The WGOM

Just finished mowing the lawn and am sitting down with Rhubarb daughter to help her with a couple college applications. The neat thing is, she is next door dog-sitting, and we are both on laptops on our wireless -- high-gain antennas kick major @ss, just like the Twins are going to do today. Time to get some Baker K images readied...

I'm heading to the game with the family. The last time I took them to a game, we left in the 5th inning of a (then) perfect game. I was so busy with ice cream, cracker jacks, etc. that I didn't even know it was a perfect game (I did realize it was a no hitter).

So this time we are going to try to get there in the 3rd inning or so and see if I can coax 6 innings out of them. The hot dogs, etc. at about the 7th inning should help!

Hopefully, a win can set the tone with the Twins going forward... and if things go well, put is within 1/2 game of the Sox.

I now have two monitors! WGOM will be on the small screen while I can dink around on the 22 inch LCD

I just moved this week so I don't have cable set up yet. So no Twins on the little or the big screen today.

LOL!. Cuddyer's nickname for Young is "First pitch!"

Span-tastic way to start the ballgame

That 'hit' call is ridiculous. An error could have easily been ruled on either the missed catch or the throw, but to call it on neither? Poor scoring.

Hmmm...this situation seems familiar. Can we ask for a encore?

Strong deja vu' here...

No love lost between Verlander and Gomez

Ready....aim....

DO NOT RUN ON TEH MAUER!!

Leo Mazzone putting the smack down on the "Move Mauer out from behind home plate" rubbish.

duuuuude

Nice little 2-out rally.

Pardon me while I abide. way to go, Dude!

I disapprove of leadoff walks. So STOP THAT SCOTT!!

Dammit FOX. I don't want to watch the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game. Gamecast it is I guess. I hate lead-off walks. Hopefully they'll test Mauer's arm again.

has there been an explanation about Attabury/Atterbury/Attaboy instead of Dazz yet?

Sheffield scares much more than Ordonez. Mags is positively cuddly next to Sheff.

Baker living on the edge with these deep fly balls

Heh heh...Carlos Gomez doing his best Kelly Leak impression, not trusting Delmon and running all the way into LF for a pop fly

It'd be good if the Twins decided to score some more runs this inning.

Morneau has one job in this AB...

Get Casilla in to score a run from third.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The Mountie giveth and the Mountie taketh away.

2 DPs for Morneau; regression from yesterday

I actually thought Morneau was beginning to get locked in again at the plate for the stretch run...I thought wrong.

I <3 Span

Delmon Young,

I DEMAND that you produce positively in this AB.

Why take the bunt off?

And my hatred for Punto grows...and grows...and grows.

Go-go comes through!

DON'T SWING AT THE FIRST PITCH..... GO GO GO GO MEZ!!!!

Go-Go gets 'er done!

For those watching the game: was Buscher's out a reasonable gamble or a foolish chance?

Been a while since Ullger had someone thrown out at home; good to see he's getting back into the game again.

Big inning here by Baker.

Not a real smart play by Span there.

Same question regarding Span's attempted catch: a reasonable gamble or a foolish chance?

Is the number of times the opposition scores right after the Twins score exceptional, or does it just seem that way?

Why is Crain warming up?

Pretty good inning for Baker, all things considered.

Now, to whom do we entrust the eighth?

Casilla looked safe on that last replay.

Well that inning fizzled quickly.

Personally, I think Gardy is making the wrong decision by sending Baker out for the 8th.

Another BB...no like walks.

A couple things I don't like -

Sending a pitcher out for another inning when the manager plans on removing them as soon as a runner reaches. I get the short leash, but that's a bit too short.

I am really tired of announcers always bitching about pitch counts. It seems like more and more sound like Bert. Give it up, it is how the game is played these days.

oh for criminy

F*CK. I'm sure Gardy is going to play reliever roulette the rest of the way.

I actually feel like throwing up right now.

Curtis smote that ball.

BS (2.57E⁷)

And the wheels begin to fall off.

Pretty predictable bullpen performance.

We missed way too many scoring opportunities in this game. That's the real story. That killer instinct is missing.

BTW, is Joe Nathan not with this team?

Had to see that one coming. I'm like blind with rage with Baker. Totally inexcusable walking Santiago. That's like an error on a routine play. You have to throw strikes to that guy. Unbelievable. I was fuming before the homer by Granderson because I already knew what was coming. And Gardy had to go get Baker after that. This all came down from a walk to the No. 9 hitter. I don't care how he pitched before that or how the Twins missed opportunities to extend the lead, etc., this all came down to Baker walking a guy he should never walk, but especially in that situation. To me, the rest of the team is off the hook for this one. This is all on Baker, although he won't get a loss.

Gardy really has no one to go to in the 7th or 8th inning. Hasn't Breslow earned some consideration? Fuck Gurrier

Fuck this performance.

Postseason my ass.

give breslow or nathan the fucking ball

Ugh...I'll say it again. More than one pitching change in an inning should be against the rules. Any whining about the time instant replay would take pales in comparison to these nauseating chess moves.

When I hear Reyes, Crain or Guerrier is warming up in the bullpen my asshole puckers up and I get a sick feeling in my stomach. They've all let this team down.

Twinsfan, I agree Baker walking their #9 was foolish, but he pitched a great game and didn't deserve a loss. Can't hang it on him.

Every starting pitcher on this roster should get the opportunity to kick every member of the bullpen scare in the nuts.

Check the damn splits. If we want to start winning games, we'll make Breslow the 'setup' man, with Nathan on alert in case anything goes south.

Reyes, Crain, and Guerrier shouldn't see any situations where the tying run in on-deck or worse. Ever.

Oh, so NOW Breslow warms up.

Nice fucking call, Ron.

On one hand, it's got to be insanely frustrating to only have 2 reliable relievers in the bullpen, but for Gardy to keep trotting out Reyes/Guerrier/Crain in gme changing situations is awful bullpen management.

If we don't make the playoffs, our terrible bullpen, and the poor way it was managed will be what killed us. No question. Our starters have done well, our hitters have done plenty, our bullpen/bullpen management has killed us.

afternoon folks.

WTF!?

Tolbert PH'ing for Kubel!?!?

I understand the frustration, but it's not like Breslow is some kind of superstar. Gardy could probably just toss the names in a hat and pull them out and have just as good a chance.

Remember the 2001 team that collapsed in September. That was a team with some good young players, but that really was not quite ready to win yet. It did lead to some good things in the next few years, though. Maybe this team will do the same.

Feeling bad for Algonad about now...

fuckity fuck fuck. I hate waking up from an afternoon nap to something like this.

Eh, I've got a decent feeling about this 9th inning.

Okay...

CASILLA!

Oh, why the teasing?