Game Thread: Twins @ Indians, 5/10 @ 12:10pm CT

[Platoon]

The first ever game thread on Twins Daily was posted by Seth on Feb. 29, 2012. It was for a 'B game' scrimmage against the Red Sox happening the next day. The original post wasn't a tribute to the local college's creative writing course; nor was it an in-depth analysis covering every statistic in every corner, with charts, graphs and video; nor was it the 'ponderings' of someone who missed his calling in comedy. It was more 'Here's who will be starting today.' It wasn't even a lineup, just who we were going to see in the game. Thus were the simple and humble beginnings of the game thread.

The game threads continued into the regular season. When I saw in the archives the Opening Day game thread for that year, I thought, 'Well, okay, here's where it really began.' All that was there was 'This is the announced Twins lineup; the O's will trot out this.' And the O's portion was just a link, not a typed-out list. There was a brief bit about the opposing pitcher and that was it. The most excitement in the post was the title, where Parker used 3 exclamation points. Yes, three, count 'em, three!!! The regular season went on with much of the same. Just the lineups. Not even the weather. Occasionally there was a tidbit or an aside or even a 'Go Twins!' thrown in. Seth started most of them in that early era, but there were occasional threads started by Parker or Nick or other members. Even Chief started one. Oddly, his was the only one that didn't follow the format. Instead of the thread title reading 'Game #X, Twins vs Other Team, Date,' his went 'Date, Game #X, Twins vs Other team.' A military man breaking format? Hmmm. And glunn started a thread or two. The one that caught my eye, and really made me laugh to be honest, was the one started with this in the OP: 'Where is Seth?' That was it. Really Glunn, you couldn't even name one starting pitcher?

Then Brock took over late that June. I'd say that that's where the tide turned a bit and game threads became more formalized. Now there was a game time listed in the thread titles. Gone was the 'Game #X' and the titles are more what we see today. But the body, pretty much the same. 'Here are the lineups.' There were articles being written for a time to introduce each series and a link included in the first of the game threads for that series. This went on into the next season until Brian finally took over.

Brian wasn't always the thinker we know him to be today. It took him a few game threads to get into his groove. His very first game thread start of June 23, 2013 said this:

'So let's get one of these started

How about that. I made a sticky… I'm powerful now!'

At least he had enough excitement for the job to use an exclamation point! However, there were no lineups, no weather, no 'things to think about,' nothing about the game whatsoever. It was stringer who provided lineups in the very next post. (Thank you, stringer.)

Brian's next game thread was on July 11, 2013. Boasting even more confidence, he got in the lineup. Yes, lineup; singular. He posted the opposing team's lineup, but not the Twins'. His third game thread came complete with both lineups and a little commentary, so now he was on a roll. And the fourth had his first 'things to think about' list. This was it:

1. Let's think about Arcia on the bench. He needs to sit after 11 K's in the past 3 games and failing to break a bat over his knee in frustration.


2. Let's think about this Yankees lineup. If the Yankees lineup was ours. We'd complain about it.


3. Let's think about Sam Deduno... OK... Just a quick thought about Sam... Now move on to #4


4. Let's think about Phil Hughes... The Yankees are trying to trade him. We can help them get less for him.


5. Let's think about the well fed children of the world... The Starving Children are the ones always talked about and rightly so... But for one day out of 365... Let's think about the well fed children so they know they matter. July 13th is as good a day as any.

So, what's the point in this history lesson, you wonder, eyes glazed over? It's to point out that not all game thread starts are created equal, nor should be. Some are novellas, some are filled with all sorts of analysis, some have the 'ponderings' of a crazy man, and some will be short and sweet with just the facts. It's okay to follow the evolutionary path, but it's also okay to honor the past. All are good and all are welcome … and Chief's inbox is clear and waiting for you to sign up and do yours. The commonality in game threads isn't in the start anyway but in the posts that follow … a bunch of fans coming together to watch and comment on the game. But please, leave the beach balls and 'the wave' somewhere else. (I really dislike those things at games!)

And, finally, my musings for todays game:

Here are the lineups.TWINS:


Dozier 2B

Hunter DH

Mauer 1B

Suzuki C

Escobar LF

Rosario RF

Bernier 3B

Schafer CF

Santana SS

May PINDIANS:


Kipnis 2B

Santana 1B

Brantley LF

Chisenhall 3B

Murphy RF

Swisher DH

Bourn CF

Perez C

Walters SS


Salazar P

Game-time forecast: 78 deg F, mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms, winds from the SW at 8mph

Oh, and Go Twins! Play ball!

I had always wondered how the game threads started? I assumed The Chief stated them right after the war, but I wasn't sure. History books made no mention, and I could not find any reference to them in my Encyclopedia Brittanica!

[USAFChief]

I had always wondered how the game threads started? I assumed The Chief stated them right after the war, but I wasn't sure. History books made no mention, and I could not find any reference to them in my Encyclopedia Brittanica!

I actually started them back on Senators Daily.

[JB_Iowa]

 

I had always wondered how the game threads started? I assumed The Chief stated them right after the war, but I wasn't sure. History books made no mention, and I could not find any reference to them in my Encyclopedia Brittanica!

 

 

He started them right after he invented the computer and later the internet.  

 

 

 

Oh, and remember all those storms that were coming at us?  Nary a drop of rain - all stayed west and then went north.  Enjoy it in Minnesota.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I haven't noticed that, but it has bugged me a little that i think cleveland plays a video game sound effect every time they score a run. Fortunately that hasn't been too annoying before last inning...

They do that sound at Target Field too. I first heard it ~10 years ago for free throws at a Wolves game. Works better in that context, I think.

[ashbury]

I actually started them back on Senators Daily.

Roman, natch.