2008 Game 38: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins
Litsch has been pretty good so far this year. Slightly above average in ground balls, average K-rate, and outstanding walk rate. All combined together, he's sporting a 3.69 xFIP.
I'm not really worried at all about Slowey so far. 6.9 K/G, 0.0 BB/G, and 37% GB% are all better rates than he had last year. It'd be nice if he got a few more ground balls, but I think he's probably just not that kind of pitcher.
Going into Monday, the Twins were hitting .311/.371/.452 as a team so far with runners in scoring position and .259/.299/.366 with no one on base. So either they are a super-clutch team, they have trouble starting rallies, their team speed is making it tough for pitchers to pitch, or they have trouble focusing without runners on base. Or it's just dumb luck.
Toronto is hitting .264/.341/.386 with no one on base, and .209/.297/.284 (!) with runners in scoring position. Chokers.
It's going to be frustrating if I see Delmon's name in the lineup today. He's been struggling, could probably use a day off anyway, and likely won't be 100% after rolling his ankle a bit last night.
[SBG] I've been absent for the most part over the last week or so and I hope that I'll be around a little tonight. I really enjoy the game logs -- they have been a lot of fun. The spirit around here is tremendous. We can criticize, cheer, whoop it up, and blow this sh*t up, as required. The goal here is to have fun and visit with your fellow citizens. And to enjoy the game. In that order, I think. The game is really secondary to the discussion. Do I have you confused? Sorry about that. Just remember to relax and enjoy the WGOM. [/SBG]
Dread Pirate Will Young
This is the first time all year that I've ventured into the Quest Live Pregame show and, between it and the in-game interviews, I've discovered the sole reason Telly Hughes was apparently hired is to serve as Delmon Strosity's mouthpiece.
twayn
I think he must also work cheap.
ubelmann
Are the Blue Jays really so desperate that not only is Brad Wilkerson starting in RF, but leading off? I mean, SSST and all, but he looked done-skie in Seattle, and his LD% has been dwindling the last few years, too. (And boy did his pop-up rate spike this year, too.)
Whiffers
I was shocked to see Wilkerson leading off...wow.
Big Mak
Listening to the Beloit-Clinton game at work as a warmup to the Twins.
So far both teams have gone 6-up, 6-down through 2 innings.
Dave Bromberg, pitching for the Snappers, has 4 SO through 2.
Big Mak
...but he walks the #8 hitter, no perfect game tonight.
Beau
the Twins page at mlb.com said today that the Twins want to get Delmon into the lineup tonight because his bat's been so hot lately.
SBG
Up is down, black is white, miserably cold and weak is hot.
twayn
Was that Kelly Thesier's article? That Delmon, he's got more grit than Eckstein.
Beau
Don't remember. Probably. And it was probably based on his 2 RBI's last night.
ubelmann
"He had a really good session with [hitting coach] Joe Vavra before Monday's game and talked a lot about some things," Gardenhire said. "Delmon was very receptive and Joe said it's the best talk they've had."
While maybe Joe and Delmon are BFF now, I'm not sure that makes me all that optimistic about Delmon turning things around.
ubelmann
.348/.400/.348 would be hot for Jason Tyner, so in that regard, sure. Delmon's been a Tyny bit hot.
SBG
He hasn't had an extra base hit in his last 17 games.
SBG
Gogomez throws it into the dugout -- Bert throws Slowey under the bus.
Whiffers
Someone has to take Baker's spot there.
I don't know enough about positioning to really take a side on it though. Maybe I'll have to start paying attention to how many pitchers go to back up a throw on a single to the OF.
Beau
Gladden defended Slowey. "What's he supposed to back up? A casual throw to the cut-off man?"
SBG
No defense required.
Beau
Nice to have Nolan Ryan on the mound
davidwatts
Who says Slowet doesnt have an 'out pitch'
SBG
FIP after one: -2.8
Gutzon
+10 SSST
twayn
Slowey picking up his CF there.
Whiffers
The Jays have an U-G-L-Y team out there tonight.
I'm hoping the Twins can take advantage of Stewart's 'arm' out there in LF tonight.
socaltwinsfan
I'm guessing GoGo will do the same to Slowey tonight, considering his flyball tendencies.
twayn
Go Joe.
Dread Pirate Will Young
I canoed from Taylors Falls to Osceola today and my triceps are absolutely killing me. It's too bad I don't know where Sheenie keeps the Advil.
Whiffers
Slowey seems to be painting the outside corner early in the count. Great location and a great set-up to go inside later in the count.
GreekHouse
Didn't look like Harris did that on purpose, but he sure could have!
Gutzon
Quick turn by Everett, too. Shannon looked pained running to first.
SBG
Wow, that Twins half inning was fast.
twayn
Jimmy John's fast. So fast you'll freak.
twayn
Nice range by Everett there, but that's a tough throw to make going that far toward third.
SBG
How long before we sign Scutaro to slide in head first for us?
Gutzon
Too bad there's no out on the play, but I'd be satisfied if Everett can keep getting to balls that deep in the hole.
meat
evening folks, for those of you keeping score at home my beer is fermenting at a crazy clip, never seen such bubble action in my life
Gutzon
Ooooo, what variety?
meat
Belgian Ale, patersbier made from carapils / pilsner malt, hops and a crazy belgian yeast- The only part that hurts is the waiting.
E-6
The only part that hurts is the waiting
A brewer's Petty concerns.
Do you make labels for your bottles, meat? A friend of mine from school made some doozies for his brews. Most of them profane, all of them funny.
meat
I find that once my beer is drinkable I really don't pause to look at the label... I think that labeling would be great (and should print some) but am lazy / have a studio practice to tend to ... and the beer doesn't last that long
Although I will have a lambic aging for 6-9 months, a good candidate for a label project
cheaptoy
I made one similar a while back. I somehow "lost" 12 of them in my small apartment, and found them when we moved about a year later. My goodness were they fantastic. It was what I suppose you could call a Belgian Strong Ale, but I can't remember what exactly was in it and Beersmith is in my other pants (computer).
Got a Rye IPA aging in the secondary right now, should be mighty tasty.
meat
oh boy- that sounds ... delicious, all grain, partial or extract? and can I have the recipe?
E-6
You guys coming to the convention?
cheaptoy
I've been doing all grain. I'd be more than happy to share the recipe, but apparently I didn't save this recipe anywhere that I can remember. (crap) I did make a nice triple a while back, though:
14 lbs Pilsner Malt
1 lb 10L Crystal Malt
1 oz. Amarillo at 60 minutes
.5 oz Styrian Goldings at 10 minutes
.5 oz Styrian Goldings at 2 minutes
1 tsp Cloves
1 tbsp Coriander Seed
1 lb Clear Candi Sugar
White labs Belgian Ale yeast
I was mashing at about 62% efficiency, so my final gravity ended up at about 1.074. (8.5% ABV when it was done) It ended up being really balanced, with a slight alcohol warming sensation.
meat
That sounds excellent, unfortunately I live in a small rental with no space, without decent appliances so I've found it hard to maintain a constant temp- I've been confined to extract brewing (with a few pounds of speciality grain for complexity)- we'll have to compare notes sometime-
cheaptoy
I remember the days of space-less brewing. I think that beer can be made with extract, the key was really the cloves and coriander. Made it a bit spicy.
But yeah, I've been going for awhile, and I'm always open to note comparing. It wouldn't be as much fun without being able to talk about it.
brianS
I'm crying here. Cruel. Just cruel.
davidwatts
what kind of beer are you brewing (sorry I dont know the technical terms)
Big Mak
Snappers down 2-0 after the top of the 5th ... turning off that game so as I can switch to the big leagues whilst I try to get some work done.
E-6
The goal here is to have fun and visit with your fellow citizens. And to enjoy the game. In that order, I think.
And therein lies the reason I hang out here rather than at lowestcommondenominatorguy's blog...
E-6
Goin' to a GoGo!
SBG
Homer!
GoGo!
greenmachine
Going, going, GOMEZ!
twayn
Carp. My wife pulled me out to watch Idol and I missed Gogo's gone gone. And at the risk of sounding like a dirty old man, that Syesha Mercado is hot with a capital HOT.
meat
d'oh
davidwatts
this inning= not good
meat
d'oh x 2
SBG
Wow. Everett's arm is a big ole noodle. Stairs should have been dead there.
greenmachine
Ack - Slowey dropping some XBH balls.
meat
well folks I'm out to a party for a bit
E-6
How badly did Cuddy misplay that ball? Dazzle's call was, shall we say, lacking.
twayn
He had to go back for it and it looked like he had it read, but it hit off the tip of his glove. Should have been caught IMO.
SBG
I agree. There should have been no runs scored in that inning, but for the defense.
StatFreak101
2 out walk...
And then a double, and than another double that should be an error on Cuddyer.
twayn
It was entertaining watching Stairs chug around the bases, though. Shades of Matthew LeCroy.
StatFreak101
Boy, Cuddyer has been an advantage in RF so far this season.
He's looked much worse this year than he ever has IMO.
twayn
He's been lacking on the offensive side a bit, too.
StatFreak101
That too...
Cuddyer has just looked flat out bad in RF.
greenmachine
I don't know about this "let's try to win with 2 hits" strategy. Gardy must be crazy like a fox.
Gutzon
Crazy enough to turn off the patient switch, too. He's a wily one, that Gardy...
twayn
I don't know, Litsch seems to be hitting his spots pretty well, working both sides of the plate.
StatFreak101
It sure helps when most of the Twins lineup fails to make the necessary adjustments in order to hit Litsch.
E-6
Dazz and Black Jack calling the game with all the flair of a couple of plumbers talking shop. No offense to plumbers...
greenmachine
Oh my, what an at-bat. Slowey just spattering pitches all over the zone with Rolen.
twayn
Lord, this AB is going on forever.
StatFreak101
Well that was exciting.
StatFreak101
Swing the bat.
Stop looking at Litsch pumping strikes pitch after pitch.
greenmachine
Huh, Litsch only at 63 pitches this inning, where Slowey came in with 80 odd.
greenmachine
Gomez is our leading offensive producer after 5 innings?
StatFreak101
Harris's average continues to fall...and fall...and fall.
StatFreak101
Litsch being removed after 70 pitches!?!??!
greenmachine
That move puzzles me. It didn't seem like he was falling apart.
StatFreak101
Nah, he wasn't.
Just a manager over analyzing the situation.
twayn
Yep, pretty much backfired on that one.
davidwatts
sweet! Just missed a HR
StatFreak101
Dang it!
Just missed it.
Stupid baggy.
GreekHouse
That missed going over by like 2 feet in 2 directions.
E-6
Missed it by that much!!!
greenmachine
Morneau taking the whippin stick to his nation's team.
E-6
Dazz askin' for a wild pitch.
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night.
davidwatts
the best thing about Dazzle's comment is that it was the first thing he said after setting the scene after the commercial break.
E-6
I've been trying to give Gladden some rope, but in the words of Charles Barkley, he's just turrible.
davidwatts
I like him generally. But he needs a faster tempo.
twayn
And he should borrow some voice inflection from Gordo.
twayn
Damn! I took a pit stop during the pitching change and missed it. Morny triple?
StatFreak101
Terrific Cuddyer.
StatFreak101
Shouldn't Stewart be on the DL right now?
StatFreak101
Nothing but a steady dose of FB's by Guerrier there to Stewart.
Would be nice to see him mix it up a bit.
twayn
And Mauer called for fastball after fastball in that Rolen AB. Gave Stairs lots of pitches to time, then a first pitch fastball to Stairs, I believe.
davidwatts
Gordo, its Greg Zaun, not Jeff Zaun
DK
Good grief I am getting sick of Dazzle and Morris right now.
E-6
Turrible!
StatFreak101
Man, Guerrier has allowed a lot of base runners so far this season.
StatFreak101
And there's another one.
Good grief.
davidwatts
this seems like one of those games we are destined to lose
StatFreak101
I'd like to see Casilla start at 2b tomorrow.
Harris's inability to turn the DP is starting to really annoy me.