Mariners 4, Twins 3: Blow it Up

“A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint in it of laughter, but of laughter more terrible than any sadness- a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility.”

-Jack London, White Fang

Jack London knew what it was like to be a last place baseball team. Everything is dark and desolate and the sport that you love seems to mockingly laugh at you, cold and haughty. The same game is played over and over again, and they all end with a lead in the 7th, quickly snatched away by poor relief pitching, and not to be reclaimed due to an offense that goes to sleep at 8:00 PM.

The Twins played a baseball game today that we’ve seen at least a dozen times this year. The offense grabs the lead early while the starting pitcher throws well. The opposing team (in this case, the Mariners) catch up against our dismal excuse for a bullpen, and the offense decides to call it a day after putting up a lead that is far from insurmountable.

It’s sad that Kenta Maeda’s return start was wasted. It’s sad that Luis Arraez and Byron Buxton are coming back to a last-place team that could be entering fire-sale mode sooner rather than later. It’s sad that we’re stuck watching and rooting for a team that stinks out loud. But that’s just baseball.

STUDS:

Nelson Cruz- 3-4, 1 BB

Gilberto Celestino- First carrer home run

DUDS:

Hansel Robles and Luke Ferrell- Gave up the lead