Today's Game
Minnesota Twins: 9-11, 2nd game in current homestand (0-1)
Tampa Bay: 8-12, 8th game on current road trip (3-4)
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
First pitch: 7:10 PM CT
Probable Pitchers
Francisco Liriano: 0-4, 7.06 ERA, 5.45 xFIP
James Shields: 2-2, 3.67 ERA, 4.76 xFIP
Liriano's last game
Last time Liriano pitched was the night game of a day-night doubleheader in Boston, necessitated by a rain-out the previous night [Game Log]. He gave up 7 runs, all earned, on just 4 hits over 4 innings pitched. Liriano walked 4 batters while striking out 6. Guerrier, Ayala, and Mijares combined to pitch 1-hit baseball over the remaining 4 innings. [Box Score]
Sheilds vs. The Twins
Shields is 1-1 with a 6.26 ERA in four career starts against the Twins and went 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA in two 2008 starts; he is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in two career starts at the Metrodome. [Citation]
Twins and scoring runs
At this point in the season, the Twins have a record of 9-11. The Twins are averaging a mere 1.72 R/G in their losses, while scoring 6.88 R/G in their wins. On the other side of things, the Twins are allowing 7.18 R/G in there losses, and only 3.44 R/G in their wins. Obviously, this is to be taken with the standard "SSS" disclaimer. With only 20 games there is plenty of room for statistical oddities, but everyone knows scoring more than you allow is how you win ballgames.
Seth Stohs of sethspeaks.net is hosting a live chat starting at 7:15 p.m. CDT and continuing throughout the game, for those of you interested.
This isn't a New Guy prediction so much as a New Guy promise: there is absolutely, positively no possible way that the Twins lose this game. They are 100% guaranteed to win tonight.
This prediction fills me with both delight and trepidation.
Given New Guy's, um, accuracy, I'd feel a whole lot better if he'd said we were 100% guaranteed to lose.
I think New Guy's right this time. I saw Liriano pitch against Tampa Bay a bunch of times this winter, and he never lost!
Where the hell is the Gameday Audio feed for this? All the links are dark.
I think that Andrew set the audio for GMT.
I can get behind blaming Andrew.
Attebury again. Right on. (Not that I'm complaining, but where's Gordo?)
Vacation, they said.
That seems a bit fishy, no?
Yeah, so early in the year. It's like when someone can't play due to flu-like symptoms. Or a celebrity takes a break due to exhaustion.
or mebbe he got busted for using a Performance Enhancing Drug and they are waiting on the second sample to come back before they announce the 50-game suspension.
Ritz crackers are a banned substance?
same with the video. Wtf.
Well, that worked out nicely.
Two-year-old daughter: Daddy, why is Mauer hurt?
Me: That's a good question. I'm not sure the Twins even know for sure.
Five-year-old son: Maybe it's all that crouching.
Me: (cringe)
Looks like you have a future strib commenter on your hands. :o)
As long as the five-year didn't add, "Move him to 3rd base." ;)
Both of these thoughts went through my head; we have lots to learn around here.
Nice AB for Span.
Span is awesome.
I wouldn't know, because f&)*%# Seligula has taken my money and not given me my goddamn Gameday Audio for this game. I want my 80cents (or so) back so's I can go buy a Twix.
I agree. Get the pitchforks.
As is the Mountie!
MOUNTIE!
Early runs! I like it!
Damn, is he strong or what
Sorry. Didn't happen because I didn't hear it.
Holy cr@p! It's a hit parade. Call in Nick Fury, SHIELDs is in trouble.
If Cuddyer strikes out I may have to get on the hater bandwagon.
Will a GIDP work?
Morneau's was more glamorous, but, boy, does Kubel look solid.
ugh. even worse. Move over ubelmann, I want in.
Man, Ron Coomer is intellectually unstimulating
I could just feel that GIDP coming up when Cuddyer stepped into the box. I should start averting my eyes when he's at the plate.
Zack Money, I think Cuddyer felt it coming up too.
bS it looks like they're trying to get those links live.
praise Mauer! It's up.
Things looking good after 1 1/2!
Onward, my friends, to victory!
Epic
How very civil of you.
Gameday and TV links are now up.
Hurray the radio I've paid for!one!!11!
I'm gonna be p!ssed if the Twins are done scoring in this game and I missed it because of mlb.com. Grrrr.
Liriano looking great!
By the power of Greyskull, the Twins will win this game!
Hmm... a disabled hotlink, and no edit function.
Try this one...
No? AAArrghh.
Very Nice.
by Grabthar's Hammer, we shall win this game!
That's the spirit!
Very underrated movie, btw.
that movie is awesome.
Frankie is dealin'.
Is it just me or is this game going along at a slower than usual pace?
What, they only give you three strikes now?
BTW Yickit, congrats on the upcoming nuptials. You still have a chance to get away. ;)
Thanks Meat. Luckily she's known about my love affair with the Twins and has decided to accept it. As long as she stays a Twins fan I won't have to enact operation free fall.
Casilla wasn't even in the box when he bunted that ball
Cuddy out for the 2nd time tonight. He doesn't have to get a hit in every game, but I'm going to start expecting him to get a hit at least once a series.
Consider your expectation met.
Ask and you shall receive.
err, didn't he just get a single?
Liriano still dominating!
Minnesota Twins gu brath!
Chan eil mi ag iarraidh càil a bharrachd.
or really, Alba gu brath!
Did it just get hotter in here.
Bask in her vacuousness.
She looks like she has a lazy eye in that picture.
ajs;odijoiwjefiowefo
Evening everybody.
I'm well-known as a Delmon h8r, because, well, I hate him, but I really F-Bomb-ing hate Cuddyer.
Don't you wish Delmon was playing lf instead of Kubel.
That's like asking me to choose between...I don't know, Janeane Garofalo and...Rosie O'Donnell.
sisters?
Eeeeesh. Moar Alba plz.
Is Carl, the smartest pitcher in baseball, doing the in-game updates on TRN?
It's his son.;)
I decided to take the plunge on a netbook...glad to see the WGOM is fully functional on there.
Nice job getting the out at home there. Morales flashes the glove!
Are you liking the Netbook so far? Windows or Linux?
So far, so good. Just running Windows at this point but an interested in setting up an Ubuntu partition just to see what that is like.
Not sure if other netbooks have them by default, but Asus installs some gesture recognition stuff for the trackpad that makes it easy to scroll around webpages, thankfully.
The screen is small, but it gets the job done. I just needed something to replace the old PowerBook and don't have the coin for a new Macbook.
Good thing we had our defensive catcher in the game!
Good play, Jose.
Aybar hesitated there.
For those of us who can't see or hear the game: How close was the play on Aybar at home?
Out by a mile, well at least it wasn't that close. He put a hit on Jo Morales though. But he can still bunt, so he can't have a concussion.
Three strides. Wasn't close, but Morales took a solid forearm shiv and held on to the ball.
It shouldn't have been close, but Punto hopped the throw to the plate and Aybar didn't take off soon enough.
MVP.
Morales hangs on!
Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?
that movie, on the other hand, was about 4 shower scenes short of being good.
You know what, I actually liked the movie. Sure it's completely brainless, but that's the whole point.
Plus, I hate it that ripped off that line from Beau Geste.
Touché
New Guy working the Google Fu, tonight.
It would be cool if the Twins won this game 2-0. I don't expect it to happen, but it would be cool.
Brian disagrees
It would help if I could type with more than two fingers.
brianS might not agree, but that's just a guess.
I'm prepping my rant.
No need, unfortunately.
Dick is having a buntgasm.
Is anyone else watching on TV? Seeing Cuddyer's sensual stare in that FSN ad every inning is kinda freaking me out.
Chicks dig the GIDP.
+.208/.275/.306
Just based on his contract alone, he should have more of a smirk.
Leadoff walks bad.
WTF, Punto? Put the tag on!
Dazzle is saying Kubel made a really good defensive play. I'm suspecting it was one of those "made a spectacular catch on a routine fly ball" moments, but I didn't see it, so maybe it was a legitimately good play.
He flashed a bit of whateverrange he might have. Span would have walked there.... backwards.
hee hee.
hey, ubelmann! How about that jump by the Dude! Gold Glover, I tell ya.
Hullo everybody! Looks like I got online just in time to see the F-Bomb start fading.
like I said, leadoff walks bad.
where the hell was Cuddyer throwing that too?
Dunno. I was wondering why the runner didn't advance.
because he wasn't on first when Cuddyer caught the ball
Section 135, row 8. He came up a little short.
cuddy...
Pena is a student at the Carl Crawford School of Baserunning??
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!!!
+ 0.00 GPA
you popped a good one
This is our inning!
See? Now there's a Twins-type rally!
About time Lexi.
Nice hit, Laddie.
The Twins are going to win this game!
EULALIAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Wow. I haven't read any of those books in forever.
don't worry, nibbish. They haven't changed any.
Exhibit A for formulaic writing. I'm jealous.
Yeah, do yourself a favor, and don't read them as an adult. Preserve the memory of them being good.
I wish I would have thought of that before I re-read the first few Narnia books. Ugh. No wonder Tolkien made fun of them.
I'll take your advice to heart. A lot of the things I enjoyed when i was 12 haven't aged well. Even then they seemed like I was reading the same book over and over and over again.
I re-read "Rainbow 6" about 2 years ago, and I realized how poorly written it was and it was very disappointing.
The Dude loves the Respect
Come on Cuddy earn your keep.
You can't hit a grand slam if the bases aren't loaded, yickit.
I'll take that walk. Come on Bushman
That'll work.
WGOM Nation collectively averts its eyes...
And exhales...
Hows the new found freedom treating UWalt?
Both exciting and anxious. I had a full-day CLE on Monday, so I got nothing done. I'm working on a business plan and a website for the firm and also helping AuntieWalt with her entrepreneurial endeavor.
I also had to turn in my Crackberry, so it's been an adjustment with no phone or Google in my pocket, which always made me feel omniscient. Couldn't wake up and check my e-mail this morning for the first time in five years, so that was a new experience.
Sounds like its going to be quite an adventure. I'm an email addict but I really don't like reading them on my BB. Household full of entrepreneurs?
Yup. Should be interesting. Health insurance is a drawback, but nothing inspires you to be your own boss like getting canned.
Oh, and taking your kid to school at 8:30 and picking him up at 3:20 is awesome.
Intentional walks will haunt!
Cubbyer at it again...
Way to lean into that one Buscher! That move will show what a gamer he is. I imagine Gardy will start him quite a few more times in the next few days.
RBI the hard way.
Twins baseball.
almost. Where was the run scored on the GIDP?
Not only that, where was the bunt?
And no wild pitch. I stand corrected. Not Twins baseball.
Liriano again? Really?
I spent so much time on production calls today I just plain forgot the game. I thought there was no chance it was this late yet. Oops! I was just in time to see the runs we gave up, but we've got it back. Cool.
C'mon, you inglorious bastards!
no Bartlett challenge to the Kkkuddyer Kannon?
I'm feeling very uneasy about this.
Ditto.
Mmm, tasty cheese.
An insurance run or two would be nice right about now.
Leadoff walks good.
Twins in the lead!
Punto on base!
Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd aimênu!
oh, crax. that's a foul ball, right?
please don't bunt here.
Seriously! I have no confidence in Casilla right now to knock in the run.
Dazz: "Twins spend more time than most clubs on the sacrifice bunt"
Me: How about spending more time hitting line drives?
Line drives? Home runs?
That's not Twins baseball!
Just kidding, Casilla, I have total confidence in you!
For Narnia! For Aslan! For the Twins!
Maddontime....
Awesome. With one pitch, the Rays bullpen did what 2 Twins hitters couldn't...advance the runner.
You know what would be really neat? If Justin would hit another home run. That would be really neat.
what do you mean "another"?? There have been no Morneau HRs in this game. DO YOU HEAR ME??
a "fastball" at 81 mph?
Bartletts will haunt.
I like pears. I am not afraid.
Throw a strike, son. Just throw a strike.
Is Morales sitting behind the plate? Because Mijares doesn't seem to be throwing it over the plate. I'm wondering if maybe he's being misdirected.
He threw some strikes there.
Isn't it All-U-Can Eat Nite at the Dome? Poor kid can't focus.
No no no... not the "sinker"baller. I have more confidence in Livan Hernandez.
Nice comeback, kid.
One more, there, big guy.
Man, that was a sweet K.
So it's been a maddeningly stressful day, and all I've thought is, "You know what would help? A not-close Twins game." Heh.
Boy oh boy, I think I like Mijares a whole lot.
nasty!
Strike 2 was a crazy pitch... way to pitch out of it. What an inning.
Get that man a Dome Dog!
Sideshow who?
man, i thought bad mijares from spring training was back. Nice to see him KKK the rays.
Wow, is Mijares back or what?
Booted!
You rang?
Nice blog.
Mijares: "I got your eighth inning right here, man."
while we're in a break, there were three tense playoffs game today. Caps beat rangers in last 5 minutes. Carolina scores 2 goals in last 100 seconds to beat Devils and Celtics-Bulls go to OT, Celtics pull it out at the end.
AAAAAAAAGGHGHG DICK BREMER STOP GETTING EXCITED ON BALLS IN THE PARK
I forgot Percieval was a bust for the Tigers.
c'mon, Cuddy. Get back in my good graces.
ok, now we're talking Twins baseball. Wild pitch!
hey all! buddy and I were watching at the restaurant, but their wi-fi wasn't working. good game so far (if you ignore the fact that we can't defend the steal)
Rhu_Ru!
Now we are gonna win for sure!
I don't see how you conclude that, but I'll take it!
8th inning rally!
Today is a good day to
diewin!Worf got all the best lines.
Is dat you, DK?
I am not a Merry Man!
+1 painstick
DK just killed his cue FTW.
You just earned yourself a House.
Yeah, that was pretty f-ing choice Worf right there.
personally, I was waiting for "If you were any other man I would kill you where you stand!"
Assimilate THIS!
Or, apropos of a baseball game...
Death to the opposition!
Worf in a baseball uniform. That was high kamadee.
Never fear! The Greatest Hitter in History will save us.
evening all. just got back from softball after tearing my leg to shreds sliding on a cold, damp field with the consistency of gravel. idiot...
The glory is worth the pain!
yep. chicks dig it. my wife screamed when i got home. i think she was just turned on...
That is an absolutely retarded time to try and steal third.
That one's on Gardy
I know. No matter who decided to do it, it's still retarded.
Agreed
Twins baseball.
Ok, time to get out the keys and close this one out.
you were saying?
nice, butt.
Well... crap.
obligatory baserunner avoided.
uhhhh.... wuh happen?
Zorilla...d'oh.
Zobrist? Seriously?
This is Zorilla's second pinch homer this season, I believe.
Oh.
Joe drives the car right through the garage door. Yeesh.
You have got to be kidding me.
Blown save on the first pitch by Nathan??? Definitely didn't see that coming.
FEAR NOT CITIZENS!!!
THIS GAME IS NOT OVER!!!!
THIS IS WHERE WE HOLD THEM!!!!!
THIS IS WHERE WE FIGHT!!!!!!!
THIS IS WHERE THEY DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!
THEN WE SHALL PLAY IN THE SHADE!!
also..
THIS. IS. TWINS TERRITORY!!!!
(obligatory)
Wait, I can get this one...Spaceballs?
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE...WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC!!!!!
dammit. I'm out. Gotta go pick The Boy up again. As you were.
Yer gonna miss the best part!
(i typed in salute, and that's the first thing that came up)
I'm saluting...
Definitely the best part....
Ahem, I'm sorry, is there a game on?
I don't know, I've been staring at the earlier Jessica Alba picture for the past hour.
Hey, how about a big hand for New Guy and his Movie Night buddies? Nice job, kids.
Thanks, Boots. I went for the gusto.
Rally cap, please? We need a walkoff, and we need it in the 9th.
Yeah, if there's one thing that Gardy's taught me, it's that Nathan isn't capable of pitching more than one inning.
I should have known it would be a dramatic walk-off victory!
THE TWINS ARE GOING TO WIN THIS GAME!
FINISH THEM!
Toasty.
Observation: why isn't Harris choking up with two strikes and only needing to make decent contact? Or have some hitters not choked up since Little League so they don't do it anymore?
Oh man, I've long wished to attend a game where they would play that sound bite when a pitcher got two strikes on a hitter. Just once. It would be the best.
who needs mauer?
I like Morales' swing... looks like a major league swing.
Not so much a fan on the walking-double defense side of things.
The might JM strikes again.
wow. punto actually got down another bunt...
Nice placement be D-SPAN2
d-span2? i thought that was castillo....
Man I'm pretty excited to see Harris up here. LET'S GO BRENDAN *CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP*
No more double play! Good stuff...I feel goo about this!
Gross.
I give you a very subtle +1.
Haha, i'm on my wife's laptop, and her keyboard sucks. Well played, sir.
Nice take.
I wonder how many times JP Howells dad told him the story of how they got off the island.
We're gonna have lots of second basemen here.
interesting strategy...
plus, navarro must be really pissed by now....
5-man infield!
TWINS WIN!!!! TWINS WIN!!!!!!!!
THE BIGGEST VICTORY OF THE SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was creepy....
TWINS WIN!
speedie mountie!
whatever...
NostradamusNew Guy!I never doubted it for a second.
Party at the DoubleTree Hotel, I'm buyin'!
Yep that counts as Twins Ball
Winning ugly. It'll work.
That's winning the Twins way!!!
Bobbled or not, I didn't expect the Mountie to beat that out. Wow.
"i was thinking of sliding head first"
dear god, no, justin. no. bad mountie!
I imagine if he had, Punto would've taken a swing at him, Torii style.
Jason "Wheels" Morneau wins the game!
I like it!
Morneau hustled down the line.
Did Mountie just beat out the double play there?
I think he must have stumbled into a wormhole who's end was on top first base a la STVoyager.
Epic game log tonight, fellas. It's an added bonus when the pitching keeps the team in the game, too.