Unofficial Contest! Torii's Return To CF

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Hi Twins Daily!

 

In another thread I wondered aloud how long it would be before Torii Hunter found himself starting a game in CF for the Twins. Maybe someone gets injured? Maybe Schafer and Hicks prove completely ineffective at the plate? Maybe Molitor decides to go with experience? Who knows? I thought it might be fun to make it a contest. 

 

To participate in the contest, just reply in the thread with a calendar date (April 1st, May 15th, etc.) that you think will be Torii's first regular season start in Center Field in 2015. 2015 Twins Schedule begins April 6th in Detroit

 

The Winner will be the guess closest to the actual date, whether Torii's first CF start is before or after the guess. If there's a tie, all correct guesses win.

 

The Prize (no real monetary value): A selection of baseball cards from your favorite team! (we can hash out details via Private Message)

 

Disclaimer: This contest is just for fun! All prizes are provided by me, no sponsorship or endorsement from Twins Daily is implied (though I did make sure the contest was not breaking any forum rules). 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

May 17, and I'll donate the prize to charity, after a long acceptance speech, of course.

[JB_Iowa]

May 3

 

Thanks for organizing this.

[Otto von Ballpark]

April 19

[woolywoolhouse]

June 18

[nicksaviking]

April 16th vs the Royals.  It's the 9th game of the year and it's a day game.  About the perfect time for the team to give Hicksie his first break from batting .190.

[Willihammer]

July 18, Torii's b-day

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Food for thought:

 

Torii's most recent start in CF was on Thursday May 19th, 2011 : http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA201105190.shtml

 

It was a "get away" day game before a trip from Seattle back home to Anaheim. Torii started in RF the game before and the game after.

 

After the Twins signed Torii, Terry Ryan had this to say:

 

“I saw him, I think, maybe seven games or so (in 2014),” Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday. “His defense for me was more than adequate. He’s not the type of guy that you’re going to say, ‘Oh, he can go over there and play center for a length of time,’ but I would guarantee you he could go out and play center field for a couple days and you wouldn’t really miss too much.”

[nicksaviking]

 

After the Twins signed Torii, Terry Ryan had this to say:

“I saw him, I think, maybe seven games or so (in 2014),” Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday. “His defense for me was more than adequate. He’s not the type of guy that you’re going to say, ‘Oh, he can go over there and play center for a length of time,’ but I would guarantee you he could go out and play center field for a couple days and you wouldn’t really miss too much.”

 

Great, so now we have to pick multiple days?!

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Bonus points will be awarded if a person picks the first time Torii Hunter plays CF for a couple days and doesn't miss too much.

[DocBauer]

Will it be mere coincidence that this date in question will also be the date that several members of TD suffer from bouts of chest pains?

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

And if a TD member's balky knee starts to ache, an infielder might be moving to the outfield that day. 

 

"I can always tell when one of the Eduardos is shagging flyballs - also, it's going to rain on Tuesdee"

[gunnarthor]

August 1.

 

And, while you're at it, can you start a contest to predict Mauer's first trip to the DL?

[RealTwinsFan357]

My prediction is that he doesn't, Molitor isn't Gardy. Although I'll laugh if he does and we lose 11-10 or something

[ashbury]

 I previously chose April 28 and will stick with that.

 

Hicksie... batting .190.

Wild-eyed optimist, you.

 

_{^{/ me too, actually  > .200}}

[USAFChief]

He won't start a game in CF in 2015.

[James]

I am going with... he doesn't start a game there.  

 

I know Molitor wants Santana to play SS, but my guess is that Santana would start a game at CF before Torii does.  

[Squirrel]

That's what I was going to say ... he doesn't. Can we have multiples saying the same? Or just the first who says a date wins the 'prize.'

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

If he doesn't start a game this year in CF, all those guessing so will share the prize.

[Squirrel]

I'm happy to give up my portion to be split with the others.

[James]

I'm happy to give up my portion to be split with the others.

Mine too.  If it is money, just give it to charity.

[h2oface]

April 13. First home game...... welcome home honorary start in center for the top of the first.

[D. Hocking]

Sometime late in October, 2015 - game 7 of the world series.  He will have to fill in for the regular center fielder who got hurt the previous inning.  People will be nervous, but he will steal a home run from new Diamondback player, Nick Punto.  If it had gone over, the Diamondbacks would have had a walk-off win, but instead it ends the game and gives the Twins their third world series championship.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Sometime late in October, 2015 - game 7 of the world series.  He will have to fill in for the regular center fielder who got hurt the previous inning.  People will be nervous, but he will steal a home run from new Diamondback player, Nick Punto.  If it had gone over, the Diamondbacks would have had a walk-off win, but instead it ends the game and gives the Twins their third world series championship.

 

This might be closer to the "never" prediction than "never" - also I hope it happens exactly like this.

[TheLeviathan]

When's opening day?

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

When's opening day?

April 6th in Detroit. Home Opener one week later, April 13th.

[ashbury]

Sometime late in October, 2015 - game 7 of the world series.  He will have to fill in for the regular center fielder who got hurt the previous inning.  People will be nervous, but he will steal a home run from new Diamondback player, Nick Punto.  If it had gone over, the Diamondbacks would have had a walk-off win, but instead it ends the game and gives the Twins their third world series championship.

If I win, can my prize be some of what this poster is smoking?

[strumdatjaguar]

Last inning of the last home game of the season as a tribute.   Torii will make a midseason announcement of his retirement at the end of the season.

[RedBull34]

Sometime late in October, 2015 - game 7 of the world series.  He will have to fill in for the regular center fielder who got hurt the previous inning.  People will be nervous, but he will steal a home run from new Diamondback player, Nick Punto.  If it had gone over, the Diamondbacks would have had a walk-off win, but instead it ends the game and gives the Twins their third world series championship.

I'm imagining the Ortiz HR where Hunter flipped over the wall, except he catches it.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

If I win, can my prize be some of what this poster is smoking?

not sure I can mail that across state lines . . .