On the Road Again
Twinkies make their way East for a 3 game set against the Bombers then on to Cleveland for a three game series before heading home for 4 crucial games against the Pale Hoes (only 7 games left with them, all at the Dome.) Should get fun from here on out. 36 of their remaining 64 games are on the road (around 56%) with a couple doozies in there including a 14 game road swing out West (4 games against the Angels to start, then 3 at Seattle and 4 at Oakland) with 3 against Toronto tacked on at the end for some reason (apparently the Repbulican National Convention has something to do with it, not sure that Minneapolis hotels fill up that quickly when the Twins play but whatever.)
Some thoughts to ponder (so many questions, so little time):
1. Can we keep the momentum up with so much time on the road?
2. Do the Twins make a move? I say "no way"; the only thing I could see them doing is calling up Liriano in mid-August. BG threw out the possibility of a 6 man rotation and considering that 4 of the 5 starters are going deep into ballgames and throwing a ton of innings that they have never done before that might give them a break but it would be wacky.
3. I feel like Mike Lamb plays some important role for us at some point (some weird pinch hit situation where he comes through) I mean his beard is just too powerful now.
4. I called Nick Punto's demise too quickly. Can he keep it up in the second half?
5. When does Gomez go to either the nine-hole or down to the minors?
6. Do we see Cuddy again in 2008?
7. Can we continue to dominate AL Central opponents? (7 games left with the Hoes, 9 with the Indians, 9 with the Royals, and only 3 left with Rock City.)
6. Where does this squad finish? Call your shot.
8 Comments:
I just can't stand this anymore. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS TEAM'S MAJOR MALFUNCTION IN YANKEE STADIUM?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! They're well on their way to losing their 17th game out of 20 in New York right now. !!!!!!!!!!!! It's entirely too predictible that this road trip will turn out poorly, because there's a 50/50 chance we start it out getting swept by the Yankees.
July 21, 2008 at 7:26 PM
MCA - You took the words right out of my mouth. It is 10 - 3 in the bottom of the 6th and a friend of this blog, Brett Shogren, is at the game and he sent me a text that was simply "Fuck." That was it, just "Fuck." Say it out loud "Fuck." Pretty much sums up the start of this road swing. "Fuck."
July 21, 2008 at 8:34 PM
MLB Extra Innings (I think that is what is called, the subscription service for all the games) is running a free trial, so I was able to watch part of the massacre. The game was televised with the Yankee annoucers, Al Lieter and some guy who sounded like Danny Bonaduce. It was brutal. My favorite moment had to be when they patted the Yankee organization for going out and getting free agents to stay competitive. Yeah, that is real tough when you have more money than everyone else.
On the Twins note, I know I am late to the party on this, but seriously when is Gomez going to be moved to the 9 spot and Span to the 1? WHen Span hit the 2 out Triple, it was so clear that there was no way Gomez was going to get him home. Carlos Gomez should write a book "A Tale of Two Seasons." His begining of the season success is so far back in the rear view mirror now. His OBP is now below .300 and he stealing the bases like was.
July 22, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Sorry for the real choppy post. I should not post around the open of the market.
July 22, 2008 at 9:36 AM
...also not too happy about losing to Ponson...not to make everyone feel worse.
well at least the bullpen should be fresh given that Blackburn went deep (1 2/3 innings) into the game... there's the silver lining
July 22, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I just assume "sweep" every time we play in NY. Okay...to answer Jan's questions:
1) The all-star break came at a horrible time for us, as it has threatened to totally kill our momentum. We did take 2-of-3 from Texas, but that was predictable, after all the love their players got during the all-star break festivities.
2) The only move we would consider is trading Livan for a bat. There is no way B. Smith fu**s with the heads of our new guys by demoting someone...we're building for '09 & '10. I don't think there is any scenario where we win the title this year, so I would hate to mortgage the future. It's kind of a shame to be close and not try to get over the hump, though. We just need to be smart. This team could be awesome for the next 5 years.
3) Lamb? I forgot he was on the team. Buscher has been so clutch that I don't think we can sit him. Lamb would have to pull a Kirk Gibson or something...
4) Punto is now banged up, right? Figures, since was playing really well. I have to admit that his defense is unbelievable. Apparently he's the best raw athlete on the team.
5) Go go needs to drop to #9. I don't see how that crushes his confidence...getting sent to AAA would.
6) Is it me, or do you kind of like NOT having Cuddy? Again, would be a nice problem to have with him back, but it sounds like he hasn't made any progress. HE may get shut-down for the year.
7) Prediction: we finish 3 games out, behind the Tigers AND White Sox, who both make the playoffs. See ya Rays and Yankees.
July 22, 2008 at 3:19 PM
1. No
2. See bg's answer
3. See bg's answer
4. No
5. As soon as it's too late to make a difference
6. See bg's answer
7. I guess so. It's our only hope, because this team stinks against both coasts. Every team in the East totally has our number.
8. The Sox are on the verge of imploding. I've been thinking 2nd behind the Tigers for a few weeks now. They'll go .600 the rest of the season. East gets the Wild Card. Again.
jan - is Shogren eligible for F.o.B. status? I guess I don't want to be exclusionary based on political preference, but, you know, dude worked for Tom Delay! I guess I do find it reassuring that you, archliberal, maintain a friendship with him. Can we set out parameters for handing out the coveted honorarium of "friend" of this prominent blog? Who else is currently on the roster? I nominate Shane Mack, despite the knowledge he's never heard of us and would have no interest in the title. Always seemed like a solid guy to have on the blogroll.
July 22, 2008 at 5:49 PM
MCA - You're right, we need to establish credentials for F.o.B status. I put Shogren on there for his affinity for Minnesota sports, his little league experience up in Crooklyn Center (where his path crossed with LH's), and his anger level when home town teams lose (see: "Fuck" text from Yankees game the other night.) However, you are right, his political affiliations should not be overlooked. Anyone who relished the opportunity to twist the American democractic process a couple years ago in forcing the "Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act" through Congress while working for Delay should remain suspect. (I put a link on the front page of the blog for some background.) As former US Comptroller General David M. Walker has called the legislation "...probably the most fiscally irresponsible piece of legislation since the 1960s... because we promise way more than we can afford to keep."
However, Shogren is dipped in Vikings Purple and Gold and is a man who is there when you need him most (like after the Vikes lost to the Cardinals on the final day of the season a few years ago to miss the playoffs.)
July 23, 2008 at 9:22 AM
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