I was pretty sure what kind of game I was getting when I saw the pitching matchup, but the game ended up being a lot more interesting than I would've believed it could be.
The seats (Section 110, row 5) were excellent. Target Field really doesn't have any bad seats, but these seats are solidly above any of the other ones I've sat in there. The day itself was gorgeous - perfect temperature, just the slightest of breezes, clear sky. The crowd was sort of docile (except for the obnoxious Tigers fan who started an 'M-V-P!' chant as Miggy circled the bases. after his backbreaker. It was a great game experience.
I just wish the result would've been better.
Notes:
* Doumit's home run was an agonizer, because it was hard to tell whether or not it was going to make it. It's always fun to see a home run live, but that one was even better.
* What exactly is it about Al Alburquerque?
* I noticed this at the last game I was at, but "When the Levee Breaks" is probably the most ominous "crap is about to go down" walkup music ever. Nice call by Plouffe.
* Linds wore her Morneau shirt without getting harassed this time. That's a plus, I suppose.
It's Linds and I's fifth anniversary today, so we're going to be sitting right up close to the first base line for this one. The good news is that we'll get to see one of the best pitchers in the major leagues, the bad news is that he'll be pitching against us.
Justin Verlander takes on (digs hand in starting rotation box and pulls out random slip of paper) P.J. Walters.
Oh, yeah. This should be wonderful.
It's the last Saturday game of the year. I expect this game log to be packed when I get home.
I don't think the numbers for this season are describing anything we don't already know: the starters have been awful. I do think the improvement in the offense and relief pitching from bad to below average makes this season not a complete loss. I am very curious what the Twins will do this offseason.
First Pitch - 7:10 p.m. (set your digital watches) Television - FSN
This late in the season, Time is not on our side. But with just over a week to go, we have a chance to at least play the Bandits and help our bretheren in Baltimore (including the Gentleman Masher) steal the American League East division title away from Evil. Of course, it won't be easy, but nothing is when your team has turned into a bunch of bumbling midgets that have stolen the map of all the holes in the Universe (like the one that sucked our starting rotation right into oblivion this season) and you're on the run from Bud Selig the Supreme Being.
On the hill tonight Liam Hendriks will face off against Andy Pettitte in a classic pairing of rookie non-phenom versus veteran ace. In another time or place I might do a deep and thoughtful performance analysis of the two starters or the two lineups (probability level -99.7%), but honestly, today I feel so mercifully free of the ravages of intelligence that I won't bother. Hell, gents, this thing only ends one way or the other. But it sure would be nice in the waning days of another lost season to have a hand in knocking the boys from the Bronx off their precarious one-game perch and forcing them into the playoffs as a wild card team instead of a division winner. And besides, you can never get enough of puppies this time of year.
Twins sweep the day and come home for the final homestand of the 2012 season on a 2-game winning streak. Burton gets the win, Valverde gets the loss and all is right in the world...except Baby Jeebus went 0-5 in the nightcap, dropping his average to .323.
Fun fact: Twins were 1-7 with RISP and only had 1 RBI - Carroll's single in the 10th.
Perkins pitched a clean bottom half for his 14th save on the season. Walters managed to hold the Tiggers to 1 run on 5 hits over 6 innings and the bullpen held that up.
With the win in today's first game, the Twins assured themselves of losing no more than 99 games this year. They are now 63-89 on the season with 10 games left to play - so there's that.
Scott Diamond got back to his winning ways allowing only 2 earned runs on 4 hits while striking out 5 in 7 innings of work. Fein and Burnett pitched the 8th & 9th respectively with the additional Detroit runs coming in the 9th following a Morneau error.
The key inning for Minnesota was the 6th when they sent 9 men to the dish and scored 5 runs. Mauer, Morneau, Plouffe! and Florimon batted runs in and Morneau scored on a third strike passed ball when Villareal covered home for the force but didn't tag Mountie.* I didn't see it, but I'll be honest - I wouldn't have known that rule either. Good on Justin for hustling home and forcing the issue...I think.
Mauer went 3-4 with 4 RBI on the day bringing his BA up to .326 (now .325) - 2nd place in batting average to Miguel Cabrera at .332 - and his RBI total to 83. There's an ouside chance he gets to 100 runs batted in and a good chance he surpasses his highest totals for all but his MVP season (96) in that category. He drove in 84 in '06 and 85 in '08.
