Minnesota Twins @ Los Angeles Angels GameThread, Aug 23, 2008 9:05 PM EDT

Game 129: Twins @ Angels

by Jesse on Aug 23, 2008 7:30 PM EDT in Game Threads Comment 61 comments

Minnesota Twins @ Los Angeles Angels

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)

Lineup

Minnesota Twins @ Los Angeles Angels

08/23/08 9:05 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins	Los Angeles Angels
Denard Span - RF	Chone Figgins - 3B
Alexi Casilla - 2B	Erick Aybar - SS
Joe Mauer - C	Mark Teixeira - 1B
Justin Morneau - 1B	Vladimir Guerrero - RF
Jason Kubel - DH	Torii Hunter - CF
Delmon Young - LF	Garret Anderson - DH
Brian Buscher - 3B	Juan Rivera - LF
Nick Punto - SS	Howie Kendrick - 2B
Carlos Gomez - CF	Mike Napoli - C

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Jon Garland	11-8	25	25	1	0	0	0	158.0	183	84	76	19	48	71	4.33	1.46

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Nick Blackburn	9-7	25	25	0	0	0	0	152.2	170	74	63	15	26	78	3.71	1.28

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Comments

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

Ouch.

That’s a rough start to the game.

by Jesse on Aug 23, 2008 8:18 PM EDT up 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

And Blackie gets a DP

to end the Inning

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 9:23 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

3-0

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

its 4-0 Angels

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:06 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

4-1

Casilla Homers

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and its 6-1

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:31 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

Black isn't fooling anyone tonight.

by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:33 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

buscher

starting the comeback!

by Hoya on Aug 23, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Go BU....

by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

6-2

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:41 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

Rally time...

by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, what an at bat for Mauer, and the tying run is on second!

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 23, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Knocked Garland out in the 5th.... rally, rally, rally....

by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:49 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

Go Justin!

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This would be a good time to break out of the slump.

by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:51 PM EDT 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

Blackburn needs to shut them down next inning.

by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1-2-3 inning... come on Black...

by Beerbear on Aug 23, 2008 10:57 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

But you could have Optioned Swazark back down to New Britian

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

I am surprised that they released Daigle, as he was doing pretty well this year, but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. He was never really going to play a part for the Twins.

by Hoya on Aug 23, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Blackburn's night

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:00 PM EDT 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!

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

Booooof

comes through! Big k there.

by Hoya on Aug 23, 2008 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Get Blackburn off the hook!

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 23, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

BOOOOOOOFFFFFF

by Tony_O on Aug 23, 2008 11:06 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.

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 23, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs