Let's see if they can do it!
Unfortunately, they've had trouble doing it lately.
Fortunately, they appear to be putting out about the best lineup they could.
Unfortunately, Jakob Junis is one of those dominant pitchers who always picks the Twins apart, right?
Fortunately, the Twins are countering with the always brilliant Martin Perez.
Unfortunately, I have to wrap up this preview now.
Fortunately, it's because I have to go out to dinner with my family.
Unfortunately, now I have to wait to do that while my daughter changes into something more appropriate.
Fortunately, that means I can write more preview.
Unfortunately, I've got nothing more to add.
I'm not using this as a blanket excuse for everything, but it seems like the Twins haven't had a whole lot of luck lately, either.
YDNROJC!
Merrifield is pesky. I approve of him being caught stealing.
Behind in the first inning. Where have I heard that one before?
Two runs on one hit. Walks and errors. That's how you beat yourself.
Sigh. C’mon, guys. Make the play.
I always think of Ramón Ortiz's hot start when watching Pérez now.
At some point the Twins are going to start playing well again, but we don't seem to have reached that point yet.
Im out - call me when they do reach that point. This has been an awful week.
This past week of baseball has been very frustrating.
CRON!!!! Maybe that will get something started.
Winner!
Suspicious.
It didn't, but at least we're on the board. Go hold 'em, guys. Lot of game left.
Well that's a start.
Crush Job!
Just bought new windows for the entire house.
So, is this 3 runs in the first the new standard, or just a Royals thing?
Good, quick inning for Perez in the second. Now let's get some runs.
Nope. Got to hold 'em again. Still a lot of game left.
More half-innings like that, please.
Well, there was one more, at least.
Provus Gordo'ed that play.
Okay, this is our inning. Let's get 'em, guys!
There's a start!
So much for that.
I’m not sure Cron was out.
Disagree x2 with Blue.
Looked safe to me on replay.
SanÓ.
Another Sano K. Didn't see that coming.
At least the Twins don't have to worry about Sanó hitting into a double play.
Yeah, that would mean he made actual contact.
If they insist on continuing to start him, I hope they keep hitting him ninth until he gets the message.
Crap - we're going to have to miss the Rod Stewart concert at T.I.R.&C.
Can't go without mentioning Herb Washington when Terrance Gore bats. I wish he did better to make teams seriously consider the position.
Yeah, a dedicated pinch-runner who gets caught stealing over 35% of the time is not a compelling test case for that “position.” Neither Dick or Jack really made that connection.
OK I'll play - Polanco goes yard.
Junis meltdown underway...
Yeah, baby.
One-run game!
Tie game!
Hoo hah!
I’ll take it.
No give-back runs, please.
Four pitch walks are not a good way to start an inning when you're on defense.
And that's not an optimum follow up
Uffda.
The Royals gave the Twins a couple of runs to get them back into the game, the Twins are poised to give the runs right back. Is that Minnesota Nice?
Geez Louise.
Tarnation
Sano Strikeout. Drink!
Can’t spell SanÓ without the silent K.
Cave & Sano back to back make a giant hole at the bottom of the order these days.
Way to go Nelson!
Thank goodness for the top of the order.
Size that sombrero, Miguel
No way!
That'll play
Leave it to socal to pick Sanó and be right.
Blind squirrels, nuts, yada, yada.
Well, son-of-a-gun!
Finally.
Astudillo pinch-running, heh
my thought too.
the turtle runs!
savvy managerial decision putting that speed demon on the base paths.
The new Herb Washington.
Wheels!
Got back from the town ball game just in time for Sano's HR. You're welcome.
Ugh, why the dang contact play?
Well...that could have been a disaster
AGAIN?! FFS.
Worked so well the first time, let's run on contact again!
Let’s trade our speedy, young runner on second for a slow, old guy on first...said no one ever.
That's 2 runs without the contact play.
Yup. And they need every insurance run they can get.
I hate being right about that.
Is someone going to bring Geoff back? He's missing out
Might be safer to wait and see how the bullpen plays out.
I've decided that Sano's problem is that he hates running. He only wants to ever strike out or hit a HR. Everything else requires running of some sort, so he prefers 2 of the 3 true outcomes.
Kent Hrbek struck out 798 times in 7137 PA. Sanó has 79% of Hrbek's total strikeouts in less than 25% of Hrbek's career PA.
That didn't take long...
Whew.
Rogers for MVP.
In Rogers we still only trust.
Still gets the sombrero.
The Sanbreró: 1-5, HR, 4 SO.
Buxton, come back please
I can fault Astudillo for calling for the ball, but Schoop or Cron should’ve had that.
We've made as many errors in the past two weeks as we had in the first two months, seems to me
The Twins are 46-19 in games Buxton plays. Their overall record is 48-26.
Wow.
Q.E.D.
Quite Edifying Data
Obviously, most of those losses have come in the last week so I decided to look up the three games he missed earlier in the season. The Twins went 0-3 in them. The first was a doubleheader with Detroit that was close and the other two were blowouts in Houston and Philadelphia.
NICE!
Ho ho ho!
Aw, that was anti-climactic
Nice play by Rogers.
Not a great game, but I'll take it.
Rogers decides it's easier to just do it all himself.