Article: Game Thread: Twins @ Tigers, 4/11 @ 12:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

Its’ the Twins vs. the Tigers and the big questions is: What is going in Minnesota? The last time I asked that question was when Jesse Ventura was elected Governor. Jesse “The Body” won in 1998 with a campaign war chest of 300 thousand dollars while our Twins are winning with a war chest of 20 players who went undrafted in most fantasy baseball leagues on the 25 man roster. The Twins have thus far beaten the Skip Humphrey Royals and the Norm Coleman White Sox and once that happens… you can get that light rail built.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Detroit – In the investment world there is an old saying… “The time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.” So… buy Detroit!!! Do it now before it gets all revitalized and stuff. The automobile industry isn’t what it once was and is for the most part out of Detroit now leaving behind poverty, crime and urban blight; you know, basically all of the stuff that the tourism industry loves to work with when crafting those clever ad campaigns:
Detroit: The Midnight Trains to Anywhere are full to capacity.

Detroit: You gotta lose your life in Detroit Rock City

Detroit: The New Orleans of the North

Detroit: The reason why Eminem has a nervous eye twitch

Detroit: It’s even worse than Robocop predicted

2. Our Twins – So far we have a small sample size proof that pitching and defense can win you baseball games. We’ve had 5 games of good pitching and defense and 1 game where the pitching and defense failed us. I’ll let you all guess which games we won and which one we lost. Sano is looking like he might hit 50 bombs this year while Escobar and Polanco are both coming up big. Castro has also been a decent offensive force but all in all… it hasn’t been the offense getting it done. Dozier has been average but well below expectation thus far and Kepler, Mauer, Rosario and Buxton have to get hot to get to average with the bat. It’s been pitching and defense… perhaps the two things we were most concerned about after North Korea and Charlie Sheen.

3. The Tigers – The Tigers are motivated to win this year for owner Mike Ilitch who passed away in February. It’s been well publicized that Illitch wanted to win a title for Detroit while he was alive; and he spent a lot of money in that quest but sadly never achieved it. The Tigers will wear a “Mr. I” patch on their jerseys in tribute. Mr. I also owned the Red Wings and Little Caesars Pizza. Will this wake up the Tigers and spur them to loftier heights? Maybe… but I should point out that the Red Wings were motivated enough to finish the season 11-14-3 and Little Caesars Pizza is about to get overtaken by Papa John’s despite those commercials that seem to imply that Papa John Schnatter is personally touching every pizza.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation

McCarthy: Hey Joe… I was driving on Highway 10 and drove right through the town of Big Lake.

Mauer: I’ve been there.

Maddon: How big was the lake?

McCarthy: Not that Big… I could see across to the other side easily.

Maddon: I wonder who named the lake?

Mauer: Whoever it was… they had nothing left when they reached Mille Lacs after wasting Big.

McCarthy: I didn’t see any Elks around Elk River, either.


5. Privacy – My wife has been giving me the silent treatment this past week. I didn’t realize that she that was doing that. I just thought we were getting along great.
____________________

Lineups:

TWINS
Brian Dozier 2B
Robbie Grossman DH
Jorge Polanco SS
Miguel Sano 3B
Jason Castro C
Chris Gimenez 1B
Eddie Rosario LF
Byron Buxton CF
Danny Santana RF

Hector Santiago P

TIGERS
Ian Kinsler 2B
Nick Castellanos 3B
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Justin Upton LF
Mikie Mahtook RF
James McCann C
JaCoby Jones CF
Dixon Machado SS

Matt Boyd P

Game-time forecast: 62 deg F, some sun, some clouds - about half and half, small chance of rain, but probably not, winds coming from the WSW at 11mph.

Play ball!

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[Comrade Bork]

5-1 Heavyweights coming to town! Watch out Detroit! Let's add to that 19.5 era on Boyd.

[USAFChief]

 

5-1 Heavyweights coming to town! Watch out Detroit! Let's add to that 19.5 era on Boyd.

In his defense, Oil Can Boyd is 57 years old, so that ERA is actually rather impressive.  

[Craig Arko]

And if you go to Detroit, remember to fly United...

[Blake]

Good Job, RB! (but you knew that)

[Blake]

 

And if you go to Detroit, remember to fly United...

Fly the Friendly Hostile skies?

[Respy]

This will be the tale of the bombs as 26-year-old Matt Boyd is on the mound for Detroit and Santiago will be on the mound for the Twins.  

 

MLB Groundball/Flyball ratio: Boyd = 0.76; Santiago = 0.69

HR per flyball: Boyd = 15%; Santiago = 10%

 

They both feature similar repertoires, as they both throw fastballs around 60% of the time, sliders/cutters 14%, and changeups 16-19%.  Boyd throws more curveballs (11%).

 

Some Twins have good numbers against Boyd, and you can expect to see them in the lineup today:

 

• Dozier: 5 for 14 (.357) with 1 homerun
• Grossman: 4 for 7 (.571) with 2 homeruns
• Polanco: 4 for 9 (.444) with 1 homerun
• Gimenez: 1 homerun and 1 walk in two plate appearances
• Sano has struggled the most against Boyd (0 for 8 with 5 K's)

 

It'll be a respectable 65 degrees and a bit windy in Detroit today.  If the wind isn't blowing straight in, keep an eye out for the dingers.

 

PS - Detroit batters are only hitting .228 lifetime against Santiago, with the most success coming from JD Martinez, who's on the 15-day DL.

[Loosey]

 

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation

McCarthy: Hey Joe… I was driving on Highway 10 and drove right through the town of Big Lake.

Mauer: I’ve been there.

Maddon: How big was the lake?

McCarthy: Not that Big… I could see across to the other side easily.

Maddon: I wonder who named the lake?

Mauer: Whoever it was… they had nothing left when they reached Mille Lacs after wasting Big.

McCarthy: I didn’t see any Elks around Elk River either.

Mauer: Don't even get me started on White Bear Lake. . .

[Vanimal46]

Crazy bread from Little Caesars... Not that bad! The pizza.... As Chi would say, ick.

[Jerr]

I need to be careful on my "likes" as I hate reaching the "limit" mark, since soooo many good posts come at the end of the game thread.

 

So, how many do I get????? Anyone  know?????   

Edited April 11, 2017 by Jerr

[mini_tb]

Rosa Parks' (probably no relation to ByungHo) house in Detroit was recently slated for demolition, but an American feller in Germany bought it, moved it, and reassembled it in Berlin. 

 

Weird but true.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/10/a-house-without-a-home-rosa-parkss-detroit-dwelling-was-resurrected-in-berlin/?utm_term=.0ad800c5709b

 

[Jerr]

 

Rosa Parks' (probably no relation to ByungHo) house in Detroit was recently slated for demolition, but an American feller in Germany bought it, moved it, and reassembled it in Berlin. 

 

Weird but true.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/10/a-house-without-a-home-rosa-parkss-detroit-dwelling-was-resurrected-in-berlin/?utm_term=.0ad800c5709b

One would think that Detroit would have preserved it, though it played a small part in her story.
Definitely a weird story.....

[bird]

 

In his defense, Oil Can Boyd is 57 years old, so that ERA is actually rather impressive.  

 

 

Especially because he was crack-addled and poured rot-gut whiskey on his Wheaties that morning.

[Blake]

 

Crazy bread from Little Caesars... Not that bad! The pizza.... As Chi would say, ick.

Great commercials, though.

[bird]

… perhaps the two things we were most concerned about after North Korea and Charlie Sheen.

 

 

Um, Lindsay Lohan?

[Jerr]

 

… perhaps the two things we were most concerned about after North Korea and Charlie Sheen.

 

 

Um, Lindsay Lohan?

Maybe we should be, as she seems to have disappeared...... wish that Kardashians would.

[USAFChief]

 

Especially because he was crack-addled and poured rot-gut whiskey on his Wheaties that morning.

Who hasn't?

[rghrbek]

So basically we are batting two catchers back to back?  I guess.  What other options does he have if we are going R/L every other player...?

 

Love Polonco at the 3 spot!!!

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

"Detroit: It’s even worse than Robocop predicted"

 

You mean that wasn't a documentary?

[Jerr]

 

Who hasn't?

Still waiting on my "likes" limit question...so i'll quote your post as, I like it lol

[Mike Sixel]

Gimenez and DanSan. I feel bad for the team already.

[Blake]

 

Who hasn't?

Only heathens ruin perfectly good whiskey by putting it on corn flakes.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Only heathens ruin perfectly good whiskey by putting it on corn flakes.

 

Or bad whiskey, frankly.

[Blake]

 

Or bad whiskey, frankly.

Although, I have to admit, if Boyd actually did this, he's made of sterner stuff than I am. It's somewhat gag inducing to even think of.

[James]

 

"Detroit: It’s even worse than Robocop predicted"

You mean that wasn't a documentary?

And coming soon to Detroit:

http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/56cb9645dd08952d558b46a9-960/robocop.jpg

[Pardon My Dinger]

Here's hoping that Bert enriches our lives this morning with another I'll-advised, though otherwise accurate comment regarding what a butt ugly stinkhole Detroit is.

[Blake]

 

… perhaps the two things we were most concerned about after North Korea and Charlie Sheen.

 

 

Um, Lindsay Lohan?

When you look at all the young female star train wrecks of today, it's hard to believe they all have the same thing in common: Disney. 

[spanman2]

Love the wife bit...that deserves an IALTO!

[Blake]

 

Here's hoping that Bert enriches our lives this morning with another I'll-advised, though otherwise accurate comment regarding what a butt ugly stinkhole Detroit is.

I notice Bert avoided going to Detroit the last couple of seasons. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Who hasn't?

Me. Never have i ever poured a hard drink on breakfast cereal, then consumed it.

 

But i here tell 151eos is a bad idea. It has been likened to napalm, and it wasn't because it smelled like victory.