Game Thread: Twins v Detroit, 5/1 @ 1:10pm CT

[NoCryingInBaseball]

It was not a good day at the park yesterday, expect for the fan give-away bomber hats. Let’s see if the team can take a game in the series.

 

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Here are some things to think about:
I have to admit that I was nervous about Byung-ho Park when I followed him during spring training, now I think he seems to be catching on with MLB pitching. Six home runs in the month of April, and a very respectable .561 Slugging percentage….he is fitting in very nicely. I talked with him (sort of) in Ft. Myers and enjoyed his quiet demeanor. He seems to be letting his hitting (and his interpreter) do the talking for him.

These 1st inning (or early inning) run deficits, where the opposition runs up the score and the team has an entire game of “catch-up” are reminiscent of 2014 and prior years, the terrible 90-loss seasons. Duffey coughed up a three-run homer in the 1st inning and that seemed to be the difference in the game…the same thing happened Friday night (not to mention the Berrios debut). Really looking forward to a better start today.

The Tigers are coming to town this weekend, and the Twins are scheduled to face a guy from their last year’s rotation… Mike Pelfrey. Hopefully he can be as ineffective as he was for the team last year!

Yesterday I discussed the rotation and the competition of who might stay when the pitchers return from the DL. There will also be (and SHOULD be) competition for bullpen spots. Tommy Milone is now in the bullpen as a left-handed long reliever and a returning rotation guy might move another young arm to the pen. Today, and the rest of this week might be a test for who will stay with the club.

Now that it’s May…and we all remember the great winning streak in May of 2015. Is it too ridiculous the suggest the Twins do a repeat?

 

TIGERS
Ian Kinsler (R ) 2B
J.D. Martinez (R ) RF
Miguel Cabrera (R ) 1B
Victor Martinez (S) DH
Justin Upton (R ) LF
Nick Castellanos(R ) 3B
Mike Aviles (S) C
Bobby Wilson (R ) SS
Anthony Gose (L) CF

 

Mike Pelfrey ® P

 

TWINS
Danny Santana (S) CF
Brian Dozier (R ) 2B
Joe Mauer (L) 1B
Miguel Sano (R ) RF
Byung-ho Park (R ) DH
Oswaldo Arcia (L) LF
Eduardo Nunez (R ) 3B
Eduardo Escobar (S) SS
Kurt Suzuki (R ) C

 

Ricky Nolasco (R ) P

 

Game-time forecast: 57 deg F, mostly cloudy, 0% chance of precipitation, winds from the N/NE at 13 mph.

 

GO TWINS!!!!

[USAFChief]

Thanks for the great work, NCIB!

[Pardon My Dinger]

Get your sheleighlies out, boys! It's a Pelf party!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Nolasco vs Pelfrey

 

Did this game get flexed into the prime time spot this evening?

[stringer bell]

Two of the more reviled team members of this decade. Time for the Twins' bats to break out!

 

I'll be a witness in Section 219 today.

[Kwak]

Don't spot the Tigers three runs and the chances of winning improve dramatically!

[Platoon]

Wow, no get away day lineup today? We're gettin after it, goin about our business, takin care of things.

[Comrade Bork]

Looks like Pelfrey still plays for the twins according to ESPN :*

[Riverbrian]

 

Thanks for the great work, NCIB!

 

Everybody's name gets shortened and I'm going with "No Cry" 

 

 

Now I'm going to listen to some Marley before the game starts.

[Riverbrian]

 

Wow, no get away day lineup today? We're gettin after it, goin about our business, takin care of things.

 

Show me a manager with a getaway day line-up and I'll show you a manager on Auto Pilot. 

 

[operation mindcrime]

What are the odds that Trevor May pitches today, since it's May Day? \m/

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Show me a manager with a getaway day line-up and I'll show you a manager on Auto Pilot. 

 

How come it is an auto pilot when it is not piloting an auto, but rather an airplane?

 

And get away line ups are probably the chance to be creative, such that in theory, these are the more interrsting decisions.

 

Shows what i know...

[bluechipper]

So Nunez's awful fielding yesterday keeps him in the lineup instead of sticking Polanco in to possibly provide a spark to the lineup... Whatever I guess.

[Riverbrian]

 

So Nunez's awful fielding yesterday keeps him in the lineup instead of sticking Polanco in to possibly provide a spark to the lineup... Whatever I guess.

 

MLB Lineups has this:

 

1. Danny Santana (S) CF
2. Brian Dozier ® 2B
3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B
4. Miguel Sano ® 3B
5. Byung Ho Park ® DH
6. Oswaldo Arcia (L) RF
7. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS
8. Kurt Suzuki ® C
9. Eddie Rosario (L) LF

 

 

[stringer bell]

I am a big Dozier fan, but I thought he needed a day off more than Nuñez.

[SheboyganBrats]

I like the MLB lineup better.  I prefer Sano at 3rd, and Rosario in the outfield.

 

I thought JR Murphy was Nolasco's personal catcher.  I'm surprised to see Suzuki catching.  JR Murphy could probably double his hit total against Pelfrey.

[Hrbowski]

Park's first MLB hit with RISP!

[Hrbowski]

Salty is calling a bad game. Pelf is hitting his spots, but the batters are just squaring the ball up.

[Aggies7]

I know I'll rightfully get bashed for saying this, but I feel bad for pelfrey, seeing him struggle. Just can't seem to put it together. Although hard to feel bad for a guy making $8 mil to stink it up.

[Hrbowski]

Escobar was safe!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Escobar was safe!

How safe?

[Aggies7]

Replay..

[Hrbowski]

 

How safe?

By about three inches.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

By about three inches.

should they have challenged?

[Jerr]

Ok....NOT trying to jinx....BUT, can Twins NOT give any runs back this inning???    

 

 

 

yipes, but, its what they do..... unless by my post, Tigers  DON'T  

[USAFChief]

He looked out to me.  

[Danchat]

We have to beat Pelfrey today. So far, things are looking good.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Two of the more reviled team members of this decade. Time for the Twins' bats to break out!

 

I'll be a witness in Section 219 today.

what did you see on that play at first?

 

Seems like a huge inning might have been in the works. I will happily take the 2 runs, however.

[Willihammer]

 

Salty is calling a bad game. Pelf is hitting his spots, but the batters are just squaring the ball up.

Morris is right, IMO. Pelfrey lacks confidence in his off-speed pitches. Any 3 ball count and batters can sit on the sinker. Its the only pitch he can command worth a damn.

[Willihammer]

Still can't believe the Tigers gave Pelfrey 2 yrs.