Sunday Morning Breakfast & Baseball: Blackburn's Gem, Hudson's Ankle, Thome's Back, and Magic Numbers

by Jesse on Aug 29, 2010 7:00 AM EDT in Breakfast & Baseball

A few Twins bits as you scarf down that bowl of Honey Nut Cheeriors...

Nick Blackburn came one out short of his fifth career complete game last night, and his first career shutout. Maybe next time.
Inside Edge graded Blackburn's offspeed stuff as a C last night. That's all he needs to have a chance the rest of the season: his offspeed stuff just needs to not suck, that's all.
Orlando Hudson's sprained ankle means he's day-to-day. His cleats must have stuck in the dirt at first base...or something, because I still can't see what really happened. Hudson will likely have today off, and the Twins will take it from there.
Jim Thome's stiff back acted up again last night. With the Twins facing off against southpaw Luke French this afternoon, he'll probably have the day off, too.
Monday is an off day for the team, but with the season wearing on it wouldn't surprise me to see a getaway lineup in Seattle. The Mariners obviously aren't a very good team, meaning that if Gardy wants to do it he can't ask for a better opportunity. Being able to give players two days off in a row is a luxury most teams can't have this time of year, but Gardy might give it a shot. Even with Hudson and Thome sitting today, I can see a lineup like this: Span - Casilla (SS) - Mauer (DH) - Cuddyer - Young - Valencia - Repko - Tolbert (2B) - Butera.
The Yankees made Hawk cry (tears of acid laced with evil, sure, but still tears) last night by taking down the White Sox in grand fashion. It probably wasn't as close as the 9-6 score indicates. Combine that with the Twins win, and Minnesota's magic number is 29. There's nothing safe about a 4.5-game lead, but there's no doubt the Twins are in the driver's seat...and it's certainly better than a 4.5-game deficit.

See you for the game this afternoon. Remember, it's another three o'clock start.

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4.5 game lead

With five weeks and a day remaining is huge, but remember what happened last year. Chicago’s bullpen is truly messed up, with three key guys on the DL. I also think that the Twins’ acquisition of Fuentes helps them much more than a Manny trade would help the Sox. I suppose when Fuentes went through waivers, the Sox bullpen wasn’t beat up and the Twins hadn’t lost Mahay/Mijares, but it is astounding that the Twins get such a quality reliever after the regular trade deadline.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 29, 2010 7:41 AM EDT reply actions

I think the Yanks-Whiteys score was 12-9

by Arnidor on Aug 29, 2010 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

Yep.

I watched the last half of it, and like Jesse says, it was not in any way close. There was a lot of self-pitying from the announcers.

by timprov on Aug 29, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's what I meant. Oops!

by Jesse on Aug 29, 2010 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I hate Hawk

mostly because he thinks the White Sox should be in 1st place, but for lots of other reasons too.

The beard abides.

by Jason Kubel's Beard on Aug 29, 2010 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

Hawk is also convinced that Joe Mauer was the lead on the Manhattan Project

and that Morneau secretly helped the British in the Revolutionary War…

Little does he know that Gordon Beckham’s real name is Gordon Gekko, and was an integral part of the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

by Moojenowski on Aug 29, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

And did you know

That Dwight D. Eisenhower absolutely did NOT lead the Allied Forces in WWII? That, of course, was Bobby Jenks.

To say nothing of the fact that Nick Punto armed Saddam Hussein.

by MarshalltheIrish on Aug 29, 2010 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Getaway Day

We had a lot of reserves in the lineup on Friday as well. But perhaps winning the first two games of the series gives Gardy the luxury to rest more guys.

by DavidRF on Aug 29, 2010 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

tolbert -casilla. yesterday

just listened to gardy with souhan and alexi was back in the doghouse for not tagging up right away from 2nd on ichiros overthrow. gardy thought he might of b een able to score? and for not running on that bunt attempt gardy came right out and said he was pissed at him.

by mr mpls on Aug 29, 2010 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

management 101:

Praise publically, criticize privately. Not saying Gardenhire is wrong here for sure, but it seems as if his criticism of Alexi might have been better if it was directed to him personally in the clubhouse. Then Gardenhire could have made a more veiled comment to the public about this being a team game and everyone needs to work hard, pay attention, get after it, etc… That would have avoided Gardenhire looking petty and allowed Alexi to save a little dignity while still getting the point across.

My life's goal: to force fischean itno using her moderator powers

by montanatwinsfan on Aug 29, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions