k-bro’s blog

 

Twins 9 - Royals 8 (10) [seriously? cool!]

Well that was unexpected. And cool. And … wow! Nice work, Mr. Monroe and Mr. Morneau.

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I have to admit that I didn’t see very much of the game. I got home when the score was 6 - 2. I hung around until the score was 8 - 3, then sighed and thought “oh well, can’t win ‘em all”, and turned to a rerun of CSI: NY to kill time until the news came on. (I know, I know, I need to work on my loyalty and optimism skills, but I was tired.) Anyhoo, I flipped back during a commercial break, and the score was tied. (What??? How did that happen?) Fortunately, I’m dorky enough to record every game with my DVR (I **heart** my DVR), so I simply rewound it and saw everything.

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Just wondering: is “rewound” the correct verb to use while talking about a DVR? There’s no tape, so no actual “winding” is occurring. Hmm.

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Monroe’s homerun reminded me of something my kids would pretend in the back yard:
It’s the ninth inning, two on, two out, full count. And here’s the pitch - it is high, it is deep, it is GONE!
However, they’re usually pretending to win the World Series with an at-bat like that.

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The best part of Monroe’s homerun: Dick’s reaction. He was so happy and excited and thrilled and gleeful; it was like he was a big kid. It was so fun to listen to him.

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And finally, the “Does He Get a Royalty Check for That?” moment of the day: Proof positive that when first-basemen and base runners talk, they don’t really say anything: Yesterday, my son was playing first, and I noticed he talked to everyone who reached. Later, I asked him what he was saying, and he said that he was singing the FreeCreditReport.com jingle. Why? Just to bug them.

 

Twins 4 - Royals 3 (12) [We won, so why does it hurt so much?]

Thank you Cuddy for salvaging the game and leading us away from despair.

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Poor Nick Blackburn. I’ve accused him of being a gloomy guy because he never really smiles. But with the kind of luck he has, it’s easy to understand why. After all, what does he have to do? He pitches a gem - almost a complete game shutout - and he watches it being ripped away on Nathan’s very first pitch. I wanted to cry when they showed Nick in the dugout after the Royals tied it up. He just looked so sad.

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I rarely question Gardy’s decisions. I’d be a horrible manager and I know it, so I don’t bother. But this time, I’m convinced that if he had let Nick stay in for one more batter, things would have been much, much better. He was getting ground balls all night, and I’m sure he would have induced the double play ball he needed. In fact, I was screaming that to the TV as Gardy walked out to the mound. I’m willing to bet that I wasn’t the only one.

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Dear Bert, Please, please, please don’t ever talk about your personal hygiene again. I mean, seriously, chewing your toenails? Eeeewwww. I could’ve gone all day without thinking about that.

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And finally, the “This is What Happens When You Get Dressed in the Dark” moment of the game: Did anyone else notice that Jimmy “Gobble” Gobble had his undershirt on backwards? I didn’t see it until the camera showed him from behind, but the “Royals” embroidery on the neck was in the back and the MLB logo that belongs on the back was in the front. Maybe it’s a good luck thing. Or maybe he needed to get dressed in a hurry.

Twins 7 - The Team That Calls Itself World Champions 3
Twins take series 3-1

So, most of us had a choice last night. What did you decide? The ESPN yahoos or our lovable Dick-n-Bert? Me? I chose Dick-n-Bert. I guess I just like familiarity. And I think I made a good choice. Did ESPN show shots of Boof unraveling a baseball? I doubt it. But our guys stuck with the story until conclusion and Boof got to the core of the matter.

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Up until the seventh, Boof’s unwrapping adventure was the most adorable moment of the game. Then Cuddy did his little juggling magic trick pulling a baseball out of his hat. That play will probably be the most adorable moment of the whole season. And Dick laughing about it was almost as adorable.

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In fact, the whole game was pretty much adorable. Coming from behind is adorable. Stringing hits together for runs is adorable. And even though giving up three runs in the first isn’t so much adorable, settling down and not allowing any more might be. However, catching a screaming liner and stinging your hand is adorable. And, in a weird way, watching the opposing pitcher throw a temper tantrum is adorable. In fact, in honor of all the adorableness, I’ll post this adorable picture.

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It seems that Livan likes the pixie vests - he’s two for two at home with them. I guess if he keeps getting these results, I’ll get used to them.

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A non-adorable moment was when Delmon rolled his ankle running the basepaths. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like it’s too serious. I hope he’ll be fine.

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And finally, the “even though it happened to a division rival, it’s still really cool” moment of the day: Last night, Asdrubal Cabrera of the Cleveland Indians completed an unassisted triple play. It’s like only the 14th in major league history. Pretty groovy.

 

Twins 11 - Tigers 1

Ok, I have to admit that during the pre-game, I was really worried about this game. They were talking about how the Tigers have been playing well lately (notice that I didn’t say “as of late” - that’s another topic all together*), ever since the last time they played the Twins. And Livan was pitching, and we all know what happened last time he did that. To top it off, they were wearing the ridiculous pixie vests. In my mind, all this added up to a feeling of dread. Luckily, my instincts were way off. And if it turns out that the pixie vests were the good luck charms, well I guess I’m willing to give them another chance. It’ll be interesting to see if Livan is superstitious.

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My Dearest Go-Go,
Please be ok.
Love, k-bro

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Speaking of Go-Go’s injury, I was really impressed that Pudge marched out there to make sure he was ok. It even looked like the umpire tried to stop him, but he would have none of that.

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My favorite thing about the game: Livan’s 61 mph curveball falling in for a strike.

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Sad news about Gardy’s brother. It reminds me that I need to remember what’s important in my life. Extra hugs and kisses for my family this weekend.

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And finally, the “Ain’t No Way You Can Get Me To Say That Word On Air Again” moment of the game: Dick-N-Bert were talking about Miguel Cabrera’s reaction to the aforementioned 61 mph curveball. Apparently he didn’t like it and told Livan so. Dick said something about not knowing how to read lips and not knowing Spanish, but pretty sure he still knew what he said. And then Bert said, “I’m not gonna say it, you say it.” Heh heh.

*Why do sportscasters feel the need to say “as of late” when they mean “lately”? No one else says “as of late” (“Hey Jim, what’ve you been up to as of late?” “Well Bob, not much, but as of late Joyce has been nagging me to take her on a cruise.”). What’s wrong with “lately”? It’s a perfectly nice word, and not a snooty.

 

Friday: Twins 0 - Cleveland 4

Saturday: Twins 3 - Cleveland 0

Sunday: Twins 2 - Cleveland 1

My thoughts on Friday’s game: Pew. I don’t even want to remember it.

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My thoughts on Saturday’s game: Well, I didn’t see it. It sounded like it was a lot of fun. It actually sounded like my kind of game - great pitching and great defense. Turning four double plays is hot. I was busy enjoying a high school production of “Beauty and the Beast”.

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My thoughts on today’s game: Groovy. In fact, I’m so happy, I’m breaking out my bullet-points.

• Scotty pitched very nicely. I think he’s going to be the strikeout leader of the team.
• Hey! A Twin not named Justin Morneau or Jason Kubel finally hit a homerun! Congrats on your first Twins homer Brendan Harris. An opposite field one, too.
• Go-Go’s catch was muy caliente.

  

• They showed the new commercial with the pitchers singing. It was flippin’ hilarious. Those commercials get better every time. It’s funny that Joe Nathan, who said that the pitchers were the worst singing act ever, happened to be the very worst of them all. All the guys looked like they had a great time; Boof was especially goofy (ha ha, get it, Goofy Boof). I just checked the Twins website to see if was there, but it wasn’t yet. I imagine it’ll be there in the next day or two.
• They have “All you can eat night“?!? Sweet! I could bring my sons and make those dome vendors rue that idea. Trust me, my boys can really put it away when dared to. I’ll have to check our schedule.
• Do you think that Justin Morneau walked up to the plate in the bottom of the 10^th signing “Here I come to save the day” ala Dudley Do-right like they say in the radio commercial? Nice work, Justin.

  

And finally, the “Gotta Love Dick-n-Bert” moment of the game (double):
1) In the bottom of the 10^th, with Jason Kubel at the plate:
Dick: [something like] “They don’t want to walk Kubel here.”
Bert: “Sure they do. Then they know where he’s at.”

2) Again in the bottom of the 10^th, with Justin Morneau at the plate, Dick was going on and on, carrying on both sides of a conversation over whether Jason Kubel should take second “his run doesn’t matter, but it might take the bat out of Morneau’s hand, but if they get to two strikes, they might have to think about it….” Turned out it didn’t matter.