Game Thread: Twins v A's, 4/9@ 12:10pm CT

[Squirrel]

Gametime forecast: 56°F • Partly Cloudy • 0% PoP

 

A's:

SP, Chavez

 

Fuld CF

Lowrie SS

Donaldson 3B

Moss 1B

Cespedes LF

Callaspo DH

Jaso CF

Reddick RF

Sogard 2B

 

Twins:

SP, Hughes

 

lineup tba

 

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Check this space later, Brian's thinking:

 

 

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Thanks ChiTown... Umm... Where are my Clothes and La-Z-Boy?

 

Things to Think About:

 

1. Phil Hughes -- 5 Innings in his last start... He was sharp until he fell apart... Hopefully today he can be sharp... without the falling apart part. Let's get 100 decent pitches out of him... If we can't get 100 decent pitches out of him... I hope that he contributes to charity or something because he's making some pretty good money.

 

2. Yeonis Cespedes -- Watching him swing this year... He seems rejuvenated... He will make me nervous each time he comes to the plate... There is some talent on that Island called Cuba.

 

3. SS -- It sounds like... Eduardo Nunez is just going to spend a little time in Rochester to get warmed up and will be called up fairly shortly. Once that happens... who is the casualty? Bartlett? Florimon? Escobar?

 

I'm a Florimon supporter because of his defense. I can tolerate .220 but when you start talking about .180... I do start to lose interest. I don't think Nunez is the defensive nightmare that Yankee fans paint him as... But I do believe that he is nowhere near what Florimon brings with the glove and this pitching staff needs glove help to be decent. Florimon is pretty spectacular but if he doesn't find a way to punch a couple past the defense with the bat... The Twins are correct to look elsewhere.

 

I'm not sure what role Escobar plays with the club. The acquisition of Nunez seems to suggest that the Twins don't have a lot of confidence in Escobar... And I'm still unclear who backs up in CF. It seems to be Escobar or Bartlett and the thought of that still makes me shake my head. It seems to me that we could use two middle infield types... Pick Two and then try to bring in an OF with CF ability. In the end... I'm glad they acquired Nunez but I'm not sure what happens when he is called up. It probably won't be what I would do.

 

4. Herrmann -- He gets the start in RF... Welcome to the Show!!! He probably likes the Twins Cities more than he likes Rochester. I'm just guessing because the Mall of America is a big draw.

 

5. Ames Iowa -- Last night a crowd of Iowa State college students turned violent... Overturning cars and ripping down light poles. It all occurred during an annual celebration called Veishea Week. I assume they must have run out of Maid-Rites and the crowd lost it. The question must be asked... Is this Heaven? Or is this Iowa?

[JB_Iowa]

Better Rodin than the one on the toilet.

[James]

Better Rodin than the one on the toilet.

I don't know. Rodin might be a little too classy for this thread.

[Craig Arko]

Still no Arcia or Willingham in the starting lineup today, but also no word either is going to the DL. Both should be available off the bench then, I guess.

[Halsey Hall]

A triple header for me today! Twins and then 2 Miracle games, whoo hoo!

[Squirrel]

Can't wait to see a few Miracle games this summer. Unfortunately none will be at home when I'm there in May and they won't be playing in a convenient location to travel to.

[Craig Arko]

The report now is that Arcia is likely to go on the DL. No mention of who will be called up, but Mastroianni did have a six hit day yesterday.

[Gibby]

I get to watch my daughter play in her first pro playoff match today. They get pretty sweet playoff money.

[Boom Boom]

I don't know. Rodin might be a little too classy for this thread.

 

 

[MC23]

 

5. Ames Iowa -- Last night a crowd of Iowa State college students turned violent... Overturning cars and ripping down light poles. It all occurred during an annual celebration called Veishea Week. I assume they must have run out of Maid-Rites and the crowd lost it. The question must be asked... Is this Heaven? Or is this Iowa?

 

I go to Iowa State but was not anywhere near the riots last night. Two cars, a few light posts and stop signs taken down...and it was only Tuesday. I have a feeling it will unfortunately only get worse by the weekend.

 

As for the possibility of Arcia going to the DL, I really hope that he can avoid it, but if he does I would like to see a CF (most likely Mastro) come up

[Craig Arko]

 

 

 

One of my favorites. My nephews called it 'The Rubber Chicken movie' when they were small.

[GCTF]

Helluva start.

[Gibby]

Helluva start.

 

Yep, it's definitely a Twins game.

[Halsey Hall]

Things to think about.

 

6. I was thinking about putting up a poll as to when each of the starters in the rotation would have at least one win. But me putting up a poll and getting a wins have about the same odds.

[JB_Iowa]

 

1. Phil Hughes -- 5 Innings in his last start... He was sharp until he fell apart... Hopefully today he can be sharp... without the falling apart part.

 

 

Or fall apart without being sharp.

[Gibby]

I know this is random, but have any of you guys had a dog that strained or tore a groin?

[GCTF]

Hughessie using up all of his pitch count on one batter.

[Halsey Hall]

Walks will KILL!

[Riverbrian]

I'm kgonna change my hope for 70 good pitches from Phil Hughes. Starting now!!!

[Tibs]

Well this game could have started better

[GCTF]

Well at least he doesn't have to pitch in Yankee Stadium anymore.

[DaveW]

Season. Over.

[Riverbrian]

I know this is random, but have any of you guys had a dog that strained or tore a groin?

 

Yeah... My prom date in high school had a real aggressive sniffing dog. It happened while I was trying to act like a decent prom date shaking her dad's hand.

 

I pulled my groin trying to get away from the dog.

[notoriousgod71]

Season. Over.

 

Hughes is a mental midget. Pathetic. It's only one game. The rotation is fine.

[Intramural Legend]

Well, maybe it is a good thing we have started the season with all day games. Better to waste time paying attention while working, than actual free time.

[GCTF]

If he keeps lobbing it in there it'll probably find a glove sooner or later.

 

Probably.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Everyone who skipped out of the office for this game, can maybe return to the office unfortunately

[GCTF]

Season. Over.

 

The rotation is fine!

[jokin]

The rotation is fine!

 

On the bright side, both Trevor May and Kris Johnson are on the same appearance schedule as Hughes, and both pitched spectacularly last night. If it turns out that Hughes misses New York after all, Rochester still counts, doesn't it?

[Boom Boom]

I think Hughesey would do a lot better if he got out of the Twin Cities media meat-grinder and the bandbox that is Target Field.