Good morning Twins fans and welcome back to more Game Thread fun! It was so nice seeing the Twins play again yesterday! I hate that we lost but one game in the scheme of things doesn't really matter this time of year. However, I really believe we have a strong foundation and a group of players that will compete well this year. I'm still standing by my prediction that the Twins will win the AL Central this year.

By the way, I love this time of year in Minnesota. We have the Masters on TV, the weather is warming, the ice is melting off the lakes, the grass is beginning to green, MLB is starting up and hope "springs" eternal for my favorite team the Minnesota Twins. 

It will be interesting to see how Sonny Gray stacks up today against this Mariner's offense. Hopefully his first start as a Minnesota Twin will result in a big W! How will the rest of the bullpen do? Will our offense start seeing the ball and make more contact? Will the dynamic duo of Buxton and Correa become the most dangerous one-two punch in MLB? Well, pull up a chair, crack a beer or your favorite beverage and tune in to find out. Today's game is gonna be a good one!

Speaking of ice melting...Here are some fast facts on one of Minnesota's most celebrated lakes, Lake Minnetonka. Ice-out on Lake Minnetonka is declared when officials can boat through all channels and bays without being obstructed by ice. The earliest ice-out was March 11, 1878. The latest ice-out was May 5, 1857. The average ice-out date historically has been April 17th, 18th and 19th. The median ice-out date is April 14th (half of ice-outs are before that date and half are after that date). Coincidentally, for many years the latest ice-out date was attributed to May 8th, 1856. The Minnesota Climatology Working Group raised questions about the accuracy of that date based on temperature records showing that April 1856 was very warm.

My guess is we will have ice-out on Lake Minnetonka April 15th this year. I can hardly wait to start Crappie fishing in a few weeks! Just like I can hardly wait to see this Minnesota Twins franchise win another World Series. 

Win Twins!

Today's Lineups:

MINNESOTA TWINS:

1. Byron Buxton, CF

2. Luis Arraez, 3B

3. C. Correa, SS

4. J. Polanco, 2B

5. Alex Kirilloff, DH

6. Miguel Sano, 1B

7. Max Kepler, RF

8. Ryan Jeffers, C

9. Nick Gordon, LF

SP - Sonny Gray (R)

SEATTLE MARINERS

1. Adam Frazier, 2B

2. Ty France, 1B

3. Jesse Winker, DH

4. M. Haniger, RF

5. Abraham Toro, 3B

6. J. Kelenic, LF

7. J. Rodriguez, CF

8. J. Crawford, SS

9. Tom Murphy, C

SP - Logan Gilbert (R)

Weather: Sunny and warming up to a balmy 50 degrees. Wind blowing out today at about 3mph.

By the way, my pick to click today is Byron Buxton. 

Go Twins!

 

161-1 starts today!

You all can thank @D. Hocking for my new avatar …

Like the Arraez sandwich game two created between the one/three hitters and hopefully they are "clutch" hitters today. Buck should have saved a couple of those Grapefruit hits for the opener.

12 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

You all can thank @D. Hocking for my new avatar …

That 3-eyed squirrel is pretty weird

7 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

That 3-eyed squirrel is pretty weird

The ****ing ******** nightmare fuel is this?

Let's do this!

 

13 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

The ****ing ******** nightmare fuel is this?

I think a few of us missed our callings in life and could have made a fortune making horror films …

 

54 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I think a few of us missed our callings in life and could have made a fortune making horror films …

 

and you can always draw on the seasons 2011 to 2015 or so for material.  Pitching Rotation Massacre.  

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

You all can thank @D. Hocking for my new avatar …

Do I have to?

1 hour ago, shortround81 said:

Let's do this!

 

Is this the way to forget about the horror that is @Squirrel's new avatar? 

Asking for, well, me.

Just now, wsnydes said:

Is this the way to forget about the horror that is @Squirrel's new avatar? 

Asking for, well, me.

As my marketing professor once said, "I drink to forget"

Well better top of 1st than yesterday.  

4 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

Is this the way to forget about the horror that is @Squirrel's new avatar? 

Asking for, well, me.

Since you've been doing that all along, not sure that's a fair question

Just now, Squirrel said:

Since you've been doing that all along, not sure that's a fair question

I was hoping to have had a head start on all of you.

I'm old. The Mariners' SP looks like he's gonna go to prom after the game

Way to go, birthday boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUIS ARRAEZ!!!!!!!

I like the start of this game better than yesterdays.

5 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I like the start of this game better than yesterdays.

Me too!

Hmm ... I think they got him out

what's up fam!? MNSota Sports gal checking in here!!!!

Following via game day, hoping for some clarification:

Kiriloff struck out on a pitch the catcher couldn’t hold on to? Then he catcher threw it into the outfield?

7 minutes ago, shortround81 said:

I'm old. The Mariners' SP looks like he's gonna go to prom after the game

I saw a comment recently that Mauer is going to be 40 next year which made me realize, I am older than forty and did not make me feel young.

Damn.. on the challenge.

Rocco should consider starting Buxton at 3rd base tomorrow so he hits a homer. Flawless strategy. 

Just now, D. Hocking said:

I saw a comment recently that Mauer is going to be 40 next year which made me realize, I am older than forty and did not make me feel young.

Damn.. on the challenge.

46 here.  i am old, tired, but have a Hell of a lot of years of teaching ahead yet unfortunately.  

Kirilloff looks like he has no idea when to get his swing started. Sure hope he finds his groove.

Meanwhile, Sweet. Luis. Arraez!

1 minute ago, Sconnie said:

Following via game day, hoping for some clarification:

Kiriloff struck out on a pitch the catcher couldn’t hold on to? Then he catcher threw it into the outfield?

the catcher dropped the ball - he ran to first as the catcher threw it to first. The first baseman looked like he came down late, but he didn't. seattle challened, Kiriloff was out

1 minute ago, Sherry Cerny said:

the catcher dropped the ball - he ran to first as the catcher threw it to first. The first baseman looked like he came down late, but he didn't. seattle challened, Kiriloff was out

Thanks!