Lucidia

Well that was a painful series to listen to (didn’t watch much of it). Three Twins losses to the LAAA (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)boys; 11-5, 11-6, 13-4. Yikes!

Let’s hope they rest up tomorrow and then do better against the Cleveland Indians.

Not sure what to say about the Cabrera trade . . . he’s never impressed me much . . . . If only Nick Punto could make his bat match his defense, the Twins wouldn’t need to make moves like this. Interesting how in the past couple of weeks the guys at the bottom of the lineup have been making things happen. Still, I understand the need for more power from the center infielders . . . If anyone gets demoted, I hope it’s Casillla . . . Nothing about that guy has impressed me at all.

Two wild games today.
The Cubs beat the Phillies 10-5, but they could have easily lost that game. At least twice the pitchers loaded the bases and narrowly escaped allowing several runs to score. But a win is a win, and a win against the Phillies is worth more than the multiple wins against the Nationals. So, good job Cubbies.
Quite the meltdown by the Twins, losing 1-16 in Oakland. I’m worried about Perkins, who hasn’t seemed to be himself since he suffered a high fever just before the White Sox series. I hope the medical team is checking to make sure he really is better and not suffering some long term problem from that fever. But Perkins was only in the game for one inning (plus 2 batters), so obviously the rest of the team needs to take some responsibility for the loss. I’m just thankful that by the time I checked in with the Twins game, the tragedy was almost over.

All of us can use the time off between now and Friday’s games . . . let’s hope that everyone brings their A-game on Friday.

Twins big lead, big homers not enough | twinsbaseball.com: News.

West Coast games always kill me.  Sometimes I try to watch or listen as I’m falling asleep, but last night I was totally exhausted and turned off the game when the Twins were up 12-2.  Morneau, Cuddy, and Kubel  had all gotten homers.  Things seemed to be well in hand.

So imagine my surprise when I woke this morning to the news that the Twins had LOST the game . . . ee-gadhs!

Apparently there was a bad call at the plate near the end, but one bad call does not account for giving up a TEN-RUN-LEAD!!

and Mauer’s slump continues (last night he got a rest, coming in to PH in the eighth and getting a hit) . . . started during the series against the White Sox during which he kept swinging at the first pitch and in the final game STRUCK OUT FOUR TIMES!  Come back to us old Joe . . .

Tough day for Bradley, Cubs in loss to Twins | cubs.com: News.

This weekend my two favorite teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins, play three games of interleague baseball. The first game went, deservedly, to the Twins, who played good, clean, fundamental baseball. Kevin Slowey was impressive on the mound for the Twins, with 10 strikeouts in six innings. Mauer and Kubel hit homers and the rest of the Twins played like the professionals they are.

Then there was Milton Bradley (currently hitting .224 , when he’s not on the DL . . . so much for the big bucks we spent on him). The article linked above says it all: “There are bloopers, and then there was Milton Bradley’s day. . . . Bradley hit a two-run double in the sixth, but also made a baserunning gaffe that inning, lost a ball in the sun in the seventh and was charged with an error in the eighth when he caught a ball for the second out and threw it to a fan in the bleachers. Someone got a souvenir, and the Minnesota Twins handed the Cubs a 7-4 Interleague loss.”

There are just no excuses for anyone making that much money to play the way he (and several other Cubs) have been playing. In one of the long games in Houston recently, Soriano seemed to just lose interest in the later innings. These guys make more in one day than I’ve ever made in an entire year. The least they can do is pay attention for the three hours (or even a bit more) that it takes to play a baseball game.

The Twins organization doesn’t put up with that kind of “lolly-gagging around” the infield and outfield and basepaths . . . and it shows. Though to be fair to my beloved Cubbies, it must be difficult to come to work everyday and have to face Lou, who doesn’t seem to spread much joy or inspiration in the dugout . . .

Two more day games in this series. (The way God meant for baseball to be played.)

Wow! That snuck up on me. Didn’t even realize the first game was today. But the Cubbies won. Hoffpauir impressed everyone with a Grand Slam. Though it came to him as a designated hitter, even though they were playing the Dodgers. Slippery slope in my opinion. But at least they won. So it begins.

On the Twins front bad news about Boof Bonser–out for the season with shoulder surgery . . . but the team beat the Red Sox . . . Yeah!

Of course none of this means anything, but it’s always good to start off on a positive note.

Now just remember to PACE YOURSELVES BOYS!