Winning Ugly Is Still Winning, Twins Defeat Athletics, 4-3
by RandBall's Stu on Aug 13, 2010 11:39 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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In a quirk of Major League Baseball's rules, tonight's Twins victory counts exactly the same as the Twins' dominant, clutch-tastic performances on Tuesday and Thursday in Chicago. They, and we, will take it, but no one's going to brag about it in the morning.
The Twins were outhit 14-5. They fielded the ball, with a few notable exceptions, like it was coated in razors and smallpox. Leadoff men were automatically awarded first base because the umpires felt no reason to delay the inevitable. AND STILL: Minnesota 4, Oakland 3.
Minnesota got off to an early 2-0 lead thanks to the control problems of Gio Gonzalez, who allowed a bases-loaded walk to open the scoring. As Boof Bonser (!) warmed up in the bullpen, Gonzalez surrendered a single to Danny Valencia to plate the second run. Michael Cuddyer was about to score the third run, but Jason Kubel made an out on the bases before Cuddyer made it home, ending the inning. More importantly: no Boof.
Carl Pavano, who notched his 15th win, did not have his best stuff this evening, and his defense did him no favors. Oakland tied the score in the 4th on a Daric Barton triple and a Jack Cust "double," which was really just another Delmon Young Outfield Adventure (backpedal/stumble to the wall, ball bounces off glove, run scores).
The Twins took the lead back in the 4th when Valencia got his 2nd RBI, doubling in Young. Drew Butera executed a perfect suicide squeeze to knock Valencia in later in the inning.
Pavano pitched out of jam after jam until the seventh, when he exited with two on and one out. Ron Mahay LOOGY'ed Jack Cust, then Matt Guerrier entered, threw one pitch, and Alexi Casilla made a brilliant stab at short to end the rally.
As the top of the Twins lineup continued its game-long meh, the Twins bullpen continued to notch some tough outs. Guerrier and Jesse Crain somehow got out of a bases-loaded jam in the 8th unscathed, and turned the game over to Matt Capps. Capps left some fastballs right over the plate, Delmon Young had another Outfield Adventure (trapping a ball AND throwing to the wrong base), and Alexi Casilla flat missed a game-ending grounder. AND STILL: with runners on second and first, Capps got Rajai Davis to fly out to Denard Span to end the game.
No Studs, no Duds, just a win. Enjoy your weekend everybody. Let me know if that Scott Pilgrim movie is any good.
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Well spoken!
The Twins were playing in their cement shoes, but still managed a win. I think you could have three studs though. D. Valencia, Pavano (for his guts) and the entire A’s lineup for going 2-20 with runners in scoring position.
"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Aug 13, 2010 11:47 PM EDT reply actions
I thoroughly enjoyed that suicide squeeze.
Outside of that, besides the outcome, this game will be forgotten by the morning…
"'Over'? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!"
maybe sooner.
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by montanatwinsfan on Aug 13, 2010 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
What are we talking about again?
I always loved that one.
by FoulJack on Aug 14, 2010 12:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Definitely an ugly, grab-you-by-the-throat win
But we still earned it. Jesse Crain’s escape in the 8th was fantastic, as was the save. I guess you can say it was exciting as well as ugly.
And even though Punto is back, I say keep him on the bench. Casilla/Hardy at short and Valencia at third is working impeccably.
by MarshalltheIrish on Aug 13, 2010 11:55 PM EDT reply actions
It was an interesting game to be at
I was on-edge for most of it. But hey, a win’s a win.
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On, Wisconsin!
And the fireworks were fun...
They did a nice display even though they can’t do the super high huge ones
I just got back from that Scott Pilgrim, actually
It’s just… so surreal. Oh my god. It doesn’t make any sense but it’s awesome.
I have to admit, I'm getting more and more interestd in seein that
But I still have to catch “Toy Story 3.” Decisions, decisions.
by MarshalltheIrish on Aug 14, 2010 2:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Toy Story 3 is the only movie I've been to this year
and I feel like I made the right choice.
Kyle Gibson Report
1 R 5 H over 5 2/3 innings for the Wings
Got a no decision
Slama got the win and Burnett got the save
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on Aug 14, 2010 1:05 AM EDT reply actions
Studs (From what I saw)
Denard Span: Great grab in center field to end the 7th Inning. Clearly a Webgem in my book.
The Suicide Squeeze
and Carl Pavano: Great 6.1 innings tonight.
Duds
The Umpires: Though It doesn’t matter in the end, Delmon Young’s non-catch should have been an out.
Ron Gardenhire: I would have liked to see Carl Pavano complete the 7th. I am guessing he didn’t like the fact that he was taken out.
trap
from my barca-lounger, it looked like a trap. Then he threw to the wrong base. He is becoming a major liability in left. Sell high in the off-season, Bill Smith!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"I CAN SURE KILLEBREW, BUT I PREFER SODA POP" -WordUpThome
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Aug 14, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Valencia
Danny made a nice play in the field and had two hits with another hard hit ball. Since he has been slumping, this was nice to see.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 14, 2010 6:19 AM EDT reply actions
Really nice game for him.
He should appeal the lack of a studs ’n duds section.
Danny is the stud of the game
He should have had three RBI, but Kubel made The Worst Base Running Mistake of the Season™. In a season full of bad base running, making the third out at third before another runner scores has to take the cake.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Fun at Target Field
I got to take my first trip to Target Field last night. A few thoughts that weren’t mentioned:
Gio Gonzalez has nasty stuff. If he could find the plate he’d be dangerous.
Pennington is a terrible SS.
Kubel HAS to pull up at 3B there, he was thrown out before he started to slide and the priority is making sure the run is scored at home. Lots of non-Twins way awfulness executing the little things last night.
Valencia can play 3B, nice job on the slow roller. The glove will keep him in the lineup.
Highly recommend the fireworks, they had a very nice show.
Butera did a nice job executing the suicide squeeze and came through with another hit but didn’t do well controlling the running game. Having to use Butera instead of Mauer makes Pavano less likely to win games.
Oh and thanks to my wife for suggesting we spend our anniversary at Target Field. 12 great years on 8/14.
?
Happy anniversary, but give some slack to Butera. He was awesome vs. the Rays vaunted running game and I think he is 11/17 throwing out runners this year.
Everyone has an off night
This was one of his. Poor throws to the bases, bad job blocking pitches.
It’s more his BAT that makes them less likely to win games when he’s playing instead of Mauer.
He shaved his mustache.
I’m pretty sure that played a big role. Pavano was quoted as being “very disappointed” that he shaved.
I am too, Carl. I think we all are.
I always loved that one.
by FoulJack on Aug 14, 2010 11:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The Rays
Stole five bases on Pavano I think. Drew threw out two guys. The key here is that Johnny Bench or Pudge Rodriguez would have no chance against base stealers if Pavano was pitching to them.
Pavano has been okay, but not real sharp in any of his last three outings. He is allowing more baserunners, giving up more hits and hard hit balls and throwing considerably more pitches. I hope this is not a trend, but rather a temporary rough patch.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 14, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Mauer needs to sit
So the backup has to play from time to time. If Pavano likes him, so be it. The team is better with Mauer in the lineup, but I don’t care if you rotate who Mauer sits for, or make it always Pavano.
There is a difference... Butera catches more this way not on the best days either
Pavano doesn’t always pitch one of the two games of a Day-Game-after-a-Night-Game pair. Last night was one example. With the off-day on Monday, Mauer will likely catch both games, but if we played Monday, we’d Butera again on Sunday.
Also, the best day to play Butera is against LHP’s. That’s gives Butera the best platoon advantage when he hits and that’s the best day to rest the LHB that he replaces (Mauer, or DH’s Thome/Kubel if Mauer shifts to DH). Pavano pitched againts a LHP last night but he’s not always going to do that.
Finally, there will be no Butera in the playoffs. I wouldn’t even put him on the roster. Pavano should get used to pitching to Mauer once in a while.
They need a backup catcher on the playoff roster
In case of injury someone needs to finish the game. Is your strategy Mauer or forfeit?
Cuddyer deserves some blame there as well.
I mean, how does anybody not named Thome go second-to-home slower than Jason Kubel goes first-to-third with two outs? The man runs about as fast as a fire hydrant.
I can't find a good replay angle of what happened at home
My guess is Cuddy eased up a bit when he found out the throw wasn’t going there. Whether the catcher wasn’t at the plate or Mauer raised his hands to signal “no slide” or what. More fun to blame Cuddy than Kubel these days but this was at least 90% Kubes fault in my opinion
+1
With two outs, you only try to go to third on something down the line or in the RF gap. This was a hard-hit ball a little on the third base side of center.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
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