Baseball is back. The winter was (err.....remains) long, but that doesn't matter now. Baseball is back.
And the Twins will probably be good! Buxton looks ready to go, we still, against all odds, have one of the best shortstops in baseball, and Jhoan Duran still throws a million miles per hour.
Today, it's Sonny Gray's turn to beat up on the Royals. I might actually be able to watch some of this one, so that will be a treat.
Go Twins!
Chris Von der Ahe (1851)
Ed "The Only" Nolan (1857)
Bill Brubaker (1910)
Dick Stuart (1932)
Jake Gibbs (1938)
Jim Kaat (1938)
Joe Niekro (1944)
Buck Martinez (1948)
Willie Norwood (1950)
Guy Sularz (1955)
Orlando Mercado (1961)
Russ Springer (1968)
Todd Ritchie (1971)
Glendon Rusch (1974)
Esmerling Vasquez (1983)
Sonny Gray (1989)
Danny Santana (1990)
Promoter/entrepreneur Chris von der Ahe, referred to as "Bill Veeck with a handlebar mustache", owned the St. Louis franchise from 1882-1899.
With the addition of Sonny Gray, November 7 ties November 1 for the most Twins birthdays, with nine. Apparently, if you want your son to play for the Twins, it helps to have him born in November.
Zack Greinke
vs
Sonny Gray
This is Greinke's fourth start against the Twins this year. He's 0-3 so far, although one was a 0-1 loss. He's otherwise having a perfectly average season.
Just like the Twins exactly average 70-70 season. At this point, I'm simply hoping to finish with at least 82 wins. There are 11 games remaining against teams below .500 with the other 11 against Cleveland or Chicago.
Sonny Gray
vs
Ryan Pepiot
Twins now tied with the Guardians in the division. BR ranks them both as average teams. Finishing 81-81 does feel like an accomplishment considering how the season has gone after May. FanGraphs projects them for 84 wins. Keep it close fellas and I'll find out in the morning.
This is a game log.
The end of this game will mark the halfway point of the season. Bullpen insanity aside (seriously. Falvine needs to fix the bullpen... Like.... Yesterday), it's hard to deny that it's gone better than we expected. The White Sox are hurt and still hilariously managed by Tony LaRussa. The Clevelanders are dangerous, but they don't get to face our bullpen every game the rest of the season. And we've still got this guy...
BYRON BUXTON WALKS IT OFF 🙌
(via @Twins)pic.twitter.com/SuvRc45SP5
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 2, 2022
Today, the Sonny Gray takes the mound to try to fend off the Orioles. Gray's been great so far this season, and this kind of looks like a mismatch on paper with Baltimore countering with a not all that good Jordan Lyles. Maybe our lineup doesn't believe is Jeremies. Let's hope.
Not sure who thought Minnesota and Cleveland would be duking it out for first place of the division, but here we are. Don't have too much time to go into the importance of these games, but I don't think I have to either.
Sonny Gray* takes the mound against the youngster McKenzie. Hopefully the Twins left their assbats at home. Here's to a good series!
(*Whenever I hear the name Sonny Gray, I sign it to the tune of "Nite And Grey".)
Oh, MLB's free game today for those not in the blackout.
Triston McKenzie
vs
Sonny Gray
1/8 of the way through the battle for first and it could have started better. The plus side is Pagán is unlikely to pitch again tonight.
Sonny Gray
vs
Marco Gonzales
Day-ish game alert! The starters keep returning and today we get Gray back. No rehab start for Gray and he had a simulated game with all of 30 pitches so I don't know how much to expect out of him today.
Today's game is on YouTube so you can watch right here.
Sonny Gray
vs
Daulton Jefferies
Odd start time day game alert!
The Twins face Jefferies again but Jeffers caught last night so once again, no Jeffer...s matchups.
