Game Thread: Twins @ Angels, 6/4-2:37pm CT

[Squirrel]

Welcome to game thread #487! Okay, I made that up and didn't really count them all. And if you include ST threads, it's probably short a few. Then add on play off threads ... oh ...

 

Anyway, I'm kind of at a loss of what to say. I had this thing all written up yesterday, then tossed it out. It started with the 'oh so clever' quote (aka trite), 'Ask not what TD can do for you, ask what you can do for TD.' I went into this whole thing how people could 'get involved' through Adopt-A-Prospect (a really cool and useful thing you should check out); volunteer to start a game thread (there are always dates to be had, until there aren't, so fill them up!); start a blog (hey, ranting and relieving frustration can be a good thing, so be creative, have at it in a blog, as long is it's not hateful toward anyone/thing or laced with profanity); post baseball news stories that you find interesting like this (or sometimes out of market writers have very different and interesting perspectives, so start a thread and share when you come across them; or even non-Twins baseball news is good, or just anything baseball, like this one); or just jump in and post, crossing that line from lurker to participent (game threads are actually a good place to jump in and get your feet wet, or this introduction thread.) But then I thought, meh, who wants a lengthy PSA?

 

So then I thought maybe I'd talk about this positive/negative-optimistic/pessimistic line that seems to get drawn every year. Some want to remain on a high and don't want to be brought down, everything is good, while others want to focus on the details and explore weaknesses. Hey ... all is good. We can post without characterizing others on, imo, very subjective terms. Those things are just a matter of perspective ... who cares if someone is more optimistic or pessimistic than you, as you will always be more optimistic or pessimistic than someone else. Unless of course you are at one complete end of the spectrum, but I don't know anyone here that's that one-sided. And I could point out that you can't have one without the other. They have no meaning unless there is that opposite for contrast. I mean, imo, again, there is no happy without sad, no joy without sorrow, no frustration without contentment, anger without calm, etc. But sheesh ... who needs such a 'deep thoughts' discussion, especially from me?

 

So, I'm left with talking about the game. I fell asleep early on as I was still on east coast time, and I had to get up early to play tennis today. Ervin ... sigh ... yeah, I want him to be perfect and lights out every time ... but that just isn't going to happen. Am I fretting about it? No. He might be older and not as powerful, but he's smart, he knows how to play to his strengths and how to find his opponents weaknesses ... much of the time, but not all, obviously. I'm going to wait before panicking, but I am a tad concerned. It's kind of like me and tennis. I'm an older player and I play against these youngsters who are quick and powerful. But these quick and powerful players forget that tennis is about finesse more than power. You hit it hard and fast at me, I'm going to change speeds and spin when I can, place the ball where you aren't; hit it hard and fast to me when I'm at the net, I'm going to use your power to deflect and volley it back at an impossible angle; yeah, and lob it up to me, when you know my overhead isn't impossibly hard, again, I'm going to angle it, hit it behind you, or right at you even (your feet, not your head). It's called 'hitting your spots.' From what I saw of the box score today, I'm guessing Erv just couldn't do that last night. And now I'm guessing and rambling ... kind of where my mind is today and why I'm finding this game thread start difficult.

 

So, where does that leave us? With today. We haven't lost yet ... nor have we won yet. (See what I did there? Brought in that old yin-yang thing, sort of.) Berrios is on the mound for us today. I like this kid. I hope he has it all today. I hope Nolasco doesn't come in seeking vengeance, and doing a good job of it. I hope Molitor doesn't put up a lineup resting most of our starters. I hope the bats are alive and the gloves all have sticky in them. I hope ... remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. Okay ... lol ... a quote from one of my all-time favorite movies ... do you know it? You all should. Anyway ... I'm hoping for the win today ... 3 of 4 from the Angels is a good thing ... so let's do it! Do it! Just do it! Rah rah rah Twins!

 

Lineups:

 

TWINS

Brian Dozier 2B
Robbie Grossman LF
Joe Mauer DH
Miguel Sano 1B
Max Kepler RF
Eduardo Escobar 3B
Eddie Rosario CF
Ehire Adrianza SS
Jason Castro C

 

Jose Berrios P

 

ANGELS

Andrelton Simmons SS
Kole Calhoun RF
Yunel Escobar 3B
Luis Valbuena DH
C.J. Cron 1B
Ben Revere LF
Cliff Pennington 2B
Eric Young Jr. CF
Juan Graterol C

 

Ricky Nolasco P

 

Weather: 70s, overcast ... but no rain ... Southern California and all.

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

Nicely done. Very nicely done.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

In dead time waiting for parade to start.

 

I hope we win. Or at least build character.

 

Adopt a prospect sounds like a commitment... Sorry i ain't pulled my weight there abouts. I also just don't wanna be greedy.

[Squirrel]

 

In dead time waiting for parade to start.

I hope we win. Or at least build character.

Adopt a prospect sounds like a commitment... Sorry i ain't pulled my weight there abouts. I also just don't wanna be greedy.

It's not for everyone. I haven't adopted anyone myself, but I have helped to organize the forum a little. But I find it an interesting component. Prospects get mentioned all the time and it's a quick, one-stop shop to get up to speed on a prospect. Unforunately, there aren't threads on all of them ... yet. (A little purposeful shameless advertising on my part.) But if anyone follows a particular prospect, why not just start a thread and put down what you know/have seen?

 

[Pardon My Dinger]

I'll be there today! First time I get to see Berrios in person. Hopefully, it will also be the umpteenth time I get to see Nolasco get shelled unmercifully in person as well.

[Squirrel]

 

I'll be there today! First time I get to see Berrios in person. Hopefully, it will also be the umpteenth time I get to see Nolasco get shelled unmercifully in person as well.

... is a good thing ...

[Bark's Lounge]

I'm placing my money on Maximillian today. He's been riding some good waves of late. I think the waves are gonna be killer today. 2 Jacks.

[Squirrel]

 

I'm placing my money on Maximillian today. He's been riding some good waves of late. I think the waves are gonna be killer today. 2 Jacks.

 

This is contingent on whether he is in the lineup today

He is ... just posted above ... no Polanco and no Buxton today, Miguel over at 1st while Mauer DHs ... not sure that's the best way to go, but I'm hoping ... (Okay, yes, have I repeated this hope theme too much?)

[Bark's Lounge]

 

He is ... just posted above ... no Polanco and no Buxton today, Miguel over at 1st while Mauer DHs ... not sure that's the best way to go, but I'm hoping ... (Okay, yes, have I repeated this hope theme too much?)

There is no such thing as too much hope.

[Squirrel]

 

There is no such thing as too much hope.

Depends on how well you deal with disappointment

[Dave The Dastardly]

I don't know about this optimist-pessimist thing. Seems no matter which I am on any particular day, I usually get kicked in the ol' yin-yang, where the sun never sets, before the sun sets. Best to be indifferent; a state I can reach with a couple bottles of Schells Light and a massive Twins lead...

 

[Craig Arko]

“There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'

No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”

 

-- Dalai Lama

[Blake]

ChiTown, ever watch Chris Evert play tennis? I used to laugh when she'd hit a lob, sit back at the baseline, fix her hair, and wait for her opponent to get back to the baseline to play the ball. Evert wasn't to shabby at the offensive lob, either.

[Squirrel]

 

ChiTown, ever watch Chris Evert play tennis? I used to laugh when she'd hit a lob, sit back at the baseline, fix her hair, and wait for her opponent to get back to the baseline to play the ball. Evert wasn't to shabby at the offensive lob, either.

Yeah ... the game really changed, though, after Martina arrived on the scene. Women's tennis was never the same. And while I talk about finesse in the game, I am still completely in awe of Serena's serve. Man. She is an amazing player!

[USAFChief]

Kepler reminds me more and more of Paul O'Neill every day.

 

And that'd be pretty, pretty ok with me.

[Craig Arko]

Bert just confessed pitchers are not the best athletes on the field.

 

The End is nigh.

[Riverbrian]

Nice job on the open ChiTown. 

 

To return the favor... I should have edited it because you have always been so wonderful editing mine. 

 

Of course... me doing the edits would have meant the insertion of ellipses and removal of correct punctuation. 

[ashbury]

1-2-3 inning for the Angels in the top of the first. I really hope we don't make Ricky Freaking Nolasco look like Cy Freaking Young today.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

Kepler reminds me more and more of Paul O'Neill every day.

 

And that'd be pretty, pretty ok with me.

One can only hope, although he would be a much better looking Paul O'Neill. My wife told me that, but I already knew that.

[ashbury]

Adrianza is an asset on the field.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

1-2-3 inning for the Angels in the top of the first. I really hope we don't make Ricky Freaking Nolasco look like Cy Freaking Young today.

That was an anti-jinx. I gotcha.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Kepler reminds me more and more of Paul O'Neill every day.

 

And that'd be pretty, pretty ok with me.

If that's the case, I know a very sick boy in the hospital who would love nothing more than to see Kepler hit three homeruns today. Do it for little billy, kep.

[ashbury]

That was an anti-jinx. I gotcha.

Not sure I was clever enough to think of doing that. But, quick, let's find an anti-jinx for Eduardo Escobar. He needs our help.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

Not sure I was clever enough to think of doing that. But, quick, let's find an anti-jinx for Eduardo Escobar. He needs our help.

Well, we have some time till his next at bat. Let's brainstorm.

[ashbury]

Well, we have some time till his next at bat. Let's brainstorm.

He's playing third base today. A photoshoop of Mike Schmidt with Eduardo's head might do the trick.

[John Kelsey]

 

If that's the case, I know a very sick boy in the hospital who would love nothing more than to see Kepler hit three homeruns today. Do it for little billy, kep.

 

C'mon Kep!

 

[Squirrel]

 

Nice job on the open ChiTown. 

 

To return the favor... I should have edited it because you have always been so wonderful editing mine. 

 

Of course... me doing the edits would have meant the insertion of ellipses and removal of correct punctuation. 

I leave about 98% of your ellipses in tact. And I sometimes even add a few.

[Riverbrian]

CASTRO

[ashbury]

¡¡¡¡Oɹ┴S∀Ɔ

_{^{I got ninja'd by Brian, so I'll mix it up a little.}}

[Riverbrian]

 

I leave about 98% of your ellipses in tact. And I sometimes even add a few.

 

You have cart blanche my friend.