Game Thread, Twins vs. White Sox, 4/30 @ 7:10pm CT

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Game Thread, Twins vs. White Sox, 4/30 @ 7:10pm CT

Game of Threads...

0. Weather and line ups: Mostly Sunny, high of 68F. Winds calm (as of 3pm) Visibility of 10 miles (as reported at the airport) which should be just enough to see where that Vargas home run lands.

Line Ups...

Chicgo White Sox:

 

Pitching: Chris Sale {L}

 

1. Adam Eaton {L} CF
2. Alexei Ramirez {R} SS
3. Melky Cabrera {S} LF
4. Jose Abreu {R} 1B
5. Adam LaRoche {L} DH
6. Avisail Garcia {R} RF
7. Conor Gillaspie {L} 3B
8. Tyler Flowers {R} C
9. Micah Johnson {L} 2B

 

Minnesota Twins:

 

Pitching: Trevor May {R}

 

1. Brian Dozier {R} 2B
2. Torii Hunter {R} RF
3. Joe Mauer {L} 1B
4. Trevor Plouffe {R} 3B
5. Kurt Suzuki {R} C
6. Kennys Vargas {S} DH
7. Eduardo Escobar {S} LF
8. Shane Robinson {R} CF
9. Danny Santana {S} SS

1. Mauer is coming.

 

Mauer's been good so far. But one expects dominance from one's super stars, if that's what they are. But don't worry. Mauer himself will execute.

 

What do you think will be his biggest contribution to this game?

(Same deal for whoever you think is the Mauer equivalent playing for Chicago, for extra credit)

2. A Song of Fire 'n Ice

Wild are on fire. Rather, they're not playin' too shabbily. They play on ice. (clever, no?) But their next game doesn't start until tomorrow, so let us not be distracted. Fire usually is associated with hot, or in baseball, streakiness of an approved variety. Ice, streakiness which is less approved of.

Who will end up (when the game ends) with the longest streak regarding...
i) hits.
ii) runs.
iii) Ks.
iv) outs.
v) errors (or poor play resulting in runs, in your subjective opinion)

3. Mayday.

 

With all the players getting injured yesterday, and after a couple of starters go down at the beginning of the season, one might say they were um, dropping like flies. But we're the Twins. We do the little things right. Like not letting flies drop. So neither is Mayday the international distress signal (like SOS ... --- ... which i still think gets used? So we're still in the SOS age*...) but the first day of May in the outside world, or (finally getting to the point) the day Trevor May pitches. He's been hurling pretty good of late, or so i hear, but he'll really have to be on his game if the Twins can put one over on the White Sox tonight, as they're trotting out Chris Sale. Oh yeah...

 

Which pitcher gets the most called third strikes, Sale o' May**?

(but of course you're not really limited to starters)

 

*sausage

**salami

I really should have worked in more luncheon meats, but oh well. Left like this, one can only hope the wurst is yet to come...

4. Draft day.

 

Not that i'm paying attention, but i vaguely recall the Vikings being perennial last minute movers regarding draft picks. I'm still not paying attention, but couldn't help but notice all that AD speculation. I'm not wondering what will happen there, but on a more long term antithetical question...

 

Who do folk think will the next Twins pitcher to be involved in a trade?

5. Improve vice.

 

I had kinda meant to put together baseball questions coming out of the game of thrones series, but that fell apart pretty quickly. I suppose i could salvage it, by comparing the Royals and the Tigers and the other central teams to various factions in that series, and asking who will come out on top. And then i thought it was just easier to end everything with a question as a sort of challenge to the reader to pick and well, making a Game of it. But all and all, i just kinda petered out. But a good manager changes on the spur of the moment, as the game dictates. I don't wanna know how the Vikings trade their picks on draft day, or if AD ends up going for something, but rather

 

What do ya figure Molitor's most meaningful move will be today?

And these perhaps are just as interesting to ask after the fact, so no need to show how smart ya are, and predict everything. But of course you can do that too.

 

Oh, and credit where 'tis due: Game of Threads idea came from a thread earlier this week where glunn mentioned the mother of dragons. I'm sure someone will eventually do the idea justice...

[Danchat]

I'll be watching the draft, not the Twins game. If we can win this game against the White Sox, then we can take 3rd place, so let's win Twins!

[Winston Smith]

If the Vikings make a trade I bet Duensings name will be part of the talks!

[Willihammer]

Really hope May goes toe to toe with Sale today. Gotta think that would be a huge confidence boost.

[JB_Iowa]

I'll be watching the Twins game.

 

I lost my interest in Pro Football shortly after that 4th Vikings Super Bowl loss.

 

*SOS -- you could throw Olive loaf in the midst of the sausage and salami!  (Yech...)

[Danchat]

Just had a thought. What happens if Shane Robinson gets hurt? With Jordan Schafer hurt, Danny Santana would probably take over CF, which means Eduardo Escobar would have to cover SS, and Eduardo Nunez would have to come in and play LF. 

 

That's two infielders in the outfield. Yikes. Let's hope Robinson doesn't get hurt.

[Squirrel]

I'll be watching the draft, not the Twins game. If we can win this game against the White Sox, then we can take 3rd place, so let's win Twins!

 

Draft Town, USA (Chicago)

 

I think you can take the phrase 'Skol, Vikings!' quite literally with this!

[Hrbowski]

I think that I will watch the draft until the Twins are on. Nothing, not even the draft, will stop my loyalty to the Twins.

[Craig Arko]

Early showing of Avengers.

[Cap'n Piranha]

AL Central Division Teams as Game of Thrones Houses:

 

The Detroit Tigers are the Lannisters.    They have the most money, and they spend it, some might say recklessly.    They have an insatiable hunger for glory.

 

The Kansas City Royals are the Freys.    They take great offense at even perceived slights, even more so at actual ones.    For years, they have been downtrodden, but now they are out to establish themselves as a power.

 

The Chicago White Sox are the Greyjoys.    They repeatedly get slapped down by their rivals when they get too uppity, but continue to believe in their own superiority.

 

The Cleveland Indians are Arryns.    Located far to the east of the other houses, a once great power that now is not very involved in the goings-on of the realm.

 

The Minnesota Twins are the Starks.    They stick to the Old Ways, and refuse to change.    That lack of adaptability causes trouble for them.

 

Within House Stark, Ron Gardenhire is Eddard Stark (because he dies).    Paul Molitor is currently Robb Stark, bringing energy and vigor (let's hope he can write a new ending).    Joe Mauer is Bran Stark (because of the bilateral leg weakness).  Alex Meyer is Rickon Stark (because he's wild).    Mike Pelfrey is Arya Stark (because he's so angry).    Tim Stauffer is Sansa Stark (because he's always getting hit).    TR is Catelyn Stark (because he's in charge of all the kids, and his inability to see what's coming will be disastrous).

[glunn]

 

AL Central Division Teams as Game of Thrones Houses:

 

The Detroit Tigers are the Lannisters.    They have the most money, and they spend it, some might say recklessly.    They have an insatiable hunger for glory.

 

The Kansas City Royals are the Freys.    They take great offense at even perceived slights, even more so at actual ones.    For years, they have been downtrodden, but now they are out to establish themselves as a power.

 

The Chicago White Sox are the Greyjoys.    They repeatedly get slapped down by their rivals when they get too uppity, but continue to believe in their own superiority.

 

The Cleveland Indians are Arryns.    Located far to the east of the other houses, a once great power that now is not very involved in the goings-on of the realm.

 

The Minnesota Twins are the Starks.    They stick to the Old Ways, and refuse to change.    That lack of adaptability causes trouble for them.

 

Within House Stark, Ron Gardenhire is Eddard Stark (because he dies).    Paul Molitor is currently Robb Stark, bringing energy and vigor (let's hope he can write a new ending).    Joe Mauer is Bran Stark (because of the bilateral leg weakness).  Alex Meyer is Rickon Stark (because he's wild).    Mike Pelfrey is Arya Stark (because he's so angry).    Tim Stauffer is Sansa Stark (because he's always getting hit).    TR is Catelyn Stark (because he's in charge of all the kids, and his inability to see what's coming will be disastrous).

 

Great post!  

[Squirrel]

 

Early showing of Avengers.

Now that I expect a report on!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

AL Central Division Teams as Game of Thrones Houses:

 

The Detroit Tigers are the Lannisters.    They have the most money, and they spend it, some might say recklessly.    They have an insatiable hunger for glory.

 

The Kansas City Royals are the Freys.    They take great offense at even perceived slights, even more so at actual ones.    For years, they have been downtrodden, but now they are out to establish themselves as a power.

 

The Chicago White Sox are the Greyjoys.    They repeatedly get slapped down by their rivals when they get too uppity, but continue to believe in their own superiority.

 

The Cleveland Indians are Arryns.    Located far to the east of the other houses, a once great power that now is not very involved in the goings-on of the realm.

 

The Minnesota Twins are the Starks.    They stick to the Old Ways, and refuse to change.    That lack of adaptability causes trouble for them.

 

Within House Stark, Ron Gardenhire is Eddard Stark (because he dies).    Paul Molitor is currently Robb Stark, bringing energy and vigor (let's hope he can write a new ending).    Joe Mauer is Bran Stark (because of the bilateral leg weakness).  Alex Meyer is Rickon Stark (because he's wild).    Mike Pelfrey is Arya Stark (because he's so angry).    Tim Stauffer is Sansa Stark (because he's always getting hit).    TR is Catelyn Stark (because he's in charge of all the kids, and his inability to see what's coming will be disastrous).

 

Thanks for providing the depth to the analogy i wasn't up to doin'.

 

Do ya mind if we jump on your back today? I think you're drivin' the bus...

 

Perhaps Ervin Santana as Bran?

 

Anyway, on to watchin' the game!

 

 

[JB_Iowa]

Very nice throw, Mr. Robinson

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Wow!

 

That's a good play to come up on, a throw home to cutdown the runner!

[JB_Iowa]

Wow, it's about time a pitcher got helped out by the defense.

 

Nice showing by the fielders in that first inning.

[Circus Boy]

Mr. Robinson, I think you're trying to seduce us.

[JB_Iowa]

Can't believe Hunter scored from 2nd on that.

 

He's hustling.

[Platoon]

Watching Mauer spray baseballs all over America in the promo during his AB. When will they do one our our outfield defense?? .

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Can't believe Hunter scored from 2nd on that.

 

He's hustling.

 

He was hustling to make it into second too, as the left fielder played the bounce pretty much perfectly, and fired a gem in that he just beat.

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Can't believe Hunter scored from 2nd on that.

 

He's hustling.

"She'll make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

[JB_Iowa]

Well 1-0 is better than several alternatives.

 

End of 1st.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1-0 Minnesota after 1 inning of play.

 

Circus Boy Update jingle (whatever it sounds like)

[Circus Boy]

 

1-0 Minnesota after 1 inning of play.

 

Circus Boy Update jingle (whatever it sounds like)

 

Like the Benny Hill theme as the clown car rounds the foul lines.

[SydneyTwinsFan]

_{In other news, Buxton 2-2 with a BB, 3B and 2 SB so far.  Good to see.}

[JB_Iowa]

I like this:

 

http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2015/04/30/121531080/roy-halladay-can-juggle-and-ride-a-unicycle-might-join-the-circus

 

Who needs Dancing With The Stars?

[JB_Iowa]

So close but yet so far ....

[JB_Iowa]

Make 'em pay.....

[sampleSizeOfOne]

 

Make 'em pay.....

Done and done.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Nice wheels Dansan!