i don't have much for you guys, but thankfully this game didn't warrant much. didn't see it. kept a very wandering eye on gameday for the first few innings, but that was (mercifully) it. just a couple points to note:
please note that the "When will teh Suck End?" tag was already stored in the .org database.
so, after being swept, the twins leave balmore way down in-- well, you know...
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2MjRcVO4g
by the way, this clip is shockingly awesome, you guys.
(3 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)
Loading... Minor league rosters were set this week. Most of the transactions were merely assignments to the various clubs.
MINNESOTA 2 -- BALTIMORE 4
Lowest WPA - Pavano (7 IP, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 SO), Doumit (0 for 4), and Plouffe (0 for 1)
Highest WPA - Span (2 for 4)
Fangraphs - MLB Recap
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Ron Gardenhire turned to Rick Anderson and asked, "Is Duensing ready?" Anderson frowned and picked up the bullpen phone, speaking only a couple of words. After hanging up the phone, he returned to Gardenhire's side. "Ronald, he's ready, but I have to seriously question why we would use him in this situation."
"This is the perfect time to use him, late in the game, score's tied, Adam Jones is a dangerous hitter coming up."
Anderson blinked in confusion, "Tie game? Ronathan, it's not a tie game. And Adam Jones is right-handed, wouldn't you rather have Duensing come in to face Markakis for the lefty-lefty matchup?"
"Who?"
"Nick Markakis, the right-fielder."
"What are you talking about? Look, it's 0-0 in the eighth inning and I don't have time to do some ridiculous comedy routine with you and your made up ballplayers. We had a bad year last season, and I want to start this off right."
"Made up..? 0-0..? Wait, what do you think happened in the first inning?"
"We walked Hardy, then Pavano got a groundball or two and we got out of the inning. Pavano looked pretty good today, nice to see all those groundballs turning into outs isn't it? Just the one Hardy single on a groundball, but then he got Jones and Wieters and got out of it."
"Rontell, I think we need--"
"No time, got to make the pitching change now. Back in a second. And Rick? We don't need our bullpen walking people, talk to this Gray kid when he comes in, will you?"
Gardy made his way to the mound, and Scott Ullger made his way off the bench to join Anderson at the rail. "What was that about?"
"I think Ronwin has completely blocked Nick Markakis from his memory. He doesn't remember the 2-run homer in the first, or the RBI triple in the sixth, and I bet if we ask him, he won't remember Markakis' lead-off walk leading to a run in the fourth either. What are we going to do?"
"Send him home" Ullger said.
"I'm worried he wouldn't be safe there"
Ullger stared blankly, "Why would that matter?"
"Memory loss could be the sign of any number of serious problems. No, I think we should keep him here and try to keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't forget anyone else in this game."
----------------
To this day Ron Gardenhire believes that Josh Willingham's ninth inning donger won the 2012 season opener for the Twins, Rick Anderson has never corrected him, he figured it was a long season, it's probably best not to get too caught up in one result.
Day game alert!
Carl Pavano
vs
Jake Arrieta
I had some stuff written about the offseason, but it seems irrelevant now. It sucks going into a season knowing that finishing at .500 would be a success. I think the front office knows there are problems, but thinks there is no point throwing money at a few extra wins. And I am okay with that.
I recognize that about 28 of the teams actually need to have down years. It is very hard to maintain success over many years; you need everything to go right. However, now we get to play the waiting game. Will this be just a "retooling" or a rebuild?
Here's to everyone returning to form, a great draft, and Ryan swindling trading for undervalued assets. I love baseball, but not never-ending losing.
Guy Hecker (1856)
Larry Shepard (1919)
Alex Grammas (1926)
Art Ditmar (1929)
Wally Moon (1930)
Jerry Dale (1933)
Hawk Taylor (1939)
Larry Littleton (1954)
Darrell Jackson (1956)
Gary Pettis (1958)
Doug Baker (1961)
Chris Bosio (1963)
Mark Shapiro (1967)
Mike Lansing (1968)
Ryan Doumit (1981)
Kyle Phillips (1984)
Guy Hecker is one of three pitchers to have won over fifty games in a season. He is also the only pitcher to have won a batting title.
Larry Shepard managed Pittsburgh in 1968-1969. Coincidentally, he was replaced by Alex Grammas.
Actually three weeks.
Lester Oliveros was optioned to Rochester.
Deolis Guerra was optioned to Rochester.
Tyler Robertson was optioned to Rochester.
Oswaldo Arcia was optioned to Ft. Myers.
Scott Diamond was optioned to Rochester.
Darin Mastroianni was optioned to Rochester.
Aaron Thompson was assigned to minor league camp.
Steve Pearce was assigned to minor league camp.
Danny Rams was assigned to minor league camp.
Billy Killian was signed to a minor league contract.
Norberto Susini was signed to a minor league contract.
Rene Tosoni was optioned to Rochester.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka was optioned to Rochester.
Terry Doyle was returned to Charlotte.
Carlos Gutierrez was optioned to Rochester.
Luis Perdomo was assigned to minor league camp.
Jason Bulger was assgined to minor league camp.
Daryl Thompson was assigned to minor league camp.
Esmerling Vasquez was assigned to minor league camp.
P. J. Walters was assigned to minor league camp.
Chris Herrmann was assigned to minor league camp.
Dan Rohlfing was assigned to minor league camp.
Aaron Bates was assigned to minor league camp.
Wilkin Ramirez was assigned to minor league camp.
Sam Deduno was assigned to minor league camp.
Phil Dumatrait was assigned to minor league camp.
Danny Lehmann was assigned to minor league camp.
Ray Chang was assigned to minor league camp.
Matt Carson was assigned to minor league camp.
Derek Christensen was released.
Kane Holbrooks was released.
Matt Schuld was released.
Blayne Weller was released.
Dan Osterbrock was released.
Spencer Steedley was released.
Mike Tarsi was released.
Joel Zumaya was released.
Steve Pearce was released.
Jason Bulger was released.
Joe Benson was optioned to Rochester.
Jeff Manship was optioned to Rochester.
Drew Butera was optioned to Rochester.
Kyle Waldrop was placed on the fifteen day disabled list with a right elbow strain.
Deinys Suarez was released.
Dustin Martin was released.
Deolis Guerra was assigned from Rochester to New Britain.
Lester Oliveros was assigned from Rochester to New Britain.
Darin Mastroianni was assigned from Rochester to New Britain.
Chris Cates was released.
Brad Stillings was released.
Ben Tootle was released.
Tyler Koelling was released.
Roy Larson was released.
Matthew Bashore was released.
Rene Rivera was assigned to minor league camp.
Pedro Florimon was assigned to minor league camp.
Matt Rizzotti was acquired from Philadelphia for cash considerations.
Danny Rams was assigned to the Minnesota Twins.
Glen Perkins agreed to terms on a four year contract.
Gene DeMontreville (1873)
Art Herring (1906)
John Briggs (1944)
Wayne Twitchell (1948)
Greg Pavlick (1950)
Steve Howe (1958)
John Cangelosi (1963)
Mike Timlin (1966)
Aaron Bates (1984)
Twins on FSN+ right now, Wolves on the regular FSN at 7. Instead of cluttering up the CoC, how about a catch all post.