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Opening Day Game Thread: Mariners @ Twins, 4/8 @ 3:10pm CT

Matthew Lenz

By Matthew Lenz
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Matthew Lenz GCL Twins

Matthew Lenz

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Tradition – the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on this way.

I find it very fitting that Opening Day 2022 falls on Masters week. The week that has the reputation for being the greatest week in sports with the conclusion of March Madness coupled with the beautiful images of Magnolia Lane at August National in preparation for the pinnacle of PGA golf tournaments. When you think of Masters week you think of the perfectly manicured grass and groomed sand (actually it’s quartz) traps, Tiger Woods’ Sunday red, and of course the trophies of all trophies…the coveted Green jacket. In short, you think of it as a tradition unlike any other. In most years Opening Day, which is actually the best week in sports, falls ahead of Masters week on the yearly sports calendar but this year is different.

Thanks to a tumultuous 99-day lockout, the Major League Baseball season was pushed back a week and is now sharing the spotlight with March Madness and Masters week. The combination of college basketball players seeing their lifelong dreams come to life, Augusta National opening up to a record number of fans due to Woods’ return to the course, and now Major League Baseball celebrating their first “normal” Opening Day since 2019 there’s no arguing that this is the best week in sports. The topping on the cake is that, for the fourth time since it’s opening in 2010, Target Field will host Opening Day as our Twins take on the Seattle Mariners. And isn’t it so fitting that we woke up with snow in the ground and are anticipating “feels like” temperatures in the 30’s with blustery winds...true Minnesota Spring day. Target Field has seen two wins and one loss in it’s previous three games where the starters were Vance Worley (lol) in 2013, Ervin Santana in 2017, and Jose Berrios in 2019.

I find a lot of parallels in this years Opening Day with March Madness and the Masters. As college basketball players are seeing all of their hard work pay off with cinderalla-esque march madness runs and championship banners, the Twins Joe Ryan will become just the second rookie in franchise history to start on Opening Day. Years of work and dedication to his craft has culminated in one of the most prestigious honors in sports..getting the “nod” on Opening Day. Like the pictures coming out of Augusta National, we’re accustomed to the perfectly groomed baseball diamond with striping in the grass and the dark brown tint of the freshly dampened dirt.

The Masters will be forever tied to Tiger’s Sunday red while the Twins will be forever tied to “Twins Navy”, “Scarlet Red”, and “Kasota Gold” and on Saturday’s we’re treated to the power blue alternate jerseys. While our trophy is more traditional than the Green Jacket, there’s just something special about hoisting the commissioner’s trophy that has representation for all 30 teams in a unique circular design.

While the Masters might be the “tradition” unlike any other, I’d argue that Opening Day is in the same realm. Is any other start to the season as celebrated as much Major League Baseball’s Opening Day? I don’t think so. Opening Day has brought people together for generations and will continue to do so moving forward. My family and I started our tradition last year in 2020, as my son (who is now 2) got to experience his first Major League Baseball game in mostly reasonably conditions. Okay to be honest, he enjoyed Cocomelon while we enjoyed the game. Now this year we had a 10 day old into the mix (yep, she’s going too) and continue that tradition with our newborn daughter. We have other traditions we have formed over the years, but nothing excites me more than spending quality time with the people I love watching the sport I love.

What are your opening day traditions? What are your favorite memories from opening day?

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Matthew Lenz
Matthew Lenz

Tradition – the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on this way. I find it very fitting that Opening Day 2022 falls on Masters week. The

USAFChief
USAFChief

Mrs Chief tells me I've been getting forgetful. I don't know why she'd say that, when I think it's her who can't remember so well these days. Anywho, after arguing about it for months, we agreed

shortround81
shortround81

Most important stats of the season:

Squirrel GOAT

Squirrel

Community Leader
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14 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

Most important stats of the season:

2022-04-08_10-43-44.jpg

Joe Ryan with a Grateful Dead song? He needs to grow back his flowing locks to pull that off ... plus a tie-dye jersey

And I still want to see a closer, anywhere, use the Darth Vader Theme

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shortround81 First Round Pick

shortround81

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13 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Joe Ryan with a Grateful Dead song? He needs to grow back his flowing locks to pull that off ... plus a tie-dye jersey

And I still want to see a closer, anywhere, use the Darth Vader Theme

He needs a deal with Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream

I'd laugh if a closer used "Why Can't We Be Friends" by War

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USAFChief Cooperstown

USAFChief

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Mrs Chief tells me I've been getting forgetful. I don't know why she'd say that, when I think it's her who can't remember so well these days.

Anywho, after arguing about it for months, we agreed to see a doctor. After an endless series of pokes and prods and tests and questions and on and on, he simply told us we should maybe start writing stuff down as a way to help.

Well, wouldn't you know it, that very night, as we were watching Murder She Wrote, Mrs Chief asked me to get her some ice cream.

Annoyed, but not wanting to cause a ruckus, I got up. As I was heading to the kitchen she called out, "with caramel sauce. You better write it down."

"Don't be ridiculous," I said. "I'll remember."

"And nuts on top. Write. It. Down!"

Now REALLY perturbed, I yelled back "I'll remember! Geez oh peez."

20 minutes later I came back with her bacon and eggs, and Mrs Chief gave me "the look." All husbands know "the look."

"What?" I asked.

"I TOLD you to write it down," she muttered. "Where's the GD toast I asked for??!"

 

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twinssporto St Paul Saints

twinssporto

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1 hour ago, shortround81 said:

Most important stats of the season:

2022-04-08_10-43-44.jpg

Great song ideas for Relievers as they walk to the mound:

Metallica: Enter Sandman

Maybe a little Molly Hatchet: Flirting' with Disaster

Maybe a little Rush: Tom Sawyer

Those songs really show my age...

 

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wsnydes St Paul Saints

wsnydes

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45 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Mrs Chief tells me I've been getting forgetful. I don't know why she'd say that, when I think it's her who can't remember so well these days.

Anywho, after arguing about it for months, we agreed to see a doctor. After an endless series of pokes and prods and tests and questions and on and on, he simply told us we should maybe start writing stuff down as a way to help.

Well, wouldn't you know it, that very night, as we were watching Murder She Wrote, Mrs Chief asked me to get her some ice cream.

Annoyed, but not wanting to cause a ruckus, I got up. As I was heading to the kitchen she called out, "with caramel sauce. You better write it down."

"Don't be ridiculous," I said. "I'll remember."

"And nuts on top. Write. It. Down!"

Now REALLY perturbed, I yelled back "I'll remember! Geez oh peez."

20 minutes later I came back with her bacon and eggs, and Mrs Chief gave me "the look." All husbands know "the look."

"What?" I asked.

"I TOLD you to write it down," she muttered. "Where's the GD toast I asked for??!"

 

Midseason form already, Chief!

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USAFChief Cooperstown

USAFChief

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1 minute ago, twinssporto said:

Great song ideas for Relievers as they walk to the mound:

Metallica: Enter Sandman

Maybe a little Molly Hatchet: Flirting' with Disaster

Maybe a little Rush: Tom Sawyer

Those songs really show my age...

 

I believe "Enter Sandman" has been taken.

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wsnydes St Paul Saints

wsnydes

Community Leader
Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, twinssporto said:

Great song ideas for Relievers as they walk to the mound:

Metallica: Enter Sandman

Maybe a little Molly Hatchet: Flirting' with Disaster

Maybe a little Rush: Tom Sawyer

Those songs really show my age...

 

Wasn't Flirtin' with Disaster Eddie Guardado's  career in song form?

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wsnydes St Paul Saints

wsnydes

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1 minute ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

It down.

 

It down.

 

It down. It down It down.

 

Does that help?

Not until you've stayed after class and written it on the blackboard another 495 times. :)

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Minny505 Draft Eligible

Minny505

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While I don't expect Arraez to be in the lineup much against LHP, I'm surprised by the spot in the lineup that Urshela occupies. It kind of looks like Arraez was a late scratch and Rocco didn't want to mess with reshuffling.

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