Game 41: Minnesota Twins @ Chicago White Sox
by Jesse on May 20, 2009 7:09 PM EDT
in Game Threads
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PrintMinnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox, May 20, 2009 8:11 PM EDT
First Pitch: 7:11pm CDT (Because 7:10 is just silly.)
TV: FS-N
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: South Side Sox
Starting Pitchers
After a breakout season last summer, Danks is regressing a little bit. He's still a strikeout threat and he limits his free passes, and he's even getting more ground balls this season, but more of them are turning into hits. And more of his fly balls are turning into home runs. All the same, he's having a season a few Twins pitchers would love to have, and all the tools are there which could enable him to chew an offense up and spit it out at any given time (like striking out 10 against the Rangers on May 9). A couple of bright splits for White Sox fans: Danks is a better pitcher at US Cellular this season, and he's been a lot better pitching on grass.
In spite of the six walks he issued his last time out, Liriano has been more effective over his last four starts. The strikeouts are coming, but the command is still an issue. To be the stopper the Twins need him to be, which is a necessary part of the role of the Ace if he's going to be one, Liriano will have to start getting his fastball under control and throw a few more strikes. Not a lot more, just a few more. On the season he's just a shade under 60%, but that's where he needs to be. No more of this 50% stuff like we saw against the Yankees. If he can locate tonight, he'll give the offense a chance to put up a fight and should sit down a fair few Chi-Sox on strikes. Fingers crossed.
Lineups
Twins
Denard Span, RF
Brendan Harris, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, DH
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Jason Kubel, LF
Joe Crede, 3B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Matt Tolbert, 2B
White Sox
Scott Podsednik, LF
Jayson Nix, 2B
Jermaine Dye, RF
Jim Thome, DH
Paul Konerko, 1B
Brian Anderson, CF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Josh Fields, 3B
Corky Miller, C
Both of these teams have major issues they need to overcome if they're going to contend for October. Each lineup is weak in certain spots, particularly once you get anywhere outside the middle of the order. Both of these teams should be smelling blood on each other, and seeing the other as a great way to add a couple of wins to the column even though they're weak in their own right. Since Chicago drew first blood last night, the Twins need to respond with a victory tonight.
As always, the Twins need to get through the Dye-Thome-Konerko trio. Outside of those three, they just need to limit their opportunities by staying ahead in counts and keeping the ball in the park. If I'm the White Sox, I'm going after both Span and Harris to make sure nobody's on base for Mauer-Morneau-Cuddyer-Kubel-Crede.
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Tonight's calls
1: Joe Mauer will take a walk
2: Liriano: 7 IP, 8 K, 3 BB, 5 H, 3 R
3: Cuddyer will botch a scoop on a low throw from Harris
4: Danks: 6 IP, 5 K, 2 BB, 8 H, 4 R
5: Twins 5, White Sox 4
I like it when Scott Podsednik leads off.
He couldn’t reach base if he fell out of a boat into an ocean of bases.
I’d say I’ve cursed us, but it’s Scott Podsednik.
LOVE
this poster. I would consider putting it up in my garage.
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions
The Twins will get to Danks
I call two XBHs by Morneau, who’s hitting like .400 against lefties.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Darn Span
Leading us all off with some hope…
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 8:11 PM EDT reply actions
Evan Nelson is enjoying the grandeur of Yellowstone right now,
and we sad saps are sitting in front of a computer hoping we don’t have to break out the pictures from “failblog”!
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 8:33 PM EDT reply actions
Just got in.
Beartooth Pass was closed. So we turned around and went in the East Gate. A water main broke in Yellowstone, so we drove completely around the sound end. We were in the car for 12 hours.
Grandeur.
by Evan Nelson on May 20, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Get Your WMD
We got your WMD right here! Must have been in Hamsterdam!
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on May 20, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Mauer's gotta get a hit
He’ll have five strikes.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on May 20, 2009 9:09 PM EDT reply actions
The White Sox are pretty bad this year
and we are having trouble keeping up with them.
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 9:26 PM EDT reply actions
...like
“At least I didn’t pay to watch this flaming mediocrity”
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Well then try this:
“Thank God they don’t play baseball in the nude, so that I would have to watch nude flaming medicrity on an overly inflated MLB extra innings price”
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Good night
I’m done. Sick of wasting my time on these guys.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
33MorneauMVP to montanatwinsfan:
why are you always so pessimistic??
I’ll get back to you some time in the 4th inning.
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions
Well, maybe...
but it shouldn’t have. These guys are all big boys who get paid a lot of money to keep their status in the majors. They have always done poorly at NY. NY roster is pretty stacked still. Its four games get over it.
I dunno. I think they are just a bunch of guys that are just not that good other than Mauer who is great and Morneau and Kubel who are legitimately pretty darn good..
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions
7-4 baby!
Now if only that bullpen can keep the White Sox lead to a “save” situation, we will be trapped here all night hoping…
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 10:04 PM EDT reply actions
Hey Montana.
We just had a long day in a hot, sunny car. And now the Twins still suck?
COME ON!
by Evan Nelson on May 20, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't blame me!?
I’m still here listening faithfully
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I just joined this blog for 1 reason...
…to express my hatred of Francisco Liriano.
He is a FUCKING BUM.
That said. Good luck to you all with the rest of your season. Minneapolis is one hell of a town.
Tim Q.
By the way, thanks for the Hwy 212 recomendation. It was beautiful!
And closed.
by Evan Nelson on May 20, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that doesn't open until after Memorial day.
They still have 20 feet of snow in the pass.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
alright even I am done for the night.
Hold down the fort Luis!
by montanatwinsfan on May 20, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions
If we lose this one, a couple more in a row and we will not be able to get our head above water (meaning .500) the rest of the season. This is the most brutal string of baseball I have seen the Twins play in years. The pitching aside from Slowey of all people, is awful, awful, awful. Right now I feel like a Nationals fan (even though we aren’t that bad)
So I started knocking back some beers after the 4th inning
And I might have had a few too many, because I think I just saw Luis Ayala pitch a few effective innings.
Obviously
I dislike typing articles.
The memory of that crappy outfield has impaired my use of the English language.
There's this kid coming up through the minors, caught fire in the Olympics.
Doug Mintkevich?
Doug Minequivoch?
Doug Mr. K Village?
Hell, let’s call him Dougie Baseball.
by Evan Nelson on May 20, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
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