All posts by freealonzo

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 54 – Twins at Orioles

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Wow, game 54. That means after tonight the season will be 1/3 over. Besides June 1 being the start of "meteorological summer," it can also mean we are heading into the meat of the baseball season. Twins in the second game against the Orioles looking for their 17th win in a row against this team. Wow, that's hard to do, especially since they only play some 6-7 games a year, so the win streak goes back to 2018 or 2019 (I didn't check).

Big Mike on the mound tonight and he's been what you would expect from a 3rd or 4th guy on your staff, steady performance. Some better than others, decent numbers, Ks, etc. Bruce Zimmerman for the O's and he's been pretty lousy on a lousy team including a 5.15 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Woof.

Game time a 6:05p and should be a glorious night for baseball in Baltimore. Let's keep that streak alive Twins!

Twins Lineup
LF - Garlick
3B - Donaldson
DH - Cruz
C - Garver
RF - Kirilloff
2B - Polanco
1B - Sano
CF - Refsnyder
SS - Simmons

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 48: Orioles at Twins

15 Comments

Twins playing better lately and with a little bit of juice so let's hope it continues against the Orioles tonight.

O's put up Dean Kremer tonight. I have him down as a reliever so not sure if Baltimore is going with an Opener situation. As with most Orioles, he hasn't been very good. Hopefully the Twins can tee off on him. Jose Berrios for the Twins and he's been decent but not great. I'd love to see 7-8 nice innings from Jose tonight.

Should be a gorgeous night for baseball and will be my first game. I am not sure if I've even seen a game on TV as I am in Bally Sports Network hell. Looking forward to it. Not sure if I will spend for pricey tix or do the cheap, walk around route.

6:40 first pitch!

Twins Lineup
DH - Kepler
3B - Donaldson
RF - Kiriloff
1B - Sano
2B - Polanco
C - Garver
LF - Larnach
CF - Refsnyder
SS - Simmons

Friday Music Day

FMD – Dylan at 80

4 Comments

Bob Dylan turns 80 on Monday and what can one write that hasn't already been written? (That's my Dylan library in photo.) At 80 means that Dylan has gone from rebel to icon to joke to respected elder. It probably wasn't until my late 20s that I really started to get into Dylan's music, mostly those classic albums up through Blonde on Blonde and then later some of the latter albums. I've always had a meh relationship with the some 6-7 concerts I attended with Bob putting up ok but not stellar shows (including the concert at Northrop the night Obama was elected.) However, I was literally dragged to a show at the X in 2017 that I had zero expectations for that blew me away.

Also I have few degrees of separation with Bob Dylan. He and my mother lived 3 blocks apart in Duluth from 1943-47. I always wondered if their parents brought them to the same park or saw each other at a local store...

So Dylan is 80. No need to celebrate if you don't care to but I will pull some of the books off the shelf and read passages here and there. I'll put on an album or two, or maybe check out something I haven't heard for a long long time. (Self Portrait?)

Any Dylan memories, thoughts, arrows, on his 80th Birthday?

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 40: White Sox at Twins

50 Comments

Twins about to complete 25% of the season and I doubt few thought they'd be where they are right now. It's quite apparent that the Twins don't match up against the Whities as they have been outscored 42-17 over the past four games.

Big Mike on the mound, and like most of the pitching staff, he's been disappointing at worst and inconsistent at best. Whoa, late pitching change. Bailey Ober (?!?) in for the Twins, Pineda moved a day. Bailey Ober is a righty. that's all I got on the guy oh and he's 6'9". Lance Lynn for Chicago and he's been really good. Too bad he didn't pitch like that for the Twins a few years back.

Should still be a nice night for a ballgame and I think I need to get to one soon. Maybe next homestand. First pitch at 6:40p.

Twins Line-up
2b -Arraez
3B - Donaldson
DH - Polanco
CF - Kepler
1B - Sano
LF - Larnach
RF - Garlick
SS - Simmons
C - Rortvedt

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log #33 — Twins at White Sox

33 Comments

The first of some 19 games against the hated White Sox begins tonight in Chicago with the Whities looking down upon the Twins from their first place perch. After a slow start, the White Sox have been maybe a little better than what everyone thought they would be with a pace toward 96 wins.

Kenta Maeda on the mound for the Twins after coming off a nice outing last week. Dylan Caese for Chicago and he had an excellent 6 inning, 1 hit, 11 strikeout performance against the Reds.

Would be nice for the Twins to start righting the ship against a division rival so should be a fun series. Also, I know it gets ripped a bunch but "The Rate" is a fun little ballpark to watch a game and they've definitely made it more fan friendly over the years. I know HJ and DG have been there a few times but I would strongly suggest checking it out if you ever make it to Chicago. I am hoping for a trip there myself in July.

First Pitch at 7:10p.

Twins Line up
LF Arraez
3B Donaldson
DH Cruz
CF Kepler
2B Polanco
RF Larnach
1B Astudillo
SS Simmons
C Rortvedt

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021Game Log 28 – Rangers at Twins

33 Comments

Twins have been showing some signs of life lately with timely bats and decent starting pitching so why not finally bring Kyle Gibson to the mound to keep that winning streak going. Wait, I'm being told that Kyle Gibson is now pitching for the Rangers and he's been good Gibby?

Yes, Kyle Gibson has a 3.0 record for the Rangers, was their opening day starter and has earned that honor with a dang good season so far. Fun to see him do well but we all know it's time for bad Gibby to show is head sometime so why not tonight?

J.A. Happ for the Twins and he's been a pleasant surprise with a 2.0 record and 1.96 ERA.

Nice night for a ballgame if you can get in. 6:40p start.

Twins Lineup:

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 22 — MN Twins at Cleveland Baseball Club

56 Comments

Oof. Another frustrating loss and now they are starting to pile up and the SSS factor is slipping away. The Twins have been wielding the assiest of ass bats lately with no one without the name Cruz or Buxton on the back of their jerseys having any success at the plate whatsoever. Combine that with a bullpen that coughs up leads faster than my dog coughs up dead squirrel and you've got a team with twice as many loses as wins.

Kenta Maeda on the mound for the Twins and lets' hope a nice recovery from last weeks lousy outing. Civale for Cleveland and he's had a decent year, not a big strike out guy so hopefully the Twins can put some balls in play today. 5:10p start time

Twins Line Up

2B - Arraez
3B - Donaldson
CF - Buxton
DH - Cruz
LF - Kirillof
1B - Astudillo
RF - Cave
C - Garver
SS - Simmons

Hey Simmons back in the lineup!

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Twins Game Log 15 and 16 – Twins at A’s

61 Comments

After a mid-April Covid break, Twins up to play two against the Athletics.

As I write this, it has been announced Derek Chauvin verdict has been reached and by the time you read this, it will have been announced so not sure how much Twins notice attention will be.

Game 1: Shoemaker v. Manaea 5:30p
Game 2: Berrios v. Luzardo. 8:30p

Game 1 Line up
C - Garver
3b - Donaldson
DH - Cruz
CF - Buxton!!
SS - Polanco
1B - Sano
LF - Arraez
RF - Rooker
2b - Astudillo

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 10: Red Sox and Twins

38 Comments

Twins and Red Sox look to get started again after yesterday's postponement. Looks like today's announced starters will remain with Monday's starters going on Wednesday as part of a doubleheader. That means A.J. Happ versus former Twin Martin Perez.

Going to be lousy weather with wet raw temperatures in the upper 30's. I bet you could get in the game for under $10 if you wanted to (bundle up!).

Red Sox have been decent this year, not sure if it's SSS or they've made some real improvements. Twins have played well except for a relieve who shall remain nameless.

1:10p first pitch, let's hope for some baseball as a small distraction to trying times.

Twins Lineup
CF - Buxton
LF - Garlick
C - Garver
2B - Polanco
DH - Sano
3B - Arraez
1B - Astudillo
SS - Simmons
RF - Cave

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 5: Twins at Tigers

75 Comments

Except for one little 9th inning hiccup and a couple of GI issues (oh and Josh Donaldson), I think Twins fans can all be pretty happy the way the season has gone so far. A 3-1 record, Buxton and Cruz hitting bombas, Arraez getting on base at 6.9420 clip, great starting pitching etc. So let's keep it going.

New Twin J.A. Happ on the mound today and the Twins only lefty. Not a big strikeout guy but maybe a good veteran presence. He's certainly been around both leagues a bit. Casey Mize for the Tigers, a former #1 pick who made his debut last year but wasn't spectacular.

After scoring 15 runs yesterday big concern about saving some for today but Twins' bats should match up well against Mize so no worries there. 12:10p start.

Twins Lineup
Arraez - 2B
Polanco - SS
Cruz - DH
Kepler - RF
Rooker - LF
Cave - CF
Sano - 1B
Astudillo - 3B
Jeffers - C