2021 Game Log 132: Cubs at Twins

Just think back in March you were looking at the schedule and your eyes focus on this series. A late summer two game match-up between two teams at the top of their division, perhaps an early World Series preview???... Alas, here we are and both teams struggling and a combined 33 games under .500. Instead of a clash of titans, two teams happy the calendar turns to September tomorrow.

Zach Davis on the mound for the Cubs and he got shellacked last week against the White Sox. More of that please. John Gant for the Twins and he hasn't done much but at least he's not J.A. Happ. I kinda wanted to make a Ron Gant mistaken identity gag here but just couldn't pull it off.

Looks like a gorgeous night to watch some baseball with first pitch at 7:10p.

Twins Lineup
2b - Arraez
CF - Buxton
DH - Polanco
3B - Donaldson
RF - Kepler
1B - Sano
LF - Rooker
C - Rortvedt
SS - Simmons

Minor Details: Standings & Stats: Through August 30

STANDINGS

The St. Paul Saints are 53-49, in third place in the AAA East/Midwest, 6.5 games behind Toledo.  They are 3-7 in their last ten games and have lost seven consecutive games.  Their run differential is +28.

The Wichita Wind Surge is 60-42, in first place in the AA Central/North, five games ahead of Arkansas and Tulsa.  They are 7-3 in their last ten games and have won two consecutive games.  Their run differential is +69.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are 56-46, in second place in the High-A Central/West, twelve games behind Quad Cities.  They are 5-5 in their last ten games and have lost two consecutive games.  Their run differential is +47.

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are 50-48, in third place in the Low-A Southeast/West, sixteen games behind Tampa.  They are 4-6 in their last ten games and have lost two consecutive games.  Their run differential is -8.

STATS

BATTING

AVERAGE

St. Paul--Tomas Telis, .301
Wichita--B. J. Boyd, .319
Cedar Rapids--Alex Isola, .241
Fort Myers--Yunior Severino, .241

OBP

St. Paul--Drew Maggi, .363
Wichita--Roy Morales, .374
Cedar Rapids--Isola, .356
Fort Myers--Jeferson Morales, .377

SLUGGING

St. Paul--Mark Contreras, .514
Wichita--Boyd, .550
Cedar Rapids--Michael Helman, .441
Fort Myers--Morales, .407

OPS

St. Paul--Contreras, .850
Wichita--Boyd, .923
Cedar Rapids--Helman, .772
Fort Myers--Morales, .784

HOME RUNS

St. Paul--Brent Rooker, 20
Wichita--Jermaine Palacios, 18
Cedar Rapids--Helman, 16
Fort Myers--Aaron Sabato, 11

RBI

St. Paul--Rooker, 49
Wichita--Boyd, 62
Cedar Rapids--Wander Javier, 51
Fort Myers--Severino, 53

STOLEN BASES

St. Paul--Contreras and Maggi, 12
Wichita--Aaron Whitefield, 28
Cedar Rapids--Gabriel Maciel, 16
Fort Myers--Willie Joe Garry, Jr., 23

PITCHING

ERA

St. Paul--Andrew Albers, 3.86
Wichita--Austin Schulfer, 4.38
Cedar Rapids--Ben Gross, 3.62
Fort Myers--Brent Headrick, 3.82

WINS

St. Paul--Albers and Chandler Shepherd, 6
Wichita--Zach Neff, 7
Cedar Rapids--Derek Molina, 7
Fort Myers--Matthew Swain, 6

SAVES

St. Paul--Nick Vincent, 6
Wichita--Ryan Mason, 6
Cedar Rapids--Zach Featherstone, 8
Fort Myers--Denny Bentley, 9

INNINGS

St. Paul--Albers, 91
Wichita--Schulfer, 96.2
Cedar Rapids--Gross, 82
Fort Myers--Sawyer Gipson-Long, 67.1

STRIKEOUTS

St. Paul--Albers, 78
Wichita--Chris Vallimont, 114
Cedar Rapids--Gross, 106
Fort Myers--Gipson-Long, 95

WHIP

St. Paul--Albers, 1.30
Wichita--Schulfer, 1.43
Cedar Rapids--Gross, 1.24
Fort Myers--Gipson-Long, 1.32

AVERAGE AGAINST

St. Paul--Albers, .288
Wichita--Schulfer, .262
Cedar Rapids--Gross, .243
Fort Myers--Gipson-Long, .257

Happy Birthday–August 31

Dad Clarkson (1866)
Duke Farrell (1866)
Red Ehret (1868)
Monte Cross (1869)
Eddie Plank (1875)
Sarge Connally (1898)
Ray Berres (1907)
Ray Dandridge (1913)
Danny Litwhiler (1916)
Frank Robinson (1935)
Boots Day (1947)
Claudell Washington (1954)
Tom Candiotti (1957)
Von Hayes (1958)
Mike Hartley (1961)
Pat Howell (1968)
Hideo Nomo (1968)
Tim Raines (1979)
Ramon Santiago (1979)
Armando Gabino (1983)
Juan Nicasio (1986)
Matt Adams (1988)
John Hicks (1989)

Ray Dandridge is considered by some to be the greatest Negro League third baseman.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to brianS’ son.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–August 31

Parentgood: New Phases

It's been a little while since we had one of these, right? And with school starting, it seemed an opportune time.

My family is moving into a new phase this year - all 4 of my kids are in full-time school, with the youngest starting Kindergarten. My oldest is in 6th grade, which is still Elementary where we are, so for this one year all 4 kids will be at the same school. We've been talking about this for 5 years, ever since Heidegger was born.

Philosofette has a part-time job at the school, in the classrooms, this year too, which should be excellent for the family. Or the rest of them at least. I'm all alone.

Anyway, it's been a real gut punch. I'm super excited for the future for all my kids, but also kids grow up too fast, and I don't want any more time to slip away.

Also, here's a sappy poem I wrote. Someone feel free to edit it to be better and more effective - emotionally I'm a wreck right now because my kids are growing up too fast, so I'm no condition to fix a poem about my kids growing up too fast.

To my daughter, now all grown
On the eve of school’s first day
To that happy girl whose beauty shone
Whenever we would play

I can’t believe you’ve come so far
So fast, the time has flown
My pride and joy you truly are
My love expanding as you’ve grown

This night before I sit on edge
I can’t believe it’s almost here
Now to leap from home’s safe ledge
The morn draws ever near

The doors will close, the bell will ring
Your attendance will be marked
While to the past your father clings
Your future now embarked

To my daughter, now all grown
As the time slips still away
Go out and make this world your own
And know I love you more each day

---------

Alright... everyone with kids older than me, tell me it'll be alright and how wonderful this next phase is too. While I wait for people to do that, I'm gonna go look at their baby books.