In a possible WS preview, the team with the 2nd best record in the AL takes on the team with the 2nd best record in the NL. It's like playoff baseball in early April!
Jake Oddorrizzi (I wasn't sure which consonant needed to be doubled, so I doubled them all) is planning to help himself with the bat tonight, or so I surmised from a headline I saw. Maybe he'll hit a doubble? Nick Pivetta, who, judging by his ERA after one game, is hittable, goes for Philadelphia.
Rain in the forecast according to the Cup of Coffee. That's all the weather report I need to say that my first game log is gonna be rained out. But the warm up was good, right?
They got it started, anyway.
A couple of hard-hit balls, but no runs.
Buxton's not in the lineup again. Anyone hear anything about him? I'd assumed that since he pinch-ran and stole a base Wednesday, he must be okay, but I guess not.
From what I've been able to read, Buxton could have played. Baldelli may have just not wanted to take a chance with him on a wet field.
Got Harper out. Woo!
Not getting anyone else out is a problem.
This game certainly could have started better.
I know it’s cold and wet, but Odorizzi can’t find the strike zone to save his life.
If Odorizzi is unhappy, I hope he's unhappy with himself and not with the manager for taking him out.
We need Harper to fill up a few innings.
Bad luck + bad ballplaying.
welp
Can we root for a rainout?
Okay, boys, let's start working our way back into it.
Good inning for Harper.
I think I'd have let Harper hit so we could get more innings out of him. I understand why you pinch-hit, but I wouldn't have done it.
I normally would agree with you, but the bullpen is rested and Kepler just hit a homer.
But will that homer stand?
MAX!
KEPLER!!!!
I am not feeling particularly bullish on marwen Gonzalez.
They should have kept Escobar. That was some serious FO foolishness.
I mean, I kind of get why they traded him since they weren't doing anything last year. But it's looking more short sighted than I had initially thought.
Yup, they were already going to free up a lot of payroll with other moves, so it was always going to be a net loss in my view.
I was going to make a Philly cheese steak for dinner, but the steak was in the freezer, so it’s a meatball sub and tater tots instead.
Better news down on the farm: Pensacola wins the first game of a doubleheader (and its first game as a Twins affiliate). Fort Myers is leading Charlotte in the sixth. Cedar Rapids and Peoria are tied in the fourth. Rochester was rained out.
I put the game on a little bit ago. The Poissonnière is watching, wearing her TC cap with her pajamas. “They’re playing baseball in the rain?! That’s not very good!”
I got a similar question from the trinket, but it was a more incredulous "they're playing in the rain?" then I had to explain to her the five inning rule.
I have to think this is going to be a five inning game.
Only if the twins can take the lead, though.
Given how much Perez is throwing tonight, Pineda is going to need to give us some innings tomorrow. Which is why, even though it might have cost a run, I'd have left Harper in the game rather than pinch-hit for him.
Maybe Odoreasy can try again tomorrow? When was the last time a pitcher started two games in a row?
Not sure, but in 2012 Greinke started 3 games in a row
I forgot about that.
In truth, I’d be more inclined to let Pineda start, then use Odorizzi for a couple middle innings.
Didn't it happen last year with an opener?
Ryne Stanek started two games in a row last year, on September 3 and 4. Several other times he appeared in a game and started the next day.
"This is an ad about Twins tickets" is one of those commercials that seems marginally clever when you first hear it but becomes more and more annoying every time thereafter.
Doesn't that describe all commercials (minus the "marginally clever" part)?
Someone get this man a WGOM buck!
That is literally the exact same thought I just had listening to it.
JORGE!
cycle watch!
Something to look forward to in thirty seconds.
Hip hip, Jorge!
If Perez is actually a competent bunter, I'm okay with this. If not, then I don't understand why you pinch-hit for Harper but not for Perez.
He is not. (even if the result was essentially the same.)
Maybe the thought is that Perez is used to pitching multiple innings, whereas Harper is more a one-inning guy. I don't really see that as the case--last year Harper pitched 65 innings in 38 games--but I suppose it's a possibility.
Of course, that begs the question "why not use Perez right away?"
Well, thats one way to get a runner to second base
Uh, TWINS BASEBALL!!!
Is there a Fakemuto?
Accept no other mutos.
Whoa, I hope that's the fake one.
How many drinks are you into?
This is an entirely fair and reasonable question.
Simultaneously, or cumulatively?
I just dropped the beer I was about to open, so there will be a slight delay in the count.
I swear I've seen more pitches hit the knob of the bat this year than I have in all my years of watching baseball combined.
So with a guy this recently retired up in the booth, isn't the production booth sort of obligated to dig up video of plays they specifically discuss on air?
probably dont have express written consent from MLB
Maybe they have to get the expressed written consent of the Minnesota Twins, LLC, before retransmitting any highlights.
If you're going to set one up like that, you have to make sure there's no confusion over who gives the punchline
Cyclical!
Cycles are cool.
Cycle!
Cycle!!!!
Polancocycle
Still looking good on the farm. Pensacola leads Mobile 1-0 in the fourth inning of game two. Fort Myers defeated Charlotte 4-3. Cedar Rapids leads Peoria 8-1 in the sixth.
Yes Cory, the Twins aren't doing as well with RISP this year compared to last, because Joe retired
Apparently vaping in the stands is allowed in Philadelphia? There’s a fan behind this first base dugout who’s a human fog machine.
It might be time for me to go to Portillo’s.
Okay then. Time to medicate and hit the sack. I’m out.
Pat Neshek and Francisco Liriano are the only active players left from the 2006 team.
That's right
Willians with a nifty 3-4-3 double play!
Whelp, at least it was a good day to start Jorge Polanco on my fantasy team.