Prior to Adrián Beltré, my favorite Ranger was probably Rusty Greer, who received a non-roster invitation to spring training from the Twins in 2005. Greer, whose career had been derailed by numerous injuries, elected to retire instead.
Numerous players have worn uniforms of both the Twins and Rangers in their careers, including Twins broadcasters Bert Blyleven and Roy Smalley, plus bullpen coach Eddie Guardado. Chris Gimenez, now a Twin in large part due relationships he developed elsewhere with the Twins' new front office brain trust, played for Thad Levine in Texas. Heck, Dillon Gee has played for both teams this season.
Only a small handful of these shared alumni – less than ten percent – played for only those two teams. The most notable of these was a starter for a Twins team that won more than 90 games. He finished his seven year career with 1.8 rWAR. Who is he?
Juuuust in time for Beltre to put the game out of reach.
Pitching for the twins will haunt.
There may not be a whole lot of action in the old game log today.
I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes. After yesterday I figured it would better to wait until after the game started to pinch-hit on the game log.
You certainly didn't step on any toes yesterday.
Thanks; it's the situations where I might've stepped on toes – or might've not – that seem the hardest to correctly address.
That's why I like boots. I can't feel the toes.
Not at all. Thanks for filling in. I totally spaced on it after working all day Saturday.
I am so excited to be going to the game on Tuesday....
Good thing the bullpen is rested.
Wait...
I think I'm getting enough of this game just from the scroller on the TV here at the microbrewery
Heh, I think the guy watching the radar in the dugout should start doing a rain dance as well.
Maybe if we let the Rangers score enough runs, it'll take long enough that a storm will come up and the game will get rained out.
On the board, anyway.
Max power!!
It looks like they really shouldn't be playing right now.
I'm gonna move ahead of the storm and turn it to the Nationals and Cubs.
I switched to the Rochester/Syracuse game.
Never mind. We're back!
Is there ever a type of game in which Dazzle doesn't think the bunt should come into play?
DOZIER!!!!
Well, that's how you get back in the game.
A home run with runners on base!
We're right back in it
I wish this Jose Berrios had been around in the first inning, but I'm glad he at least showed up now.
That pitch to lock up Gomez in the top of the fourth was filthy.
Can we call his cutter (or slider, is whatever) "the planer" after he planed one side of the next batters bat flat?
I didn't realize Brain Dozier had clear the career 400 RBI mark. He is at 402, which is 19th of the all time Twins list. Just passed Zoilo (401), should pass Larry Hisle and Randy Bush (409) soon. Probably won't catch Corey Koskie (437) this year.
ROSARIO!!!!! It's a whole new ballgame!!!!!
Lots of dingers today.
I was the first LTE and almost didn't check the actual game ... just in time to see the Rosario big fly!
...derp... reading, I was reading the first LTE..
This game reminds me of a recent cup of coffee conversation
I'm with Dick: that is the hardest bunt single I've ever seen
Using "hardest", "Dick" and "bunt single" in one sentence is making me chuckle.
Apparently Go-Go hasn't lost enough steps.
Sometimes when you play for one run you get none.
Yeah, I hated the bunt there. Buxton is fast enough that he has literally scored from first on a single. Granted, it's unlikely, but why not let Polanco see what he can do?
I agree, but generally what Polanco can do is... Not much.
That was with one out, so it was an obvious attempt at a bunt single. Those are rarely called by the manager.
Not all solo home runs in this game.
Berrios at 92 pitches through five innings. My guess is he doesn't come out for the sixth.
Good news on the farm so far today. Rochester and Fort Myers have already won. Chattanooga is way ahead. Cedar Rapids is leading as well. Elizabethton plays this evening.
Cedar Rapids has won. Chattanooga remains way ahead.
I think I could've guessed a long time and not come up with that answer.
Dido
I might have had a chance if I hadn't been looking for a starting pitcher who won more than 90 games in their career.
A pitcher who won 90+ games in seven years, but retired with a mere 1.5 rWAR for his career would probably be the most fascinating player ever.
I don't think it translated correctly in last night's game log, or at least that's the story I'm going with
Oh boy. Review for sure here.
I'm not convinced Escobar scored first either.
It got more complicated than it needed to be, but we're ahead!
Anybody know why Dozier came out? Is he hurt? Has he been traded?
No specific word yet, but apparently an injury of some kind.
I can't imagine he'd ever clear waivers for a trade to be made unless there was some sort of collusion going on.
I really can't, either, but it just seemed so surprising that he came out that it made me wonder.
"Illness", apparently, although what sort was not mentioned.
This bullpen certainly makes me queasy.
Dazz, Adrianza turns 28 in a couple of weeks and has been in pro ball since he was 16. I don't think "inexperience" is an issue for him.
Not that I'm opposed to using Hildenberger, but it seems like this would've been a good game to use Dillon Gee.
With Sanó convalescing, Gimenez is the only available player remaining on the bench. Hopefully Molitor doesn't need to figure out how to best deploy him.
Well, we DID trade Kintzler.
I'd be in favor of an insurance run or three.
Bunting into a force out doesn't exactly help the cause.
FSN shows graphic stating that Mauer swings at 7.4% of first pitches. Of course he's at 2-0.
I don't understand why we keep running Taylor Rogers out there in these situations. I know there aren't a lot of great alternatives, but still, he's been terrible lately. Maybe this'll be the day he snaps out of it. I hope so.
He got through it!
Belisle's the closer, eh?
Not intended to prove anything, but Matt Belisle has five career saves, with a high of three for Colorado in 2012.
Make it six!
Looks like Belisle is the new closer.
I would say the odds of him being a successful closer are much better than Kintzler's were last year when he became closer.
Berríos with the win.
He was owed that one after his start in San Diego.
He pitched a really good game after Gallo's bomb.
Rally killer.
That was some good work hanging in there after that first inning.
I bet if the 9th inning has multiple lefties, we'll see Taylor Rogers close things out.
I think the key to this game was hitting Napoli twice.