#-1: Twins (Last Week: -2). With the All-Star break now gone, we can now get down to the brass tacks of actually competing this MLB season, and frankly, while I like that the Twins are still leading the A. L. Central, it's nut-cutting time.
The endured/scuffled through a 4-3 screening Week in Games versus San Diego, Detroit and Toronto. Meanwhile, the Trade Deadline came and went Tuesday, and the Twins, in the midst of a playoff race, made four acquisitions to push for the postseason: Relievers Jorge Lopez (from Baltimore) and Michael Fulmer (Detroit; the Tigers were at Target Field for their three-Game series, where Fulmer pitched for Detroit on Monday ... then went across the stadium to join his new team after getting traded on Tuesday), Starting Pitcher Tyler Mahle (Cincinnati), and Catcher Sandy Leon (Cleveland). For depth help, and this is what all these transactions are, the Twins -- smartly and routinely -- didn't bust the farm system to get these guys. The only player I recognize, and I think the top-rated prospect Minnesota traded away, was Infielder Spencer Steer, who's now a Red.
Overall, I think these trades are good. Everyone pushing for the postseason is looking for relief pitching, and it was easy to see why when I went to Tuesday's matchup against Detroit. Chris Archer started, and yet the expectations remains he is an "opener," not likely to see the opposing lineup more than twice. He got through 4 1/3 Innings and struck out eight. Unfortunately, the Bullpen couldn't keep the Twins in what turned out to be a competitive Game. This time around, though, it wasn't Emilio Pagan who fucked up. No, it was Griffin Jax, one of two RPs (the other being Jhoan Duran) the ballclub has been able to rely upon all year, who got shook down for three Runs in the Seventh Inning on their way to a 5-3 Loss.
Contrast -- well, maybe compare -- that to last/Friday night's tilt vs. Toronto, where the opposing SP was Jose Berrios, ex-Twin and, for some reason, guy I don't like. (Last Year he told the Twins front office he was going to test the market once the 2022 season ended, and so they decided to be proactive and traded him.) Unlike his last outing against Minnesota, where he struck out 13, he struggled through 3 2/3 and gave up five Runs. But the Twins still couldn't take advantage in a contest where all four new Twins played. Mahle started and struck out five Blue Jays but gave up four Runs through six Innings. Jax and Duran did hold down the fort, but Lopez gave up three Hits and the Game-tying Run in the top of the Ninth. Fulmer stepped in in the Tenth, and while he gave up a Hit and issued a Walk to load the bases, he struck out the side. Tim Beckham brought in Nick Gordon in the bottom of the Tenth on a Fielder's Choice at Third Base. (Leon started at Catcher; he went 1-for-2 with a Walk and a Strikeout.)
As of press time, the Twins lead both the Guardians and the Chicago White Sox by two Games. It's exciting ... but if the players Minnesota got by Tuesday do what they're supposed to do, the Division race shouldn't be close. But I'm afraid this will be a fistfight through the end. After finishing with the Blue Jays, they have a light schedule of five Games this Week, but will be out in Southern California -- Tuesday and Wednesday against the Dodgers, then the Angels for three beginning Friday.
#-2: United FC (Last Week: -1). Saturday's Match at Allianz against Portland probably was the craziest Loons Match I've ever seen. I would have loved this if I didn't have a horse in this race, but unfortunately, I'm a damn season-ticketholder.
So MNUFC gave up a Goal 15 Seconds in. Then they scored three Goals to go up by a pair at Halftime. They fuckin' cough up that lead by allowing three Goals over 15 Minutes, the last of which apparently has been declared an Own Goal by the otherwise sturdy Left Back Kemar Lawrence. Four Minutes later, in the 69th Minute, Luis Amarilla tied it up with his second Goal of the afternoon.
Minnesota came into this one riding a six-Game unbeaten streak. The Timbers came into it riding a seven-Game unbeaten streak. Whose 0 went? Neither. The Game finished 4-4, and both unbeaten streaks continue. (For Portland, by the way, that streak is nine and counting following a 1-all home Draw against Nashville.)
The Loons visit Colorado tonight/Saturday night. Unfortunately, because of Yellow Cards accumulated last Saturday, Emmanuel Reynoso, Michael Boxall, and Robin Lod all have to sit out. For a franchise many naysayers accuse of having no depth, let's see how Adrian Heath manages a rotation on the road against a moribund Rapids organization. They're third in the West now (tied with FC Dallas on Points; I think I have in the past erroneously thought Goal Difference was the first tiebeaker; it actually is Points Per Game, which I don't understand), and it would be nice if they could take three gettable Points on the road.
#-3: Lynx (Last Week: -3). Beat the Sparks in Los Angeles Sunday, then lost to the Storm in Seattle Wednesday. There are four Games left in the season, and they are only 1 1/2 Games behind New York for the final spot in the WNBA Playoffs, but they're both tied with said Sparks and have to climb over Phoenix before trying to beat out the Liberty for that birth.
This screening Week has three of those four remaining Games -- home to Atlanta tomorrow/Sunday night, at Phoenix Wednesday, then hosting Seattle in what will be Sylvia Fowles's final Game at home for her career ... and potentially a postseason-eliminated matchup/showdown. Like I've said, while the playoffs are still attainable, there is a bumper crop of rookie talent next Year. I don't think chasing down a postseason spot is worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment