Game 17: Twins @ Indians
by AdamOnFirst on Apr 24, 2009 6:58 PM EDT
in Game Threads
48 comments
Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Indians, Apr 24, 2009 7:05 PM EDT
Game Time: 6:05 PM CDT
TV: FS-N, MLBtv
Audio: TSN
"Big" matchup tonight of two teams who have disappointed.
The Twins come into today's game 7-9 while the Indians come in 6-10. Both teams had pre-season aspirations of a division title and are looking to get back on the right track. Fortunately for both, the division leading three headed monster in Chicago, Detroit, and Kansas City are only a lukewarm 8-7, leaving plenty of opportunity for anyone to take the reigns in the division as April ends.
Nick Blackburn goes tonight for the Twins. He's been alright for the team this year, and I'm convinced he's pitched better than his ERA in a couple of his starts, but he's still getting more air outs than ground outs and sporting a walk rate almost doubled from last year. That is not a recipe for success for a pitcher like Blackburn, and like many starters on the Twins young staff, he needs to turn things around quick and start killing worms if this team is going to take off.
Meanwhile, Fausto Carmona has had a rough time this year and all the back to his sizzling breakout 2007 campaign. Carmona has also bit the walk bug, with a BB/9 over 5 the last two years. Almost nobody can be successful with that kind of a control problem, and Carmona isn't one of the rare arms that can survive giving that many free passes.
If you see lots of ground balls in the first few innings, we may in line for a pitchers dual from two very capable young pitchers. If we start to see a few walks or too many fly balls, this one could become a shootout quickly.
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Not a bad start
Kuble doubles in Span and Blackie survives another two out adventure.
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Quick second for both pitchers
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 7:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Killing worms? Weird.
Anyhow remember when Rick Anderson made everyone a ground ball pitcher? I hated that (because you never knew when a pitcher would suddenly bust), but at least it lead to more wins than losses when combined with real pitchers like Santana.
by MNPundit on Apr 24, 2009 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hits coming in bunches
Too bad it is for the wrong team. Still, only one run in so far, maybe the boys can limit the damage.
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Phew
I was worried Blackburn was going to start a fire there.
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 24, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good catch by Delmon
and then a Pronk popup and the score is still tied.
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 8:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Doink
Back in front. Thank you Justin.
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 8:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank you DeRosa,
and thank you Morales!
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 24, 2009 8:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Crooked Number!
Granted it took a walk and an error, but at least Morales was able to take advantage.
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Two Strikeouts for Blackie in a quick inning
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whew,
Gameday had that last pitch pretty well inside on Garko, but it looks like luck might be with the Twins tonight!
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 24, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ump is calling a very wide zone tonight...
but it’s been consistent. Looks like we are doing a better job of adjusting so far.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Holy crap, we let Carmona off the hook that inning!
5 Pitches!!!!!!!!!!!
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 24, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oof
Casilla had a nice little single over third, but then Justin had a first pitch comebacker to Carmona for a GIDP.
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 8:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What the hell are they doing
batting Cabrera 9th! That guy has the numbers this year for a great #2 hitter, maybe even a #1!
Man, Cabrera 1 and Sizemore 2 would seem a lot better than DeRosa…….
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 24, 2009 8:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And a 6 pitch inning for Blackie...
HUGE strike zone tonight! This game could be over in less than 2 hours. HP ump must have a “date” after the game.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, that was bizarre, but a good end
Crede makes a good play on a slow infield roller, Punto boots the ball about five feet and still gets the out, then Casilla, Cuddyer and Morneau converge on a Texas Leaguer that Casilla can’t hold onto but Morneau picks it up and throws a strike to second for a tag out.
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well
Carmona is at 98 pitches, I guess we’ll likely see him for one more inning huh?
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 24, 2009 8:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
nice play by Derosa
Span with an infield single.
by 33MorneauMVP on Apr 24, 2009 9:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Morneau scores a run
with a hard hit grounder to 1B. Morneau is out.
2 outs….4-1 score
by 33MorneauMVP on Apr 24, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Crede with an infield hit
RBI single
by 33MorneauMVP on Apr 24, 2009 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting note here:
Crede – 1 HR, 4 RBI, .178 AVG, #5 hole
Cuddy – 1 HR, 6 RBI, .211 AVG, #6 hole
Young – 1 HR, 7 RBI, .211 AVG, #7 hole
Shouldnt Young bat ahead of these players based on his RBI numbers and avg as compared to the others?
by 33MorneauMVP on Apr 24, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can't tell...
if this is tongue in cheek or not? I hope it is…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Young and Cuddyer should BOTH be hitting in front of Crede
but really, it doesn’t much matter with those three right now how you try and mix/match them
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 24, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly...
they’re all the same right now. We’ll see who emerges as the season goes on. I have been impressed with Delmon’s approach this last week…much more patient…working counts in his favor.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One run the hard way
four hits and a walk
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Leave it belt high
and it is a 398 foot out. Got lucky there
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mijares warming up
This should be interesting
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 9:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He dood good
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mijares...
is throwing hard tonight. Gardy must have promised him free Grand Slam breakfast if he could handle the 8th for us.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 9:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice job by Jose...
he looked very good against some excellent hitters. Casilla would normally make that play at 2nd too…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 9:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It's Nathan Time
The only stat that counts is W
by wayback on Apr 24, 2009 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You know, Mijares
might be that guy where you just have to live with him being out of shape and not taking spring training seriously and other annoying features. I mean, went to AAA and was cruising immediately once the season stared.
It’s certainly arguable that the team would have been better off with him on it from the start. Its not as if he “got into shape” in Rochester—he was pitching well immeduately. ANd as for the “5 pounds” he lost—bollocks. That’s the same as the infiield leadership Bartlett learned.
by Eric in Madison on Apr 24, 2009 9:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If you get people out...
I don’t think anyone cares that you’re fat. I sure as hell don’t. I’ll bring him a dozen Krispy Kremes at the Dome each day if he can be our 8th inning guy.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep, I agree
that was sort of my point—fay guy outs are still outs. Its just that the Twins are sticklers for stuff like that.
by Eric in Madison on Apr 24, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good win tonight...
Cleveland was swinging some hot bats coming in. I was a bit worried we were running into a Toronto-like buzzsaw. Great job by Blackie on the hill tonight. And Mijares looked very encouraging. Let’s go get ’em tomorrow and get back to .500.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 9:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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