Brad Radke, RH Erik Bedard, LH
(3-3, 3.60) (3-1, 2.50)
LF S Stewart 2B B Roberts
2B N Punto LF L Bigbie
C J Mauer 3B M Mora
1B J Morneau SS M Tejada
CF T Hunter 1B R Palmeiro
DH M LeCroy C J Lopez
RF L Ford RF B Surhoff
3B M Cuddyer CF L Matos
SS J Bartlett DH J Gibbons
So this is on CSN at 7:05, but Extra Innings has decided there are probably more people wanting to see Kansas City at Toronto. Thus I won't see this game, the one in the series I really wanted to see. Also no TV for Santana/Ponson tomorrow. Super.
And given my closeness to Chicago, I'm blacked out of the White Sox games that aren't on WGN. Excuse me while I breathe slowly - I just wanna watch the games.
OK, well, now that I'm done complaining about my exile in the midwest and the fortunes of it all, here's the scoop on tonight's matchup, again reprinted by me and written by CarrieIC:
The key about Radke is, he takes time to settle down. The last few starts nonwithstanding, he tends to spot the opposing team 2 or 3 runs in the first inning. If the O's take that for all it's worth, and try and stretch it into 3 or 4 runs, that's their best chance. Radke will settle down and shut them down, and even with Rincon on suspension, the Twins bullpen is nigh untouchable. Once Joe Nathan comes in, you're done.
Bedard, on the other hand, is spotting no one anything. But he's not nearly as stable and reliable as Radke is. He's had several good starts, and has all the makings of a phenomenal pitcher, but sooner or later here, he's going to have a bad day. The question is just whether the bad day will be Tuesday or not.
50-50 odds on this one.