10/6 Game Thread: Minnesota Twins @ Oakland Athletics

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 2:53 AM EDT in News

Elimination Game One.

Yes, it's Game Three of the ALDS, but for the Minnesota Twins it's the first game of three that the Twins need to win consecutively. On the mound is Brad Radke.

Since the turnaround in early June, the Twins have seemed to be a team of destiny. No injury was too great, no game was too daunting and no one performance indicted the club's identity. Nothing stopped Minnesota from doing what it seemed the baseball gods wanted them to do: WIN.

Through the first two games of this series, Oakland has outplayed Minnesota in every angle that counts. Where it counts is performance, and everything stemming from it: personnel decisions on and off the field, individual player decisions, playing to the opponent's weaknesses and playing to your own strengths. Oakland has proved that once again, no matter how fantastic and storybook-perfect a "team of destiny" sounds, it's nothing but individual perception. Minnesota is no more deserving of a title than Oakland is...in fact, Oakland has won the first two games of this series. Oakland is more deserving than the Twins.

So today at three, the Minnesota Twins make their last stand. Standing between Oakland and the ALCS is Brad Radke.

In what could be the last start of his career, Brad Radke gets one more chance to do for the Twins what he's done all his career. He gets one more shot to come out a hero in a big game. He gets one more opportunity to continue his career, if only for one day, on the note of a champion. Brad Radke is afforded, one last time, the fortune to stand between life and death for his team.

If this were a storybook, this is where it would begin. A grizzled veteran would play past his pain, beyond what makes him fallible. His gutty performance would inspire the team to victory, all the way to the end.

This isn't a storybook; the Oakland Athletics aren't the antagonist. What this is is a great story in real life. Brad Radke, who has honored the franchise with his presence for 12 years, will pitch the most meaningful game of his career on what could be his last.

On October 6, 2004, Brad Radke was removed in the seventh inning of an ALDS game against the Yankees in New York. Two years later to the day, he can begin the final chapter of his career on a happier note.

He'll do it. GO TWINS.

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Comments

Well here's hoping but...

Dan Haren has pitched 14 innings against the Twins this year, yielded 6 hits and no runs. Radke is the man and it will be a spectacle to see him battle, but as I've said numerous times on here, it ain't the pitching that's going to do in the Twins. It's their pathetic lack of hitting. Piranhas and all of that are fun, but when the chips are down you need more talent than the Twins lineup currently possesses. I hope I'm terribly wrong. I hope the Twins win fourty seven world series in a row. I don't think they'll score any more runs today than they have in games 1 or 2. If Radke et al can hold Oakland to 1 or less, we may win. Otherwise, let the Torii for 07? speculation begin.

GO TWINS

by HrbekIsMyHero on Oct 6, 2006 10:34 AM EDT reply actions

Talent

Piranhas and all of that are fun, but when the chips are down you need more talent than the Twins lineup currently possesses.

That's the problem...I believe the Twins have more talent on the offensive side of the ball than the Athletics...they just aren't showing it. It's disappointing to say the least. Buy you're 100% accurate with the comment about run support. Odds are against us winning this one if we can't score more than 2 runs again.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Offense

I believe the Twins have more talent on the offensive side of the ball than the Athletics...they just aren't showing it.

Individually, there are Twins doing very well. White has three hits, including a homer, and an OPS of 1.000, as does Hunter. Morneau has four hits and a homer, with an OPS of over 1.000. If Cuddyer manages a single in his next at-bat, he'll be right with these guys. Meanwhile, Castillo has three hits and three walks as the leadoff man, which is as much as anybody can ask from a leadoff guy - he's been on base about half of the time he's been up, if not a little more.

The problems:

Punto 'hitting' second (one scratch single and a bunch of painful slides into first).
Mauer having an un-Mauer-like series.
Still no production from the DH.

The first and last should have been foreseen. The second? Well, just ask Eric Chavez about the importance of post-season success to your rep...

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction

Morneau now has five hits and two homers...

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I just have to say

I am an A's fan, over here form athleticsnation, and I am wonderfully surprised at the posts on this site. You gus rock, you treat your opponents with respect, and don't resort to the ridiculous nonsense that happens at, say, Halos Heaven.

I am thrilled to be playing a team like the Twins, not all that different from the A's, in the postseason. You guys rock.

by ORthey on Oct 6, 2006 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

I appreciate the comments...

If we have to lose (I pray we don't of course) I can't think of a team I'd rather lose to than the A's. Talk about an organization that has it all right. If you guys do beat us, I'll be rooting for the A's to win the whole thing.

And I'll be there in Oakland for game 4 tomorrow if Bradke can do it, RF seats.

Come on Bradke. Pitch us a gem!

by djskilbr on Oct 6, 2006 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, and...

I think we all can agree that Angels' fans are the worst in sports (well, them or USC football fans). I live here in SoCal and it is utterly ridiculous the bias they spew out.

by djskilbr on Oct 6, 2006 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Glad to have you.

It's hard not to love the A's, if only just a little.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

"For Love of the game"

Does Radke's outing today remind anyone else of Costner's movie? It does to me. Although I don't expect a complete game no hitter, I am hopeful that Brad has one more great game in him...or maybe two or three!

by roger @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha...

...I love that movie. My mom refused to watch it because she thought the characters had no moral sense.

Oh well.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

How about another Costner movie?...

I'll be rooting for Brad "Kinsella (dad)" Radke today, that's for sure.

by djskilbr on Oct 6, 2006 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

You should see us against the White Sox...

There's something to be said for the idea that the A's aren't really a Twins rival, so the worst of our ire doesn't come out. A's/Angels and Twins/White Sox tends to bring out the worst in some folks, which is a shame.

That said, there are just too many similarities between the A's and Twins, especially these days (small-budget, developmental focus, pitching-and-defense emphasis) for a knowledgable Twins fan not to have at least a bit of admiration for what the A's manage to pull off seemingly every year.

Oh, and that whole 'come back from near-death to win the division' thing? You guys were all over that back in 2004... ;)

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey there

Another outsider posting here. I'm a Mets fan, but live in ND so I get to speak with many Twins fans at work and such. Rooting for a win of course. Seems like I have more faith than many of my coworkers do at this point, but I'd love to see Radke pull off the storybook game. Good luck.

by The Irresistable Force on Oct 6, 2006 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

Radke

I think it's a good omen that my Brad Radke jersey just arrived in the mail at least 2 days early. In the midst of everything in upstate NY here I will where at proud and hope that soon I will be able to wear into the lionsden of Yankee Stadium (hey maybe Shea too?)

break the 30 HR curse!

by caseintheface on Oct 6, 2006 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

LINEUPS

Minnesota Name POS Castillo 2B Punto 3B Mauer C Cuddyer RF Morneau 1B Hunter CF White LF Tyner DH Bartlett SS

Oakland Name POS Kendall C Kotsay CF Bradley RF Thomas DH Chavez 3B Payton LF Swisher 1B Scutaro SS Jimenez 2B

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

Cuddyer

First and second, one out, and we ground into another double play. I understand it's just the first inning, but the sooner we break out of this "we don't like to score runs" funk, the happier I'll become.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

Radke

Nice first inning. He didn't look any different to me...anyone else notice anything out of the ordinary?

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

WOW

Bartlett swings at a ball in the dirt for strike three, stranding Morneau on first.

Two innings in a row with RISP and less than two outs...nothing to show for it.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

Chavez goes BOOM

Y'know, for not being healthy, Chavez really got a HOLD of that ball. Damn.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

Little League

I need to go watch a little league game so I can see a team bat well.

If I had to always watch the Twins bat like they are in these playoff games, I think I'd have to give up baseball and switch my favorite sport to syncronized swimming.

These first two innings have me pulling up Google to start searching for info on sync swimming.

by krakoose on Oct 6, 2006 4:48 PM EDT reply actions

Blegh

Just a horrible feeling right now. That second run came in from a pitch that was inside-outed, and generally that's going to turn into an out. Instead it shoots down the right field line for a hit.

Killer.

Missed opportunities at the plate putting the Twins in an early hole. Grr.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

Scutaro

I realize it's simple-minded, but consider the following:

If the A's had Jason Bartlett, and we had Marco Scutaro, we'd be winning this series right now.

If the game ends with the Twins scoring two runs or less, I don't see how you give the series MVP to anybody but Scutaro. It's not 'domination' by any means, but the guy's just done every little thing the A's have needed him to do this series, and it's paid off in spades.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

Even more true...

...now that a Bartlett biff leads to a 2-run shot instead of a solo. I'm dying inside.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Where is our team?

These are not the Twins. Somehow, our Twins were kidnapped and replaced with look-alikes who would make the Royals look good. These are not the players I watched and loved for 162 games this summer.

http://www.usasynchro.org/ Dang, this sync swimming stuff looks interesting.

by krakoose on Oct 6, 2006 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Three Up, Three Down

..in the third inning. Nobody made ANYTHING resembling solid contact against Haren. If the Twins don't start getting some hits now, this game is going to get faster and faster and spin out of control, because Haren won't be throwing anything but strikes until the Twins prove they can HIT a strike.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

Thomas

...just missed the second homer of the INNING.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

4-0 after Three

So, really, it could be lots worse. Radke might be on the ropes, which is sad. The offense needs to take some pressure off of the pitching staff, NOW.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Hunter

goes DDDEEEEEPPP!!!! NICE!!

Torii comes up big...it's a nice start, deep to left field. Let's keep it going!

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

Rad out?

Do they leave Radke in to face Kotsay with two out, given the two hits he's already give up with two out?

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

Guess the answer is 'yes'

and given that they didn't pull him with a runner in scoring position in the fourth, I think they're going to try to give him a full five innings.

As long as he doesn't fall apart in the fifth, Radke will walk off the mound after five - which is all you can ask for as a starter.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Radke retires Kotsay

It may be the final out recorded in the career of Brad Radke.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:31 PM EDT reply actions

Anouncers

If we win this game, is Radke's career really over? The announcers seem to already be conceding the game to the A's.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

We'd have to win the series...

...for Radke to get another start this post-season, and it's a given at this point that he's retiring after the post-season is done.

I actually wouldn't mind seeing Radke start game 2 of the Championship Series, but it's a longshot as to how we get there, especially down three with half of this ballgame already over.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I think

they're under the impression that Radke would be in too much pain to pitch again, regardless of the outcome of the game. Watching replays, he was obviously throwing in a great deal of pain...but when was the last time he didn't?

The game isn't over, not yet. If we win the series somehow, I certainly hope Brad has enough in him for another start. I don't want to see him go out like this; he deserves better. He at least deserves a chance from his offense.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Punto

Gotta say, even being as underwhelmed as I've been with Bartlett this series, Nick Punto is the last guy on the roster I want to see coming to bat with the bases empty, two out, and Mauer on deck.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

And of course...

...he goes and shows me up as soon as I post that.

Heh, keep it up for the rest of the game, and I'll live with it. :)

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Mauer

I think Mauer owns a patent on the ground ball to 2nd with men on base.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

0-18

Those are the Twins numbers with RISP this series. Pathetic. There's no joy in Mudville when that happens.

Or in Minneapolis.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 5:44 PM EDT reply actions

Radke out...

...Perkins in.

Thanks for the memories, Brad. Sorry we couldn't at least tie it up for you.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

Perkins out...

...Rincon in.

In what probably counts as one of the shortest 'long relief' jobs in Twins history.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Radke

I can't bear to watch Radke in the dugout right now... I feel so bad for him.

Please Twins, win one for Brad.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

Why Perkins?

Why go to Perkins with the heart of the order due up?

I don't really understand the reasoning behind Gardy's decisions, particularly in the playoffs.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Fudge

We can't even score when we score. Thanks ump.

by krakoose on Oct 6, 2006 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

Are you kidding me?

What were Hunter/Ulger thinking?

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

Horrible Mental Mistake

Why even take that chance? That blunder could cost us the game...and once again, Hunter is involved.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes

Hunter shouldn't have gone, but he was only out because the catcher was waiting for him with the ball for while. Hunter touched before, if ever, being tagged.

by krakoose on Oct 6, 2006 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Without seeing it...

...it's hard to comment, but I can't say I'm opposed to the theory. Hunter should be able to score from second on a single, and Bradley isn't known to have a great arm - strong, but not accurate. He's never had even double-digit assists even once in his career, and had just 4 this year for the A's.

Still, it is one more bad break for the Twins. Not sure they can survive any more.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Another Mistake

If you saw the play, you would have realized that Bradley was playing extremely shallow and fielded the ball roughly 40 - 50 ft behind the infield. It's just not worth the risk with the game on the line, even if he was safe. At worst, you've scored a run and have 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Instead, we score a measly run in the inning.

I am really getting sick of these mental errors. Of course, I'm not surprised with Ullger at 3rd base.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Three chances left...

...and it starts with Bartlett in the top of 7.

Let's see if Mr. Bartlett can begin redeeming himself for this series.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:14 PM EDT reply actions

Am I the last guy in the world to realize...

...that our two lefty relievers in this series were Perkins and Dennys?

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

Nice work, Crain

Gets ahead 1-2, then walks Swisher, the king of striking out.

5-2, Oakland. Bases still loaded.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 6:40 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

I can't believe this is the same Twins team that played .700 ball since June. This has to be one of the most abysmal performances in recent post-season history.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 6:42 PM EDT reply actions

Game, Set, Match, Season...

Scutaro comes through huge, big surprise, with a BASES CLEARING double. 8-2, Oakland.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 6:42 PM EDT reply actions

Yep

Amazing that it's Scutaro, again - and again with a two out double.

Scutaro - five hits, four doubles (three with two out), six RBI, zero errors

Bartlett - two hits, one double, zero RBI, two errors

The amazing thing is, even most A's fans would probably given us the 'advantage' at short at the start of the series - they'd have rather had Crosby out there, at minimum.

That just goes to show you that the playoffs can make a hero out of anybody.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Heros

That just goes to show you that the playoffs can make a hero out of anybody.

Take Mark Lemke, for example. "The Little Puke", as my dad refers to him.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Or...

Scott Brosius, the 'hero' of the 1998 Yankee World Series.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

So many terrible plays...

In just this 3 game series alone we've seen the following:

Game 1:
-Castillo thrown out stealing in the 1st inning
-Castillo refuses to bunt
-Bartlett's error costs Santana 20+ pitches
-Zero hits with RISP

Game 2:
-Hunter's dive
-Castillo's 3 K's looking
-Bartlett's botched double play before Hunter's dive
-Zero hits with RISP

Game 3:
-Bartlett's error
-Radke drops a routine pop-up
-Morneau's error
-Crain walks in a run

I'm sure I'm missing some memorable bad plays, but that sure is a lot to name off the top of my head.
The Twins' didn't even show up this series, and we've embarrassed ourselves in front of a national audience. This is NOT the Twins team we saw the majority of the season.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

One more...

I forgot Hunter getting thrown out at home, essentially killing any momentum we had.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually...

Castillo's 3 K's looking

I'll live with this - I'd far rather see a guy take a called strike three than make a swinging strike three on a ball a foot out of the zone.

All that said, this series went a lot more like the early-season than the late-season Twins.

And Matt 'the human victory cigar' Guerrier comes in to mop up.

Thanks for the season, guys.

by dwintheiser on Oct 6, 2006 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

Tyner is no DH

The Twins can't even pretend to mount ANY semblence of a rally, as Tyner grounds into a double play. I could handle him as a light-hitting outfielder, but not as a speedy DH.

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

FINAL: Oakland 8 Minnesota 3

by Jesse on Oct 6, 2006 7:06 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

Thanks for the great season everyone. I'll definitely be on TwinkieTown over the offseason looking forward to a Twins WS championship in 2007.

by MauerPower @ Twinkie Town on Oct 6, 2006 7:07 PM EDT reply actions

Morneau

After Morneau hit his meaningless sol jack in the ninth, he shook his head a bit as he rounded first. he knew he and the rest of the team had already screwed the pooch and all his great hitting woulnd't undo the four run inning his error allowed.

That inning was bad. It exemplified how the postseason went hrribly wron for us. Three walks and an erros to give up a big inning was NOT Twins baseball this year.

As soon as scutaro's bat propelled the ball forward, I slumped down. The result of the play and game was iced at that mment, before the camera angle ever changed.

"Baseball is great because you can't take a knee or kill the clock. You have to put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn chance." C Stengel

by AdamOnFirst on Oct 7, 2006 1:59 AM EDT reply actions