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 eschapp  October 11, 2009, at 4:43 pm  - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired)  2009 Post Season, Andy Pettitte, Carl Pavano The ALDS finally comes back to the Metrodome tonight with Andy Pettitte pitching against Carl Pavano. I'm sure the smartest man in baseball is hungry for a win against his former team. On that note, be prepared to mute TBS when they start bitching about the contract Carl had with the Yanquis.
It seemed that the 2009 squad thrives during elimination games. Or maybe that was just last week; either way, worrying about playoff games this week has been a welcome change from worrying about whether the Twins would ever have a record that was not some form of .500.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins exchanged the white chalk foul lines with strobe lights for tonights game. You know, to help out the 2 EXTRA umpires on the field to do their job.
Lets keep this series going because I'm not ready for the 2009 WGOM game logs to end. Break out the Puppies, Chairman Mauer, Unicorns, and that witch from charmed: It's game time.
Go Twins!
sean October 9, 2009, at 4:00 pm - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, postseason
Time: 5:07 CDT
MLB.tv and radio
Starters:
Nick Blackburn (4.37 FIP, 4.68 tRA)
vs
A.J. Burnett (4.33 FIP, 4.74 tRA)
Burnett walks nearly as many as Blackburn strikes out (4.22 and 4.29 respectively). He's also been worth just as much as Blackburn. I'm rather glad the Twins aren't paying Blackburn $16.5 million a year.
This is the game the Twins need to win. Not only do the Yankees have a weaker lineup with Molina taking Posada's spot and a right-hander on the mound. Also, Gomez might actually be is starting today, so the (outfield) defense is actually decent. Plus I want at least two games in the Dome to prove Joe Sheehan wrong.
Time: 5:07 CDT
TV: TBS
Radio: TRN, XM 175 (Yankees), XM 140 (ESPN).
Starting Pitchers: Brian Duensing (5-2, 3.64 ERA, 1.37 WHIP)
vs. Captain Cheeseburger (19-8, 3.37, 1.15)
I'm done. Seriously. I really am.
I'm done giving up on this team. They were supposed to done when they were 7 games out and it was announced that Morneau was out for the season. They were supposed to be done when they failed to sweep the Tigers when Nate Robertson beat Baker at the dome. They really had to be done when they fell to 3 games back with four to play. (although really, it was 2 games back with three to play since the Twins had one more game with the Tigers, so that game was in their control).
Nevermind. ... But wait, there's more.
The Twins were staring at another "postseason" loss at the dome when Miguel Cabrera's homer made it 3-0. This was the formula that had worked so well against the Twins. Hold nervous Twins bats down early and score multiple early runs to take the air out of the dome.
But then the Twins took the lead and then blew it just as quickly. Well, they surely had to be done when the Tigers took the lead and had Fernando Rodney on the mound. He had ONE!!!UNO!! blown save all season and the Tigers had NEVER lost when taking a lead after the eighth inning. (I hope Gary Andersen isn't a Tigers fan).
It didn't matter. The Metrodome ghosts awoke one more time and turned certain defeat into victory.
So, I will never again count this team out. This already is a season for the ages and I know this team will believe it is destined to win and won't stop believing it until it is officially elminated.
Do you believe in magic? I'm beginning to. I am certainly believing in the vagaries of Small Sample Size. How else can you explain what this team has been doing for the last three weeks? Truly unbelievable.
When you're the underdog, SSS is the best thing going for you, so I say "Yay SSS!!!" Let's go SSS! I want to see Derek Jeter cry. GO TWINS!!
Bottom of the 11th. Still time for Mauer to end it!
FirstTimeLongTime October 6, 2009, at 3:13 pm - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Detroit Tigers, Minutemen, Rick Porcello, Scott Baker
Rick Porcello (4.59 xFIP)
@
Scott Baker (4.39 xFIP)
The Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
No really, they are. I don't mean this in a New Guy kind of way as much as I mean it in a CAPS LOCK GUY kind of way. Say it with me; the Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
The 2009 season has been, well for lack of a better term, a real roller coaster ride. Between the constant mediocrity, the other-worldliness of Joe Mauer, the injuries, Kubel's emergence, Matt Tolbert, Blackburn's supposed deal with the devil, Nick Punto, and elmOn finally earning the "O" in his name during the last week of the season. This year has been as strange as any year I have been a Twins fan-- expect maybe last year. Either way, I feel a peculiar attachment to this team for exactly that reason.
The Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
In my opinion, the main difference between 2009 and 2008 is this year I had no expectations. At no time before Detroit series last week did I have any real belief that the Twins had a chance at this division. Sure I kept watching but it was more because I love baseball than any delusional belief of Minnesota belonging in the same conversation with teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels. I watched this season because I love baseball and enjoyed watching Joe Mauer become Johnny Bench with average. Whereas last year the only reason I didn't say "GOSO" with conviction after every loss was because I didn't want to agree with that son of a gun Stat Freak 101. Because of that I have a certain calmness that has overtaken me this past week.
The Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
Last night I went out to visit my girlfriend who waitresses at a local bar. I walked up to the bar, took a seat, and would you believe I found myself next to someone who was extolling the virtues of Joe Mauer as the American League MVP. Granted, he did tell me that Mark Teixeria should come in second place because his defense was worth 12 wins to the Yankees but it made me feel good never the less. On my way out of the bar he told me how he was rooting for me and he hoped the Twins kept Mauer.
The Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
It is funny being a Twins fan who has no real connection to the Twin Cities. People are always asking you why you became a Twins fan or beyond that how did you keep rooting for a team when they were so lousy during the mid to late 90's. They say it would have been easy to become a Yankees fan and no one would have thought twice. I often tell them anecdotes about how an impressionable 8 year old FTLT fell in love with Jack Morris and Kirby Puckett; Kent Hrbek and Chili Davis; Shane Mack and Scott Erickson. They smile and say good for you in a way that might be condescending but I can't really tell; nor do I really care.
The Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
A friend of mine is in negotiations to buy a local soccer club. Yesterday he had a meeting with the Buffalo public school system and if it went well he will be able to use a local high school free of charge if he agrees to have the team tutor inner city at risk youths on how to play soccer. He sent me a text message asking me to wish him good luck. I responded "If the Twins can come back from 3 back with 4 to play anything is possible". I just heard from him and he messaged me "Twins win".
The Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
The question most asked of me by my baseball friends since Sunday is "even if the Twins win Tuesday do you really think that they are going to beat the Yankees?". I look down at my feet, smile, and let out a small laugh before I ask them if it really matters. I have gotten to enjoy a pennant race one way or another. I have had playoff baseball for the past 7 days. Even if Minnesota loses to Detroit tonight I will have gotten to enjoy my greatest joy in life; meaningful October baseball.
In reverse jinx fashion, the Minnesota Twins are going to win this game.
I have gotten to watch Joe Mauer night in and night out for the last 5 months. I have gotten to see Eric Hinkse reincarnated for the past 6 months. I have gotten to sit in front of my computer for 6 months, more nights than not, discussing music, beer, and baseball with my 20 best friends I have never met (and cheaptoy). If you call that losing I question what winning really means. Thanks again to SBG for giving us all a place where we can stand up on our couches and say in unison:
We are going to win this game.
This team could be your life.
eschapp October 4, 2009, at 12:00 pm - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Carl Pavano, Luke Hochevar, Satisfaction
Hochevar (7-12) @ PAPAvano (13-12)
The Tigers and White Sox will have been playing for an hour before this game starts. Its hard to imagine what it would be like in the Twins' position, where they have some idea of how Verlander and Danks are faring before their game even begins.
I suppose it may be best for the Twins to just completely ignore that other game and focus on their match up with the Royals, but human nature suggests that the team, just like their fans, will want to know exactly how the other game is going. Either way, by the end of today's game the Twins will know exactly where they stand.
If the Twins win, they can't be eliminated. If the Tigers lose, the Twins can't be eliminated. It feels great to say that on the last day of the season. Credit has to be given to this squad for hanging around for so long; it has been an unexpected and pleasant surprise.
Its the last regular season day of Sunday Baseball: Enjoy it! Go Twins!
sean October 2, 2009, at 6:00 pm - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) daily records, Kansas City Royals, Metrodome, Minnesota Twins
Time: 7:10 CDT
MLB.tv and radio
Starters:
Lenny DiNardo (0-2, 7.52)
vs
Jeff Manship (0-1, 5.81)
I don't know about you guys, but the media coverage of this has been nothing short of oppressive. All year had to deal with the talking heads blathering about the mystique and history of the Dome. Yes, yes, I know it's the only venue that has hosted an MLB All-Star Game, the World Series (twice), the Super Bowl, and the NCAA Final Four (also twice). And I also know it can get extremely loud and provides an unnatural home-field advantage and if you stopped paying attention to baseball in 1983, gives up something like 30 home run each game.
Nor do I know how the Twins are going to survive next year. Yep, it actually is subzero all year long. All those flowing water and other summery shots are stolen from other states. I know it was wrong, but we had to con peo— convince people to come here somehow. We were sort of hoping that global warming would fix this.
So yeah, we get it. You love the place and stricken with grief now that no other field can have remotely the same history as the Metrodome. No you can't use my hanky. I need it to contain my gagging.
Click here to continue reading 2009 Game 160: LAST SERIES AT THE DOME EEEEVAAR!!...
brianS October 1, 2009, at 11:05 am - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Detroit Tigers, goso, Nate Robertson, Nothing is over until we decide it is, Scott Baker
 Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough... the tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!
What the f#*@ happened to the Nation I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you New Guy, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my @ss from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Leyland, he's a dead man! Verlander, dead! Polanco ...
 Dead! New Guy's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
It starts here:
12:05 start.
Pitching matchup:
Scottie "Last Hope" Baker for Our Boys. Since the A-S break: 233/281/372, 75:22 K:BB, 3.39 ERA in 87 2/3 innings
Nate "Suck" Robertson for Detroilet. Since the break: 284/379/375, 16:14 K:BB, 3.57 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. But he's a lefty, so he probably will be wearing a Kryptonite necklace.
Go get 'em, boys.
Time: 6:05 CDT
TV: FSN, ESPN
Radio: TRN, XM 175
Starting Pitchers: Carl "Tigers Killer" Pavano (13-11, 4.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP)
vs. Eddie Bonine (0-1, 4.60, 1.47).
It's a must-win game.
Their backs are to the wall.
There's no more tomorrow.
Whatever cliche you like to use, that pretty much fits today and tomorrow. And for that matter, for the rest of the season, really, until someone is elimininated. Even if the Twins win today and tomorrow, you just can't afford to lose one game when you are tied with three games left.
Anyways, the cliches may not technically be true, but it would take a complete collapse by Detroit against Chicago for the Tigers not to win the division if they get out of this series with a split. If the Twins lose today, they're facing elimination every day here on out. That's not a good position to be in.
Fortunately, there's no more Justin Verlander to face. And I might add that that was one of the most impressive comebacks I've seen the Twins make this season, maybe the most impressive. I was very glad that OrCa got a hit in the first, because in the middle innings, it sure looked like the Twins weren't going to get many more, if any. To actually get the tying run into scoring position with one of their best hitters at the plate, twice, was truly amazing. If you believe in momentum, then I think the Twins got a lot of momentum in that comeback even though they lost. Of course, the Tigers have to be feeling more relaxed after getting that win. Now they just need to split the last two games to be in the driver's seat.
Now there are no excuses for the Twins after getting four runs off Verlander when he was dealing. Bonine is no Verlander. He has very unimpressive numbers in the majors and minors. His K rate in the minors is pedestrian and worse in the majors. His BB rate was pretty good in the minors, but it's gotten worse in the majors as it often tends to do.
The Twins need to jump on Bonine early to set the tone. They had been doing that recently until facing Greinke, Porcello, and Verlander. Jump on Bonine or you will probably see the Tigers start smelling blood, or at least the champagne party tomorrow. That is one thing I do not want to watch.
FirstTimeLongTime September 29, 2009, at 4:55 pm - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Brian Duensing, Detroit Tigers, JMIVGABB, Justin Verlander, Stribbies
Brian "New Sensation" Duensing
versus
Justin "Best Before 126 Pitches" Verlander
Wait a minute, we have to play another game today? Holy heck. Here are a couple of quick notes because, honestly, I am having a hard time typing anything besides "WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!!!" right now
- Justin Verlander has 256 strikeouts coming into this game. For a reference point, Johan Santana eclipsed that number once in his career.
- The Tigers have a losing record on Tuesdays this season. The Twins do not.
- There have been 12 players in American League history to lead the league in BA/OBP/SLG in one season. 10 of them are in the Hall of Fame.
- Thanks to 7 strong innings from Nick Blackburn the Twins bullpen combined to throw only 32 pitchers in the first game of today's doubleheader. Of the three, the only pitcher I would be surprised to see tonight is Nathan. Then again, he hadn't pitched since last Wednesday so it is a possibility.
And now, because I really just want to look, here is a sampling of comments from the Strib during their game log today:
(Note: I scheduled this last night shortly after the game was called, simply cutting and pasting last night's non-game log. In the event the pitching matchups get effed, sorry for the lack of relevance)
Well, here we are. My final game log, barring a (very possible) one game playoff.
It doesn't seem right that the Twins could lead the season series 9-5, clinch the season series with just one win, but still fall way short of the division. But here we are, needing three or four wins from a team we've beaten up on so far.
Three or four wins for the Tigers will clinch the division for them, and a split will probably do enough damage to get the job done. Three Twins wins will tie, and a Twins sweep would probably get the job done for the hometown nine. The pitching matchups seem to favor the Twins in the final two games, and the Tigers easily in tomorrow's Duensing-Verlander tilt. Tonight, one of the greatest young arms to come along in years will appear. So will Rick Porcello!
Nick Blackburn 11-11, 4.18 ERA, 4.85 xFIP, 197.2 IP, 89 K, 40 BB
Rick Porcello 14-9, 4.14 ERA, 4.56 xFIP, 158.2 IP, 80 K, 49 BB
I have a lot of fun with Ol' Blackie, but really, the two pitchers aren't markedly dissimilar at this stage, and Blackburn does seem to come up with his best results when there's something big on the line (run support notwithstanding). Certainly, Blackburn will have to be good tonight. I don't want to get all StatFreak/national media on you and call this a "must win," but if the Twins lose the opener while staring Justin Verlander in the face, this could get messy in a rush.
The Twins' offense has clicked exceptionally well of late when not facing one of the world's best pitchers, and they need to click tonight. Porcello is a righty, but has almost no platoon split. Rather than analyze it further, I'll just hope the guy's hung over or tired or in a bad mood.
Go Twins! Go nice weather!
Well, here we are. My final game log, barring a (very possible) one game playoff.
It doesn't seem right that the Twins could lead the season series 9-5, clinch the season series with just one win, but still fall way short of the division. But here we are, needing three or four wins from a team we've beaten up on so far.
Three or four wins for the Tigers will clinch the division for them, and a split will probably do enough damage to get the job done. Three Twins wins will tie, and a Twins sweep would probably get the job done for the hometown nine. The pitching matchups seem to favor the Twins in the final two games, and the Tigers easily in tomorrow's Duensing-Verlander tilt. Tonight, one of the greatest young arms to come along in years will appear. So will Rick Porcello!
Nick Blackburn 11-11, 4.18 ERA, 4.85 xFIP, 197.2 IP, 89 K, 40 BB
Rick Porcello 14-9, 4.14 ERA, 4.56 xFIP, 158.2 IP, 80 K, 49 BB
I have a lot of fun with Ol' Blackie, but really, the two pitchers aren't markedly dissimilar at this stage, and Blackburn does seem to come up with his best results when there's something big on the line (run support notwithstanding). Certainly, Blackburn will have to be good tonight. I don't want to get all StatFreak/national media on you and call this a "must win," but if the Twins lose the opener while staring Justin Verlander in the face, this could get messy in a rush.
The Twins' offense has clicked exceptionally well of late when not facing one of the world's best pitchers, and they need to click tonight. Porcello is a righty, but has almost no platoon split. Rather than analyze it further, I'll just hope the guy's hung over or tired or in a bad mood.
Go Twins! Go nice weather!
Joe Mauer is batting .460 against the Royals this season!
eschapp September 27, 2009, at 11:00 am - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Franciso Liriano, Zack Greinke
Momentum is today’s Starting Pitcher, right? Lets hope the Zack attack takes a game off.
Probable Pitchers
Its Sunday, its baseball time, and the season is winding down quickly. Frankie, [if you do indeed start this game] we need you to step up and put this one away.
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Cup of Coffee  7 LTEs A Super Bowl between Indianapolis and New Orleans is the highest rated TV show, ever. Whatever my complaints are about the NFL, I have to admit that they've done a great job of marketing the entire league -- not just four or five franchises. And they've also seemingly gotten past their annual bugaboo -- a dreadful Super Bowl that's over before halftime.
They would be idiots to have a lockout.
Citizens Online 33 Users Online
Users: cheaptoy, eschapp, E-6, SBG, FirstTimeLongTime, Algonad, brianS, 22 Guests, 4 Bots
Retired WGOM Jokes
- "The Twins should have drafted Mark Prior."
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With this possibly being my last game log of the year I just wanted to thank everyone for another super awesome and fun season. Now that I have gotten the jinx out of the way, let's win tonight and then go and have sex with Camden's wife!