(Checks MLB.com to make sure tonight's games haven't been canceled for a league-wide training on when a batter can swing at a pitch..... whew, we're still on....)
Brewers come to town for a three-game series starting tonight. This is usually where I gripe about MLB having the Brewers and Twins playing mid-week games instead of weekend games to accommodate more fans, but the pandemic has even taken that away from me this year. Don't worry, I double down on my venting next year if need be.
Maeda up for the Twins and he's been all everyone wanted: Three wins paired with zero losses; 0.72 WHIP, 21Ks v. 4BBs. Sure the competition hasn't been all that great but Maeda didn't create the schedule did he? Someone named Corbin Burnes for the Brewers and it appears he moves from the bullpen to getting the start. Likes the strikeout with 1.5 Ks per inning, but also will walk a bunch too. Should be a fun game.
First pitch at 7:10p A little birdie that Bert is back in the booth for those who watch with tv broadcast.
Twins Line-Up
RF - Kepler
SS - Polanco
DH - Cruz
LF - Rosario
3B - Gonzalez
2B - Arraez
1B - Sano
CF - Buxton
C - Avila
Didn't Corbin Burnes play ball in Major League? No, wait, that was his son.
Kenta's waiting for some of the gang to show him some love.
He's pretty good.
Maeda ends the fifth with another strikeout. Eight consecutive and nine overall for the night.
It took 31 batters total, but finally a hit and by the good guys.
Luis at least loves Kenta.
Sanó also showing some appreciation.
As does Miguel.
And hey -- Arraez is up to .281 now? Wow
He's a good baseball man.
the cream Arraezes to the top
And then another!
well 'eck
Polanco!
A Cruz missile would be satisfying here.
Maeda still dealin'.
hope they're not burning him out here; it's a short season, but we still have a ways to go yet, and he's not getting a CG in any case
Still low-100s pitch count.
nope, I don't see it.
His highest ever was 111 in 2018. Twice with 107 in 2016 and twice with 106 in 2018 and 2019.
I cannot imagine Rocco taking him out now, unless he says he's gassed.
How many times did he go 130+ in Japan?
I forgot about this last night, but I believe they pitch once a week in Japan.
I think the eighth and only the eighth was his before the long Narvaez plate appearance. They have Duffey, Rogers, and Romo in the pen to finish the game.
Yeah, I'd rather give it to the `pen. Not for the W, just because I want a healthy Maeda around for a long time. It's a tough choice. Don't want to Johan him.
yep, this
Plus it's a weird season.
113 pitches through 8. He's got a lot left in the tank, I think.
They have not seemed to be very high stress pitches. He ain't a young guy, though. (well, he is compared to most of us here.)
Watching a game with my brother and dad for the first time in a long time. I guess we picked a good one.
That was not ideal, Eddie.
We'll take it.
He did a real nice job of not actually taking his hand off the bag.
MLB Network has gone to Targhez.
Long time for Maeda to wait.
The rookie is struggling to find the plate in his debut.
What a spot to debut. Game close, other guy working a no-no. Are they trying to freeze Maeda?
Squeeze AGAIN?
Insurance brought to you by strategery!
Piranhas!
I'm watching this. This is the best start by a Twins pitcher in I don't know how long.
August 31, 2007? Or maybe earlier that month on August 19. 111 pitches in the first game and 112 in the latter.
Those were the two games I thought of.
That was a much better squeeze than the other day. I did not wake up this morning expecting to approve of a bunt again.
Convenient double play after the Geico.
Does it count as attending the game if your head is there?
Aw nuts...
Oh, crap. What a crap hit to end it.
the contact that the Brewers were making tonight, that's the kind of hit they were going to get if they got one
Inches from Polanco's glove, too. Better to give up the no-hit bid on that than a bomb, you ask me.
Well, true.
Still a fun game to watch, doh
Oh, yes.
and Rogers can't stop being hit hard
It's weird. He hasn't walked anyone, strikeout rate matches last season's, only one home run, but also given up more than a hit per inning.
what were you saying about not walking anyone?
He was due! Should have started with a clean inning.
First walk? Check.
Come on, dudes. Do NOT blow this for Maeda.
Rogers not fooling anyone.
Inherited runner season shutout on the line too, I think.
good heavens
OFFS.
We got anyone else that can come finish this off?
Well that's stupid.
That run is charged to Maeda, dropping his BR game score from 90 to 86. MLB.com's went from 94 to 91.
and there goes the W
Thankfully the league I had Maeda in uses QS instead of W. I had Rogers on the same team though...
This is just tragic.
UUUUUGGGGGHhh
I haz a sad
Damage done. Rogers really wasn't THAT bad. But situationally unfortunate.
.391 BABIP for the season. .667 tonight.
391? Holy crap that is bad.
Well, the right guy is at the plate.
Still not sure yet if I'm a fan of the new extra-inning rules, but I'll say this: I would be going to bed right now if not for the rule.
I can't wait to hear what Bert thinks about the new extra innings rule.
Bert likes it!!!! I didn’t have that one on my bingo card.
Extra innings! Nelson Cruz gets to start at second next inning.
Losing this game without the benefit of a hit in extras would be the cherry on the top.
So, baseball?
Stop nibbling on Sogard.
On the other hand, winning in extras without a hit would also be about right for this game.
That was ball 4.
And a justifiable reason to get tossed.
Garver plays 1b now?
And if so, do you drag bunt him?
Vargas hitting one out here would be... something.
A hader tater?
Instead, he says "lader".
Slant rhyme. I’ll allow it.
I’m surprised that wasn’t strike three...
Derp.
Why not give up the DH and put Kepler at first instead?
Garver with the leather. We got this.
Didn't realize Garver had 39 career innings at 1b, compared to only 4 1/3 for Kepler.
Then you have Garver to PH if the pitcher's spot comes up in a couple innings.
Is the black and white huge head Herb?
(yes)
That was a great play.
Can we end this now, boys?
Hurry up. My phone battery is dying.
That was suboptimal.
Oh hell.
That was ... 6 more outs.
What happened to Bux hitting the ball far over fences?
At least Buxton starts at second?
May not matter.
Is it sudden death now?
What with the ass bats and all.
So, you are recommending sudden death for someone?
I’ve always been a fan of blood sports.
Another in a long line of examples where I am not right about things.
Wut.
Max Factor and brain dead baserunning.
That's some baaaaaaaad baserunning
Doc, you happy Kepler isn’t at first??
I will accept...discommendation.
That slider for strike one to Urias was the same as the one that got Marwin tossed
When is Alcala's induction ceremony?
LeBron's hat during the postgame presser is something else.
Woah.
well, just finished my walk and still not done. let’s wrap this up (the good way).
Productive out!
How about a steal of home to end it?
This is some bonkers infield movement.
The outfield arrangement is more bizarre than the infield to me
Totally. But there is no practice situation that makes the infield arrangement natural.
how often is it that a guy makes a great defensive play and he’s up 2nd after the first guy advances the new extra innings second base runner?
And then gets plunked in the ass?
Suicide squeeze time?
Hell, Kep should have dropped to the ground and let that ball get passed.
Apparently you can't defend against that
Excitement!
Speed kills.
He is so fast.
Gotta love winning a game on a guy who didn't reach base while not registering a hit.
the extra inning rules sucks, but at least I can go to bed now.
Too bad for Maeda, but it really, really would have sucked to have lost this game.
Also, I am smoking a pork butt tomorrow. On sale for 98 cents/lb. With all the ash in the air, nobody will mind a little extra smoke flavor.