Given that the academic year is back underway, I haven't been able to follow the Twins much in the last few weeks. Thankfully, that means I haven't missed much.
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And now, this week's View from the Ballpark:
Though the home of two teams, this unique, if not beautiful, ballpark is likely to be replaced in the next decade.
Remember, no embiggening.
Dan Bejar, of New Pornographers fame, is making some of the most enjoyable music out there today in my opinion. There isn't a ton of great materiel out there but I suggest picking up any of his/their albums.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36T-B256ODM
Live at Webster Hall in Toronto, 2011.
(3 votes, average: 8.33 out of 10)
Loading... 12:05 start.
Diamond Scott versus the Other Al J. Burnett. The Race to the Bottom continues in earnest.
In the all-important Wild Card Race, Boston hosts Bal'more for a day-night double header. The O's offer up Jeremy "Jeremy" Guthrie vs. some dude named Kyle Weiland in the day game, and Brian "the 'tusz" Matusz vs. John Lackey in the nightcap. The Rays have the day off, but trail Boston by only two games after taking three of four in Boston.
Unfortunately for the Rays, they have seven games remaining against the Yanquis and three against Toronto, whereas the Sawks have seven against the O's and three at the Bandbronx to finish.
Over in the N.L., the Giants have won eight straight to close within 4 of the Wild Card leader, Atlanta, and 5 of NL West-leading Arizona. Three of SF's last nine are at Arizona, so they still have a shot. But the Snakes finish the season on a home stand with three vs. Pittsburgh starting on Monday, followed by an off day, then the three-game set with SF and finishing with a three-game series against the Dodgers. The Giants' odds are long. coolstandings.com pegs their playoff odds at just over 5 pct.
many thanks to DK for a great week. please forgive me for jumping on his coattails and also playing a band with 2+ established singers. chicago based urge overkill should have received a lot more love than they did, but, alas, it was not to be. nash and the king traded off vocal duties about 50/50, but it's nash taking the mic on this track.
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=wMVibRRBhPk
1994
please ignore the team rocket-esque t-shirts; they really were one of the best dressed bands in the business. also, nash, while being one of the ugliest men in rock 'n' roll, had one of the best voices in my opinion, and some nice chops besides.
(2 votes, average: 8.50 out of 10)Loading... Twins record: 59-92
Fangraphs
MLB Game Wrap
I think Alex Burnett is the werewolf.
Hitters of the Week: Joe Benson and Chris Parmelee
Pitcher of the Week: Jim Hoey
Masterson vs. Pavano
Don't blink. This could go quick. Pavano has pitched well against his former team and Masterson is facing the Twins, so don't expect much offense.
The Twins need to go 4-8 to avoid 100 losses. I'm not sure it really matters, but maybe it could motivate the Twins to show a little more inspired play. They also need to go 2-10 to avoid the Twins' worst record. Fortunately, the franchise record of 113 losses (in 154 games!!) is safe. The Twins need to go winless and finish the season with 19 consecutive losses to have the Twins' worst record all to themselves. Doesn't seem all that unlikely at this point.
Some other races to look at: Can Benson set the Twins' rookie record for stolen bases? Can the Twins have a game with no players from the Opening Day lineup play in the game? Who will have the worst batting average: Butera, Rivera or Tosoni? Will any Twin get to 20 home runs (Cuddyer's at 18, Valencia 15)? Will anyone get to 70 RBIs (Valencia at 69, Cuddyer 65)?
GO TWINS!!!
I was thinking about playing something really weird to end it here, with lots of cheesy synths, because if we've learned anything this week, I think it's that I have a healthy appetite for cheesy synths. But I decided to just give you some Spoon instead, for MPR's own 89.3 The Current. Thanks to the VJs for giving me the reins this week, and to everyone for indulging my tastes, past and present.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO8kRCwPJQk
(7 votes, average: 8.86 out of 10)Loading... Stop me if you've heard this before, but the Twins lost again to extend another losing streak. This one is at seven and it is the sixth losing streak of at least six games this season. The Twins are 0-40 in those losing streaks and 59-51 the rest of the time. I imagine that's not all that unusual for teams this bad, but the Twins have been real streaky this season. It's hard to remember that they actually won eight games in a row at one point. Then again, the Twins haven't won as much as three in a row since July 5, which happened to be the one game I attended.
But this time of year for a last-place team isn't about wins and losses, especially when you only have one member of your Opening Day lineup available to play and only one member of your original five-man rotation still pitching in the rotation. And let's face it. Any wins now only hurt the Twins' draft position and have no real tangible benefit. It's just about pride now.
This is about seeing the kids playing and seeing some hope for the future and the last two games have been good in that sense. On Friday, it was Joe Benson showing why he's considered by some to be the Twins' top prospect that could actually make the team next year when he went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits against a very tough right-hander in Ubaldo Jiminez. In this game, it was Chris Parmelee showing why the Twins took him in the first round of the draft, going 3-for-3 with a walk and his first-career home run. Parmelee is now batting .357 in the bigs and more impressively has five walks and just four strikeouts.
Weather: 56 degrees, overcast
Wind: 14 mph, R to L
Time: 2:58
Attendance: 37,942
Yeah, it was just like old times. Jim Thome steps to the plate at Target Field and belts a solo shot, career home run #603. Only this time he was wearing an Indians uniform again, Joe Nathan was trying to keep the game even, and the home run made the difference between a potential come-from-behind Twins win and another Twins loss. So it goes.
Kevin Slowey had another poor outing for the Twins, going just four innings and giving up five runs on seven hits. But what the hell, this is the time of year when everything heads south, so we really shouldn't expect any different.
The one bright spot in the game for the Twins was Joe Benson, who damn near hit for the cycle and provided a good chunk of the team's offense, scoring three runs with a 4-for-4 night. Benson has doubled in four of his last five games, and six of his nine hits in the Majors have gone for extra bases. His four hits were the most for a Twins rookie since Danny Valencia did it last year.
It's sort of sad that the Twins will never win another baseball game. I was a fan of the occasional win, but if I can't have that, I guess watching errors and strikeouts will have to get me by.
I'll be listening to this one, driving to Brainerd on a road trip with the wife. Since this one is obviously impossible, let's at least make it close.
Gomez vs Swizzlestick, who seems to be our best starter lately. Who knows, maybe we'll only lose by three?
