Fwiw I was not in the house for the game. But I was watching at work. Love a good meltdown (when it’s not the Twins). ?
17
wins or Guardian losses over the next 23 games. Starting to feel confident.
Which team are you hoping to lose to in the first round? 😉
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Which team are you hoping to lose to in the first round? 😉
Right now it would be Toronto or Texas (Texas is half game back). The Twins just took 5/7 from Texas and split 3-3 with Toronto.
One big factor to keep in mind down the stretch too, especially if the Twins continue to pull away and Texas and Toronto stay in a tight battle for the last wild card spot: The Twins will, in theory, be able to set their rotation up to give them exactly who they want on the mound - likely Gray, Lopez, and Ryan. Toronto and Texas will likely be forced to use their top pitchers the last couple days of the season and potentially even tax their bullpen just to qualify.
Both teams are obviously good teams and the Twins won't have an easy series regardless of who they end up playing against but with the ability to set their top 3 SPs and some flexibility with some guys in the bullpen (Maeda has experience out of the bullpen in postseason, Varland has already moved to RP for the rest of the season and has clocked at 100mph since the move) they could have their best, deepest post-season pitching staff since 1991. And if the bats continue to roll the way they have been (keeping in mind Kiriloff is nearing a return)... they COULD make some noise in the postseason. If they win the first round/wild card round they'd likely match up against Houston (though Seattle is only a game back currently) which would obviously be very tough.
Which team are you hoping to lose to in the first round? 😉
Don't you have a Cubs forum to post at? ?
First things first. They need to win one game. The streak has to end.One big factor to keep in mind down the stretch too, especially if the Twins continue to pull away and Texas and Toronto stay in a tight battle for the last wild card spot: The Twins will, in theory, be able to set their rotation up to give them exactly who they want on the mound - likely Gray, Lopez, and Ryan. Toronto and Texas will likely be forced to use their top pitchers the last couple days of the season and potentially even tax their bullpen just to qualify.
Both teams are obviously good teams and the Twins won't have an easy series regardless of who they end up playing against but with the ability to set their top 3 SPs and some flexibility with some guys in the bullpen (Maeda has experience out of the bullpen in postseason, Varland has already moved to RP for the rest of the season and has clocked at 100mph since the move) they could have their best, deepest post-season pitching staff since 1991. And if the bats continue to roll the way they have been (keeping in mind Kiriloff is nearing a return)... they COULD make some noise in the postseason. If they win the first round/wild card round they'd likely match up against Houston (though Seattle is only a game back currently) which would obviously be very tough.
I'll eat my hat if this team doesn't end the streak.
Regardless of what happens, this team has been fun to watch in the second half. Their young hitters are good, and Roycle Lewis is a star.
For the life of me, I can't figure out how Kepler turned his season around. He was beyond awful and suddenly he's the guy you want up to the plate with runners on base.
It won't be the Yankees, so I'm relieved no matter what. No one can take "we won the season series with the Yankees" from us.
Paul Clemons must be the worst ball-strike umpire. Going both ways.
Ummmm ???
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Paul Clemons must be the worst ball-strike umpire. Going both ways.
He was flat out awful today, largely hurting the Twins (IIRC I saw 9 of his first 10 bad calls were directly to the benefit of Cleveland) including a couple strike 3s that should have been ball 4.
22 games remaining for both Minnesota and Cleveland and Twins having a 6 game lead. Twins are -10000 and Cleveland is +3500... If anyone had $100 laying around, this might be the bet with Cleveland... lol!!!
Keep your stick on the ice...
I believe the Twins schedule gets pretty easy from here on out.22 games remaining for both Minnesota and Cleveland and Twins having a 6 game lead. Twins are -10000 and Cleveland is +3500... If anyone had $100 laying around, this might be the bet with Cleveland... lol!!!
They seem to play down to those teams but now that the playoffs are near…. I am not betting against them.
22 games left. If the Twins play .500, that's 11 and 11. End up 84-78
Cleveland has 21 games left, record 67-74. To get to 84-78, they would need 17 wins (going 17-4).
(Cleveland owns the tiebreaker)
We get to watch Kodai Senga and his Ghost Fork tonight. I'm very excited.
The Twins little league base running is only undone but the Mets' little league throwing the ball around...and the Twins take the lead 3-2 in the 7th.
https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1700331201926471775?s=20
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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This came up the other day, related to the situation:
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
That was a hilarious microcosm of the Mets entire season.
Twins win again, 8-4. Currently a 7 game lead over Cleveland who plays later tonight.
They are also technically only 5 losses behind Houston for the 2 seed in the AL and would hold the tiebreaker if they end with the same number of losses. However, Houston has 9 games against Oakland and KC left on their schedule (8 vs San Diego, Baltimore and Seattle) so its hard to envision the Astros losing enough for the Twins to catch up unless they go like 1-7 against SD-Baltimore-Seattle given how terrible Oakland and KC are.
Magic number:
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Cleveland loses, magic number now:
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anytime a Twins hitter hits the ball to the outfield today, Dick thinks it is gone. ?
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Lopez throws 8 exceptional innings. 14 Ks (new career high), 2 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs.
Twins trying to scratch a run across to take a lead.
Thanks Jax....
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Then Jax comes in and we’re losing 2-0 with one out in the top of the ninth.
Bloop double, HBP, and a line drive to right center gives the Mets a 2-0 lead. Twins get a couple base runners and Castro smokes a ball down the first base line but Alonso makes a nice play to end the game.
I mean, I’d blame Jax if not for 9 LOB and 0 runs.
The game winning hit came off a pitch that was middle, middle. Right down the cock to a guy that was just missing on his 97 mph up and in pitches.I mean, I’d blame Jax if not for 9 LOB and 0 runs.
“You know what will fool this guy? Fastball right down the middle…..whoops”
The game winning hit came off a pitch that was middle, middle. Right down the cock to a guy that was just missing on his 97 mph up and in pitches.I mean, I’d blame Jax if not for 9 LOB and 0 runs.
“You know what will fool this guy? Fastball right down the middle…..whoops”
The pitch Stewart hit was not a fastball. It was the slider/sweeper.
Stewart put together a really good at-bat (IIRC it was the 9th pitch of the AB) and fouled off enough pitches to get Jax to make a mistake and Jax hung his sweeper a little too much.
Twins lose, but Cleveland loses as well… Magic number…
Keep your stick on the ice...
12 it is.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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THE CHIEF!!!!! Love it.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The game winning hit came off a pitch that was middle, middle. Right down the cock to a guy that was just missing on his 97 mph up and in pitches.I mean, I’d blame Jax if not for 9 LOB and 0 runs.
“You know what will fool this guy? Fastball right down the middle…..whoops”
I don't fully trust Jax at all, but this is the inner game of baseball. The hitter hangs on long enough to catch a break and gets a mistake pitch. It's like a long volley in tennis--so many times the point ends on an unforced error.
Maximilian just hit one that landed in an Iowa cornfield.
https://twitter.com/BallySportsNOR/status/1701399994161332334?s=20
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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It appears safe to conclude (that) Floro SUCKS!
Twins lose. But so does Cleveland.
Keep your stick on the ice...
He had a hell of a series, fake double play that still confuses Lonnie Smith and a wicked good bunt to send Gladden to third.
#11 it is!
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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This prompted me to look at his “Baseball Reference” page. I remember Knoblauch as a good player, but I had forgotten how ? good he was for a few years.
Twins come from behind thanks to a 2 run HR by Willi Castro and get 4.1 great innings from the bullpen (Varland was awesome) to beat the Rays 3-2. Magic number is 10. Cleveland is playing @ San Francisco so that game will end late tonight.
Ten it is!
Solid win today, very playoff like against a very good team.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Varland with dynamite stuff tonight. Very nice.
Former Twin Zach Lattell pitched well going 7 innings (3 runs/5 hits) but Willi went down and got him on a pitch below the strike zone to hit the game winning 2 run homer with two outs in the 7th.