Starters: Phil Hughes (0-4, 4.39 ERA, 4.58 FIP) VS Shane Greene (3-1, 3.00 ERA, 2.97 FIP)

1: Phil Hughes – Will He Get That Win Today?
It’s hard not to notice that 0-4 record of Phil’s. It seems like he just can’t catch a break. The Twins defense has been pretty bad behind him, but his 4.58 FIP suggests it’s more his fault than the defense’s. However, I believe one of the main reasons why is the lack of run support. Over Phil Hughes 4 starts, the Twins have scored… 4 runs!! Just 4! (0, 2, 2, 0) It’s kinda hard to win games when you have no offense to back you. Phil was in a groove last start, but so was Felix Hernandez, so Hughes got the loss. The keys to this game belong to the offense.
Cross your fingers and hope for that first win. Yes, you have to cross them for the whole game!
Once Hughes gets that first win, I think the second and third and so on victories will be easier to get.

2: Shane Greene

Most of us haven't heard of Shane Greene before the 2015 season started. He's had a solid first 4 starts in Detroit, winning 3 of them. Greene had a promising rookie season with the Yankees last year in which he had an  ERA of 3.78, a FIP of 3.73, and a K/9 of 9.3. That's very impressive for his first 14 starts of his career.

 

This guy is only 26, so he reminds me of Trevor May and Kyle Gibson. Actually, if Gibson and May were throwing like Greene right now, I think the Twins would get a few more wins on the season.

 

One more thing. Greene hasn't allowed a single home run this season. He probably won't give up one today. 

 

3: Mornings
“The early bird gets the worm.” Yeah, but the early bird also gets a nice headache and has to drink coffee just to get itself ready to face the day.
As you can probably guess… I am not a morning person. I am a night owl. My brain is open from noon to midnight, and if you try to reach me at any other time, I won’t be fully awake.
So when it comes to baseball that starts at 12:10, that’s a bit early for me. Especially because my body is begging to get one more hour of sleep while I’m typing this. Don’t worry about me, though, I’ll be fine… zzzzzzzzzzzz… *snores*

4: Lineup Analysis
Twins
1. Danny Santana (S) SS
2. Brian Dozier ® 2B
3. Joe Mauer (L) DH
4. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B
5. Oswaldo Arcia (L) RF
6. Eduardo Escobar (S) LF
7. Kennys Vargas (S) 1B
8. Chris Herrmann (L) C
9. Jordan Schafer (L) CF
SP: Phil Hughes
Tigers
1. Rajai Davis ® CF
2. Ian Kinsler ® 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera ® 1B
4. Victor Martinez (S) DH
5. J.D. Martinez ® RF
6. Yoenis Cespedes ® LF
7. Nick Castellanos ® 3B
8. James McCann ® C
9. Andrew Romine (S) SS
SP: Shane Greene
My analysis of the Twins lineup:
There’s not too much to talk about. We have an Eduardo Alert in left field and Herrmann catching. The biggest news here is the return of Kennys Vargas to the lineup. Has he gotten that swing under control? Is he going to calm down and not let pitchers get the best of him? I’m interested to see because I want this kid to succeed.

5: White Sox at Baltimore
I’m sure most of you have already seen this in the news, and there’s probably a thread about it going on in the “Other Baseball” forum, but if you haven’t, two games in Baltimore have been postponed due to the riots and protesting.
However, today there is going to be a game in Baltimore… with it being closed to the public! It will be the first major league game EVER without any fans in attendance. That’s just crazy, in my opinion. I do wonder how it’ll go.
I’m not going to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong concerning the Freddie Gray incident. I will be praying and hoping for healing and peace in the Baltimore area.

A note on mistakes and errors and goofs and dumb things: Molitor and his pitching coach do seem to be having positive effects already. Most of the mistakes aren't from overthinking, but just the opposite -- full rambunctiousness. I'd rather have big mistakes from going full speed to timidity errors. Just sayin'.

 

It will be the first major league game EVER without any fans in attendance.

 

Did we forget the Expos existed?

 

5: White Sox at Baltimore
I’m sure most of you have already seen this in the news, and there’s probably a thread about it going on in the “Other Baseball” forum, but if you haven’t, two games in Baltimore have been postponed due to the riots and protesting. However, today there is going to be a game in Baltimore… with it being closed to the public! It will be the first major league game EVER without any fans in attendance.

Yup. Indeed there is. Here.

 

And the whole issue in general is being discussed in the Sports Bar, here.

 

Did we forget the Expos existed?

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying nobody ever showed up to their games, or did they actually have a game with no fans? The source I read said that this Baltimore game is the first of all time not to have any fans attending.

 

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying nobody ever showed up to their games, or did they actually have a game with no fans? The source I read said that this Baltimore game is the first of all time not to have any fans attending.

I think he's being ... funny, ironic ... as an indicator of a small fan base.

It looks like a beautiful day for an afternoon of baseball.  Weather Channel says Minneapolis will have a high of 68 w/winds out of the NNE at 11 mph.

 

 

Great job, Danchat. 

 

A rather key game for the Twins, I think.  If they win, they will have won four of five series and beaten both of the top division teams at home.  A win would also give them a 6-3 record at home, indicating they can play with anybody at Target Field.

 

Hughes is due for a win, and the team is due to break out offensively.  I'll be anxious to see if Vargas can get it together.  Another rough day might get him a one-way ticket to Rochester NY.

Turned the station and saw a HR going out and thought CRAP!

 

Then I realized the Twins game hadn't started yet.

This is a big game for Hughes and the Twins.  A win sure would be nice.  A big day by Vargas would be icing on the cake.  No tv today. 

Hughes gets a 1-2-3 start. Now let's take an early lead.

Edited April 29, 201511 yr by Danchat

I can't listen I never thought I'd live to see the day when someone would voluntarily choose to play a digital piano over a grand, but we got one yesterday and my little brothers have been at it for hours. I can't even practice the piano on the grand because they're making so much noise. D':

Settlin' down to watch.

 

Did i miss anything?

 

Good game thread starter by the way.

I love DP's when the Twins make them on defense but I get so tired of them when the Twins are at the plate.

 

CBIU:  0-0 after 2.

 

I can't listen I never thought I'd live to see the day when someone would voluntarily choose to play a digital piano over a grand, but we got one yesterday and my little brothers have been at it for hours. I can't even practice the piano on the grand because they're making so much noise. D':

 

I still prefer the sound of the upright I bought about 25 years ago and would have loved a grand.  The digitals are fun to play around on, though.

I can't even get it on the radio, for some reason, from the local station.  I might have to sit in my car.

Settlin' down to watch.

 

Did i miss anything?

A single by Plouffe in the bottom of the second.

 

I'm watching the Tigers' feed via mlb.tv, since apparently Fox Sports North is taking the day off. Day game after a night game, those older broadcasters need some rest.

Herrmann gets a CS! Herrmann gets a CS! Herrmann gets a CS!

 

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying nobody ever showed up to their games, or did they actually have a game with no fans? The source I read said that this Baltimore game is the first of all time not to have any fans attending.

oakland sold 653 tickets for a game in april 1979; an estimated 250 fans showed up. that's pretty close ...

Herrmann gets a CS! Herrmann gets a CS! Herrmann gets a CS!

He throws someone out. (He probably shouldn't be stealing himself... most of the time)

 

But yeah.

 

I am happy too.

 

I still prefer the sound of the upright I bought about 25 years ago and would have loved a grand.  The digitals are fun to play around on, though.

It's cute to see the way my Aussie lies down next to the keyboard when it's being used. She's very musical and always lies under the grand when I practice. And by the way, Chi-Town will be happy to see that Clover likes the cello but not the flute.

Sure hope Schafer doesn't strike out too...but what else can I expect?

Sure hope Schafer doesn't strike out too...but what else can I expect?

He's hanging tough at least...

It's cute to see the way my Aussie lies down next to the keyboard when it's being used. She's very musical and always lies under the grand when I practice. And by the way, Chi-Town will be happy to see that Clover likes the cello but not the flute.

Cello and Clover?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W1Cc1Guxto

 

Cello and Clover?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W1Cc1Guxto

You are very good at finding videos on the spot. Do you have a large repertoire or vocabulary or whatever you want to call it? Or do you simply get a bright idea and run to YouTube.

 

Cello and Clover?

 

 

 

Over and over ....

 

 

And over and over ....

 

And over and over ...

He throws someone out. (He probably shouldn't be stealing himself... most of the time)

 

But yeah.

 

I am happy too.

The Tiger broadcasters were making a big deal that he hadn't gotten one all season, so it was sweet.

I'm watching on gameday. Don't tell me that ball should have been caught.

You are very good at finding videos on the spot. Do you have a large repertoire or vocabulary or whatever you want to call it? Or do you simply get a bright idea and run to YouTube.

I can haz teh Googlez.

 

The Heinrich Schutz link that you (and few others) saw at the end of last night's game thread was just random synapses from 40 years ago firing again for some reason when Absalom somehow came into the discussion. "TD Game Threads: come for the biblical references, stay for the Baroque masters."

 

The Tiger broadcasters were making a big deal that he hadn't gotten one all season, so it was sweet.

He must have ear buds in listening to the game. Has Miggy had his yet?