GAME THREAD: Oakland at Minnesota, May 8, 2022, 1:10 PM, CDT

[Nine of twelve]

Hi everybody, and welcome to today's game thread. I'm not going to try to do any analysis because we have plenty of contributors to this site who perform this function much better than I could. Instead I'm going to use my usual 5-topic introduction.

1. Happy Mother's day to all, especially to those who are mothers. Your mother contributed a lot to your life. For one thing, over half of your DNA was inherited from your biological mother. Also please remember that any woman who contributed to your upbringing was in some sense your mother. Father's Day and Grandparent's Day are coming later in the year. Speaking of grandparents, my parents used to make me spend two weeks with my grandparents every summer. I did it even though I hated the cemetery.

2. In many years Minnesota's fishing season opener takes place on Mother's Day weekend. But because Mother's Day falls on an early date this year it's not until next weekend. This reminds me of the old proverb: Give a man a fish and he has food for a day. Teach a man to fish and he has to buy bamboo rods, graphite reels, monofilament lines, neoprene waders, creels, tackleboxes, lures, flies, spinners, worm rigs, slip sinkers, offset hooks, gore-tex hats, 20 pocket vests, fish finders, depth sounders, radar, boats, trailers, global positioning systems, coolers, and six-packs.

3. Yesterday's Kentucky Derby was a stunning race. I won't say which horse won for those of you who aren't aware of the result, but here's what happened:

4. Baseball has been such an integral part of American life for so many years that it is inevitable that many baseball idioms have become part of the English language. Here are 30 of them that I found after a very quick search. 

1. ballpark figure: a rough estimate
2. bat a thousand: a reference to a continuing series of successes, alluding to a baseball player who gets on base every time at bat
3. box score: a count or summary (from the chart on which a games statistical details are recorded; applicable to various sports but originating in reference to baseball)
4. bush league: a sports organization subordinate to the major leagues (referring to the usually rural locations of such teams; can apply to any sport but originated in reference to baseball)
5. curve ball: something unexpected (from the unpredictable trajectory of that type of baseball pitch)
6. go to bat for: support (from the notion of a batter contributing to his team)
7–8. hit a home run/hit one out of the park: be successful
9. in the ballpark: close; said of an estimate (compared to being within the confines of a stadium)
10–11. it’s a whole new ball game/different ball game: a reference to a changed situation
12. keep (one’s) eyes on the ball: maintain focus (compared to a batter concentrating on a pitch)
13. major league: significant, as in a reference to a company that is one of the leaders in its industry or line of business (from the fact that the major leagues are the pinnacle of achievement in sports)
14. off base: wrong, or on the wrong track (from the notion of a player not being in contact with one of the bases)
15. on deck: next in line (from the location designated for the next batter to await his turn)
16. out in left field: said of a person with an eccentric or unusual idea (from the idea of left field being a distant location)
17. out of (one’s) league: said of one who is trying to succeed in an area in which he or she faces superior competition or is striving to achieve too much (originally from baseball but applicable to many sports)
18. (hit it) out of the park: succeed (comparing a success to a home run)
19. pinch hitter: substitute (from the designation of a player taking another’s place at bat)
20. play ball: cooperate
21. play hardball: act aggressively (from the density of a baseball as compared to a softball)
22. rain check: a promise to make good on an offer (from tickets offered for rescheduled sporting events postponed by rain; originated in baseball but applicable to any outdoor sport or event)
23. softball: an easy, noncontroversial question
24. step up to the plate: take responsibility (compared to a player taking his turn at bat)
25. strike out: fail, especially repeatedly
26. strikes against (one): said of more than one disadvantage or mistake a person has against him or her
27. swing for the fences: perform with great effort or intensity (as compared to a baseball player trying to hit a home run)
28. three strikes and you’re out: a reference to someone being given three chances to succeed (analogous to the three strikes a hitter is allowed before being called out)
29. throw (one) a curve: surprise someone with something unexpected or not expected as presented (as compared to a curveball)
30. touch base: contact (compared to a player landing a foot on a base)

5. After a rainy morning it appears the weather will clear enough to allow the game to be played. But even if the weather doesn't cooperate I'm sure they'll try to play between the raindrops.

The Twins' lineup has not been posted as I write this, so I'll wait until it's available and post both teams' lineups together.

Go Twins!

[Squirrel]

45 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

Speaking of grandparents, my parents used to make me spend two weeks with my grandparents every summer. I did it even though I hated the cemetery.

Lol ... reminds me of a 'Mommy, Mommy' joke I got from a joke book that I think was my older brother's ...

Me: Mommy, Mommy, can I go play with Grandma?
Mommy: Now, if you dig her up one more time ...!!!

Okay, morbid ... but I used to laugh at that as a kid. Probably answers a lot of questions of me as an adult ... and maybe my familial relations as well ... 

[Nine of twelve]

 

 

 

Athletics:

1. Ramon Laureano (R) RF

2. Sheldon Neuse (R) 2B

3. Sean Murphy (R) C

4. Seth Brown (L) 1B

5. Chad Pinder (R) DH

6. Kevin Smith (R) 3B

7. Billy McKinney (L) LF

8. Elvis Andrus (R) SS

9. Cristian Pache (R) CF

P. Daulton Jefferies (R)

 

Twins:

1. Max Kepler (L) RF

2. Jose Miranda (R) DH

3. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

4. Gary Sanchez (R) C

5. Nick Gordon (L) LF

6. Gio Urshela (R) 3B

7. Royce Lewis (R) SS

8. Alex Kirilloff (L) 1B

9. Gilberto Celestino (R) CF

P. Chris Paddack (R)

[PDX Twin]

Brilliant idea for an intro! As I was reading, I kept thinking of more but you eventually hit all of the ones I came up with.

[stringer bell]

No Buxton, Correa or Larnach and they are all on the active roster. I’m guessing the Twins have only Jeffers truly available on the bench. 

[USAFChief]

No Buxton. No Correa.

Sigh...

[USAFChief]

19 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

Hi everybody, and welcome to today's game thread. I'm not going to try to do any analysis because we have plenty of contributors to this site who perform this function much better than I could. Instead I'm going to use my usual 5-topic introduction.

1. Happy Mother's day to all, especially to those who are mothers. Your mother contributed a lot to your life. For one thing, over half of your DNA was inherited from your biological mother. Also please remember that any woman who contributed to your upbringing was in some sense your mother. Father's Day and Grandparent's Day are coming later in the year. Speaking of grandparents, my parents used to make me spend two weeks with my grandparents every summer. I did it even though I hated the cemetery.

2. In many years Minnesota's fishing season opener takes place on Mother's Day weekend. But because Mother's Day falls on an early date this year it's not until next weekend. This reminds me of the old proverb: Give a man a fish and he has food for a day. Teach a man to fish and he has to buy bamboo rods, graphite reels, monofilament lines, neoprene waders, creels, tackleboxes, lures, flies, spinners, worm rigs, slip sinkers, offset hooks, gore-tex hats, 20 pocket vests, fish finders, depth sounders, radar, boats, trailers, global positioning systems, coolers, and six-packs.

3. Yesterday's Kentucky Derby was a stunning race. I won't say which horse won for those of you who aren't aware of the result, but here's what happened:

4. Baseball has been such an integral part of American life for so many years that it is inevitable that many baseball idioms have become part of the English language. Here are 30 of them that I found after a very quick search. 

1. ballpark figure: a rough estimate
2. bat a thousand: a reference to a continuing series of successes, alluding to a baseball player who gets on base every time at bat
3. box score: a count or summary (from the chart on which a games statistical details are recorded; applicable to various sports but originating in reference to baseball)
4. bush league: a sports organization subordinate to the major leagues (referring to the usually rural locations of such teams; can apply to any sport but originated in reference to baseball)
5. curve ball: something unexpected (from the unpredictable trajectory of that type of baseball pitch)
6. go to bat for: support (from the notion of a batter contributing to his team)
7–8. hit a home run/hit one out of the park: be successful
9. in the ballpark: close; said of an estimate (compared to being within the confines of a stadium)
10–11. it’s a whole new ball game/different ball game: a reference to a changed situation
12. keep (one’s) eyes on the ball: maintain focus (compared to a batter concentrating on a pitch)
13. major league: significant, as in a reference to a company that is one of the leaders in its industry or line of business (from the fact that the major leagues are the pinnacle of achievement in sports)
14. off base: wrong, or on the wrong track (from the notion of a player not being in contact with one of the bases)
15. on deck: next in line (from the location designated for the next batter to await his turn)
16. out in left field: said of a person with an eccentric or unusual idea (from the idea of left field being a distant location)
17. out of (one’s) league: said of one who is trying to succeed in an area in which he or she faces superior competition or is striving to achieve too much (originally from baseball but applicable to many sports)
18. (hit it) out of the park: succeed (comparing a success to a home run)
19. pinch hitter: substitute (from the designation of a player taking another’s place at bat)
20. play ball: cooperate
21. play hardball: act aggressively (from the density of a baseball as compared to a softball)
22. rain check: a promise to make good on an offer (from tickets offered for rescheduled sporting events postponed by rain; originated in baseball but applicable to any outdoor sport or event)
23. softball: an easy, noncontroversial question
24. step up to the plate: take responsibility (compared to a player taking his turn at bat)
25. strike out: fail, especially repeatedly
26. strikes against (one): said of more than one disadvantage or mistake a person has against him or her
27. swing for the fences: perform with great effort or intensity (as compared to a baseball player trying to hit a home run)
28. three strikes and you’re out: a reference to someone being given three chances to succeed (analogous to the three strikes a hitter is allowed before being called out)
29. throw (one) a curve: surprise someone with something unexpected or not expected as presented (as compared to a curveball)
30. touch base: contact (compared to a player landing a foot on a base)

5. After a rainy morning it appears the weather will clear enough to allow the game to be played. But even if the weather doesn't cooperate I'm sure they'll try to play between the raindrops.

The Twins' lineup has not been posted as I write this, so I'll wait until it's available and post both teams' lineups together.

Go Twins!

Nicely done. I bet your mom would be proud.

[lecroy24fan]

17 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

No Buxton, Correa or Larnach and they are all on the active roster. I’m guessing the Twins have only Jeffers truly available on the bench. 

Larnach was put on the IL, meaning they now have Godoy on the bench.

[USAFChief]

May as well just go ahead and complete the sweep. 

[PDX Twin]

10 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

May as well just go ahead and complete the sweep. 

I agree. And based on the last two days, the A's might not object much.

[stringer bell]

10 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

Larnach was put on the IL, meaning they now have Godoy on the bench.

Wow. Someone turns a corner and heads to the Injured List. 
 

I was speculating that the Twins would wait for the off day tomorrow to determine if someone would go on the IL, but hey, we get our third catcher back!

[Mill1634]

Really stinks about Larnach. He was crushing the baseball and has improved defensively. This means more Kiriloff, which isn't a good thing as things currently stand. Today's lineup is pretty putrid, but that's gonna happen when Buxton, Correa, Arraez, Sano, and Larnach are on the shelf. Twins badly need Arraez back to play 1st base, which can move Miranda to third. They now have no hitters on the 40 man that aren't on the MLB roster, benched with an injury, or on the IL. 

[cHawk]

Let’s get this dub today and complete the sweep!

[CRF]

WOW! That's about as weak a line up as it can get. If we can squeak out another 2-1 or 1-0 win, I'll be extremely pleased. Larnach going to the IL really sucks too. I hadn't seen that yet. Btw...The Nightfly is a fantastic album! Classic Donald Fagen. 

[PDX Twin]

Does Correa field that one?

[Mill1634]

Falling into an early deficit with the lineup we're rolling out today is not ideal.

[Jham]

Nice intro! Had to return the Mother's Day gift I bought after the Derby, unfortunately. That said, it was my favorite Derby ever. Amazing story. Here's a link to the presser. Sports fans should enjoy.

Paddock reminds me a great deal of Kyle Gibson. Nibble nibble rocket.

[mrtwinsfan]

[Jham]

Miranda with a 2-0 count swings at a ball up and in... His approach needs refining.

[mrtwinsfan]

WAY TO MAKE THE PITCHER WORK gUYS 

[Melissa]

Love the baseball terms and clichés! A colleague from England would quote a lot of these as cricket expressions, too.

[Buffy the Twins Fan]

Is Paddack considered a strikeout pitcher? The three singles were not ideal, but I've been impressed by the whiffs he's getting

[cHawk]

2 minutes ago, Buffy the Twins Fan said:

Is Paddack considered a strikeout pitcher? The three singles were not ideal, but I've been impressed by the whiffs he's getting

Not really. Excluding his rookie season his Whiff% has never been better than 50th Percentile

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Listening to the game today, as my wife and I go to pick up our son at the U of M. Kris Atteberry working the broadcast with Dan Gladden. Atteberry mentions that the Twins are wearing "moonpie stirrups." Anyone have any idea what "moonpie stirrups" are?

[cHawk]

As John Sterling would say…THE SANCHINO!

[ashbury]

That list of cliches makes me wonder if maybe historians have it wrong and baseball was really developed by nineteenth century corporate middle managers.

[Buffy the Twins Fan]

After literally so many hard hit foul balls, Gary was due for that one!

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

"Get him on, get him over..."

[Mill1634]

Hey we CAN manufacture a run!

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

.., get him in!"