Game 141: Tigers @ Twins
by Jesse on Sep 5, 2008 7:07 PM EDT
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PrintDetroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins, Sep 5, 2008 8:10 PM EDT
Pregame
Home sweet home! A few days back in the comforts of Dome (HA, see what I did there?) is exactly what this team needs. It'd be good to see the Twins turn around and rattle off a few wins in a row, and it can all start tonight with Francisco Liriano. He was awesome in August, even if he was a bit unstable at times, but it's hard to complain about six starts, 36.2 innings, a 1.23 ERA, 29 strikeouts and just 26 hits. His fastball keeps getting better--while peaking at 92 his last time out and averaging roughly 89.48 mph on the game (which is pretty much identical to his last start before demotion back on April 24), he's locating it better, which enables him to use his slider and improved changeup to his advantage. And with the Tigers having their share of free swingers, Liriano might be able to tally some strikeouts tonight.
Charged with keeping the Minnesota offense in check is now-familiar foe Armando Galarraga. We could talk about how good he's been in his last 10 starts, but let's just talk about how good he's been all year. In 24 starts he's allowed more than three earned runs just four times, and has gone at least seven innings in five of his last eight. So in a year that's been disappointing for the Tigers--from the state of the team to underwhelming performances from fellow starters Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman--Galarraga has been a bright spot and a glimmer of hope for next season. At just 26, the right-hander will likely be seen as a lock for Detroit's rotation in 2009. This will be his fifth start of the year against the Twins--he's 0-3 in the first four, covering 23.2 innings and allowing 15 runs on 28 hits.
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My Calls
1. Twins win 4-2….OR JUST A WIN, PERIOD.
2. Kubel goes yard.
3. Liriano—6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 5 K, 2 BB
4. Galarraga—7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 5 K, 2 BB
5. Span—two hits, and at least one fine defensive play
Frankie makes it easy
Great inning to start the game.
Well done!
James Brown sound so good
Nice to get a run.
Should have been more, but beggars can’t be choosers right now.
Galarraga looked awful in that inning.
I hate the Bitch Sox
They are leading, 2-0.
The Twins are going to rue the day that they failed to take advantage of Chicago’s struggles. They had opportunities to be ahead of Chicago, but it just didn’t happen.
A lift from Frankie
The Twins have been reeling lately, but at least Frankie is giving them a nice pick-me-up with his first two innings.
Liriano Looks Awesome tonight
I Must be the Good Luck Charm, I’m Wearing a Liriano Jersey right now.
Losses taking a toll
I wonder if this road trip has sucked the life out of everybody. It sure has for me. I am only watching the game since I have nothing to do tonight. The crowd is dead. Lot of empty seats tonight.
only 1 run
the offense once again fails to take advantage of a situation
I’m w/ you Timber, a team that is a real threat in October would be 2 or 3 games in 1st place by now. The Twins have had so many chances to take first and / or extend a lead in the standings.
Expecting to lose
Does everyone expect the Twins to blow this lead?
I sure do. This team is showing me nothing really again tonight.
Outside of Frankie, no one has distinguished themselves.
caluofmn
I thought this trip was an utter failure. How does anyone think it’s a success? Yeah the Twins are fortunate to be 1.5 games out, but that was because the White Sox failed to take advantage of the Twins’ struggles, and that’s even make the trip even failure. Chicago is a very good team, and they ain’t going to slump forever so the Twins are going to rue the day where they failed to take advantages. I don’t know about you, but this season is over for me, and I am just enjoying this game as a baseball fan more than a Twins fan.
Save us, Frankie
5 strikeouts, and three in a row by Frankie.
He is the only one that is doing his job tonight.
Delmon actually contributes
It’s been a very disappointing season for him, but at least, he did something that was meaningful. This HR was huge because a 1-0 lead is not going to cut it.
I hate the Bitch Sox
Bitch Sox leading 5-0.
Like I said, they weren’t going to slump forever and ever, and that’s why the Twins really need to be ashamed of themselves for what they did in this trip.
This is not going to end well
Thames homered.
2-1, Tigers.
If the Twins lose this one, they are going to get swept.
Liriano
This guy has been great tonight.
He is carrying this team in this contest.
White Sox are good
I disagree with you, mnqwerd. They got guys who can hit the ball. They will do fine without Quentin. Their pitching will dictate what Chicago is going to do. They got guys who can pitch, and their bullpen is better than the Twins.
I Have a Feeling
That the White Sox are Going to Choke, I Mean look at whos Managing the Team Its Ozzie Guillen for christs sake
Agree to disagree
They have guys who can mash the ball. But when they slump or teams pitch them well like the Twins did in their last meeting, they look pretty bad. The Twins have guys who can hit the ball as well and manufacture runs. They have scored about the same runs, the Twins doing it without much power. The sox bullpen is better, but honestly not by much. They have been stuggling lately as well. And I would take the Twins starters over the sox.
Ozzie is a good manager
I hate Ozzie Guillen, but the man won a championship, and he has done a very good job this year with this team. How can anyone overlook what he has done?
Also, mnqwerd, the White Sox can go manufacture runs. They can play small ball well with Ramirez and Swisher.
More of that, Justin
That grand slam was huge.
Justin needs to play like this for the rest of the month. They need him to save this sagging team.
Swisher
Doesn’t Swisher get on base a lot? I always see him on base often.
78 runs
the team as a whole has 700 runs scored or so. 201 home runs. I can’t tell how many Runs are based off a home run, but they have had 500 runs batted in (outside of the home run) now, now, say… oh.. average of 2 runs per HR, okay, so there’s 400 runs based off of home runs, with 300 runs scored otherwise.
The twins on the other hand:
713 (counting tonight) runs scored, 100 home runs. using the same 2 runs per home run, that leaves 500 runs not scored via home runs. I find this very interesting that two teams can be that different. I don’t think stats can say enough about Twins this year, it’s just one of craziest years I’ve ever seen.
Complete game is a must
Liriano needs to pitch a complete game tonight.
I don’t want to see anyone from the bullpen tonight, and that even includes Joe Nathan.
even if (when) the white sox win, twins are going to win too. no matter how bad the twins play the tigers will play worse. i’m a tigers fan first and foremost, but GO TWINS!
Shame on Detroit
It’s too bad the entire pitching staff stinks for the Tigers or else the Tigers would have been a playoff team.
Man great HR by Morneau
what sux is that b/c the Twins can never win when in first it’s a game that will only mean they stay at 1.5 games back. How great would it be if a win tonight meant the Twins stay 2 or 3 games ahead of the Sox
Yup I’m Captain Pooyhead for the rest of the season b/c I just don’t trust this team anymore.
I have given up
My faith in this team is done.
I am just enjoying the game for what it is.
If the Twins lose, life goes on. I got bills to pay and such.
here, here
plus this has already been a fun season, after all most ‘experts’ didn’t have the Twins finishing higher than 3rd or 4th
I can not disagree more
I will never lose faith in this team this year. Especially with how we were expected to do, and how close we are. You can’t lose faith based on how the White Sox do, they will lose eventually. They’re playing the Angels, games 2 and 3 can be very different. When you lose faith, you’ve turned your back on this franchise.
by CARXRiedmann on Sep 5, 2008 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Are you serious?
Just because you are down on your team or you give up does not mean you’ve turned your back on the team. Not watching the games means you are turning your back on the team. Calling it the way you see it means that you are a good fan. This season has been a fun year, but how does anyone feel good with the Bitch Sox winning the division not to mention that the Twins handed it to them. Plus, what makes anyone think the relievers will get themselves back on track.
Right now, I am just enjoying for what it is, and just enjoying a MLB game. That’s the approach you take now. You have to hope that this team somehow find themselves and get back at it.
yeah, you always hope but
the way the team has played you don’t hold your breath. The fact is the Twins should be at least a few games ahead of the Sox. They are not but they ARE close so could they pull of a division title sure but at this point I don’t think they are playing well enough consistently to do it
And I have not turned my back on this team. I live waay over on a coast and still watch EVERY game thru extra innings. If the Twins are on, I’m watching that is more than many people who live driving distance from the Dome
A good night for Delmon
He would be my player of the game if not for Frankie’s performance.
I love this board
w/ people like the Berminator and the Human Gameday, Da Territory is the place to be.
Bert loves underwears
Listening to Bert is something else.
Anyone else think this is the worst response the Sox could have
to losing Q?
You lose a guy Quintin and what does your team do? Go out and score a ton on the Angels.. I was hoping for a big FAIL from the Sox and having the loss get in their head
White Sox are more than Quentin
This idea that Carlos Quentin’s injury is going to hurt Chicago is ridiculous. The White Sox are more than just him. They got guys who can mash the ball in Knoerko, Thome, Junior Griffey, Swisher, and Ramirez. It’s not a one man team. Chicago is going to bomb if they have no pitching.
Yeah, but
Konerko has just started to turn it on, Thome has had his problems, and Swisher has just been average. Don’t even mention Griffey, considering how he has regressed. The pitching scares me more than the offense does.
by CARXRiedmann on Sep 5, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Losing Quentin
Is losing the best power hitter on a power-laden team. It isn’t the equivalent of the Twins losing Morneau, but it will be a loss to the Sox.
Chicago got a call-up starting for the Angels and they made him and the bullpen pay.
They will face tougher hurlers for the rest of the series.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Sep 5, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree on pitching
If the White Sox pitchers can pitch, they will be fine.
Twins are fortunate that Chicago has injuries. Losing Conteras hurt.
Kubel
Seems to get a lot more walks vs. lefthanders than righthanders. Do the stats bear that out?
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Sep 5, 2008 10:13 PM EDT reply actions
Just a Few of my Nicknames for Twins Players
Delmon “Only the Good Die” Young, Alexi “Cash Money” Casilla, Carlos “Go Getta” Gomez, Justin “The Canadian Beast” Morneau, Joe " The Clutch" Morneau, Denard “Sweet Money” Span, Joe “The Hammer” Nathan, Pat “Nasty Boy” Neshek, Craig “Big Papi” Breslow
(Yes i stole that from Boston haha), and Francisco “Flamethrower” Liriano. Just to name a Few
A laugher now
10-1.
Home cooking is that good.
Seriously, this team needed a game like this just to get the stress out of the way.
Didn' Thames have like 20 homers at the All-Star break?
He must have gone into an horrendous slump. I think I read that he had an injury issue as well.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Sep 5, 2008 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank goodness for Liriano
You have to like what Frankie has done. His last three outings has been vintage Liriano. He is back on track for good, and right now, he has to continue to pitch like this. He has done his job.
Souhan
Why do you hate Souhan?
I know Aaron Gleeman makes fun of him.
Souhan is good when he wants to be, but way too often, he tries hard to be funny when he is not, and he kisses up to the Twins way too often.
I liked Souhan
Untill he made the Moronic Comment that if the Twins wanted Adrian Beltre, they should have Traded Francisco Liriano
That was idiotic
I agree. It was not only that, but why would Seattle want Liriano when no one knew how Liriano would respond after a surgery and that trip to the minors.
My problem with Souhan is that he tries to hard to be cute and tries to be too hard to be like Barreiro. He just needs to report and describe a story. He is too good of a writer to do what he is doing.
TWINS WIN! TWINS WIN!
It’s so good just to enjoy a win.
This was a big win. They needed this. A loss, and it would have been a sweep this weekend, and for all intents and purposes, it would have been over.
For one night, we can enjoy.
Strib misses Barreiro
I did not like the fact that Barreiro left the paper. The paper misses him. Barreiro was entertaining, and he was a great writer. He told it like it is. He never sugarcoated stuff. I always looked forward to read Barreiro’s take whenever big things happen in Minnesota sports especially Mondays after Vikings football. I read the Morning Mix on KFAN.com, and Barreiro is great with that, but it’s not the same as he was in the paper. It’s a great move for him since he makes more at the radio station not to mention the newspaper business is dying. The fans misses out though.
Barreiro's show
I listen to him for the first two hours, and then I listen to Matt Thomas on KSTP.
Barreiro, Thomas, and Chad Hartman are my three favorite talk show hosts in the Twin Cities. The worst is PA and Dubay. I can’t stand those two especially with their blind optimism and lack of knowledge on baseball.
Oh and Darren “Doogie” Wolfsen is the best. Class act too.
Interesting
I Like PA and Dubay, i can deal with the Lack of Knowledge on Baseball, Because i know PA is a Great Mind for Basketball and Football and Dubay Knows his Hockey.
My Favorite is the Common Man Progrum.
Common is not that bad
Everyone hates Common for some reason, but I genuinely like him. He is funny, and he does not bullshit either. He calls it the way he sees it. People take him too seriously too, which is a problem. I will take him over PA and Dubay.
Here’s my problem with PA and Dubay. Those two are homers to a tee, and they will never call out anyone from Minnesota sports teams when it’s earned. Half the time, those two kiss up to their guests way too often. It’s just sick.
Liriano's back
What’s your take on Liriano? It’s been eight starts now I think, and you know what, he has been darn good. He was okay in the first five starts, but after three starts, he has been very good. The Liriano of 2006 is back, folks. This was a great performance tonight.
good Point about PA and Dubay.
as for Liriano, I think Hes Close to being back, Not Completely, Hes still a few Miles Per hour off on his fastball, But if he was Like this all season, I Think we would be talking about him for Cy Young instead of Cliff Lee
It's hard to match 2006
I don’t think that will happen anymore. That was unreal. Even if Liriano never had that injury, he wasn’t going to match that. I will take what he is doing. His last three starts was as good as it gets. I really love what he is doing. Tonight was great.
Rays lost
Now you are saying why I am talking about the Rays. Well the Red Sox are winning everyday and they look like they are a team that is ready for October. I could see them winning the division. The Rays are going to unchartered territory in September and they could be slumping so I could see the Twins and the Rays fighting for a wild-card spot. I would root for the Rays to lose as possible.
Im Not that Big of a Chad Hartman Fan
He Talks Politics WAY TO MUCH, Yeah Barreiro and Common talk Politics too, But Hartman dedicates like an hour of his show every day to politics, Too Much for Me when i can just turn on CNN if i want to hear that Much about Politics Daily
I Want the Rays to Make the Playoffs
Im a Big Fan of the Cinderella Story Type Team.
PS, Frank Caliendo is Funny as hell
Politics
I am not crazy about politics being talked about on a sports station. I can tolerate Barreiro since he is intelligent and he can talk about anything. Being a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I don’t have to vote.
Twins first
I want the Rays to make the playoffs, but if they are slumping and if a wild-card is in the taking, the Twins have to take advantage of it. I want the Twins to make the playoffs this year and if the Rays are on the way, then go Twins. I prefer that Chicago misses the playoffs. I hate the White Sox especially their trailor-trash fans. I hate everything about Chicago. Their sports teams win too much for my liking.
perfect world
Rays win the East (screw Red Sox nation)
Twins win the Central
Bitch Sox win the WC
Angels win the West
Angels destroy the Sox
Twins beat the Rays
Twins vs Angels to get in the WS (would love the Twins to beat the Angels and Torii to go on to the WS)
Crosstown Series Sucks
If I see Chicago/Chicago for the World Series, I will cry.
I rather die now than see this.
I just hate everything about Chicago. I hate Illini, Bears, Bulls, White Sox, Cubs, and the Blackhawks. Their fans are idiots in general.
oh hell no!
if it’s the sox v cubs in the WS, my TV will just remain in the off position until that is over…
Wild and Wolves don't get me excited
This is why I want the Twins to make the playoffs. I can’t get excited about the winter teams. The Wild will be medicore as usual and the Wolves are hopeless. The Wild will be one and out in the playoffs and Marian will be gone after this season. The Wolves are a mess from front office to coaching staff to players.
Chicago sports fans
They have had enough happiness to last a lifetime.
Minnesota sports fans have dealt with misery while Chicago sports fans have been silver spooned with championships. I am tired of them winning championships. I was so happy when Colts beat the shit out of Da Bears in the Super Bowl Couple of years ago.
Nothing is Worse than Cleveland Fans when it comes to Misery
The Tribe Havent Nor will they win a World Series, Cavs Havent Won a NBA Title and the Chances of the Browns Winning a Super Bowl again Not Their
well the Twins did win 2 world championships
before the White Sox won one again so it hasn’t been all bad
It's been 17 years and counting for Minnesota
True, but I want to win a championship real soon. I am hungry for one. The Wolves almost had it in 2004, and the Vikings got a sniff in 1998. It makes you even more hungry to get one.
It would be great for Minnesota if a championship landed there. I would do anything to get one particularly if the Twins won it. I was 11 years old when the Twins won the World Series. That was a fun feeling.
Only if Jackson is healthy
That, and him producing.
We’ll see. I still think Dallas is the team to best though.
Also, Vikings have symbolize disappointment.
Difference in Liriano
The difference between Liriano’s first five starts and now is that he is not laboring much out on the mound. He throws more strikes, and he does not walk batters anymore. He limits his hits to one per inning.
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