Game Thread: Twins @ O's 6:05 CDT

[Willihammer]

Phil Hughes, RHP (11-9, 4.40) vs  Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP (12-10, 4.11)

 

Lineups: http://www.baseballpress.com/lineups

 

Twins (0-2)

 

1. Brian Dozier ® 2B
2. Danny Santana (S) RF
3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B
4. Miguel Sano ® DH
5. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B
6. Eddie Rosario (L) LF
7. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS
8. John Ryan Murphy ® C
9. Byron Buxton ® CF

 

Orioles (2-0)

 

1. Joey Rickard ® CF
2. Nolan Reimold ® LF
3. Manny Machado ® 3B
4. Chris Davis (L) 1B
5. Mark Trumbo ® RF
6. J.J. Hardy ® SS
7. Pedro Alvarez (L) DH
8. Jonathan Schoop ® 2B
9. Caleb Joseph ® C

 

 

After another save by O's closer Zach Britton some fans are questioning Mollie's decision to let starting catcher Kurt Suzuki bat against the southpaw instead of bench player Ed Nunez. Well the Twins have a lefthanded closer of their own and the O's have one or two unproven RH bats so maybe today we'll get to see how Showalter would answer that question.

 

On the hill is control master Phil Hughes. Holder of the all-time single season K/BB record. Hughes could be just what the doctor ordered as each O's starter has reached base twice or more in the early going- 11 times by the BB.

 

Opposing Hughes is wild child Ubaldo Jimenez, whose nickname according to baseball-reference is simply "U" Having graduated high school level Spanish 4 I can tell you "U" is pronounced "ooo" in Spanish. Similar to "boo." So if Ubaldo pitches when the O's come to town, don't boo or U could mistake you for a fan. Instead, yell "cancer!" or maybe "you've got mail!." Anything that doesn't make the "ooo" sound really.

 

Enjoy the game!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Disclaimer: game threads are meant to be light and fun enjoyment of the game. If you're going to complain about every move made by Molitor, Ryan, or even TC the Bear, do not be surprised if a moderator asks you to tone it down and/or leave the thread if you keep it up.

 

We all make fun of the team and/or complain but if that's all you're going to do, reconsider why you're posting in the thread at all.

 

This is entirely at moderator discretion and consistency will be applied when and where we feel like it.

[Willihammer]

Weather update.

 

There is rain in the Baltimore area again. 

 

https://www.wunderground.com/weather-radar/united-states-regional/va/staunton/animated

 

Maybe by 6 pm all the yellow stuff will be gone and only the green stuff will be around.

[Platoon]

Disclaimer: game threads are meant to be light and fun enjoyment of the game. If you're going to complain about every move made by Molitor, Ryan, or even TC the Bear, do not be surprised if a moderator asks you to tone it down and/or leave the thread if you keep it up.

We all make fun of the team and/or complain but if that's all you're going to do, reconsider why you're posting in the thread at all.

This is entirely at moderator discretion and consistency will be applied when and where we feel like it.

Are you insinuating that TC Bear is involved in personnel decisions at One Twins Way? This explains a lot! . As an aside, don't you think "when and where we feel like it" strikes an ominous tone, especially this early in the season. Your point was valid about some of the whining, but TD is not a penal colony!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Are you insinuating that TC Bear is involved in personnel decisions at One Twins Way? This explains a lot! . As an aside, don't you think "when and where we feel like it" strikes an ominous tone, especially this early in the season. Your point was valid about some of the whining, but TD is not a penal colony!

Heh, the consistency bit is just another way of saying the enforcement of this policy is entirely at the whims of whatever moderator happens to be posting in the thread that night. They'll make a judgment call and that call stands.

[Willihammer]

 

Heh, the consistency bit is just another way of saying the enforcement of this policy is entirely at the whims of whatever moderator happens to be posting in the thread that night. They'll make a judgment call and that call stands.

What happens if I throw a challenge flag?

[twinsnorth49]

Are you insinuating that TC Bear is involved in personnel decisions at One Twins Way? This explains a lot! . As an aside, don't you think "when and where we feel like it" strikes an ominous tone, especially this early in the season. Your point was valid about some of the whining, but TD is not a penal colony!

We have places for people like you.........far, far away.

[Squirrel]

 

We have places for people like you.........far, far away.

Yeah, it's called Canada.

[twinsnorth49]

Yeah, it's called Canada.

Exactly, the Arctic to be precise. Very hospitable.

[Squirrel]

 

Exactly, the Arctic to be precise. Very hospitable.

I don't know ... the Inuits might not like it.

[James]

I just gotta say, I'm so glad game threads are back.  

[DaveW]

I thought the game threads the past two nights were fun/light hearted etc throughout the game (except for the ban of he who shall not be named) after the game it gets a little more...negative/positive depending on outcome, but I mean at least people weren't bickering?

 

Either way, maybe I was the bad luck anyways!

 

I won't be able to catch much of the game (so someone else is going to have to pick up the dog meme slack), but I'm interested to see how Murphy looks/does and I'm excited to see how Santana does as well, if he can keep up his hot spring.

 

Hughes, let's hope he is closer to 2014 form then 2015 form. It's still early in the season, but the Twins need to get a W under their belt, avoiding the sweep heading into the defending world champs house would be big.

 

I have this weird feeling that the bats come alive tonight, like 4 HR alive, one from Sano, one from Dozier, and two from players to be named later.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Yeah, it's called Canada.

That's not so far...

 

I'm not sure it is a punishment either.

[Mill1634]

Weird lineup

[big dog]

 

What happens if I throw a challenge flag?

The same thing that always happens- the thread is delayed, people speculate about what might happen, the answer is obvious to everyone (though of course people disagree about the obvious answer), and the mods do whatever they want.

[DaveW]

Weird lineup

Yeah I'm sorta surprised that they didn't move up Escobar to the 2 spot in this situation if they were "into" mixing up the lineup a bit.

 

Frankly, I really don't like moving down Sano so early, I think he should be our 3 hitter every game until someone like Buxton etc "earns" the 3 spot.

[Platoon]

Heh, the consistency bit is just another way of saying the enforcement of this policy is entirely at the whims of whatever moderator happens to be posting in the thread that night. They'll make a judgment call and that call stands.

I think you just gave the definition of inconsistecy?

[James]

 

1. Brian Dozier ® 2B

2. Danny Santana (S) RF
3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B
4. Miguel Sano ® DH
5. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B
6. Eddie Rosario (L) LF
7. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS
8. John Ryan Murphy ® C
9. Byron Buxton ® CF

 

Orioles (2-0)

 

1. Joey Rickard ® CF
2. Nolan Reimold ® LF
3. Manny Machado ® 3B
4. Chris Davis (L) 1B
5. Mark Trumbo ® RF
6. J.J. Hardy ® SS
7. Pedro Alvarez (L) DH
8. Jonathan Schoop ® 2B
9. Caleb Joseph ® C

Look at all those business savvy folks trademarking their names.  Some of these guys are clearly interested in protecting their brand.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Phil Hughes, RHP (11-9, 4.40) vs Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP (12-10, 4.11)

 

Lineups: http://www.baseballpress.com/lineups

 

Twins (0-2)

 

1. Brian Dozier ® 2B

2. Danny Santana (S) RF

3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B

4. Miguel Sano ® DH

5. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B

6. Eddie Rosario (L) LF

7. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS

8. John Ryan Murphy ® C

9. Byron Buxton ® CF

 

Orioles (2-0)

 

1. Joey Rickard ® CF

2. Nolan Reimold ® LF

3. Manny Machado ® 3B

4. Chris Davis (L) 1B

5. Mark Trumbo ® RF

6. J.J. Hardy ® SS

7. Pedro Alvarez (L) DH

8. Jonathan Schoop ® 2B

9. Caleb Joseph ® C

 

 

After another save by O's closer Zach Britton some fans are questioning Mollie's decision to let starting catcher Kurt Suzuki bat against the southpaw instead of bench player Ed Nunez. Well the Twins have a lefthanded closer of their own and the O's have one or two unproven RH bats so maybe today we'll get to see how Showalter would answer that question.

 

On the hill is control master Phil Hughes. Holder of the all-time single season K/BB record. Hughes could be just what the doctor ordered as each O's starter has reached base twice or more in the early going- 11 times by the BB.

 

Opposing Hughes is wild child Ubaldo Jimenez, whose nickname according to baseball-reference is simply "U" Having graduated high school level Spanish 4 I can tell you "U" is pronounced "ooo" in Spanish. Similar to "boo." So if Ubaldo pitches when the O's come to town, don't boo or U could mistake you for a fan. Instead, yell "cancer!" or maybe "you've got mail!." Anything that doesn't make the "ooo" sound really.

 

Enjoy the game!

Good intro. Hopefully now i won't get confuuused by the home fans reaction to their starter.

 

I'm looking forward to Murphy in action as well as an even year of Hughes. And Seeing Santana take the field will give Park a break, perhaps get Sano back in the swing o' things, and give Hughes a defensive outfield or something.

 

Should be a fun game!

[Platoon]

Exactly, the Arctic to be precise. Very hospitable.

I have mukluks! But I may have to go to lighter weight oil in the HD! )

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Someone needs to tell Dozier and Sano these games matter..

[twinsnorth49]

Someone needs to tell Dozier and Sano these games matter..

Yeah, because you know, 2 games and all. Pikers.

[Platoon]

I don't know ... the Inuits might not like it.

Are those the same guys who started Quicken? Maybe I can get a loan?

[James]

 

Yeah, because you know, 2 games and all. Pikers.

Well, if we extrapolate the numbers from the first two games, the Twins will go 0-162, with a million strikeouts.  

 

I hope they win tonight so we get to extrapolate the numbers to at least 54 - 108 and only a half a million strike outs.  

 

Also, Eduardo Escobar will set the single season doubles record with 243.  Buxton will come in second with a crappy 162 doubles. 

 

It's simple mathematics.  

 

[mlynch16]

This will be my first game thread of the year, and I want to point out that when I participated last year, we were well over 500, so I am confident that things will turn around tonight.

[twinsnorth49]

I don't know ... the Inuits might not like it.

Inuits?

 

Tee hee!

[Platoon]

Well, if we extrapolate the numbers from the first two games, the Twins will go 0-162, with a million strikeouts.  

 

I hope they win tonight so we get to extrapolate the numbers to at least 54 - 108 and only a half a million strike outs.  

 

It's simple mathematics.  

Wouldn't simple math make it 2/3 M SO. (Yes, I know that is not relative)

[twinsnorth49]

This will be my first game thread of the year, and I want to point out that when I participated last year, we were well over 500, so I am confident that things will turn around tonight.

And if they don't you're officially this year's bad luck charm.

[James]

 

Wouldn't simple math make it 2/3 M SO. (Yes, I know that is not relative)

Simple math would make it 2/3M K's, but I'm an optimist. 

[stringer bell]

 

Look at all those business savvy folks trademarking their names.  Some of these guys are clearly interested in protecting their brand.

There seems to be a correlation between hitting right handed and being business savvy.