Date: 7/20/10

Opponent: Cleveland Indians

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Slowey

Final Score: L 4-3

Record: 49-45

Recap: Again I'm way late in posting this, so I'm not going to go on too long, but (to echo Twins fans everywhere) what the fuck was Mauer thinking? Well, I get what he was thinking, but it was still just a bad idea. I mean, last year's batting champ and MVP bunting with runners on 1st and 2nd, with 1 out in a tie game. It's not like he gets a ton of bunt singles, and it was left up to Kubel to try to untie the game (which he did not). While I think it was a stupid decision, I do think it's kind of hilarious the uproar it has caused. You'd think he shot a puppy or something. I'm thinking that a good deal of the controversy is coming from the underlying fear that he may be injured or at least not completely healthy; the enormous contract he signed and the decrease in his numbers from the previous year are a part of it too I'm sure. Anyway, you can read millions of opinions on other websites, so that's enough from me. Maybe the day off on Wednesday helped him clear his head and feel better.

On a more positive note, at least Slowey showed signs of life. He only made it 5.2 innings, but he also only gave up 3 runs, and 2 of those runs were allowed on a single Crain gave up that was just barely fair. Hopefully he can continue in the right direction. Crain and Guerrier pitched well; Mijares not so much. As soon as he issued the 4-pitch walk in the 8th inning, I knew the go-ahead run was going to score. I was really hoping we'd leave Crain in. The change to the rotation is finally occurring. Duensing is taking Blackburn's spot while Blackburn retreats to the bullpen. Good luck to both of them in their new roles.

Best Moment: The 2-run rally in the bottom of the 7th, at least until the Mauer bunt.

Most Questionable Moment: Yes, the bunt. What else?

Worst Moment: Hmmm, we'll just go with the bunt again, shall we?

Quotations of the Day:

• "I don't ever tell a hitter what to do. He tried to drag bunt. Ask Joe what his thoughts were." - Ron Gardenhire, a bit surly when asked about Mauer's bunt.
• "I didn't execute it. If I did, everybody's probably like, 'Pretty good idea.' So yeah, I just didn't get it done." - Joe Mauer

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Jason Kubel (0 for 4, 2 strikeouts, 4 left on base) and Jim Thome (0 for 4, 2 strikeouts, 4 left on base)