#torontobluejays

For the first time since 2002, the Minnesota Twins clinched a playoff series victory, taking the second game of a best-of-three against the Toronto Blue Jays. They advance now to face the Houston Astros on Saturday in the ALDS. David, Hoges and Dan discuss the game against the Blue Jays and look forward to the series against the Astros. They discuss the good start from Sonny Gray and the brilliant performance by the Twins' bullpen, including another great 8th inning from Griffin Jax and a shut-down 9th from Jhoan Duran. They also question the decision by Toronto's manager to pull former Twins starter Jose Berrios in the fourth inning, and they praise the work of Gray and Carlos Correa in getting a key pick-off at second to end one of the Blue Jays' many scoring chances. They also look toward the next series and wonder whether Bailey Ober has a spot on this roster and whether there might be any other changes to the roster. They also reflect on the many comments from Twins players about the significance of the moment, and they dare to hope that this is still early in a Minnesota playoff run. Thanks for listening, and go Twins.

Music: "Minnesota Twins Theme" (1961) written by Ray Charles and Dick Wilson. Arrangement and performance by Jason Cain.

Twitter:
@MNfortheWin
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MNfortheWin
Website:
https://mnforthewin.buzzsprout.com/

Puckett's Picks Scoring

1pt per Base (H/BB/HBP) | 1pt per SB | 1pt per RBI
-1pt per K | -1pt per Error | -1pt per GIDP

Tie Breaker
1. Most HRs
2. Least Ks
3. Least LOB

Listeners always pick first, lowest score between Dan/David/Hoges picks second for next series

Against a playoff-caliber team, the Minnesota Twins earn a four-game split at Target Field with the Toronto Blue Jays. But it felt like a series the Twins could have won if not for an overturned call in the 10th inning of Game 4. Hoges -- filling in again for David -- was at the game for it and has lots to say about the way that replay was handled by the MLB crew in New York City. He and Dan praise Rocco Baldelli for his display of emotion and for his articulate critique of the process in his postgame interview. They also discuss the excellent play of Jose Miranda and Nick Gordon, who anchored a lineup riddled with injuries and days off. They praise the hustle of Jake Cave and Gordon, and then Dan asks Hoges whether Carlos Correa should be worried about his job security at shortstop. Hoges wonders what it will take for this season to be perceived as a success, and they end with a look around the Majors at the haplessAngels, the death of Vin Scully and a dominant White Sox pitcher. Thanks for listening; go Twins!

Music: "Minnesota Twins Theme" (1961) written by Ray Charles and Dick Wilson. Arrangement and performance by Jason Cain.

Music: "Minnesota Twins Theme" (1961) written by Ray Charles and Dick Wilson. Arrangement and performance by Jason Cain.

Twitter: @MNfortheWin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNfortheWin
Website: https://mnforthewin.buzzsprout.com/

Puckett's Picks Scoring

1pt per Base (H/BB/HBP) | 1pt per SB | 1pt per RBI
-1pt per K | -1pt per Error | -1pt per GIDP

Tie Breaker
1. Most HRs
2. Least Ks
3. Least LOB

Listeners always pick first, lowest score between Dan/David/Hoges picks second for next series

Baseball and BBQ #Episode 121 features former Major League Baseball catcher, Josh Thole and pitmaster, Matt Dallman from Live Coals Barbeque   

Josh Thole is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays.  He has a special place in the heart of Mets fans as he was behind the dish for the first and, up to this point, only no-hitter in the 59-year franchise's history.  Josh has a great sense of humor and wonderful stories to share, one of which involves a garage full of people waiting for him to be selected in the MLB Draft.  Catching a knuckleball pitcher is one of the hardest things for a catcher, and Josh did it quite well as he became knuckleballer, R. A. Dickey's favorite receiver.  In 2012 Josh was part of the trade, along with Dickey and a few others that brought catcher, Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard aka Thor from the Blue Jays to the Mets.  We finished recording and Josh brings up his love of barbeque, which, along with being a great guest, gives us yet another reason to have him back.                

Matt Dallman is a Texas transplant by way of Kansas City, MO who has made an indelible mark on the region's fanatical barbecue community.  In 2015 this self-taught pitmaster opened the BBQ restaurant, 18th & Vine in Dallas, Texas.  Since then, he has sold his interest in the restaurant and in the Summer of 2018 he started the catering operation, Live Coals Barbeque.  Matt has many stories and cooking tips.  We could not pass up the opportunity to talk some baseball once we learned of his Kansas City Royals fandom.  Matt is another guest we would like to come back, but rather than wait for his next appearance, if you want to learn more, go to https://thelivecoals.com/     

We recommend you go to Fifth & Cherry, https://fifthandcherry.com for wonderful cutting boards, http://www.baseballbbq.com for grill tools and clothing for barbecue and baseball fans, the Pandemic Baseball Book Club, https://www.pbbclub.com  to find many of the wonderful books we have featured as well as some additional swag, and https://bbqbuddha.com/ for rubs and award winning sauces.

We conclude the show with the song, "Baseball Always Brings You Home" from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky.

We truly appreciate our listeners and hope that all of you are staying safe.

If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you.

Call the show:  (516) 855-8214
Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com
Twitter:  @baseballandbbq
Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue
YouTube:  baseball and bbq
Website:  https://baseballandbbq.weebly.com
Facebook:  baseball and bbq

The dean of Canadian sports broadcasting, Brian Williams, looks back at his 50-year career after announcing his retirement from CTV Sports and TSN. Among the highlights: 35 years coast-to-coast on radio with Don Cherry on "Grapeline" -- and not one controversy! 
Williams, 75, hosted Olympic Games broadcasts for both CBC and CTV. His first game as a reporter, covering weightlifting, was in Montreal in 1976. His last as host, London in 2012. Vancouver 2010 was the pinnacle, says Williams, as Canada owned the podium with 14 Gold medals. It's also where he met up with that other Brian Williams, the NBC news anchor, also just retired in order to add to the confusion.
The Winnipeg native also distinguished himself for his coverage of all sports: Formula1 and horse racing, the CFL, Major League Baseball and hockey, everything but comptitive tiddlywinks. He saw them all from Jackie Stewart to Ron Lancaster to Ben Johnson, and worked with some of the greats, sharing stories about Dick Beddoes, Jim "Shakey" Hunt,  Don Chevrier and Bill Stephenson.
We also talk about those "It's 8 am in Helsinki, 2:30 in Newfoundland," sign-ons he used to give every Games, and how he misses getting ribbed about that from the late Roger Abbott of the Royal Canadian Air Farce.