Game Thread: Twins v Royals, 5/20 @ 11:10pm PT (1:10pm CT) - PPD

[Blake]

I recently received a message from RB accusing me of holding his book, 10,000 and 1 ideas for Game Threads, for ransom. What RB calls “ransom” I prefer to think of as  “storing safely for a small fee.”

 

Anyway, to defuse any sort of thread polarization, I thought I'd offer a transcript of the conversation I personally recorded when I called RB to ask him when he was going to pay up, I mean, chat with him about safe storage of aforementioned volume.

 

Me: beep beep boop boop boop beep beep (briiinnnggg!)
Che RB: Hello?
Me: Yo, RB?
Che RB: No, this is the downstairs maid. Did you wish to speak to the master?
Me: Downstairs maid? Really? Okay, well, sure, I'd like to speak to RB.
Che RB: Okay, I'll contact the second floor maid, who will inform the third floor maid who will then see if RB is awake to take your call.
Me: Say what?
Che RB: Yes, RB tends to sleep in after the stress of putting together a game thread.
Me: You don't say. ($$$ fee flashing in my head) Did he seem to have any trouble getting the thread together?
Che RB: No, not really. He actually laughed when it turned out someone had stolen his 10,000 and 1 ideas for Game Threads. He had evidently used all the material and moved on to 10,000 and 2 and beyond Game Thread ideas. Second volume as it were.
Me. (strangled sound in throat) Hey, wait, that volume was not stolen! It was put in storage for safe keeping and I was about to negotiate the, ah, “fee.”
Che RB: Oh, it's YOU. (I could almost hear the eyes roll) Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but, all the material has been used, so, not only is it worthless to RB, you can't even use it yourself.
Me: Sentimental value?
Che RB: (Choked laughter) You go with that if that's what it takes to keep you happy.
Me: Fine! RB hasn't heard the last of this!
Che RB: (sounds of hysterical laughter) As you Californians are wont to say: “Whatever!”
(sound of call being cut off)

(roughly seven minutes of tape inexplicably missing at this point)
Me: Crap, now what? I thought at least I'd have some material I could use! And I need a thread now!

 

 

Sigh, okay, fine, I guess it's baseball. What to make of our Twins? They keep winning. It's moving beyond the smoke and mirrors phase to mirrors phase, in that the current team is a reflection of the team last year. And as we know, a reflection is the reverse image.

 

In some ways, this is the path KC went down, in that KC had decent pitching, but their pitchers went to the mound knowing the people behind them, especially the outfield, would make all the routine plays along with making stellar plays. And arms. Running on the arms in the Twins outfield is a fools errand.

 

The middle infield, while not formidable, has been competent. And Mauer is showing what an excellent defensive first baseman looks like. At the rate Mauer is going, he's going to be a gold glove at first base along with producing a few rbi's along the way.

 

This is the second bite of the KC apple and KC looks just as befuddled this time around. And it just goes to show how fine the line is between a championship team and a mediocre team. Though, I have to admit, it's bit early to write off KC.

 

Some thoughts to think:

 

Buxton: "Nothing but rain hits the grass in the outfield."

Kepler: Looks like he was born to play right field.

Berrios: Here to stay?

The Twins: Still above .500. Middle of May. Cool beans.

Duffey: While I wanted that curve ball making hitters bail when he started, it's even more fun late in the game. Watching hitters bail on a strike is hilarious.

Kintzler: Independent ball? Really? And now he's getting the job done at the end of an MLB game?

 

 

 

 

 

Accuweather is showing rain pretty much all day. However, Play Ball!

 

[Blake]

Hopefully, lineups will follow.

[USAFChief]

Nice job Blake!

[Blake]

 

Nice job Blake!

Thank you. It was fun to write.

[BoofBonser]

Odds the game gets in today??

My guess is 5 it does/95 it doesn't

[Blake]

Pitchers:

 

Twins: Adalberto Mejia (L)

 

Kansas City: Ian Kennedy ®

 

KC Lineup:

 

1. Alcides Escobar ® SS
2. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
3. Lorenzo Cain ® CF
4. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
5. Salvador Perez ® C
6. Jorge Bonifacio ® RF
7. Brandon Moss (L) DH
8. Whit Merrifield ® 2B
9. Alex Gordon (L) LF

 

Providing, of course, the game isn't postponed.

[BoofBonser]

Double header tomorrow... double the fun

[Darius]

Shame. Cold and rainy days are perfect to sit inside and watch people play baseball in the cold and rain.

[jokin]

The Twins were given an opportunity to bypass throwing Mejia out there today and putting off this game until the next KC series in September. Plus, they could have increased their gate receipts and rescheduled this game as part of a split DH on Labor Day Weekend vs. the Royals- and with an expanded roster, to boot.

 

As it is, Mejia could have pitched on Monday, as the Twins are yet again in need of an SP vs. the Orioles.

[Joe A. Preusser]

One thing I don't get. How is Riverbrian still married with all those maids running around the house in what I can only assume are severely skimpy maid outfits?

[Craig Arko]

I wonder if they'll call Gibson up as the 26th man to pitch tomorrow and save Mejia (or Hughes) for Monday.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I see we got 'poned.

 

Oh well. No arguing with the weather, eh?

[spinowner]

 

I wonder if they'll call Gibson up as the 26th man to pitch tomorrow and save Mejia (or Hughes) for Monday.

Good thinking.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

One thing I don't get. How is Riverbrian still married with all those maids running around the house in what I can only assume are severely skimpy maid outfits?

Oh. I thought that was RiverBrian in desguise. Affecting a French accent or somesuch.

 

Disguises used to be easier over the phone...

[spinowner]

 

 And it just goes to show how fine the line is between a championship team and a mediocre team.

Team A wins 4 of every 7 games. Team B wins 3 of every 7 games. That means team A goes 92-70 and contends for the World Championship while team B goes 70-92 and, well, nowhere.

[Mike Sixel]

I appreciated the game time was in Pacific time.....

[mikecgrimes]

Were less then 50 days into the season and have had 5 non consecutive rain outs without a single pitch thrown, I bet that's never happened in the history of major league baseball.  We've also had more then our share of scheduled off days so far.

[yarnivek1972]

 

 

Were less then 50 days into the season and have had 5 non consecutive rain outs without a single pitch thrown, I bet that's never happened in the history of major league baseball. We've also had more then our share of scheduled off days so far.

The Mariners didn't start their existence in the Kingdome. Lots of spring rain in Miami too. Of course, the Marlins have only been around for 25 years.

 

Nevermind, I guess they did. The Pilots didn't play there, but that was only one season.

[Riverbrian]

 

Shame. Cold and rainy days are perfect to sit inside and watch people play baseball in the cold and rain.

 

I love the alliteration of that statement.  

[Joe A. Preusser]

Oh. I thought that was RiverBrian in desguise. Affecting a French accent or somesuch.

Disguises used to be easier over the phone...

So Riverbrian is the only one running around his house in a severely skimpy maid outfit?

[Riverbrian]

 

So Riverbrian is the only one running around his house in a severely skimpy maid outfit?

 

Yep

[Riverbrian]

Rain outs bum me out. I was ready for a game. 

 

Rain outs especially bum me out when there is a fantastic game thread open. 

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

 

Were less then 50 days into the season and have had 5 non consecutive rain outs without a single pitch thrown, I bet that's never happened in the history of major league baseball.  We've also had more then our share of scheduled off days so far.

 

Nothing like outdoor baseball. Maybe the Twinks should cut a deal with the Vikes; move the rainouts and cold, windy games indoors. And the Vikes can move their games into the Twinks stadium on those warm, sunny fall days when nobody wants to be inside. Oh, maybe one multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof would do it!

[mikecgrimes]

 

Nothing like outdoor baseball. Maybe the Twinks should cut a deal with the Vikes; move the rainouts and cold, windy games indoors. And the Vikes can move their games into the Twinks stadium on those warm, sunny fall days when nobody wants to be inside. Oh, maybe one multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof would do it!

 

Why so we can shut it when it's 75 with a slight chance of rain like the Brewers do.  Those stadiums are ugly even when open. 

[beckmt]

What the Twins need is a few more rainouts.  Then we will get to see all the pitching depth without any issues.  Probably will force MLB to change the 26th man rules.

[stringer bell]

I read the report of the postponed game and an interesting thing is that the players voted for this. With three day-night doubleheaders already scheduled, the players have to approve any additional split doubleheaders. Meíja can start tomorrow and be optioned but recalled in time for his next start.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Yep

I've lived in Grand Forks, and I'm betting that doesn't go over well with the conservative core. For myself I say, good for you, the windowsills need dusting.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Just to belabor a point...

 

This rainout will not result in a change of our position in the standings.

 

And i'm strangly comfortable with that.

[BoofBonser]

The Astros aren't helping us at all... allowed Clevinger to bring a no-hitter into the 7th inning and after their first hit, they grounded into a dp

[twinsnorth49]

The Astros aren't helping us at all... allowed Clevinger to bring a no-hitter into the 7th inning and after their first hit, they grounded into a dp

Stupid Astros, didn't anyone tell them?