Game Thread, Twins vs. Athletics, 5/5 @ 7:10 pm CT

[formerly33]

┴Ɔ ɯd0Ɩ:ㄥ @ ϛ/ϛ 'sɔᴉʇǝlɥʇ∀ ˙sʌ suᴉʍ┴ 'pɐǝɹɥ┴ ǝɯɐפ

 

(If I get banned for this, I'm taking Ash with me. He not only was the one who gave me the idea, but he actually voluntarily did the dirty work, and he will suffer the consequence, be it good or bad.)

 

Aren't I generous?

 

Weather:

 

Mostly cloudy with the temperature starting around 70° F but finishing in the mid 60's (assuming the game is neither modern fast nor scary long - I'm guessing if either it's the latter). Relative humidity: 44%. Precipitation chance: 0% (yay! but according to a shadier source than the rest). East southeast wind around 15 mph. Sunset: 8:22 PM (an hour and 12 minutes after the first pitch).

 

Line ups:

 

ATHLETICS (11-16):
1. Burns, CF
2. Semien, SS
3. Reddick, RF
4. Butler, DH
5. Vogt, C
6. Davis, 1B
7. Lawrie, 3B
8. Canha, LF
9. Sogard, 2B

 

Jesse Chavez, RHP (0-2, 2.55 ERA)

 

TWINS (14-12):

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

Trevor May, RHP (2-1, 4.43 ERA)

 

Well, here I am, making my first (and possibly last) start for TD. When I first volunteered to take on the A's on this memorable date (see below), everyone was careful to drive the point home that I must avoid being too negative. However, I've also been told more than once in my short life to stop being unrealistic for making positive remarks. That said, seeing I've already given up at least one run this game, I think I'll advance from here at my own risk; hopefully I don't get moved back to the bullpen (or worse yet, down to Fort Myers, now that I have indeed finally reached AA - but wait, last night I changed my member title, thanks to some helpful advice from the illustrious ChiTownTwinsFan).

 

First off (concerning the game, that is), here's to a bad game for Oakland since apparently Minnesota is incapable of having good games. Oh, and the same applies to the series. And all the succeeding series.

 

Okay, that's enough negativity for one day. If I can help the Twins in any way, it's by being supportive, and the Twins need lots of positive support from their fans. So I'll randomly drop in the phrase that should never be used in the middle of our national anthem: "Go Twins!" (Though indeed, the sacrilege would be of greater offense if I shouted "Go A's" in the middle of nothing in particular.)

 

On a historical note, today, Cinco de Mayo, is known in the Free and Sovereign State of Puebla as El Día de la Batalla de Puebla. Today the Twins are looking to start the game which will hence be honored annually on this special date, called El Día de la Batalla de los Gemelos y Elefantes. Why? I can't say conclusively, but my guess is that it will be the longest, most drawn-out pitching duel in all the rich history of Major League Baseball - and well deserving it will be of its own holiday. Of course, we know who will ultimately win this game in the end, but A's fans don't know that yet. It'll obviously take them a while, but in the end, everyone should acknowledge us as the rightful winners of this game. Yes, even the people of Oakland.

 

Other fun facts about May 5th that [can] relate to the Twins and today's game:

 

~ The Twins and Athletics both have winning records on this date in the past 5 years, but that must end today. That is, unless the game is canceled.

 

~ American teenager Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore for theft and vandalism on this day in the year 1994. Although this is not customary procedure in the United States (for those who wondered), Fay still received 4 strokes because he was the visitor. Luckily for the Twins, this series is at Target Field, so we won't need to worry about any canings when Vargas breaks the foul pole and Hunter steals home later on tonight.

 

~ You know, I've always thought that numbers like 111, 222, 333, etc. were lucky numbers. Well, it so happens that the first (and therefore luckiest) of those numbers, 111, is the exact number of years ago to this very day that Cy Young threw the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0. If that signifies anything, it must be something wonderful. But I can't say what's on my mind because if I do it'll be a sure jinx, and if there's anything that makes jinxes jinx it's a complete belief or disbelief in them. I think it's pretty obvious which side I take, but that's not the point. The point is that anything between a 0% and 100% belief in the jinx jinxes the possibility of jinxing the jinx.

 

Finally (and most importantly), you should know by now that Trevor May is making his first 2015 start in the month of May. I don't know conclusively, but I think that if Phil Hughes' name was Phil April, the Twins would have won their season opener for the first time in a long time this year. There's so much in a name. But then again, who knows? We'll have more evidence to work from at the end of this game. But for now we'll focus on the fact that the Twins (especially Molitor) have been devoting lots of dedicated research to the project of finding the perfect recipe for a win this year, and that just may be May in May.

 

Here is May in April:

 

 

Well, that's it for now. I will proceed to open this up to critique, and ya'll can decide whether I was the year's biggest wash-up or greatest breakthrough - or, worse than either of those, something boring and in between. I suppose you guys really will boo me out of town before I'm finished like Ash predicted. Oh well, I'll just go to Cleveland with the Twins if you do; then you'll be sorry. But I'll warn you ahead of time that it isn't going to be the shortest series of the year.

 

Once again, GO TWINS!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtO67Ner-1c

[Blake]

Greatest thing since sliced Wonder Bread.

[JB_Iowa]

Nice job.  That wasn't so bad, was it?

 

I saw the Cy Young perfect game info elsewhere this morning and said a little prayer that Trevor was channeling him!!!  I'm sure it's done through Trevor's cat.

[Halsey Hall]

Nice job Bubbles!    111 years, wow, so how long will this game remain perfect for May?

[Squirrel]

 

Nice job.  That wasn't so bad, was it?

 

I saw the Cy Young perfect game info elsewhere this morning and said a little prayer that Trevor was channeling him!!!  I'm sure it's done through Trevor's cat.

He could become my 'favorite' player this year because of the cat. And I think he said something somewhere about possibly getting a French bulldog ... LOVE!

[formerly33]

 

Nice job Bubbles!    111 years, wow, so how long will this game remain perfect for May?

Goodness, I didn't think I'd be being called by that nickname less than 24 hours after I got the idea to call myself after the real "Bubbles."

 

Hopefully not 111 years.

[formerly33]

 

He could become my 'favorite' player this year because of the cat. And I think he said something somewhere about possibly getting a French bulldog ... LOVE!

A Frenchie? I wanted to get a fawn colored one with an adorable black mask last year, but I already have my Clover.

[70charger]

How do we know that Trevor May has a cat? Did I miss something?

[Craig Arko]

And today's 'blind me with science' factoid: meteors tonight.

 

http://www.discovery.com/dscovrd/space/eyes-to-the-sky-halleys-comet-meteor-shower-peaks-tonight/

[Hrbowski]

 

He could become my 'favorite' player this year because of the cat. And I think he said something somewhere about possibly getting a French bulldog ... LOVE!

French Bulldog? I hear those are a good luck charm for pitchers. That is why I want one.

[JB_Iowa]

 

How do we know that Trevor May has a cat? Did I miss something?

 

He tweets pictures of it on occasion.

 

It's at least as big as a French Bulldog!

[Hrbowski]

 

┴Ɔ ɯd0Ɩ:ㄥ @ ϛ/ϛ 'sɔᴉʇǝlɥʇ∀ ˙sʌ suᴉʍ┴ 'pɐǝɹɥ┴ ǝɯɐפ

 

(If I get banned for this, I'm taking Ash with me. He not only was the one who gave me the idea, but he actually voluntarily did the dirty work, and he will suffer the consequence, be it good or bad.)

 

Aren't I generous?

 

 

Other fun facts about May 5th that [can] relate to the Twins and today's game:

 

 

~ American teenager Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore for theft and vandalism on this day in the year 1994. Although this is not customary procedure in the United States (for those who wondered), Fay still received 4 strokes because he was the visitor. Luckily for the Twins, this series is at Target Field, so we won't need to worry about any canings when Vargas breaks the foul pole and Hunter steals home later on tonight.

 

What language was that first line in? As for Ash being taken with you, that won't happen, he will be allowed to remain because he always persevered. Another thing is that I wouldn't say that a caning would be fun, but I did notice that four strokes were given to a visitor, I hope you were trying to be a prophetess with that one

 

Great job, Bubbles!

Your friend, Crocodile Dundee

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

┴Ɔ ɯd0Ɩ:ㄥ @ ϛ/ϛ 'sɔᴉʇǝlɥʇ∀ ˙sʌ suᴉʍ┴ 'pɐǝɹɥ┴ ǝɯɐפ

 

For our next trick, Riverbrian will stand on his head

 

[formerly33]

 

What language was that first line in? As for Ash being taken with you, that won't happen, he will be allowed to remain because he always persevered. Another thing is that I wouldn't say that a caning would be fun, but I did noticed that four strokes were given to a visitor, I hope you were trying to be a prophetess with that one

 

Great job, Bubbles!

Your friend, Crocodile Dundee

What language is that bold section in?

 

Sorry, I couldn't help that No offense.

 

And actually, no. I wasn't trying to be a prophetess, I was just hinting. You can do the prophesying if you want. I've been a false one often enough to be careful.

 

And oh, guess what the first thought that ran through my mind when I opened my eyes this morning was? (Because, in fact, apparently thoughts run through women's minds whereas they pop into men's heads.) "It's a beautiful day for baseball." Remember how that used to work?

[Platoon]

Nice job.  That wasn't so bad, was it?

 

I saw the Cy Young perfect game info elsewhere this morning and said a little prayer that Trevor was channeling him!!!  I'm sure it's done through Trevor's cat.

Rumors to the contrary, the Chief was not at that game.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Good job providin' context for tonight's game, always33!

 

Now i'm wondering if Trevor May pitches a perfect game, do we post our congrats for Cy May or for Trevor Young?

[Platoon]

 

And oh, guess what the first thought that ran through my mind when I opened my eyes this morning was? (Because, in fact, apparently thoughts run through women's minds whereas they pop into men's heads.). It was nice of you to acknowledge we have thoughts, or even heads! :).

[formerly33]

 

Rumors to the contrary, the Chief was not at that game.

I think I'll go ask to confirm this.

[formerly33]

 

Good job providin' context for tonight's game, always33!

Now i'm wondering if Trevor May pitches a perfect game, do we post our congrats for Cy May or for Trevor Young?

I'll leave it to Chief to answer that one.

[Mill1634]

No Rosario...BOO

[ashbury]

after I got the idea to call myself after the real "Bubbles."

I don't know whom you mean by the real Bubbles. This?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf45Sxlg7Lk

 

(PG-13 language)

 

We already have someone with that as an avatar.

 

Nice thread starter, BTW.

[70charger]

 

And oh, guess what the first thought that ran through my mind when I opened my eyes this morning was? (Because, in fact, apparently thoughts run through women's minds whereas they pop into men's heads.). It was nice of you to acknowledge we have thoughts, or even heads! :).

 

In regards to the "pop into"/"run through" distinction, I was talking to a friendly Turkish man who was trying to learn English, and he said something that made me think. Namely, our prepositions don't often make that much sense. Consider - you can chill out, ease up, cool down, and pull back. They can all mean the same thing. 

 

Wow, the game hasn't even started, and I'm already talking about cats and grammar...

[FattCrapps]

 

French Bulldog? I hear those are a good luck charm for pitchers. That is why I want one.

  I have two.  They are the best.

[Gibby]

 

  Dang, I cant hang. Insanely allergic to cats.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Anyone want to make the initial Semien joke?

[Gibby]

 

Anyone want to make the initial Semien joke?

 

 

  Only if we can work it around Uranus.

[formerly33]

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

FTFY

 

Oh, and I'll watch the video another time. Not that I'm too worried about my 10 year old brother hearing it. It's my parents I have to worry about.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Only if we can work it around Uranus.

Wow, well played sir

[Platoon]

In regards to the "pop into"/"run through" distinction, I was talking to a friendly Turkish man who was trying to learn English, and he said something that made me think. Namely, our prepositions don't often make that much sense. Consider - you can chill out, ease up, cool down, and pull back. They can all mean the same thing. 

 

Wow, the game hasn't even started, and I'm already talking about cats and grammar...

You have taken a completely nonsensical, ridiculous observation, and turned it into a learning moment! And if I had any idea what a preposition was, I would chat up a moderator!

[formerly33]

 

In regards to the "pop into"/"run through" distinction, I was talking to a friendly Turkish man who was trying to learn English, and he said something that made me think. Namely, our prepositions don't often make that much sense. Consider - you can chill out, ease up, cool down, and pull back. They can all mean the same thing. 

 

Wow, the game hasn't even started, and I'm already talking about cats and grammar...

Was that the same friendly Turkish man I was talking to??!

 

How about this:

 

What’s up with up?

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is up.

It's easy to understand up, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake up?  At a meeting, why does a topic come up?  Why do we speak up, and why are the officers up for election, and why is it up to the secretary to write up a report?

We call up our friends, brighten up a room, polish up the silver, warm up the leftovers, and clean up the kitchen.  We lock up the house, and some guys fix up the old car.

At other times this little word has other meanings.  People stir up trouble, line up for tickets, work up an appetite, and think up excuses.  To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed up is special.

And this up can be confusing:  A drain must be opened up because it is stopped up.  We open up a store in the morning, but we close it up at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed up about up!  To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of up, look it up in the dictionary.  In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes up almost one fourth of the page and can have up to about thirty definitions.  If you are up to it, you might try building up a list of the many ways up is used.  It will take up a lot of your time, but if you don’t give up, you may wind up with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding up, but when the sun comes out, we say it’s clearing up.  When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things up.  When it doesn’t rain for a while, things dry up.  One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it up now.  My time is up, so it’s time to shut up!