Thorpe's getting my attention, threw 1 inning and got 3 Ks. He's gone from DFA candidate to likely making the team. Wes musta worked some magic on him to help him gain some MPH.

 

Meanwhile, Kirilloff's hitting .154 so far... they could justify starting him in the minors if this continues.

Canterino is going to be good

Domo arigato Mr. Sabato!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

It’s early, but Garlick and Braxton have been rapping the ball. I wonder if both Rooker and Kirilloff start in St. Paul.

 

It’s early, but Garlick and Braxton have been rapping the ball. I wonder if both Rooker and Kirilloff start in St. Paul.

I'd still like to see Rooker start in the majors due to age and not needing to play any more in the minors, even if he's backing up 1B and pinch hitting. Kirilloff starting in the minors is starting to make more sense, especially if Garlick makes the team. This could also be bad news for Cave, at least if Broxton makes the team. 

Phew. I didn't miss anything.

 

Today is an off day for the Twins.

Phew. I didn't miss anything.

 

Today is an off day for the Twins.

I hope we won.

 

I hope we won.

 

Me too.

Stretching...

 

As the starting pitchers get more innings per start in preparation for the season, so too do game thread intro writers. No need to provide thoughts to get the discerning reader through the whole game as other posters are round for relief, but it is good to work on your offerings. Today bald declaration pitch. It bears down on the reader, giving them only a split second to decide whether to respond or not. It is good to keep these up in the zone, so readers are likely to pop them up if they make contact...

 

1. Nelson Cruz is going to rake!

2. Broxton will fly!
3. Sano will pick it!

 

(er, How was that? Did i blow them by everyone for a K? Or was the catcher able to hold on to that last one... I know i can be a little wild)

 

Noon on Tuesday (Toonsday?) March 9th

 

Baltimore Orioles

0. Dean Kremer (R ) P
1. Cedric Mullins ( L) CF
2. Trey Mancini (R ) 1B
3. Ryan Mountcastle (R ) LF
4. Pedro Severino (R ) C
5. Austin Hays (R ) RF
6. Pat Valaika (R ) SS
7. Yolmer Sanchez ( S ) 2B
8. Tyler Nevin (R ) DH
9. Rylan Bannon (R ) 3B

 

Minnesota Twins

0. Kenta Maeda (R ) P

1. Max Kepler ( L) RF
2. Josh Donaldson (R ) 3B
3. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH
4. Jorge Polanco ( S ) 2B
5. Miguel Sano (R ) 1B
6. Mitch Garver (R ) C
7. Alex Kirilloff ( L) LF
8. Keon Broxton (R ) CF
9. JT Riddle ( L) SS

Very nice pitching for the Twins so far, both Maeda and Colomé.

 

Now let's get some runs in.

All I want this spring is to see Buxton and Broxton play in the same game and hit back to back homeruns. Not too much to ask for I think. 

 

All I want this spring is to see Buxton and Broxton play in the same game and hit back to back homeruns. Not too much to ask for I think. 

You can always ask...

 

Have they batted back to back yet? Lineups and substitution strategies may be against us on this.

 

I would be satisfied to see one hit and the other score, and pinch running is more likely to happen.

 

A sfor current scoreless game, Broxton does have one of two walks.

Scoreless after 6.

 

Luke Farrell is on the mound. Isn't he the one who didn't give up a BP homer to Buxton earlier in ST?

Well, that was about time.

 

Are we playing more than 7 innings or do we just finish the inning to give the Orioles pitcher a few more pitches?

Apparently, this is the game. Weird way to finish it off. Miguel Sanó hits a walk off double but they just continue to play.

 

2021 spring training, I guess...

Yeah, part of the shortened game thing is to always play out the bottom half of the inning.

 

It is so pitching can be planned more reliably.

 

Anyway...

 

To quote chief, "Winnah!"

Yeah, part of the shortened game thing is to always play out the bottom half of the inning.

 

It is so pitching can be planned more reliably.

Yeah, I know, but somehow I hadn't realized that this would be the rule for walk offs too.

 

Anyway, nice to see our pitchers do so well. And the hitting, well, let's just attribute that to small sample size...

 

It’s early, but Garlick and Braxton have been rapping the ball. I wonder if both Rooker and Kirilloff start in St. Paul.

Broxton would have to be added to 40-man. I would think before that happened, you’d see a move to waive or trade one of the 7 outfielders already on the roster...(4 of which ‘can’ play center). Spring training is going to be even more of a small-sample thing this year, making 40-man roster decisions based on results pretty risky.

Twins bats have reached mid 2020 form in quick fashion.

 

Twins bats have reached mid 2020 form in quick fashion.

At least Maeda is in 2020 form!

 

Yeah, part of the shortened game thing is to always play out the bottom half of the inning.

 

This is the case even when the home team leads going into the bottom of the last.

This is the case even when the home team leads going into the bottom of the last.

Has. The. World. Gone. MAD???

 

 

Has. The. World. Gone. MAD???
 

Dogs and cats living together...

 

Mass hysteria.

TD: 

Today's game thread intro consists of an apology for being late.

 

TC:

0. Jose Berrios (R ) P
1. Luis Arraez ( L) 2B
2. Ryan Jeffers (R ) C
3. Miguel Sano (R ) 1B
4. Willians Astudillo (R ) 3B
5. Kyle Garlick (R ) LF
6. Brent Rooker (R ) DH
7. Rob Refsnyder (R ) RF
8. Tzu-Wei Lin ( L) SS
9. Gilberto Celestino (R ) CF

 

TB:

0. Luis Patino (R ) P
1. Kevin Kiermaier ( L) CF
2. Mike Zunino (R ) DH
3. Austin Meadows ( L) LF
4. Brandon Lowe ( L) 3B
5. Manuel Margot (R ) RF
6. Yoshi Tsutsugo ( L) 1B
7. Francisco Mejia ( S ) C
8. Mike Brosseau (R ) SS
9. Vidal Brujan ( S ) 2B

 

TA: ta for now...

3-0 lead in the 4th.

 

And this last inning brought some OPSs down. I was excited for a moment whne battters 4-8 in our line up all had OPSs>1.  Welcome to spring training...

4-0.

 

John Bonnes back at it again...

Let me be the first to ask...because it’s never too early to ask this question...

 

Where’s Buxton?

 

I was anticipating a very healthy dose of live reps this spring for him. Seeing as though his injury woes are behind him and all. And the career 289 OBP.