41 thoughts on “Game 159: Minnesota at Cleveland”

1. So here we are again, playing meaningless games in September 🙂

2. I did not realize the Yankees and Red Sox would have to play a playoff game if they end the regular season tied. There's something to root for!

   1. This would be awesome. Let them burn their best starters (or Jeremys).

      1. It would be an interesting choice. Do you burn your best starter in that game, knowing that even if you lose it you're still in the playoffs? If you win, of course, you get a couple of days off, but still, you'd have to go with a lesser starter in game one and probably game two. Or do you try to get by with a lesser pitcher in that game, knowing that if you lose you've still got your number one to pitch the wild card game?

         1. It's a Yankmes-Red Sox matchup for the AL East crown; it's practically more important than Game 7 of the World Series. Can you imagine the Bronx brouhaha if Girardi kept his powder dry and then got bounced in the Wild Card game?

            1. Now that would be fun to see!

3. I wonder how Kepler drew the short straw to be the one regular outfielder playing today. At least he made the best of it with a base hit.

   1. Its that German work ethic.

      1. Or German alcohol tolerance

         1. I really missed a good Oktoberfest joke opportunity here.

         2. Hey now. Bert said on TV last night that the players weren't going to get drunk.

      2. I don't know why it's taken me so long to realize Kepler should be nicknamed Special Agent Jim Crossgate.

         1. He does have ruthless German efficiency!

4. You know, Encarnacion is one of the worst base runners I have ever seen.

5. Granite really stayed with that ball through the sun. Nice catch!

6. Sometimes I wonder if Dick's even conscious while his mouth is moving.

   1. HA! That is a fantastic way to describe this incomprehensible rant.

      1. I had radio. Were you able to comprehend what the incomprehensible rant was about?

         1. It was about innings pitched and how no one throws 200 innings anymore. That was the overarching theme, at any rate.

7. Even with the reliever parade the last couple days, that's gotta be it for Santana.

   1. I'm not sure I would've sent out Hildenberger, even if it's a tie game. Tonkin didn't pitch very much last night, and there are plenty of other arms out there that aren't (or shouldn't) be on the playoff roster.

      1. Its no longer a tie game though...

         1. Tonkin could've gave up that homer just as well as a decent reliever.

            1. Oh, I bet Tonkin's would have been way more majestic.

8. Maple Grove Hospital jersey count:

   Gbaja-Biamila (Packers): 1

9. This is, ahhh, not an optimal run-scoring lineup.

10. Why is Busenitz in this game? Bring on Perkins, Turley, and Tonkin!

    1. Heck, Turley would've given up a three-run homer there.

    2. Restin' the bullpen for October. Brilliant!

11. I'm not sure why Carrasco is still in this game, either.

    1. Having this opportunity to rest their best hitters and get an extended look at his repertoire this late in the season, I'd love to see the Twins torch Carrasco in the ALDS.

12. Molitor must've ordered the bullpen to get all the home run pitches out of their arms before the regular season ends.

    1. If that's the case, this game may take awhile.

13. Was listening in the rental car while driving to the hotel at Niagara Falls - good thing there wasn't much going on because our GPS requires rapt attention to the exits :/

14. Gimenez in left field, where Garver was playing until he moved to catcher? Some interesting choices here.

15. And a last strike triple!

16. Garver now tied with Polanco with his third triple. He has 50 PA.

    1. Sam Crawford holds the AL record for triples in a season with 26 in 1914. Looking forward to Garver breaking that over a full season of PA next year!

       He might have to step it up to top Chief Wilson, who hit 36 with the Pirates in 1912.

       1. The triples record is sacred.

       2. Guzman gave it a good run back in the day

          1. Guzman hit twenty triples in 2000, his second year in the majors. A lot of us thought he'd improve on that total in future years, but he didn't. He did lead the majors in triples two other times, though.

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