Yeah, when it was 3-1 I had a feeling it was over. As much as I root for the Sox and generally want the Twins to lose, I usually get a feeling that the Twins can come back from such a deficit. Like its in their nature to get two singles, a double, then another single to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead, then hold it.

But I never had that feeling tonight. It's unusual. Ronnie G needs to have a team meeting of some sort, remind the Twins of how winning ball is played. Starts with De, ends in ence. The F is missing, because Gardy would be too busy using it in a word he'd be shouting at Cuddles.

I want the Twins to do better, actually, so they can win the wild card. I'm confident the Sox have the division, so I feel pretty safe to actively hope to see the Twins finish the year winning at a .550-.575 clip. So get to work.

-Pander
The Magnanimous White Sox Fan

I am really starting to look forward to the all-star break.. *SIGH*

Last year, that turned out to be a really good time for us. *prays*

RD - That pretty much sums it up. I too am not giving up the ship, but dammit, sometimes they make it too easy.

Pander - I had the same feeling you did, and I was so hoping it would be one of the times I'd be wrong about it. Hats off to the usage of De_ense. Nicely played.

Oh, the humanity.

Well, that was ugly. The lowlights need not even be discussed. To sum up, ass-bats, one bad fielding play after another, and craptacular pitching, especially from Mays.

It's a good thing there were some highlights for me tonight, or I'd be in a REALLY bad mood. As it is, I'm not in too bad a mood. Boo rocked tonight; I hope he can keep pitching like that when the game is actually close. I also caught a t-shirt that TC shot up into 214. Yay!

The real highlight was at the end of the sixth, when aurora came and told me there was room to sit by her and kafumbly in their super-sweet section. I don't remember which section it was, but it was basically right behind home plate, and we were in the second row. It was about 80 billion times better than any seat I've ever had. Even though the game wasn't even close to being close, we had a good time cheering loudly for our boys in the last few innings. Heck, we even got Jacque not to ground out 4-3. Now that's progress.

Thanks so much to TC, kafumbly, and aurora for really enhancing my evening! The best part was that it was all free, as I got a free GA ticket last night from a random woman who has season tickets but couldn't be there tonight. And even though the game wasn't close, I figure sitting in the Dome for three hours was better than sitting in my 85-degree apartment all night.

I could be wrong, but I think that you are giving the empty-headed bimbo too much credit. Obviously she didnt even know what team she was supposed to be cheering for; since it was Torii Hunter, a Twin, that hit the foul line drive. I think it was the bottom of the fourth, anyway.

*sigh* I just got home from the game.

and I do have a few positives!

1. the top of the first, sixth, eighth, and ninth. those were pretty.
2. Crawdaddy working a walk? nice.
3. Big Luis 2-for-4! very cool.

otherwise, I had an amazing view of the sucking, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. aurora and I were looking straight down the third base line from four rows back of the field, and Nick was able to join us in the 6th. so at least we had each other's company to distract us from... y'know.

and not only did some damn moron throw back a foul ball, but he almost hit GTX with it. and there were FOUR beach balls going at once between the upper and lower decks in the outfield, and one of them made its way to the field. I cannot express how absolutely jackass stupid and rude that is. get a freakin' life, people.

anyway. Jesse Crain, as usual, was HOT. heh... and I saw him without his hat, and the boy is gettin' a little thin up top. *giggle* maybe he should have a chat with Pierre Marc Bouchard about coping with early hair loss.

It seems the ass-bats were out for all the Twins tonight. Not even the rookie league team could keep it together, going 9-4 against the Orioles.

There is no excuse. No excuse whatsoever.

We need BG to bring her sass back.

"If a man has nothing on (his pitches), is it best to leave him out there for all the world to see his nekkidness?"

Dear RD,

That is truly brilliant.
Thank you for trying to keep down the mutiny.

To all,
This once-sailor gives you words of advice from a great Captain: "Don't give up the ship."
It's not what BG is all about.

Donnalove

Repeat after me:

This... never... happened.

This...never...happened.

Got it.

And my pics from the game suck. meh. bitter. Don't wanna talk about the game either. Although poohbear beat a ball to base!

Just got back from the game. Ouch. That's all I have to say.

Oh, BTW I think I can kinda-sorta explain the foul ball incident. When Omar Infante his his homer into the stands, the fans were yelling to the guy who caught it, "Throw it back!" I don't know if they thought they could keep it from counting or what, but whoever caught the foul ball must have decided to see what he could do to pacify them.

BATGIRL PLEASE COME HOME!!!!!

I don't know kafumbly, I found myself saying at the game, "You know things are bad when Luis Rivas is your best hitter of the day." Not much consolation.

I'm a recent transplant and Twins fan. But, RD, I think things got bad before the fan threw the ball back. Try when the numerous outfield beach balls drew more of a crowd reaction than the Twins bats. I think the left side of the infield was fielding beach balls. (But thanks for the props to the 84 "Bless You Boys" Tigers, even though I'm sure that wasn't Jack Morris and Dan Petry on the mound for Detroit.)

Anyone think of leaving some clubhouse chairs around for some Twins to do their best Koskie impression, duplicating last year's turnaround moment?

"The problem I have...is HOW does this happen every year? Wouldn't by now we'd have learned what's causing it?"

This was posted on the game thread, and I needed to say something about it. (And I'm sorry this post is so long.)

This quote is like asking how Christmas happens every year. The Sucking Time comes. But not because the Twins are cursed and our pitchers all suck and need to be traded and our hitters all suck and need to be traded, too, and DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON OUR HITTING COACH.

No. It's not because of that.

It's because this is baseball. There is winning. There is losing. There is playing so well you think you'll never lose another game. And there is sucking so much you're thinking about just forfeiting the upcoming series against Tampa Bay because you can't bear to watch.

This is baseball. This is how it goes. That's what's great about it. No team will win 162 games. No team will lose 162 games.

We laughed and pointed fingers at Steinbrenner when the Yanks were in there own personal Extra Sucking Time and he freaked out and threw things cried like a little bitty baby. Could we please try not to do the same?

Thanks and stuff.
SaraZ

I hate beach balls!

"And what do lightsabers do, Lew?" asked Rad.

Without hesitation or thought, Lew said with the conviction of a Jedi, "They kick ass."

"So boys, let's go to the light. Leave these frickin' National League candyasses and head on out. You with me?"

Come on boys, just go to the light! Leave the sucking time behind and kick some tigger ass tonight!

Sigh. Well, RD, that was exactly what needed to be said. Sadly.

And kafumbly-- yeah, that was pretty much my take on the game, too. At least I had the fun of explaining the rules of the game to a baseball neophyte from Israel.

I had the feeling it was all over at 3-1, so I decided to go outside and enjoy a beautiful evening. I figure the Twins are in the sucking time right now because they want me to go outside and not feel guilty. I've spent many evenings outside now so you can stop playing horribly boys.

The Twins must feel like I did when I was 8 years old, after I tried to flush the cat down the toilet (sorry cat lovers. I was only 8, and I was a little snot). My mother simply said "Just wait until your father gets home".

The Twins must be sitting in their clubhouse, scared, waiting for Batgirl to get home from work. I do not envy them.

Chin up, guys! This whole "losing" thing is just to show the Bitches how it is done. They try to copy everything else we do, so we're showing them how to lose. Once they figure out that losing sucks, we'll have snapped back and the division will be ours!

At least that's what I tell myself so I can sleep at night.

Well said, SaraZ.

I agree about the need for Batgirl. I'm quite certain that she will right the ship upon her return! Although I'm sure her mission was praiseworthy and needed, I will respectfully request that she not leave the rest of the season. I don't know that we can handle another period of play as we're seeing in her absence right now.

Please stay, BG!!

I guess Cuddyer is not the boyfriend of the day...

After much stewing, it hit me that if I heard a player say, "We're conceding the division" or "This season's over", I'd be pretty ticked off. I don't want the players thinking that way, so I'm not thinking that way anymore. "It ain't over till it's over".

Also, I read the USA Today Sports Weekly article about Torii Hunter's father. Now I feel really bad about getting mad at Hunter for grounding into so many double plays.

thanks for the recap RD ...
3 and 9 over the last 12 - peee-yooo.

It's gotten so bad the Strib has to run a story about TC Bear since there are no feel good stories about any of the players.

How about a nice Thursday afternoon game in the A/C comfort of the dome to start turning things around.

Attyfan,
Do you (or does anyone) have the link for the USA Today article about Torii?
I went to the game last night. I am so glad I only had to spend $3 for my ticket last night. I can't wait until the Twins start trying again. Maybe today will be the day...

Here's the link to the article about Torii and his dad...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/2005-06-16-hunter-exclusive_x.htm

Hey you guys... whenever you are in a sucking time, you must cling to whatever small things can amuse you and keep your good humor going until the winning time begins again.

Click my name for a good laugh.

Warning: This post is rated PG-13 for gratuitous use of the word "ass."

ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS.

Ok, I feel sort of better. *twitch* ASS!

Note that the ASS yelling is not directed in anyone's general direction, it just gets out the frustration a bit. Maybe the Twins should try yelling ASS a whole bunch of times in a row, too. All together, in the direction of the South side of Chicago. You know, in case they're just holding it in- people say you should get stuff like that out of your system. What if it got all the ASS out of their bats, and gloves, and arms, and baserunning? Hey, anything's worth a shot. Despite the frustration, however, I still believe that these Twins have the talent to turn it around, and that the recent struggles do not have to characterize our season, which in turn does not have to be a "four-star flop" thankyouveryASSmuch Patrick Reusse.
>:O <(ASS)
...
:)

Babs,

Wow...Gary looks like he's deeply in love.

That USAToday article was nuts. Maybe I take the Twins too seriously at time - that story made me cry.

OK, Jeter and Shef have been looking at "Yankees Hottest Chick" way too long.

Yeah, that USAToday article made me cry, too. I... can't think of any other response.

I had to stop reading it. My heart goes out to Torii and his family.

Do World Champion calibur teams ever have a sucking time?

We should not expect a sucking time.

Abandon ship? I fear I'm unfamiliar with that phrase. 'Tis impossible for someone who loves something so much to abandon them in their time of need.

But, RD, it was a great post. This is said as someone who missed the game, and just heard the re-plays from friends and family late last night and this morning.

SaraZ-Thank you for writing that. You summed up feelings very well.

And the article about Torii made me cry, too.