ALDS Game 2

[Durango53]

http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/attachment.php?attachmentid=2754&stc=1&d=1159881195 VS http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/attachment.php?attachmentid=2753&stc=1&d=1159881190
Here is the pre-game thread, game thread and post game thread for the ALDS Game 2!!!

[Durango53]

OAK Esteban Loaiza, RHP (0-0, -.--)

Scouting Report:
The first big-money free agent to sign with Oakland since general manager Billy Beane took over in 1998, Loaiza (11-9, 4.89 ERA) was nothing short of awful -- on and off the field -- early in the year and was on his way to being labeled a massive bust before turning his season around after the All-Star break. Loaiza, who went 0-3 with an 8.35 ERA in April before beng placed on the disabled list with a strained left trapezius, and shortly after coming off the DL in June he was charged with driving under the influence. But after working to regain his arm strength in July, Loaiza caught fire in August and went 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA in six starts on the way to being named AL Pitcher of the Month, and since having his fastball clocked as low as 79 mph in April, his velocity has improved to the point that he's regularly clocked in the 90s.

MIN Boof Bonser, RHP (0-0, -.--)
A pitcher that was sent down to the Minors two times this season, Bonser (7-6, 4.22) seemed one of the most unlikely candidates to earn the No. 2 spot in the playoff rotation. But it's been a different Bonser that came back for good in mid-August. After relying mostly on his fastball early in the season, Bonser returned with a new attitude and pitching style on the mound. Mixing in his pitches and hitting his spots, Bonser has shown the Twins that he could emerge as one of the darkhorses to emerge in this year's playoffs.

[Durango53]

Big number
15. The total number of pitches Castillo saw in his first three at-bats. Castillo, who appeared to be a bit more patient than many of the Minnesota hitters against Zito, reached base in those three at-bats.
He must do this again along with the REST of the Twins. While Zito was good in game one the Twins made him look that much better by not making him pitch and just going after bad pitchs.....

[Durango53]

Spoken
"With Boof, he's a gamer. He's so clutch ... You don't have to worry about the pressure being on him. The pressure is on someone else, but I don't know who it's going to be."
-- Minnesota center fielder Torii Hunter, on rookie Boof Bonser's crucial start in Game 2 of the ALDS on Wednesday afternoon

[Durango53]

Loaiza is 7-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 11 starts since Aug. 7, and was named AL pitcher of the month for September after going 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA.

"I'm getting ahead of the hitters and getting a lot of people out," Loaiza said. "I am strong, using my fastball, using my (cut fastball), using my changeup and sinker, working both locations on both sides of the plate with righties and lefties."

He has gone 10-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 24 career games against the Twins, but is 3-7 with a 5.66 ERA in 12 games at the Metrodome. He allowed six runs in four innings in his only start at Minnesota this season, a 6-5 loss on April 12.

Loaiza is 4-6 with a 6.08 ERA in 14 starts on the road this season, and went 0-2 with a 10.05 ERA in his final three road starts of the regular season.

Minnesota counters with rookie Boof Bonser (7-6, 4.22), who is being thrown into the postseason just over two months after being in the minors.

Bonser started the season with Triple-A Rochester, and had two stints in the minors this season. He was called up again on Aug. 2, and put together a string of solid outings to close the regular season.

The 24-year-old right-hander allowed three runs or fewer in each of his final 10 outings, going 5-3 with a 3.26 ERA.

"I think one thing I have seen Boof do since he has come back (is) attack the strike zone, use all the pitches," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Even though he has got a name like Boof, he is still a bulldog, he attacks pretty good."

Bonser was named the AL rookie of the month for September, winning four straight decisions before losing his final start of the season.

Bonser lost his only career start against the A's, giving up four runs and five hits - including home runs to Thomas, Mark Kotsay and Dan Johnson - in seven innings of a 4-0 loss on June 1.
I expect nothing but a repeat of yesterday with the pitchers...

[Durango53]

In three playoff series since beating Oakland in the 2002 AL division series, Minnesota won the first game each time but went on to lose every other game. The only two times the Twins did not win the opener of a postseason series came in the AL championship series in 1969 and 1970, and they were swept both times.

Oakland has been in the playoffs five times since 2000, going 4-1 in Game 1s and 3-1 in Game 2s, but has not won a postseason series since sweeping Boston in the 1990 ALCS.

[Durango53]

Joe Mauer, who hit .347 in the regular season to become the first catcher to win the AL batting title, went 0-for-3 with a walk and left two runners in scoring position, including the tying run on third in the eighth inning.

Justin Morneau, who had team highs of 34 homers and 130 RBIs, was 0-for-4

[Durango53]

Playing at the Metrodome forced A's catcher Jason Kendall to make one big adjustment. "It's so loud, your ears are ringing," Kendall said. "There was a lot of times I wanted to go talk to my pitcher. But I thought, 'He won't be able to hear me anyway.' So I stayed back."

[Durango53]

BACK TO BACK JACKS!!!!! Tied up!!!!! I was getting a bit anal here.....

[Durango53]

:banghead Hunter lets a ball by him and inside the park HR :banghead :banghead

[Baseball Guru]

:banghead Hunter lets a ball by him and inside the park HR :banghead :banghead

Oh my!!!

That was crazy!!!

This would suck if they were to lose it like this... A great OF'er making a horrible decision.. I thought he was just going to let it drop.. Shocked he actually dove for it...

[Baseball Guru]

Awww geez, the Twins are getting mowed down right now!

Damn!

[PopTop]

That was amazing, hate to see it happen to Minnesota and agree with James that I can't believe Hunter played it like that. Still, the most exciting play in baseball.

[Durango53]

Ya just cant believe it. We are so used to seeing Hunter eat everything up and there isnt no one that can play that dome like him and now that is going to kill us....... :(

That will be the play remembered if the Twins lose this...... :(

[PissedPrincess]

Got em right where you want em. Oak always goes up 2-0 and always loses 3-2. Chin up my friends.:)

[Durango53]

Thanks PP. I believe Radke goes on Friday. Just got to go in there house and do the same to them now.