Opening Day Game Thread: Twins @ White Sox, 3:10 p.m.

[LaBombo]

It's pretty windy and gusty out there today. Not sure that's entirely it but I'll give the benefit of the doubt on that today.

Yeah, forgot about the Florimon and Willingham catcher earlier.

[ashbury]

9th inning... We need two rubs

 

Better ask Victoria for that.

 

Here's a rally cap, though:

 

[LaBombo]

You might think attendance would be poor at a Secret Field. But Victoria has been known to let the cat out of the bag now and then.

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/43028069.jpg

[longstrangetrip]

Stoney just said that Lindstrom is looking for his first save of the year. Wow, sounds like he's really been struggling.

[JB_Iowa]

Why does every Twins fly ball sound like it will be a HR when described by Dick Bremer?

[Winston Smith]

You might think attendance would be poor at a Secret Field. But Victoria has been known to let the cat out of the bag now and then.

 

Be careful when talking about Victoria's cat, the moderators are watching.

[LaBombo]

9th inning... We need two rubs

Freudian slap?

 

We might need more than a couple of rubs to make this season fun.

[LaBombo]

Why does every Twins fly ball sound like it will be a HR when described by Dick Bremer?

Stagecraft? aka:

http://cmofosho.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/jon-lovitz-acting.jpg

[alskntwnsfn]

I'm rooting more for Colabello this year than any other Twin.

[Riverbrian]

Freudian slap?

 

We might need more than a couple of rubs to make this season fun.

 

When Auto Correct takes a perfectly fine word like runs and changes it to rubs.

 

We are one step closer to the Terminator scenario coming to life.

[Gibby]

I don't think he got enough of that one.

[Squirrel]

Sigh. Hate losing to the ChiSox.

[Physics Guy]

Tying run came to the plate, but the game never felt that close. Twins are no longer undefeated in March.

[ashbury]

Hard to decide who looked worse with the game on the line, Plouffe or Arcia. At least the latter had one good swing.

[JB_Iowa]

In general the "young guys" came through with help from the newcomer. But that hole in the middle of the line-up is gaping. Let's hope it heals itself quickly.

[snepp]

Blech.

[snepp]

Sigh. Hate the ChiSox.

 

Agreed.

[DiscGolfer]

well, on pace for 1,162 SO now. Like seeing Hicks get a couple hits.

[LaBombo]

I don't think he got enough of that one.

Trajectory was too high...

[notoriousgod71]

Longest game thread of the year?

[LaBombo]

De Aza already a 1 WAR player if he were in a Twins uniform, even if he didn't play for them.

[ashbury]

Longest game thread of the year?

 

Thanks to all who participated. It made a tough game easier to take.

[twinscowboysbulls]

Disappointing first game of the year. Typical issues for Minnesota makes me worry about this season more than I was before the game began.

 

Grading out game one:

1- Nolasco- all things aside, lots of pitches up, lots of HARD hit balls. Not impressed.

- Swarzak- nice outing. 96 on the gun apparently.

- Thielbar- the little slurve he threw was nasty.

- Fien - rocket up the middle but can't complain

2- Suzuki- thought he looked good behind plate, thought he could've went and talked to Nolasco a bit more. Great 2 out hitting. w/o him we lose 5-0

3- Mauer - looked like a mediocre ballplayer today. offensively and defensively.

4- Dozier - Great D, absolutely terrible offensively.

5- Plouffe - had a double, but 2 terrible at-bats and a couple ugly plays at 3rd.

6- Florimon- solid sac bunt, very nice game defensively.

-Escobar - very very poor at-bat. Not sure how he was first man up to pinch hit there with two much better hitters on the bench..

7- Willingham - need offense from him, didn't get any. Good Defensive game.

8- Hicks- could've possibly saved a run, but played solid D, hit cut-off. Good RH day.

9- Arcia - could've saved a run for sure. Swing just a little off. Chased a ball to end game.

DH- Collabello - 2 good at-bats, 2 poor at-bats. Thought Kubel should've DEFINITELY pinch-hit for hin in 9th, but he came up big.

Gardy- Poor managing job. Not sure why you don't at least have them review Mauer's close play at 1st in the 6th. Not sure why after everything you have seen in the game let Escobar hit for Florimon instead of Pinto. Not sure why you let Colabello hit in 9th, even though it worked out. What is the point of having a versatile bench if you don't use them correctly?

 

Overall, very disappointing first game. We even got 3 off of Sale and couldn't manage to win this one. Only true bright spot was Hicks. Suzuki is bittersweet because it just gives Gardy more reason to keep the young catcher, who needs to play, on the bench.

 

*** EDIT**** Tim Laudner just gave Nolasco a "B-,B" grade for 6 innings, 5 ER, 10 hits, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR. This is the level Twins Baseball is at. Extremely low expectations.

[Guest USAFChief]

Unbelievable bad luck for Nolasco! Maybe two or three well hit balls. Everything just seems to find a place to fall.

Just what we need, another *unlucky starter.

 

*guys who seem to only pitch on days the other team scores a lot of runs.

 

(hat tip to Tim McCarver)

((had to miss opening day... ))

[Thegrin]

to heck with the results.... THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON HAS BEEN PLAYED !! ... 161 more games to enjoy.

[Highabove]

Is this the last we see of 500????

[twinscowboysbulls]

Any predictions on Wednesday lineup? Same lineup?

 

Hopefully:

2B: Dozier

C : Suzuki (not going to say otherwise, because it doesn't matter)

1B: Mauer

LF: Willingham

RF: Arcia

DH: Pinto

3B: Plouffe

SS: Florimon

CF: Hicks( I'd bump him down to 9th against RHP, especially since LH hitting is Florimon's "GOOD" side)

[longstrangetrip]

Any predictions on Wednesday lineup? Same lineup?

 

Hopefully:

2B: Dozier

C : Suzuki (not going to say otherwise, because it doesn't matter)

1B: Mauer

LF: Willingham

RF: Arcia

DH: Pinto

3B: Plouffe

SS: Florimon

CF: Hicks( I'd bump him down to 9th against RHP, especially since LH hitting is Florimon's "GOOD" side)

 

No way Kubel doesn't DH against Paulino

[twinscowboysbulls]

Then there is NO WAY Pinto should be in the Majors. (Unless you are referring to some extreme split Kubel has against him) Pinto needs to play. This doesn't do him a whole lot of good. If Pinto contributes to a 90 loss team and we find out if we have a future catcher, then fine. If Kubel, Collabello and Suzuki are main contributors as DH/C for 90 loss team and we still don't know about Pinto, then what a waste of a season.

 

Because lord knows Gardy isn't giving Suzuki the day off after today's performance.

 

AND YES, I am going to spaz out like this after one game, two games, three games. Because as we all know, 1 game does matter.

[longstrangetrip]

Then there is NO WAY Pinto should be in the Majors. (Unless you are referring to some extreme split Kubel has against him) Pinto needs to play. This doesn't do him a whole lot of good. If Pinto contributes to a 90 loss team and we find out if we have a future catcher, then fine. If Kubel, Collabello and Suzuki are main contributors as DH/C for 90 loss team and we still don't know about Pinto, then what a waste of a season.

 

Because lord knows Gardy isn't giving Suzuki the day off after today's performance.

 

I'm not saying I want Kubel to DH...I'd like to see Pinto in the lineup everyday. But it was painful for Gardy to not start his boy Kubes today (even had to justify it by saying Sales was "filthy"), so he's a lock for Wednesday against the righty.