Good afternoon Twins fans and welcome back to more Game Thread fun! The Minnesota Twins kick off another inter-division battle tonight with the Detroit Tigers. After sweeping the White Sox this weekend our first place Twins are looking to add some more distance between their division rivals by beating up the Tigers. Can our starting rotation keep up the good work? Can Buxton keep up the torrid pace he has been showcasing at the plate? Can Correa get in the groove and start producing at the plate? Tune into tonight's game to find out while posting some humor, opinions, and banter on this very Game Thread.

Tonight's pitching matchup will feature the Tiger's lefty Eduardo Rodriguez 0-1, (5.27 ERA) going against Twin's righty Chris Paddack 0-2 (5.00 ERA). Byron Buxton will be playing the DH role tonight and looks to get a night off from playing center field. Gilberto Celestino will be roaming center field for Buxton instead.

Speaking of Buxton, if he can stay healthy and keep up this crazy pace (per ESPN), he would be one of only 8 position players in the last 50 years to reach the "gold standard" of a 10-WAR season.  Consider this: In the last two years when Buxton is on the field he is averaging a .076 WAR per game. For comparison, Mike Trout averaged .069 WAR per game. Of course Trout has completed the marathon seasons while Buxton has been hit with injuries. Time will tell but Buxton is certainly one of the most gifted Twins to ever take the field. Hopefully he brings some more magic tonight and sparks our anemic offense. As they say, money begets more money and hitting begets more hitting...

Settle in, grab some snacks, something good to drink and enjoy a Twins team that seems to be heating up (unlike this pathetic spring weather we're experiencing in Minnesota).

Go Twins!

Tonight's lineups:

TWINS:

1. Byron Buxton , DH

2. Carlos Correa, SS

3. Jorge Polanco, 2B

4. Kyle Garlic, LF

5. Gio Urshela, 3B

6. Max Kepler, RF

7. Miguel Sano, 1B

8. Ryan Jeffers, C

9. Gilberto Celestino, CF

SP - Chris Paddack, (R)

 

TIGERS:

1. R. Grossman, RF

2. Austin Meadows, LF

3. Javier Baez, SS

4. Miguel Cabrera, DH

5. Spencer Torkelson, 1B

6. J. Candelario, 3B

7. J. Schoop, 2B

8. T. Barnhart, C

9. Derek Hill, CF

SP - E. Rodriguez, (L)

 

Weather: Cold and 44 degrees....Where the hell did spring go? 

 

 

I'm going to keep playing the hot hand and choose Buxton as my pick to click tonight.

Sano in, Arraez out? That's what... a .365 drop in batting average? Do we want to win this game?

30 minutes ago, twinssporto said:

I'm going to keep playing the hot hand and choose Buxton as my pick to click tonight.

 Cheater!

45 minutes ago, twinssporto said:

Weather: Cold and 44 degrees....Where the hell did spring go? 

Wait . . . you guys had Spring?

In belated celebration of Miguel Cabrera’s 3000th hit, we have this series’ installment of Shopping With The Enemy. In this special episode we’ll highlight gift ideas for that chef in your life with questionable team affiliation.

First a hideous salt and pepper set

second we have a terrible spoon rest

 

Finally a warning (yes I left this for the end to send you all on a wild goose chase) if you search for your own Shopping With The Enemy, after all, why not, “Tigers Pro Shop” search term doesn’t always return “The Detroit Tigers” pro shop.

I think this might be a better place to shop with the enemy, at least if you have toddlers

 

Most importantly if you find a lost tiger, run up and cuddle them really quickly, pet them vigorously, and then call 1800TIGERSPRO

Ok, don’t do that, seriously, call your local animal control or police department if you see wild dangerous animals such as tigers in your back yard

1 hour ago, twinssporto said:

I'm going to keep playing the hot hand and choose Buxton as my pick to click tonight.

That almost seems like cheating though, doesn't it?

 

Edit: Ninja's by @Sconnieby like half an hour...

Edit #2: make that a full hour.

44 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

In belated celebration of Miguel Cabrera’s 3000th hit, we have this series’ installment of Shopping With The Enemy. In this special episode we’ll highlight gift ideas for that chef in your life with questionable team affiliation.

First a hideous salt and pepper set

second we have a terrible spoon rest

 

Finally a warning (yes I left this for the end to send you all on a wild goose chase) if you search for your own Shopping With The Enemy, after all, why not, “Tigers Pro Shop” search term doesn’t always return “The Detroit Tigers” pro shop.

I think this might be a better place to shop with the enemy, at least if you have toddlers

 

Most importantly if you find a lost tiger, run up and cuddle them really quickly, pet them vigorously, and then call 1800TIGERSPRO

Ok, don’t do that, seriously, call your local animal control or police department if you see wild dangerous animals such as tigers in your back yard

This is my favorite Game Thread bit.  But don't tell @USAFChiefthat.

1 hour ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Sano in, Arraez out? That's what... a .365 drop in batting average? Do we want to win this game?

Arraez can not hit left hand pitching so there is not difference and Sano is a better fielder than Arraez.

9 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

This is my favorite Game Thread bit.  But don't tell @USAFChiefthat.

Somebody's itchin' fer a bannin'

 

23 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Somebody's itchin' fer a bannin'

 

I agree.  @Sconnie really should know better!

1 hour ago, shortround81 said:

Wait . . . you guys had Spring?

Yeah, but I was lucky.  My folks made a comfortable living, so I got the name brand.

1 hour ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Sano in, Arraez out? That's what... a .365 drop in batting average? Do we want to win this game?

Hopefully it’s only because a lefty is starting, once he’s done, Arraez should pinch hit. Sano should only be facing LHs until he shows improvement.

2 hours ago, twinssporto said:

 

Weather: Cold and 44 degrees....Where the hell did spring go? 

 

 

What spring are you referring to? It can't be the one we didn't have here in Mn. Now that I'm old and broken, spring sure seemed a lot warmer to me, back when I was a healthy young guy.

Buxton not in CF but DH'ing?

Rocko playing it safe on a cold night in the northland?

14 minutes ago, Old Twins Cap said:

Buxton not in CF but DH'ing?

Rocko playing it safe on a cold night in the northland?

They're going to play 13 straight days starting today.  Probably a fair assumption that we'll see more of this during that stretch.

Where the hell did spring go? 

 

I know, right? Already way too hot.

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

Where the hell did spring go? 

 

I know, right? Already way too hot.

Somebody's itchin' fer a bannin'

44 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Hopefully it’s only because a lefty is starting, once he’s done, Arraez should pinch hit. Sano should only be facing LHs until he shows improvement.

Ah! Humble man forgot to check throwing arm of opposing pitcher. Charlie Chan say man who jump to conclusions often trip on rope.

I hate watching the other teams telecasts. At least Jack Morris is on though.

6 minutes ago, The Mad King said:

I hate watching the other teams telecasts. At least Jack Morris is on though.

You say that like its a good thing....

Not a great feeling about this one. Paddack was bad in the cold the first game. The bats have been bad in the cold. Eduardo Rodriguez is good.

 

Tigers 5, Twins 3. 

Go Twins!

Love the powder blues…….and Paddock’s high socks. 

31 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

Somebody's itchin' fer a bannin'

You can’t ban a Moderator

Quick first inning.  Hopefully Paddack tightens his control up.

1 minute ago, alexthegreat said:

You can’t ban a Moderator

I know that I can't, but I'm guessing someone around here can!

3 minutes ago, alexthegreat said:

You can’t ban a Moderator

Have you tried…. OMG was it ME?!

 

it was, wasn’t it?

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I know that I can't, but I'm guessing someone around here can!

@Brock Beauchamp can you???

3 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

Have you tried…. OMG was it ME?!

 

it was, wasn’t it?

 

 

 

I fear I might get in trouble if I try

3 minutes ago, alexthegreat said:

I fear I might get in trouble if I try

Like get banned yourself?  

Talk about an all-time backfire!