2011 Twins Game Logs

Game 138: Twins at Angels

190 Comments

Of all the things I thought September would bring, runs wasn't exactly one of them. I'm not complaining, it's just that I wish they could try scoring some during games that I watch. Still, any lineup that insists on batting both Nishioka and a player with a OBP forever hovering around .300 can't complain about any runs they might score along the way.

Duensing takes on Weaver tonight. Normally, that would sound like a sure-fire loss, but Weaver's ERA has jumped up a half run since last month (still league leading at 2.28), and lately a lot more of his pitches have been turned into souvenirs (9 in his last 47 1/3 innings). Besides, Duensing was mostly watchable, and the Angels' lineup usually features at least one lefty... so...

Yeah, it's still pretty bleak.

2011 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins

2011 Game 137 Recap: Gemini 13, Cherubim 5

2 Comments

Weather: 74 degrees, clear
Wind: 3 mph, out to CF
Time: 3:23
Attendance: 37,198

BOX SCORE
FANGRAPHS

The dog days of summer were not good to the Twins this year. The team posted its worst monthly record ever in August, winning just seven games while losing 21. If Target Field weren't such a lovely place, and if Minnesotans weren't so gosh darn polite, you'd probably see a lot of empty seats in the stands for home games after a month like that. For my own part, I knew going into the season that August would be a lost month for me as far as watching baseball goes. Major product launch at work, family road trip vacation, getting ready to send Elder daughter to college. I just figured back in April that August would be a lost cause. I was more right than I could have known.

But those hot August nights are behind us now, and the Twins/Red Wings want to finish the season strong. At this point, that basically means staying out of last place in the worst division in baseball. For a team that's never been in first place this year, or even above .500 this year, even that may prove to be a tall order.

So what can you say about a meaningless road win in September? Well, you can say its better than a meaningless road loss in September. You can say Carl Pavano pitched an okay game, giving up four runs, just three of them earned, in six and three-quarters innings. You can say the Twins were facing a rookie pitcher who struggled with his control, and that the Angels bullpen resembled nothing more than the Twins bullpen, allowing seven runs in five innings. And you can say that it was the Twins, not the Angels, who played like they were only a few games out of first place going into the home stretch of the season.

You could probably say a lot more if you actually watched the whole game instead of just the last couple of innings.

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of 9/2

3 Comments

Syracuse 10, Rochester 9 in Rochester.  The Red Wings scored seven in the seventh to take an 8-5 lead, but the Chiefs scored three in the seventh to tie and won with two in the ninth.  Brandon Roberts and Dustin Martin each had two singles and a triple, with Martin driving in three.  Aaron Bates singled and doubled, making his average .314.  Starter Dusty Hughes allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five in four innings.  Jake Stevens pitched the ninth and took the loss.

Trenton 4, New Britain 1 in New Britain.  The Thunder scored three in the first.  The Rock Cats had only one hit, a home run by Evan Bigley.  Pat Dean pitched well other than in the first, giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk in six innings.  Reading defeated Binghamton 4-2 to move a half game ahead of the Rock Cats in the race for the last playoff spot.  The Rock Cats play a doubleheader with Trenton today beginning at 4:05 Central.

Ft. Myers 10, Jupiter 4 (Game 1--Scheduled 7 innings).  The Miracle scored seven in the third to take an 8-3 lead.  James Beresford had three hits and drove in three.  Reggie Williams and Danny Rams each singled and doubled.  Steve Liddle had two hits.  Starter Matthew Tone allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in three innings.  Cole Nelson got the win in relief, giving up a run on six hits and a walk in four innings.

Jupiter at Ft. Myers (Game 2).  Postponed.

Peoria 4, Beloit 2 in Beloit.  The Snappers scored in each of the first two innings, but that was it.  The Chiefs scored three in the fifth to take the lead.  The Snappers had only four hits and made three errrors.  Ryan O'Rourke struck out eight in seven innings, giving up all four runs (two earned) on seven hits and no walks.

Bluefield 11, Elizabethton 7 in Bluefield.  The Twins led 3-2 after one, but the Blue Jays scored three in the third and three in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead.  The Twins came back with four in the sixth to make it 8-7, but that was as close as they would come.  A three run eighth put it away for Bluefield.  Eddie Rosario singled and tripled.  Miguel Sano and Matthew Koch each singled and doubled, with Koch driving in four.  Matt Parker hit a home run.  Derek Christensen surrendered five runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings.  Steven Gruver worked two shutout innings of relief, giving up one hit.  The loss ends the season for Elizabethton.  Bluefield will go on to play Johnson City in a best-of-three series for the league championship.

2011 Twins Game Logs

2011 Game 137: Twins at Angels

118 Comments

Pavano v Weaver Tyler Chatwood.

The Twins have a one game lead over the Royals for last place of the annual worst division. At 57-79, they are just three losses from guaranteeing a losing year. Averaging each entry for the poll, I get ~70 wins as the expected number. That means they'll win 13 out of their final 26 games. Nope, not happening. Extrapolating their current record out nets them 10 wins, which means a top five draft pick next year. Here's to a strong draft class next year and loose purse strings. It may be our only hope.

Keeping Track

Where They Stand

4 Comments

Minnesota is 57-79, fourth in the AL Central, 17.5 games behind Detroit.  The Twins are on a one game winning streak and are 2-8 in their last ten games.

New Britain is 70-67, second in the EL East, 3.5 games behind New Hampshire, 0.5 games ahead of Reading for the last playoff spot.  The Rock Cats are on a one game winning streak and are 6-4 in their last ten games.

Ft. Myers is 26-39 in the second half, sixth in the FSL South, 15 games behind Bradenton.  The Miracle is on a one game winning streak and is 5-5 in their last ten games.

Beloit is 30-35 in the second half, fourth in the ML West, 9 games behind Quad Cities.  The Snappers are on a three game winning streak and are 4-6 in their last ten games.

Elizabethton finished the regular season 42-26, second in the AL West, 3 games behind Johnson City.  The Twins finished on an eight game winning streak and were 9-1 in their last ten regular season games.  They are currently tied 1-1 with Bluefield in the first round of the playoffs.

The GCL Twins ended their season 31-29, second in the GCL South, 7 games behind the Orioles.  The Twins finished on a one game winning streak and were 8-2 in their last ten games.

Keeping Track

This Week in Twins Transactions

7 Comments

Jason Repko was activated from the disabled list by Minnesota.
Rene Rivera was promoted from Rochester to Minnesota.
Matt Tolbert was sent from Minnesota to Rochester.
Scott Diamond was promoted from Rochester to Minnesota.
Jim Hoey was promoted from Rochester to Minnesota.
Tom Stuifbergen was promoted from Ft. Myers to Rochester.
Michael Tarsi was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain.
Pat Dean was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Clint Dempster was activated from the disabled list by Ft. Myers.
Alexi Casilla was sent to Ft. Myers on a rehab assignment.
Sam Spangler was placed on the seven day disabled list by Beloit.
Ben Tootle was activated from the disabled list by Beloit.

Keeping Track

This Week in Ex-Twins

Arizona organization (AAA Reno) places Michael Restovich on the seven day disabled list.
Boston organization (AAA Pawtucket) activates Matt Fox from the disabled list, then places him on the temporarily inactive list.
White Sox send Philip Humber to AAA Charlotte on a rehab assignment.
White Sox send A. J. Pierzynski to AAA Charlotte on a rehab assignment.
Colorado options J. C. Romero to AAA Colorado Springs.
Milwaukee sends Carlos Gomez to A Wisconsin on a rehab assignment.
St. Louis sends Nick Punto to AAA Louisville on a rehab assignment.
San Diego designates Pat Neshek for assignment.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.