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2012 Twins Game Recaps

Game #162 Recap: The beatings are over. Finally. Thank goodness.

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Twins 1, Blue Jays 2, wait, seriously? Of Course the Twins would end the season with a whimper.

LP: Diamond (12-9 3.54 ERA), WP: Morrow (10-7 2.96 ERA)

Save (Onesies!): Lyon (1(!))

Welp, as another season of Twins baseball comes to a close so does the another King of the Savers Race. Baltimbrel put up outstanding numbers, they just couldn't keep up with save juggernaut Jim Johnson. Johnson converted 51 of 54 save opportunities to take the gold crown off Dancie McFartsalot. We should all tweet him our congratulations with the hashtag #thankgoodnessthereignofdanciemcfartsalotisover.

 

 

There were few positives to this game, and to recap them would take less time than I spent placing the crown on Jim Johnson. I'd like to do an end of season positives, but I feel like focusing my energy on things that don't depress me. I hear the timberpups are going to be fun to watch this season.

Culture club: PS2 in Belfast is an artist run project space where they encourage curators and artists to create challenging exhibitions that focus on urban interventions and social interaction between artists and the greater community of activists and theorists. There will be a more in-depth culture club post on Northern Ireland when I get around to it.

2012 Twins Game Recaps

Game 149 Recap: Willinghammer

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Twins 6, Indians 4
WP: Hendricks (1-7 5.88) LP: McAllister (5-8 4.31)
Save?!? Youbetcha. Perkins (13)

Holy cats. A save on a Wednesday is like the smell of napalm in the morning. I love it. The king of the savers race is heating up. We have three potential kings within 3 saves of each other. Of course they're all from the AL East, but we won't hold that against them. Or will we? Jim Johnson is holding the top spot with 45 saves recorded, but nipping at his heels is the absolutely dominant Fernando Rodney. That dude has been lights out this season, but the rules of the King of the Savers award dictate that player with the most number of saves recorded, no matter how ugly, is the champ. I'll feel for the Fernando if I have to crown someone else. Some other dude in NY has 42 saves.

 

The Willing hammer had a hell of a night at the dish. He went 4-5 with a home run racking up 4 rbi (at least one of them was of the 2 out variety). Meanwhile, Joe Mauer was content with a hit, a walk, and 3 runners left on base. puss. It didn't matter though, the hammer was willing and Liam got his grove back, and by grove I mean his first win evah(!). Congrats to the kid. Hendricks tossed 6 innings allowing two hits, walking two, striking out two, and surrendering 2 earned runs.

 

Culture Club: I promised a tour of the alternative spaces of New Orleans, so I guess that's what we should do. Way down St. Claude Street you'll find a bunch of young folks doing great and arty things. Before you get all the way down there I suggest you start with some pastries from Shake Sugary. I suggest the maple bacon sweet potato biscuits. Seriously. Really. Yeah. You'll likely need a nap, and after that you should start at the front. These young folks operate an excellent co-op art gallery featuring some great art from New Orleans and abroad. Across the street lies The Good Children Gallery who are also producing exhibitions of timely and engaging contemporary art from almost everywhere. As you head back towards the city I suggest stopping off at the New Orleans Healing Center which features art galleries, vendors, a co-op, cafe and good vibrations. Directly across the street from them lies the UNO art gallery which features the work relating to UNO's art department. Off the path a bit lies Press street and Antenna Gallery. From their site, the mission is to produce risk-taking solo and group exhibitions that engage and interact with the New Orleans community. I've really enjoyed the projects these folks have put together, and am anxiously awaiting the opening of their new facility later this fall. Press Street is a 501c3 set up to support visual a literary art in New Orleans. They've published poetry and prose, non-fiction, offer learn to be a dj classes, and host a 24 hour drawathon for arts education. Good folks, those. You're probably thirsty, and you're close (ish) to the quarter. I highly suggest you stop off almost anywhere on Frenchmans street, but my favorite is Snug Harbor. Stick around for the jazz and eat from the vendors, you won't be disappointed.

2012 Twins Game Recaps

Game 143 Recap: You thought I forgot again, didn’t you.

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I didn't, but that doesn't change the outcome.

I'd go through the trouble of recaping this game, but nobody is paying attention anyway. Insead I'm going to turn to food. I've been trying to sneak more vegetables and less pork products [sadclown.jpg] into my diet lately. This recipe works well in that regard.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa (or burrito filling... or chip dip... or on top of shredded carnitas... mmmmmmmmmmm... pork.... D'oh).

You'll need one half cup of dried black beans (or one can if you're lazy), an ear or two of corn roasted on the cob (or a can if you're lazy), a red bell pepper, a poblano pepper, 3-4 good sized green onions (or one to two of the larger sweet bulb onions), part of (or the whole thing if you're not a wuss) jalapeno (or NM green chili which is in season right now !!1One!!!), a dash of lime juice, a hit of red chili powder, a healthy dose of cumin, and some freshly ground black pepper.

Soak the beans overnight, drain, rinse, and boil them to reconstitute. Once softened, drain and rinse the beans off in a bit of cool water. Combine all this stuff in a bowl and let it sit in the fridge for about 4 hours to marry. This stuff lasts about a week (give or take) covered in the fridge, is good on eggs, good in pie, good right out of the bowl, and makes for some quick burrito filling (with some additional peppers and onions and a little of that left over chicken) to take to the office.

culture club. Yeah, that's going to have to wait until I get done with this stupid commute. Friday I'll be going out to chicken wings and beer to celebrate never coming back to Baton Rouge ever again. I'm thinking about doing a monthly segment interviewing artists in MN for the front page, thoughts? BTW, you should all have clikced on the link Algonad provided in yesterday's cup.

2012 Twins Game Recaps

Game # Something Recap: Seriously, is this thing on?

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yml_-Mx82wY

Yeah, I've used this one before, so sue me.

Culture Club: Well, I can't really do the alternative spaces justice today, so I'll toss in this plug for Magnolia Editions. Known for unorthadox editons and tapestries, Magnolia has had a hand in creating some of the best prints in the market today. Doc, you should drop by and pick up a chuck close or two.

2012 Twins Game Recaps

Game 117 Recap: Boys, the Twins aren’t going to make the playoffs.

9 Comments

Twins 1, Tigers 5

WP: Scherzer (12-6 4.41 era)
LP: De Vries (2-4 5.09 era)
Save? No need, fellas.

Twins record 50-67 - 14 games out of first, 1 game behind the royals for the toilet bowl

Well, poop.

Well, King Felix pitched a perfect game today. He pitched 9 innings, gave up zero hits, zero walks, zero runs, none earned, and struck out 12. Yeah, that's pretty outstanding. Cole De Vries didn't pitch a perfect game. He went four innings giving up eight hits, four runs, all earned, two walks, while striking out three. On the bright side, Manship pitched the next three innings nearly perfectly allowing just one hit and striking out two. Grey surrendered a run on two hits, and Perkins finished out the game. Joe Mauer went 2-4 and drove in the only Twins run on the day. He raised his average to .320, but he's got a ways to go to catch Melky Cabrera. Oh, right. That dude plays in the other league.

Return of the culture club, NOLA edition. Yeah, I've been so busy moving, working, commuting, quitting my job, and eating sweet, delicious pork products that I've neglected my recap duties. I'm here to say that it'll certainly happen again. Where to start? Well, you should probably have a beignet or three for breakfast, and then make your way up to city park to stop in at NOMA. The New Orleans Museum of Art boasts an awesome collection of everything New Orleans from 18 and 19th century portraits and colonial furniture to contemporary conceptual art. After a quick tour of their collection I suggest a stop by the Cow Bell for burger. You won't be disappointed. A stroll down oak street will help digestion and will give you an excuse to stop in at Blue Cypress Books. Bookstore kitty is friendly, and they have a pretty awesome selection of new and used books for sale. A stop into the Maple Leaf would probably be a good idea, but you really should just come back at night to catch the live show. An afternoon stroll down Julia Street will offer a wide taste of contemporary art from the crazy expensive to the quite affordable, stodgy to cutting edge (read: garish), representational to abstract. The newly minted arts district has something for everyone. Afterwards you're a short walk to the WWII Museum, the Ogden Museum, and the Contemporary Art Center. After all that culture you're sure to be thirsty and any number of watering holes in the area will do, but the Avenue Pub features a killer tap list and some of the best pub food you can find anywhere. The best part of drinking and eating at the Avenue is that the street car will drop you off and pick you up just a few steps from their front door, and they never close. Seriously. Try the duck fat fries... with pulled pork... and cheese... /drool. At this point I suggest you get a daiquiri and then pass out. Next week we'll venture down St. Claude street into the by-water to tour the alternative art spaces.

2012 Twins Game Recaps

Game # Who Cares: Turds V. Hosiery

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Twins: Not even close, Pale Hose: Way too many
LP: Yeah
WP: Is anyone actually reading this?
Save? Heh. Right.

Cole De Vries was too depressed to live journal after the game, you guys. That's how bad this game was. Nick Blackburn burnt the last of his remaining bridges. I guess that's a positive, right?!?

Culture Club: The Cochon Butcher. The BBQ pork sandwich is better than any art I've ever seen. Ask DPWY. In all seriousness, I raved about this sandwich for weeks after I first devoured one in March. Dr. Chop grew tired of me talking about it. She begged me to stop telling anyone and everyone who would listen that there was this mystical sandwich made from a wonderful, magical animal in New Orleans. Then she had the opportunity to eat this delight and said to me, "you undersold how good this sandwich is". Seriously, you guys.

2012 Twins Game Recaps

Game 81 Recap: The half way point, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the Twins.

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Twins 1, Detroit 5

WP: Verlander (9-5), LP: The Dunce(1-5)
Save? No.
Twins record 35-46

Fangraphs wasn't surprised the Twins lost this one, either.

That was a stinker of a game. Let's not spend too much time talking about how bad the starting pitching has been, or how the Twins really can't afford to have another pitcher on the DL. Let's look on the bright side of life.

Joe Mauer went o-fer last night. Big surprise there. At the half way point Mau-Mau is "hitting' 3.27 with 5 home runs, a nearly perfect 1:1 K:BB ratio, 4 stolen bases, and a .872 OPS. Yeah, I'm done (D-U-N!) booing Joe Mauer for comic effect.

The Willinghammer has been one of the Twins greatest off season signings evah. The dude has played in 78 games, hit .269 with 18 home runs, 21 doubles, a triple, with 59 ribeyes. I don't miss Henry Blanco, er, Cuddii.

I don't care what Philo says about him, Plouffe! is my new man crush. After cutting his hair he discovered how to use his boom stick. Some folks say that he's selfish because 16 of his 19 home runs are just solo shots. Others say that he's just a flash in the pan. Philo thinks he's a dork. I don't give a rip. I'm enjoyed the ride he's having, and if it ends tomorrow so be it. Plouffe! is giving me a reason to watch this team on a near-ish nightly basis.

Span accounted for half the hits last night. He's hitting .273 with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 9 stolen bases, and a .341 OBP while deftly handling center field. I don't miss Torii. Not one bit. I'll miss D-span 2 when he's traded for middle relief later this month.

Sweet Ben Revere is another reason that the Twins are exciting this season. While his arm leaves something to be desired, his speed in the field, and on the bases, make him an exciting player to watch. He's hitting .321 with 6 doubles, 2 triples, and 16 stolen bases.

Yes, there are disappointments, but let's just be happy that there are positives.

Culture club: Detroit is becoming a mecca for artists due to it's low cost of living, vacant warehouses, and a strong tradition of fine art collection. The Detroit Institute of Art houses a world class collection, and offers courses to the general public in printmaking, painting, sculpture, clay, and crayons for adults and children, amateurs and professionals. The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit holds solo and group shows of some of the best contemporary art happening in the states right now. There are a pile of new galleries featuring work from around the states from both emerging and established artist. Detroit has had a rough past, but if this art trend continues the city will have brighter future.