WGOM Videos

The Rapture – Echoes

Video 4 Comments

I went out for a couple of cold ones with some pals on Friday night. We went to young, hip, ironic people bars. We thought "hey we're Dads now. Let's remember what it was like to be young". Well every stupid bar we walked into was playing the Rapture way louder than it should have been.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyT5jGLfzJg

And yes, I understand that by playing the Rapture here and now I am no better than them.

4 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 104 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10 (4 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)
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2011 Twins Game Logs

2011 Game 44: Twins at—WHO CARES? THE PITCHERS ARE BATTING!

191 Comments

I love interleague. There are so many reasons to hate it - and there are lots of places to find those reasons. I just like seeing pitchers attempting to bat. Without interleague, we don't get our favorite Johan Santana moment (the video link doesn't work, so just close your eyes, the highlight reel is still there, I'm sure). You don't get the crazy over-managing that ends with pitchers in left-field and utility infielders sitting on the bench, praying the game ends before their crazy manager gets any ideas and has them warming up in the bullpen.

I like that style of baseball. I don't know that I'd like it all the time, but a few games a year is interesting to me. I almost feel cheated when a National League team comes to Target Field, because that doesn't give me my "pitchers wearing batting helmets" fix.

Luckily, the Twins have seen fit to play much better as of late (well... the last 4 or 5 games, anyway). Now I'll have extra reason to enjoy sitting down, cracking open a beer and watching some late-night baseball.

Maybe they'll even win one for me tonight. Considering the fact that they're 1-6 on Saturdays, maybe that's asking for too much though. I guess I'll just be satisfied with the fact that I'm going to be able to watch Scott Baker bat.

Speaking of, here are tonight's pitchers.

Scott Baker (.050/.050/.050, 0 HR, 0 RBI, -0.3 WAR)
Micah Owings (.295/.323/.528, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 2.9 WAR)

Both of those are career lines, as neither pitcher has batted in 2011. For Baker, this is because he plays in the wrong league to show off his impressive hitting skills. For Owings, it's because while his secondary skills are legendary (he's pretty much the best hitting pitcher of all time), his primary skills (keep the opposing team from scoring runs) are sadly lacking. This is his first start in 2011, but lefties have eaten him alive over the course of his career, so unless the game is decided by which pitcher is a better batter, I like the Twins' chances.

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of 5/20

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Rochester 5, Gwinnett 2 in Gwinnett.  Aaron Bates singled and homered, Brian Dinkelman singled and doubled, and Ray Chang and Chase Lambin each had two hits.  Andrew Baldwin struck out eight in 6.2 innings to get the win, giving up one run on seven hits and two walks.  Jim Hoey struck out two in a perfect ninth for the save.

New Hampshire 6, New Britain 2 in New Britain.  The Fisher Cats scored two in the third and two in the fourth to build a four-run lead.  Yangervis Solarte had two hits, raising his average to .362.  Bobby Lanigan lasted only four innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits and a walk.  Spencer Steedley struck out three in a scoreless inning.

Ft. Myers 7, Brevard County 2 in Ft. Myers.  The Miracle scored three in the sixth to put away the victory.  Brian Dozier had a triple and two singles, raising his average to .322.  Aaron Hicks singled and doubled.  James Beresford drove in three runs.  Kane Holbrooks got the win, pitching five innings and giving up one run on four hits and three walks.  Brad Tippett worked two perfect innings of relief.

Kane County 4, Beloit 3 in Beloit (13 innings).  The Snappers scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to tie the game at two, and scored one more in the tenth to tie it at three, but ultimately fell short.  The winning run scored on a walk, a single, a wild pitch, and two more walks.  Wang-wei Lin had two doubles and a single.  Lance Ray singled and doubled.  Pat Dean struck out five in six innings, walking none and giving up a run on five hits.  Jose Gonzalez pitched two shutout innings.  Ryan O’Rourke started the thirteenth and took the loss.  Cougar pitchers struck out seventeen Snappers.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 21

2 Comments

Fred Dunlap (1859)
Eddie Grant (1883)
Earl Averill (1902)
Hank Johnson (1906)
Mace Brown (1909)
Monty Stratton (1912)
Larry Napp (1919)
Ed Fitz Gerald (1924)
El Tappe (1927)
Moe Thacker (1934)
Barry Latman (1936)
Kent Hrbek (1960)
Bryce Florie (1970)
Tom Martin (1970)
Chris Widger (1971)
Josh Hamilton (1981)
Matt Wieters (1986)

El Tappe had a twin brother, Mel Tappe, who played in the minors.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 21 →

WGOM Videos

R.E.M. – It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Video 4 Comments

all right, for this special occasion, i really wanted to play "darker with the day", the stunningly beautiful finale to nick cave and the bad seeds' equally beautiful 2001 release no more shall we part. alas, except for a couple of blurry coffeehouse troubadours, there were no live performances to be found (i do recommend clicking on the above link in its stead).

barring that, we'll go for the obvious, hackneyed choice (as bS already scooped the blondie cut).
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-bokeh9rDo
1991

happy rapture, everyone!

5 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 105 votes, average: 8.40 out of 10 (5 votes, average: 8.40 out of 10)
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2011 Twins Game Recaps

2011 Game 43 Recap: Gemini 7, Crotalus Atrox 8

16 Comments

snakebit

Weather: 82 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind: 5 mph, R to L
Time: 2:46
Attendance: 27,450
Umpires: HP - Tim Tschida. 1B - Jeff Nelson. 2B - Marty Foster. 3B - Bill Welke

Box Score
Fangraphs

Three times this season the Twins have won three games in a row and failed to extend the streak to four. Three times. They failed again tonight in Arizona, their inaugural inter-league game of the 2011 campaign, but you have to give the boys credit for making it interesting. If you told me after the seventh, down by four runs in the wreckage of a five run Diamondback inning, that the boys would come back and break my heart in the ninth I would have offered up an earnest guffaw.

Continue reading 2011 Game 43 Recap: Gemini 7, Crotalus Atrox 8 →

2011 Twins Game Logs

2011 Game 43: Minnesota Twins at Arizona Diamondbacks

183 Comments

Brian Duensing vs Ian Kennedy

And now begins the interleague preview.

The Twins have played the Diamondbacks three times. The most recent series was here in 2008, sweeping them. Livan out pitched Webb for the win in game 1. The Twins visited Arizona in 2005, winning the series 2-1, and again in 2004 with the same results. Their sole loss was a complete game by Randy Johnson. I guess Silva, Aaron Fultz, and Joe Roa weren't a good match against him. In 2003, the Twins lost the series 1-2, with the sole win coming from spot starter Santana. It was his final start for a month before he was permanently installed in the rotation.

Following the clear progression, I predict a sweep.

Keeping Track

This Week in Twins Transactions

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Delmon Young was reinstated from the disabled list.
Jose Mijares was placed on the fifteen day disabled list.
Anthony Swarzak was recalled from Rochester to Minnesota.
Phil Dumatrait was recalled from Rochester to Minnesota.
Rene Tosoni was optioned from Minnesota to Rochester.
Jim Hoey was optioned from Minnesota to Rochester.
Jason Repko was assigned to Rochester on injury rehab.
Steve Holm was designated for assignment, then outrighted to Rochester.
Yorman Bazardo was placed on the seven day disabled list by Rochester (sore right forearm).
Steve Singleton was sent from Rochester to New Britain.
Ryan Mullins was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Daniel Osterbrock was sent from New Britain to Ft. Myers.
Danile Osterbrock was placed on the seven day disabled list by Ft. Myers (shoulder injury).
Logan Darnell was promoted from Beloit to Ft. Myers.
Pat Dean was promoted from Elizabethton to Beloit.
Ben Tootle was activated from the disabled list by Beloit.

Keeping Track

Where They Stand

2 Comments

Rochester is 15-23, sixth (last) in the IL North, 8 games behind Lehigh Valley.  The Red Wings have lost two in a row and are 3-7 over their last ten games.

New Britain is 23-14, second in the EL East, 1 game behind New Hampshire.  The Rock Cats have lost one in a row and are 8-2 over their last ten games.

Ft. Myers is 23-18, second in the FSL South, 2 games behind St. Lucie.  The Miracle has won three in a row and is 4-6 over its last ten games.

Beloit is 21-19, tied for third in the ML West, 8.5 games behind Burlington.  The Snappers have lost two in a row and are 4-6 over their last ten games.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.