Article: Game Thread: Twins v A's, 5/2 @ 7:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

The Oakland A’s come to town as our Twins kick off a brand new month of baseball. April would have to be considered a success since they won more than they lost. What will May have in store for us? We will have to wait and see but if it’s another winning month… I think it’s safe to say that the Twins will be in striking distance, while setting up an even more important month of June.

June will be bigger than April and May in that scenario because June will determine what they do in July and once you reach July in contention… changes will be in store to set up the finish and then you got meaningful baseball in September.

It’s like the Presidential Primary. April is Iowa and New Hampshire… if you have a strong showing in those states or at least don’t embarrass yourself… you have a chance in South Carolina and that is like May. A decent showing in May sets you up for Super Tuesday (June) and if you come out of Super Tuesday in position… all Hell breaks loose. The Baseball teams in position to win will start picking off players from the teams that have dropped out just like the politicians gather support and supporters from the politicians who dropped out.

Uff Da… I just realized that I have fairly accurately compared the game of baseball (that I love) to U.S. politics (that I hate).

What else can I ruin? Shall I compare ice cream to Norm Green?

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Thief River Falls – Typically thought #1 has been about the city where the game is played. I can’t write about Minneapolis every single time we are home so I’ve decided to think about random towns around Twins Territory for each home series opener. I’m starting with Thief River Falls because it was where I was raised and created. We locals call it T.R.F. and growing up there was nice enough, although I’ve always found it odd that I grew up in the only place that was an hour from any decent lake in the land of 10,000 damn lakes. T.R.F. is the home of Arctic Cat snowmobiles and like Thief River Falls… snowmobile was too long for us so we shortened it and called them Sno-Cats. Most of the fathers of my friends worked at Arctic Cat and with the employee discount, they all had the brand new models. My Dad did not work at Arctic Cat and he didn’t like spending money… so… in order for me to go out with my friends in 20 below weather… he bought a used Polaris. Basically… I had to be full throttle just to keep up with my friends at half throttle on those shiny new El Tigre’s. It was too much speed for too little machine and when you are constantly full throttle it was only a matter of time before I’d roll it on a turn. The fiberglass hood was full of holes and there was duct tape trying to hold it together, but I went out and rolled that thing, faithfully, every time. I got pretty good at rolling it… one time I was able to roll it and stay on it and then keep going like nothing happened, once it stopped rolling landing in an upright position. Dad was never happy with each new damage to this stupid Polaris. When I came home with a cracked helmet from one of my rolls… the danger I was in… kind of sunk in. The very next day… for my safety… he had traded it off. After everything I put it through… a cord of wood was all he got in return. As I watched that wood burn in the fireplace… it was like watching my snowmobile career go down in flames.

2. Our Twins – Mr. "Player of the Week" Sano has been carrying this team lately and it has been fun to watch. He is so locked in right now… I’m not sure why anybody would want to pitch to him. Buxton continues to show a newfound plate discipline and I couldn’t be happier with that. He doesn’t need to hit the ball like Sano does because they are different players, but… if Buxton keeps reaching base like he is right now… he has the potential to be just as dangerous with those incredible fast moving legs of his. Sano and Buxton are our future and they look almost perfect right now. This is what we’ve been waiting for… just like a teenager waiting to get that driver’s license. It could be fun for a while until that inevitable fender bender that is right around the corner.

3. The A’s – Trevor Plouffe is back in town… you've got to admire his consistency… he’s playing for Oakland much like he played for us, however, it costs us less money having him play for the them. Sonny Gray has been taken off the disabled list, given a uniform and placed on the mound to face our Twins tonight. Which Sonny Gray will show up - the 2016 Sonny Gray or the 2015 Sonny Gray? If it turns out to be a different 2017 Sonny Gray… we will be one number closer to 50 shades of him.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation

Mauer: Everyone… meet Joe Mantegna… he’d like to join our group.

McCarthy: We already got one of those.

Maddon: It’s pronounced… Mon-tain-ya

Montana: Yeah… he’s not me.

Mantagna: Are you sure?

Montana: Pretty sure

McCarthy: I vote Nay

Montana: Yeah… Nay… the names are too close.

Mauer: He’s not from the Midwest… Nay

Maddon: Sorry, Joe

Mantagna: I say to all of you that I have been treated this day with no respect.
(As he leaves… a helicopter comes into view)

Mauer: He said that exact same thing in Godfather III… Oh Oh… helicopter!!! Everybody run!!!

McCarthy: My coat… my lucky coat. It’s stuck on this coat rack. I can’t get it off.

Maddon: Lift… and then pull. Quit pulling down… stop and think for a second… how does a coat rack work?

Montana: It’s only a coat… there’s going to be a hail of gunfire. Let go of the coat!!!

McCarthy: It’s my lucky coat.

Mauer: Don’t worry about him... he’ll be Ok… let’s go.

Montana: What do you mean by ok? He’s a sitting duck.

Maddon: He’s already dead… Since the 50’s.

5. Huts - They used to be important to keep Gilligan and the rest protected from the elements. Nowadays… huts have just become a complete waste of space. I see absolutely no reason why you can’t sell Pizza and Sunglasses in the same hut.
____________________

Lineups:

ATHLETICS
Rajai Davis CF
Matt Joyce RF
Jed Lowrie 2B
Khris Davis LF
Yonder Alonso 1B
Ryon Healy DH
Stephen Vogt C
Trevor Plouffe 3B
Adam Rosales SS

Sonny Gray P

TWINS
Brian Dozier 2B
Max Kepler RF
Miguel Sano 3B
Joe Mauer 1B
Robbie Grossman DH
Jason Castro C
Jorge Polanco SS
Eddie Rosario LF
Byron Buxton CF

Ervin Santana P

Weather: 59 deg F, partly cloudy, no rain, little wind.

Play ball!

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[theBOMisthebomb]

Go Twins. Remember those Twins - A's rivalries of the late 80s - early 90s? Geez those were fun regular season games.

[spinowner]

I prefer to refer to the man who moved the North Stars to Dallas as "he who must not be named".

[USAFChief]

http://vintagesnowmobiles.50megs.com/1971_ARIENS_ARROW_275S_6A.jpg

 

 

At least you had a Polaris.

 

Somehow my dad ended up buying the only Ariens sold that year in the upper midwest.  

 

I did have some awesome hair in those days, though.

[ashbury]

I prefer to refer to the man who moved the North Stars to Dallas as "he who must not be named".

The witness protection people, or whoever, later changed his last name to Sucks as a precaution.

[twinsnorth49]

More of a Ski-Doo man myself. 

[twinsnorth49]

 

http://vintagesnowmobiles.50megs.com/1971_ARIENS_ARROW_275S_6A.jpg

 

 

At least you had a Polaris.

 

Somehow my dad ended up buying the only Ariens sold that year in the upper midwest.  

 

I did have some awesome hair in those days, though.

Was it supposed to look like an orange Alligator, or did you just trick yours out like that?

[USAFChief]

 

Was it supposed to look like an orange Alligator, or did you just trick yours out like that?

Yes.

[USAFChief]

http://abcnewspapers.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2013/03/Ram-frolik-2.jpg

 

RB out for a spin.  Popular with the ladies.

[USAFChief]

speaking of game threads...we are still in need of volunteers for May 7, 27, 28, and 30 to get us into June.

 

Step right up folks.  PM Chief and Chitown.

 

http://cdn03.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/headlines/2017/03/arnold-schwarzenegger-quits-celebrity-apprentice.jpg

 

Do it.  Do it NOW.

[Vanimal46]

 

More of a Ski-Doo man myself. 

 

Did you have your Canadian Tuxedo on while riding snowmobile? 

[ashbury]

 

Did you have your Canadian Tuxedo on while riding snowmobile? 

I like their bold use of color in their attire. Blue, I would say.

[Blake]

Ah, Norm brings back memories: I was at one of the last North Star games. We all had a great time chanting "Norm Sucks."

 

Good times.

[Blake]

Hockey in a baseball thread.. What's next, curling?

[USAFChief]

 

Hockey in a baseball thread.. What's next, curling?

That wouldn't be news.

 

Baseball...now THAT would be noteworthy.

[Vanimal46]

Found a video of North on his Ski-Doo.... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5vIAHObxIY

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Hockey in a baseball thread.. What's next, curling?

I think it would be impolite to break out the brooms before the first game of a series...

 

Or were you thinking of the kind with irons?

Edited May 2, 2017 by sampleSizeOfOne

[ashbury]

Ah, Norm brings back memories: I was at one of the last North Star games. We all had a great time chanting "Norm Sucks."

 

Good times.

Didn't have to attend hockey games to hear that. The Mexican Hat Dance at Twins games frequently turned into an impromptu rendition of those lyrics.

[USAFChief]

 

Found a video of North on his Ski-Doo.... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5vIAHObxIY

Back before he grew his mullet out.

[Squirrel]

 

speaking of game threads...we are still in need of volunteers for May 7, 27, 28, and 30 to get us into June.

 

Step right up folks.  PM Chief and Chitown.

 

http://cdn03.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/headlines/2017/03/arnold-schwarzenegger-quits-celebrity-apprentice.jpg

 

Do it.  Do it NOW.

Yeah ... or he'll be baaack!

[sampleSizeOfOne]

speaking of game threads...we are still in need of volunteers for May 7, 27, 28, and 30 to get us into June.

 

Step right up folks. PM Chief and Chitown.

 

http://cdn03.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/headlines/2017/03/arnold-schwarzenegger-quits-celebrity-apprentice.jpg

 

Do it. Do it NOW.

Please don't pull his finger...

[USAFChief]

 

More of a Ski-Doo man myself. 

http://a141.idata.over-blog.com/500x399/4/11/58/20/Scooters-des-neiges/Couple-en-ski-doo.jpg

 

North courting Mrs North, back in the day.

 

"Hold on tight, eh?"

[ashbury]

The Mexican Hat Dance at Twins games

My bad. The one with seven notes then two hand claps. CCEGECB - AG. Fragment from Cielto Lindo? Or, what?

[Blake]

 

Found a video of North on his Ski-Doo.... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5vIAHObxIY

I see the Canadians have finally caught up with 80's fashions. Pretty soon, they may even discover the 486 computer.

[USAFChief]

 

My bad. The one with seven notes then two hand claps. CCEGECB - AG. Fragment from Cielto Lindo? Or, what?

no.

[Doomtints]

Re: the primary/caucus image.  Texas has both.  They call it the "Texas Two Step."  If you want your primary vote to really count you have to go to the caucus too.

[Vanimal46]

 

I see the Canadians have finally caught up with 80's fashions. Pretty soon, they may even discover the 486 computer.

 

Rumor has it, by 2020 they're going to get DSL internet! Really stepping their game up from dial-up... 

[Mike Sixel]

 

http://a141.idata.over-blog.com/500x399/4/11/58/20/Scooters-des-neiges/Couple-en-ski-doo.jpg

 

North courting Mrs North, back in the day.

 

"Hold on tight, eh?"

 

A suit and tie to ride a snowmobile!

[Blake]

 

Rumor has it, by 2020 they're going to get DSL internet! Really stepping their game up from dial-up... 

Figure they might get up to one MBPS service?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

My bad. The one with seven notes then two hand claps. CCEGECB - AG. Fragment from Cielto Lindo? Or, what?

So...

 

 

not