Twinkie Town - Game Hub: Astros @ Twins, Game 106An online community of Twins fans mourning the death of Prince Rogers Nelson.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52554/tt_fav.png2013-08-03T00:49:42-04:00http://www.twinkietown.com/rss/stream/43476572013-08-03T00:49:42-04:002013-08-03T00:49:42-04:00Twins 4, Astros 3
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<img alt="These hats are frickin' sweet, right?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/buXMkwMcqP_XYUFcEmkO2qdHTN8=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17304657/20130802_sal_aj5_095.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>These hats are frickin' sweet, right? | Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>They let this game go to extra innings, which is why America is in trouble, people.</p> <p>Here are some thoughts on Friday night's Twins game:</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>Houston's Jarred Cosart looks like the type of young pitcher the Twins desperately need. He threw seven strong innings, allowing just five hits, striking out four and walking one, with a Joe Mauer sac fly accounting for the only run allowed.</li>
<li>Houston's old-timey unis and caps are sweet. This is the first time I've ever said anything positive about that godforsaken sprawl of a town, and likely the last.</li>
<li>Samuel Deduno had the archetypal Deduno inning in the third: single, double, strikeout, strikeout, walk, strikeout, no runs scored. I halfway love Sam Deduno, but if the team was any good and these were meaningful games, innings like that would kill me. He ended up going six innings with two runs allowed. Not as good as his last start, but any start that gives this offense a chance to win is a plus.</li>
<li>The Astros took the lead with a 2-out rally in the 5th, complete with another baffling mental error by the Twins defense. Robbie Grossman (who?) walked, then stole second. Mauer caught the pitch and sprung to his feet in time to make a throw...but there was nobody covering second base. You can guess what happened next, but I'll tell you anyway since you're already here: Jonathan Villar (who?) walked, Jake Elmore (who?) walked, and a Jason Castro bleeder up the middle scored two runs. As local tornado enthusiast <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyc50" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Ben Collin </a>would say, "That's Twins baseball" right now.</li>
<li>Twins set-up guys: still a bright spot. Jared Burton and Meat Raffle each had 1-2-3 innings (Burton's aided by a sweet Joe Mauer assist to nail Brandon Barnes (seriously, who the fuck are the Houston Astros where is Jeff Bagwell) as he attempted to steal second).</li>
<li>The Twins tied it in the 8th when Justin Morneau drove in Brian Dozier. They still had runners at the corners with just one out, but both Oswaldo Arcia and Trevor Plouffe struck out. Arcia K'd thrice in his return to the Twins lineup.</li>
<li>
<a href="http://twitpic.com/d661ic">Squirrel head</a>.</li>
<li>In the 9th inning, Glen Perkins IN A NON-SAVE SITUATION gave up a 1-out bloop single to L.J. Hoes (fucking come on), who scored on a double high off the wall from Matt Dominguez (sure, I guess). Clete Thomas bobbled the ball before throwing home, but it looked like it got to Mauer in time for a tag. Mauer instead threw it to third to nail Dominguez. It was close, but I honestly can't say if it was the wrong decision or not. Your mileage may vary. </li>
<li>In the bottom of the 9th, though, when you're dealing with the likes of Chris Colabello, Doug Bernier and Chris Herrmann, no game is over, not now, not ever. So, yes, Colabello walked, Bernier pinch-ran, Herrmann walked, and a Dozier single tied the game. Just like the 8th, they had two runners on and one out, and just like the 8th, they failed to push another runner across, sending this one to extras. This is the point where I started drinking heavily. So if the rest of this recap gets weird, blame it on that.</li>
<li>Tenth inning recap: Dickandbert talked about prostate issues in the top half, and tattoos in the bottom half. The Astros tried to give the game away with a throwing error that allowed Trevor Plouffe to reach second, but the Twins were unable to push him across. We also saw Doug Bernier get intentionally walked so Houston could pitch to Clete Thomas. This actually happened. Look at the fucking box score. IT HAPPENED. I SAW IT.</li>
<li>Eleventh inning recap: I think Josh Roenicke pitched.</li>
<li>Twelfth inning recap: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eiu8yu1nd8I">over to you, Randy Newman</a>.</li>
<li>Thirteenth inning recap: Clete Thomas walked, Kevin Correia pinch-bunted him to second, Dozier singled him home. Twins win, 4-3. Ryan Pressly is your winning pitcher.</li>
<li>The Twins called up Andrew Albers from Rochester, and it looks like he will be Tuesday's starting pitcher. Good for him.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Robot Roll Call</h4>
<div><ol>
<li>twinsgirl197, 130 (good lord)</li>
<li>amiller92 73</li>
<li>WestRiverTwinsFan 68</li>
<li>kenzertz 63</li>
<li>Myjah from Weird Twitter 38</li>
<li>Theo77 28</li>
<li>DavidRF 23</li>
<li>less cowbell, more 'neau 12</li>
<li>gbg 9</li>
<li>Colossus of Rhode 9</li>
</ol></div>
<h4>Charts and Graphs</h4>
<p><iframe style="border:1px solid black;" width="450" height="450" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=613331&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-08-02&team=Twins&dh=0"></iframe><br>Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-08-02&team=Twins&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></p>
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<div>Enjoy your weekend everybody.</div>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/8/3/4584362/mlb-final-score-twins-4-astros-3RandBall's Stu2013-08-02T18:40:03-04:002013-08-02T18:40:03-04:00Game 106: Astros @ Twins. Oh, boy.
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<img alt="J.R. Richard was awesome" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/n3ipzLCtxfyDX9jedeXHluDaAuY=/0x157:581x544/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17291943/145560467.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>J.R. Richard was awesome | Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>This is a game that is happening.</p> <p style=""><strong style=""><br>First Pitch: 7</strong>:10pm CDT</p>
<p style=""><strong style="">TV:</strong> FS-N</p>
<p style=""><strong style="">Radio:</strong> K-Twin, TIBN</p>
<p style=""><strong style="">Know Thine Enemy:</strong> <a href="http://www.crawfishboxes.com/" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">The Crawfish Boxes</a></p>
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<h3>Lineups (via <a href="https://twitter.com/mlb_lineup">@mlb_lineups</a>):</h3>
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<h4><a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;"><ol> <li> <span>Brian Dozier</span>, 2B</li> <li> <span>Joe Mauer</span>, C</li> <li> <span>Justin Morneau</span>, 1B</li> <li> <span>Ryan Doumit</span>, RF</li> <li> <span>Oswaldo Arcia</span>, LF</li> <li> <span>Trevor Plouffe</span>, 3B</li> <li> <span>Chris Colabello</span>, DH</li> <li> <span>Clete Thomas</span>, CF</li> <li> <span>Pedro Florimon</span>, SS</li> </ol></div>
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<h4><a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a></h4>
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <ol> <li> <span>Jonathan Villar</span>, SS</li> <li> <span>Jake Elmore</span>, 2B</li> <li> <span>Jason Castro</span>, DH</li> <li> <span>Brett Wallace</span>, 1B</li> <li> <span>Carlos Corporan</span>, C</li> <li> <span>Marc Krauss</span>, RF</li> <li> <span>Matt Dominguez</span>, 3B</li> <li> <span>Brandon Barnes</span>, CF</li> <li> <span>Robbie Grossman</span>, LF</li> </ol> <div>Enjoy the game, everybody.</div> </div>
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https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/8/2/4583634/game-106-astros-twins-oh-boyRandBall's Stu2013-08-02T16:51:18-04:002013-08-02T16:51:18-04:00Twins vs. Astros: News and Notes
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<figcaption>Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>If Bud Selig really wants to act in the best interests of baseball, he would cancel this series. </p> <h3>Probables (all games FSN)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Friday, 7:10pm: <span>Samuel Deduno</span> vs. <span>Jarred Cosart</span><br>
</li>
<li>Saturday, 6:10pm: Kyle Gibson vs. Erik Bedard<br>
</li>
<li>Sunday, 1:10pm: <span>Mike Pelfrey</span> vs. <span>Dallas Keuchel</span> </li>
</ul>
<h3>
<a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li>Houston, at 36-71, needs five more wins to finish ahead of the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a>' modern record for futility (40-120 in 1962), and just eight more to beat the hapless 2003 <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a> (43-119). So that's something. <br>
</li>
<li>The Astros' best player, <span>Bud Norris</span>, was traded to the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orioles</a> before the trade deadline. He won his first game with the O's by beating, you guessed it, Houston, <a href="http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=mlb/news/newstest.aspx?id=4613456">striking out eight in six innings of work</a>.</li>
<li> <span>Jose Altuve</span>, Houston's new best player, sat out Thursday with a strained quad, and could miss tonight's game as well.</li>
<li>Houston broke the major-league record by amassing its 1000th strikeout in only its 107th game of the season. The previous record-holders, the 2010 <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Diamondbacks</a>, needed 109 games to fan a thousand times in a season.</li>
<li>The Astros haven't won consecutive games since a four-game winning streak that ended June 16.</li>
<li>According to FanGraphs, the Astros as a team have a 1.0 WAR. The <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a> are at 5.7, which means the two franchises put together are about as valuable as <span>Mike Trout</span>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Twins Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li>As Mike Rand pointed out this morning, <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/218092651.html">Joe Mauer is the only Twin who can hit</a>, even a little bit. And if you'd like to feel bad about yourself and your fellow Twins fans, I invite you to read the comments on that article. My favorite so far: "There is NO way that Mauer should even be worth the number you are saying he could have gotten on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/british-open" class="sbn-auto-link">the open</a> market---guys like Pujols have barely garnered that number and they hit HR's and drive in Runs---things Mauer cannot and will not do." <br>
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<li>According to the Twins website<a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/218043121.html"> and the Star Tribune</a>, it's a big day for rehab assignments. <span>Darin Mastroianni</span> is going to Fort Myers, <span>Wilkin Ramirez</span> will play in New Britain, and <span>Josh Willingham</span> is joining up with Rochester. Catcher Josmil Pinto is also going to Rochester, to replace <span>Drew Butera</span>.</li>
<li>There's no word yet on who will replace Butera on the 40-man roster, nor on who will take Scott Diamond's spot in the rotation.</li>
</ul>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/8/2/4583504/twins-vs-astros-news-and-notesJon Marthaler