Tonight: Twins visit Toronto
by Jon Marthaler on May 17, 2010 1:01 PM EDT
in Series Previews
Email
PrintAn early-afternoon look at tonight's Canadian visit. (Both NHL playoff series are off Monday night, so they've got nothing better to watch up there.)
First Pitch: 6:07pm Central
TV: FSN
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy: Bluebird Banter
About Toronto
If you haven't been watching the standings, you might assume that the Jays are the fourth team in a three-horse Eastern race. That's what I thought - and I was, of course, completely wrong. While Boston flounders, Toronto has stormed into the AL East discussion; they're 23-16 and have won four games in a row. While this puts them four back of the red-hot Rays, the Blue Jays are just two back of New York - and they've accumulated the same number of wins as the Twins.
The long ball is Toronto's weapon of choice; they've hit 60 home runs, an astonishing eleven more than any other American League team, and 25 more than the "powerful" Twins team we've all been gushing about. The team's batting just .238, doesn't have a single hitter batting above .300, has a .311 on-base percentage that's third-worst in the AL - but has scored more runs than any other American League team save New York, all because it's smashing the ball out of the park at every opportunity. Three Jays - CF Vernon Wells, SS Alex Gonzalez, and 3B Jose Bautista - are already in double digits, with ten homers apiece.
Probable Pitchers
Eveland is a bit of a soft-tossing lefthander (the MLB site calls him a "finesse" pitcher, euphemistically). He's also a bit feast-or-famine on the mound; he's given up just two earned runs in his three wins, but also gave up six runs once and seven runs once.
He won't strike out many - just 18 in 39 innings - but he's got all four pitches, and will mix them all in. His fastball is in the low 80s, and he tends to go to the curve as an out pitch.
Slowey has a winning record, but hasn't exactly been dialed in. Evidence? A few facts:
- He's pitched into the seventh inning just once, and has left in the sixth five times in seven starts.
- His walk rate has nearly doubled from last season (when he walked just 15 in 16 starts.)
- The league is hitting .308 against him. (Another bad sign: in his career, Toronto is hitting .500 against him.)
His last start, Slowey gave up just two hits in four innings to the White Sox - then got shellacked in the fifth, giving up five consecutive two-out hits (including a pair of two-run doubles) before departing in shame. Given the way Toronto's been swinging the bat, this is worrisome.
211 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
My initial reaction is not to believe the Blue Jays are actually good, early success notwithstanding
I hope the Twins don’t give me any reason to reconsider.
the Blue Jays good record is primarily
from beating up the bad teams in the central (10-4). After these two games, the Twins will have played as many games against the East as Toronto has (12).
Once the Blue Jays start playing the Yanks, Rays and Sox, they’ll come back to earth. Luckily the Twins get to play the bulk of their games against the crappy central teams.
Slowey in his current form against an all-long ball team... it makes me nervous.
I wish we were sending out Blackburn. At least it’ll be Pavano tomorrow.
http://www.realityfish.com
I'm hoping...
That Slowey will be inspired by Blackburn’s recent outings. He’s better than he’s been pitching -this control issue is way out of character. Now seems like a good time to show it.
Blackie needs to tell Slowey
“no quality start, no hugging it out”
"You must be the dumbest SOB in the league. Everybody in the stadium knew you were going to get drilled, except you.'' - Jody Davis
I'm afraid of a hangover effect
after yesterday’s exorcising of demons in grandly dramatic fashion.
That said, our lineup against “finesse lefty” sounds like a good thing. And I’ll go counterintutive and say Slowey will be fine tonight. I think he’s p’d off after collapsing last time out, and Toronto’s not doing anything but hit long balls. If he just avoids leaving it over the middle to Wells and Bautista, he should be OK. They’re not going to string together five hits in a row the way the Sox did last week (which had to be the first time they’d done that all year, too) to do much damage.
I think 50% of our problems in Toronto were Roy Halladay based, so I’m hoping without the prospect of him shutting us down for a game, leading to pressing in the other two, we’ll do better. So far this season, we’ve overcome a lot of traditional demons – “can’t win in Anaheim/against the Angels generally,” “no ace in the rotation,” and now “play like awestruck college kids in the Bronx.” No reason we can’t cross “can’t play North of the border” off the list, too.
lineups posted... is this the game thread?
Span
Hudson
Mauer
Morneau
Cuddyer
Kubel-DH
Young
Harris-SS
Putno-3B
two nice ABs by Span and Hudson
bring him in Joe.
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 7:11 PM EDT reply actions
eveland didn't seem to mind walking Morneau there with first open
Cuddy needs to make it hurt
Free Trevor Plouffe
wow, I only have gameday on,
but did Cuddyer just lay off several pitches that would normally have struck him out?
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 7:19 PM EDT reply actions
Check swing
Just bad luck.
"This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud"
by Stay classy, Joe. on May 17, 2010 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Has there ever been a team more inept at scoring with bases loaded?
Seriously, what is the worst record with bases loaded in MLB history or where could I find such info?
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 7:24 PM EDT reply actions
Good news everyone
Twins FINALLY promoted Toby Gardenhire to AAA. He’s been stuck in AA forever and he’s not getting any younger. He’s already 27! I know his minor league career 234/298/267 line isn’t all that impressive to the non-Twins fan, but WE KNOW that you can’t measure GRIT by stupid stats. Let’s hope we see him soon with the big club. Imagine, father managing son to 600 AB’s a year. Brings a tear to my eye.
FREE TOBY GARDENHIRE
Free Trevor Plouffe
gunna change your signature?
not sure sarcasm font carries through on signatures, then again, I doubt you need the gray shading.
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
No gray shading needed
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions
no love for my call, daaaaaaaammmmmnnnnnnn
this is the kind of guy Delmon should crush
Free Trevor Plouffe
Demon!!!
"This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud"
by Stay classy, Joe. on May 17, 2010 7:33 PM EDT reply actions
Smashed that Delmon
I knew that was gone right away…nice AB baby!
I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...
Sure would like to see him in the #5 spot
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 7:34 PM EDT reply actions
In Punto we trust!
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 7:37 PM EDT reply actions
totally different drug
oxytocin is a trust hormone oxycontin is an opiate
Our starting staff makes me cringe alot
Favorite starters this year:
1. Liriano
2. Pavano
3. a Snickers wrapper
4. a puppy
tied for last. Baker/Slowey/Blackburn
Free Trevor Plouffe
no way,
Baker is ahead of the puppy for sure.
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, looks like it'll be another short start again
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 7:52 PM EDT reply actions
yep
"This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud"
by Stay classy, Joe. on May 17, 2010 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions
This is why O-Dog won't let Slowey marry his cousins.
"This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud"
by Stay classy, Joe. on May 17, 2010 7:55 PM EDT reply actions
God damn it slowey!
It looks like it’s gonna be a long game again folks.
by d-mac on May 17, 2010 7:55 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
criminy!
that ‘strikeout’ pitch to Morneau was an 86mph fastball down the middle.
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 8:06 PM EDT reply actions
Feels like Cuddy gets more warning track outs than the rest of the team combined
"It wasn't long ago that Kubel communicated mostly by nodding and mumbling." - Souhan
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on May 17, 2010 8:07 PM EDT reply actions
yeah, i've never heard such a reach for an excusable double play before
you have to hit it hard to hit into a double play? wow is that so
by Cody_3_twins on May 17, 2010 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions
He's due for a day off
If they are facing a RHP on one of the coming getaway days, I’d give him a breather an play Kubes there for a day.
I'm not saying he should be benched...
Just a random day off. A get-away day against a RHP would be a good excuse to give him one.
just get him an asian hooker
(no women on the thread tonight)
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Hypothetical, If we were the Yankees do you think Vavra would have been fired already?
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions
no, its not Vavra's fault.
and you don’t fire position coaches during a winning season.
and owners don’t usually reach down and fire position coaches.
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not saying he should
but you know they would be calling for his head in the media there.
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions
RISP Failures
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Our hitting coach serves at the whim of Mauer
by clutterheart on May 17, 2010 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
morneau actually
vavra’s work with Justin is what got him this job mainly, supposedly
Free Trevor Plouffe
I think it's just your computer
Gameday is still fine for me
"It wasn't long ago that Kubel communicated mostly by nodding and mumbling." - Souhan
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on May 17, 2010 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
What's that?
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll have to give it a listen and see what it's all about
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
And I'm playing him in Fantasy Baseball =(
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Was Bremer just saying Tolbert was going to be playing tomorrow?
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:22 PM EDT reply actions
Normally I defend Gardy
And am happy he is my fav team’s manager
But his love of people like Tolbert just pisses me off.
by clutterheart on May 17, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone needs to prank the shit out of Gardy
and blame it on Tolbert and Punto
Harris can play first
so we could have an IF of Harris, Tolbert, Casilla, Punto with Butera catching
Gardy would have to sit on the bench with a towel on his crotch the whole game to hide his excitement over that prospect.
Free Trevor Plouffe
by ajmargarine on May 17, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
maybe we could trade nothing for him
"It wasn't long ago that Kubel communicated mostly by nodding and mumbling." - Souhan
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on May 17, 2010 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
You just ruined my dinner =(
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
rare RISP win!
"It wasn't long ago that Kubel communicated mostly by nodding and mumbling." - Souhan
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on May 17, 2010 8:24 PM EDT reply actions
I trust the top 4 with RISP
the problem is that they are also all the guys getting on base for everyone else. How often has this scenario played out:
1. Span singles
2. Hudson flies out
3. Mauer singles, 1st and 3rd.
4. Walk Morneau, because who cares.
5. Cuddyer GIDP
=> RISP fail
Every time except with Butera of course
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Dear people of earth:
The game thread, for some reason, never ended up on the front page. I’ve added it there: GAME THREAD.
I apologize for the confusion. Also, the Twins have now tied it up. May I say: CLUTCH HITTING FTW!
What am I on?
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Is Jerry a God?
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
are you asking us to go there?
or moving everyone here?
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Go wherever you like!
I’ll lock this one, but not until the Twins finish batting in the top of the 4th. So far, it’s good luck.
by Jon Marthaler on May 17, 2010 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:24 PM EDT reply actions
+2
I was trying to think of a “Cute when they’re little…” line but no, they’re quite ugly their whole lives.
Bert jinxed it.
"This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud"
by Stay classy, Joe. on May 17, 2010 8:29 PM EDT reply actions
wow Overbay
"It wasn't long ago that Kubel communicated mostly by nodding and mumbling." - Souhan
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on May 17, 2010 8:30 PM EDT reply actions
I'll take it!
"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." ~Mickey Mantle
by Michael in N.Cali on May 17, 2010 8:30 PM EDT reply actions
I actually went from lol'ing a few minutes ago, to now just feeling bad for the guy
:-(
Free Trevor Plouffe
OK... here's what is says...
Missed catch error followed by a throwing error.
So he dropped a routine throw from Bautista, ran got the ball and then threw it away?
is that mlb.gameday?
or mlb.nostradamus?
by montanatwinsfan on May 17, 2010 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
*golfclap*
"It wasn't long ago that Kubel communicated mostly by nodding and mumbling." - Souhan
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on May 17, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions
They can warm up another pitcher, sure.
But what they need is a bullpen of relief 1st basemen.
Locking this one.
After four runs, the luck in this thread ran out. Let’s move over to the other one and let the luck continue: GAME THREAD #2
Demon to Delmon
Maybe he was sitting that exact pitch, but you’d think he wouldn’t swing consider how wild the pitcher has been
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Twinkie Town
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Please hold: Indians’ Joe Smith jumps the gun on relief appearance
- Local radio host honors Cubs’ Tony Campana with parody song
- Roy Halladay bobblehead with glove on wrong hand selling on MLB.com
- Will Smith shows why making your big-league debut at Yankee Stadium is less than ideal
- Steinbrenners selling the Yankees? Family denies New York Daily News report
