Date: 7/21/10

Opponent: Cleveland Indians

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Liriano

Final Score: W 6-0

Record: 50-45

Recap: At least we didn't have the ignominy of being swept by Cleveland. We finally looked like a good team again. Of course we usually look like a good team when we get a semi-decent start from our pitcher, and Liriano's performance was certainly more than semi-decent. He shutout the Indians in 7 innings with 8 strikeouts. He did walk 4, gave up 6 hits, and got into jams seemingly every inning, but I guess we can classify that as effective wildness. He was helped by 3 double plays, including a ground ball back to Liriano with the bases loaded where he threw to home and then Butera threw to 1st. Crain pitched a scoreless 8th, and the Anthony Slama made his MLB debut in the 9th. 

It was beautiful. Slama gave up a single to start, but then struck out 2 and got the next batter to ground out to 3rd. I'm kind of in love with Slama a little bit; he's so awesomely retro. The stirrup socks, the porn 'stache, the kick-ass name. I'm glad the Twins finally called him up. We'll have to see what role he ends up in since he was the closer in Rochester.

As for offense, we got on the board in the 3rd inning. Drew Butera doubled to lead off the inning. After an out, Hudson walked, bringing up Skinny Delmon. He was batting third in place of Mauer, who was being shamed for bunting the previous night had the day off. Although he had just fouled a pitch off his ankle, Delmon doubled to score Butera. Kubel was walked intentionally to load the bases before Cuddyer singled to score Hudson (Skinny Delmon was not fast enough and was thrown out at home). Thome walked next, and then Hardy also doubled to score 2. The Twins tacked on 2 more runs on a single by Young, although it really would have been a grounder to short if the ball hadn't taken a bad hop and nearly decapitated Cabrera. 

It was at least a positive ending to a bad series. Interestingly, Thome went 0 for 0 with 4 walks. I wonder how often that happens? It has to be pretty rare. The Orioles are up next. Perhaps they will prove less formidable than the Indians.

Best Moment: Slama!

Most Questionable Moment: Nothing.

Worst Moment: Nothing.

Quotations of the Day:

• "There's always a sense of urgency to win the last game, especially when you lose the first two." - Acting manager Scott Ullger
• "It's no surprise. I don't know why people seem surprised. He's just a damn good ballplayer, point blank. Any time he steps in the box, you're like OK, here it is." - Orlando Hudson on Skinny Delmon

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: No one today.

Date: 7/20/10

Opponent: Cleveland Indians

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Slowey

Final Score: L 4-3

Record: 49-45

Recap: Again I'm way late in posting this, so I'm not going to go on too long, but (to echo Twins fans everywhere) what the fuck was Mauer thinking? Well, I get what he was thinking, but it was still just a bad idea. I mean, last year's batting champ and MVP bunting with runners on 1st and 2nd, with 1 out in a tie game. It's not like he gets a ton of bunt singles, and it was left up to Kubel to try to untie the game (which he did not). While I think it was a stupid decision, I do think it's kind of hilarious the uproar it has caused. You'd think he shot a puppy or something. I'm thinking that a good deal of the controversy is coming from the underlying fear that he may be injured or at least not completely healthy; the enormous contract he signed and the decrease in his numbers from the previous year are a part of it too I'm sure. Anyway, you can read millions of opinions on other websites, so that's enough from me. Maybe the day off on Wednesday helped him clear his head and feel better.

On a more positive note, at least Slowey showed signs of life. He only made it 5.2 innings, but he also only gave up 3 runs, and 2 of those runs were allowed on a single Crain gave up that was just barely fair. Hopefully he can continue in the right direction. Crain and Guerrier pitched well; Mijares not so much. As soon as he issued the 4-pitch walk in the 8th inning, I knew the go-ahead run was going to score. I was really hoping we'd leave Crain in. The change to the rotation is finally occurring. Duensing is taking Blackburn's spot while Blackburn retreats to the bullpen. Good luck to both of them in their new roles.

Best Moment: The 2-run rally in the bottom of the 7th, at least until the Mauer bunt.

Most Questionable Moment: Yes, the bunt. What else?

Worst Moment: Hmmm, we'll just go with the bunt again, shall we?

Quotations of the Day:

• "I don't ever tell a hitter what to do. He tried to drag bunt. Ask Joe what his thoughts were." - Ron Gardenhire, a bit surly when asked about Mauer's bunt.
• "I didn't execute it. If I did, everybody's probably like, 'Pretty good idea.' So yeah, I just didn't get it done." - Joe Mauer

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Jason Kubel (0 for 4, 2 strikeouts, 4 left on base) and Jim Thome (0 for 4, 2 strikeouts, 4 left on base)

Date: 7/19/10

Opponent: Cleveland Indians

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Baker

Final Score: L 10-4

Record: 49-44

Recap: And just when you think the Twins have turned a corner, they go and throw up a horrific game like that one. I think "throw up" is really the operative phrase. What a shitty game. I'm glad I was drinking during that one. But even a buzz couldn't lessen my disappointment in the way we played.

Baker followed the "60 percent of our rotation puts us in a giant hole" theme, and he couldn't escape the 5th inning without some major damage. He was actually pitching fairly well until that point, but no one seemed to be able to get the third out of the inning. The inning started off on a bad note with Skinny Delmon having a very catchable ball bounce out of his glove for a leadoff double. The next batter singled for runners at 1st and 3rd. Then the first out was recorded on a foul out. A sac fly followed to score a run. There was only 1 run scored in the inning to that point, but the third out proved to be very elusive. Baker gave up 2 more singles, 1 of which scored a run. Then Baker was pulled in favor of Burnett.

I have been very confused lately about the use of Burnett. It seems like he's used in almost any game in almost any situation. High leverage, middle relief, whatever. And no matter the situation, he's done very poorly, at least of late. I was all set to rant about Gardy using him so much, but then the Twins sent him to Rochester after the game. That's great and all, but if the Twins viewed him as on the bubble, why did he pitch in that situation. The game wasn't going well, but it wasn't out of hand by any means. We still had a chance, so why bring in the struggling Burnett? Mahay's been used sparingly, and Manship was warming up, why not use one of them earlier? Instead, Burnett came in and gave up 2 more singles to score 2 more runs. He didn't record an out, and Mahay was brought in. He gave up a single as well (making it 5 consecutive 2-out singles in the inning) before getting the final out. The Indians scored 5 runs in the inning, and they continued to massacre the pitching staff through the rest of the game. Manship was really the only pitcher to keep them in check; he pitched 2 scoreless innings with just 1 hit (he gets a gold star I guess).

While the pitching staff was pounded for 20 hits, the offense didn't fair to well either. Oh, sure, we got 12 hits, but we didn't have any clutch hits. We were 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position, and we blew plenty of chances to score. Every starter left at least 2 men on base (Joe Mauer topped everyone with 6 left on base). At least Jim Thome had a massive homer to right. It was a very painful game to watch. I mean, this is a great opportunity to gain some momentum while playing all these sub-.500 teams, but that only works if you actually defeat said teams. We still have a chance to win the series, but we're going to need to play a hell of a lot better than that. Anthony Slama was called up from Rochester to take Burnett's place. At least he already has the hideous facial hair; that should help.

Best Moment: Dick and Bert getting a ball fouled into their booth.

Most Questionable Moment: Bringing Burnett in to relieve Baker.

Worst Moment: The 5th inning and on.

Quotations of the Day:

• "The ballgame tonight, ugly." - Ron Gardenhire. I really think that's all that needs to be said.

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Joe Mauer (1 for 5, 1 strikeout, 1 GIDP, 6 left on base), Danny Valencia (0 for 4, 1 error, 4 left on base), Scott Baker (4.2 innings pitched, 10 hits, 3 walks, 6 earned runs, 1 loss), Alex Burnett (0.0 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 earned run), Jose Mijares (1.0 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 earned run), and Jon Rauch (1.0 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 earned runs)