Game 137: Rangers @ Twins
by Jesse on Sep 5, 2010 1:42 PM EDT
in Game Threads
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PrintTexas Rangers at Minnesota Twins, Sep 5, 2010 3:10 PM EDT
Know Thine Enemy: Lone Star Ball
Originally slated to start on Friday, Blackburn was pushed back to today after throwing 19 pitches in the 13th inning of Thursday's game with the Tigers. He served up the gopher ball that caused the Twins to drop the game, but in his two starts since getting recalled from triple-A he's combined for 15.2 innings and just three runs. Even including his rough inning against the Tigers, hitters are batting just .190/.217/.293 since his return. That's a lot better than the .900+ opponent OPS he'd allowed prior to his demotion.
The Rangers are the team Blackburn faced off against in his first return to the Majors two weeks ago. If he can repeat that performance at Target Field today, he should come away with a win this time.
Wilson wanted to start for the Rangers, and he's earned the support this GM has given him. He's throwing the fastball far less often, has started throwing a bit of a cut fastball, and all three of his off-speed offerings have been good this year.
His velocity is down, which is understandable considering he can't just let it all hang out for an inning or two, which seems to have had just a slight effect on his strikeout rates. He still struggles with control at times and that leads to more walks than are preferred, but considering the lack of hits against him they don't hurt as much as they might most pitchers.
Wilson owns left-handed hitters, suppressing them to a paltry .124/.199/.163 line. Right-handers are doing better, but at .227/.327/.333 you'd have to say "better" is quite relative. This could be a tough one for the offense.
Speaking of offense, the Rangers are without Josh Hamilton and Elvis Andrus today. Meanwhile, the Twins get Jason Kubel back...although matchups insist its a waste versus left-handed pitching. Jason Repko gets the nod in right, although it sounds like he'll be gone soon enough as his wife is expecting...thus the Ben Revere callup (thanks, Roger!).
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If beer guts translate to power
the Legends game should turn out to be a homerfest
The only stat that counts is W
Isnt that Revere in Right?
What you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your entire rambling incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Sep 5, 2010 1:55 PM EDT reply actions
Kubel's back!
But I’m looking for another great game from Tolbert.
The beard abides.
by Jason Kubel's Beard on Sep 5, 2010 1:57 PM EDT reply actions
Is this game on TV?
Listing show it’s on My29 but the TV guide thingy has nothing but Paid Programming….?
The beard abides.
by Jason Kubel's Beard on Sep 5, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions
This shows we're on at 1:00
http://www.my29tv.com/subindex/shows/twins_on_my_29
But right now there’s some stupid fantasy football TV show. Are you kidding? A pennant race Twins game is getting bumped for a stupid TV show about fantasy football?? They HAVE TV shows about fantasy football??!!
The beard abides.
by Jason Kubel's Beard on Sep 5, 2010 2:03 PM EDT reply actions
Smith may have a handful of contracts ready by the end of Legends games
The only stat that counts is W
I was having 20 years of flashbacks there
all the way from Disco to the Macarena … scary.
The only stat that counts is W
lol it just sounds so amazing...
I can’t believe MLB.TV doesn’t have an option to watch it.
I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...
at the game!
First time its awesome.
"This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud"
by Stay classy, Joe. on Sep 5, 2010 3:06 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
OK, my MLB extra innings version of the Twins game is soundless.
Rangers feed has sound, but the Twins one does not… That for everyone or just me?
Run baby run!
Yay!
I get to watch part of the game before work steps in. BTW, anyone with nothing to do on Tuesday should check out stubhub. Lots of reasonably priced tickets for the Royals game.
Re-sale market is down with school starting.
I had my Texas tickets for Friday up at $35 each and they didn’t go. My Wednesday tickets for the White Sox two weeks ago went for $50 each.
Where are they?
otherwise I have no clue what they normally go for
Field View
They were $13 or $16 face I think. I sold them to a friend but was surprised how much the market changed in 2 weeks.
Yeah, they have definitely come down
not for this Rangers series, though. I figured the fair might have an effect, but apparently not.
bought tix for the A's game in 2 weeks (at TF)
like $100 each for seats back from the section behind home plate (Home plate box is the name I think). I think that was a pretty good deal for the seats.
I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...
$45 apiece for a pair on Tuesday
crazy cheap for the Royals
wow
that is crazy. Why are they THAT cheap, do you know? Just an unpopular series?
I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...
MVP! MVP!
haha, just kidding. Just for cmath if he’s around.
This ump is really giving Wilson outside strikes
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:32 PM EDT reply actions
boooo
Both Kubel and Young called out on balls outside
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha... I remember that...
Seems totally out of character for him now. He doesn’t seem to be an in-your-face type of personality.
Nice play by Young?
Bizarro defense
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:38 PM EDT reply actions
Rules of Gardyball
1. Delmon must play left field
2. Cuddy must play every game
3. Guerrier must pitch as much as possible
4. A middle infielder must bat second in the order
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Everything is bigger in Texas
Including the strike zone, apparently
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
morneau
i know hes here for the weekend deal.but seeing him in uny in the dugout.is hard to take. is he close? yes -no ?not knowing gotta be hard for him and all of us-as fans
Souhan says he’s done for the year, but Souhan is a dipshit.
by Brady Eyestone on Sep 5, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
It's a common thing for everyone
It just seems that we’re the only ones
Blackburn has zero location tonight
This is going to be bad.
Good point
But it’s still annoying – Wilson was getting that as a strike
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
So Kubel gets punched
and Guzy gets a walk on very similar pitches
There, now we get the outside strike call
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:51 PM EDT reply actions
So it's not my imagination that he seems to be hitting better
Although he may have had more PA’s last year
I'm just having fun
Tolbert’s sample size is small…
The does lead the team in RBI% though. He drives in 28% of guys who are on base when he’s up. That’s twice the league average.
Clutch. :-)
I wonder how much those two triples increased his line this year
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
well
a quarter of his total bases came with those two triples. So his slugging had to be hugely helped by it.
Triplebert walks
Go Twins!
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 3:57 PM EDT reply actions
And the White Sox take the lead
on a Quentin infield hit and throwing error by the pitcher…. weird
This inning is so awesome
Bunt single and a double steal
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:02 PM EDT reply actions
It's THE TWINS WAY!
Too bad they don’t do more of that on the nationally televised game, to further the reputation!
pretty weak
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
hahaha
no kidding
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
hehe
somewhere in between. Tough to say if it would have made it up the middle if it got through the pitcher
Need more with Blackburn on the mound...
that being said, 3 runs in 2 innings against Wilson is pretty good…
Run baby run!
at least not a GIDP
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Only one run, arghhhh.....
The Twins must lead the major leagues in getting the fewest runs home with men on base. The good news is that they do get people on board— but man, they leave a lot of them. I was hoping Gardenhire was going to call for the double steal while Hudson was at bat— that way we would have scored a run on his fly ball to center.
.283 w/ RISP as a team
I don’t feel like checking all the teams, but I highly doubt that’s the worst
The GIDPs kill though
.283 is actually the best, but we ground in to double plays so much with RISP that it doesn’t help all that much
No... I think we're good here...
The GIDP problem is with runners on first. We’re far and a way leading in GIDP for the “1—” split.
I think you're right
Adam said at one point that the problem was failure in bases-loaded situations, especially bases-loaded DPs
That was true in May, but the numbers change over the course of the year
We’re hitting .302/.331/.473 with the bases loaded now. Not leading the league, but top-half.
We scored 12 runs yesterday including a base-loaded triple.
we prefer to be the ones hitting into double plays, not the ones turning double plays
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
he was found not guilty by reason of insanity
I’m not sure what happened after that – maybe they put him into a treatment program instead of jail?
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Done with lab writeup
Finally get to watch a game again after like 3 weeks. You better pick me up here, Twins!
by twinscrazy_german on Sep 5, 2010 4:18 PM EDT reply actions
perfect chance
to get his BA over 300 with a homer
MPR, Lefsa, Grumpier Old Men and Joe Mauer! Top that.
by By Allen's Mullet on Sep 5, 2010 4:18 PM EDT reply actions
Delmon Young
No longer the worst .300 hitter in baseball
old timers
was there fri. got to meet alot em and get pictures.neat.talked to mudcat about his homerun in 65 series. was there for it. twins did a good job for the fans this weekend
Manny got "hit"
When was the last time an ump called a player for leaning into a pitch? He turned and got hit…
Run baby run!
nice to have another unlikeable White Sox player around
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there a likeable one?
I’m seriously not thinking of any
Wow, what is going on in St. Louis?
"If he doesn’t want to be here next year, we need to figure out a way to get him out of here and find somebody that wants to be here and play," said the nine-time All-Star. "That’s a reality.
"That’ll show you right there a young player that doesn’t respect what he’s got," Pujols added. "He needs to find out the talent and ability that he has and pretty much keep his mouth shut and play the game. Let the organization make those decisions, not himself."
nice smooth double play
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 4:41 PM EDT reply actions
At the risk of jinxing it
Blackie has pretty effectively kept a strong offense from plating runs. Here’s hoping he finishes just as strong.
MPR, Lefsa, Grumpier Old Men and Joe Mauer! Top that.
by By Allen's Mullet on Sep 5, 2010 4:44 PM EDT reply actions
Dammit!
got called in to work early…. win Twins! Go Sawx! have fun y’all
I'll take a Twins win
And a Sux loss, please.
I stood where no man goes, above the din I rose!....Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion.
by TGPackersTwins19 on Sep 5, 2010 4:47 PM EDT reply actions
Sweet!
I stood where no man goes, above the din I rose!....Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion.
by TGPackersTwins19 on Sep 5, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, Dick said Thome has "probably surpassed"
the Twins expectations as far as on the field production..
Run baby run!
wow
kubel hitting a lefty and young getting a hit during this cold streak back to back am I seeing things
LSB won't be happy.
They already think we’re way too lucky as it is. Maybe they shouldn’t have been playing up as much.
i feel like hardy and span have both been picking it up a bit
it would be great to see them go on a tear
Damn
Sux got a run back
I stood where no man goes, above the din I rose!....Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion.
by TGPackersTwins19 on Sep 5, 2010 5:11 PM EDT reply actions
Tied
I stood where no man goes, above the din I rose!....Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion.
by TGPackersTwins19 on Sep 5, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
This
I stood where no man goes, above the din I rose!....Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion.
by TGPackersTwins19 on Sep 5, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Pap'bon walks him
Red-sox base-ball clap clap clapclapclap
I stood where no man goes, above the din I rose!....Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion.
by TGPackersTwins19 on Sep 5, 2010 5:17 PM EDT reply actions
Lots of strikeouts by Blackburn's standards
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 5, 2010 5:20 PM EDT reply actions
I remember there was one this year where he struck out 5
Five! In one game! Wow.
you don't mean that
we want to beat teams because we’re better than them, not because they’re hurt. i’d rather beat their best, at least