Don't look now, but Jake Odorizzi (7-2, 2.16 ERA) is the best pitcher in the Twins starting rotation by just about any set of numbers you peruse, and one of the best in the game as of today. The ESPN Cy Young Predictor currently ranks him fourth, behind Justin Verlander, Roberto Asuno and Domingo German, and just ahead of our own Jose Berrios. That's two Twins starters with a legitimate shot at the Cy Young award. We haven't enjoyed rotation riches like this since Santana and Liriano combined to light up the league back in 2006. Odorozzi starts his 12th game of the year for the Twins today. The Rays will start lefty Ryan Yarbrough (4-1, 5.53 ERA), who struggled early in the season but rebounded after a recent minor league stint. Yarbrough's given up just two combined runs in his last two starts since being recalled from AAA Durham. Play ball!
The weather is absolutely perfect for sitting out on the deck watching baseball. I spent the morning tilling and raking around the new playset so I can finish that landscaping project off next weekend so I am done with choring and can now relax.
I spent all week working on the family room remodel and definitely overdid it, so I'm taking today and tomorrow off from all physical labor and will finish the painting on Tuesday. Today I'm gonna watch the game, take the dog to the park, and attend a nephew's HS graduation.
My next project is to install some wood flooring. My carpet is gross.
Jane is seriously looking at a playset. I might need your advice.
My mom bought this one for the kids.
If i have any advice it's so not, under any circumstances, get one with that frickin twisting slide. The playset mostly went together easily but that slide nearly broke me.
She’s looking at something similar. The construction part will be its own beast, I’m more thinking about preparing the yard.
My backyard isn't super level, so I had to dig up a sizeable area. The nice part about the set I linked to is that the supports for the swing beam is pretty adjustable so you don't have to do quite as much land manipulation to get it level. Now that I'm finished with the prep, I'm going to put down some weed control fabric and mulch.
Okay, great. I'll buy the beer. See you next weekend.
I mean, it's nice of you to offer me beer while I watch you dig up your yard.
damn it...
but seriously, i'm curious about the digging part. did you use, like, just a shovel?
Yup, and. It. Sucked. If your yard is reasonably level, just set it up on the grass.
it’s... okay.
Guess Garver wanted to start out slow.
Twins opt for a short bullpen with only 12 pitchers.
Might need most of them at this rate.
I bought a Nintendo 3DS and it arrived yesterday. Today I bought Super Mario 3 for $5 and I am super pumped about it.
Good lord. Either my Internet (AT&T Uverse) or mlb.com is incredibly balky today. I've restarted mlb.tv twice and it has crashed twice in less than a minute each.
It's been working good for me except for when my internet had a hiccup.
It's clearly my Internet. UVerse is the worst, except for all the others.
We paid to upgrade speed a couple of months ago. Since then, we've seen LOTS of dropped signals. 🙁
I've got Charter so I can sympathize. I've tried to look into increasing the speed, but their website is terrible and workshops let me do it and there is no way I will ever give them a call if I don't have to.
Rosie really got fooled there.
Not a Cron Magnum, but a bingle will do to get things started.
"Nothing against his speed, but he's known for his power."
Boo.
Schoop Scoop!
That was nice, although I'm thinking of it was anyone but Choi it's probably a run.
2 Buck Chuck
2bux!
First in the AL to twenty.
Raise your hand if you think that was a triple if not for the base cloggage!
*raises hand *
Needs more doubles. He no longer leads MLB, only the AL.
Well, he's tied for ml lead now
I hope he takes the lead today.
Wery niiiice!
Dammit Garver, you hit it too hard.
Not that Castro hasn't been very good, but it's good to have Garver back.
2018 nibbish would be surprised.
If you're ever feeling useless, know that there is a center fielder whose job is to try to throw out Buxton on a sacrifice fly
Shallow fly to center field and Kiermaier has a great arm. Buxton still scores with ease.
I gotta say, Dakota Soul is a terrific pilsner.
That should increase the defensive WAR!
Now that's a DP.
Dick brings up light rail and just can't help himself but to throw some shade.
I randomly remembered Bert's "Are we boooring you, young man?" dig at Slowey the other day.
Son of a Buxton!
I love how Cron caught that. That's the equivalent of a bat flip.
Haha, it really was perfect.
that was hammered. Bad baserunning by Sano.
The ghost of Al Newman spooked him.
Dammit. The wind just yanked my patio umbrella from its base, flew it up onto my roof, and ripped the ribs through the fabric.
Wow.
If I had grabbed the umbrella instead of my beer, I'd still have some shade.
You made the right choice.
Pro: I still have my beer.
Con: I could no longer see the tablet screen so I had to go inside to watch.
I can't really fault your choice, however.
Odor's striking guys out, but he's not putting them away very quickly. Looking like we'll need the bullpen to carry some of the load.
Oliva-esque, there.
Choi is getting himself a lot of screen time.
Well, it's not like Odoreater is gonna go much past the 6th anyway.
Good call by Blue there.
It was a hell of a pitch, too.
Ayyup.
Nice pitch framing
Credit where it's due. He's gotten a LOT better at it this year.
I feel like he's gotten way better at blocking the ball, too.
FO made it a priority! See what happens when people get on the same page?
Bux is seeing the ball well today.
This year
I hate fans who boo at the first pickoff attempt. Posers.
TWINS BASEBALL!!!
I smells me some small-ball.
Buxton with a Torii special
Ha!
That was a balk anyway.
would have been a close play even with a good throw by Choi.
yeah, it needed to be a perfect throw
That did not sound good.
and it looked worse.
He's staying in at least, so hopefully it only look and sounded worse than it is.
At least it was the wrist instead of hand?
Lots of bones in the wrist...
Lot of bones in the hand too. Looks like it hit Garver right around the hamate bone.
Who needs homer? Ha ha
I do, because I predicted it would be Polanco.
Buxton! Polanco!
What a fun player. What a fun team.
O.M.G. Suicide squeeze??
Zoinks, Scoob!
Was that a safety or suicide squeeze?
Safety. Still not surprised Buxton scored from a bunt that didn't reach the "grass".
I'm calling if a suicide squeeze without any consequences.
safety squeeze, and Buxton still beat it handily
ER
Astudillo tagged that. Nice play by Choi.
Is it just me, or do the Twins act like they want this one?
I think they don't do much as act like they want it as they act like they know they can absolutely get it
They'll walk Rosario.
This would be a nice time for a Cron Magnum.
Close enough
Blue is not giving Yarborough the high corners.
Oh my goodness!
That was way more satisfying than a donger.
You worried that a Salami would have killed the rally?
Almost as good as a homer. Go Cron!
Hammered to clear the bases. Sweet!
I think it's about time for me to go to the gym.
This lineup is exactly what we've been waiting for for so long.
Right? It's downright refreshing.
I couldn't have claimed it anyway - it wasn't his 2nd AB.
I might need to take the day off on July 2nd or 3rd to go see these guys at Oakland.
Take 'em the rest of the way, Citizens. I'm off to exercise.
Oil up and pump iron like an Austrian!
I predict Odorizzi won't finish this inning.
False!
Glad to be wrong - 9K!
With a stick!
A delightful Odor.
You’re killing me, Magill!
Everyone knew her as Nancy
So yeah, u don't think Magill has it today. Maybe let's get someone else out there.
Seriously, new pitcher please
Heh, Bert liked the inside strike call, then remembered, “Oh, yeah, I used to pitch...”
What the hell was that?
Why Harp again today?
Thanks, bullpen, for reminding me there’s an episode of Chernobyl I haven’t watched yet.
oh man, the last one was great.
Whew. Thank you, Parker.
Can he just stay in for the save, you think?
Yeah, about that....
I wonder if Boras has sent any trolling texts to Falvine.
Winner, winner.
Heckuva slide there
Schoop!
Twayn wins the home run pool!
I’ll alert the media.
Toldja he was due
Also, this stadium is such garbage
It does keep the HHH from being the worst domed stadium ever.
So did the negative air pressure after the games.
Yeah, I always liked getting shot out the doors like a champagne cork.
I was small enough that that was one of my favorite parts.
Bounce freakin' back.
Give freakin' back.
Was really hoping that they wouldn't need to use rogers.
At least there's a day off tomorrow.
I agree, although I will absolutely take it if it means taking 3 of 4 from the Rays in Tampa.
Stunningly great day for Open Streets on Lyndale. Time for Rogers to slam the door.
Okay, yeah. Rogers is definitely the anchor of this pen.
Damn, Rogers!
Done.
Hells yeah!
Very satisfying bottom of the ninth after too much excitement in the seventh.
What a series.
Mixed emotions are when you win a 4-game series in Tampa and it helps the Yankees extend their division lead.
Yanks do not lose nearly enough for my taste
11.5 game division lead!
And
firstsecond to 40 wins.