Game Thread: Twins v Red Sox, 5/13 @ 7:10pm CT

[Squirrel]

Game-time forecast: Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 mph. Temperature near 55. (My game-time temperature is near 80. Very happy about that.)

 

Red Sox:

SP, Peavy

 

Pedroia 2B

Victorino RF

Ortiz DH

Napoli 1B

Sizemore LF

Pierzynski C

Bogaerts SS

Middlebrooks 3B

Bradley CF

 

Twins:

SP, Nolasco

 

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Plouffe 3B

Kubel LF

Suzuki C

Parmelee RF

Nuñez DH

Escobar SS

Santana CF

 

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

 

Okay, Brian. You now have the floor. Take it away!

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

 

OK... But if I take away the Floor... Everybody standing on it will fall into the basement.

 

Things to Think About:

 

1. The Red Sox -- These guys are the reigning World Series Champions... The Curse of Babe Ruth is long gone. It was a team that went from the outhouse to the penthouse in a years time and they did so by shedding a bunch of high priced talent off the pay roll. The cupboard isn't bear at all... I don't want to leave that impression. They have a fantastic farm system and players who can play. The Red Sox are going to be a force to contend with... for years to come.

 

2. Santana CF -- This is a bit of a hot button topic. What do you do with a young moldable player like Danny Santana. Some feel it's crazy to take a SS in training and place him in the OF. Some feel it's crazy that we don't have an experienced backup in CF. Some feel that it's fine and that's where I am... It's fine... If it turns out that Santana can play a decent CF... That's good for the Twins and it's good for Santana. For light hitting guys like Santana... Being capable at multiple positions will increase his value. I don't think his SS days are over... He will get more time at the 6 Position and if he proves capable at the 8 position it's a good thing for Danny Santana.

 

3. Nolasco -- I don't know why it is... But whenever I read "Nolasco"... I think of Oreo's... Chips Ahoy... Ritz Crackers and Nutter Butters. Why is that?

 

4. David Ortiz -- OK... Let's think about Ortiz... The Twins acquired him from the Seattle Mariners for Dave Hollins in 1996. During his time in Minnesota... He wasn't the David Ortiz of today but he was decent while often injured. The Twins were really pinching pennies back then and David Ortiz figured to make 2 million in arbitration for the 2003 season. The front office had negotiations to deal with Jacque Jones and Torii Hunter and Doug Meintkewicz. Plus they had picked up a Rule 5 SS named Jose Morban. They needed to shed payroll and they needed a roster spot. Terry tried to trade Ortiz and found no takers and were forced to release him. In hindsight... it looks horrible. Ortiz didn't arrive in Boston and become an immediate superstar... close but not immediate. Even Boston wasn't sure what they had... He was signed as a bench bat and didn't get much playing time as Grady Little preferred Jeremy Giambi. Evenually... Giambi struggled and Ortiz was inserted and he didn't look back. In the end... It came down to Meintkewicz over Ortiz and Morban over Ortiz. There is no debate... It was a the wrong move. History has proven this... but... I'm not sure if it was cut and dried at the time. I'm not trying to open any old wounds... In the end... I'm just like David Ortiz... I was once let go in Cheyenne Wyoming and they felt bad about it. Those folks in Cheyenne are looking back at that day and regretting it now.

 

5. Arguments -- I read new research today that states... People who are prone to argue will die younger than those who are not. People who are apt to be quarrelsome are 2 to 3 times more likely to live shorter lives based on the data. My first thought... This isn't good news for some of the members of Twins Daily. My second thought... Even if I don't agree with this research... I don't want to challenge it with any counter arguments.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I like the Twins' chances tonight and Thursday.

 

Tomorrow? Maybe not so much. Then again, Doubront has been almost as bad as Correia.

[Hawkeye12]

5 former or current shortstops in our starting lineup. What will Bert say about the best athletes on the field?

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Showcase of two of the best 2B in the AL tonight. Let's see if Dozier makes a statement.

 

When can we expect to see Arcia back? Know he doesn't provide much relief in CF, but at least he is an outfielder.

[jokin]

It's a veritable shortstop Murderer's Row at the bottom of the order. It sure looks like Hicks might be on borrowed time- getting pulled on Sunday and out tonight- if/when Fuld passes his concussion test.

[slash129]

It sure looks like Hicks might be on borrowed time- getting pulled on Sunday and out tonight- if/when Fuld passes his concussion test.

He needs more time at AAA anyway.

[Riverbrian]

He needs more time at AAA anyway.

 

Yeah... That's where I'm at. I like Hicks a lot... He has tools and a bunch of them.

 

I was just surprised that he didn't start this year in AAA and let him conquer Rochester and then... Give him a job as Club President.

[twinsnorth49]

Man, I really hate the Red Sox.

[big dog]

OK, I'm bringing a special request for consideration. Could we have a game thread tonight that didn't spend time bashing/defending Rick Anderson, and just leave that to two-thirds of the other active threads? Somehow I think that would be ok, but if others disagree I will stand down.

 

I'm looking forward to a good start by Nolasco, and if I find out he played shortstop in high school I will not be at all surprised. I'll bet the majority of ML pitchers were either shortstops or centerfielders in high school, on days when they didn't pitch. Who's got an instinct on that?

[Riverbrian]

OK, I'm bringing a special request for consideration. Could we have a game thread tonight that didn't spend time bashing/defending Rick Anderson, and just leave that to two-thirds of the other active threads? Somehow I think that would be ok, but if others disagree I will stand down.

 

I'm looking forward to a good start by Nolasco, and if I find out he played shortstop in high school I will not be at all surprised. I'll bet the majority of ML pitchers were either shortstops or centerfielders in high school, on days when they didn't pitch. Who's got an instinct on that?

 

I'm fine with not bashing Rick Anderson... I'd actually prefer not to... But... Can we still make fun of him?

[big dog]

I'm fine with not bashing Rick Anderson... I'd actually prefer not to... But... Can we still make fun of him?

 

Well, I certainly think the mustache is fair game. He's gotten a pass on that for too long.

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2013/0225/20130225__anderson,%20rick_400.jpg

[Gibby]

I was once let go in Cheyenne Wyoming and they felt bad about it. Those folks in Cheyenne are looking back at that day and regretting it now.

 

.

 

I bought an Audi 5000s from Cheyenne in 1985. I bought it a week before I got married, so I'd have a sweet ride to drive my baby around in. What a money pit. The Audi not my baby. I wound up getting rear ended on 195. I kept the insurance payout and it helped contribute to the down payment on our first house. So, Cheyenne may appear to be a bad omen, but it had a silver lining for me.

[Riverbrian]

Well, I certainly think the mustache is fair game. He's gotten a pass on that for too long.

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2013/0225/20130225__anderson,%20rick_400.jpg

 

And why the shades during a night game?

[Gibby]

OK, I'm bringing a special request for consideration. Could we have a game thread tonight that didn't spend time bashing/defending Rick Anderson, and just leave that to two-thirds of the other active threads? Somehow I think that would be ok, but if others disagree I will stand down.

 

 

I'm looking forward to a good start by Nolasco, and if I find out he played shortstop in high school I will not be at all surprised. I'll bet the majority of ML pitchers were either shortstops or centerfielders in high school, on days when they didn't pitch. Who's got an instinct on that?

 

I caught when I didn't pitch. I hated pitching, loved catching. I had to do it because we didn't have any other guys that could pitch worth a damn.

[Halsey Hall]

I'm fine with not bashing Rick Anderson... I'd actually prefer not to... But... Can we still make fun of him?

 

I won't argue that. In fact I won't argue anything. I'm going to live a long life! Trouble with that is, I've been around a long time already.

[Riverbrian]

I bought an Audi 5000s from Cheyenne in 1985. I bought it a week before I got married, so I'd have a sweet ride to drive my baby around in. What a money pit. The Audi not my baby. I wound up getting rear ended on 195. I kept the insurance payout and it helped contribute to the down payment on our first house. So, Cheyenne may appear to be a bad omen, but it had a silver lining for me.

 

The Audi's are much better in Ft. Collins. They Sell 5,007's.

[big dog]

I caught when I didn't pitch. I hated pitching, loved catching. I had to do it because we didn't have any other guys that could pitch worth a damn.

 

I had to pitch as well. I was terrible, I was just willing to do it and most guys weren't. Of course, I was terrible at everything so I couldn't afford to dislike pitching, since it at least got me on the field once in a while. You can guess how good our team was.

[Gibby]

The Audi's are much better in Ft. Collins. They Sell 5,007's.

 

They have a ton of great breweries too.

[Riverbrian]

I won't argue that. In fact I won't argue anything. I'm going to live a long life! Trouble with that is, I've been around a long time already.

 

(Clink of Glasses)

 

To You Halsey

[LaBombo]

 

3. Nolasco -- I don't know why it is... But whenever I read "Nolasco"... I think of Oreo's... Chips Ahoy... Ritz Crackers and Nutter Butters. Why is that?

Huh. And for me, must... have... Wheat Thins. And I don't even like them that much. There must be a scientific explanation for this.

[Gibby]

I had to pitch as well. I was terrible, I was just willing to do it and most guys weren't. Of course, I was terrible at everything so I couldn't afford to dislike pitching, since it at least got me on the field once in a while. You can guess how good our team was.

 

For some reason, I've always been good at anything that involves throwing or catching. If I'da listened to my mama, and forgot about playing football, I probably would have had a decent baseball, or hockey career.

[Riverbrian]

I had to pitch as well. I was terrible, I was just willing to do it and most guys weren't. Of course, I was terrible at everything so I couldn't afford to dislike pitching, since it at least got me on the field once in a while. You can guess how good our team was.

 

Catcher is the greatest position period. You call the pitches... You call the cuts... You see the whole field... You work the umps and you get to wear armor.

[Gibby]

Huh. And for me, must... have... Wheat Thins. And I don't even like them that much. There must be a scientific explanation for this.

 

Change ola into abi, and voila.

[LaBombo]

Man, I really hate the Red Sox.

I hate the Red Sox the same amount that I hate Brussels sprouts. I hate the Yankees the way Indiana Jones hates Nazis...

[Riverbrian]

They have a ton of great breweries too.

 

Thats right... I'd remember that if I could remember that.

[Gibby]

Catcher is the greatest position period. You call the pitches... You call the cuts... You see the whole field... You work the umps and you get to wear armor.

 

I agree whole heartedly. I caught every game I played from little league through college.

[Riverbrian]

Huh. And for me, must... have... Wheat Thins. And I don't even like them that much. There must be a scientific explanation for this.

 

Sandy Duncanitis

[Gibby]

I hate the Red Sox the same amount that I hate Brussels sprouts. I hate the Yankees the way Indiana Jones hates Nazis...

 

I had Brussels sprouts with my schnitzel tonight.

[LaBombo]

I had Brussels sprouts with my schnitzel tonight.

Und sauerkraut, ich hoffe?

[Guest USAFChief]

I had Brussels sprouts with my schnitzel tonight.

I don't know what my fair share of the world's brussel sprout supply is, but whatever it is, you are welcome to it.