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The WGOMSBG Nation Provides Your Daily Source for Half-Baked Crap |
July 4th, 2008 by ubelmann
Tags: Cleveland Indians, Livan Hernandez, Paul Byrd
Byrd v. Livan
Both starting pitchers today have managed to limit their walks allowed quite well, while at the same time being overall crappy pitchers. But some offensive fireworks would be rather appropriate for Independence Day, don't you think?
Sorry, the LTE form is closed at this time.
 | Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam! My Dad used to say that the summer was "half shot" on the 4th of July. I never could figure that out -- we had only been out of school a month and had two months of summer vacation left. I notice, though, that the Twins have played 81 games. Maybe that's what he was talking about. As I have documented several times before, I went to my first professional baseball game on July 4, 1973. It was a glorious night with 49,000 people crammed into the ballpark and fireworks afterward. Do you remember your first game? What's on your mind today? 14 LTEs Horrified that the Best GM in all of Sports is your avatar? Go here to set up an account and right the wrong that has been done unto you! (Use the same e-mail account that you signed up with here.) |
In Response to Cup of Coffee: July 4-5, 2009,
sean wrote: Yeah... Read that this morning and just groaned through the entire thing. Should've stopped … FIP stands for Fudge I'm Pathetic among bloggers, since Joyce has played 11 games for the Rays this season and…
DK wrote: That columnist that everybody else seems to think is so great produced another gem.
socaltwinsfan wrote: The Star-Spangled Banner as you've never heard it before. The Star Spangled Banner, like you've never heard it
cheaptoy wrote: Oh, and I got a pretty good shot of the play at the plate.
cheaptoy wrote: Went to the Snappers game last night, and consumed many Gray's Bully Porters ($4.50 for a 20 oz. Nice.) They got up early 4-0 on the strength of Aaron Hicks and a Ramon…
AMR wrote: Give up 5 runs before recording the second out. Then retire 23 of the next 26. Not too shabby... should have had Guardado start the game and Mays pitch the final 8 innings. Oh,…
In Response to Cup of Coffee: July 3, 2009,
ubelmann wrote: A PER of 15 is average, right? And if he's not good at defense (seems likely) then being in the 16-17 range probably doesn't make you average.
brianS wrote: Portland, Hedo Turkoglu is 30. He's a fine player, but an average one, especially after you factor defense in. Please act accordingly. an average player?? that's a joke, right? If you put stock in PER, Hedo…
DK wrote: My favorite basketball writer didn't think Hedo would fit in beautifully in Portland at all.
In Response to WGOM Wellness Challenge 2009-June,
brianS wrote: eggs are good for you :-)
cheaptoy wrote: Don't let anyone tell you you're a bad influence on the WGOM Fitness Challenge.
brianS wrote: but I used the top rack, not the second rack, under the broiler.
brianS wrote: you gotta balance the pork fat with the beef fat in your diet. I made a veggie version of this today for late … with no bacon, and substituting broiled asparagus for the greens, and…
cheaptoy wrote: I love recipes that require making bacon and subsequently using the fat later on. And for what it's worth, Kari got some cast iron skillets for her bridal shower that we get to pick up in…
cheaptoy wrote: No problem, I'll try to remember to sign my emails. I think I was a little under the influence when I wrote that.
There have been
visitors to the WGOM since August 23, 2004
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 5:09:00 pm
Cleveland
G. Sizemore cf
J. Carroll 2b
B. Francisco lf
J. Peralta ss
S. Choo rf
C. Blake 3b
D. Dellucci dh
R. Garko 1b
K. Shoppach c
Minnesota
C. Gomez cf
A. Casilla 2b
J. Mauer c
J. Morneau 1b
J. Kubel dh
D. Young lf
B. Buscher 3b
N. Punto ss
D. Span rf
Cleveland
P. Byrd
Minnesota
L. Hernandez
socaltwinsfan replied on July 4, 2008 at 5:38:03 pm
I don't get why the Indians continue to bat Sizemore leadoff. He's there one consistent power threat. It would be like the Twins batting Morneau leadoff. Well, not quite. Sizemore at least is fast, but he should be batting third, at least.
DK replied on July 4, 2008 at 5:53:47 pm
I might bat him second if there was somebody else who was clearly as good a OBP guy as him - maybe Choo will turn out that way - but otherwise I don't see much wrong with making sure your best overall hitter gets the most plate appearances possible.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 5:59:01 pm
Sizemore has played 523 games in the leadoff slot, while playing only 74 games outside of that, and those were mainly in the 8th (30) and 9th (26) slot
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 5:52:54 pm
new lineup, as per Joe C at the Strib
Indians (37-48)
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, 2B
3. Ben Francisco, LF
4. Jhonny Peralta, SS
5. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
6. Casey Blake, 3B
7. David Dellucci, DH
8. Ryan Garko, 1B
9. Kelly Shoppach, C
Starting pitcher: RH Paul Byrd
Twins (47-38)
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla Nick Punto, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Nick Punto Brendan Harris, SS
9. Denard Span, RF
Starting pitcher: RH Livan Hernandez
Casilla has soreness in his finger
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 5:58:34 pm
OMG, Gardy has somehow merged these two mediocre players! It's ubelmann's twisted dream come true.
Seriously though, Punto is in the #2 hole again. I prefer to think of him in a hole with #2, if you know what I mean.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:00:40 pm
oops, the
strikethroughsdid not copyI wonder if Stick is going to have an 'edit' button on WGOM 2.0
ubelmann replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:13:45 pm
It's ubelmann's twisted dream come true.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
*maniacal grin*
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:19:57 pm
GUHHHH
I take it back, Nick.
Good work.
ubelmann replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:14:46 pm
I kind of like this better without the espn scoreboard widget. Did people find that useful? Personally, I almost never looked at it.
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:16:36 pm
I admit I typically did not look at it. Once in a while, but not much.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:27:44 pm
it was nice to glance at, but if its gone I will not shed a tear
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:21:13 pm
PUNTO!!!
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:21:26 pm
Punto with the bizarro universe power swing
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:28:11 pm
I tune in late and miss a Punto HR?
Now that he's gotten his annual dinger out of the way, he can retire the power bat until 2009.
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:30:18 pm
Nicely played by Gomez...
Anyone see the crazy (non-)catch by Damon in LF at Yankee Stadium today? You have to see the replay, crazy stuff...
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:40:56 pm
I missed it. I went to work when the game went into a rain delay
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:44:23 pm
wait..were you talking about the play where the ball sat on the wall?
if so..that was insane. I have never seen anything like that
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:32:55 pm
If I knew what the code was to post a photo (I always cheated with the examples at the bottom of the page), I'd post that picture of the "Hell" sign with icicles hanging off of it.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:36:11 pm
< img src="url"/ >
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:36:37 pm
delete the spaces in the <>
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:37:11 pm
Busch man!!!
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:38:03 pm
Testing...testing 1.2.3
[Fixed by SBG]
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:38:47 pm
tighten up at the beginning
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:39:36 pm
I see that now...thanks for the assistance dw.
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:59:25 pm
and enclose YOUR URL in quotes, not the actual letters "URL"
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:38:49 pm
The butcher once again delivers the meat.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:39:59 pm
couple of 1 out runs tonight.
craziness!
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:40:32 pm
Do those count?
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:41:43 pm
Wow, just noticing those special Indians caps -- they look awful. Isn't there something in the US Constitution prohibiting commingling the American flag with racist caricatures?
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:46:04 pm
I am watching Punto's HR (WHAT!?) on MLB.com...is that Chaief Wahoo decked out in red, white, and blue?
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:44:28 pm
Hmmm... according to FSN North, the Twins aren't just leading MLB with a .315 average with RISP, if that holds up (probably won't) they'd have the highest mark in MLB since 1974... last year's Tigers are in the current #1 spot at .311.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:46:32 pm
Shoppach
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:50:22 pm
Hmm...we're going to need more runs.
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:53:07 pm
Both teams with their batting practice pitchers on the bump today... I hope Gardy's draw on the bullpen phone is quicker than Wedge's...
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:54:20 pm
Gardy doesn't lose that draw very often.
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:57:26 pm
I feel a Morneezy HR this game.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:58:45 pm
maybe next at bat
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:03:54 pm
couple batters early
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:59:18 pm
kuuuuubel
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 6:59:57 pm
dw talks to me from the future
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:01:10 pm
DELMONNNNNNNNNNNN
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:01:49 pm
Delmon making himself useful!
smalls replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:02:26 pm
Excuse me, Delmon making himself useful...brought to you by State Farm Insurance.
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:02:37 pm
w00t!
How you like me now, Will??
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:06:49 pm
You got your name back, Kid
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:02:50 pm
Delmon is officially En Fuego.... that'll help the team BA w/RISP....
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:15:27 pm
Delmon's July split a robust .444/.500/1.111 with 4 RBI so far...
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:05:50 pm
Oh, here's the link for that crazy Damon play in LF in the Sox/Yankees game today.
I don't believe I've ever seen a ball teeter on top of a fence like that for a couple seconds... how many stadia even have a fence where that would be possible?
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:27:18 pm
wiggle wiggle
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:28:26 pm
Hi, I'm Joe Mauer droning on monotonously for your favorite airline. Plan your next vacation with zzzzzz.........
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:29:00 pm
he should stick with modeling.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:32:08 pm
yeah, not a good commercial
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:32:03 pm
Byrd escapes the power spot in the lineup
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:34:25 pm
Punto with 82 PA on the season, .707 (before the game) OPS. Not too far off his .725 2006 line. Still small sample size and not somebody I want playing 3rd, but good for him for coming back with reasonable production in a utility role.
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:38:42 pm
ISTR Punto being a sparkplug for the Twins for about 3 months in 2006 but really tailed off at the end (had an awful August)... his OPS was north of .800 for much of the season, I know that... THAT was what was so unexpected... he was that year's version of Casilla...
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:35:30 pm
its home run derby at the Dome tonight
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:35:39 pm
Yeah, we got fireworks. DOH.
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:46:55 pm
Hernandez accidentally works his slowdown hypno magic on Gomez - oops.
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:48:13 pm
That CF play sums up Gomez 2008 in a nutshell: flashes of brilliant athleticism coupled with frustratingly boneheaded plays...
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:49:13 pm
Three runs on Rasputin through six, not bad.
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:50:33 pm
"A masterful job of pitching by the veteran Hernandez" says Dick Bremer.
His Hyperbolater 3000 is definitely working at peak efficiency.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:51:56 pm
kuuubes
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:53:47 pm
Gardy and Wedge both seem determined to ride their tired starting horses as long as possible today...
Though with Cleveland's bullpen, you can't fault Wedge too terribly much.
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:58:45 pm
You can't really expect either closer to throw more than 8-10 pitches. For different reasons, of course. But still.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:58:34 pm
looks like the day off yesterday did not stop the Twins hot hitting
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 7:59:06 pm
Boy, it's nice to have a couple of good offensive games against Paul Byrd.
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:03:14 pm
Hmmm.... things looking good on the Southside with Moneyball beating the Sox 5-1 in the 7th...
If things hold up in these games, Twins will pull off the AL Central Superfecta with a win and every other team losing...
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:07:31 pm
what does the Superfecta pay?
brink replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:16:57 pm
1 game in the standings x 4
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:10:43 pm
Puntooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
and Harrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrisssssssssssssssss!!!!
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:11:10 pm
but at least harris is "comfortable" at SS
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:12:14 pm
quiet tonight.
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:13:18 pm
I think most people are being sociable and out enjoying the holiday
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:12:30 pm
Livan was so-so tonight
102 pitches, 59 strikes = 58% strikes
twayn replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:15:11 pm
Hi, gang. Just checking in from the lake. Looks like we have a good chance of fireworks tonight.
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:24:48 pm
fireworks good
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:27:33 pm
Im going to miss the town fireworks tonight, due to me being at work
but all my neighbor lit them off last night, so I think I'm good
enjoy them twayn!
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:22:57 pm
Mauer needs a hit here
greenmachine replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:24:07 pm
Dazzle: That would be a good time to clinch ... in Cleveland ... trash the clubhouse.
Gordo: Ho ho ho, sure, nothing wrong with that.
Raise your hand if you can imagine Gordo trashing a clubhouse.
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:26:16 pm
canadian!!
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:26:38 pm
its been a while since Justin picked up an RBI. 5 games!
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:26:54 pm
Injuns working on the BOSO.
brianS replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:27:45 pm
Young NOT swinging on first pitch???
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:28:13 pm
Delmon is living life right lately
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:46:34 pm
Gomez and Mauer do not have hits tonight
OOO Gomez just got drilled
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:48:07 pm
Punto!!!!!
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:51:11 pm
And Mauer gets his hit
all is well with the world
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:54:09 pm
Lamb (subbing for Kubes) gets a hit!
WOW E WOW!
twayn replied on July 4, 2008 at 8:58:49 pm
Man, this Tribal ancillary pitchers repository sucks.
Oh, and the new WGOM look is pretty cool. It'll take some getting used to, but I approve (hehe, like that matters).
davidwatts replied on July 4, 2008 at 9:13:26 pm
1 game back. woo