All posts by freealonzo

2021 Twins Game Logs

Twins Game Log 73 – Reds at Twins

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Rare Tuesday afternoon game as Reds finish up a 2-game series at Target Field.

Bailey Ober on the mound for the Twins and he's look o.k. Seems like the Twins were able to squeeze a few more mph out of that 6'9' frame and it's made all the difference. Wide Miley on for the Reds.

Twins bullpen has been lights out lately and really the key to the Twins current 5-game win streak. Just think if Twins relievers had pitched like this all season? But this being Minnesota sports, we have to temper that improved bullpen with a Buxton broken finger. You can't have too many nice things apparently.

12:10a first pitch on a beautiful day. If I wasn't so dang busy at work, it would be perfect to play some hooky and take in a game.

2021 Twins Game Logs

Twins Log Game 60 – Yankees and Twins

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Here we go. Two division heavyweights who have been eyeing each other all season, waiting to see how they match up in perhaps an early playoff preview as they finally get to test their mettle against the best baseball has to offer....

Dang, I shouldn't prewrite these game logs in April apparently. Yankees in town and while we all are familiar with the Twins disappointments this year, the Yankees are only 2 games over 500, mired in 4th place in the AL East, also besot with injuries. Jordan Montgomery on the mound for the Yanks and he's okay I guess, but definitely the Twins can tee off on him a bit. Big Mike Pineda for the Twins coming off a pretty disappoint start last Tuesday.

Will be a steamy one at Target Field tonight but our good friend Twayn will be there making sure everyone is fully hydrated, finds their seat ok, and generally acts civil. Hey Twayn, it's ok if you give the old dude in a crisp Jeeter shirsey the twice over. Those guys are always trying to move into seats they didn't buy.

First pitch back at 7:10p. Let's go Twins!

Twins line-up
RF - Garlick
DH - Donaldson
2B - Polanco
1B - Sano
C - Jeffers
LF - Larnach
CF - Refsynder
3B - Astudillo
SS - Simmons

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!