Game Thread: Twins @ Indians, 4/4@2:05pm CT

[Squirrel]

Gametime forecast: 56°F • Light Rain • 72% PoP

 

Twins:

SP, Pelfrey

 

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Willingham LF

Colabello DH

Plouffe 3B

Arcia RF

Suzuki C

Hicks CF

Florimon SS

 

Indians:

SP, Salazar

 

Morgan CF

Swisher 1B

Kipnis 2B

Santana 3B

Brantley LF

Cabrera SS

Murphy RF

Gomes C

Chisenhall DH

 

Check back later for Brian ... he's doing his thing:

http://www.sortius-is-a-geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/thinker_man_statue.jpg

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Thing Done... Thanks ChiTown

 

Things to think about:

 

1. Cold Weather -- Let's be honest... The Baseball played by both teams on the South Side of Chicago wasn't what I call professional baseball. As fans when we watch it... it leaves us a little nervous about what lies ahead. Gardenhire pointed out that the weather was a factor and I think that is quite possible. I remember playing in weather when I was in High School. The bat stung... the wind did tricks with the baseball... It's hard to focus when you are constantly thinking that it's flipping cold out. I remember that from my high school days and that's probably why they looked like high schoolers at times.

 

2. Cleveland Indians -- Fresh Blood to play... A first look at the Division rivals from Cleveland... After having a nice run last year... The fans in Cleveland are gulping a little with the loss of Kazmir and Ubaldo from the rotation. Did Cleveland take a step back many seem to think so and the answer to that question will be cumulative as the season progresses.

 

3. Mike Pelfrey -- Last year he was coming off injury and it took a little while before he started pitching half way decent but he did start pitching half way decent. He has a new contract with the Twins so the Twins must assume that the 1st half was explained by his recovery from surgery. Today is start #1 for the big tall Pelfrey.

 

4. Carlos Santana -- Playing 3B... A few of us have thought about moving Joe Mauer to 3B. Many have argued that you can't move a guy to 3B from the C position just like that. The Indians are trying it out. I'll be very interested in watching the defensive play of Santana... Especially considering that the DH Lonnie Chisenhall is a 3B.

 

5. April 4 -- On this date in 1948... 84 Year old Connie Mack challenged 78 year old Clark Griffith to a foot race from home to 1st. It ended in a tie... With the baseball rule... A tie goes to the runner... The Umpires were completely confused.

 

On this date in 1964... The Beatles Can't buy me love hits #1 on the charts and stays there for 5 weeks. The Song simply states that Money can't buy me Love... People who married for money and even prostitutes across the world were completely confused by the message of the song.

 

On this date in 1968... Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed in Memphis Tennessee. Many Many Many people were confused by why such a thing could happen to a man that important to mankind.

[PseudoSABR]

If Colabello stays hot; Willingham is another guy we can sit and rotate Kubel in against the right handers. I wonder if the three of these guys (along with Mauer), can hold down 1B, DH, LF all year, giving each enough rest to stay healthy and enough at bats to stay productive.

[Willihammer]

No Kubel?

[Willihammer]

Radar doesn't look too bad:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?zoommode=pan&prevzoom=zoom&num=6&frame=0&delay=15&scale=1.000&noclutter=0&ID=CLE&type=N0R&showstorms=0&lat=41.49306870&lon=-81.66831970&label=Cleveland,%20OH&map.x=400&map.y=240&scale=1.000&centerx=400&centery=240&showlabels=1&rainsnow=0&lightning=0&lerror=20&num_stns_min=2&num_stns_max=9999&avg_off=9999&smooth=0

[Winston Smith]

No Kubel?

 

So many great players he can't get all on the field!

[PseudoSABR]

Radar doesn't look too bad:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?zoommode=pan&prevzoom=zoom&num=6&frame=0&delay=15&scale=1.000&noclutter=0&ID=CLE&type=N0R&showstorms=0&lat=41.49306870&lon=-81.66831970&label=Cleveland,%20OH&map.x=400&map.y=240&scale=1.000&centerx=400&centery=240&showlabels=1&rainsnow=0&lightning=0&lerror=20&num_stns_min=2&num_stns_max=9999&avg_off=9999&smooth=0

Hold on. I'll go outside.

[JB_Iowa]

I like that he didn't want to sit Cola after the 6 rbi day. And Willingham is starting to get it going too. So I guess that leaves Kubel as the odd man out (for today).

[mikeee]

pelfsie.

[ashbury]

I remember that from my high school days and that's probably why they looked like high schoolers at times.

 

You should have given college a try, Brian. The level of play yesterday might have looked better to you with that perspective.

 

4. Carlos Santana -- Playing 3B... A few of us have thought about moving Joe Mauer to 3B. Many have argued that you can't move a guy to 3B from the C position just like that. The Indians are trying it out. I'll be very interested in watching the defensive play of Santana... Especially considering that the DH Lonnie Chisenhall is a 3B.

 

He's a black magic manager. He's tryin' to make a third baseman out of me.

 

5. April 4 -- On this date in 1948... 84 Year old Connie Mack challenged 78 year old Clark Griffith to a foot race from home to 1st. It ended in a tie... With the baseball rule... A tie goes to the runner... The Umpires were completely confused.

 

Chief's comment at the time: "it's fine for those young'uns to try it, count me out though."

[ashbury]

Radar doesn't look too bad

 

 

"Right back atcha."

[Intramural Legend]

Pretty excited for this one, as I am "working from home" today. Sometimes the beginning of the season is such a tease with all of the day games.

 

*Typed right as Dick tells me the game is not likely to start on time...yay

[Jerr]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7016[/ATTACH]

 

"Right back atcha."

 

Radar looks worried...I want a game today....

[James]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7016[/ATTACH]

 

"Right back atcha."

You're all over the *M*A*S*H* jokes to start the season.

[ashbury]

Radar looks worried

 

I picked that one at random. But now that I look again, an awful lot of the pictures GIS shows first have him looking as though he just witnessed the Twins infield trying to corral a popup in the wind.

 

[JB_Iowa]

Ottumwa, Iowa? Always reason to look concerned.

[Jerr]

I picked that one at random. But now that I look again, an awful lot of the pictures GIS shows first have him looking as though he just witnessed the Twins infield trying to corral a popup in the wind.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7017[/ATTACH]

 

 

[ashbury]

 

I could go on, but you get the idea.

[Halsey Hall]

Is the game in a delay? Gameday doesn't say a thing.

[JB_Iowa]

Actually sounds like they are pretty much on time .... but it isn't 2:00 CT yet.

[JB_Iowa]

Typed too soon:

 

 

• Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger 3m
  Today's #MNTwins-#Indians game will not start on time. The tarp is still on the field. It's not raining now but is expected to shortly.
   
   
  

[Jerr]

Is the game in a delay? Gameday doesn't say a thing.

 

Yes, rain.

[Jerr]

Sounds like the game will happen, I have not checked the "Radar", as he is so forlorn;)

[JB_Iowa]

Showers around Cleveland look pretty spotty and it looks like the strongest storms have already passed through there.

 

So just a matter of time, probably.

[Jerr]

Radio says, a "hour or a hour and a half"..... per Gladden.

[Winston Smith]

The only thing I can think that could be worse than being in Cleveland when it's raining is being in Detroit instead.

[Jerr]

The only thing I can think that could be worse than being in Cleveland when it's raining is being in Detroit instead.

 

Or in Minneapolis when it was snowing on April 4th!!!!

[JB_Iowa]

Was the snow in the TC the really heavy stuff?

 

We only had about 5" but every shovel felt like it weighed 40#. Can't imagine moving 12" of that stuff.

[Whammy]

It was heavy, but not SUPER heavy. In Minneapolis we got 8-9"

[Jerr]

Was the snow in the TC the really heavy stuff?

 

We only had about 5" but every shovel felt like it weighed 40#. Can't imagine moving 12" of that stuff.

 

Heavy and in Brooklyn Center....8 inches or so....but it is melting fast:D

[JB_Iowa]

We're so desperate for mositure, we need it to melt slow. Gotta preserve every drop. But it is melting pretty quickly here as well.