Game 77: Minnesota Twins @ St. Louis Cardinals
by Jesse on Jun 28, 2009 12:57 PM EDT
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PrintMinnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals, Jun 28, 2009 2:15 PM EDT
First Pitch: 1:15pm CDT
TV: WFTC29
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Viva El Birdos
Starting Pitchers
Ever wondered how guys who can't strike anyone out last? Pineiro is the perfect example. Even with the lowest strikeout rates of his career he's having his best season since 2002 or 2003...and that's being optimistic for 2002 and 2003. Joel is mopping up the competition in ways he's never done before. How? Career-best walk rates (1.17 BB/9), no home runs (just two all season), and an astounding ground-ball rate (61.3%). That upper-80's fastball gets thrown almost 70% of the time, but nobody is catching up to it in any meaningful way. Pineiro pumps in strikes and thrives off contact, and when you can't even work a walk off the guy how are you supposed to score? The offense has its work cut out for them tonight.
The strikeouts are coming, but the innings get long sometimes. Liriano's focus has been the hurdle all season long, and there's little doubt that it'll be the mental block again this afternoon. You take it all one start at a time, one pitch at a time, so we'll continue to watch Cisco and hope he can consistently find the strike zone. Being "effectively wild" is part of Liriano's box of tricks, but he needs to throw more first-pitch strikes and fewer ball fours.
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The Cardinals vs LHP
The Cardinals have had troubles against lefties all year, (team line of .228/.309/.358 averaging 1.27 runs per game) but the thought of Liriano pitching to Pujols with anybody on base is making me dread this game.
That's twice we've sat by and watched another team get DeRosa
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
channel 29
channel 29’s Twins feeds are always an atrocious, highly-compressed mess. The Twins production in general is among the worst if not the worst in baseball. I have mlb.tv and it’s night and day between the Twins broadcasts and most others.
There's an advantage...
to having one TV in your home that receives an over-the-air HD signal. It’s not compressed. Today’s game transmission on satellite is awful, but the OTA signal is excellent.
Bloggin' the bloggers since 1938.
Johnny:
I get the over-the-air signal. It’s compressed junk. I have a 65" tv and Twins channel 29 broadcasts look worse than many sitcom re-runs.
Ya' must be...
…dealin’ with the devil.
Clear as a bell here. That’s what clean livin’ gets ya.
Bloggin' the bloggers since 1938.
by Johnny Safron on Jun 28, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I am.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
I’ve been trying to avoid saying this, but…. Liriano sucks.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Well, at least he bounced back to finish the inning strong.
But it did look rough for a couple of minutes there.
I was about to piss my pants.
Bring in Dickey for the next inning.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
My worst nightmare.
Send him down to minors and bring back Swarzak.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
I know.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Kubel!
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Jesse, do you like Scott Baker?
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
I remember when he took a perfect game into the 9th.
That kid is special.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
That's right.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
I don't really like Perk too much, either.
Send em’ both down. The more the merrier!
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
For weeks I've been telling my friends...
that Liriano just needs to get his head straight/hasn’t been THAT bad. Now I’ll have a game to hang that hat on.
Liriano strikes out Pujols.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
I can't wait to get out of this shit.
I hate interleague play.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
I love it.
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
That said, it's hard to name three things worse than watching Liriano taking a hack at a pitch.
Painful. Simply painful.
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I love the fact that we win.
I just hate the NL.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
How can you hate the NL?
It’s actually BASEBALL.
by tobynotjason on Jun 28, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Totally agree. The AL is a pathetic spin-off.
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, really?
http://overthebaggy.blogspot.com/2009/06/national-league-ball-yes-please.html
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for that.
Really well written stuff.
by tobynotjason on Jun 28, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
You can thank TwinsFanC1981 for that.
Not my work. =)
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I knew your work couldn't be that good.
Just kidding, Andrew.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Ha.
Actually, I agree with you.
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice job, Denard.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Atta boy, Harris.
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Andrew is the greatest blog writer ever. Twinsfix rules.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
A suck-up? Really?
What do you want?
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Some money or alcoholic beverages will do.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Brendan Harris is badass.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Brazil just scored their 3rd goal
to take the lead against the U.S. 3-2 with only 5 minutes left.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions
Are you freaking serious!?
Oh my god. Wow.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
AGREED!
I was up off my chair screaming with joy. My wife and daughter were scared.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
one was, one was a nice cross and a lucky redirect by Dempsey.
2nd goal was absolutely beautiful by Donovan and Davies.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
that's why...
you pump in good crosses, though, right?
by tobynotjason on Jun 28, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
It has been a beautiful game.
Just fantastic, I wouldhighly recommend watching the replay tonight midnight EST.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:17 PM EDT reply actions
I have illegal cable.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
You should get it!
You don’t even have to pay!
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Brazil wins.
Sorry, I know this is a baseball blog, but that game was SO GOOD I could not even keep an eye on MLB gameday.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions
I was just watching it as well.
US played well, but Brazil just showed up in the second half. We did everything we could, but in the second half we saw the real Brazil and we were just overmatched.
True,
and the midfielders just looked gassed by minute 60.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I said the exact same thing.
And I look at it this way…Brazil loses, they go home and half the team gets castrated by an obsessed fanbase. And if the States won, they’d come home to a welcome party of three people.
At least the Brazil team will go home to a deserved welcome.
When we beat Egypt,
I actually felt bad for Egypt because they had played so well, and the game meant SO much more for their fans and their country.
Like you said, our boys will come home to a few family and friends and a few girls looking to get lucky….
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Soccer sucks.
Lets just get back to the game.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Wow.
Hater of all things non-DH?
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Gonna have to disagree. Strongly.
They say that soccer is the game for fourth graders that foreigners take seriously, but I enjoy watching a good soccer game.
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha, he's who I meant by "they."
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I love that show...and I miss it dearly.
They broadcast The Daily Show here, but not The Colbert Report.
thank goodness for the internet so I can catch up on all the Daily Shows and Colbert Reports
on the weekend mornings while my daughter is watching cartoons.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
A lot of clips end up online - that's actually where I originally heard that quote.
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, tha'ts why I can't see them...
…I could search for clips online, but it’s painstaking and useless without the whole. My international IP holds me back.
I caught it over on Daily Norseman actually....
….but usually my international IP keeps me from catching clips, at least legally.
It's true.
Those flops are ridiculous.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
they are annoying,
but easy to ignore for the most part, and actually the more you watch the more you understand its part of the game.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Can Mijares even control his pitches? He walked him on 4 fastballs.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
It's weird
All 4 of those pitches were over the plate according to gamecast
by lesscowbell,morneau on Jun 28, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Where are you watching gamecast at?
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
At least three were balls.
Mijares has done that before. Very unsettling to the mgr.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jun 28, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice double play started by Guerrier!
Quick nab, to Harris to Morneau…two down, bases empty again.
Love it.
Who's more calm, placid and dull in an interview?
Donovan or Mauer?
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions
Now Mauer, Morneau, and Kubel can get some more runs.
=)
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Oops I must have been mistaken.
For some reason I thought Mauer was up.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Good hit, Crede!
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
I'd rather see Morales,
but I like Buscher.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
would be nice to see a more solid
bench bat, even though I too like Buscher.
by montanatwinsfan on Jun 28, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions
Buscher works a walk!
I’ll take it, although it sets up the double play now. Time for Span to shine.
Avoid the double play.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Now would be a good time for Harris to get his 1st hit of the game.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Woohoo!
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
A walk and a GS would work for me. =)
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Ugh.
Let’s all say it: “Regressing to the mean.”
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Yes, it's funny that Cabrera's .330 average is "way back."
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Crap.
Well 1 run is better than none.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
RA Dickey.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Gotta keep Dickey in.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Get your head out of your ass and throw some freakin' strikes, Dickey!
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Arg!
Why can’t the Twins ever seem to win a solid game with great performances from everybody?
A piece or two is always acting up.
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Do me a favor and give Dickey a player of the game honorable mention.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Game over, bitches.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
What's our record in interleague play.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
Through today we're 12-5.
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by Andersklasen on Jun 28, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yummy.
"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.
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