Admit it. You had this one circled on your calendar for a while now didn’t you? Phil Hughes v. Mike Pelfrey. Sure they are a combined 1-10 but we all know wins and losses means nothing at the Major League Level. This is Hughesy versus Big Pelf. Former stable mates now going head-to-head for supremacy of the bottom of the AL Central. It doesn’t get any better than this and after yesterday’s epic yet failed comeback by the Twins, you just know it’s payback time. First pitch at 6:10p Central.
Hey! We've played half an inning, and we're still tied!
Sano makes a Sano-cone catch! And we're still tied after one inning!
Still tied after an inning and a half!
According to Provus, Pat Dean takes Jose Berrios' spot in the rotation.
Bert chastising Dozier for "not being a team player" because he pulled the ball to third and not hit the ball to second to advance Plouffe.
barf.
Atteberry made a big deal out of that, too, although he seemed to consider it a physical failure rather than a moral failure.
Its one thing if its late in the game, but its the second inning. my goodness.
Molitor has a sign for getting the runner over one way or another, which means he also allows batters to just swing for the hit in those situations. The announcers have no idea if Molitor is wanting the batters to "trade places" with the runner or "move him over."
Still tied after two!
Mike. Pelfrey's. Pace. Is. So. Slow.
Still tied after two and a half!
Still tied after three!
I like Jorge Polanco.
I was thinking the same thing.
Still tied after three and a half!
Still tied through four!
We have a lead!
Now, can we keep it for more than five minutes, please?
MAUER PAUER!
Still ahead after five!
A two-run lead!
SANNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONONONONONONONONONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Good ol' dependable Big Pelf
Still ahead after five and a half!
the ol 4-3-6 double play.
Still ahead after six!
Reds on pace to have worst pitching staff in history and that was before giving up 28 runs in 2 days to the Indians. My goodnesx
They have more W than the Twins, so they can't be worst. #CountTheWs
From the looks of things, I think Hughes had the fear of God put into him, and he doesn't want to get sent down, too.
I'm not sure how much was good pitching and how much was good luck--it seemed like there were a lot of hard-hit balls that went for outs--but we'll definitely take it.
You might be right. Hughes with shoulder fatigue but it sounds like they're going to let him pitch through it. Shouldn't be surprised with how he's pitched lately. Only 1 K today.
Why is Hughes pitching if his shoulder is messed up. I dont understand anything anymore.
My thought exactly. If he has shoulder fatigue, let him rest and heal. We're not fighting for a playoff spot. What's the point of taking a chance on making it worse?
Insurance scam?
I'm willing to consider that Molitor may be saying what he has to say, whether for marketing purposes or motivational purposes or other reasons. But the lowest number of wins to make the wild card since the two wildcard format was introduced is 86. To win 86 games, the Twins would have to go 76-48, a .613 winning percentage. There's a difference between being optimistic and being delusional.
Not only that, but probably the only way they even have a shot at a .613 winning percentage the rest of the way out is to take risks and see how quickly younger players adjust. E.g. the 2006 Minnesota Twins.
Whether he's being diplomatic or whatever, I do think his statement betrays a feeling about rookies that they have to struggle and it's essentially not possible for a rookie to perform better than a veteran. This would align with their actions of giving rookies the quick hook back down to the minors rather than having any faith that they can adjust while in a Twins uniform.
For whatever Gardy's faults were later in his tenure, what he initially brought to the team after TK left was a willingness to play the younger players. And that meant some players would struggle--but others would succeed. Molitor seems like he has a late-'90s TK attitude.
Still ahead after six and a half!
If only Buxton was a better bunter, he could be playing center field and have caught that ball.
Nice effort Danny Santana, but Byron Buxton catches that with ease.
#ItsNotHappening
75 pitches and Hughes is pulled after giving up a run.
I dont get it.
My guess is that they felt like they were lucky to get that much out of him. But yes, seventy-five pitches is not a lot of pitches.
3rd time through the lineup wasn't going as smoothly
And of course, the move is much easier to second-guess when the bullpen comes in and does this.
This is the same thing from last time Hughes/Pelfrey hooked up. Hughes got a strange quick hook, TIgers pen did its job, and Pelfrey doesn't get the L.
this is not the score i expected
That was a lucky bounce.
sigh
I see a wild pitch in your future...
At least that would've only allowed one run.
I've got to pack for Ireland.
well, heck, Hughes could have done that!
and that! and that!!
I wonder if Tonkin and May are about to be sent back to Rochester for more seasoning.
We're not gonna have anyone left.
baseball is dumb.
Sounds like the Twins have come in and saved Brad Ausmus' job, at least for a week or so.
The Sporting News has nothing nice to say about Bremer, Blyleven, et al.
"They're the TV team we deserve, not the one we need."
I miss puppies, but I can work with this.
This one's coming back
- pre-2016 Jeff A
Sorry guys, this one was on me. They always lose painfully on my birthday.
This year, everyone gets to experience that. Even those born in December.
Finally!