Hernandez (3-1, 5.54 ERA) vs. Cosart (1-1, 1.59 ERA)
If the Twins want to secure the #3 pick in the draft, bringing Hernandez back up is a good place to start. I don't have a whole lot to say outside of that, though. The team is still without Mauer and Morneau was still traded, so the lineup won't look real sexy. Course, that un-sexy lineup hung 10 on the 'Stros yesterday, so level of competition and all.
Sheilds (8-8, 3.22 ERA) vs. Correia (8-10, 4.52 ERA)
We've come back around to play the Royals again at the friendly confines of the heat soaked Target Field. I expect big things, really. Fortunately, the White Sox exist, as even with a recent hot streak, they've kept a few games back of the Twins, preventing the dread "last in the crappy AL Central" title to be bestowed upon the Minnesotans. I'm also told that Joe Mauer is eligible to come off the DL from his concussion, but won't be back just yet. So, things are looking level!
Anyway, I haven't really been able to pay a whole lot of attention the past few days. The good news is that the bauble got out of the PICU yesterday and has been steadily getting better. Hopefully he can come home in a few days and I can keep closer tabs on the race to the bottom.
Welp, this team isn't very good. I can't muster up a whole lot of motivation to write much, especially with the return of Pelfrey to Tuesday starts and this morning's discussion of Liriano. Now that we've seemingly jumped all the way in to the August Swoon, its pretty tough to want to dig deep in to things. Also, I'm really tired these days.
McAllister (4-7, 3.90 ERA) vs. Lake 'Ace' Deduno (7-5, 3.38 ERA)
So, we're just a hair under 2/3'rds of the way through the season and the Clevelanders and Kansas City'ers are both ahead of the Yankees for the wild card. Be still, my beating heart.
The Twins look to continue winning despite hitting the least clutch home runs of any team, ever. They do so with their previous ace on the mound the day after their new real ace delivered a sparkling shutout.
I wanted to do a little research and write a little more for this game log, but man, I'm tired.
Gibson (2-2, 6.45 ERA) vs. Hanson (4-2, 5.10 ERA)
Well, the Twins are out on the West Coast, which from a "following the game" standpoint might as well be the other side of the world. Because of that, I have no idea what is going on. What I've been able to gather is that the Angels also suck, most likely still reeling from the loss of ii's leadership.
Gibson (1-1, 7.94 ERA) vs. Archer (2-3, 4.17 ERA)
I think I completely missed Gibson's crappy start that makes his ERA look really bad. Since I have no recollection of it, it must not have happened and the stats are all just typos.
Anyway, this AL East trip has shoved me all the way down into indifference for the year. That, and I've had to increase my time away from the internet at home to take care of stuff around the house and help with the Trinket now that we're nearing the end of this pregnancy. I hope the next manager of the team (I assume it'll be Mientkiewicz since his team is winning) is able to beat these guys next year. Also, the Twins are double digit games out of first base. I think its time to trade away all the vets (Joe excepted) and just bring up everyone from the minors and see what we got.
Hughes (3-7, 4.82 ERA) vs. Lake Deduno (4-2, 3.32 ERA)
Ugh, I'm not sure if the demoralizing defeats were worse back when the Yankees actually had a scary lineup, or if its worse watching Gardy trot out what I assume (without being able to see) is a Jared Burton with a lingering health issue followed by a Deunsing who can't get righties <em>or</em> lefties out night after night. I think the latter is worse when taking into account the number of pitchers on the roster.
On the bright side, the Yankees and Twins are similarly behind the leaders in their division, so we got that going for us.
Correia (6-4, 3.87 ERA) vs. Fernandez (4-4, 3.05 ERA)
For the second time this year, the Twins get to play the Marlins in a two game set. Somehow, they lost one of those games last time (and looking it up its because Pelfrey was pitching during that particularly fun time of the year), so I should probably refrain from too much confidence. That said, I'm on a little Tuesday win-streak on days when I actually remember to do my game log, and I full expect to continue that here tonight.
The Marlins are the lowest scoring team in the league, and its not even close. I'm not convinced they'll score 500 runs this year. Somehow, though, they actually aren't last in the league in run scoring differential because Houston still has a team in which a move to the AL has done no good. That's a good thing for Correia, who, not being a mind reader so I can only assume, will be looking to continue his surprisingly/un-surprisingly year of decent pitching while we spend the rest of the week talking about Kyle Gibson.
For this week's travels, I'll be in Charlotte, NC. Or, I wanted to be in Charlotte, but was forced by the person I am traveling with to stay in Shelby, NC, about an hour from Charlotte and likely containing less beer. It'll be interesting to see if the Bobcats to Hornets changover will be starting this week, or if the city has to wait until its official.
Another Tuesday Another Pelfrey (3-6, 6.12 ERA) vs. Axelrod (3-4, 4.26 ERA)
So the Twins and the White Sox both stink, although the Twins stink a game and a half better. Hopefully, Pelfrey can continue with his recent decent pitching tonight, although I would still prefer to see someone like a Kyle Gibson starting games for the Twins, but that might just be me.
I don't really know anything about Axelrod. A quick look at his numbers show a guy who is meh to crappy, and who's not striking out as many guys this year as last. So that's good news for the Twins. Hopefully, the Twins can add a little space between them and the dumpster.
Cole "lots of losses" Hamels (2-9, 4.56 ERA) vs. PJ "not the answer" Walters (2-1, 3.00 ERA)