Game Thread: Twins vs Royals, 4/16/15 @ 12:10 CT

[Shane Wahl]

Forecast--mid to high 60s and partly cloudy skies

 

Lineups:

 

Royals

 

1. Escobar, SS
2. Moustakas, 3B
3. Cain, CF
4. Hosmer, 1B
5. Morales, DH
6. Perez, C
7. Orlando, LF
8. Colon, 2B
9. Dyson, RF

 

Pitching: Jason Vargas, LHP

 

Twins

 

1. Santana, SS
2. Hunter, RF
3. Mauer, DH
4. Dozier, 2B
5. Vargas, 1B
6. Plouffe, 3B
7. Escobar, LF
8. Suzuki, C
9. Robinson, CF

 

Pitching: Tommy Milone, LHP

Things to think about:

 

1. Tommy Milone--I don't care if he ends up being bad this year, or even an average 5th starter . . . just give the Twins one more great performance right now, buddy. 3-6 seems way better than 2-7 for some odd reason. .222 is closer to the Timberwolves winning percentage and that makes me think about how awful that team is. But then I think about how the youth movement is working out for the Timberwolves (really starting next year with potentially the top pick) and how Wiggins and LaVine are developing. And that makes me just more depressed about the Twins. So, Tommy, get it done today one more time.

 

2. Jason Vargas--this lefty would get mashed by Aaron Hicks and Josmil Pinto. Alas. Also, this lefty is what Milone could be, which is a strangely decent pitcher without overpowering stuff. Vargas has made a nice career for himself ($32 million bucks through 2015). I am writing this pre-lineup, so maybe my "should" will become reality: Santana-Hunter-Mauer-Dozier-Vargas-Plouffe-Arcia-Suzuki-Robinson. I just typed "Robinson" in a "should" lineup. Wow. I am fine with Torii batting second against lefties. We'll see.

 

3. Fantasy--fantasy baseball, that is. I usually have a few Twins, but I went bigger this year and have like six of these people on my team. Good god it is terrible. It's just terrible. Luckily, I have a Xander, Felix, and Julio also on my team or else I would be in the cellar.

 

4. Kendrys Morales--I swear if this guy pummels Milone today I am going to be ill. I am surprised he is back and, like, pounding the baseball again. He seems in better shape and is doing well in the middle of the K.C. lineup. Hopefully Kennys is the player with the funny K name who destroys the baseball today. Also, they should have a footrace.

 

5. The actual lineup--I like Escobar, so I am cool with that. Hopefully, Waldo can get a pinch hit homer to keep his bat going.

 

6. Player of the game--Torii Hunter. Yes. I realistically don't trust this Milone situation at all today (see number 4) and expect a lot of runs scored. And something tells me that Torii is going yard and driving in some runs. Maybe he should be my 7th Twins player on my fantasy team (see 3). No. There will be some games this year that will make Twins fans remember the old days of Torii before he actually got old. This will be one of them.

 

7. Game prediction--Twins 9, Royals 7.

[ashbury]

 

I have to think about the things to think about . . . 

Certainly food for thought.

[stringer bell]

Comments on the lineup: Fourth LH starter in eight games! Weird. Arcia rewarded for his HR with a seat on the bench, Esco in left--I believe this is the fourth game he has started--two in left, one at third, and one at short. The Hunter/Dozier flip-flop continues.

[stringer bell]

Seriously, the Twins lineup is 20 minutes behind the Royals lineup. Also, I cannot edit the initial post so I will be posting a new one. Just finishing up if I ever get the lineup  . . . .

Here we go again!

[James]

Well, the good news is they actually looked like a major league team last night.  Winning the game was also a bonus.  

 

Today, I'm hoping that they get another win, but I'll take looking like a major league team as a consolation prize. 

[AKTwins]

I like having Escobar in the lineup. However, I would rather have him at SS, Santana in CF and Robinson in LF.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I listened on the radio last night, they sounded like a major league team as well - the broadcast team never sounded exasperated, the crowd sounded like they were into it, no groaning or boos after the first inning that I could hear...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Vargas spells Mauer at first, Mauer spells Vargas as DH. Didn't know they were interchangeable...

 

I'm glad Vargas gets to stretch out his glove once in a while.

 

Er... Let us go, 2 in a row? Or is that a column?

[drunksam]

Mlbtv's Free Game of the Day.

[JB_Iowa]

LaVelle E. Neal III ‏@LaVelleNeal  · 5m5 minutes ago 
Today's game is being televised by the MLB Network, NOT FSN. First pitch at 12:10 p.m.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Oh, Ptewy. I meant to give a real shot at fulfilling Riverbrian's 2k requirements in post #1024.

 

I guess i just got overzealous in yesterday's game thread. Not a bad thing, all things considered. And i've always wondered about the "delete" option next to edit. Would that reduce my post count?

(Alas, i'm predominantly posting in game threads, which get archived, so i guess i'm out of luck even so)

[teekz]

 

LaVelle E. Neal III ‏@LaVelleNeal  · 5m5 minutes ago 
Today's game is being televised by the MLB Network, NOT FSN. First pitch at 12:10 p.m.

 

Sadly, this means no game at work for me.

[Squirrel]

 

Sadly, this means no game at work for me.

But if it's MLBtv's free game of the day, wouldn't that also mean it's a free stream? (Do you have a computer at work? or mobile device of some kind?)

[big dog]

 

Certainly food for thought.

Interesting...I'm thinking about food.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

I like having Escobar in the lineup. However, I would rather have him at SS, Santana in CF and Robinson in LF.

 

You're 2/3 of the way there.  Get rid of the guy whose name starts with "R" and rhymes with "Zobinson", and I agree!

[Squirrel]

 

Interesting...I'm thinking about food.

So am I ... but I haven't eaten yet today ... 

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Vargas spells Mauer at first, Mauer spells Vargas as DH. Didn't know they were interchangeable...

I'm glad Vargas gets to stretch out his glove once in a while.

Er... Let us go, 2 in a row? Or is that a column?

 

Wow, that CDH education REALLY didn't work out for Joe in the spelling department.

[JB_Iowa]

It's really on MLBN Alternate for me.  I sat here waiting for it to come on MLBN and heard some guy yammering, yammering -- now I know why I don't watch them much.  Brewers/Cards are on MLB here.

[Shane Wahl]

Well they are 2/7 of the way there (Royals).

[Shane Wahl]

 

It's really on MLBN Alternate for me.  I sat here waiting for it to come on MLBN and heard some guy yammering, yammering -- now I know why I don't watch them much.  Brewers/Cards are on MLB here.

 

I cannot believe that he has a show. It is like an angry Dick Vitale or something. 

[Shane Wahl]

For anyone not watching, Milone is getting shelled.

[gocgo]

Here's hoping that last night's game will become the norm.  Low scoring, solid defense (although Robinson in left was shaky), and competitive.  I don't expect the Twins to win more than they lose, but be competitive.  Also, I know we are holding off on bringing up the young guys, but I've seen nothing from Robinson or Shaefer that makes me think they are better than anything in the minors.  If it's about winning now, give me the best players.  Just my two pennies.

[Shane Wahl]

2-0 Royals. There were also two men on, so Milone really limited the damage there.

 

(Sorry)

 

Also, Robinson pulled a Robinson for a second and almost charged in too far again on a liner. He didn't have to jump this time though.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

For anyone not watching, Milone is getting shelled.

 

You say this as though people wouldn't have just assumed it.

[teekz]

 

But if it's MLBtv's free game of the day, wouldn't that also mean it's a free stream? (Do you have a computer at work? or mobile device of some kind?)

 

They block streaming for us. I just threw on the gameday in the background.

[Circus Boy]

The Circus Boy score update, brought to you by Grain Belt, The Friendly Beer!

 

Going into the Twins half of the 2nd, it's Royals 2, Good Guys zero.

[Cap'n Piranha]

Homer by Kennys DH!!!

[SwainZag]

Good piece of hitting there by Dozier, though I'm surprised when anything gets through the Kansas City infield.

[Shane Wahl]

Tie game. Vargas just annihilated the baseball.

[SwainZag]

 

Tie game. Vargas just annihilated the baseball.

 

Seriously that was a god damn laser.  Kennys mad, Kennys hit ball hard.  Where the hell did that s come from in his name?