Game 129: Twins @ Angels
by Jesse on Aug 23, 2008 7:30 PM EDT
in Game Threads
61 comments
Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels, Aug 23, 2008 9:05 PM EDT
Pregame
Two of the American League's three division leaders are taking to the field for a brilliant Saturday night matchup. In what's become, from my perspective, a rivalry based on respect, the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels will square diamond off in round three of a very telling series for our boys from Minneapolis. Rounds one and two have gone to the away team, and while the first contest could have gone either way the Twins earned two big victories over a very good team.
To avoid dropping a series at home, the Angels will fly out another old nemesis. Right-hander Jon Garland spent eight seasons taking on the Twins while donning black and whites, but has already seen them once earlier in the season wearing red; on April Fool's Day he threw eight innings of six-hit, one-run ball in the Dome. But at his best, Garland is a back-of-the-rotation, smoke and mirrors pitcher. His stuff isnt overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination, with all due respect to a decent fastball, and gets by like a lot of pitchers have to get by in baseball...on a little grit, location, on pitching in-and-out, and, on good days, by limiting his walks. For Garland though, his strikeout rates are the lowest of his career (4.09 K/9), and his walk rates are the highest they've been in four years. He doesn't have a specific advantage against right-handed hitters (.796 opponent OPS) or left-handers (.821 opponent OPS). To state it plainly, Garland is a very mediocre and very plain pitcher...but in baseball, to be able to just be average for as long as Garland has been is an extraordinary achievement. So, in spite of how it may seem, Garland can string up zeros on the score board at any time. We've seen him do it many times over the course of his career. But hopefully in nine years the Twins have compiled a nice thick scouting report on the 28-year old, and can figure him out a bit easier than they did four and a half months ago.
For the Twins it's Nick Blackburn, who usually is the picture of consistency. In his last ten outings he's logged quality starts against the Tigers, Red Sox, Tigers again, Indians, Indians again, Mariners, and most recently the Athletics. Against Oakland he went eight innings, a great theme for Twins starters over the last week. Blackburn is better than most people have given him credit for, including me, and in spite of a very mediocre 4.6 K/9 his strikeout-to-walk ratio is a superb 3-to-1. His xFIP, at 3.98, is just 0.27 points higher than his traditional ERA. Meaning, that even if his future performance isn't sustainable on its current level, the difference between who his numbers say he is and who he actually has been is very small. Blackburn is effective, and that's the bottom line, and whether he's a number three or number four starter that's a very, very good thing.
For the Angels tonight I'm predicting: Figgins (3B), Aybar (SS), Teixeira (1B), Guerrero (RF), Hunter (CF), Anderson (DH), Kendrick (2B), Rivera (LF), Napoli (C)
And for the Minnesota Twins I like: Span (RF), Casilla (2B), Mauer (C), Morneau (1B), Kubel (DH), Young (LF), Buscher (3B), Punto (SS), Gomez (CF)
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First Place
Not sure what the exact stat is, but The Twins are something like 0-5 in their last 5 games after taking over first place. With another White Sox loss earlier today, lets see if the Twins can take advantage and gain some seperation from the south siders. Go Twins!
by .mnqwerd on Aug 23, 2008 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
was thinking the same thing
Let’s hope for another win tonight.
Win Twins!
by caluofmn on Aug 23, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bass Starts for Rochester vs Pawtucket
So Far, 3 innings Pitched, 3 Hits, 3 Runs, 2 Walks, 3 K’s
by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sox lose, Twins have a chance to pad lead, and take a one game lead in the card for insurance
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
by AdamOnFirst on Aug 23, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It'd be nice
if we could take advantage of the Chicago loss. They’d been on a bit of a streak.
by Jesse on Aug 23, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your Human Gameday is Here
Will be Following Via Game Day, Because im watching The Vikings.
by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Attitude
Going into this road trip, I would have been happy with a split in LA. Now, however, I want to see the Twins show some fire and attitude and not be happy with a split but push hard for a series win or even sweep. This is a huge chance to put some space on the Sox of both colors (who both lost today) so we need to show we want this game more.
by CCTwinsFan on Aug 23, 2008 9:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
2-0 Angels
Thank God The Rays Beat Chicago.
by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That is some hideous defense
by Buscher
by Eric in Madison on Aug 23, 2008 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ouch, just got back from dinner and crap...
Come on guys lets get some runs.
by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not his night tonight
it happens.
by Eric in Madison on Aug 23, 2008 10:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Casilla Walks
Bases Loaded, 1 out, How about a Grand Slam Mauer
by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, what an at bat for Mauer, and the tying run is on second!
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
by AdamOnFirst on Aug 23, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
announcers
I just watched a highlight on gameday, who took dick’s place today?
by Hoya on Aug 23, 2008 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that was the Angels telecast
They have Bert in the booth as a guest for a few innings.
by FROZEN on Aug 23, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and Justin
Gets a Run in, Unfortunatly theirs 2 outs.
by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bert
is doing a couple innings of color commentary for the Angels TV.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What a Bad Move
Apparently, According to the Red Wings Website, The Twins have Released Pitcher Casey Daigle, WHY he was doing pretty good this season.
by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Olympics are over
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's easy to forget
It’s easy to forget how this year’s team is different than before. We can come back from more of those 6-1 deficits like tonight since our strength is SCORING runs instead of PREVENTING them for the first time in awhile.
Also, GREAT at bat Joe!
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
by AdamOnFirst on Aug 23, 2008 11:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not the best position to put Boof in
however, Gardenhire doesn’t have much choice.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ooof, big K for Boof with 3 hard fastballs
Boof’s been coming on much stronger lately it seems. He’s been used as a sort of start extender for Gardenhire when the starter doesn’t make it through the middle innings. He’s been strong lately in the role and has become a valuable piece to keep the workload of the later bullpen guys down. Any such improvements in the bullpen is a big difference.
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
by AdamOnFirst on Aug 23, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tex hit the ball hard
but in how many parks is the a HR? Certainly not in the Dome.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rare
Boof gets a double play grounder and Buscher makes a nice defensive play. Casilla also with a really nice pivot.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Torii
Great catch in left-center
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They'll have to beat K-Rod
if they want to win tonight.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Pretty good effort
by Bonser, other than the rope allowed to Tex. He’ll probably get charged with two runs, though. Anaheim is pretty good about bringing players around.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mauer
has been throwing great lately. Still a lot of WP/PB, but his throwing has been outstanding.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Angel broadcasters
are convinced the Twins will be in the race to the end and “might just win the Central”. They praised the “never quit” of the Twins, plus said that they “keep coming at you”.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cant Win em all
i guess, Thank God for the Rays Win Today, Still in first, Stay Upbeat Twins Territory
by Tony_O on Aug 24, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Span
didn’t save the day tonight. It was a really good at-bat though.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 24, 2008 12:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
http://theblogofchampions.com/2008/08/24/offseason-plans-twins/
[This user is about to be banned.]
by jad on Aug 24, 2008 12:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Juan Rincon
Not a lot of thought put into that if they think the Twins are bring Juan Rincon back
by .mnqwerd on Aug 24, 2008 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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