Twins-Royals postgame thoughts
Posted on September 27th, 2008 – 7:35 PMBy La Velle
The race: The White Sox are down 7-1 as I write this, so it looks looks like the Twins blew another chance to increase their lead in the division.
I get the feeling there will be a game on Tuesday at The Cell.
Heartbreaking Royals: Kansas City is familiar with being the spoiler. The Royals went into Detroit in late September, 2006 and swept the Tigers, allowing the Twins to snatch the division title on the final day of the regular season.
Torii Hunter tried to send them champagne in appreciation, but the MLB fun police busted him.
But here are the Royals again, making it hard for the Twins to reach the postseason.
“They come in here. They are not in the playoff race,” Twins outfielder Denard Span said. “But they are playing hard.”
Five-n-Fly: Glen Perkins gave up one run over five innings on Saturday - but needed 85 pitches to do so.
“I wish I could have gone deeper and given my team a better chance,” he said.
At least he was O.K. after really struggling his past four starts. The Twins used Monday’s off-day to skip his turn in the rotation, which may have come at the right time.
“I think it was mainly giving my arm a chance to take a break,” Perkins said. “The way I felt today, I haven’t felt since August.”
I still think Perkins can be a good starter, but he has to figure out how to get through the batting order one more time. He’s got the stuff. And it’s head-scratching how there were times this year in which he’s had comfortable leads but lost them.
Soria the closer: Royals fans have given closer Joakim Soria a nickname that hasn’t caught on nationally: `The Mexicutioner.’
Soria normally has a super nasty breaking ball but didn’t have it on Saturday. Span said the last time he faced Soria, he threw something that was indescribable.
Span and Alexi Casilla opened the ninth with walks. I’m sitting in the pressbox thinking, `He doesn’t have it today.’ But Mauer hits into his 21st double play of the season (he entered the day 10th in the AL) and Morneau is in a mess at the plate.
68 Responses to "Twins-Royals postgame thoughts"
Sox down 7-1. Hawk Harrelson says: ” Twins keep trying to die, we keep giving them CPR.” But he is right
God giveth and God taketh away…
Cliff Lee scratched.
So. If I have this right, assuming Chicago loses tonight and remains a half a game back:
If both win tomorrow, the Sox have to beat Detroit on Monday to play the Twins on Tuesday in the Cell.
If both lose tomorrow, the same thing would happen.
If Chicago wins tomorrow and the Twins lose tomorrow, the same thing would also happen since Chicago would only have a half a game lead.
The Twins can win the Central if they win tomorrow and Chicago loses or if Chicago loses on Monday to the Tigers.
So if we win tomorrow, our chances of winning the division are pretty decent compared to Chicago which would have to win three straight games to get the division.
Hope that makes sense.
Nothing makes sense anymore, Perry. Why Morny can’t get a big hit is absolutely puzzling. I would be tempted to pinch hit for him if the game is on the line tomorrow.
Scratch the pinch-hitting idea. How ’bout have him bunt to stay out of the double play?
Twins are done.
They won’t win at the Cell.
im sick to my stomach being a twins fan and having other twins act this way. What has Chicago done to make everyone think that they can win 3 straight. If the Twins win tommorrow im telling you right now they will make the playoffs and if they dont they have noone to blame but themselves so lets be more positive twins fans
Cleveland can hold an 8-2 lead, can’t they?
All I have to say is:
Go Baker and Bullington. Hopefully the Indians can shock the Sox one more time and we can take it tomorrow.
I don’t want to be playing in Chicago on Tuesday. I want to play Tampa on Wednesday.
KC might be a good team if they played hard all season instead of the last 2 weeks of the season.
Tampa on Thursday! The Twins can do it. I don’t think Chicago can win three straight. As sick to my stomach as I am after today’s game, I am hopeful yet.
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I’m not hugely disappointed in no Cliff Lee tomorrow given that it looks like the White Sox offense is a total mess, regardless of who pitches against them. Their only big inning in the past 5 games was helped out by a Slowey error in game three of our series.
keep jinxing us lavelle
i will tell you whats a mess the indians pen that sounds familiar
christ now carroll is taking plays out of buschers book!
I am curious…
How does Brendan Donnelly have a job?
Oh well! One of these two teams has to make it. Who will goof it up less? Hawk Harrelson’s comment about CPR is right, except it applies to both teams. Neither should be playing for a divisional title on the last day, but both will still have a chance. Scheduling and divsional quirks is all.
That said, don’t get the impression I’m dissing our favorite team. I’m not. Twins are the most fun of any of our pro sports team. So much so, I dont even follow other pro sports, here or anywhere else. Everything else is trash compared to MLB, and the Twins (and Rays) are the greatest stories in MLB this year. And it still might not be over. After all, CWS keep the Twins it, and the Twins keep the WS in it. If they both lose out, then the CWS lose the division, and the Twins, by default, go into the playoffs. So keep the faith folks. It’s not like the Twins are chasing down the ‘27 Yankees here.
Indians add on a run…lead 9-6.
At least the Twins showed up and sweeped the Sox.
Gotta love the Sox bullpen!
still batting top of 9th
12-6 Tribe! Sox are on their 5th reliever!
If, and that’s a big if, we make the postseason and we don’t have to play that game on Tuesday, against the Sox, who will be our opening game pitcher against the Rays.
I believe it would have to be Slowey, or Liriano. Baker pitches tomorrow so he would only have four days rest.
I would put Perkins or Blackburn in the pen and go with a four man staff.
Indians win, 12-6.
Magic number: 2
Let’s clinch tomorrow!
what a shame that our Twins still are in good shape after the way they ahve played,,,
Sox have to win three straight now if Twins win,, lets see, if they lose, and Twins win, I guess Sox would only have to beat Dtroit
Its sure fun to listen to KSCR 670 AM in Chicago now, ,, the White Sox station, you can get it at night from Minnesota
We at the top!
HUH???????????
If Twins win tomorrow and Sux lose, it’s over–no game needed vs. Det on Monday
WSCR Kevin?
Will this be a 2006 redux? Twins on the verge of being swept at home pull out a win over the Whities.
Royals then go into extra innings in Detroit but win and sweep the Tigers, giving the Twin the AL Central crownn.
Of course unlike 2006 this time the loser goes home.
Twins just can’t make it easy, huh? If they had just won last night and tonight we could see Morneu get a damn day off he sorely needs.
Anyway go Twins, go Indians!
Those Medtronic defibrillator machines are so good, they even work on an entire baseball team. Wow! So the AL Central is a hot potato. The Twins have Baker going tomorrow, and he’s the guy who I would look at as their potential “big game” pitcher. Hope he can work one up tomorrow. I think it was KC he nearly perfected on last year? We dont need perfection Scott. A nice no-hit shutout would suffice. Go Twins!
Um, actually Sox still have to win a game and they have 2 left.
Heat, yea, WSCR
the Sox and Twins shoudl agree that Cleveland and Kansas City play off for the Central Divsions championship on Monday
Tune in tomorrow for another edition of the AL Central Chokefest.
Please, if either KC and Cleveland had real games that meantsomething to they would have a much tougher time winning. I hope you are kidding they definately do not deserve to be in the playoffs because they are playing with nothing to lose. That is alot easier.
Yep, WSCR The Score 670AM. They’re doing the post-game now, but will open the phone lines shortly.
THAT’s when the fun begins… ;*)
I hear if TWins do make playoffs, they will now start in Tampa on Thursday
angels have elected to begin their series on Wedneday
Can we just end this race tomorrow!
First call is a good one!
“You have to stop talking.”
Caller should have focused on the Sox pitching, instead of the offense. They have scored runs these last few games, but their pitching is a train wreck and is the reason the Twins are still breathing. Kenny Williams is certainly rip-able for that.
We don’t have the screamers tonight… yet. They were really out during the Twins series and again last night.
I will take my chances with Baker tomorrow; he had one rough start against the Indians on Sept. 17th and a couple of rough starts against Seattle back in the beginning of August. But, in 7 of his last 9 starts, he has given up 3 runs or less. Plus, Baker has a 3.07 ERA at home. Duckworth has been solid since being called up, but the Twins tagged him for 7 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings on Sept. 11th.
Morneau may have let the MVP award slip through his fingers due to his latest slump…
This might be easier if Gary Sheffield hadn’t charged the mound and got Carmona suspended. Tribe could have Fausto going tomorrow instead of a rookie…so if Sox win Sunday, Steroid Gary owes us a big game against them on Monday.
Duckworth has been solid since being called up, but the Twins tagged him for 7 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings on Sept. 11th.
You left out the most important part…
They only scored 2 runs versus Duckworth in that outing.
Duckworth also had the Sox shut out for six innings last week. Twins will have to be back on their game. It probably won’t be easy.
Who is listening to AM 670 right now?
I am
Me, too. Not exactly riveting radio at the moment, though. No screamers at all. Maybe they’ve lost their voices.
Buehrle on three days rest and a 120-pitch outing. No reason Cleveland shouldn’t outscore them again. Could be another 12-10 type game. And if they win, Monday and/or Tuesday could be the same.
Twins need to win. That forces Sox to win three in a row with a blown-out pitching staff.
Lemme know when they get their voice back
Are they yelling yet?
if the twins win tomorrow and the sox lose, that’s it. twins are in.
I didn’t get to watch the game, so could someone please answer this question: Why was Matt Guerrier allowed to start the 7th with the division on the line? Has Gardy not watched him pitch the past couple months? I was thinking he’d be a guy who might be left off the postseason roster for Mijares if the Twins happen to make it.
no no no gardy wouldnt take a rookie on the roster, he goes “with the guys that got us here”
Heck, whatever happens, happens. Sure I wish they would have won the first two against K.C. and clinched, but that would have been to easy for this team.
In spite of all the good that’s happened,
this season has definitely been a struggle at times.
Hey, how many of us really thought the Twins would be in this position in late September way back in April?
However things turn out it’s been a great thrill ride.
Tomorrow we need Red-dog in the line-up.
Span
Casilla
Mauer
Morneau
Young
Harris
Red
Punto
Go
All grinders on deck!
Time to win!
Fran, don’t know if you will revisit this blog tomorrow but don’t blame Sheffield for Carmona not pitching on Sunday. He last pitched on Wed. 9/24. There is no way with nothing on the line except braggin’ rights about potentially knocking the Sox out of the playoffs that Eric Wedge would start him on 3 days rest, even if he wasn’t suspended. So the Twins are just going to have to take care of business and win and then hope that the ex-Pirate can hold off the Sox long enough for the rest of the Tribe to bash the ball against Buehrle.
And Nora, if there were such a thing as a sarcasm-recognition machine I’d give you a deluxe model because you evidently cannot spot tongue in cheek comments (Fair Weather Kevin’s suggestion for the Monday playoff is pretty creative, hilarious and priceless).
Morneau has been great for us this year, and I think he has a big game today. But how does he swing at the first pitch in the 7th when the pitcher had walked Span and also walked Mauer on 4 pitches. You do not swing at the first pitch after the prior batter walked on 4 pitches. Period. Was it a strike? I think so, but he could have worked the count and maybe even walked in a run or gotten it to 3-1 and then been in a better position.. Monreau appears to have been over-anxious on that AB.
Still, after all this, the Twins are lucky to have a chance to win Sunday and force the Sox to win 3 games in a row.
Not really a surprise the Twins lost the first game- big too. The Royals were hot, the Twins just played the series of the season, and need a day to catch up with themselves. I figured the the Twins would bounce back- and they did…to some extent. Fewer runs allowed and and a much closer game. The Twins offense just couldn’t get it done combine with the fact that the Royals benefitted from a couple ‘lucky’ plays. The little flare and the ground ball that Bonzai deflected. I fully expect the Twins to win Sunday. I feel the Chi. Sox are going to blow it.
You know the old story. A great pitcher (in this case Lee) will try to win a (almost) meaningless game for his team, and he will look like crap. Instead, he’s pulled for injury/rest/get a chance to see a youngster. The other guy has terrible numbers across the board. That means he’s going to go out and throw the game of his life. Making both teams go, Cliff who? Some no name guy that replaces Mr. Cy Young- and looks like… Cy Young. How many times has it happened to the Twins?
That being said, that would mean the W. Sox getting swept at HOME, and I wouldn’t put money on it.
It all comes down to this.
Who wants it less?
**The Twins should have made some kind of trade at the deadline**
Bench Morneau NOW…..
Why on Earth did Gardy pull Perkins after five? He was pitching fine. Take away the first at bat, when the kid fouled five two-dtirke pitches before flying out, and his pitch count was normal. He could have gone another inning easy and still been under 100.
And why on earth did he use Guerrier in a pivotal role? I knew when they brought him in that we would lose. Gardy lost that game.
Oh, and also, Nora, it is swept not sweeped.
Fair point on Carmona, beisbol. Sometimes fill-ins come up big. If Bullington pitches like Jackson did last night, the Sox will have their work cut out for them.
This was posted almost exactly 24 hours after my last one.
Totally pointless, I know. But I wanted to do it. Anyway, It all comes down to this…again. And potentially again. I think the Twins will get in one way or the other, but I not really sure we can win once we get there. Still, it’s better to be post season contender than being a Mets team.
Which reminds me. HA! Too bad for you Mr. Santana. You wanted the lights? You got it. You wanted the big money? You got it. You wanted the post season? WE got it. Just think. You could’ve taken our offer and now you’d be in playing in October. It serves you right. You bolted and didn’t make the playoffs. The team you bolted from has all but secured a spot. At least we’ll be playing MORE than 162 games. Why don’t you think about that the next time you’re a free agent.
**The Twins should have made some kind of trade**
