Tag Archives: Detroit Tigers

2021 Game Log 157 – Tigers at Twins

Last game log of the 2021 season and looking back at my logs, I've been pretty grumpy. In my defense this team has been a huge disappointment and very frustrating to follow. A team that everyone thought had World Series aspirations that ends up losing around 90 games will do that to a guy. Also, they just weren't a fun team to follow. Blowout losses, late inning blow ups, injuries to key players, bad strategy, team faves being traded, newcomers who not only didn't perform well, but were lousy and not fun. The fact that I couldn't even have them on as background due to Bally Sports North shenanigans just rubbed salt in the wound. Also, I never bought into the the "since their horrible April and May, the Twins have done ok." No they haven't. They were supposed to win over 90 games not hover around .500. Last place in the Central 20 games under .500 cannot be seen in any positive light.

Ugh, I got that off my chest. Tigers come into town and they've been a little better than predicted and could be building something in Detroit. Twins haven't announced a pitcher as of 5:00p. It should be a glorious night for baseball so the ballpark is still cool. Byron Buxton is a blast to watch. You might get to see Miggy one last time. There are good reasons to head to the ballpark if you'd like.

First pitch 6:40p

2021 Game Log 102 – Tigers at Twins

I knew the Twins had stumbled out of the All Star break but I was shocked when I looked at the standings today. 15 games under .500, 3.5 games behind the Tigers! I think I've blocked out how bad it's gotten.

Maeda on the mound for the Twins, let's hope he's well rested after scoring the winning last night. Someone called Tyler Alexander for the Tigers and he looks about as mediocre as a Tigers starter would be as expected to be.

It's stinky hot and muggy tonight so not very pleasant at the ballpark if out in the sun. Let's play ball!

Twins Line-up
2B - Polanco
LF - Rooker
3B - Donaldson
C - Garver
RF - Kepler
DH - Sano
1B - Astudillo
CF - Celestino
SS - Simmons

Game 92 – Twins at Tigers

That last game 82 didn't really go like the previous 6 or 7.  Time to move on to game 92 today with J.A. Happ taking on Wily Peralta.

Jorge Polanco in July - .269/.304/.462

He's doing the whole "no walks, but more power" thing that he does sometimes, this right after drawing 6 walks and having two extra base hits in the last 10 games in June.

Max Kepler in July - .297/.350/.703

Any split that has Kepler hitting almost .300 is pretty remarkable. This is including his 0 for 5 yesterday.

2021 Game 82+4: Tigers at Twins

Game Time - 7:10 pm CDT

The Twins kick off their last series before the All-Star break against the Tigers tonight, and their last series at home until the Angels come to town on the 22nd. At 35-50, the Twins sit 15 games below .500 and in sole possession of last place in the division 15.5 games behind the Pale Hosers. I have to think that Messieurs Falvey and Levine are working overtime to figure out how to extract the most possible value for any player that's not a building block. At this point they have to have a chop shop mentality - strip  it to the frame, get what you can for the parts, and start rebuilding this broken down team.

There are no promotional giveaways tonight (there is a UND special ticket package), but tomorrow's game features the baby blue Twins replica jerseys to the first 10,000 fans, along with post-game fireworks. Saturday is the 30 HR Bomba Club bobblehead giveaway, and Sunday they're handing out Twins photo magnet schedules. The team has been drawing close to 20,000 fans per game at home since going to 100% capacity, even with the poor caliber of play on the field, so I'm thinking there's just a ton of pent up demand to take me out to the ballgame and low quality performance is not going to deter most people from coming out. It's nice being part of the ballpark experience for folks, but standing on concrete for six hours sure does take a toll on your lower extremities, and I'm working three out of four games this series starting tonight. I'm hoping for fast games with no extra innings, and any wins that the Twins might stumble into are a bonus. J.A. Happ on the hill for the Twins tonight, southpaw Tarik Skubal starting for the Tigers. Play ball!

Game 33: Twins @ Tigers

Kenta Maeda v. Matthew Boyd

I feel like the Twins have faced Matthew Boyd at least once a week for the past 6 years (checking b-r, and ... yep this will be his 274th career start against Minnesota). He's coming off a start cut short by injury and a skipped turn in the rotation so he hasn't pitched since April 29.

Another Sunday means another rubber match for this series. I think a series win over the Tigers is a pretty reasonable aspiration.