Twins Sisters

Royals 9, Twins 4

**SIGH.**

That is all.

--Tricia--

This is an invitation to all of our readers.  We know there are a few of you out there. 

We think (well, I haven't run this past her yet, but I'm sure Becca would agree) that it would be a lot of fun to meet you.  I can't think of a better place than at the Dome, for a game sometime in September.  I picked two possible dates.  They're both weekend ones.  They are:  Sunday the 16th @1:10 vs Detroit or Saturday the 22nd @ 11:10 vs the White Sox. 

Linda:  I know you live a long ways away, but it would be super kewl if you were able to come.  I can't promise you the Twins will win, or that the weather will be good.  I can, however, recommend a good hotel near the light rail line, one where your room would be unlikely to flood.  :-)

The more the merrier.  I think it would be great fun to go to a game with a bunch of fellow Twins fanatics.   If a different date would work better, let me know that too.  I'm open to a game anytime.  Leave a comment in this post if you're interested.  You can e-mail me too:  triciaaho@lycos.com

--Tricia--

If it makes you happy/It can't be that bad/If it makes you happy/Then why the hell are you so sad?

--Sheryl Crow--

Ok, I'm totally copying the idea of opening a blog post with song lyrics from this site:  http://lipglossbaseball.blogspot.com/ 

It's the only Sheryl Crow song I like, and it came on the radio tonight while I was driving home from school supply shopping with the Twins Kid. 

It's not about baseball, of course, but it sums up how I feel about the Twins right now perfectly.  It makes me happy to watch them.  Still, it makes me sad when they're having a hard time. 

We're taking a mental health break from baseball this weekend.  We're going up to the lake one last time before school starts.  It'll be one last chance to go fishing, swimming and for boat rides.  I'm hoping the sun will be strong enough still to get a little more tan. 

There's a radio station up there that broadcasts the games, but I'm going to use all the willpower I possess not to tune in.  Wish me luck!

Have a great Labor Day weekend, all!

--Tricia--

Indians 4, Twins 3

Well.  This royally blows. 

Freakin' one run losses!

I have to ask, what's up with Johan passing out 1st inning homeruns like candy these past two starts?  What kind of a horrible alternate universe are we living in? 

Could've been 2.5 games out of first with a sweep of the Indians, but nope!  The Twins are 8.5 out now.   

D'oh.  This makes me very, very sad. 

What is up with C.C. Sabathia hitting our guys with pitches?  Tonight he tagged Rondell and Barty.  He's also hit JT and Justin with pitches this season.  Grr... I wish the guys would've made him pay for those transgressions. 

My baseball psychic abilities kicked in the top of the 8th inning.  I was hoping against hope that the Twins would win, but I didn't really see it happening.  Cuddy scored on Rondell's groundout, but I just had a feeling that was going to be it.  I didn't even need to drag out my crystal ball.  Good thing, 'cause that thing is mighty heavy!

Anyone who reads this blog knows we aren't crabby and negative, generally.  We don't harp endlessly on what goes wrong.  I just feel so bummed out right now.   We love this team unconditionally, even when we know they're not playing their best.  Come on home, guys.  We'll cheer for you the rest of the season, no matter what. 

--Tricia--

Picture from Startribune.com published 8/29/07

Yes, I know.  The Twins have lost two in a row to the Indians. Whatever. I'm much like my sister where my glass is half full and not half empty.  I'm very sad to see their chances of playoff baseball circling the drain but I would rather dwell on the positive and not the negative.

That play Nick made last night was just OFF THE HOOK!!!!  We've seen him make awesome plays like that all season long but that one was just, WOW!  Some people will say, Well, he's only hitting .200." To them I say, "Blah blah blah."  I stand by my theory that it is as important to save runs as it is to score them. Not to mention that is very worthy of being on a highlight reel.

So was Torii's catch last night when he slammed up against the wall. Ouch! I didn't see it happen but I saw it later on the news and I watched it on the internet as well.  Twice.  I'm thankful that he didn't break, sprain or strain anything.  I bet he has a heck of a bruise from it.

You rock, Torii and Nick!

**Becca**

The Minnesota Twins website had an article about Nick today.  It is a good read!  Click on the link if you would like to read it.  You know want to! 

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070829&content_id=2177653&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

Indian 6, Twins 5

Well, phooey.

Top of the 9th inning, two men on, down by two.  Torii hit a sac fly, scoring Tyner, even though we were all really hoping for a towering three run homer, then cue Joe Nathan for the save.  Alas...it was not to be. 

Then up comes Justin.  Ok, here we go.  How about a towering two run homer?  Heck, let's not be greedy.  A score-tying double would've been great.  Nope.  Struck out looking.  Bummer.  Well, I hope he doesn't feel too bad.  I mean, granted his out was the most visible, since it was the last one of the game, but there were other things that went wrong.  If Carmen Cali had been able to get out of the bottom of the 8th, it's likely the game would've ended at 5 to 4, in favor of the Twins.  If Cuddy had gotten a homer during his at-bat in the 8th, that would've tied the score.  Or what if Boof hadn't given up those early homers?  There were a lot of things that could've turned this game in the Twins' favor. 

So now the Twins are 7.5 games back from the Indians.  Well...

Torii made a fantastic catch to end the bottom of the 8th.  I thought for sure he broke or dislocated something when he crashed into that wall.  Luckily, he didn't, so we'll still have his bat and his defense on the field tomorrow. 

Brian Buscher got his very first major league homer.  Congratulations! 

Nicky and JT also made some amazing plays.

The Twins scored more runs IN A LOSS than they scored in the whole series against the Rangers. 

Yes, I am very much a glass half full kind of person. 

Come on guys, keep scoring runs.  Go out and get a win for Johan tomorrow! (Please?)

--Tricia--

Well, Barnacles. 

There goes the chance for back-to-back sweeps. 

There's still a chance to win the series, though.  Boof is coming off his strongest start in a long time, and of course Johan is pitching after that.  I hope they'll both be at the top of their games when they take the mound against the Cleveland Native Americans. 

I am encouraged that even in a lopsided loss, the Twins scored 3 runs. 

Carlos Silva has been much better this year than anyone, me included, thought he would be.  For one reason or another, the Native Americans have his number. 

I admit I took a snooze for an hour, so I missed some things.  I'm not sorry I missed the triple play turned by the Native Americans.  I'm not sorry I missed the 2 run homer by Victor Martinez. 

Why was Marney Gellner out on the field interviewing guys on the other team?  What's up with that?  It seems to me like she only does that in Cleveland. Am I wrong?  Does she go out on the field and talk to Jermaine Dye when the White Sox win a game against the Twins?  I don't think so...

One last thought, and this has nothing to do with the game.  I'm begging the Twins management to find the money to sign Torii.  He'll make too much money wherever he goes.  He'll likely open his mouth and say things we wish he wouldn't, on occasion, wherever he goes.  None of that changes the fact that he's only getting better as a hitter, and he's arguably the best center fielder in the American League.  Not to mention that big grin he gets on his face when he makes a great play.  I'd miss seeing that during the games.  I don't want him to wear a Yankees or Red Sox uniform next season!

That is all. 

Go Boof!  Get a winning streak going for yourself!

--Tricia--

Edited to add:  Way to hit the ball, Barty!  We like home runs.  They're kewl.  Also...I read on another blog that the Twins shouldn't be intimidated by Cleveland, 'cause they're really not THAT great.  I concur.  Go get 'em tonight, guys!

The Twins are hitting their stride

It's becoming a matter of pride

They are smacking the ball

They are standing tall

I want them to stay on this ride.

--Tricia--

Twins 11  Orioles 3

I only saw it on replay but Rondell White hit a mammoth home run in the 9th inning.  He just launched it further than any home run I've seen for a really long time.

All the Twins starters, with the exception of Alexi Casilla got at least one hit.  Torii and JT both had amazing catches that robbed guys from extra base hits. Barty hit not one triple, but two! 

2nd time new daddy Scotty Baker pitched a heck of a game.  He gave up just a mere 3 runs over 6 innings.  The starting pitching has been fantastic. Scotty, Johan, Boof, Matty and Carlos all earned wins in their last respective starts. 

Over the last week our Twins have been playing the way they did through all of 2006. As we approach the month of September let's keep our fingers, toes, and eyes closed that they can keep up this brilliant level of play.  I believe in my baseball loving heart that although it will be very hard, these guys will find their way to the top of the AL Central once again. 

**Becca**

Twins  8  Orioles 1

Waiting out a rain delay makes a game seem longer but in this case it was worth the wait.  I want to start by giving a shout out to Jason Bartlett. He went 4 for 4 with a walk. In addition, he made some great defensive plays behind Matt Garza. Way to go! You have seemed to find your niche batting 2nd in the lineup.

I was having a fine time watching this game while surfing the internet. Then I heard Dick and Bert say, "Mauer's hurt." I gasped as I saw him hobble to third base.  Right now he is diagnosed with left hamstring soreness.  I'm no doctor but I'm assuming that hamstring soreness is less serious than a hamstring pull. What a massive bummer.  I hope that Joey won't have to go on the DL but we'll see.  I don't want him to try coming back too early and make it worse.  Mike Redmond was marvelous when Joey was hurt earlier in the season and will be again.  As long as that big lummox Jim Thome doesn't nail him in the head with his bat again. How does your bat fly out of hands twice in the same at bat anyway?

Matt Garza pitched ok. He pitched himself into same jams like he did with his last start and again with the help of great defense he pitched himself right back out of it. He only gave up one run over 5 innings and the bullpen slammed the door for the rest of the game.

Torii hit a three run blast last night.  I'm very happy to see Torii hitting so well.  My favorite catch of the night was the one JT made in left field. I thought for sure it was going to fall for a base hit but he caught it while sliding on the wet grass at the same time.

Enjoy today's game!

*Becca*