OOTP 16 -- This is Twins Territory!

[lukestephens2293]

Originally Posted by Brananorama

September 28th - October 4th
9/28/15 - Minnesota Twins (62-93) at Cleveland Indians (91-64)
Alex Meyer (2-6, 13.50) vs. Corey Kluber (13-10, 3.21) - Minnesota 1, Cleveland 6
WP: Corey Kluber (14-10, 3.16) / LP: Alex Meyer (2-7, 13.12) / SV: Scott Atchison (3, 3.31)
9/29/15 - Minnesota Twins (62-94) at Cleveland Indians (92-64)
Ervin Santana (4-6, 4.95) vs. Trevor Bauer (11-10, 3.69) - Minnesota 6, Cleveland 8
WP: Trevor Bauer (12-10, 3.57) / LP: Ervin Santana (4-7, 5.49) / SV: Cody Allen (39, 1.97)
9/30/15 - Minnesota Twins (62-95) at Cleveland Indians (93-64)
Jose Berrios (5-5, 5.37) vs. Carlos Carrasco (17-11, 4.03) - Minnesota 4, Cleveland 3
WP: Jose Berrios (6-5, 5.24) / LP: Carlos Carrasco (17-12, 4.06) / SV: Glen Perkins (10, 3.15)
10/1/15 - Minnesota Twins (63-95) at Cleveland Indians (93-65)
Trevor May (10-13, 4.79) vs. Danny Salazar (8-12, 4.35) - Minnesota 3, Cleveland 6
WP: Nick Hagadone (8-1, 2.33) / LP: Aaron Thompson (1-2, 4.55) / SV: Cody Allen (40, 1.94)
10/2/15 - Kansas City Royals (85-74) at Minnesota Twins (63-96)
Robbie Ross, Jr. (3-6, 6.8 vs. Brandon Finnegan (5-2, 4.48) - Kansas City 9, Minnesota 4
WP: Jason Vargas (10-6, 3.60) / LP: Robbie Ross, Jr. (3-7, 6.68) / SV: Wade Davis (4, 1.10)
10/3/15 - Kansas City Royals (86-74) at Minnesota Twins (63-97)
Kris Medlen (6-5, 4.29) vs. Alex Meyer (2-7, 13.12) - Kansas City 4, Minnesota 3 - F/11
WP: Edinson Volquez (13-7, 4.54) / LP: Hunter Strickland (2-2, 4.63) / SV: Greg Holland (37, 2.70)
10/4/15 - Kansas City Royals (87-74) at Minnesota Twins (63-98)
Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3.95) vs. Ervin Santana (4-7, 5.49) - Kansas City 3, Minnesota 1
WP: Yordano Ventura (15-10, 3.88) / LP: Ervin Santana (4-8, 5.49) / SV: Greg Holland (38, 2.66)

Game One: Not only did Kennys Vargas extend his hitting streak to 17 games in the fourth, he did it by knocking out home run number 29 on the season, and raised his RBI total to 108. That was all the offense today for Minny.
Game Two: One stolen base shy of tying the franchise’s single-season record, Jordan Schafer left the ballgame. Is he out for the rest of the year, as well? The way our luck’s been going with six different players on the disabled list and one in rehab, probably. Oswaldo Arcia hit his 28th homer in the loss.
Game Three: In a well-played game, the Twins took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, handed the ball to Glen Perkins, and left with a win -- giving Perk his first save since July and ensuring that the Twins aren’t losing 100 games this season.
Game Four: Oswaldo Arcia has slugged his way to 29 homers, tying Li’l Papi for the team lead. Can they both homer this weekend to get to a combined 60 homers? Despite Arcia’s power, the Tribe displayed more, knocking four homers to score five of their six runs all on the long ball.
Game One: In the first game of the final series of 2015, Torii Hunter was greeted with cheers and applause as he jogged out -- to play center field. Torii homered in the fifth to put the Twins up 1-0. Kennys Vargas finally hit #30 with a three-run shot later in the inning! Unfortunately, Robbie Ross, Jr. would allow the Royals to tie it, and was charged for the run when they took a 5-4 lead. Understandably, the Royals are playing for their lives, trying to hold onto the Wild Card.
Game Two: This extra-innings loss included a four-hit game for Trevor Plouffe, who got his 20th homer!
Game Three: And here we are, already playing the final game of our first season as GM of the Twins. Kennys Vargas ended his season having hit in 23 consecutive games. Torii Hunter recorded a single in his last hit as a Minnesota Twin, and a double-play hit into by Kurt Suzuki closed the book on the 2015 season.

Twinjuries:

• LF JORDAN SCHAFER to 15-day DL (strained abdominal; 3 weeks.) One steal shy of the team record.
• RF OSWALDO ARCIA to 15-day DL (knee contusion; 2 weeks.) Eight men on the DL.

Twins Transactions:

• RF TORII HUNTER (rehab) to active roster.. Torii will come home to play with us against Kansas City -- after all, in a season in which he had more injuries than I can count, he may not play in 2016. I want him to have a nice homecoming in what could be his final days.

MLB Transactions:

• CF DENARD SPAN (WSH) signs a 2/$25.4 extension with the Washington Nationals. Notable because Span was one of our very early free agents we had an eye on before getting Collins, who should be starting in the outfield next year.

MLB Injuries:

• 3B EVAN LONGORIA (TB) to 60-day DL (ruptured achilles; 4 months.) Another massive slap in the face to another playoff team.
• DH VICTOR MARTINEZ (TB) to 15-day DL (torn quad; 6 weeks.) Suddenly, the Rays’ chances in the first round don’t look very good without their two best offensive contributors.
• LF ALEX GORDON (KC) to 15-day DL (flexor-pronator strain; 4 weeks.) Another blow!

This October in the MLB:

• American League BOTM: 1B EDWIN ENCARNACION (TOR) - (.317, 15 HR, 33 RBI, 25 R)
• National League BOTM: RF MATT KEMP (SD) - (.365, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 16 R)
• American League POTM: SP DAVID PRICE (DET) - (6-0, 1.13 ERA, 39 K)
• National League POTM: SP JEFF NIEMANN (MIL) - (4-0, 1.85 ERA, 32 K)
• American League ROTM: CF DALTON POMPEY (TOR) - (.318, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 19 R)
• National League ROTM: LF SHANE PETERSON (MIL) - (.411, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R)

This Week in the MLB:

• Former Twin SP JOHAN SANTANA retires at age 36.
• LF TYLER COLLINS (MIN) wins the International League MVP.
• The Cincinnati Reds (73-82, 29.5 GB of St. Louis) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The New York Mets (80-80, 4 GB of Miami/Washington) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The New York Yankees (84-76, 9.5 GB of Tampa Bay) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
• The Tampa Bay Rays (91-65) have clinched the American League East.
• The Cleveland Indians (91-64) have clinched the American League Central.
• The Chicago Cubs (85-72) have clinched a National League Wild Card.
• The Kansas City Royals (87-74, 7 GB of Cleveland) have clinched an American League Wild Card.
• The Los Angeles Angels (94-67, 2 GB of Oakland) have clinched an American League Wild Card.
• The Oakland Athletics (96-65) have clinched the American League West.
• The Miami Marlins (85-77) have clinched a National League Wild Card.

The Washington Nationals (86-76) have clinched a National League Wild Card.

lol typical yankees missing the playoffs in the first season

[Brananorama]

2016 Roster Overview

Starting Rotation
Matt Harvey, R
Tommy Milone, L
Rafael Montero, R
Trevor May, R
Alex Meyer, R

Bullpen
RHP Dan Reynolds Rule 5 draft pick from the Angels. 24-year-old kid who hits 98.
LHP Aaron Thompson The specialist. Not going to “replace” Duensing.
LHP Caleb Thielbar
RHP Cody Hall
RHP Hunter Strickland
RHP Casey Fien Setup.
LHP Glen Perkins Closer. Going with my gut.

Starting Lineup
S Danny Santana, 2B
S Aaron Hicks, CF
L Joe Mauer, 1B
S Kennys Vargas, DH
L Oswaldo Arcia, RF
R Trevor Plouffe, 3B
R Josmil Pinto, C
L Tyler Collins, LF
S Jorge Polanco, SS

Bench
R Kurt Suzuki, C
S Eduardo Escobar, IF Utility man. I plan to have him learn a few positions this year.
L Jordan Schafer, OF Pinch-runner #1.
S Daniel Fields, OF Utility.

Preseason Preview: The BNN projects the Twins to get a lot of utility out of their revamped rotation, and thinks Matt Harvey will be one of the best in his transition to the American League. They have us at 82-80, and 7 games back, which would be a vast improvement, but I’m going all in with this team. Ride or die. I KNOW that we have what it takes, and I expect to see it play out on the field this season.

The Dark Knight is waking up to a cherry and a spoon, and he’s pitching Opening Day against Motown: tonight.

[Brananorama]

Twins Territory hits a brief hiatus as I transition into adding another job! In addition, to accommodate the switch, I'll be moving to monthly recaps of standings, fun game notes, and transactions. Hope you guys keep reading!