Minnesota Twins @ Oakland Athletics (June 1-3)

boblee · Post by **boblee** » Wed May 30, 2007 7:23 pm

Twins (27-25, 3rd in AL Central) @ Athletics (26-26, 3rd in AL West)

-Twins have won 4 straight.

-Twins went 13-14 in May.

-Twins are 5-1 vs. AL West.

-Twins have won 4 straight series.

-Kevin Slowey will make major league debut Friday.

Game One, Friday, 9:05 PM
Kevin Slowey, RHP vs. Joe Kennedy, LHP, (1-4) 3.62 ERA

Game Two, Saturday, 8:05 PM
Carlos Silva, RHP, (3-5) 4.22 ERA vs. Joe Blanton, RHP, (4-3) 4.28 ERA

Game Three, Sunday, 3:05 PM
Johan Santana, LHP, (6-4) 3.21 ERA vs. Chad Gaudin, RHP, (5-1) 2.32 ERA

NightRider · Post by **NightRider** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:54 am

i say twins win and slowey is good tonight, lose tommorow with silva, which leads to Garza's Call up and then win with Santana on sunday,

eazy1415 · Post by **eazy1415** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:18 pm

I say a Twins sweep.. It seems the Twins are heating up right on time.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:37 pm

Good News:
-Twins have been hitting the Boofing ball.
-Twins will miss Danny Haren and his 1. something ERA.
-Slowey replaces a sputtering Ortiz in the rotation
-Aside from one game last October, the Twins have won and played very well in Oakland since the '01 season.

Bad News:
-Twin killer, Marco Scutaro is 10 for his last 23 and is hitting .326 in May
-Twins are starting a guy who's greatest accomplishment on the mound so far was a victory over Witchta St. during the spring of 2005.

Potential Grady Sizemore Award recipients this weekend
Jason Kendall - BA .189, 4 for his last 28, only 2 extra basehits and 7 BB's in 189 AB's
Eric Chavez - .228, 3 for his last 31

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:37 pm

Through five, Twins up 1-0 and Slowey is pitching great. It seems a little deja vu watching him, he reminds me of someone but i can't think of who. Hard to believe that this time last year he was in Ft. Meyeres.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:29 pm

Great outing for Slowey. Four words sum up his start, Holy Foul Balls Batman. Chavez and Johnson each had an eternal AB, Slowey threw 20% of his pitches in those two AB's.

Great to see Chavez bust out tonight.

One inning game now, get one and bring in Joe.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:37 pm

Friday night and it just Shanty and me. Where is everybody?

Hey Govs! What the Booof are you doing?

Nevermind, I think I just answered my own question...

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:44 pm

Castillo leadoff double to start the 10th.

Is a bunt in order here?

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:49 pm

With Cirillo batting of course.

Or not...

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:50 pm

Cirillo bunts foul.
Cirillo squares and takes strike two.
Cirillo singles to plate Luis!

Twins 2, A's 1

Joe, I am standing by with the zero.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:52 pm

As a result of the Cirillo single as oppose to the Cirillo bunt, I fully expect PB to pull up a stool here any minute.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:00 am

Irishmans Shanty wrote:As a result of the Cirillo single as oppose to the Cirillo bunt, I fully expect PB to pull up a stool here any minute.

Don't you mean soapbox?

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:24 am

Shakey was a liitle shakey, but mission accomplished. One down.

Were going to need more runs tomorrow for Hi-Ho Sliva.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:51 pm

Thanks for staying on gaurd for the end of that one Neutron.

You know how the Left Coast games can be, one minute your watching the game and the next minute its 2am.

The way it looks I couldn't hang my zero anyways.

grindiangrad-80 · Post by **grindiangrad-80** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:24 pm

The Twins sure do a good job of bringing in young pitchers and getting quality starts out of them. They can still make a run. It won't be easy, but it can happen.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:25 pm

The Twins and Rick Anderson have to get this Silva character right. He's been good this season and he's been a lot better than I thought he would be, but he's only 28 years old, he's still a pup. As the starting staff is comprised right now, they could be together and be a factor for a few seasons. Bonser, Santana, Silva, Slowey, and Baker, not a thirty something in the group, not to mention Garza is banging on the door.

Strike 'em out, throw 'em out finishes off the first.

Hit the Boofing ball now!

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:37 pm

Irishmans Shanty wrote:Bonser, Santana, Silva, Slowey, and Baker, not a thirty something in the group, not to mention Garza is banging on the door.

While your enthusiasm is definitely appreciated, I believe Francisco Liriano might take issue with your future staff!

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:58 pm

Govs, he doesn't exist.

NightRider · Post by **NightRider** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:25 am

well solid start for Carlos

8 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:06 pm

Twins wasted a very unexpected outing from Hi-Ho Silva.

When an opposing pitcher is hitting his spots, don't "work the count". Hit the Boofin Ball!

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:22 pm

Neutron 14 wrote: When an opposing pitcher is hitting his spots, don't "work the count".

I was screaming the very same thing at the tv. It was clear that the corners were being called, yet bats just sat on shoulders all night long, and then they stare back at the ump like he's the bonehead.

That's jr. high school stuff there. You're pros, you know he's calling corners, SWING THE BAT!!!!

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:59 am

Its tough when the offense takes a few games off. This group is the most volatile group of Twins hitters Ive ever seen and Ive seen them all.

They look great for a while and then nothing.

Up and down , up and down.

Anyway, as far as my soapbox goes, I was watching a Red Sox vs Yankees game (they are on about as much as the Twins and at better times) and they did an interview with Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

They were asking him about his "change in philosphy" this year regarding smallball. He said he hadnt changed his philosophy at all but his personel was different and he has reacted accordingly.

He said that when you have a solid pitching staff you can play the game a little differently depending on the situation.

My kind of guy.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:13 am

packerboy, I think the inconsistencies might be a reflection of the fact that Cuddyer and Morneau in particular are still rather young. Castillo is a very good veteran professional hitter and there's Torii who while he still goes up to hack has been better this year, but the meat of this lineup is still quite young and consistency is the next level that these guys need to reach.

I didn't see Saturday's game, but yesterday's game was one in which the hitters needed to be patient. The umpire was inconsistent and not giving the pitchers the close ones. In a key at bat Torii went up and hacked at the first pitch and while it looked like it might have been a hanging breaking ball, he didn't make good contact and ended a rally. Cuddyer struck out swinging at ball four way outside in another key situation. Meanwhile, Santana didn't get a knee high pitch for strike three, ended up walking the batter and giving up some key runs.

Kubel had a really good game yesterday, making some solid contact. He has not been consistent but is showing flashes. It may be a case of him getting comfortable and confident at the major league level, it would be huge for the Twins if he comes around. I know I complain about this constantly and while Punto didn't have a bad game, I still prefer Tyner batting second and Punto ninth. Tyner is a better contact hitter with a lot of speed. Punto has been better of late but not good enough to justify batting him second.