Archived Game Threads

6. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. And i'm nothing if not flattering. Wait no... I told that wrong! Meh, my editor will fix that. I been meaning to write Joe Ms go aMuck and take over the thread intro for a while. Now i don't know what to do... 5. A game thread at rest tends to remain at rest until acted on by an outside force. That is why they are better at Target field. Please be impulsive here! 4. Joe Malarki: Hey McCarthy, whatya doin' in that old champaign bottle? Joe McCarthy: Shhh! You'll spoil the surprise! Malarki: Everyone has gone home. Mauer said he has a headache or something. If i had a nickel... Anyway, this place has been empty for …

June is finally here and the Twins are off to a not so hot start. However, they did play one of their most exciting games, once again against Cleveland. Let's hope they start June off on the right foot and get a win. A few days ago the offense couldn't help the pitching staff at all. Now the pitching staff has been terrible, and can't contain the opposing offenses. GAMETIME WEATHER: 77 degrees farenhite, sunny. 0% chance of rain. Wind east at 12 MPH. A beautiful night for a Twins victory PITCHING MATCHUP: Carlos Carassco (6-3,3.98 ERA) vs Jose Berrios (5-5, 3.67 ERA) - Berrios pitched a gem against Cleveland in the 16 inning marathon down in Puerto Rico. Hopefully h…

The Twins are home for a 4-game series against Cleveland, followed by a 4-game series against the White Sox, including a double-header on June 5th, followed by a 3-game series against the Angels. A lot of home play there so I’m hoping we can get it going. I know it’s been a rough season so far, and certainly not up to anyone’s expectations, but, **** happens. It really does. And when it happens when we least expect it or least want it, it makes it all that much worse. And we’re miserable and frustrated and angry and sad and all kinds of whatever. Yes, I’ve turned off the game early many a time so far this year because, I just can’t anymore; so dejected. When one of our b…

Well, so much for the correlation between my writing game threads and Twins winning. Ah well, all good things must come to an end. And I guess my Twins and me wining streak is dead.* *No idea why there aren't more red shirts in these clips. But, life goes on and we have another fabulous game today. Should be a good one! Maybe the Twins will find the two out rbi hero they were so lacking last night.* *Yes, I'd prefer a no-out RBI but, sometimes one cannot really chose the rbi moment. Finally, I'd like to say: I need to get going as I'm running late getting this thread up.* *This is known as filler, as I've nothing to really add at this point. An…

I hit the way-back machine in order to find some inspiration for the game thread today. However, I don't think it worked quite as it should have: * *Frostbite Falls, MN? Boris and Natasha? Moose and Squirrel? Any of this ring a bell? Bueller? Sigh. Youth. Somehow, I wound up in a weird place with flying squirrels and mooses that pull rabbits out of hats: * *Yes, we are substituting video for content. Why do you ask? I finally made it back to the current game thread and decided to look at the last game thread I wrote. In reading that previous thread, I realize now the Twins are 3-0 when I write game threads. (write, video, it's all content, right?) I'm hop…

Feliz cumpleaños Jose Berrios! Jose Berrios was born (only) 24 years ago today in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. You might be curious, as I was, to know how Puerto Ricans celebrate birthdays. Well, it’s pretty easy to explain, because they celebrate much in the same way Americans do. Except, in Puerto Rico the legal drinking age is 18. Jose Berrios will be starting today’s game and hopefully the Twins can help get him a ‘W’ for his birthday. Series Recap: The Mariners (31-20, 2nd in AL West) are hosting the Twins (21-26, 2nd in AL Central) for game 3 of a 3-game series. The Twins dropped the first two games of the series to the Mariners, each 1-run losses. In 1-run games, the …

I am getting this game thread up early because I am helping family members move tomorrow. Sadly this means I will not be able to watch the Twins as they are Cubs fans (ick). Hopefully the Twins come to play late in the month as I will hopefully be at Wrigley watching the Twins sweep the Cubbies. Anyway, lets get on to what everyone is here for. GAME TIME WEATHER: 63 Degrees Fahrenheit, Partly Cloudy. My guess is the roof will be closed, but then again I'm posting on a Twins forum, not sitting in a news room doing weather. PITCHING MATCHUP: Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.17 ERA) vs Wade LeBlanc (0-0, 2.65 ERA) If memory serves me correctly this is the matchup we got in the ma…

Good morning and welcome back to another Game Thread experience! It's an absolutely beautiful day here in Minneapolis. Feels like summer has finally arrived. I walked outside this morning to take the trash out and you could smell the green grass and lilacs in the air. The birds were singing and it was warm enough to wear shorts at 6:30AM. It's such a beautiful day I'm trying to come up with an excuse to skip going into the office. In fact, I may go buy a ticket and watch the Twins put another whipping to the Tigers this afternoon. My dilemma is coming up with an appropriate excuse to blow off work. I doubt I'm the only one in this situation today. According to …

The Almost Right Stuff I like learning new stuff. Apparently that’s not normal. My wife can attest to the fact that I’m not normal. Therefore I am. People in general don’t like learning new stuff, because they don’t already know it. That makes new stuff unsettling. So sometimes the best way to teach “normal” people new stuff is to lace it with old stuff that they think they already know. Assuming of course they remember the old stuff. Which becomes problematic as you get older. That’s because the older you get the more stuff you have to try to remember because you’ve been around the block a time or two. Which sometimes makes it difficult to remember which block yo…

ANNND Welcome back weirdos! To another episode of Minnesota Twins Whine Line: Take a Chance! Edition. We got some things off our chest yesterday, and that didn't help get the win... Today is all about taking chances and being BOLD. Before we talk about that, let's do the baseball stuff. It's going to be a beautiful spring day in Minneapolis! 64 degrees at first pitch with partly sunny skies. REAL FEEL of 72 degrees with winds out of the ENE at 8 MPH. Minnesota Twins (18-23): 1. Brian Dozier (R ) 2B 2. Max Kepler (L) RF 3. Eddie Rosario (L) LF 4. Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B 5. Logan Morrison (L) 1B 6. Mitch Garver (R ) C 7. Jake Cave (L) DH 8. Gregorio Petit (R ) SS 9. B…

ANNND Welcome Weirdos! To another episode of Minnesota Twins Whine Line: Get it Off Your Chest! Edition. I'm your host for the next 2 days, Vanimal. Along with my trusty sidekick, the Intern. It's been a frustrating season so far, and it's BAD for your health to keep it to yourself! Today we decided to transform our studio into a therapist office... That way we can get it off our chest! Before we dive into the REAL and weird, let's do the baseball stuff. It's going to be a BRISK day in Minneapolis. 61 degrees and cloudy at first pitch. REAL FEEL of 58 degrees. Winds out of the NNE at 12 MPH. - Minnesota Twins (18-22): P - Fernando Romero ( R) - 23 year old hot shot…

The Twins have owned the Cardinal's 3-0 so far in the season, and look to make it a 4-0 sweep of the Red birds during today's matinee. My first two game threads of the year did not look so good with the weather, as one was snowed out, and another was delayed. Hopefully we have better luck today. GAME TIME WEATHER: 82 Degrees Fahrenheit, 0% chance of rain, winds WSW at 11 MPH. PITCHING MATCHUP: Lance Lynn (1-3, 7.34 ERA) vs Miles Mikolas (5-0, 2.51 ERA) TWINS' LINEUP: 1. Joe Mauer (L) DH 2. Brian Dozier ® 2B 3. Eddie Rosario (L) LF 4. Max Kepler (L) RF 5. Mitch Garver ® C 6. Logan Morrison (L) 1B 7. Byron Buxton ® CF 8. Ehire Adrianza (S) SS 9. Gregorio Petit ® 3B CARD…

Hello, everyone. Welcome to today's game thread, which may turn out to be a non-game thread because of... 1. The weather. It's not whether snow will fall on Target Field today, it's when and how much. The current game time forecast is 31F with a 7 MPH wind, resulting in a wind chill of 24F. As of the time of this posting it appears that the snow will start later in the afternoon so I think there's a good chance a regulation game can be completed. If not... 2. May 14 becomes a significant date. Based on my review of the teams' schedules it appears that this is the most likely date for a make-up game in the event of a postponement. 3. Our team currently has a W-L r…

Happy Mother's Day and welcome to another Twins Daily Game Thread experience! I apologize for posting this early but it's fishing opener weekend in Minnesota and I need to head back out onto the lake. My fishing buddies are pacing the dock and giving me the ugly eye while I type up this Game Thread introduction. I've tried explaining to them I'm doing a favor for Chief and Carole by volunteering today but it doesn't seem to help. They've mumbled under their breath a few times now, "who the hell is Chief and Carole"?... Anyway, sorry to get off topic. What a great day it was yesterday! It was fishing opener, I fished all day with my son who is back from college at …

A pleasant Saturday and a happy fishing opener weekend to you all. Great lots of you have undoubtedly decamped to one or more of Minnesota’s many lakes* to drop a line, float a bobber, relax and forget all about Mother’s Day in some of the most idyllic surroundings this side of western Wisconsin. For many of you, the carefree time on the lake is also accompanied by your favorite MLB team broadcast. Ah, fishing and listening to baseball. Could life get any better? Why, yes, it could. I could be writing the intro to tonight's Game Thread! And I could have a fish story to tell! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Not so long ago on a peaceful lake not far from here, I was out…

Sorry for the delay everyone, I am busy setting up for graduation, so just getting this put up. Won't have too much of a write-up, because once again, I am getting set up for graduation. Appologies to everyone. Go Twins. Just like Brian Dozier, I am a streaky game thread intro performer. I promise I'll go 4-4 next time. Twins Lineup: 1. Joe Mauer (L) 1B 2. Brian Dozier ® 2B 3. Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B 4. Eddie Rosario (L) LF 5. Robbie Grossman (S) RF 6. Logan Morrison (L) DH 7. Byron Buxton ® CF 8. Ehire Adrianza (S) SS 9. Bobby Wilson ® C Angel's Lineup: 1. Zack Cozart ® 3B 2. Mike Trout ® CF 3. Justin Upton ® LF 4. Shohei Ohtani (L) DH 5. Andrelton Simmons …

http://i60.tinypic.com/2yy9fcx.jpg Good Morning and welcome to another Twins Daily Game Thread experience! So excited to be here today and cheer on the Minnesota Twins. This is the place where all of the cool people within Twins Daily come to hang out and socialize. It really is the place to see and be seen. I need to be completely transparent and honest with everyone today (because most of the other times I'm lying or making it up). I'm nervous about keeping up the Game Thread winning streak Blake started 4 games ago and Riverbrian kept alive yesterday. Can the Twins make it 5 in a row today? I'm betting they can. They seem to be playing with a lot more c…

Today is day three of my Twins game thread extravaganza. Since taking on the responsibility, the Twins are 2-0. Coincidence? I hope so because no way I want to write a 162 game threads. Though, I suppose the possibility of the Twins FO offering financial remuneration might be an incentive to continue. Anyway, I was taken to task about the brevity of previous posts and I protested that "brevity is the soul of wit." Of course, the response I received was a rather tacky "and you've written something funny when?" I hate it when I get a query like that where I can just hear the tone at the end of the sentence go up in pitch. Some stuff to think about:* *not a s…

Since the thread yesterday had such excellent results (Twins Win) I decided I best stick to what is the winning formula. So, without much further ado, here is the thread from yesterday. (be quiet over there, I'm not being lazy, I'm being creative!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haWRUpPw_tI It was nice to stick out a game and not cringe a dozen times. By my count, there were only a half dozen cringe worthy moments. Progress! Today the Twins play the Sox and hopefully, Mr. Lynn will shake off whatever has been troubling him and get the job done. And now, some thoughts for thinking: 1. Hector Santiago pitches for the Sox?2. Daniel Palka plays for the Sox?3. …

I woke with a start and realized I had a game thread due today. Fortunately, the door to my office was closed so I had some privacy as I consulted my zzzz's, I mean, muse. I wonder if I can claim workers comp because I slammed my knee into my desk when I awakened? This season started out so well and the game second game in Puerto Rico was a regular season game for the ages. Since then, our home town nine has fallen into the doldrums. But, never fear, we're going to be cheerful in the face of adversity because we're baseball fans. Why? Because no one knows how to blamecast quite like baseball fans. We're very adroit when it comes to blamecasting. Disclaimer: Do…

Samwise Gamgee game thread intro: There is this one point in Two Towers where Sam and Frodo are resting on the stairs up to Cirith Ungol in a dark and dismal land and their conversation is about the epic tales and how the folk in them have no idea how they'll turn out, they just keep on going. I can't think what in this season might have brought that moment to mind... But in it Frodo jokes about wanting to hear more of what Sam says, as it makes him laugh. That brings me straight to a game thread intro... So... to run with a theme, Buxton and Sano are off enjoying ent draughts that will curl their hair, and we have the unexpected help of Faramir... er, i mean Fer…

Happy May Day and welcome back to another Game Thread party! So excited to be here today. Excited for a couple of reasons. First, we have left the month of April behind. It was an absolute abysmal month in Minneapolis with 22" of snow fall over a couple of days and a Twins franchise that is collapsing like a house of cards or like the acting career of Kevin Spacey. Bye, bye April! The second reason for my excitement is my daughter turns 18 today. I have three kids, two of which are now legal adults. I can't believe how fast time goes by. I don't even feel that old...Regardless, just wanted to throw out a happy birthday to my beautiful daughter. As I mentio…

LINEUPS: Reds RF Jesse Winker SS Jose Peraza 1B Joey Votto DH Scooter Gennett 3B Eugenio Suarez CF Scott Schebler LF Adam Duvall C Tucker Barnhart 2B Alex Blandino SP Tyler Mahle Twins 2B Brian Dozier 1B Joe Mauer LF Eddie Rosario 3B Eduardo Escobar CF Max Kepler RF Robbie Grossman DH Logan Morrison SS Ehire Adrianza C Jason Castro SP Jose Berrios The last two days haven't been too bad weather-wise, especially compared to the first homestand of the season. But I can personally attest to it being a tad chilly Friday night, with the wind howling. I stayed for the entire four hours....there were probably 1,500 of us there at the end of the game. Saturday probab…

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus It’s a little known fact that Cincinnati was actually named after a Roman general, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus. According to legend, Cincinnatus, as he was called for long, Quint for short, had retired to his vineyard on the outskirts of Rome for a little R&R (rose˙ and roscato) with his main squeeze (get it? grapes... squeeze...wine?) and was having a foot-stomping good time when the Roman patricians, who’d run up a hell of a bill on their Visa card while living high off the hog, came calling. That’s calling as “stopping by” because Verizon hadn’t put up any cell towers on the Seven Hills yet. Anyway, the plebians were raisi…

Welcome to my first dabble into game threads! I would have volunteered to write more game threads this year, but we’ve been busy growing our family. Baby # 3 was born on April 10th. My relatives say that we should have enough kids to field an entire baseball team. I think we should have named baby # 3 Shohei so that we only need to have 9 kids. Series Recap: The Yankees (14-9, 2nd in AL East) are hosting the Twins (8-11, 3rd in AL Central) for game 4 of a 4-game series. The Yankees have taken the first three games of the series and outscored the Twins 29 to 8. The Yankees have won 5 straight, while the Twins have lost 6 straight. The Twins are playing like the ‘bes…

I don't hate the Yankees. I don't hate the Yankees. I don't hate the Yankees. You heard right: I don't hate the Yankees. In fact, I harbor a soft spot for the Bronx Bombers directly related to the NYC subway system, the crack epidemic and some very bad baseball. My no-hate affair began in 1988 with a two-week 4th of July road trip to Manhattan that ended up lasting five years. By October I lived on the Upper West Side and, when the ’89 baseball season rolled around, the Yankees truly stink, stank, stunk. Steinbrenner's squad was about to embark on four years at a 288-359 won-lost clip. Ah, the days of Stump Merrill, Neon Deion and Bam-Bam Meulens. The good news for …

Good afternoon and welcome back to another exciting Twins Daily Game Thread extravaganza! I have to admit, watching the game last night against the Yankees was depressing. Participating in the Game Thread was at times like a melancholy walk through a memory lane of Yankees games gone by... Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. The depression, anxiety and frustration ends now! Today, our pitching ace takes the mound and returns to us the pride and excitement we have for our beloved Minnesota Twins. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax. Crack a beer open, pour a scotch, eat some ice cream, whatever you like but tonights game will be entertaining. I …

http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jim-lange-dating-game.jpg ANNND Welcome back! To Minnesota Twins Whine Line: The Dating Game Edition! That game wasn't very fun yesterday! I'm going to tell you a little white lie... Things will be better today! It's the last game of the series in the TropiDome between our Twins and Tampa near a Bay. Before we find the next pitcher to love, let's talk weather and lineups. Intern, take it away! Van, don't you remember from yesterday that they play in a dome? We don't have to worry about weather! Oh yeah... Minnesota Twins (8-7): P - Phil Hughes -- If you can't say something nice about a person don't s…

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4tf788ILv1r4skvr.gif ANNND Welcome! To Minnesota Twins Whine Line: News at 6 Edition! I am your host and lead anchor for the next 2 days, Vanimal. We also have our trusty companion, Chief Meteorologist Intern! We have ourselves a BARN BURNER match up this weekend against Tampa near a Bay! Before we get into the HARD HITTING news stories of the day, let's talk lineups and weather.... Intern, err, I mean Chief Meteorologist Intern, take it away! Van... They're playing in a dome today. Who cares about the weather? GOOD POINT! That's why you're the chief meteorologist today... Minnesota Twins (8-6): P - Kyle Gibson (R ) - 77 o…

I have a confession to make. It’s a rather serious confession and one that is not easy to say… I grew up in Cleveland. Now before you disparage me, please understand that this was not my choice. My parents up and moved from Owatonna, MN to Cleveland and forced me into a childhood surrounded by Indians fans. Cleveland baseball fans might be the worst, I might add, and are not deserving of a professional baseball team as the definition of fair-weather fans shows a picture of an Indians fan. This is not to be confused with a Browns fan, as those are the definition of loyalty. Things to think about: 1) Songs – Cleveland has a few songs of note. Minnesota does not (unless …