Game Thread, Twins @ Tigers, 4/9 @ 12:08pm CT

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Game Thread, Twins @ Tigers, 4/9 @ 12:08pm CT

This is it.

Bottom of the eighth 2 out, Runners at the corners, Perkins comes in to protect a 1 run lead. The indomitable Miguel Cabrera shakes a weight from his bat, and saunters confidently to the plate.

Perkins looks in for the sign, shakes Suzuki's first call off, and nods at the second. He gathers his thoughts for the pitch. The Tigers have had their way in the first two games of the road series, out scoring 'em 13-0, but that doesn't matter. This is now. This game. He rears back and fires...

Ball 1

Ump replaces the dirty ball, Suzuki fires it back while Cabrera looks down the line. Again with the sign, this time nodding at the first. This one's for Gibson. Not a perfect game, but outstanding. He went toe to toe with Greene, and gave the team a chance to win. After a hot and cold rookie season, he kept the Tigers honest. He too is the home grown talent. Again. Rear, Fire...

Strike 1.

Out comes the ball. Sign. He's set. The defense is on their toes, in anticipation. The had a few tough breaks the last two games, but this was a pretty heads up game. Would have been totally different if they hadn't gotten that double play. And that outfield catch! It's a defence worth watching. And there goes the ball. A big cut! A long ball down the line... Foul!

Strike 2.

Alright! Got 'im on the ropes. Not that baseball has any ropes. The count is in our favor. That's right. Accountability. Someone should figure out how to get the bottom of the Tiger's order out. Today was better than yesterday, but still, glancing over his shoulder Glen can see one of those pesky fellows on third waitin' for a chance to scamper home. Who knows what internet jinks must be responsible for that? Where is the accountability? But the thought does not dignify a professional athlete. Here goes! He swung? Appeal to the first base ump...

Ball 2.

At least the umpire asked for help that time. No. Don't pick at that scab. This is a team sport. We're all in it together. Alright. Settle down. He almost bit, now let's see how he handles this! That's right, Suzuki, here it comes!

Ball 3.

Full count. Runner on first will be running with the pitch.

If Perkins...

A) tries to get Cabrera to chase, read post 21.

grooves it down the center, power 'gainst power, read post 35.

C) calls for a pick off, read post 46.

D) doesn't approve the old school "Choose your own adventure books", read post 11.

But if you really want to find out what happens, stay tuned, watch the game. And talk up a storm, if the weather doesn't already have that under control.

This Intro has been given a rating of GT for Game Thread.

And now for your Feature Presentation...

(Roll opening Credits... I mean lineups)
 

[USAFChief]

Gracias, SSOO.

 

I'll go with e). Walk off balk. See posts 97-327, 329-440, and 443-506. Warning: NSFW.

[Squirrel]

Geez ... I didn't even get the previous game thread looked at (just got home) and the new one is up already! We are going to have to change your name to 'JohnnyOnTheSpot.'

[Mill1634]

Go Twins (assuming they play.) Gibson better pitch at least 6 innings, and I have a feeling Perkins will pitch no matter what, unless were down 11-0 again. 

[Jerr]

Gibson pitching, so I have hope....rain coming? figures......gonna be a long season

[Todd_L]

I'm going to boldly predict that we advance a runner to 3rd base today.  

[mdawg888]

Welp, it can't get any worse, can it?

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

Welp, it can't get any worse, can it?

Famous last (place) words!

 

Is it too early in the day to start the FREE ESCOBAR chants?

[Riverbrian]

 

Welp, it can't get any worse, can it?

 

Actually it can... We could lose 12-0 today.  

 

BUT THAT WON"T HAPPEN... I'm personally guaranteeing that we won't lose 12-0 today. 

 

[Halsey Hall]

In order to not set a modern day record today we need to score a run.  A Vargas homer will take care of that.  Gibson gives up a couple of unearned runs thanks to 2 errors, which should have been 3 by our third baseman, but that only keeps it interesting as we break the goose egg in the win column. 

[David HK]

 

I'm going to boldly predict that we advance a runner to 3rd base today.  

I'll go ye one better-  I've got a tingling that we may score an actual run!  Methinks Escobar Bucky-Dents one over the yellow line in left.  It's a real tingling.  I gotta sit down now.  

[jimmer]

In Dave Cameron's chat yesterday he started it by saying: 'It’s the first Wednesday of the regular season, so let’s chat right up until the Tigers start pummeling the Twins.' He said that before the game even started.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Starring...

 

Minnesota Twins:

 

Mound: Kyle Gibson ®

 

1. Danny Santana (S) SS
2. Brian Dozier ® 2B
3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B
4. Torii Hunter ® RF
5. Kennys Vargas (S) DH
6. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B
7. Eduardo Escobar (S) LF
8. Chris Herrmann (L) C
9. Jordan Schafer (L) CF

 

Detroit Tigers:

 

Mound: Shane Greene ®

 

1. Anthony Gose (L) CF
2. Ian Kinsler ® 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera ® 1B
4. Victor Martinez (S) DH
5. J.D. Martinez ® RF
6. Yoenis Cespedes ® LF
7. Nick Castellanos ® 3B
8. Alex Avila (L) C
9. Jose Iglesias ® SS

 

Additional online posts by sundry extras.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Escobar in LF, eh? And Herrmann catching? Is Suzuki going to be ticked off to not be playing today?

[gunnarthor]

Not sure I like benching Arcia against a RH pitcher.

[James]

 

Starring...

 

Minnesota Twins:

 

Mound: Kyle Gibson ®

 

1. Danny Santana (S) SS
2. Brian Dozier ® 2B
3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B
4. Torii Hunter ® RF
5. Kennys Vargas (S) DH
6. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B
7. Eduardo Escobar (S) LF
8. Chris Herrmann (L) C
9. Jordan Schafer (L) CF

 

Detroit Tigers:

 

Mound: Shane Greene ®

 

1. Anthony Gose (L) CF
2. Ian Kinsler ® 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera ® 1B
4. Victor Martinez (S) DH
5. J.D. Martinez ® RF
6. Yoenis Cespedes ® LF
7. Nick Castellanos ® 3B
8. Alex Avila (L) C
9. Jose Iglesias ® SS

 

Additional online posts by sundry extras.

Those guys are pretty smart to trademark their names like that.     

[kydoty]

Today, I will try not to be so negative. 

 

So I will start thinking about puppies.

 

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t46/nykE_photo/wp_Janubaba_pupies_20053613243OZJNM.jpg

 

http://www.funnypuppysite.com/pictures/Cute_Puppies_In_Tophats.jpg

 

http://www.love-my-dog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pictures-of-puppies.jpg

 

I feel better already.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Those guys are pretty smart to trademark their names like that.     

Alas, i'm just too lazy to turn off the smiley face generation stuff which converts a parenthetical capital r into a trademark symbol.  semi colon close paren...

[jimmer]

Didn't take long to put an IF in the OF. And it wasn't the guy who played a bunch of OF last year.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Indeed, these are the puppy days of april... 

 

For those of less discerning eyes, the top picture is today's starting outfield.  Doesn't Escobar look alert?

 

Middle picture are Moli and Bruno.  Responsibility weighs heavy on the brow.

 

And the bottom is the starting line up, as they are introduced.  Papasan provided by the front office.

 

Today, I will try not to be so negative. 

 

So I will start thinking about puppies.

 

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t46/nykE_photo/wp_Janubaba_pupies_20053613243OZJNM.jpg

 

http://www.funnypuppysite.com/pictures/Cute_Puppies_In_Tophats.jpg

 

http://www.love-my-dog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pictures-of-puppies.jpg

 

I feel better already.

 

They may not look it, but they'll grow to give even wild cats a run for their money.

 

(No old yeller references please...  Oops.  sorry)

[Halsey Hall]

I just felt a twinge in my elbow.  Can I rest it and still get paid?

[Shane Wahl]

They should just go ahead and move this game back about 5 hours.

[James]

 

Alas, i'm just too lazy to turn off the smiley face generation stuff which converts a parenthetical capital r into a trademark symbol.  semi colon close paren...

Don't worry.  All is forgiven in game threads.

[scottz]

There will be plenty of times to sit Arcia. Facing a righthander is not the time to do it.

[D. Hocking]

To keep with the positive puppy theme - I found a picture of Ervin's puppy

 

 

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/elo_001/2007/weird%20stuff/puppy_evil_001.jpg

 

 

[jimmer]

 

There will be plenty of times to sit Arcia. Facing a righthander is not the time to do it.

So, the Tigers are starting a righty, so the Twins are sitting the left hand hitting LF Arcia in favor of an IF who hits lefties well and righties poorly.

[scottz]

Is it OK if I start a chant that goes: FREE ESCOBAR, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF ARCIA VERSUS A RIGHTHANDER! ??

 

It's a little wordy, but if we add some claps and foot stomps and make sure we have our breathing in the right spots, then I think it will really catch on.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I just felt a twinge in my elbow.  Can I rest it and still get paid?

Ah, i finally caught up on news.  At least Nolasco let folk know right away, so it doesn't mushroom into something worse.

 

And if it's bad, well, it may end up being an excuse to see one of the fellas left behind in Rochester whom folk were so anxious to see when Santana was disciplined by the league.

 

It might not be a silver lining, just a somewhat less dim spot. 

 

[Danchat]

I hope Eddie is ready for left field...

 

And I hope Herrmann learned how to bat in Spring Training.

[Mike Sixel]

Benching Arcia vs a righty? Uh............not what I would do. Good luck Twins.