72 thoughts on “September 26, 2019: Zero”

  3. I really, really didn't think we'd be sitting here talking about the AL Central Champs unless it was something along the lines of "#%@!ing Cleveland!"

    Another fun fact about the Central: Detroit is almost certainly going to finish more games back from first than they will have in the win column (oof, edited to add: probably in the WC race as well). That is just brutal.

    1. I was talking with zoomx shortly before the beginning of the season, and I remember saying that I thought that the Twins were going to win and that Cleveland had left itself with too little depth.

      I definitely didn't see 100 wins coming (and I do believe it's coming), but I was optimistic from the outset.

      1. Yes, I remember that. The building of depth on this team versus just signing a big name or two to plug holes is what I am most impressed by this regime.

  5. Maximum chaos:

    Cleveland wins today and sweeps the Nationals.
    Tampa wins 2 of 3 from the Blue Jays.
    Oakland splits their last four games (Angels + 3 against Seattle).

    Three-way tie for two WC spots.
    --------
    Brewers win 3 of 4 from Reds and Rockies.
    Cards only manage 1 win in three against the Cubs.

    The Nationals have to wait for MIL-STL game 163 to end to find out where they travel to for the WC game.

  6. Which band holds the record for largest rock concert attendance?

    Actual Spoiler SelectShow

  7. Listening to Gleeman and the Geek this morning. They were reminiscing about the early 2000's and the vibrant blogging scene that started around then.

    Geek: There was Seth Stohs, and Nick Nelson, and Parker Hageman, and Will Smith, and Stick and Ball Guy...
    Gleeman: Will Smith?
    Geek: Yeah, Will Smith.
    Gleeman: Who's Will Smith?
    Geek: Oh, Will Young I mean!

    2. It was the magic of 2006 that led me to those blogs, including S&BG, which of course led here. Hard to believe that was 13 years ago!

      1. I found my way here shortly after moving to Chicago. What was that site that TG(?) created that compiled all of the new posts from Twins blogs? Whatever it was, I kept wondering what all these weird "Cup of Coffee" posts were, and that's what led me here (or technically "there", I guess).

      1. That was my first thought as well. Batgirl was the first Twins site I visited regularly. That lead to Seth, Nick, and the old SBG site...

        1. I don’t remember how I found my way to the Old Basement, but I think I started reading TG first and caught a link to SBG from there. I suspect that, at a certain time, Batgirl may have been the most widely read blog outside those attached to old media.

  8. Abbey Road was released in the UK fifty years ago today. I’m not sure it’s my favorite Beatles album, but it’s one that I make a point of listening to all the way through, rather than grazing. I don’t even have MP3s of the individual songs — just a single, album-length MP3. (I’d listen to a bunch of other albums like that, if given the chance.) The circumstances in which lead the band to quit making music together are unfortunate, but I guess all things must pass.

      1. I've always wanted to combine the seamless tracks on AR into one track for each run but have never gotten around to it. Would be less jarring when they come up on shuffle that way.

  9. Definite hangover lineup:

    3. Can a get a pinch-hitter for the ‘2019 American League Central Division Champions Hangover Game’ log?

      1. It's fun to see this lineup because we know why they are doing it, but imagine if you were a Twins fan living in Michigan and this is the one day of the year you could get to Detroit and watch the Twins play. I'm very glad they are reducing the September expanded rosters next year.

        1. You'd be disappointed, but I think you'd understand. The only time I had a chance to see Kent Hrbek play, TK rested him and I saw Randy Bush at first base. It happens.

    7. I have no problem with who is playing today or where they're playing in the field, but why would Rocco bat Miller leadoff and Wade 8th? I would have flipped those two. Oh well. Maybe he's trying to give Miller the most opps to get his first MLB hit today?

  10. If the Twins win their next four and the Rangers sweep the Yankees (who are off today)... the Twins will still be a half-game back and since they lose the season-series tiebreaker to the Yankees, the Yankees wouldn't be forced to play their make-up game. Darn, hoping the math would work out differently.

      3. Oh, right. Today is effectively the Twins' make-up day.
        I just want a way to get over 2009, when Selig (for the one and only time) gave the first-place AL team the right to decide whether it would start on the first day of the playoffs or the second. And, the Yankees getting it, they picked playing the AL Central champ after a game 163 play-in (night game, which ended up going 12 innings). In any other year, the Commish would have said "If one team has to play a tiebreaker game, that team is the team that doesn't start its series the next day."

      1. True for all games (.568 H vs .682 A)
        and for games against teams with losing records (.682 H vs .800 A)
        and for games against non-playoff teams (.593 H vs .726 A).
        It's even true for games against teams with winning records (.432 H vs .500 A).
        But not against those teams going to the playoffs* (.500 H vs .467 A). However, that's just one game of difference (Twins are 7-8 against playoff teams as away team, but 11-11 against them at TF).

        *Not Cleveland

  12. I'm wondering who comes out of the bullpen today. I'm guessing anybody who's pitched in this series is definitely not pitching today and probably Romo as well. Thorpe is probably the long reliever/innings eater guy if Smeltzer is knocked out early or the game goes extras or something. Alcala, Romero, Graterol and Stashak probably get an inning each, maybe in that order if they get 5 from Smeltzer and have a lead. Would Rocco consider using Hildenberger if the game is tied or the Twins have a lead? He's the veteran guy with late-game experience, but he has been so awful. Hard to remember that he had a 1.93 ERA at the end of April. Since then, in 6 outings in May and 3 in September, he has a 21.86 ERA and opponents are batting .512/.553/.829 against him. Ouch!

  13. Would Rocco consider using Hildenberger if the game is tied or the Twins have a lead?

    I doubt very much Rocco is going to give a lot of thought about protecting a lead or tie. Rocco probably had a list of pitchers for today and I'd be shocked if Hildy isn't on it. The results don't matter that much.

  14. HR standings spreadsheet updated.

    HJ and nibbish have very tidy leads. It's a shame that in the playoffs there are going to be new rules that increase scoring (playoff homers mean more!) and put their leads in jeopardy.

    3. Having not looked I'm assuming that my 1000 points is still not accounted for because too large for your spreadsheet to handle. I'm just trying to keep everyone honest.

  15. I was going to ask if that was Jordan Zimmerman's last major league start, but the Tigers owe him 25 million next year. Yeesh.

        1. Yeah, not so much. Current contract didn't start till 2016. First year, he was paid $28M and Fangraphs had him worth about $38M. Since then, he's made $88M and has been worth $1M. Only have $124M left to pay over the next 4 years.

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