I'm off in ND, visiting with family and hopefully, we're enjoying some beautiful weather. The Twins have kind of limped through the first half of the season sitting barely above .500. (I'm writing this before Friday's game as I'm probably not going to have access to The Internets while I'm in ND.)
Let's see where the Twins have been at the halfway point of the season in the 2000s:
2008: 44-37, 1.0 GB
2007: 42-39, 7.5 GB
2006: 46-35, 9.0 GB
2005: 46-35, 9.5 GB
2004: 44-37, 0.5 GA
2003: 43-38, 0.5 GA
2002: 45-36, 5.0 GA
2001: 50-31, 3.0 GA
2000: 36-45, 15.0 GB
So, this is pretty much the worst first half for the Twins since 2000, in terms of record (or tied with 2007, if the Twins won on Friday). Still though, this first half isn't that much worse than a lot of those years. Other than the ZOMG, we are playing out of our freaking minds first half in 2001, the Twins have been within 42 and 46 wins at this point every year. So, there's nothing particularly unusual about where we are, recordwise.
Prior to Wednesday's results, the Twins are projected to win 84.0 games by Baseball Prospectus's 3rd Order win projections and have a 38% chance to make the post season. The Tigers project to 84.7 wins. In other words, this division is there for the taking.
I will note that Carlos Quentin is starting a rehab assignment. With the ChiSox heating up, it's a 3-team race, and I'm more worried about the South Siders than the Tiggers (unless Magglio rediscovers himself, anyway).
I'm not so concerned about the South Siders. With PaleHose being done, there's nothing to balance out AJ. I'd think the karma police will put them in their rightful 3rd place in the division.
Damn bastard f*uckfaces at Fox. Why the hell southern Wisconsin would have any interest in the Dodgers or Padres is beyond me. I hope Joe Bucks gets punched in the face over this.
And no matter where you are, you'll get to see EACH ONE OF MANNY'S AT-BATS!!!!
Who does Fox think he is, Derek Jeter or something?
I shudder with excitement (or is that something else?)
Its a good thing they are going to extensively cover such a wonderful example to all those young athletes out there that might be watching today.
they could at least use the 'split screen' so we know whats going with the Twins game
Or show the game where I can watch it, not that I could stay for the whole thing anyway. Its really the principle of the matter.
*tumbleweeds*
Sure is lonely in here.
Anyway, since the Empire Strikes Back is on, giving me at least something awesome to watch before the 4th of July part, can anyone explain to me based on Luke's first encounter with Yoda how George Lucas managed to completely become overwhelmed by suck in the comic relief department? I mean, I laugh everytime I see Yoda beating R2 with a stick, but then I think of Jar-Jar and dry heave.
Well, Lucas did not write Empire Strikes Back. That could be part of it.
Maybe he should have kept letting others write the screenplay for him then.
Lucas is poor at most every aspect of screenwriting. All his best credits are from when he came up with the framework, then got out of the way while a good screenwriter took over.
I tend to agree, although I like the script to A New Hope (which Lucas wrote) way more than Return of the Jedi's, which he didn't.
Actually, he co-wrote the screenplay for Jedi. Now, he's second-billed, so how much of it is his is debatable.
I don't think much of the New Hope script, either...I think it's a fine enough story with okay-at-best dialogue.
Perhaps Guiness rose above the dialogue, making it sound better
He always did.
Have you ever seen Kind Hearts and Coronets? It's a movie he was in around the mid-'50s where he plays nine different members of a royal family. It's awesome.
never even heard of it. Maltin gives it 3.5 stars...and I love black comedies. I'll put it on my short list of 1,000 movies I have to see
Heh heh. I feel you...my Netflix list is always full, and I'm always having to wait to add movies. I'll say this: I've seen probably a few hundred black comedies, and that's probably my favorite.
Assuming you too have Netflix, feel free to add foreverunchanged at Gmail to compare notes. We seem to have similar film tastes.
added...do you use Criticker? Great way to have a computer compare notes
I don't even know what that is.
criticker.com
Kind Hearts and Coronets is excellent. Good pull.
After I exhausted my "See the Classics" initiative, that was part of my "See Lesser-Known but Equally Well-Received Old Movies" initiative. I've gotta say the second initiative was even more satisfying than the first.
well, that was stupid
So in Seattle, an AL market, the only possible game that could have a bearing on the Mariners isn't being shown. I knew it was going to be the Manny game, but still, eff this.
After last night, I'm up for a nice blowout victory
The Royals have already beaten the White Sox. Hey, that's something.
I feel kind of sorry for the Royals, and their fans. I've rooted for the Twins since the '60s, which means I've rooted for some pretty awful teams. It's not much fun.
And 200..3? Was such a tease, the way they were in first for so long and faded into third just like nearly everyone thought they would.
I was talking with a Royals fan in a sports bar a few years back about his pain, and he said, "How does it get any worse than it's been?" About ten seconds later, the big-screen TV, on ESPN, flashed "Breaking News: Dan Quisenberry dies."
Liriano seemed to throw a lot of pitches that inning
Two shutout innings for Liriano is good, but we could stand it if he lowered the pitch count a little. After last night, it would be good if he could throw six or seven innings today.
Indeed. Although I'm sure the Tigers are thinking similar thoughts and it looks like Jackson is trying to get his money's worth in pitch count.
Jackson's thrown more balls than strikes. I'm thinking Buscher and Punto should be instructed to not swing under any circumstances, much better odds of getting on base then.
or be instructed to try and purposely foul off pitches...well, Buscher couldn't do that. Maybe Nicky
Buscher looked completely overmatched.
that slightly above-the-belt fastball Jackson throws appears to be pretty nasty
Those 5 pitches to Morales were, according to Gameday, in almost exactly the same spot with varying ball/strike calls. Interesting.
That's what it looked like to me, too.
yup
Fox announcers tell us that the Twins "rarely carry three catchers." True. Sometimes they carry four.
I'm getting Twins broadcasters on Fox here...where are you again?
North Sioux City, SD. It is Bremer, but it's also Mark Grace, I think.
yep. Bremer and Grace
Actually, when I wrote the first comment, I was just assuming it was Fox broadcasters, because I was reading the closed captioning while listening to music.
Pitching around the feared Nick Punto.
Jackson at 44 pitches, Liriano at 40
Well, I'm off to celebrate US Independence by my face and drinking beer.
It's got to be hard for both pitcher and batter when such similar pitches have a seemingly equal chance of being called a strike or a ball. Is blue really as kooky as Gameday says he is?
Hey hey! Buscher makes a nice play
past a diving Buscher... no wait!
nice play
That's one.
It seems like every time a guy makes a great play in the field, he comes up second the next inning.
Aw, yeah! Sure wish I could see that homer, but unfortunately, this game is only broadcast nationally!
Cuddy! He really went down and golfed that out.
CUDDY!
I see that Denard Span was wearing a mic
Steve McNair was murdered, apparently:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81123786&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
dang
Very sad, indeed.
Homer dome!
that ball was crushed
Morneau
Yeah, I'll take power over speed.
Fox trivia question: Who was the last Twins 1B to start an All Star Game?
Did Hrbek start? Otherwise, Killer.
Carew?
Oh, right! I always think of Carew solely as a second baseman. I should be older.
Don't do it, it's no fun.
Heh. I'm 31 and my knees already hate me, so I believe you.
I dont think Hrbek did...was Rod Carew a starter ?
and the answer was Carew in 1978
Rats.
why did it have to be rats?
Mice?
+Room 101.
there went the lead
Of course Magglio finally finds his stroke in the Metrodome. Of course he would do that.
Not how we wanted the top of the seventh to go, but three runs in seven innings is about as good as we can reasonably expect from Liriano. The Twins need to score some runs.
Yeah, I would've been thrilled with that line before the game...I just thought leaving him in there with two on was dicey. I was certainly white-knuckling it.
Wow...look at that idiot, walking to get things started when the Twins need a run. Change his approach now!1!!!1!1!
Here I come to save the day!!!
I had something more like this in mind
err, this:
Yeah, but if they had a fight, Superman would win. I mean, Mighty Mouse is a cartoon character, and Superman's a real guy!
I'm watching on Gameday so I can't confirm this, but Bobby Seay basically looks like a pillow with features.
he's got Russell Crowe eyes
Morny gonna go boom. Again. /NG call.
I <3 Morneau
In play, run(s)! I forgot how much I loved that.
Im surprised a right handed pinch hitter is not coming in for Kubel, since The Dude has not been very good against lefties this year
don't pee on his rug, man.
damn! robbed.
How Justin Got His Groove Back. Mountie!!!
gotta give Cabrera credit there. That was a nice dive play
Wow, Brandon Lyon's official MLB photo looks eerily like my friend Ryan, to the point where if Ryan had any athletic ability, I might think it was he.
Well, we're guaranteed to see the top of the order again. That's solid.
Well there was an efficient little beatdown of a tough top of the order.
nice quick inning
Oh, jeez, he's bunting with one out in front of Punto?!
NICE slide!
SAFE! nice
YES! Hooray for nationally televised games! What an awesome play...a play that I totally saw!
Wait, which channel was televising the game?
In Portland, the schedule said FOX was showing the Dodgers-Padres.
I believe spookymilk was being snarky there. The Seattle FOX affiliate was showing the Dodgers-Padres, but FOX was also "nationally" televising the Twins game. And the Mets game. They usually pick 3-4 games a week now to "nationally" televise when they are really regionally televising them and screwing over those of us with mlb.tv who would like to see a game that our local FOX affiliate isn't picking up.
Correct.
Miracles can happen. Even Punto can get an RBI hit on occasion.
Twins win! Tigers lose! White Sox lose! Hooray for America!
WOOOOO
gained that game back on Detroit, and gained a game on the ChiSox
Ahhh...that feels great after last night
Liriano is looking much better the last couple starts. He was looking completely lost for a while there.