Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 6-21-23.
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No Taylor Swift tickets for us this week, there’s a slight opening for anyone to take Dad of the Year from me.
This Twins team is one of the more frustrating in recent memory. Gosh, it sucks being average doesn’t it. This is a .500 team, but with a pipe dream because it plays in a dreadful division.
On the latest Make Glove not W.A.R., I take a look at what would make following this team less “average”. Included: Invoke the “Takesies Backsies” clause on the Arraez/Lopez contract; Byron Buxton Operation board game giveaway; make Emilio Pagan a starter so fans know what they’re getting themselves into.
If you can’t have some fun…
Twins Rolled by Red Sox
The latest abomination by the home team was a 10-4 loss to Boston last night at Target Field. It seems like it’s been awhile since this homestand started with a couple wins against the Brewers.
On a day they shook things up - finally designating Ryan Garlick for assignment (why isn’t Max Kepler next?), and sending Louie Varland back to St. Paul, the Twins simply had nothing. They fell down by 10 runs, and their starting centerfielder wound up pitching the ninth. Bailey Ober wasn’t awful - three runs in six innings - but two relievers combined to give up seven runs in the seventh and eighth.
Remember Joey Gallo’s resurgence? Yes he was hurt, but he’s now struck out in 51 of his last 109 at bats. That’s 300 strikeouts over a 600 at-bat season. Byron Buxton hit a meaningless home run on the day the team said he’s been “physically unable to play centerfield.”
Royce Lewis is about the only reason to show up at Target Field.
Is Rocco Baldelli safe? I just don’t get how he is, but smart people keep saying he is. He can’t swing the bat, but the old saying of you can’t trade 25 players…
Sonny Gray gets the ball tonight in his first start since arguing with Rocco in the dugout after what he thought was an early pull from the game.
Lynx Heating Up
The Lynx have won three of four and four of six after slipping by the Sparks 67-61 in L.A. last night. Napheesa Collier - what a season she’s had so far - had 26 points and 14 rebounds as the Lynx pulled away in the fourth quarter. Three of Minnesota’s four wins this season have come against Los Angeles.
Minnesota is back home to play Connecticut on Thursday.
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