Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey will face the White Sox. Then, Francisco Liriano, Perkins and Baker will pitch the final series against the Royals.

 

from startribune.com

 

So it's Vazquez versus Baker, Blackburn (who just got torched by TB) against Buehrle, then Floyd versus Slowey.

 

They moved Slowey up to take Perkins' spot...Perkins will then wait/rest for over a week to start Saturday against KC.

 

I'm really not confident about that first game, so the pressure is definitely on Mark to deliver against a mightily struggling Blackburn. Both Vazquez and Baker are coming off starts on three days' rests, but will have their regular rest before this game.

 

Slowey also figures to be a tough customer, he's one of their Top 3. He has one shutout against us in his home appearance, the other two times this season he was hit pretty hard at Comiskey.

 

The Royals will use Gil Meche in the projected final game of the season against the Twins (Sunday). If Trey Hillman wanted to, he could have Meche and then Greinke pitch the final two games of the season by skipping over Duckworth or Davies, still leaving Zach on his normal rest. Wonder if he would consider doing that after the White Sox/Twins series is finished and the Sox haven't taken a commanding lead or clinched the division? At least we miss their top two and the Twins will get one of them, if not two.

 

Was reading another blog...Twins' top 3 third base targets are Beltre (although he's going to be coming off a thumb ligament problem), Kouzmanoff and Garrett Atkins.

 

 

Edited September 20, 200817 yr by caulfield12

And they will probably end up with Tony Batista.

 

 

remember the Twins will have alot more money next year as they open the new stadium. They will also want to make a big splash with some sort of free agent to kick off the new stadium era. The Twins will be a thorn in our side for awhile.

remember the Twins will have alot more money next year as they open the new stadium. They will also want to make a big splash with some sort of free agent to kick off the new stadium era. The Twins will be a thorn in our side for awhile.

You're assuming that Pohlad will actually start spending money, which is a huge assumption to make.

 

And I don't know how much more money they'll have due to that stadium. They've had a lot of unexpected costs during the construction, and have been losing money like crazy. Of course, Pohlad is a rich bastard, so it doesn't affect him that much.

Edited September 20, 200817 yr by Felix

I'd rather face Blackburn, Baker, and Slowey over Liriano any day.

Do any of you really think there's any way in hell we win MORE than one that series? We lose two minimum. The question is can we get one or do we get swept?

Liriano is not as unhittable as he once was. He's a good pitcher right now because he's a good pitcher and his stuff only has a bit to do with it. His slider is pretty mediocre from what I've seen.

Do any of you really think there's any way in hell we win MORE than one that series? We lose two minimum. The question is can we get one or do we get swept?

I feel like you said this in another thread (game thread maybe?) and I replied with the same thing, but seriously, have you seen how the Twins are doing lately? Their pitching has been abysmal and can't keep the ball in the park.

I feel like you said this in another thread (game thread maybe?) and I replied with the same thing, but seriously, have you seen how the Twins are doing lately? Their pitching has been abysmal and can't keep the ball in the park.

 

He says that EVERY series

Baker vs. Vazquez

Blackburn vs. Buehrle

Slowey vs. Floyd

 

The Buehrle start might be the most important start in my opinion. I think we have to get that game because I have a feeling Baker is going to beat Vazquez and it will be important to even the series. I also think that is the one matchup we should win. I think Floyd should beat Slowey, but Slowey has been bad recently I just have an odd feeling he's going to break out of it come out on top, plus the Sox are 2-3 against the Twins when I go to see them and I'm going on Thursday, so maybe I'm a jinx, haha.

Edited September 21, 200817 yr by WilliamTell

Baker vs. Vazquez

Blackburn vs. Buehrle

Slowey vs. Floyd

 

The Buehrle start might be the most important start in my opinion. I think we have to get that game because I have a feeling Baker is going to beat Vazquez and it will be important to even the series. I also think that is the one matchup we should win. I think Floyd should beat Slowey, but Slowey has been bad recently I just have an odd feeling he's going to break out of it come out on top, plus the Sox are 2-3 against the Twins when I go to see them and I'm going on Thursday, so maybe I'm a jinx, haha.

First start is the most important IMO. Set the tone and start a message. Javy can shut down opponents unlike anyone on our roster. Time he do it in a BIG BIG game. He better show some guts.

First start is the most important IMO. Set the tone and start a message. Javy can shut down opponents unlike anyone on our roster. Time he do it in a BIG BIG game. He better show some guts.

 

That's the problem, I don't think he is going to show some guts. This late in the season every start is important, and in a way they are all equally important, meaning the next game is the most important.

The main idea of the whole series is to win one game and be done with it. It'll be nice to take two, but you have to win at least one. Then you can take care of business back home and win 2/3 from the Indians and hope that the Twins lose one of their games to the Royals.

Vazquez is 2-0 against Min this season, although our offense had to pick him up. We have hit Baker pretty well as well. We'll see.

 

I like how our pitchers match up.

 

I'm still kind of surprised Gardy didn't push Liriano back a day.

The main idea of the whole series is to win one game and be done with it. It'll be nice to take two, but you have to win at least one. Then you can take care of business back home and win 2/3 from the Indians and hope that the Twins lose one of their games to the Royals.

 

I think the main idea should be to win the series. That way we don't have to hope for the Royals to win a game. It'll be very hard to sweep Cleveland with the way they have been playing lately. I'll take 1 of 3, but if we win the series, all we need is 1 win or 1 Twins loss to win the division. If we sweep, we win the division, but a sweep probably won't happen.

Vazquez is 2-0 against Min this season, although our offense had to pick him up. We have hit Baker pretty well as well. We'll see.

 

I like how our pitchers match up.

 

I'm still kind of surprised Gardy didn't push Liriano back a day.

 

Javy has always done well against the Twins.

The main idea of the whole series is to win one game and be done with it. It'll be nice to take two, but you have to win at least one. Then you can take care of business back home and win 2/3 from the Indians and hope that the Twins lose one of their games to the Royals.

that's not the main idea... however, that is the worst case scenario.

that's not the main idea... however, that is the worst case scenario.

 

Exactly.

The main idea of the whole series is to win one game and be done with it. It'll be nice to take two, but you have to win at least one. Then you can take care of business back home and win 2/3 from the Indians and hope that the Twins lose one of their games to the Royals.

I wouldn't say the goal is to win 1 of 3, but I certainly would be satisfied with that. If the Sox are up 1.5 with one series left, they are looking good. Obviously a series win would make me very comfortable, but I just wanted the Sox to stay more than 1.5 out in front going into the Twins series. It would be hard to blow it at that point.

Just looking at matchups for the Twins series and noticed this - Joe Crede hit 7 home runs against the Twins this year. Wow.

 

Brian Anderson hitting .462 / .462 / .769

AJ .404 / .440 / .489

Crede .400 / .429 / 1.050

A-Ram .341 / .357 / .512

OC .339 / .361 / .373

Dye .327 / .368 /.635

Swish .321 / .390 / .660

Konerko .240 / .298 / .460

Thome .234 / .362 /.362

 

Swish actually hits against the Twins, which is nice. I left out Quentin, but he was meh .242 / .277 / .468

 

Sox have outhomered the Twins in their 15 games 27-12. Wow. Crede with 7, Swisher and Dye with 5.

 

On the other side of the coin:

 

Mike Redmond .467 / .471 / .533

Gomez .350 / .381 / .550

Punto .346 / .414 / .500

Mauer .327 / .411 / .429

Cuddyer .294 / .368 / .471

Delmon Young .288 / .351 / .404

Morneau .288 / .354 / .475

Casilla .278 / .316 / .444

Kubel .237 / .262 / .579 (4 Homers)

Span .235 / .350 / .412

B Harris .216 / .322 / .333

 

I doubt we'll see Adam Everett in the series...if we do it's a clear victory for the Sox ... he's .053 / .053 / .053

 

Do any of you really think there's any way in hell we win MORE than one that series? We lose two minimum. The question is can we get one or do we get swept?

 

Way to support the team. Come to think of it, they probably shouldn't even play. The Sox should just forfeit the series to avoid any embarrassment.

I think that we've got a really good chance of winning this series. They have a lot of young pitching and they seem to be getting pretty tired lately. In fact, their team overall is very young and they look like they're just worn out at this point.

Just looking at matchups for the Twins series and noticed this - Joe Crede hit 7 home runs against the Twins this year. Wow.

 

Brian Anderson hitting .462 / .462 / .769

AJ .404 / .440 / .489

Crede .400 / .429 / 1.050

A-Ram .341 / .357 / .512

OC .339 / .361 / .373

Dye .327 / .368 /.635

Swish .321 / .390 / .660

Konerko .240 / .298 / .460

Thome .234 / .362 /.362

 

Swish actually hits against the Twins, which is nice. I left out Quentin, but he was meh .242 / .277 / .468

 

Sox have outhomered the Twins in their 15 games 27-12. Wow. Crede with 7, Swisher and Dye with 5.

 

On the other side of the coin:

 

Mike Redmond .467 / .471 / .533

Gomez .350 / .381 / .550

Punto .346 / .414 / .500

Mauer .327 / .411 / .429

Cuddyer .294 / .368 / .471

Delmon Young .288 / .351 / .404

Morneau .288 / .354 / .475

Casilla .278 / .316 / .444

Kubel .237 / .262 / .579 (4 Homers)

Span .235 / .350 / .412

B Harris .216 / .322 / .333

 

I doubt we'll see Adam Everett in the series...if we do it's a clear victory for the Sox ... he's .053 / .053 / .053

 

Good stuff. Would love to see BA in there for at least 2 starts.

Crede hit all those homers in like 3 days in that one 4 game series we swept against them at home.