In the spirit of "look, 4 white horses. and there are 4 of us", and with blatant apologies to Mr. Letterman, and the decade of the 90s, here are the top ten reasons for watching tonight's game (and perhaps complaining about it on a game thread)

10: Andrelton Simmons is playing short stop and batting

9: Willians Astudillo is playing first base and batting

8: Ryan Jeffers is catching and batting

7: Brent Rooker is playing left field and batting

6: Miguel Sano is hitting designatedly and batting

5: Josh Donaldson is playing 3rd base and batting

4: Rob Refsnyder is playing right field and batting

3: Jorge Polanco is playing 2nd base and batting

2: Byron Buxton is playing center field and batting

1: Joe Ryan is pitching!

 

Cubs just have 1 reason so far: Justin Steele is pitching (and i might forget to post something if i wait)

 

I like our chances!

My most-anticipated Twins game since Opening Day!

2 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

My most-anticipated Twins game since Opening Day!

Concur.

Kinda figured whatever i did as an intro clever presentation wise was already upstaged by Joe Ryan, so i decided to live with that.

 

Oh, the other guys:

 

1. Rafael Ortega (L) CF

2. F. Schwindel (R) DH

3. Ian Happ (S) LF

4. Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B

5. Matt Duffy (R) 2B

6. Jason Heyward (L) RF

7. Austin Romine (R) C

8. Alfonso Rivas (L) 1B

9. S. Alcantara (S) SS

How is Joe Ryan related to Nolan Ryan?

51 minutes ago, Otwins said:

How is Joe Ryan related to Nolan Ryan?

Is this a @USAFChief joke?

1 minute ago, wsnydes said:

Is this a @USAFChief joke?

USAFChief jokes are no laughing matter.

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

USAFChief jokes are no laughing matter.

You got that right! ?

okay ... GEEEEEEEET REEEEEAAAAADDDYYYY!

Here we go!

Nothing but strikes so far!

I saw Ryan with the Saints. Looked great there. Hopefully more of the same tonight.

At this rate he'll never allow a baserunner in his entire career!

Cubs #3 hitter is batting .199.

Woof.

8 pitches, 8 strikes, 1-2-3 inning!

8 pitches, 8 strikes, 3 outs.

Joe Ryan is on pace to be the greatest, most efficient, with the best k/bb ratio, pitcher of all-tme!

Well, if he works like this, he'll be fun to watch. 

Another pitcher who will not be Fred Bruckbauer! 

Rocco decided to bat Refsnyder third because...

1 minute ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

Rocco decided to bat Refsnyder third because...

his name was next out of the hat

Apparently Ryan threw all his strikes in the first inning.

4 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

his name was next out of the hat

As likely an explanation as any other.

I will say I like how fast Ryan pitches. Catches the ball, gets the sign,  throws the ball. Not quite Mark Buerhle but pretty good. Hope that never changes. 

Definitely doesn't belong here, 21 pitches to get through 2 innings, no excuse for that

So far, Ryan is as advertised.

And what a glorious mane. 

1 minute ago, gunnarthor said:

I will say I like how fast Ryan pitches. Catches the ball, gets the sign,  throws the ball. Not quite Mark Buerhle but pretty good. Hope that never changes. 

The pitch clock enforcement in the minors is probably training a few of the younger pitchers well

Brent Ballmagnet

Fun watching Ryan and that funky movement/ride on the FB

He pounds the zone, I wonder how the funky will play next year

I'm done with the turtle. 

Oof, that was two very bad ABs back-to-back. Jeffers has been a big disappointment, and my patience has run out for Tortuga. We don't need to see any more of the likes of Tortuga and Refsnyder.

1 minute ago, gunnarthor said:

I'm done with the turtle. 

Did