Game Thread: Royals@Twins 4/12 1:10PM

[Tibs]

Homerun Joe Mauer!

[Squirrel]

Geez, that Mauer just doesn't know how to take at bats.

[Craig Arko]

Joe Mauer, singles hitter.

[big dog]

Oh HECK Yea!!!

[PseudoSABR]

You don't pitch to Joe Mauer!

[JB_Iowa]

Players are making a strong case for a new manager. Reminds me of a few years ago when the Twins actually beat the Yankees when Gardenhire was absent.

[Tibs]

Twins hitters have taken a lot of walks so far this year

[big dog]

Happiest guy in the dugout, after Joe? Gotta be Nolasco. In fact he might even be happier than Joe.

[Danchat]

Finally, Joe turns on the power! BOOM!

 

I'm much more surprised by Dozier's 4 home runs. Wowzers.

[glunn]

Game-time forecast: Mostly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Temperature around 60.

 

Royals:

SP, Shields

 

Aoki EF

Infante 2B

Hosmer 1B

Butler DH

Gordon LF

Perez C

Moustakas 3B

Cain CF

Escobar SS

 

Twins:

SP, Nolasco

 

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Plouffe 3B

Colabello RF

Kubel LF

Pinto DH

Suzuki C

Hicks CF

Florimon SS

 

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

 

Things to Think About:

 

1. Saving for a Rainy Day -- Most Americans are busy living from check to check. 57% of all working Americans have less than $25K in savings and investments. With statistics like that... Why are the Twins scoring 10 runs in a game on a Friday with Saturday and Sunday left to play. On the other hand after 2013... The Twins should have a ton of savings.

 

2. Ricky Nolasco -- Start Number 3 for Nolasco... 1st start... 6IP 10H 5R... Two De Aza Home Runs. He actually had 3 decent innings in that game and 3 not so decent. 2nd start... 4IP 7H 5R... Yan Gomes took him deep. The Twins spotted him a good lead which he gave up. I'd say 2 decent innings and 2 not so decent. If I can be Captain Obvious for a moment. Ricky has to stop giving up the big innings... That will help immensely. He matches up against James Shields today and he will have to match up against the top starters for awhile until things get out of kilter rotation wise.

 

3. Jason Kubel and Trevor Plouffe -- Kubel is Hotter than a pistol!!! I think he must be seeing the baseball real well right now. So what Jason Kubel do we have? The Jason who hit .216 in 2013 or the Jason who hit 30 home runs in 2012? It's too soon to tell but it sure seems like the Jason who had an OPS+ over 100 every year from 2007 to 2012. 2013 just might have been an injury nightmare. I think it's ok to let your guard down and feel good about his homecoming. If he struggles later... we can call the Twins front office terrible things at that time. As for Plouffe... I'm loving the discipline at the plate. I love that he is going the other way and opening up the entire field. A productive Plouffe is huge for the Twins.

 

4. Chris Colabello -- I'm beginning to think he should just be thought number 4 every game thread. He's a feel good story and it makes me feel good. Another clutch hit yesterday with runners to bring home.

 

5. Warmer Weather -- I can tell it's getting warmer because a fly has been flying around me and bugging me while I typed thoughts 1 through 3. Haven't seen a fly in awhile so I assume its starting to warm up.

 

I captured the Fly... I tore his wings off and then I told him that he is no longer "A Fly".

 

He is now "A Walk"

 

Brian, your setups are always great, but this one is exceptionally great. Thanks for doing this!

[Squirrel]

Do they bring in a new pitcher after Plouffe?

[PseudoSABR]

Players are making a strong case for a new manager. Reminds me of a few years ago when the Twins actually beat the Yankees when Gardenhire was absent.

Well the evidence is pretty anecdotal given how few games Gardenhire has been absent; so I think the case is pretty thin, just based on this. That said, if Steiny called for Dozier to squeeze, he doesn't deserve to manage either.

[Craig Arko]

Players are making a strong case for a new manager. Reminds me of a few years ago when the Twins actually beat the Yankees when Gardenhire was absent.

 

Think Joe is trying to get Jake a promotion?

[jokin]

Happiest guy in the dugout, after Joe? Gotta be Nolasco. In fact he might even be happier than Joe.

 

Wasn't it just a 2 days ago that Tom Powers was leading the pitchfork committee to ride these bums out of town?

[mikeee]

aahhhhhh, love me some ROyals!

[jokin]

Well the evidence is pretty anecdotal given how few games Gardenhire has been absent; so I think the case is pretty thin, just based on this. That said, if Steiny called for Dozier to squeeze, he doesn't deserve to manage either.

 

Steiny or Molly as the Heir Apparent?- the Great Debate shall henceforth commence.

[Squirrel]

Okay, let's hope Nolasco can hold it.

[glunn]

Geez, that Mauer just doesn't know how to take at bats.

 

It seems to me that it is possible that Mauer and other Twins read our forums. Maybe he somehow heard about what people are saying on TD?

[jokin]

it seems to me that it is possible that mauer and other twins read our forums. Maybe he somehow heard about what people are saying on td?

 

Word

[twinsnorth49]

Personally I think Joe should have swung at that first pitch, it being a strike and all........

[twinsnorth49]

It seems to me that it is possible that Mauer and other Twins read our forums. Maybe he somehow heard about what people are saying on TD?

 

7 pitch at bat while looking at the first 3, I think he's listening to who knows best........him!

[JB_Iowa]

Well the evidence is pretty anecdotal given how few games Gardenhire has been absent; so I think the case is pretty thin, just based on this. That said, if Steiny called for Dozier to squeeze, he doesn't deserve to manage either.

 

The need for a new manager has never been about on-field decisions for me.

 

It's about needing a fresh breeze blowing through that clubhouse. (in much the same way that I can' stand listening to Dick-Bert. Dick, Bert, Gardy -- they are all just so stale.)

[BigTrane]

Players are making a strong case for a new manager. Reminds me of a few years ago when the Twins actually beat the Yankees when Gardenhire was absent.

Yeah, well, I think when you hit and plate runs, you tend to win.

Anybody can manage that.

Surprise of the season so far is that we are hitting.

[mikeee]

6 runs and none of them earned....

[jokin]

Yeah, well, I think when you hit and plate runs, you tend to win.

Anybody can manage that.

Surprise of the season so far is that we are hitting.

 

Except going into last night's game, the Twins had doubled their run production from last year and were still only 3-6.

[Craig Arko]

The need for a new manager has never been about on-field decisions for me.

 

It's about needing a fresh breeze blowing through that clubhouse. (in much the same way that I can' stand listening to Dick-Bert. Dick, Bert, Gardy -- they are all just so stale.)

 

I always wanted to have a broadcast where Rocky and Bullwinkle were the announcers.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

4 Dozier

3 Mauer

5 Plouffe

9 Cola

7 Kubel

DH Pinto

2 Suzuki

8 Hicks

6 Florimon

I wish the Twins had a lead off hitter... Put this lineup down one(cutting Florimon off) and I wouldn't worry so much that the run production this season is short-lived

[twinsnorth49]

Except going into last night's game, the Twins had doubled their run production from last year and were still only 3-6.

 

So you're saying Anderson gets credit?

[big dog]

Flori actually hit that ball pretty well, but right at the right fielder. That's an RBI if he had done it the previous inning. I would sure like to see him start hitting .250 with a few doubles.

 

Let's get Ricky through the fourth the way he got through the first three.

[BigTrane]

The need for a new manager has never been about on-field decisions for me.

 

It's about needing a fresh breeze blowing through that clubhouse. (in much the same way that I can' stand listening to Dick-Bert. Dick, Bert, Gardy -- they are all just so stale.)

 

Do you have MLB.tv?

Please listen to Cards broadcasts, Bucs, Barves... horrible.

Cards should have the best, yet they get the dreck. Shop around MLB a bit, and I think you'll appreciate Dick and Bert a bit more.