John Danks
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Kevin "Worst (Qualified) Starter in MLB" Correia
It took 101 games for a game log to be missed. That's longer than I would have predicted at the beginning of the year. I'm not sure if it was exactly missed however. Morales is gone and Suzuki seems likely to follow. Kind of sucks for Suzuki to be traded midseason for a third consecutive year, but maybe he'll get lucky this offseason and sign a long-term deal.
No image! Triple digits! Whatever!
Game in progress!
Start time: 7:10
Weather: warm and humid
Fan pulse: ________^________
Starters:
CLE TJ House 1-2, 4.40 ERA. 8 starts
MIN Kris Johnson 0-1, 5.40 ERA 2 starts
We are knee deep in the dog days of summer. Todays weather finally reminded us of that. There are other signs: lots of coworkers on vacation, county fairs and town festivals every weekend, only the diehards left cheering on the local baseball team as they limp towards another disappointing season.
Who are these fellas pitching tonight? TJ House is left handed, in his first Major League season, and his longest outing is 6.2 innings. Baseball-Reference tells me Kris Johnson has started two games for the Twins this season. I remember watching the games, but I'll be darned if I can recall anything about those games. Maybe Im scared by Ricky Nolasco giving up two out runs so many times this year.... I dont know.
Despite their current place in the AL East standings, the Rays have been pretty hot lately, winning 15 of their last 20 games. The Twins, on the other, wanted to believe that winning 5 of 6 before the All Star break meant they'd be in a position to pressure the front office into avoiding being "Sellers" at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, they have spent the past 2 games searching for offense, combining for 11 hits on Friday and Saturday.
The Twins send Kevin Correia to the mound (5-11, 4.61). Since June 5 he has a 2.30 ERA (seven starts). Unfortunately, he's only 3-4 in those games as he hasn't receive much run support, including none in three straight outings at one point before a win over Colorado on July 12.
The Rays send Chris Archer (5-5, 3.41 ERA) to the mound.
Ah, it's good to have baseball back. You know what this calls for?
DUELING ACES!
Phil Hughes against David Price. May the best pitcher Twins win!
Alex Cobb
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Kyle Gibson
Baseball returns from its too long break. The Rays, possibly soon to no longer have David Price, send their entire team to the All-Star Game. They're a little late, so the Twins will have to suffice for the opponent.
In the final game before the All-Star break, the Twins are about where I expected them to be: at the bottom of the AL Central and below .500. However, a win here today would close out the second series win and a 5-2 record on the road trip. I'd take that in a heartbeat.
Today, Phil Hughes is looking to pick up where he left off in Seattle. He'll be facing off against Brett Anderson.
So, that Tulowitzki dude is something else, eh?
Linds has declared this weekend to be Morneau weekend. She's blocked off our schedules to watch the games, and is wearing the Rockie shirt that my aunt got her. She was crowing after last night's win. Good times.
Today, the Twins try to save face by sending Kevin Correia against some new guy named Tyler Matzek. A cursory look at Matzek's bbref page seems imply that he used to be some sort of prospect, but that he's had a tough time keeping the ball in the strike zone through his trip through the minors. I'd be okay with lots of walks today, but the trick will, of course, be silencing Colorado's bats. Let's hope Mr. Correia is up to the challenge.
(editor's note: sorry, hj, I know it's boring to replay a featured image in back-to-back games, but I didn't have time this morning to find a cool, creative commons picture of a Coors Lite can sitting by a ballfield like I wanted to).
Kris Johnson
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Jorge De La Rosa
Last series before the All-Star break and the Twins decide to visit Morneau in his new digs. And Cuddyer, but he has to do the visiting on the bench as he's on the 60-day DL.
