Doubleheader Game Thread: Blue Jays@Twins 12:10PM/6:10PM

[Riverbrian]

Game-time forecast: Mostly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Temperature around 35.

 

Jays:

SP, Dickey

 

Melky Cabrera LF

Munenori Kawasaki 2B

Jose Bautista CF

Edwin Encarnacion 1B

Colby Rasmus DH

Brett Lawrie 3B

Moises Sierra RF

Josh Thole C

Ryan Goins SS

 

Twins:

SP, Gibson

 

Brian Dozier 2B

Joe Mauer 1B

Trevor Plouffe 3B

Chris Colabello RF

Jason Kubel LF

Josmil Pinto DH

Kurt Suzuki C

Aaron Hicks CF

Pedro Florimon SS

 

The 2nd game's lineups will be posted in-thread as we continue into the next game. Yes, one big long thread for two games! Woohoo!

 

And tonight's lineups and tonight's game thread begin here:

http://twinsdaily.com/showthread.php/11074-Doubleheader-Game-Thread-Blue-Jays-Twins-12-10PM-6-10PM?p=216381&viewfull=1#post216381

 

 

 

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Things to Think About:

 

1. Doubleheaders -- I like doubleheaders but not as much as I used to. When I was younger they used to actually schedule doubleheaders. Today... doubleheaders always mean that another game has been postponed due to weather or dynamite on the field leaving a hole on the playing surface. So while doubleheaders are fun. It does mean that I had no baseball at all a different day. Doubleheaders in that context are just a pile up.

 

2. Knuckleballs -- It's the only pitch that seemingly decides on it's own which direction it's going to go. The best knuckleballers throw a good percentage of strikes with them but it's not like they can paint corners with them. Painted corners are usually accidental. I've often wondered why we don't see more knuckleball pitchers. The pitch can be awfully effective in the hands of an expert. Of course... when it's not dancing... It can be crushed. RA Dickey was so effective that the Jays gave up a top notch catching and pitching prospect to the Mets to get him and his knuckleball. The Mets enjoyed a lot more success than the Blue Jays have and the Mets also had a lot more success than the Twins did. The knuckleball can come and go and I think that's because the ball is deciding on it's own.

 

3. Kyle Gibson -- The Stopper!!! Start number 3 after the first two starts produced wins. I think Kyle needs to lower that WHIP a little but the ERA is sparkling and that gives us hope for this year and hope for next year and beyond. At least I hope it does!!!

 

4. Eduardo Nunez -- Teams are allowed to add a 26th man for doubleheaders. I believe that's the rule because Eduardo Nunez (can we just call him Eddie) will be in uniform for the night game. I'd be shocked if Gardy didn't put him in the lineup. I think the only question is at what position? Nunez can play IF and OF and has been playing some OF with Rochester. The Nunez ERA has begun... It might be a stutter start but it has begun.

 

5. Postponements -- Yesterday was postponed... I'm sorry the field is not playable... The game will have to be postponed.

 

A 300 pound biker says to me... Let's step outside and let's see how tough you are. Mr. Biker... I'm sorry... I will have to postpone this beating... The Parking Lot is unplayable.

 

My 6 year old son asks me -- What are those Viagra things on TV... Mr. 6 Year old Son... I will have to postpone answering that question because the answer to that question at your age is unplayable.

 

The doctor says... Alright... Turn over and look at the wall... I have to examine that prostate gland. Mr. Doctor... I will have to postpone that... that entire area is unplayable right now.

[steve]

Are they really gonna play two today? Hope Target Field looks better than my backyard, or else the game will look a lot like this:

 

 

[video=youtube_share;nNGXKUMGGo0]

[Boom Boom]

http://www.he-man.org/assets/images/collect_toy/twobad_f.jpg

[Winston Smith]

Toronto is ready they are used to cold weather.

 

http://media.timeout.com/images/resizeBestFit/100227073/660/370/image.jpg

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Are they really gonna play two today? Hope Target Field looks better than my backyard, or else the game will look a lot like this:

 

 

[video=youtube_share;nNGXKUMGGo0]

 

I had never seen this - thanks!

[Craig Arko]

Yeah, plenty of white still on the ground here. But the Twins have said game 1 will start on time.

[Winston Smith]

6. something to think about;

The Twins have sucked for 3 years. Fans have been forced to watch bad baseball more often than not when they buy tickets. Would it have been so hard for the Pohlads to say we'll do a real double header you can watch both games with your tickets and you can use the Wed. ticket for a credit on a future ticket.

Isn't this taking cheap to a new level? I can understand it in a pennant race when you might get 30-35k in the seats but really does everything have to be about how much money they can suck out of the fans??

 

Kind of sorry about the rant!

[big dog]

I am tempted to agree with you in principle, but in this case a few hours between games to thaw out might not be a bad idea.

[Intramural Legend]

6. something to think about;

The Twins have sucked for 3 years. Fans have been forced to watch bad baseball more often than not when they buy tickets. Would it have been so hard for the Pohlads to say we'll do a real double header you can watch both games with your tickets and you can use the Wed. ticket for a credit on a future ticket.

Isn't this taking cheap to a new level? I can understand it in a pennant race when you might get 30-35k in the seats but really does everything have to be about how much money they can suck out of the fans??

 

Kind of sorry about the rant!

 

Just out of embarrassment at the low attendance totals we are about to see, they should just let anyone with either ticket into both games

[Monkeypaws]

I remember the good old days when a rain check could be used for any damn game you wanted to go to.

[Shane Wahl]

The obvious thing to do is to give Nunez the start at short in the second game.

[Tibs]

Let's go boys! 2-0 today!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

The obvious thing to do is to give Nunez the start at short in the second game.

 

Also a bat off the bench, if the need arises?

 

We'll see soon enough.

[stringer bell]

Coldest start ever for the Twins at home. Balaclavas all around!

[stringer bell]

So Nuñez is only available for the second game?

[stringer bell]

The "Gibson squeeze" continues.

[stringer bell]

Ah! I get to talk to myself today.

[Squirrel]

Just out of embarrassment at the low attendance totals we are about to see, they should just let anyone with either ticket into both games

 

Quite frankly, if I had tickets to both games, I'd just eat the cost and watch from the WARMTH of home.

[Squirrel]

(oh, and Ash? that's still a spoon caddy in the shape of a shoe.)

[stringer bell]

Same lineup for what five games in a row? Will Hicks hit righty against the knuckleballer?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

So Nuñez is only available for the second game?

 

Nah, I think he's available both games. But no, i haven't read the fine print, so i'm not sure.

[stringer bell]

Tight, tight zone again today. I would rather see them open it up for both pitchers.

[big dog]

Tight zone + knuckleball pitcher + sinkerball pitcher = 4-hour game.

[Riverbrian]

4 straight walks = 1 run

 

With the exchange rate... What is it in Canada?

[Riverbrian]

I think knuckleballers should be allowed to keep a beer on the side of the mound.

[stringer bell]

I remember Dickey pitching for the Twins in an early May game in 2009. Mauer had never caught him since he missed spring training and the month of April and Gardenhire ordered Dickey to throw fastballs in a game situation. Dickey allowed the game-winning hit after about a half dozen foul balls.

[Riverbrian]

By the way... I would have sent Dozier first pitch of the Mauer at bat.

[Riverbrian]

I remember Dickey pitching for the Twins in an early May game in 2009. Mauer had never caught him since he missed spring training and the month of April and Gardenhire ordered Dickey to throw fastballs in a game situation. Dickey allowed the game-winning hit after about a half dozen foul balls.

 

Yeah... Bring that 80 MPH heater

[JB_Iowa]

Nah, I think he's available both games. But no, i haven't read the fine print, so i'm not sure.

 

 

• Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger 1h
  Eduardo Nunez will join the #MNTwins for the Game 2. New rule says 26th player can only be active for Game 2 if DH held day after rainout.
   
   
  

[JB_Iowa]

• Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger 1h
  Eduardo Nunez will join the #MNTwins for the Game 2. New rule says 26th player can only be active for Game 2 if DH held day after rainout.
  

 

 

Presumably "rainout" also means "snowout".