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 had in mind to introduce a drinking game for tonights Game Thread but decided against it for two reasons. #1. This is a family website and I don't want to get sued for serving alcohol to minors.  #2. Although I usually find the solutions to most of my problems in the bottom of a whiskey bottle, I understand that technique may not work for everyone.  So instead, I thought I would just write a positive message and hopefully become a shining beacon of light and hope within Twins Territory.

 

I'm still very excited about our prospects this year.  I think the inconsistent play we've been watching is from a Twins team not playing regularly and still trying to find it's rhythm.  The best place to build momentum and get back that rhythm is a Jose Berrios start.  These guys know how to hit and will get the bats going soon.  The pitching staff has been lukewarm but that should turn as well.  Sending Alan Busenitz down and bringing up Tyler Duffy should help.  It's a positive steps forward!  

 

Speaking of staying positive, according to experts here are some tips on keeping the "glass half full" in your life.

 

#1. Find the optimistic viewpoint in a negative situation. Example: The Twins lost last night to the Yankees 14-1.  Try responding to something like this with a genuine smile and a happy inflection in your voice..."I know, but LaMarre got to pitch!" 

 

#2. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill.  Example: Rosario keeps swinging at everything outside the strike zone.  Try responding this way to that situation, again with a smile and a happy inflection in your voice..."Who cares, look how hard he's swinging!"

 

#3 : Be grateful. Example: Yankees hit 4 homers last night versus the Twins who had 0.  Try responding to adversity like that with this..."Dozier extended his hitting streak to 17 games and made a fool out of the guy in the stands with the yellow shirt!"

 

Let's go Twins!!!

 

Today's Lineups:

 

Twins:

 

1. Brian Dozier 2B ®

2. Max Kepler RF (L)

3. Miguel Sano DH ®

4. Eduardo Escobar 3B (S)

5. Eddie Rosario LF (L)

6. Mitch Garver C ®

7. Logan Morrison 1B (L)

8. Ehire Adrianza SS (S)

9. Ryan LaMarre CF ®

 

Jose Berrios SP ®

 

 

Yankees:

 

1. Brett Gardner LF (L)

2. Aaron Judge RF ®

3. Didi Gregorius SS (L)

4. G. Stanton DH ®

5. Gary Sanchez C ®

6. Aaron Hicks CF (S)

7. Neil Walker 1B (S)

8. Miguel Andujar 3B ®

9. Glibber Torres 2B ®

 

CC Sabathia SP (L)

 

Weather:  Mostly cloudy and 61 degrees, 8-9mph winds

I wanna be first, Pollyana!

 

I've never been anyone's first before. At least nobody ever admitted it.

 

Can't wait to see Berrios embarrass the Yankees!

 

That would be a first, also.

It's good to see Kepler get a shot in the #2 slot. Finally Morrison gets moved back, too.

The real question is:will the guy with Dozier’s streak ends tonight shirt be there again? And will he again play the fool?

 

I guess that’s technically two questions.

 

Edited April 24, 20188 yr by Craig Arko

Man, you're such a tease!  I was really looking forward to that drinking game!  I'll just have to toast Berrios and wish him well tonight instead.  That's a very worthy and worthwhile endeavor.  

 

Good thing that scotch doesn't last long enough in my house to go bad.

 

Like Danchat said, it's good to see Kepler finally get moved up and Morrison finally moved down in the order.

Edited April 24, 20188 yr by wsnydes

Fun with numbers:

 

Berrios    ERA 1.63     Opp Avg .155    Whip   .58

LaMarre  ERA 13.50   Opp Avg .333    Whip 1.50

Kinley      ERA 24.30   Opp Avg .474    Whip 3.90

 

 

Suggestions?   

 

Fun with numbers:

 

Berrios    ERA 1.63     Opp Avg .155    Whip   .58

LaMarre  ERA 13.50   Opp Avg .333    Whip 1.50

Kinley      ERA 24.30   Opp Avg .474    Whip 3.90

 

 

Suggestions?   

Employ a pitching rotation full of Berrios' and re-sign Chris Giminez?

Good to see Garver in there and Max second in the order.  No Joe tonight. 

Beacon of Mope?

 

Nope!

 

Beacon of Hope! This one is going to be a ballgame!

 

The real question is:will the guy with Dozier’s streak ends tonight shirt be there again? And will he again play the fool?

I guess that’s technically two questions.

9CBA28E6-0FDB-486A-A890-01620E0F4FAB.jpeg

Yes and yes.

My wife does daycare in our home. I always get funny looks when I tell the babies that they won’t find the answers to their problems at the bottom of a bottle. Their look suggests that they strongly disagree.

I absolutely agree a BIG problem here has been such an odd beginng to the season. Did anyone else lose 5 of their first 11 games? It's just feels like the team isn't hitting on all cylinders yet. Take a series from the Astrosm split with the Indians in PR and then lose 3 in a row to the Rays?

 

I'm not down nor in panic mode. Just waiting for the team, as a whole, to get in to a groove. And one of the best things about baseball is, there's always another game. What matters is not the past 4, but today's game.

I was hoping for bacon of hope, but beacon is good too.

 

I absolutely agree a BIG problem here has been such an odd beginng to the season. Did anyone else lose 5 of their first 11 games? It's just feels like the team isn't hitting on all cylinders yet. Take a series from the Astrosm split with the Indians in PR and then lose 3 in a row to the Rays?

I'm not down nor in panic mode. Just waiting for the team, as a whole, to get in to a groove. And one of the best things about baseball is, there's always another game. What matters is not the past 4, but today's game.

Nice work Doc.  Optimism at its best!  

 

Aggies7's head is going to explode with all this optimistic talk today.

Quick point I forgot to mention in the opening:  Jinx's don't count tonight.  There is no such thing in this game thread.  

 

Please note: If Berrios has a no-no going through 7 tonight don't temp the baseball gods

Quick point I forgot to mention in the opening: Jinx's don't count tonight. There is no such thing in this game thread.

 

Please note: If Berrios has a no-no going through 7 tonight don't temp the baseball gods

 

We’ll hide our thermometers...

 

Quick point I forgot to mention in the opening:  Jinx's don't count tonight.  There is no such thing in this game thread.  

 

Please note: If Berrios has a no-no going through 7 tonight don't temp the baseball gods

So you're saying that I can have nachos again tonight?

 

Quick point I forgot to mention in the opening:  Jinx's don't count tonight.  There is no such thing in this game thread.  

 

Please note: If Berrios has a no-no going through 7 tonight don't temp the baseball gods

OH EMM GEEE!!!!!! DUDE!!!

New York:

 

The first time I ever came into a game there [Yankee Stadium], I got in the bullpen car and they told me to lock the doors.

 

-Mike Flanagan 

 

So you're saying that I can have nachos again tonight?

Yes!  Eat away!

Yes! Eat away!

Gee, you're swell mister!

Lets go Twins. Gonna be a big night from Kepler, and JO of course. 

It's early but did anyone see that Texas Joey Gallo (very strikeout prone) has trimmed his strikeout percentage by 8 points?

 

If only Sano, could do such a thing.

 

Fun with numbers:

 

Berrios    ERA 1.63     Opp Avg .155    Whip   .58

LaMarre  ERA 13.50   Opp Avg .333    Whip 1.50

Kinley      ERA 24.30   Opp Avg .474    Whip 3.90

 

 

Suggestions?   

Again, family friendly web site.

I'm feeling like this is gonna be a game where Dozier hits a leadoff home run. Let's see it happen!

Man...just got back from the doctor's office. Not a good trip. The doc examined me, sat me down, and told me he had some bad news, and some worse news. "You have Alzheimer's," he said. "And cancer."

 

I was pretty broken up, as you can imagine. "Well, doc," I said, "It could be worse. At least I don't have cancer."

Our cleanup hitter.

 

Eduardo Escobar

Nice PA there for Sano. He swung at the only pitch that came in the strike zone and took the rest and got a walk. More of that, please.

I love Esco, but come on Paul

 

Our cleanup hitter.

 

Eduardo Escobar

Please keep talking crap!!