Game 36: Twins @ Yankees
by AdamOnFirst on May 15, 2009 6:33 PM EDT
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PrintMinnesota Twins at New York Yankees, May 15, 2009 7:05 PM EDT
- First Pitch: 6:05 CST
- TV: FSN North, MLB.tv
- RADIO: Twins Radio Network
At 18-17, the tied-for-first Twins are headed to New York for 3 with the 17-17 Yankees.
Starting Pitchers
It's an intriguing pitching matchup tonight between two highly talented but struggling young pitches. Both of these guys are expected to be aces for their team for many years to come, but it's been a rough 2009 so far.
Phil Hughes started the year in AAA but was called up to replace the "injured" Chien-Ming Wang. He excelled in his first start against the Tigers, blanking the Tigers through six full while striking out 6, but has been blasted his last two starts, totaling only 5.2 innings with 11 ER allowed. Hughes has given up a lot of fly balls in those starts, and that may give him problems against the Twins lefties aiming at that ridiculously short porch in right at the new stadium.
Meanwhile, Francisco Liriano still has yet to get in stride following Tommy John surgery. Liriano is easy as pie to read though. In the first 3 innings, what is his pitch selection like? If he's throwing lots of fastballs and hitting his spots with them, he's in for a good day. If his fastball is missing and he has to start relying on his slider and changeup very heavily before the fifth inning, watch out when the Yankees come up through the order the third time. His slider is still very good, but it isn't good enough that he can throw it all day without the fastball and not have guys figure it out eventually.
Carlos Gomez will be out in center field for a few days with Delmon Young on the inactive list due to family emergency (Jose Morales was called back up to replace Young). Hopefully Gomez will make some nice plays in the field and Gardy will remember how much he loves that Span-Gomez defense. One key to impressing Gardy for Gomez will be keeping his emotions in check. We're going to see Gomez fail plenty for quite awhile, but will he lose his cool or take it calmly and go grab his glove?
Another nice thing for the Twins in this series might be the HR happy nature of the park. According to ESPN, the new stadium is the third most HR inducing in the game, and reports have said lefties have a particularly easy time whacking dingers out to right. Short dimensions plus something funny about the way the ball is flying out in right should leave an enticing target for the lefty-heavy heart of the Twins' batting order.
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Get those Yankees!
"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
If Hughes tries
to put a fastball at Crede’s knees we will see another homer….put it there Hughes please!!!!
Gomez hits .500 vs Hughes
hopefully he can keep that average there with a basehit here!!!! (If not, I am blaming Gardy for sitting him)
This is bizzare, the mlb.com radio feed is dick and bert chatting.
"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
Gameday Audio...
… is having problems with the radio feeds, so they’re using the audio from TV as an alternative.
by twinpirate326 on May 15, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
That fourth ball was just that...
A ball.
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by Andersklasen on May 15, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
He's gettin' her done...
But certainly doing things the hard way.
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by Andersklasen on May 15, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
and Gomez Walks? it's a sign of the Appocalypse
As The Donald Trump and Bill O’Reilly Look on from the front row.
I'm listening to the Yankees radio broadcast tonight
I’m playing a game. It’s called how many times can you hear a catcher’s mitt ‘thud’ before the announcers call the game and tell you the count. I’m up to 5. Between John Sterling, David Cone, and Paul O’Neill discussing why DiMaggio’s record is the most untouchable in baseball (because they have no idea Cy Young had 511 wins) and discussing celebrities at the game (Kareem Abdul Jabar, Bill O’Reilly, Donald Trump, and Kate Hudson) sometimes I get a count or what the hell is happening.
As I typed that, they were discussing Hughes’s mechanics using replays and discussing it as if you can see what they’re talking about.
Awful.
That sounds like...
…fun.
But not really.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait it's the TV broadcast
That’s weird I switched over to the Twins broadcast and it’s Dick and Bert. I guess something’s up with the MLB phone app.
did Crede tweek something in his back with his dive
for Swishers ball or something…nonetheless, Harris is on at 3B
Anyone know?
Where Crede went? I hope he’s not hurt, but if Harris gets more at-bats…
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 8:43 PM EDT reply actions
I am not sure
I am hoping that Crede isnt hurt. Crede is so hot right now that that would kill me…not to mention his awesome glove and gun!
Liriano needs to get out of this.
He’s at 81 pitches; no way he’ll pitch past the sixth if he doesn’t get out of here fast.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 8:49 PM EDT reply actions
This Tolbert everyday in the #2 spot crap
When does it end?
Eh.
I am relatively ok with Tolbert in the 2 spot… he and Span seem to be the only ones that can lay down a bunt.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions
but a bunt doesnt make a #2 hitter
Tolbert has to be able to work the pitcher, have a good AB allowing the 3 and 4 hitters longer looks at the pitcher, contact, speed (which he has).
His OBP is .275
That means 72.5% of the time he makes an out. And he’ll be at the plate 2nd most. Bunt schmunt.
True, true.
I would like to see Harris hitting second, if he would ever play regularly.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
It's hiding..
Even the YES broadcasters are wondering where it is.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
100 pitches
50 strikes, 50 balls…ish
20 of those have to be because of the umpires strike zone this evening.
Well, it was ugly.
But he still held the Yanks to 1 run over 6 innings. Not something the Twins have done in NY in a long time. But this is a different stadium, i suppose.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions
I didn't like Span's hustle on that play
looked like he was running half to 3/4 speed to go back and get the ball
richman
Pop Fly gets By Span and Gardner Hits an inside the park homer..
I love the Fan whos wearing the METS Jersey haha
This game has been goofy
6 walks? And more weird happenings around Crain.
"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
Jesse's just not getting it done
He looks completely off balance, falling off to the 1st base side, no command of the strike zone.
Mijares, grrr...
"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
amazing ...
mijares is brought in to face the lefty & can’ t find the zone, gets the righty hitter and drills his spot two consecutive pitches.
Throw. Strikes.
"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
Whew. This is unusual, to give a Yankees team this many baserunners all day and not get torched.
"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
More runs would be nice
and might be necessary to win this game.
I;ll take this opportunity to point out that Nathan, by far the best reliever on the team, is only 3rd in relief innings. Insanity.
by Eric in Madison on May 15, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
that is probably because
he is our closer and only is used in the 9th inning or in extra inning games.
Yes
I understand why it happens. It’s just further evidence that modern closer usage is suboptimal.
by Eric in Madison on May 15, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn.
I take your earlier point on Tolbert.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 10:04 PM EDT reply actions
I'd ride Mijares at least until someone gets on
then I’d go to Nathan, probably.
by Eric in Madison on May 15, 2009 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
this is not going to work all season
speaking about the bullpen, I sure hope someone has a plan or the Twins are going to lose ALOT of late inning games
seems to me ...
the “plan” is for the guys we have to start pitching better.
There’s really nothing I’ve heard that suggests anything else.
very true
but I at least hope the org is looking at the arms in AAA and thinking can any of these guys be a 7th inning guy?
Jeter flies out to Gomez
Mijares does a really nice job. He will have a few hamburgers waiting for him in the clubhouse after that performance.
This umpire is terrible.
Just for the record.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions
Two pitches, same place...
…different calls.
by Call to the Pen on May 15, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
You with me...
on the computerizeed srik zone now?
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
LAme!
why go after the guy who is hitting almost .400
Twins v Yanks just seem to go this way… sucks big floppy donkey dick!
I told you Nathan wasn't the Nathan of old,
although I didn’t think he would morph into Eddie Guardado so soon…
by montanatwinsfan on May 15, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions
I dont know I had to miss the past three against Detroit.
Just got home about 5 minutes ago and fired up the internet.
by montanatwinsfan on May 15, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions
4th in a row for Nathan
He’s officially unavailable tomorrow… that’s for sure.
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by Andersklasen on May 15, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
pretty crappy loss if you ask me
Big Sweat is looking at Gardy saying, “I still get burgers right? I didn’t blow the game, so I still get my triple patties?”
I literally hurt my shoulder throwin gmy jacket after the Melky hit.
It like popped out of the socket for 10 seconds then sorta popped back in, now it really hurts.
Great…
"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
Well, the good news is that now you are ready to pitch for the Twin's bullpen.
by montanatwinsfan on May 15, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
It's sore
It’s sore when I raise my arm over my head, so I’ll make the perfect righty specialist side-armer!
I’m the Twins Bullpen 2009 version of Pat Neshek!
"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
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