In one corner, weighing 208 pounds, with an xFIP of 3.67, pitching for the Minnesota Twins, we have Johan "El Presidente" Santana.
In the other corner, weighing 230 pounds, with an xFIP of 3.19, pitching for the Seattle Mariners, we have "King" Felix Hernandez.
This could be a really great pitching matchup between two guy with effective but contrasting styles...or one of the pitchers could have a really bad night. No one knows that just yet.
Hitting lefty pitching is the Mariners' offensive forte. They have a .299/.354/.446 line against LHP so far this season, which gives them an OPS 11% better than league average against LHP. The Twins have a .265/.331/.391 line against RHP so far the season, which gives them an OPS 6% lower than league average against RHP, and basically sucks. There's a big difference between the lineup that Santana has to handle and the lineup that Felix has to handle.
A lot of the Twins' offensive suckitude this season has come in the second half of the season, where the Twins have "hit" .253/.308/.377 as a team. For comparison, Luis Rivas, in his career, has hit .262/.307/.383. Perhaps that best describes what it's been like to watch this team's offense since the All-Star break--it's like watching Luis Rivas hit over and over and over again. Sure, maybe he'll have a good night in KC, but mainly he's a waste of time.
As far as lineups and managers go, we'll see which manager can out-stupid the other. At least the Twins won't be facing a left-handed pitcher, so Gardy can't hit Tyner lead-off against a LHP, inciting me to run onto the field and strangle him as he hands over the lineup card to the umpires. (Though somehow I'll have to restrain myself as Gardy does just that on Wednesday.)
UPDATE: This might be McClaren's stupidest lineup ever! Felix Hernandez is an extreme groundball pitcher, one of the most extreme ground ball pitchers in the league, and he always has been. So what does McClaren do? He puts Jose Vidro at second base. Granted, Vidro's .330/.372/.379 this year looks decent, but he is slow as molasses and has already hit into 15 double plays this year. (Which of course makes him a great choice to hit second in the lineup.) More importantly, Vidro is absolutely terrible in the field.
His next brilliant idea is to put Willie "Boom-Boom" Bloomquist in for Adrian Beltre at 3B. Willie is not only an offensive downgrade from Beltre (who has a decent .286/.333/.429 line against Santana), he's a clear defensive downgrade from Beltre, who could well be the best defensive third baseman in the league.
Adam Jones gets the start in LF, which is probably McClaren's only good decision in this entire lineup. Sexson continues his sort-of-but-not-really platoon with Broussard (which is fine as Broussard isn't all that hot against lefties or very hot with the glove.)
My favorite part is that McClaren found a way to get Raul Ibanez in the lineup at DH. Ibanez is hitting .258/.280/.342 against LHP this year. For comparison, Jacque Jones has hit .228/.277/.348 in his career against LHP. Jose Lopez is having an awful year and is hitting just .237/.282/.333 against lefties, but that's practically as good as Ibanez. There was no need for McClaren to sacrifice Lopez's defense at 2B when he could have just put Vidro at DH instead of Ibanez.
Gardenhire has finally found a manager who can botch the lineup worse than he can. Wow. (Of course, Gardy counters by putting Tyner at DH and RonDL in LF, because he believes in pixie dust and all that. But really, at this point, Gardy has barely any choices to make.)
Tonight's game could feature ubelmann being called home from the stands in the middle innings. Assuming he does not spontaneously combust.
Should we warn Homeland Security? I think ubes might count as a human WMD.
Gotcha covered there, ubelmench
NOW what is McCleren doing?!
I am predicting a Twins win tonight
I'm predicting that ubelmann will inspire the troops to victory!
I predict a 0-0 tie into the 10th inning.
Of all the calls I have made, this might be the most likely to occur.
a slight change in the lineup tonight
Mauer
Hunter
MVP
cool
That sounds like:
4-3
5-3
6-3
to Moss.
Venez++. Bring it on!
I must say that the last time I saw F-Her pitching against the Twins, I was in a hospital room while Lucy was being (unsuccessfully) induced. Today, BabySBG rolled over for the first time.
tonight's lineup makes lots of people roll over.
(congrats on the milestone, btw)
Twins lineup isn't bad, if you step out of the room while they're announcing the #8 and #9 batters.
Hey NBB, did you get hit by this storm that's tearing up central MN?
Ok I looked at the Nation map again, and you are way to far North and West. Nevermind.
NBB lives out in CT now.
verrrry far west.
Yeah, that's about 20,000 miles west of here. It looks like everyone else in the Nation is out of the storm's path as well. Que suerte!
sister-in-law and family are on their way to the Big Island for a week, to be greeted by a Category 4 hurricane. I played my tiniest fiddle for their benefit as they left.
7. White
8. Tyner
9. Punto
Sounds like runs to me! Rondell is averaging an RBI/game when he starts in LF!
Or is that, "the runs" instead?
Criminy - we have more logs before tonight's game than we did during all of yesterday's game, practically.
It was a beautiful day in Minnesota yesterday. Tough to stay inside on a day like that, especially with the Twins in the tank.
I'm fixin' to make up for a week off. Cover your eyes, Citizens!
Wow, did ubelmann call that or what!
Ubes is plugged into USS Mariner, one of the great sites out there. They have a tremendous amount of traffic, which has resulted in some pissing matches in their game logs. Basically, the owners of the site have been saying that they do NOT want to hear how good Vidro or Ibanez are -- to the point that they've decided to audition new commenters with some unbelievable results.
No avatars? Man, that site is no fun!
They are a little more serious about everything than we are, but they are also tremendous writers.
Can you moderate New Guy's future "predictions"? Just asking...
No respect. No respect, I tells ya.
Good call, ubes!
"and the Twins threat is over...."
sigh.
aw Geez, Morneau goes fishing.
Gordo is campaigning for Bedard for Cy Young. Of course, so are Bedard's numbers.
What the hell was Vidro doing on that? Punto went to his right, dropped the ball and threw him out at second by ten feet.
Vidro is just that slow.
great...
that was hit...tall-ly.
Sexton's tall-y whacker.
*hee hee*
cr@p
So, the three whipping boys at USSM, Ibanez, Vidro, and Sexson all with first inning hits.
Dickenbert inform us that Ibanez has great career numbers against Santana. Take that, ubes!
Dazz: "he got a fastball right down the middle of the plate"
I have a theory: fastballs down the middle of the plate get whacked. What do you all think of my brilliant insight?
I think that theory has a good chance of working out for you.
So both teams have had practically identical first innings, except Richie Sexson and his .206 avg did what Morneau couldn't. The Twins just can't get anything going right.
Could RonDL White be any worse of a LF'er?
He played that Sexson ball just about as terribly as he possibly could.
I only saw a bit of the replay due to a screaming baby, but I thought it looked at least a little catch-able for someone like Tyner if he got a decent jump. Am I making that up due to an intense dislike of Rondelle in the field?
Well, then when he couldn't catch it, he ran right up to the fence and let it get by him.
In person, that ball seemed to hang for a really long time. In just about any other park, that would've been a HR. The ball just won't carry in that direction, which makes Sexson's game winner that much more impressive.
Which is to say that I think a rangy LF'er could've caught that ball.
Greg Luzinski's speed, Jose Canseco's glove, Shannon Stewart's arm, Jason Tyner's bat. Did he get Abby Normal's brain, too?
Punto's average and Tyner's power.
Did anyone else lose the FSN feed?
We have a little problem with FSN... blackout!
I thought it was just me.
I was hoping you guys would be able to do play by play for me.
Tyner singled to center with 2 out. F-her drops the ball on a move to first (balk), advancing Tyner to 2nd. Bunto walks.
It just came back for me.
Brooks Bloomquist throws out Juliette Swango.
making a call - Nicky caught lookin'.
a balk, then a walk! it a rally
Minny, sorta
"Balk, Walk, Jayhawk!"
isn't that how the KU baseball team chant goes?
Close enough.
Punto strikes fear into the K.
Well, elephants are afraid of mice.
Hah.
Must you shatter all of our myths? Next thing you know, we'll hear that Babe Ruth wasn't a saint.
everyone knows he was a candy bar.
Kasilla kan't katch up to F-her's high-test. Inning over.
Now, that's how you play defense on the mound. Very nice play by Santana. He's so quick.
I saw a comment on a blog today by a guy saying he would rather have Captain Cheeseburger than Johan because Johan "isn't the most athletic guy in the world."
wow. just wow.
well, if you're not gonna have Rafer Johnson or Bob Mathias on the mound, why bother with an athlete at all? Makes sense to me.
How do I get one of those neat avatars?
You have to write a 2,000 word essay, including nicely-formatted statistical tables, explaining how TR can save the franchise from irrelevance.
Well, you can check out my work at Battleyourtailoff.com.
That should be enough.
Incidentally, SF101 is interested in attending the convention. I added a link to BYTO in the hometown bloggers.
Wow, the Rondelle White Experience. Sweet.
We're looking forward to his debut album: He's Out of Sight
or click on the "site admin" link on the main page and then the "profile" tab
http://stickandballguy.com/blog/wp-admin/
Ok, this isn't a call. I realize that my calls may have worn out their welcome. But let me just say that i would very much like to see the Twins hit some home runs today. Have at it, sluggers!
I'm sorry. We did not understand your request. Please press "1" if you wish to continue; "2" if you want a shoulder to cry on; "3" to make a more specific request; or "9", followed by the pound sign, to contact a support staff member.
222222222222222222
that remeinds me of that one Simpsons episode where Homer gets fat so he has to work at home
operator: The fingers you have used to dial are too fat. To obtain a special dialing wand, please mash the keypad with your palm now
lol
Your calls will NEVER wear out their welcome!
much.
R_R, did you get my email earlier today?
As a matter of fact, I did. Danke, Düde!
Bitte, baby
Morneau Home Run?
Probably not.
That avatar is classic!
like the Twins' offense, the batter is see-through.
Do you know what it's displaying?
The whiff heard 'round the Nation.
I assume you know what it displays.
I had it saved on my computer, and figured it'd do me well in fitting in here immediately.
It was a Great Moment in Enhanced Gameday History
That's a reach.
the Rondelle White Experience, I mean. Not you, StF101.
+10. That baby was heard and smelled.
It's the Rondelle White strikeout from the other day.
Ding Ding!
That's why you're the man around here.
I constantly wonder how this team hasn't gotten no hit this year.
They seem absolutely ripe for it.
They seem absolutely ripe
for it. Fixed thatThat was not a good inning
Dazz: "Hernandez is just getting the ball, getting on the mound and throwing it."
Uhh, I'd be eager to pitch to this lineup too, Dazz.
Earlier I was looking for a Punto HBP to post as a Great Moments in Enhanced Gameday History, but unfortunately, he hasn't been bit at all this year. Okay, well, not really a "great moment" as much as wishful thinking.
Stick, you've got to change today's gamelog to the "wasn't watching" scorecard logo -- I'm getting superstitious that that is all we need to break the game open.
Done.
Of course, now if the Twins don't immediately score runs, I'll hear about it from New Guy.
I'm waiting...
Do I get any credit here?
*rests on laurels*
*sulks*
Well, that avatar was only a matter of time!
Oooooh, that HBP to Ibanez is a classic screenshot!
I couldn't handle watching/listening to 81 Seattle games with that dang blasted trained running in the background every 25 minutes
You wouldn't like Midway Stadium in St. Paul, either.
Midway doesn't do it for me, either. After a couple of years of watching NL ball in Fargo in a gorgeous park, Midway just doesn't cut it.
I've been to Midway once, and I dont remember the trains being an issue. Maybe when you're team is winning trains arent such a big deal
hey, Punto on twice tonight so far!
I'm a big fan of Midway, but mostly just because Saints games are so danged fun to go to.
Do it, F-Her!
ROFLMAO!
Gameday scored the foul ball as an out. I wonder how many innings it will take to get back on track?
Ha! Ain't that the truth.
seems to be fine for me
Will, I noticed in your latest that you hate games with Anaheim now. You should be glad it doesn't go back as far as the 80's, with Ron freakin' Davis blown saves, and Brian "Twins Killer" Downing.
Joe Mauer owns the city of Seattle.
I fully expect a K from Hunter here.
Now that's a piranha.
And like the rest of the season up until this point, a Twins pitcher will give that run right back.
I hope you are proud of yourself with that call. Sigh.
Bloomquist pulls a Punto.
Justin should get a gold glove this year. I know its been said before
another opportunity for moderation, SBG! Repetitive! Repetitive!
The Judges say that it stands.
Dave Cameron at USSM on that slide:
Umm, and you don't throw your best pitch in that situation because...?
In light of Rhubarb_Runner's apparent ability to make calls, I will now attempt to one-up him.
Joe Mauer with a dramatic 3-run bomb in the top of the ninth.
You need to learn from the master. Nostradamus is The Man because he was vague. Try something like, "A Twin will hit a multi-run XBH in the future." and you too can be a famous prognosticator.
Learn from the master? I am the master. I just, um, am a little out of practice is all.
One of these days I'll get one right... I'll show you... I'll show you all...
Ugh. I've seen this game before.
Well, at least the Twins are only down two runs.
*rolls eyes*
We should have 1.4 runs left in us tonight.
Is it a flyball to center if the second baseman catches it?
SBG Pool:
When is Rondell White gone from this ball club?
2010
the day after Kevin McHale retires.
When he blows another hammy.
When he loses those compromising pictures of Terry Ryan.
As soon as he tries to start his car...
Really need to hit the hay at this point. I'm in Omaha on business, and got a day full of meetings to try not to sleep in tomorrow. Give 'em heck, guys.
(btw, I posted this for your amusement)
at least with these 1-2-3 innings, the losing is quicker
WTF was that slide by Johjima?
Feet first into first base? Even Punto thinks that's weird.
I felt like some sort of penalty should have been assessed for that slide. I'm not sure what exactly, or why, but there's just something not right about a feet first slide into first base.
Tyner with a walk! Punto with 2!
we should have 7 runs on the board is this wacky stuff is going on
Hey! An opportunity!
oh, right. Punto is up. Cr@p.
Holy cr@p! Only two more hits and we'll have a run!
Twins need to punish this Jeremy. Do NOT bunt Casilla!
Sorry.
Did Dick choke up a bit on that call?
Goddamnit.
Ok, Bart. Make it happen against the next guy. What a friggin' waste of an out.
I thought that was a fine bunt. With Seattle's bullpen, Parrish wasn't going to give up the whole lead while he was out there. Green is their best non-Putz in the bullpen, and the Twins were lucky to get what they did. The key thing is, if you are asked to bunt get the freaking bunt down! (Which Casilla did well, seemed like kind of a tough pitch to bunt, too.)
The storm is starting to mess with my power. I don't know how long I am for this game.
"What Magneto said while playing golf during a hurricane"????
I give up. What?
You ARE familiar with Carnac's act, right, New Guy?
I suppose I should have phrased it in the form of a question.
Catch-22
*tears open envelope*
What Rondelle White does with a hundred fly balls.
We have a winner!
very true to the art form, E-6. LOL!
Oh, right. I forgot about my avatar. But to be perfectly honest, he was a little bit before my time...
Here comes the flood.
Productive out. One more of those and we're out of the inning.
2 runs in one game!
That was an impressive recovery by Jones. He hit that barrier pretty hard.
Oh boy. Good news: Mauer doubles in the tying run. Bad news, Mauer out at third by twenty-five feet. LF Jones fell into the crowd, but got back out and threw Mauer out by a mile.
he fell INTO he crowd? yet still made the play?
jenkiees
Wow!
3 runs!
3 runs!
Krap!
FSN Feed Out again. PBP, please.
So, I just got back from a shower and GameDay must be showing a classic game, because there's no way we scored two runs in one inning and three runs in one game. It's inconceivable!
Nah, it happens about once a week!
Notice that no one is arguing with you, Beth?
except for The Boss. But what does he know?
Are there any other Metro-area Nationmembers here tonight? We're experiencing the storm of the century right now.
It was worse here Saturday morning.
Storm of the week. Saturdays was bigger. In NE Minneapolis, anyway.
Our apartment complex had several tree uprooted on Saturday. But it is raining extremely hard in Eagan and the sirens are going off. No wind, though.
Yeah the wind died down here in South Minneapolis too. But the lightning is getting pretty intense, and the thunder is just deafening right now. I feel like I'm in Baghdad.
We're starting to get that now. Until 10 minutes ago, I didn't even know it was raining.
Actually Baghdad isn't a very apt analogy. I feel like I'm in the War of the Worlds.
movie or radio play?
It's raining, not pouring, but the thunder and lightening are starting to get busy. Saturday woke me up and then scared the hell out of me two or three more times.
I was scared myself on Saturday. I've never seen, that's right, seen, wind like that.
Saturday at like 3 in the morning, right? I mostly slept through that one.
MVP squeaks one by the infield for a hit
A hole between Vidro and Sexton?? Whoda thunk?
No, the hole was actually between Betancourt and Vidro, thanks to the shift. It was a weird shift, though. Usually the second baseman plays deeper (sort of a shallow RF), but Morneau squeezed it the one place he could between Betancourt and Vidro, who converged (late) on the ball at practically the exact same time.
Cuddy strikes out on a SLOW curveball
2 outs
The Insanity is meek tonight. Stunner.
RonDL hit an out. inning over
That swing by Cuddyer was RonDL-esque.
Oooof. Nacho cheese.
Our best hope is for this game to go extras. Maybe Putz will go 2 innings and be unavailable tomorrow!
I love your thinking
Some serious thunder here right now.
Gordo (on Putz), "Eddie weaned him into that role."
Um, yuck.
Rodriguez for Casilla?
Are you kidding me Gardy!?!?!?!?!?
Wait, Casilla is being pinch hit for? Say whaaaaaaaaaaaat?
L-Rod should be pinch bunting for Punto
This would be a nice time for a pinch hitter. But nope, Punto!
Punto can't bunt.
Just steal Tyner!
Come on Pun!!! This is your time to shine!!!
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where's the Homke filter?
Jeez, Putz for Tyner, Punto and Casilla? Despite the Tyner single, this is still using a nuke to take out a nest of cockroaches.
Can we tie Punto to a metal pole and stick him outside right now?
Nicky's bunting is a drag.
Excuse my language...
But you've got to be f'n kidding me.
Gardy is pulling out all the stops right now.
Terrible managing...just awful.
No kidding. What chance does L-Rod have against Putz? Certainly less than Casilla.
I really want to know why Gardy PH Rodriguez for Casilla.
And why Nick Punto is still alive.
Joe Nathan has not pitched in over a week. USE YOUR RESOURCES, Gardy.
What a 'tool.
Sexy Beast.
Blown up tall-ly.
Good news! Joe Nathan is available for a save tomorrow night, if necessary.
Game ovah.
Way to manage tonight Ron.
"Ruff."
that was a Bakerball to Sexson.
looked like Sexson reached for that HR pitch on ESPNNews highlight. Unless he was standing way back in the box, was that really a meatball?
Just checking in to say - as bad as the roster is it's amazing Gardy can still find a way to mismanage so spectacularly.
remeber last year when Ruben Seirra did somethign wrong and teh Twins DFA'ed him right on the plane flight home
why dont we have any of that going on right now.
Because sadly, Gardenhire and Terry Ryan still think guys like Jason Tyner, Nick Punto, Rondell White, and Luis Rodriguez are "major league caliber" players.
I really wish guys like LEN3, and Joe C. had the balls to call out Ron Gardenhire.
...and the post game show goes straight into blaming Santana for the loss. WTF is wrong with this country???
on the Radio, Joe Vavra is the interview and pretty much said 'we suck offensively right now'
and once Punto gets a sac bunt down, the monkey will be off his back. Whatever that is supposed to mean
that monkey on his back is the only thing between Punto and the letters D, F and A.
and once Punto gets a sac bunt down, the monkey will be off his back. Whatever that is supposed to mean
Whatever. Punto got a bunt down in the 11-run KC offensive explosion however long ago that was. It still didn't make him a better bunter.
Kubel's fault. He shoulda been pinch-hitting.
I can't wait to hear what the Coom Dog and Toupee LaPanta have to say.
Yippee!
Joe Vavra, polishing the deck furniture on the Titanic during the postgame show.
Nothing this team does surprises me anymore.
*slaps forehead*
This game is Exhibit I for Sharks vs. Piranhas, Part II.
It's a hell of a lot more efficient to just let Sexson go yard than to hope that Tyner, Punto, and L-Rod can cobble together a run.
This game is Exhibit I for Sharks vs. Piranhas, Part II.
That's the only thing I could think the entire game. Two runners in the first. Two runners in the second. One in the third. Nibble, nibble, nibble. Killing me little by little by little. Ugh.
And then they get to "decide" whether to bunt or not in the ninth (as if it weren't a foregone conclusion), and of course they piss it away (with a little help from the manager).
And in the "extra-inning-type" situation, the M's go yard and that's that.
Ubes, you missed it but there was a point mid-game where Dick was absolutely flabbergasted that one of the M's (Bloomquist) wasn't bunting after a leadoff double. He expected it on the first pitch, and was shocked that the batter never squared around. Then he expected it on the second pitch, and so on and so forth. In his mind, bunting was a foregone conclusion (hence the snark above). Complete ignorance.
Unfortunately the Gardentool comes from the same school of "strategy," and we get treated to the ridiculous efforts of Bunt-o.