Game 95: The Last Place Minnesota Twins at The First Place Boston Red Sox

Minnesota has gone 10-6 in July, winning two series' against the West-leading Rangers and three out of four against Oakland. They didn't really get the offense going in their first series back following the All Star Break (against Cleveland), scored no runs on Monday, had one big inning on Tuesday (5 runs) and another crooked number in the 9th yesterday (3 runs) to notch a series win against the 2nd place Tigers.

In Boston to face the Red Sox (1st in the East, 53-39, 8-2 in their past 10) for the next four games, the Twins start the series with a rebounding Tyler Duffey on the mound. Duffey is 3-0 in his last four starts with a 3.10 ERA, and Twins' wins in each of his past five starts.

Squaring off against the Twins for Boston is All Star knuckleballer Steven Wright (11-5, 2.78 ERA, 1.18 WHIP), winner of his past three games (though with an atrocious 6.35 ERA) and looking for continued support from an offense averaging 5.38 runs per game over the past dozen.

Read on if you care to learn more about the huge mistake the Twins made when they released David "Big Papi" Ortiz ... 14 years ago ...

Spoiler	Select Show
Boston sent 6 players to the 2016 All Star Game (Petunia wasn't one of 'em!), though none more noticeable to Twins fans than 40-year-old David Ortiz, enjoying his final year in the big show. His current offensive numbers rank near the top of each category in the American League and (if sustained) would constitute one of his best seasons ... well .... ever. His current SLG (.665) OPS (1.085) and OPS+ (180) are the highest he's ever had. His BA (.326) and OBP (.420) are 2nd only to his 2007 season where he placed 4th in the MVP voting (which was his 5th consecutive year of finishing in the top-5). I have no doubt we will hear much about "the colossal blunder" Terry Ryan made following the 2002 season, when he made the decision to release Ortiz in favor of Matt LeCroy (and others) starting at DH. For my own edification, I wanted to share the following facts: In 2002, Minnesota had taken the AL Central with 94 wins,* and beaten the A's in the ALDS before being eliminated by the Angels in the ALCS. They had good, young players in their primes in the OF (J. Jones, T. Hunter, D. Mohr) & at 1st (Mientkiewicz), and had used Ortiz and (former 1st round pick) Matt LeCroy at DH. They also had Shannon Stewert, former 1st rounder Michael Cuddyer and 2nd round pick Michael Restovich getting time and as bats off the bench and potential DH's. Also note, Seattle was the first to part ways with Ortiz, in exchange for a PTBN - Dave Hollins! Every other team in baseball had an opportunity to sign him following his release from the Twins ... only the Sox were willing to take a flyer. It's baseball - things like this happen. Look at home many teams passed on drafting Mike Trout and Joey Votto, Gio Gonzalez, Andrew McCutchen ... Trevor Plouffe! over Dustin Pedroia. Shit, FIVE** pitchers were selected ahead of Clayton Kershaw! Terry Ryan had reason to believe he was making a solid choice. No one could have predicted David Ortiz would become Big Papi, except maybe David himself. And good for him! But can we please get over it ... please? They and would repeat as Central champs in 2003 & '04. *The Angels would go on to win the 2002 World Series, beating the Giants in 7 games.

Spoiler

Select Show

Boston sent 6 players to the 2016 All Star Game (Petunia wasn't one of 'em!), though none more noticeable to Twins fans than 40-year-old David Ortiz, enjoying his final year in the big show.

His current offensive numbers rank near the top of each category in the American League and (if sustained) would constitute one of his best seasons ... well .... ever. His current SLG (.665) OPS (1.085) and OPS+ (180) are the highest he's ever had. His BA (.326) and OBP (.420) are 2nd only to his 2007 season where he placed 4th in the MVP voting (which was his 5th consecutive year of finishing in the top-5).

I have no doubt we will hear much about "the colossal blunder" Terry Ryan made following the 2002 season, when he made the decision to release Ortiz in favor of Matt LeCroy (and others) starting at DH. For my own edification, I wanted to share the following facts:

In 2002, Minnesota had taken the AL Central with 94 wins,* and beaten the A's in the ALDS before being eliminated by the Angels** in the ALCS.

They had good, young players in their primes in the OF (J. Jones, T. Hunter, D. Mohr) & at 1st (Mientkiewicz), and had used Ortiz and (former 1st round pick) Matt LeCroy at DH.

They also had Shannon Stewert, former 1st rounder Michael Cuddyer and 2nd round pick Michael Restovich getting time and as bats off the bench and potential DH's.

Also note, Seattle was the first to part ways with Ortiz, in exchange for a PTBN - Dave Hollins!

Every other team in baseball had an opportunity to sign him following his release from the Twins ... only the Sox were willing to take a flyer.

It's baseball - things like this happen. Look at home many teams passed on drafting Mike Trout and Joey Votto, Gio Gonzalez, Andrew McCutchen ... Trevor Plouffe! over Dustin Pedroia. Shit, FIVE pitchers were selected ahead of Clayton Kershaw!
Terry Ryan had reason to believe he was making a solid choice. No one could have predicted David Ortiz would become Big Papi, except maybe David himself. And good for him! But can we please get over it ... please?

*They and would repeat as Central champs in 2003 & '04.
**The Angels would go on to win the 2002 World Series, beating the Giants in 7 games.

8 thoughts on “Game 95: The Last Place Minnesota Twins at The First Place Boston Red Sox”

Can of Corn says:

July 21, 2016 at 7:03 pm

Well played.

I had too much sun today and missed the first 6 innings because I was sleeping. yikes!

I remember this pitching staff.

Can of Corn says:

July 21, 2016 at 9:21 pm

To quote a brilliant mind, "yikes!"
1. Philosofer says:
  
  July 21, 2016 at 10:03 pm
  
  'FZ Spoiler' Select Show
  
  This is about Trump's speech, right?
  1. Can of Corn says:
    
    July 22, 2016 at 10:08 am
    
    Well, I suppose "yikes!" could be equally applicable to both performances yesterday.

'FZ Spoiler'	Select Show
This is about Trump's speech, right?

Whether it's 13-2 or 3-2, it's still only one loss. We'll just have to settle for 102-60!

Comments are closed.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.