[faithful2thecall]

I’m still convinced GM Terry Ryan is trying to get me fired, especially with 4 of the 7 players that are making more than $1 million dollars this season languishing in AAA, including the infamous C Jake Fox and RHP SP Ricky Nolasco, who has likely played his last game for the Twins as he’s out for the season with (insert injury) and we’re highly unlikely to pick up his team option for next season.

The key for me in the short term if I’m going to stay in the race is to get sorted out how I’m going to offset the loss of Oswaldo Arcia. The bench I have only has 1 infielder and 2 outfielders, though Eddie Rosario can play a couple of infield spots if absolutely necessary though he’s going to be starting in left field for me every day for the time being, though I may have him split time with Aaron Hicks to get Hicks’ bat in the lineup more often.


June 1, 2017

• Wade Davis (Chicago Cubs) is out 4-5 months with radial nerve compression.

Off Day


June 2, 2017

• Atlanta trades RHP SP Julio Teheran to Colorado for LHP SP Juan Hillman (2015 3rd round pick) and CF Max White.

Minnesota 9 at St. Louis 4 (10 innings)

WP: Lester Oliveros (3-0), LP: Kyle Lobstein (0-1)
HR: MN-Danny Santana (2), Joe Mauer (1), St. L-None

My pitcher gets to hit for the 1st time this season as we have our 1st road series in interleague play. Mike Papi hit a RBI triple in the 4th to open the scoring. Mauer lined a 1-out RBI single to center in the 6th to tie the game. Bold base running paid off in the 7th as on a 2-out single by Hector Gomez with Phil Hughes on deck, I sent Chris Herrmann home and he slid under the tag of Yadier Molina to give us a 2-1 lead. Jason Heyward ripped a 2-out RBI double in the 8th to tie the game. Papi followed with a RBI double to put the Cardinals in front, and Adam Ehrlich added a RBI double for insurance. I figured I’d blown the game by being inattentive to reliever Phil Coke’s pitch count in the 8th, but Santana bailed me out with a 1-out, 2-run blast 401 feet to center in the 9th to tie the game. Mauer’s led off the 10th taking a 1-2 fastball 405 feet to left-center to put us in front. We broke out the bats with 2 outs, adding 4 more runs to give Glen Perkins a comfortable margin in the bottom of the inning.


June 3, 2017

• Albert Almora (Chicago Cubs) suffered a setback in his recovery from an oblique strain that will keep him out another 1-2 weeks.

Minnesota 0 at St. Louis 6

WP: ?, LP: ?
HR: MN-None, St. L-None

Andre Rienzo didn’t take long to pitch himself into trouble, loading the bases with nobody out in the 2nd. Yadier Molina popped up in the infield, but Brian Schales hit a sacrifice fly to open the scoring, which Adam Wainwright followed with a 2-out, 2-run double. Eddie Rosario was injured (strained rib cage muscle, 2 weeks) running out a 1-out double in the 4th. We couldn’t get any clutch hits and couldn’t string hits together for big innings as Wainwright and 2 relievers strung together the shutout.


June 4, 2017

• 3B Travis Harrison was called up from AAA to take the spot of the injured Eddie Rosario.

Minnesota 3 at St. Louis. 2

WP: Chris Heston (5-2), LP: Tim Cooney (2-6), SV: Glen Perkins (15)
HR: MN-None, St. L–None

The pitching was so dominant in this game that the 1st baserunner of the game was when Anthony Gose drew a leadoff walk in the 4th, which Matt Carpenter followed up with a single to left for the game’s 1st hit. With 2 outs in the inning, Jonathan Villar ripped a 2-run double to open the scoring. Our 1st baserunner came on a 1-out double in the 5th by Alfredo Marte, who came around to score on a RBI ground out by Chris Herrmann. Joe Mauer tied the game in the 6th on a RBI single bounced between 3rd and short. With 2 outs in the inning, Marte put us in front by bouncing a RBI single through the same hole. Heston pitched himself out of a 2nd and 3rd with nobody out jam in the 7th with a soft grounder to 3rd and coaxing a double play after an intentional walk. My bullpen shut them down striking out 3 while giving up only 1 hit in the final 2 innings to secure the win.


June 5, 2017

• We’re 10th in the latest power rankings.

Off Day


June 6, 2017

Chicago White Sox 2 at Minnesota 5

WP: Jason Wheeler (5-1), LP: Wily Peralta (0-6), SV: Glen Perkins (16)
HR: CWS-Jose Abreu (18), MN-None

The White Sox opened the scoring in the 2nd on a double play. Peralta got himself into trouble in the bottom of the inning by walking the bases loaded with 1 out for Danny Santana, who ripped a sacrifice fly to the centerfield warning track to tie the game. Hector Gomez followed with a RBI single to give us the lead. Abreu tied the game with a 2-out solo homer in the 4th to extend his AL lead in round trippers. Joe Mauer extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a 2-out blooper to right for a RBI single in the bottom of the inning to put us back in front. We got a threat going in the 5th loading the bases as Santana extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single up the middle for Gomez with 1 out. Gomez struck out, but Byron Buxton picked him up with a 2-run single to make it 5-2. The bullpens took over from there, shutting down both offenses.


June 7, 2017

Chicago White Sox 8 at Minnesota 5 (10 innings)

WP: Junichi Tazawa (3-0), LP: Phil Coke (2-2), SV: Zach Putnam (1)
HR: CWS-Jose Abreu (19), MN-None

Offensive fireworks were expected to be on display with both starters having ERA’s north of 5.80 coming into the game. Kennys Vargas grounded a 2-out RBI single up the middle in the 1st to open the scoring. We loaded the bases with 1 out in the 2nd for Jorge Polanco, who drew a RBI walk to double the lead, but that was all we got as Byron Buxton struck out and Joe Mauer flew out to center to end the inning. Salvador Perez got the White Sox on the board in the 3rd with a 2-out RBI single, who was foolishly picked off 1st base by Chris Herrmann to end the inning with Abreu at the plate. Abreu hammered a 1-out, 2-run homer in the 6th however to give the White Sox the lead. A Trey Michalczewski RBI double 2 batters later provided some insurance. A sacrifice fly by Luis Mateo in the bottom of the inning brought us back within 3-4. We rallied in the 7th, loading the bases with 1 out for Aaron Hicks. Unfortunately we failed to score as Hicks struck out and Alfredo Marte popped up to end the threat. After Mauer struck out with a runner at 3rd and 1 out in the 9th, Vargas picked him up by lining a RBI single up the middle just past the glove of shortstop Tim Anderson to tie the game. 2 walks and an error loaded the bases for the White Sox in the 10th with nobody out and the heart of their order coming up. Perez grounded into a fielder’s choice 3rd to home for the 1st out, but Abreu grounded a 2-run single up the middle to put the White Sox back in front. A 2-run single by pinch-hitter Josh Richmond seemed to put the game away. However we loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the inning for Hector Gomez, who fouled out. All we mustered was a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Adam Walker.


June 8, 2017

• Kyle Seager (Seattle) is out 6 weeks with a fractured wrist.

Chicago White Sox 5 at Minnesota 6

WP: Joel Hanrahan (1-2), LP: Dan Jennings (3-1), SV: Glen Perkins (17)
HR: CWS-Tim Anderson (3), MN-Kennys Vargas (3)

Vargas crushed a fastball 425 feet for a leadoff homer in the 2nd to open the scoring. With 2 outs in the inning, Danny Santana laced a RBI double down the right field line to double the lead. A 63 minute rain delay in the 5th sent both teams scrambling to get their bullpens in action, which was a tough break for us as Phil Hughes was having a solid start. Santana added a 2-out, 2-run triple in the 6th to put the game away at 5-0. The White Sox finally got on the board in the 8th on a 1-out RBI single by Avisail Garcia. Hanrahan showed why I’d been reluctant to trust him as he got lit up in the inning, capped by a game-tying 2-out, 2-run homer by Anderson. We retook the lead in the bottom of the inning on a 1-out wild pitch that brought home Alfredo Marte from 3rd. Perkins restored order by retiring the White Sox in order in the 9th to secure the win.

• Sonny Gray (Oakland) threw a 1-hitter against Boston. Pablo Sandoval broke up the no-hit bid with a single with 2 outs in the 9th.


June 9, 2017

• 1st overall pick RF Ronald Washington was convinced by our offer and signed. Our scouts don’t think he’ll be quite as good as Byron Buxton, but he’s not far behind in a lot of areas with maybe a bit more pop in his bat with outstanding speed.

Houston 2 at Minnesota 8

WP: Andre Rienzo (4-2), LP: Dallas Keuchel (4-3)
HR: Hou-None, MN-Kennys Vargas (4)

It’s a big series for early June, as Houston are one of the teams directly behind us (2.5 GB but the 1st team out). I also made the unusual decision to bench Joe Mauer for a home game, as he’s had back-to-back hitless games with 2 strikeouts per game after a 15-game hitting streak. I called on Travis Harrison to DH while Kennys Vargas will play 1st base.

Houston didn’t take long to get something going, loading the bases with nobody out in the 1st against Andre Rienzo. Rienzo stunned everybody by coming back to strike out George Springer, Colin Moran, and Domingo Santana to escape the jam without giving up a run. Harrison rewarded me with a 2-out seeing-eye RBI single in the 2nd to open the scoring. The lead didn’t last long as Springer redeemed himself with a 2-out RBI double in the 3rd to tie the game. Harrison put us back in front with a 2-out RBI double pulled into the left field corner in the 4th. Again the lead didn’t last long, as Jon Singleton hit a sacrifice fly to center in the 5th to tie the game. We got aggressive after a leadoff single by Jorge Polanco in the bottom of the inning, as I called for a hit-and-run and Byron Buxton rewarded me by pulling a ball just inside the left field line for a RBI double to put us back in front 3-2. 2 batters later (and immediately following a double steal), Vargas pulled a 3-run homer into the left-centerfield seats to blow the game open. My bullpen was a little wild, but shut down the Astros without a hit over the final 3 innings.

• Brandon Morrow (Colorado) threw a 3-hitter against Philadephia.


June 10, 2017

Houston 4 at Minnesota 5 (12 innings)

WP: Nick Burdi (1-1), LP: Jordan Jankowski (1-2)
HR: Hou-Domingo Santana (2), Jon Singleton (9), MN-None

A pair of throwing errors allowed us to score the 1st run in the 1st. Before the inning was over we’d sent 10 men to the plate and scored 4 runs, leaving the bases loaded. Houston got on the board in the 3rd on a 2-out RBI triple by Singleton. Santana hammered a 0-2 fastball for a 1-out solo homer in the 4th to cut the lead to 4-2. Singleton continued his great day at the plate in the 5th by ripping a 2-out, 2-run homer to tie the game. Houston got the 1st 2 runners on in the 9th, but failed to score. Our offense was having a bad day after the 1st inning, with Joe Mauer’s 2-out single in the 10th being our 1st hit since 2 outs in the 4th. Finally we sent the home fans home happy after Mauer hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center in the 12th.


June 11, 2017

Houston 3 at Minnesota 4

WP: Nick Burdi (2-1), LP: Jordan Jankowski (1-3), SV: Glen Perkins (18)
HR: Hou-None, MN-None

Domingo Santana grounded a 2-out RBI double down the right field line in the 1st to open the scoring. Pitching controlled the game. We finally scored on a 1-out RBI single by Byron Buxton in the 5th. With 2 outs in the inning, Joe Mauer lined a RBI single to left to put us in front. Houston tied the game back up on a 1-out RBI double by A.J. Jimenez in the 7th. Jose Altuve followed it up with an infield single to put the Astros in front. We quickly responded as Jorge Polanco ripped a 1-out, 2-run double off the centerfield wall in the bottom of the inning to put us back in front. Nick Bardi came in to relieve Jason Wheeler and struck out all 5 batters he faced to get me to Perkins, who cleaned up on 2 strikeouts and a fly out in the 9th to complete the sweep.

• With the victory we passed Detroit for the 1st wild card spot going into a 3 game series in Detroit.


June 12, 2017

• Jacob deGrom (Colorado) is out 5 months with a torn rotator cuff.
• Francisco Lindor (Cleveland) is out 7-8 months with a ruptured achilles tendon.
• We’re 5th in the latest power rankings.

Minnesota 6 at Detroit 5

WP: Ryan Buchter (4-1), LP: Bruce Rondon (1-2), SV: Lester Oliveros (2)
HR: MN-None, Det-Francisco Martinez (5), James McCann (5)

Kennys Vargas opened the scoring with a 1-out, 2-run double in the 1st. I gave Adam Walker a start in right field to spell the struggling Alfredo Marte, and Walker rewarded me with a 2-out RBI single to bring Vargas around to score. Martinez responded with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning. McCann then tied it up in the 2nd on a 2-run homer. A sacrifice fly later in the inning by Harold Castro gave the Tigers the lead. Joe Mauer blooped a 1-out RBI single to center in the 4th to tie the game. Mauer then put us ahead in the 8th on a 2-out, 2-run triple down the right field line. With Glen Perkins exhausted I had to ask Oliveros to try to get a 4 out save. Oliveros gave up a run on a 2-out RBI single by Nick Castellanos in the 9th, but he held on to secure the win.
• Zach Greinke (Los Angeles Dodgers) threw a 5-hitter against Colorado.

June 13, 2017

• Arismendy Alcantara (Chicago Cubs) suffered a setback in his recovery from a fractured thumb that will keep him out another week.

Minnesota 1 at Detroit 6

WP: Buck Farmer (6-2), LP: Phil Hughes (4-3)
HR: MN-None, Det-Francisco Martinez (6)

We quickly got on the board in the 1st on a Kennys Vargas sacrifice fly. Martinez responded with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Jose Miguel Fernandez lined a 2-out RBI single to right in the 4th to put the Tigers in front. Tyler Collins provided some insurance with a 1-out RBI double in the 5th, which preceded a sacrifice fly from Miguel Cabrera to make it 1-4. Steven Moya was injured (back tightness, day-to-day 1 day) legging out a double following the sacrifice fly by Cabrera.


June 14, 2017

Minnesota 3 at Detroit 4

WP: Eric O’Flaherty (4-3), LP: Luke Bard (2-2)
HR: MN-None, Det-Destin Hood (4), Jose Miguel Fernandez (1)

Andre Rienzo pitched himself out of a 1st inning jam when he had runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out for Miguel Cabrera, but he coaxed a short fly out to right from Cabrera then got Steven Moya to ground into a double play to end the inning. We scored 1st in the 3rd inning on a Mat Latos throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Hector Gomez. Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco followed it up with sacrifice flies to center. Surprisingly pitching dominated this game, as neither starting pitcher had looked good on the season despite having good records. To err on the cautious side, I lifted Rienzo after 6 shutout innings surrendering only 3 hits, but 3 walks and a pitch count in the 90’s convinced me it was time to let my bullpen try to close it out. Hood greeted Lester Oliveros with a leadoff homer in the 7th to get the Tigers on the board. Pinch-hitter Anthony Aliotti grounded a RBI single up the middle later in the inning to pull Detroit within 1. Harold Castro then lined a RBI single to center to tie the game, though a tail runner was thrown out at the plate for the 2nd out. My bullpen then completed the choke job when Bard gave up a 2-out walk-off homer in the 9th to Fernandez.

• Edinson Volquez (New York Mets) threw a 5-hitter against Pittsburgh.


June 15, 2017

• Baltimore trades RF Brenden Webb to Philadelphia in exchange for LF Darin Ruf.
• Tampa Bay sends 3B Taylor Motter and 2B Bill Pujols to Milwaukee for 1B Jorge Cantu and $3 million.

Off Day

• Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox) hit for the cycle in a 13-7 loss to Oakland.


34-25, .576, 2 GB (3rd AL Central), 3.5 GA (2nd Wild Card)

We came back down to earth a bit in Detroit after being white hot the past month and a half. There are signs for concern as the bullpen is getting hit a bit harder and the offense is cooling off, even though the starting pitching continues to improve. An 8-4 start to June is nothing to shake your fist at though.

I’m beginning to think I may be battling a bug too, as I’m showing that we have -$15.84 million available for extensions and free agent signings. Nobody else is more than -$1.3 million and 27 of the other 29 teams are in the black.