Stakeout at the Dome, wondering if Howard stole my material…and watching Kevin Slowey play catch
Posted on September 29th, 2008 – 1:52 PMBy La Velle
I’m in the Metrodome pressbox in my grubbiest clothing just in case the White Sox lose and the Twins start popping corks. But everything is on hold now that the Sox-Tigers game is in a rain delay.
Joe C. e-mailed from The Cell that it won’t be totally clear until 6 p.m., so they might have to play among raindrops once the game begins.
I have some programming notes:
1. The Sox-Tigers game can be heard on AM690 The Score once it begins.
2. Dick Stockton, Ron Darling and Harold Reynolds will call the Twins-White Sox play-in game (if necessary) on Tuesday. Marc Fein will report from the field.
3. Dan Orsillo, Reynolds and Fein will work the first two games of the Rays ALDS.
Now, I was about to lay out a few reasons why the Tigers should be motivated to beat the Sox today. Unfortunately, I mentioned my reasons on KFAN during the P.A. and Dubay Show.
Funny, just when I get ready to blog my thoughts, I noticed that Howard Sinker has a list of reasons - and the first four are exactly what I said on the air - Gary Sheffield going for 500 career homers, Miguel Cabrera going for the RBI title. Freddy Garcia pitching for a 2009 contract and Curtis Granderson being from Chicago.
Makes you go hmmmmm.
Was Howard listening to the show and decided to steal my material? That’s what I’m going with! The only other possibility would be that Howard and I think alike, and that thought makes me want to take a shower.
I feel like I’ve been had.
Anyway, Twins fans should hope that more than a handful of Tigers are motivated to win today. Because if they aren’t, that means they might have tied one on last night….
1:55 update: The Dome is slowly being converted to football because the Gophers play host to Indiana this week. Jose Mijares just showed up and the field and walked around for a few minutes. He better watch out. If Tim Brewster sees him, he might try to enroll him.
4:41 update: Kevin Slowey, who was struck on the wrist Saturday by a Juan Uribe line drive, just finished playing catch in the outfield with Scott Baker while team trainer Rick McWane looked on. The two threw to each other for about 10 minutes before Slowey left and Baker threw against a wall.
It’s a good sign that Slowey can play a little catch. We’ll have more on this later…
106 Responses to "Stakeout at the Dome, wondering if Howard stole my material…and watching Kevin Slowey play catch"
What are the Twins going to do with the rain delay? Are they going to wait it out possibly putting them into Chicago until late this evening. Or are they going to leave this afternoon for Chicago and then take it from there? Are they thinking of leaving tomorrow morning?
Mijares would be a great linebacker!
Game tomrorow isn’t until 6:37 p.m.. They can sleep all day if they wanted to. They’ll wait it out….
Lets go Tigers lets go
Any idea why Pedroia didnt play game 2 last night with the batting title on the line?
LEN,
Maybe it’s our shared Bears fan gene. Chalk it up to great minds and all that.
is todays CWC v DT on TV ?
espn2 and WGN
Harrelson just said it looks like about 3:45-4:00 for the game to start.
it’s on ESPN 2
rain tomorrow in chicago starting around 6pm (weather.com) for twins sox, wonder if they will move the time up to get it in
GOOOOOOO Tigers! I can hardly stand this waiting game business…
thanks Josh, i looked thru my Comcast channels and cannot find ESPN2 ?
When did Chicago turn into Seattle? It always seems to be raining there.
ESPN2 is on my Comcast channel 26, john.
Detroit needs to score 6 or more runs to win! Anybody have any thoughts?
Let’s hope this game gets in before the tigers lose any motivation. They probably already have tickets to fly somewhere warm.
Twins have to go to rainy Chicago if Sox win this game instead of the dome where there is no chance of a rain delay. Twins-
Sox game should be here anyway if things were fair because Twins won the season series. Annoying.
Well, Tigers can’t go anywhere until the game is over anyway. Don’t know why they would lose motivation.
This long delay is not good. The Tigers will be swinging at a lot of first pitches, because they want to get the hell out of there.
The Tigers whole motivation will be to WIN!!!!!!!!!! Go Teegers, Beat ChiSux!!!!!!!!!!!
Well Tigers also will be called unprofessional for throwing a game esp. when they can be a spoiler. There is reason for them to play well.
The delay could be good for two reasons.
1. It could affect the size of the crowd.
2. If some of the Tigers tied one on last night, they have time to sleep it off.
Like I figured, Tigers are not just swinging at the 1st pitch. Tigers are not laying down.
Any idea why Pedroia didnt play game 2 last night with the batting title on the line?
Maybe because winning the batting title isn’t as important as doing well in the playoffs?
The more I think about it the more my blood boils-the coin flip for home field advantage.
At first I thought: TV needs to know. But really? It’s not like they have to cover 2 or 3 games like they do in the division series.
Bill Smith was vague yesterday on Gordo’s show just giving a generic “they want to know in advance” answer.
Does anyone have any insight? Otherwise I’m left with my standard answer: “the world’s conspiring against me.” (it is you know?)
The Twins better start packing their bags. Freddy Garcia sucks.
thanks detroit……..
We are 2-7 against ChiSox at their house. Good luck Twins.
lets see if Freddy can walk a few more, what a pansy
LaVelle, what made Cleveland decide to sit Cliff Lee yesterday? I thought they were pitching him if it was an important game…I know he has pitched a ton of innings this year but man that would have helped.
Looks like the Tigers are looking for new players next year at C, LF, SS, DH — and probably 2 new starters to replace Rogers and Willis.
Great news about Slowey. Thanks.
He doesn’t have to pitch till Sunday.
[…] Twins Insider – […]
WARNING TO WEBMASTER — THERE’S A HACKER IN THE JOE C SITE!!!
Who know, maybe here too. I got Mudcat’s name and email address in my boxes.
Annnnd You can Put it on the Boooooarrddddddd Grand Slammmm! Go Sox.
See you tommorrow
Losers!!!!!
Sincerely Yours, Friends in Chicago
Matt-
Who lost all 3 games last week…. was it the south side losers???… I forgot…sorry
Boy, thank you Detroit.
My hatred for you bums just grew even larger.
Sox did not win this one Detroit handed it to them on a silver platter. That you can put on the board.
Is anyone else feeling less than confident about the Twins chances tomorrow?
Because of a game Detroit gift wrapped to the Sox? No.
i’m actually very confident in the twins chances tomorrow. it’s not like the white sox beat the tigers today. the tigers gave them that game, and the way the white sox offense looked most of the game and has looked lately, i’m still confident that the twins can win.
Wow…Detroit is terrible.
A last place team at it’s finest.
Just think…all of those “it’s just one game” that the Twins gave away this season are looming quite big right now.
How about the freebie that was given to the Sox agains TB. That is the one I will remember.
How about the freebie that was given to the Sox agains TB. That is the one I will remember.
I’m more concerned with what the Twins did and didn’t do than I am the Sox.
Sox have to be thinking that as well. That is why the situation is as it is.
yea, Tigers are horrible. Why wasn’t Inge, who Leyland has said is the best catcher on their team, behind the plate?? I know the answer, guillen out, no one but inge to play third. but it still bothers me.
is it true the twins have already left to go to chicago?
Sorry Twin fans, maybe next year.
Chitown, Twins aren’t going to hand you games like Tigers and Cleveland has. Sox have done nothing to prove they are going to win tomorrow.
As a Cub fan who watched this game, I have no love for the ChiSox. But I think this “Detroit gave it to them” stuff is garbage. They sent out their best pitchers, even if Galarraga (13-6, 3.68 coming in) looked like crap. This wasn’t one of those play-the-Toledo-call-ups and throw-the-whole-bullpen-two-innings games: it was legit. Now the Twins have to win a game tomorrow against an equally talented team (which is only a half-compliment to either side). Good luck, fans.
But I think this “Detroit gave it to them” stuff is garbage
I don’t think it was “thrown” but they definitely didn’t make the sox earn it.
Sorry, But how many wild pitches were there? Either way Tigers pitched horribly and any team was going to score runs that inning when they were pitching and catching.
@…
“I don’t think it was “thrown” but they definitely didn’t make the sox earn it.”
What does that sports cliche even mean?
…, that is exactly what I mean.
I’m going to be honest…
I think the season ends tomorrow.
Good luck though Twins!
What does that sports cliche even mean?
It means you give up a run and load the bases without giving up a hit and then get knocked for a GS on the first pitch.
I think the Twins have an advantage b/c the Sox had to use their bullpen tonight which means they won’t be available for tomorrow night’s game or too tired. The Twins are going on a day’s rest which has benefited them this season. As long as Morny can step up and produce like a MVP, the Twins should do fine.
Mandy,
I think it’s more on Blackburn than anyone.
Bottom line: The Tigers weren’t a good team in April, in June, in August or in September. It shouldn’t have surprised anyone that they gave up a one run lead in the span of about 5 minutes. That is why they finished the season in last place. Key word: finished.
The Twins’ season is not finished. They’ve got one more game. They will play 100%, like they always do.
One thing I won’t do is give the Sox the edge based on the Detroit game.
“It means you give up a run and load the bases without giving up a hit and then get knocked for a GS on the first pitch.”
Huh, I never knew the Cubs were trying to do that for all those seasons I suffered through 64 wins.
Erik says:
September 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I’m going to be honest…
I think the season ends tomorrow.
Good luck though Twins!
I haven’t given up on them through 162 games; why would I give up now? If the Twins play the Sox like they did this week at the Dome, we win the division.
If Detroit could have gotten away with just fofeiting the game they would have.
They couldn’t. So they showed up and played (sort of). Call it a glorified forfeit.
Detroit lost by throwing wild pitches and walking the bases loaded (one of them being an intentional walk. Sox did not exactly earn it. Detroit lost more then the Sox won that game.
Which I guess should be expect out of a team at the bottom of the division.
Hey Twins Fans where is your sense of reality. You guys are so out of touch with reality it is hillarious. Did you not see how the Royals handed the Twins there win yesterday. I don’t know how many times the Royals 1b threw it into left field. Oh and it won’t be just like last week at the Dome, because um… it NOT at the dome. The game is in Chicago. Have a fun flight to Chicago and an even better time back while lining up your Tee Times on golf courses down south,losers. GO Chisox
Jerry, I think that’s way too harsh. I give big props to Leyland, he certainly played it like THEY had postseason on the line. He had Galarraga up very early, he did not wait until Garcia said he was hurting. Brandon Inge made a magnificent catch in the stands, way more effort than the three Sox players who converged at the rolled up tarp. Did you see Uribe dive into the stands? I would say most of them gave it their professional best shot. The only one I doubt a lot is Galarraga who can’t possibly like the Twins who accounted for several of his few losses.
And unfortunately it was neither Pudge nor Inge behind the plate, that AAA catcher was terrible at blocking balls.
Sox troll, Sox got help from both Cleveland and Detroit. Must be nice. The Sox fans false sense of security is not in reality either.
More: you had not exactly fast guys like Sheffield stealing bases. That doesn’t suggest they were dogging it. I’m very satisfied that Tigers were not dogging it with the exception of Galarraga.
The White Sox are going to win tomorrow. In my opinion, it makes a lot of difference where the game is played. Go White Sox!
I like Blackburn and think he has a bright future. But with the way he pitched in September including his win last week against the White Sox, I don’t like our chances with his road numbers and his numbers in Chicago. We may have lost our season on Saturday not increasing that 2-0 lead on Kansas City and losing 4-2.
I expect even though it is not at the metrodome that the Twins will play hard and put up much more of a fight then the other teams Sox played recently. Sox will have to work alot harder to win in which they could not do against the twins earlier this week.
Nora, they IBB’d the wrong guy. I said in the other blog that I hope, if Gardy faces the same situation tomorrow, even with the bases loaded, that he consider walking Ramirez at the cost of even one run if the pitcher has any possibility of making a bad mistake to him. Ramirez is a big strikeout possibility for a pitcher who is on. He is a big HR possibility for a pitcher who is not.
Joe Maddon walked Hamilton this year with the bases loaded, accepted the run that scored, and got the next guy out but avoided 4 runs.
Of course that is the expected response from a Sox troll who are out in full force tonight. Sox are lucky in regards to getting to play this game on their home turf. Twins have won the overall series against the Sox.
About had it will the ridiculous Sox Troll. Bye.
with, i mean
Go get yourselves a big box of tissues tonight Twins fans. You are going to be needing them tomorrow night. Hey at least you tools still have the Vikes, right? Haha
I also hope that the leash on Blackie is about as short as possible. Even if we have to use everybody in the pen it must be done. No point saving their arms at this point.
I haven’t given up on them through 162 games; why would I give up now? If the Twins play the Sox like they did this week at the Dome, we win the division.
That’s the issue here…the game isn’t being play at the Dome.
Let’s get real.
The Sux only had 4 hits and had essentially won the game 6-2, then they put icing on the cake in the 8th.
4 hits?!! Not exactly an offensive show today. They will live and die on the HR’s and their bad fielding.
Now to the Twins. Gomez will be back strong after this offday. He’s been having a calf problem. He heals quick.
Young is hitting like .350 the last 30 days, even with his foot injury.
Morneau getting a day off is like a healthy guy getting a whole week off. I expect him to re-emerge.
Mauer is hitting unconsciously.
Punto a .355 OBP the last 30 days.
Who’s left? Kubel is potent, and seems more motivated lately when facing lefthanders. Span is as steady as Garret Anderson.
Only 2 left — Casilla and Harris. Harris has looked strong lately, especially his D. Casilla will greatly benefit from the day off, just like Gomez and Morneau. Gotta think he still has a sore thumb. He’s young and resilient too.
This essentially being a playoff game, I’m only worried about Blackburn giving up the big HR, or tiring out early.
Breslow can give 1-1/3 good innings. 1-2/3 from Mijares. 2 from Nathan.
That’s 5 innings give or take (well….mostly take). Can we get a composite inning or so out of the Reyes/Crain/Korecky/Guerrier combo? Boof remains for extra innings.
Blackburn only needs 3 good innings.
Gonna be coldish in Chicago. Don’t expect balls to be soaring out of the park. Twins will be staying station-to-station warm, I’ll bet.
One thing i want to add before I go though to the troll who said KC handed the Twins a win. How many runs did KC score? 0
I love the Twins & have been following them for 40 years …. but I gotta be honest & say I think they’re done. The best thing that could happen tomorrow is a rainout so Liriano could take the hump on Wednesday. Blackburn is very scary. Somethin’ tells me the Twins will be going to the bullpen in the 3rd or 4th inning, and then who? Yikes! Twins do not play with confidence and composure on the road. Unless they really surprise, I think the Twins will conclude their ‘08 tomorrow. Has been a very good season, though, and next year looks very bright.
Not being able to win 2 out of 3 against the Royals is not a sign of a playoff caliber team. It actually is embarassing for a team to think they can or will get into the playoffs by not beating the Royals 2 out of 3. Maybe if Mr. wannabe MVP, Morneau would do anything at all, you guys would be going to the Trop. I think the Twins fans can shelve that ridiculous MVP MVP chant when he comes up to the plate to bat.
Forecast for Chicago on Tuesday is lows in the 40’s, winds 15-20 and 30% chance of rain. Hopefully that wind is blowing in to help Nick keep it in the park and since the Twins aren’t going to hit HR’s anyway.
Go Twins!
Good news is that we get to play the White Sox tomorrow. They are entirely capable of losing the game without any help from the Twins. But the Twins road woes are a big worry.
So here’s the problem in my opinion, with this whole playoff thing: Why is that these two teams play a full divisional schedule within a 162 game schedule, and somehow, all those games mean nothing now? Why should not the team that won the most head-to-games get the tiebreaker. I’m not saying this just because the Twins won the season series. It just seems to me 19 games is enough to determine a tiebreaker. At the very least, the head-to-head games should determine home field if MLB really feels the money is so damm important. All this assinine situation says is that 6 months, 162 games, and 19 head to head games, mean absolutely nothing. We need one more game, under adverse conditions, and then, whoever wins (or least loses, whatever the case may be tomorrow), gets to prepare for a road trip on Thursday.
I hope if nothing else the inequity of this format forces MLB to make some changes to the tiebreaker rules. It seems incredibly stupid to make these teams play one more game. I think the Twins deserve the division based on head-to-head. Period. If anybody from MLB is reading this……FIX IT PLEASE!
I agree with Ray Reiner.
FIX IT, you greedy MLB connivers.
“Who’s left? Kubel is potent, and seems more motivated lately when facing lefthanders”
Kubel has had one good game in last 2 plus weeks. 20% of his season HR total has come in 2 games this season. 12 of his 20 HR’s cam before July 1st. He is the definition of all or nothing.
Since Danks is a lefty you’ve got to go with someone else at DH. Cuddy, Ruiz, Harris or Tolbert. Hell even Everett would work. It will be cold, wet, windy and on grass so bunt the hell out of them. Get some guys who can slap a line drive or dink and dunks. A all or nothing left handed hitter who doesn’t hit lefty’s well and thinks hitting the ball to left field will result in his turning into a pumpkin is not the guy I would want the Al Central title riding on. Kubel has his place and it’s on the bench waiting for Dotel, Linebrink or Jenks to be pitching later in the game. I don’t know which of those other guys I’d use but just flip a coin and pick one. That’s how Bud Selig thought it would be best to decide home field advantage, unlike every other sport that had tie brakers to determine playoff spots.
rayreiner, your points are well-taken. Baseball has long been a purist sport & has never been big on silly things like tie-breakers. In baseball there are no ties (except Bud S. & the All-Star game a few years back), you keep playing until there’s a real winner. Leave tie breakers for the NFL, NBA & NHL, those other minor sports. 
[…] with a 8-2 victory over Detroit at rainy U.S. Cellular Field. The Minnesota Twins, who had been camped out at the Metrodome waiting to either celebrate an AL Central title with a Sox loss or head to the airport, will now […]
What a tough spot to put a pitcher like Blackburn in. He is not who you’d like to be in this position. But it is what it is. Our only hope is that our offense comes right out with good at bats and gets us a 3 or 4 run lead. Boy do we need Morneau to step up this game. I could care less about the MVP. We just need him to start driving in some runs. Our +.300 BA with RISP will desperately be needed tomorrow. I hope Blackburn pitches the game of his life. We’ll need it. Wow, we have our #5 pitching and our offense has been pretty horrible the last 3 games. It could take a near miracle to win this game in Chitown.
“Kubel has had one good game in last 2 plus weeks.”
Kubel is producing Xtra base hits in the past 30 days at a rate of about 80 per year. He has a .300 BA the last 7 days. He has .429 BA vs Danks.
Cheer up, Kirby91. (BTW, Gomez and Young combined are .348 the past 30 days.)
Kubel is a lot like Hunter was at the plate for those many years. Hunter had dinky AB’s on a regular basis too. Kept him from being perennial AS, but he was a good and potent hitter.
Sure, these fine stats by Kubel, Gomez & Young were at home last week. But Gomez has just grown a 1/2 season with his performance in that pennant-race comeback last Thursday. Young too — he’s been battling the adversity of his foot injury and has been coming through BIGTIME with that .348 BA the last 30 days.
And this “road trip” tomorrow will be a DREAM compared to the recent Twins trips. And don’t forget, they just had a day off and finished it out hanging together. They’ve never been tighter and more ready to go.
So, I think they aren’t just the automatic home-field-performers-only they were during their formative five months this year (Apr-Aug). I think they’re much more grown up now.
And I expect Kubel’s performance to reflect as such.
Spoken well, twinsfanrick!
The reason the Twins had a lousy September was because of pitching.
Mijares more or less solves that problem in the pen along with a more liberal use of Nahthan.
It’s all about starting pitching the day(s) ahead.
romer, Great posts
“And don’t forget, they just had a day off and finished it out hanging together.”
While the Old Sox are about to play what, their 19th game in 19 days?
Young, Kubel, Mauer, Span, Punto and Gomez are in the top 48 players in the AL for OBP in the past 30 days…during the pennant race.
Only one Old Sox guy there — Cabrera the SS.
The Twins’ station-to-station offense is intact and clicking.
And when you live by the HR, then you need a murder’s row. And it ain’t a row anymore, people.
Griffey “replaced” Swisher. No HR gain (now that Griffey is through playing in domes this year. In fact, I expect to see Swisher start in CF tomorow).
Crede and Quentin are gone with no replacements. The HR “row” has now been halved.
While the Twins’ brand has been enhanced. (see my 9:44 post for details additionally to the third paragraph in this post)
If Blackburn and Gardy’s handling of him are fine tomorrow, I am expecting a Twins blowout over the Old Sox, who are tired and depleted.
I think all tie-breaker games should be played under the roof of Miller Park…. where there is no rain delay and the East coast people do not have to stay up past their bedtime…. plus in this situation, it it fairly convient for both teams…..
Thanks, AgateHunter’swife. Still wish I were on the North Shore, chilly or not!
Have a good sleep everyone.
Seems like these Twins play the best when they are absolutley backed into the corner.
Win or lose tomorrow, these Twins are wonderful, and I wish them all luck for tomorrow and the future.
Everyone is down on the twins in the month of september. does anyone remeber that the twinkies had one of the longest road trips in baseball history. Every club sux on the road and if they are good, they win 50% of their. chill out . think Kirby, think Hrbek and think snow in colorado, because ski season is right around the corner!
Joep in Steamboat Springs W/ a ski pass this year.and will see you tommorow night!
For the Twins to win tomorrow, they will need heuevos grande.
If they don’t have them tomorrow, (although I think they will) the experience will help grow them for next year.
Actually the last 30 days Kubel is hitting .250
vs. Left:.232
Away: .249
according to twins.com & I’m just saying that since the Sox will clearly not let Morneau beat them he’s not the guy I want in the lineup as Monry’s protection much less in the lineup. Also, I feel that given the weather & opponent & pitcher going on 3 days rest the game will be one much like today’s. The team that is patient and gets the most guys on via walks, bunt, errors etc will most likely win. Hits will be hard to come by so one or two hits could be enough to drive in a couple of huge runs. With the Twins offense being the key to this game and their hitting struggling the last 3 games and for Kubel being all or nothing, clog the bases never go to left field and impatience at the plate it not a risk worth taking. I hope I’m wrong or the Gardy plays it different. Tolbert’s hitting .300, being 3-3 on SB attempts and ability to do all the other stuff makes him my pick with Delmon or Cuddy (if he picks him) hitting behind Morny. Finally the weather says it won’t be a night for HR’s which is good for Blackie (making him less the key) and bad for all of nothing uppercut pull hitter like Kubel.
Here’s hoping the Twins treat this like each of their last two road trips: Win the first two and them struggle. If that’s the case they’ll be AL Central champs and returning to the dome 1-1 with the Rays in the ALDS.
Go Twins!
It’s so exciting that it’s agonizing. Win or go home for the Twins. Win or stay home if you’re the White Sux. I could throw several stats at you:
Based on overall ERA by the starters, Sox win by 0.09 runs. Based on starts vs. the other team, Twins win by 2.24 runs. Twins are 2-7 at the Cell this year. Twins are 11 under .500 on the road this year. Mauer must go 0-7 to lose batting title- extremely unlikly he even gets 7 AB’s, much less goes 0-7 in them- Morneau needs 1 to tie, and 2 to pass Hamilton in the RBI dept.
But ultimantly I think you can throw out the stats and numbers. EVERYTHING. This is one game. One game for all the proverbial marbles. A game with Everything to play for. Anything can happen- especially in a division game. You know them. They know you. No secrets. Your big time players NEED to step up. That’s what they’re the paid big money for, and that’s why they ARE big time players. The pitcher NEEDS to pitch a big game- reguardless of how he’s faired recently. It’s a brand new, one game, season. Win. Or your season, everything you worked for, 6 months of working and playing hard to win is all for naught. Win, or go home.
It’s DON Orsillo for the Tampa series.
We hear him all the time, he does the play by play for the Red Sox telecasts on NESN. He’s very good - calm, friendly, and knowledgeable. He calls games with the Rays 18 times a year. I’ve lived in Minnesota, and Orsillo will play very well in the Midwest.
And you WILL be watching those games, because Morneau and the bullpen will come up big!
[…] Minnesota Twins, who had been camped out at the Metrodome waiting to either celebrate an American League Central title with a White Sox loss or head to the […]
contraction
phony move to the carolinas
otiz non trade
hunter non trade
terry ryan quit to spend more time with his family–ha ha ha
no roof
loss of metrodome advantage
new stadium is near a garbage dump
the pohlads don’t care
they just want to make suckersof the minnesota sports fan
