If any readers will be in the bleachers tonight, here's hoping you have your batting helmets, gloves, and body armor ready; Scott Baker's on the mound, and you can't be too careful.
TV: FSN-HD
Radio: As usual, the Twins Radio Network, AM-1500 in the Cities.
Know Thine Enemy: Lookout Landing | USS Mariner
Starting Pitchers:
Chris Jakubausabaskusauskas Scouting Report:
He's a rookie - but he's 30 years old. The guy played for Oklahoma way back in the day - as a first baseman, not as a pitcher; following college, he had Tommy John surgery (and coached high school baseball), then knocked around independent leagues for four years. Finally, he got his shot with the Mariners last year, blew through Double-A and Triple-A, and got his chance with the big squad this year.
Jakubauskas started the year in the bullpen, making two appearances (including a scoreless two innings against the Twins), and has made three starts since moving to the rotation - losting all three.
He throws a lot of fastballs, most of them right around 88-91, and appears to throw a couple of different variations (cutter, four-seam, two-seam, etc.) as well. Beyond that, he'll toss up a few curves and changes, depending mostly on the curve to change speeds (he's thrown fewer than ten changeups in his three starts).
Special Bonus Idiotic Link of the Night: USS Mariner thinks that the Seattle front office should try to get Alexi Casilla AND Jose Mijares for Yuniesky Betancourt. You know, because the Twins are being run by drooling subhuman idiots who've never seen a baseball game before. Hey, I know! Maybe the Mariners will trade Adrian Beltre and Erik Bedard for Craig Breslow and a coupon for free stuffing with purchase of turkey!
Lineups: