking up just a half game a week in the wild card race puts them within spitting distance of a playoff slot.
Hot on their heels, though, just half a game back, are the Kansas City Royals, now led by that veterany veteran utility infielder and relief pitcher reliever Jamey Carroll. If'n I had my druthers, I'd druther it was the Royals that whittled away their deficit to make the playoffs, even though I once had something of a tribal affinity for Cleveland as a native Buckeye. So it's up to the Twins to play spoiler tonight, because all we have left to make the rest of our season interesting is getting our kicks stomping on a dream. Hey, that's life.
Tonight's contest features a showdown between rookie pitchers just feeling their way in the show. The Twins send Andrew "I Could'a Had a Complete Game Shutout" Albers to the hill for his second major league debut (as Rik Aalbert Blyleven would say). Albers pitched like a veteran ace in his first debut last week and could prove to be a bright spot for Twins fans in the waning days of the season. The Clevelanders counter Albers' left-handed control pitching with Danny Salazar, a hard-tossing right-hander making his third major league debut. While the small sample size caveat most definitely applies, Albers enters the game with a 1-0 record and a perfect 0.00 ERA. I don't suppose that's very sustainable. Salazar is also sporting 1-0 record, and carries a more realistic but still respectable 3.29 ERA.
On the other side of the game, the Twins have been absolutely on fire with the long ball lately, scoring 19 runs on dingers in their weekend series win over the White Sox. Had Morneau rediscovered his power stroke a month before the non-waiver trade deadline instead of just after it, we might have been able to deal him for a pitching prospect or a dish of poutine. But you know what people say. That's life.
Play ball!
The Twins are 2 games of where they were through 115 games last year. However, the Twins went in a free fall in August last year, so the Twins would have to lose their next 14 games in a row to match their record from last year.
So, anyone know how to constrain the size of this youtube video in the left-hand column on the home page? Sean? Sean? Anybody? Bueller?
looks fine to me
Danke.
socal called it.
Dozier seems to be locked in.
He's on a Plouffe!ian run right now.
WOO-HOO! DOZIER!!!!
Oops, I mean, darn it, another one of those unclutch home runs. Get an infield single and go to second on a bunt, for crying out loud.
Given the result of the rest of the inning, it's clear he killed the rally before it could even get started. 🙁
I show up an inning late and I've already missed more super-Dozier?
We got "something" for Carroll? Seems like a good deal.
Provus with just the right amount of dire in that fly ball call.
socal called it..
Holy Plouffe!
Walk-a-thon.
Man, it's dead in here.
Yup. Homeruns are borrr-rrring.
Ooh, the Twins are in danger of scoring without a home run here. Let's see what they do to wiggle out of this jam.
Raise your hand if you're expecting a Clete grand slam.
Nope, the Trader did what I expected him to do, honestly.
If you had raised your hand, I would have called you a liar.
I was hoping for a reverse jinx of some sort, but it's kinda satisfying to keep the scoring-only-on-home-run-streak going.
It's nice to keep the "never score on Albers" streak going, too!
Klete did his part.
Phew! Crisis averted.
Holy sh!t, Dozier!
Willingham looks so much more graceful in left than Arcia.
that's all relative, of course
It's true. _elm_n makes Arcia look graceful.
_elm_n makes a hobbled hippo look graceful.
+3 marbles
Albers kinda looks like Mountie, particularly when he exhales.
Yes, yes he does.
My wife was just saying that he could pass for his little brother.
And here I thought I was being racist for thinking all Canadians look alike.
A few years ago when Sheenie and I went to Spring Training, there was a guy walking around who looked EXACTLY like Corey Koskie would aged about fifteen years. We couldn't figure out who he was for the longest time before learning he was the Mountie's dad. So yes, Canadians all look alike.
What does Larry Walker have to do with this?
heck of a play by Florimon
That should be numbers 1,2 and 3 on Sports Center tonight.
Oh man...that was some sweetness by Florimon.
Good Lord, Florimon.
Well, the fielders are certainly showing up here.
I don't think the concrete has fully settled yet.
Vote for PeDro
I was hoping the D would also stand for double.
Vote for Pe2Bro!
Anything is better than Pekro.
that would have been an awesome catch by herrmann
Hhrrrmmmnn was hoping the ump wouldn't see that he dropped that, and quickly tried to pick it up.
Albers with a second shot at his CG SHO. And has a chance at a Maddux.
This shouldn't have been there.
What's a Maddux?
Shouldn't it have?
I think I missed the Maddux reference.
Complete game win with fewer than 100 pitches and no walks.
Actually, looks like walks are okay.
So 102 pitches, no walks is now an "Albers"?
Jeremied = Twins stymied by no-name lefty.
Albersed = Twins' opponent stymied by no-name lefty.
I'll second that
Cy Albers.
Give him Rookie of the Year, MVP, Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove too.
Rolaids Relief Pitcher.
Manager of the Year. AL and NL.
Comeback Player.
for real, I have never heard of the Can-Am baseball league until Albers was called up. but the Twins should be scouting that league hardcore for the next ace starting pitcher.
And for power-hitting first basemen.
So this is the first Twitter poll that I'm actually interested in: What's your favorite current Twins jersey.
My ranking would be Home Ivory, Road Grey, Road Blue, Home White, Home Blue.
I saw that and said #homeivory. Is this even debatable?
For the five people that voted, yes.
I was totally digging the retro Sox unis the other day.
But if I get Home Ivory, people will think that the 11 stands for Jacque Jones or Ben Revere, not Cletas.
The Blues are really unnecessary.
Stupid BBarcia. I just want to see Albers pitch!
It's about time somebody got out.
I like that Albers' version of hitting the wall is allowing a baserunner. Outstanding.
And BOOM goes the dynamite!
So, this Albers kid is better than Blackburn
Gonorrhea is better than Blackburn.
Small sample size and whatever, but that was cool. Unleash the pups.
That was awesome!
More Canadian puppies!
Awwwww
So it only took him one more start to get that CG SHO....cool.
I was worried after that last one that Gardy had taken him out of his only shot at one.
Andrew "No Wall" Albers
Don't let him pitch in the 12th though.
And never feed him after midnight.
Royals in second place...
Twins have a better record than the Angels.
Everything's coming up AMR!
Home runs are cool. Complete game shutouts are cool. Astounding Ace Andrew Albers is Awesome! We're still on track for 99-63!
We can even afford to lose a few games and still make the playoffs!
I took a picture of Albers pitching last night. This is what showed up on my camera:
Wait: He's ambidextrous? Can we have him pitch tonight too?
Scratch that... Tonight is for Deduno. Can I see Albers on Wednesday?