As mentioned in today's CoC, we're hitting the final stretch of the regular season, which hopefully isn't also the final stretch of the Twins' season. 4 more series remain (@NYY, @DET, @CLE, DET), and we start off with a chance to cut into NY's hold on the first WC slot (currently at 4.0 games).
Also, this will be a test for the Twins as they're currently looking at a one game playoff in NY. As history has shown, the combination of the Yankees, playoffs, and the Twinkies does not bode well. Hopefully this series will be a chance to work through some issues in advance.
Santana faces off against Twins cast-off Garcia, who may feel he has something to prove.
Bandbronx.
Given that Big Erv gives up a lot of home runs, and Aaron Judge hits a lot of home runs, It was not any particular feat to spooky that one.
The Twins aren't exactly making Garcia work very hard so far.
Are we going to have a 21 strikeout game?
We're on pace for it.
Playing the Yankees always reminds me that Girardi seems like a massive dick head.
It's like he's made for that specific job.
I suppose good on him for finding his calling.
As much as I hated seeing the Yanks play the Twins, Joe Torre always stuck me as a classy dude. I'm not sure what I'm basing that opinion on now that I think of it.
9/11 class act.
Because he hates Angel Hernandez?
Castro not off to a great start tonight.
I was thinking the same thing.
Hey - Twin/yanquis on the big screen!!
No game for on the big screen for me tonight. And it's Monday so the baseball selection is lacking.
New New Yankme is in direct competition with Dodger Stadium for most annoying, ear-splitting sounds effects.
Maybe Garcia will wear himself out with all these strikeouts.
Time to get something started, Twins.
That's the beginning of a start!
That's the continuation of a start!
And a tie game!
Does this count?
It didn't finish well, but it was a start!
Castro'd
The Twins must lead the league in squaring to bunt and then pulling the bat back. They've been doing it all year. I don't get it.
Nice base paths there by Rosario.
Witch!
Holy cows I'm really, really far behind.
Großman RBI.
Some good base running by the twins.
Sure beats striking out in every at-bat.
Castro sure wasn't in a hurry there.
He fell down after he hit it
Ah, I see.
It's getting Gimenez-ian for him today.
Time for some monkey-paw.
Oof, the not-good Buxton tonight.
Just got a deal on a sixer of Finch's Chimera IPA, and every can has exploded in foam volcanoes. I went to complain and see that they seem to have some problems that aren't related to quality control.
Freebie, there.
Man it is just not Castro's night. Might be time to see what Garver is up to.
Teh suck.
Looking forward to the Twins facing a righty... eventually
Hildenberger!
Asshole.
I'm not a big fan of playing for one run and a tie here.
Especially with how wild Betances is
I don't know, it's been pretty successful recently..... Not.
Platonic Ideal
Haunt. That's what walks do.
Good thing bunted over Grossman against the guy walking 6.6 an inning.
Who walked the next guy on four pitches.
And walked the next guy.
And hit the previous guy and threw a first pitch ball to the bunter.
An actual Bronx Cheer
We need a couple more wild pitches!
Or another Mauer Slam!
Only 250 feet to right field this time!
A grand slam here would be a perfectly acceptable outcome.
That was not so acceptable an outcome.
Oof. Little tardy on that Fastball. Cmon joe
103. Yeesh
100.5, 101.0, 102.5. Lot of heat.
Cmon Buxton!
Dang it.
The bunt was really the key to the inning there.
Yeah. I don't agree with playing for the tie there at all. Hate that so much down one.
Bases loaded and one out. I am not blaming the bunt.
They certainly could've scored anyway, but I still think the bunt was poor strategy.
And yet no one bunted for the base hit down the third base line when the shift was on. Couple of those will cure a shift.
I have a very bad feeling a one game playoff in New York is going to look just like this.
Mmm hmmm
TWINS BASEBALL!!!
Ugh
If you'd have offered it at the beginning of the year though...
Dang. Not a bad time on the mound tonight, but the bats have to help out at least a little
I do take Buxton making contact to be a good sign.
Safe. Dang
I hate the Yankees.
Dido
So much. I'm sick of Joe Girardi and his smug little interviews and Chapman and his steroid-using/domestic assaulting fastballs (seriously, he's gotta be on steroids, right?).
Well, if he is, it started in Cuba, which I guess would not be surprising at all.
I mean, maybe not. But I want to think it on nights like tonight.
guessing someone like him is subject to a higher degree of "random" tests. if that's true, and what you think is true, then he must be ahead of the curve.
Turds.
So. Many. Strikeouts.