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  • Game Thread: Twins @ Orioles, 3/29@2:05pm CT

    Riverbrian

    By Riverbrian

    I last wrote a game thread opener on October 3rd, 2017. After the conclusion of that disappointing loss to the Yankees, I turned off my brain for the off-season. All this week, I’ve known that I will have to crank it up again but I’m having a little trouble getting it started up after the long layoff. I know that I’ll need to pump a little fuel into the carburetor so I’ve been pushing the primer button (my nose obviously), but now I’m concerned that I’ve flooded it because I have a cold.

    Slight change to the format this year. I have run out of Cities and Towns to say strange things about so that will be replaced by a new crutch called the Top Non-Trump News Story (Or Stories) from yesterday. I’ll continue with thoughts on the Twins and their opponents. The Joe M conversation will remain… I didn’t get enough complaints to stop doing it. And, as usual, a random thought #5.

    Anyway… I hope you are all primed for the start of a brand new season. It’s still March so we are starting a little early. Don’t push the big red primer button unless you are ready. Expectations are high… as of right now… it is still mathematically possible that the Twins go 162-0.

    Twins Video

    1. Top Non-Trump News Story (Or Stories) from Yesterday:

    Rosanne returned to broadcast television on ABC Tuesday Night with back to back episodes and the show was welcomed by 18 million viewers. NBC quickly noticed the ratings and has decided to cash in on the nostalgia wave by ordering 10 Episodes of H.R. Pufnstuf.

    It was reported that Russian Double Agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter may have been victims of door poisoning. Russia has come a long way since Rasputin; they have been practicing the poisoning of Doors technique since 1969. It wasn’t fatal back then but it did produce a severe lack in judgement which resulted in “The Soft Parade”.

    2. Our Twins:

    The Twins are not overwhelmingly strong in any department but they are not overwhelmingly weak in any department, and for the first time… since… ever… the Twins have enough starting pitching depth where they don’t have to tolerate sub-par performances from anybody. They have a stable of arms in Rochester that can take over for injuries or struggles, this also applies to the bullpen. At the plate, I’ve seen lineup projections from experts with Buxton in the 8 spot in the order and this suggests a level of batting depth that we haven’t seen in sometime. Now those are what I call deep thoughts.

    3. The Orioles:

    It’s kind of funny… not many people were giving the Orioles a shot during the off season. I was listening and the experts were talking about not knowing who the 3, 4 and 5 starters would be, the injury to closer Zach Britton, and the inevitable loss of important free agents after the conclusion of 2018. The experts were strongly suggesting an immediate rebuild was necessary. Then the Orioles sign Alex Cobb and now those same experts are saying the Orioles could earn a wild card spot. I’ve heard my wife talk to her sister on the phone about me and I seem to have that same type of range.

    4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

    Morgan: I think Opening Day should be a National Holiday.

    McCarthy: Yeah… nobody should have to work on such an important day.

    Mauer: I agree… then I wouldn’t have to play today. I’d get the day off.

    Maddon: Yeah… and I wouldn’t have to manage today.

    Montana: Guys… think about it… if you both take today off… what would be reason for the rest of us taking the day off?

    (Long Thoughtful Pause)

    Maddon: He’s right… we are going to have to work during a national holiday.

    Mauer: This really sucks. Why do we even have a players' union?

    Car Alarms:

    A car alarm was going off in the parking lot at work yesterday. I looked around the office and nobody got up to turn it off, nobody claimed responsibility and the alarm kept going off. It must have been 15 minutes before I decided the only thing to do was to go outside and help what turned out to be the world’s slowest car thief actually steal the car so he could drive off and take the sound with him.

    ____________________

    Lineups:

    TWINS

    Brian Dozier (R ) 2B

    Joe Mauer (L) DH

    Miguel Sano (R ) 3B

    Eddie Rosario (L) LF

    Logan Morrison (L) 1B

    Eduardo Escobar (S) SS

    Max Kepler (L) RF

    Byron Buxton (R ) CF

    Jason Castro (L) C

    Jake Odorizzi (R ) P

    ORIOLES

    Chris Davis(L) 1B

    Manny Machado(R ) SS

    Jonathan Schoop(R ) 2B

    Adam Jones(R ) CF

    Trey Mancini(R ) LF

    Tim Beckham(R ) 3B

    Pedro Alvarez(L) DH

    Craig Gentry(R ) RF

    Caleb Joseph(R ) C

    Dylan Bundy (R ) P

    Weather: 65 deg F, mostly cloudy with a 15% chance of rain, winds at 7mph from the SE

    Win Twins! Play ball!

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    Featured Comments

    jimbo92107

    jimbo92107 7,419

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Jose Urena hit the most batters in the majors last year. He has now hit three batters in the first inning. On a pace for... 162 x 3... 486 hit batters in 2018. If he doesn't hit anybody else today. Also walked in 2 batters and allowed a home run. 

     

    Yeah, early season stats can be a bit deceptive. ;-)

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    Buddy Holly

    Buddy Holly 79

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    This may be the warmest day for the next few weeks. Snowed in the Dakota's last night. Temps in single digits with wind chills below zero for weekend. Opening day next week at Target field rain and cold. I expect at least 5 canceled games in April. With a bullpen that gets used and abused due to the weather. Not smart to schedule all these games in Minnesota for April. Not to mention  4 games in NY. Merry Christmas, I got to go shovel snow before game time. 

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    Vanimal46

    Vanimal46 28,724

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    Jose Urena hit the most batters in the majors last year. He has now hit three batters in the first inning. On a pace for... 162 x 3... 486 hit batters in 2018. If he doesn't hit anybody else today. Also walked in 2 batters and allowed a home run.

     

    Yeah, early season stats can be a bit deceptive. ;-)

    Are you saying that Ian Happ won't be batting 1.000 this season? Blasphemy! I want to believe!!

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    sampleSizeOfOne

    sampleSizeOfOne 13,517

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    It's not a shameless plug ... it's a plug of necessity! That sounded weird. Anyway ... here are the available dates left for April. Get your game thread on!

     

    4/8 Sea

    4/13 CWS

    4/15 CWS

    4/18 CLE at Puerto Rico

    4/25 @ NYY

     

    (And a few quick how tos and what nots found here. Just PM Chief and Carole.)

    This has been your C&C Remaining Monthly Available Game Thread Intro Update.

     

    Rmagtiu... rolls off the tongue, no? Alas, it is hard to roll it back on.

     

    I have a feeling this will not catch on...

     

    Mmmm... Game Threads!

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    Blake

    Blake 12,585

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Is it funny that I'm more excited about Opening Day than Christmas?   I started toe tapping and couldn't sit still last night and it hasn't stopped yet.  

     

    Seriously... I think I may be more excited about this than my kid's birthdays (Ok, I'm kidding about that one a little bit ;) ).

     

    Wow, I'm really a terrible human being :(

    In looking at the responses to the game thread, you're not alone. :)

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    Platoon

    Platoon 8,711

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Jose Urena hit the most batters in the majors last year. He has now hit three batters in the first inning. On a pace for... 162 x 3... 486 hit batters in 2018. If he doesn't hit anybody else today. Also walked in 2 batters and allowed a home run. 

     

    Yeah, early season stats can be a bit deceptive. ;-)

    DickBert would say he is struggling slightly with his control. May I point out that few pitchers in the modern era have ever appeared in all 162 games. And no pitcher has ever hit even close to 486 hitters in a season..............and lived to tell about it! :)
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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    "Dwight Evans of the Boston Red Sox homered on the first pitch of the 1986 season, connecting off new Hall of Famer Jack Morris at Tiger Stadium."  -- ESPN

     

    How does that not directly correlate to Dwight Evans himself getting into the HOF? Sheesh, BBWA I tell ya.

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    Cap'n Piranha

    Cap'n Piranha 5,641

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    DickBert would say he is struggling slightly with his control. May I point out that few pitchers in the modern era have ever appeared in all 162 games. And no pitcher has ever hit even close to 486 hitters in a season..............and lived to tell about it! :)

     

    That's clearly an inning projection.  162 innings times 3 hit batters an inning is 486.

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