You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1660-Series-Preview-Twins-Indians-5-3

Lineups:

 

Twins:

Brian Dozier 2B

Joe Mauer C

Justin Morneau 1B

Ryan Doumit DH

Chris Parmelee RF

Trevor Plouffe 3B

Oswaldo Arcia LF

Aaron Hicks CF

Pedro Florimon SS

(Pedro Hernandez P)

 

Indians:

Michael Brantley LF

Jason Kipnis 2B

Asdrubal Cabrera SS

Mark Reynolds DH

Carlos Santana 1B

Ryan Raburn RF

Mike Aviles 3B

Yan Gomes C

Drew Stubbs CF

(Justin Masterson P)

Wish I could erase one name on that roster........rub, rub, rub, and plouffe! he gone!

Wish I could erase one name on that roster........rub, rub, rub, and plouffe! he gone!

 

Wouldn't mind seeing more Carroll and Escobar at 3B myself. Also put me in the Sano 2014 lobby.

I don't understand the Plouffe hate. There is literally nobody else who factors into the Twins' mid-term plans at third base. Outside of maybe 1-2 more wins (which is very much up for debate), who else should be playing at third in 2013?

 

Carroll is 128 years old. Love the guy but he doesn't factor into the Twins' plans in 2014 and beyond.

 

Escobar is probably the best shortstop on the roster and is built for a utility role. Odds are heavily stacked against him hitting enough to start at short, much less third base.

The Tribe had Thursday off too. Maybe Ryan Rayburn has cooled off.

Sano thinks he can play for Minnesota this year.

Game avatar for Pedro Hernandez is now up.

Sano thinks he can play for Minnesota this year.

 

His bat might be ready but his glove certainly isn't.

I don't understand the Plouffe hate. There is literally nobody else who factors into the Twins' mid-term plans at third base. Outside of maybe 1-2 more wins (which is very much up for debate), who else should be playing at third in 2013?

 

Carroll is 128 years old. Love the guy but he doesn't factor into the Twins' plans in 2014 and beyond.

 

Escobar is probably the best shortstop on the roster and is built for a utility role. Odds are heavily stacked against him hitting enough to start at short, much less third base.

 

No hate involved, I just don't think he's a MLB player. I don't care who we put there, just get rid of him. He certainly doesn't have a future in this organization.

Carroll is 128 years old. Love the guy but he doesn't factor into the Twins' plans in 2014 and beyond.

 

On Februrary 18, 1885:

• Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," published
  
• Jamey Carroll, baseball infielder, was born
  
• Preparations continued to dedicate the Washington Monument
  

So nice to be back in sunny Minnesota.

Underway! Good start with a base hit, Dozierzie! (On 0-2, ha. Paging Chief, paging Chief.)

No hate involved, I just don't think he's a MLB player. I don't care who we put there, just get rid of him. He certainly doesn't have a future in this organization.

 

Your assessment of his ability may be correct, but that doesn't change that he's better than anybody else we have for there right now. I suppose I could give Gardy a call and see if he wants me to play 3B, but I doubt that would actually improve the club.

 

Bottom line - he's the least bad option we have for the time being.

Pushed across the first-inning run. Nice.

OK, so what are our hopes/expectations for Hernandez today. I'd be happy with 5 innings, and ecstatic if he gets through 6 and we're ahead or tied.

Your assessment of his ability may be correct, but that doesn't change that he's better than anybody else we have for there right now. I suppose I could give Gardy a call and see if he wants me to play 3B, but I doubt that would actually improve the club.

 

Bottom line - he's the least bad option we have for the time being.

I'm sure he'll start bombing homers by the time we are 20 games out.

OK, so what are our hopes/expectations for Hernandez today. I'd be happy with 5 innings, and ecstatic if he gets through 6 and we're ahead or tied.

 

I expect a nice first inning, with at most a harmless 2-out baserunner.

 

/ unwilling to predict any farther into the future than that

I'm sure he'll start bombing homers by the time we are 20 games out.

 

Or maybe he'll start now.

We should start every game thread being critical of Plouffe - it seems to do some good.

I'm sure he'll start bombing homers by the time we are 20 games out.

 

Let's hope so. Plouffe was amazing when he got hot last year.

Let's hope so. Plouffe was amazing when he got hot last year.

Yes he was. I'm not quite ready to write him off yet.

Wish I could erase one name on that roster........rub, rub, rub, and plouffe! he gone!

 

And look what that rubbing would have done!!!

Or maybe he'll start now.

 

Yes, now please tell us about the lack of clutchness of some other Twins players, my brother. Do your powers extend to explaining how pitchers are getting by on smoke and mirrors and can't last another inning?

I more interested about the reverse effects of Halsey's rubbing. When he rubs... It doesn't remove... It makes it stronger...

 

His Cat is now a Lion.

Plouffe has the talent. Hopefully some time off the last week has let him refocus and make some adjustments. He could be a very valuable player for this team going forward... even if Sano can stick at 3b.

It doesn't remove... It makes it stronger...

 

Not goin' there my brother. Not goin' there.

 

In other news, I have just been informed by my wife that we have a date tonight. Will be leaving in a few minutes...

Not goin' there my brother. Not goin' there.

 

In other news, I have just been informed by my wife that we have a date tonight. Will be leaving in a few minutes...

Like, just the two of you... or involving a third wheel... if ya know what i mean...

Plouffe has the talent. Hopefully some time off the last week has let him refocus and make some adjustments. He could be a very valuable player for this team going forward... even if Sano can stick at 3b.

 

Yeah, at this point Ryan has some very intriguing pieces for the coming several years; but it's not going to be child's play to put all these pieces together. No pushbutton managing.

Way to go, Joe!