There, now doesn't that feel better? Even if good things aren't ahead (and let's be honest, things have to get at least a little better - I have to imagine more than 2 Twins will have batting averages above .200) getting that first win feels good, maaan.
Today, Ricky Nolasco takes on Jered Weaver to see who can rebound better from 2015. Weaver is probably done as an ace, but he always seems to pitch pretty well against the Twins. (9-2, 3.22). He gives up a lot of fly balls, so maybe that would be a place to start.
We got the win yesterday, now, onto bigger and better things - the winning streak.
Twins on Leaderboards
Batting Average - Mauer - 7th (.371)
OBP - Mauer - t-6th (.465)
Hits - Mauer - t-7th (13)
Doubles - Escobar - t-4th (4)
Triples - Mauer & Suzuki - t-3rd (1)
Walks - Mauer & Sano - t-6th (6)
Strikeouts - Sano - t-3rd (15)*
Singles - Mauer - t-4th (10)
Runs Created - Mauer - t-10th (9)
Times on Base - Mauer t-4rd (20)
Hit By Pitch - Nunez - t-2nd (2)**Hit By Pitch - Mauer, Buxton & Park - t-7th (1)
Sac Bunts - Dozier, Buxton, & Rosario - t-1st (1)
Sac Flies - Mauer & Suzuki - t-6th (1)
Intentional Walks - Escobar, Mauer & Rosario - t-2nd (1)
Caught Stealing - Nunez - t-2nd (2)
Caught Stealing - Escobar & Santana t-4th (1)
Stolen Base % - Buxton, Roasrio, & Dozier t-1st (100%)
AB/K - Mauer 9th (8.8)***
- I guess I'm a little surprised that Sano is the only one on this list.
- Surprise, surprise
- Oh, I do like this.
Pitcher forthcoming.
Nunez leading off again. Works for me.
😆
I thought you'd like that.
Bert Blyleven's key to the game (pitcher edition)
"Establish the fastball, mix in the breaking balls"
Biting commentary by our guy.
Nunez!!!!
Nuñez and Mauer. Goodness. This team would be winless without them.
I like this inning. More, please?
You begin supporting the starting pitching and they're going to start expecting it.
Nolasco's already spoiled, apparently.
Good plate appearance by Park there. Hopefully, they're starting to put it together.
well, crap
A bundle of giveback runs.
Nolascos gonna Nolasco.
Doesn't Nolasco know that we can't depend on the batters to win this.
Scientists are now questioning this previously established line of thinking.
Wow. 9 for 11 to start the season.
Anti-Twins streak.
gah! Mauer hit that hard. just not high enough over the infielder
PLOUUUUUFFFFFFFFFE!
PLOUFFE-DA
Only Simmons' second strikeout this season. I noticed that when I saw that Mauer was on that list.
I wish MLB banned commentators from griping about new rules.
I'll admit that they need to find a happy medium in the rule. I like the rule, but would prefer it only apply to most of the more obvious out of the way slides that we've been complaining about over the years.
See this story with "he tried to do this and I did this and he hurt his hand and was out for six weeks" is where they lose me completely. How stupid. That's exactly what the fans pay money to see. Sure.
And bert wants to drill people, of course. wonderful.
There's a paraphrased quote by Max Planck, "Science advances one funeral at a time." Turns out it's mostly true. I'm guessing the same is true in other things. The rules in baseball can advance when the people advocating for older times retire.
Murphy seems like a competent catcher. I'd like to see more of him.
This.
Trout held to a single.What?
Long, long single.
Joe at bats have felt more like Joe at bats again this year.
He shaved his beard this year. I think the facial hair was holding him back.
It was
EvilBad Mauer. Good Mauer took two years off to recuperate.All the strikeouts were from the shifty eyes.
all tied up!
It's warming up
I...dont know if this is a good idea.
Happy to be proven wrong.
Not feeling great about Trout v Nolasco. Really, Trout v anyone.
Good thing they don't pay you guys to manage.
We'd have the first team ever to not have a sacrifice hit.
OK, I retract my statement.
Real good outing by Nolasco. They had people warming up in the 2nd, and he made it through seven. Very nice.
I'll take 7 innings >4 runs everytime from Nolasco
He's had few issues with the greater than part of that.
HA!
I meant <
*as Mars probe sails past the planet far from expected trajectory*
When I saw this comment on the sidebar, I assumed it was about Park's home run.
Less than would be great. Unfortunately, had = 4, but good enough today.
Can the Angels put Weaver back in the game?
"...the brother of Colby Rasmus..."
Oh, another slack-jawed yokel
HRCIA!!!!!!!!
Arcia!!
Yeeeeeaaaaah
HOLY COWS PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
where diod that ballgo?
Holy Mary mother of god
It sounds like I can't wait to see this highlight.
462 feet
The thought just occurred to be that I really want him to hit a home run that lands in a parking lot someday.
Just saw it. I have never hated Brian mcann more than I do right now.
Park's HR was estimated at 462 feet. to dead center field
jeebus
It landed in the seats above the batter's eye. The only other Twin to hit it in that area in my recollection was Jim Thome.
Obligatory
A new streak!
Winning streak!
This gif is amazing and I wish it was ours.
Not bad, but if you look at the replay of Park's HR and watch him at the end in the dugout, he and Nunez share a pretty cool handshake
this!
although I wish Park would break out a bat flip. I mean anything over 450 feet deserves all the celebrations.
Park realizes that a bat flip is an unacceptable practice that disrespects the opposing pitcher. Just the act of hitting a mammoth HR in the first place is the proper way to disrespect the opposing pitcher.
I think this proves that the Angels should fire Scioscia.
Can't say it proves it, but I think they should just in case.