Know Thine Enemy: Over the Monster
It's been a season of ups and downs (okay, more downs than ups), but finishing today with a four-game sweep in Boston? That would be one of the year's highlights. Each and every game has been a good one, and I can't imagine today's contest being any different.
The last
— Dustin Morse (@Twins_morsecode) August 5, 2012#MNTwins 4-game sweep at Fenway was July 18-21, 1991. A chance for the sweep today.
Twins: Revere (CF), Mastoianni (RF), Mauer (C), Willingham (LF), Morneau (1B), Doumit (DH), Dozier (SS), Casilla (2B), Carroll (3B)
Red Sox: Ellsbury (CF), Crawford (LF), Pedroia (2B), Gonzalez (1B), Ross (DH), Saltalamacchia (C), Middlebooks (3B), Kalish (RF), Aviles (SS)
Five starts and 28 relief appearances so far this season have seen Morales put up some pretty decent numbers. Today he's back in the rotation in place of Boston's favorite villain, Josh Beckett. And don't let the fact that he's a reliever fool you: Morales has actually been slightly better as a starter. He might not go seven innings, but while he's out there he should be very good.
Blackburn's ERA is below 8.00, which is nice. He needs to string a few of these starts together if he wants to be a part of the rotation next year, though. At this rate I can't imagine that his contract will be any guarantee of a spot in the rotation. For me, as long as ER = IP - 3, then that will be considered a step in the right direction. Another eight-inning, two-run performance would also do the trick.