Article: Game Thread: Twins @ Rays, 9/4@6:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

The Twins will spend their Labor Day in Florida and they will spend it indoors working. Not everyone gets Labor Day off, and major league baseball players are excellent examples of those who must work. Nearly every place else, workers get the day off to recharge those batteries. It works out because criminals get the day off so the police force can rest as well. You’ll find them hanging out together at backyard barbecues. Pilots and Air Traffic Control have today off so all airline travel is 100% computerized for an exciting day of chaos in the sky. (I flew once on Labor Day; you couldn’t even get a Cinnabon because they were closed.) There is nobody to tell when and in what order to board the plane; you get to carry your luggage on board with you, regardless if it fit in the overhead compartment. You simply get on the plane and that Garmin lady voice comes over the speakers and says, "Welcom to flight 597, non-stop to Paducah." No attendents or pilots as the flight is completely computerized. So sit back and enjoy the flight and nothing will go wrong go wrong go wrong go wrong go wrong.

Here are some things to think about:

 

 

 

1. Tampa Bay – First off, it’s not a city. Tampa is a city, St. Petersburg is a city. Tampa Bay is a body of water filled with elderly shut-ins and bus people who ran out of money. It is one of the places where you have to drive north to be in the south. While in Florida, watch out for alligators. You should always wear a noise producing device like little bells, in order to alert but not startle, alligators; also carry pepper spray in case of an unexpected encounter. One way to determine if an alligator is nearby is too look for alligator droppings. Alligator droppings are recognizable because they contain undigested bones, little bells and smell like pepper spray.

2. Our Twins – It was a tough series to lose. Nearly coming back on Friday and being done in by a bad check swing call yesterday, surrounding a win by 17 on Saturday. Despite losing the series, it still feels like they are rolling. So let it roll… down the highway or whatever BTO song about highways is your favorite.

3. The Rays – I’m not really sure why these guys are struggling. They have pretty good starting pitching, the bullpen isn’t terrible and they have quite a few guys who can hit the ball a long way. I’m not really sure what they are missing besides that “support you” attitude from the fans and ownership. Tropicana Field is perhaps the only stadium where the players can hear conversations taking place in the 30th row and it’s usually the owner and GM talking about coupons.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

Mauer: A trip to the lake on Labor Day was a great idea.

Montana: I agree, but I’m just letting you all know right now… I’m catching the biggest fish.

Morgan: You should slow down a little… I’m not really feeling safe with your driving.

Maddon: The speed limit on I-94 is 70 miles per hour… if you look at my speedometer it’s say 70 miles per hour.

McCarthy: Maddon is driving fine, Joe… just relax a little and enjoy the ride.

Mauer: Why do I have to sit on the hump in the middle?

Montana: Because you are the youngest… that’s the law.

Mauer: Yeah but it’s my car… shouldn't I be driving?

Morgan: Shh… everyone quiet down… what did it just say on the radio?

McCarthy: It’s a news report… it’s saying that there is a car going the wrong way on I-94 near Alexandria.

Montana: Be on the lookout, Joe… we are near Alexandria.

Maddon: Only one car? Looks to me like there are hundreds of them.

5. Exercise – I was busy yesterday and wasn’t able to go to the gym. That makes 10 years in a row now.
____________________

Lineups:

TWINS
Brian Dozier 2B
Joe Mauer 1B
Jorge Polanco DH
Eddie Rosario LF
Byron Buxton CF
Max Kepler RF
Eduardo Escobar 3B
Mitch Garver C
Ehire Adrianza SS

Jose Berrios P

RAYS
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Lucas Duda DH
Evan Longoria 3B
Logan Morrison 1B
Steven Souza RF
Corey Dickerson LF
Wilson Ramos C
Brad Miller 2B
Adeiny Hechavarria SS

Alex Cobb P

Weather: inside, who cares

Play ball! Go Twins!

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[diehardtwinsfan]

this is a pleasant surprise. I have to fly to Tampa tomorrow.

[twinssouth]

Where in the world did you find that pic. I thought the last one was a classic but this one .............. off the charts. Love it!!!!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I love that pic.

 

Don't worry kid, the plane will be landing shortly!

[drock2190]

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict we will be like the kid on the airplane watching the Twins tonight.

 

Take that as you will.

 

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Yawn...

 

Such a humdrum season.

 

Wake me when it gets interesting...

[Brock Beauchamp]

Is it just me or is it really weird that four east coast teams have a regular 7pm start on Labor Day? No other teams are starting at the usual weekday 7pm.

[gil4]

 

I love that pic. Don't worry kid, the plane will be landing shortly!

I think that's a young Tom Cruise, before he learned the proper technique:

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150323201742-erin-pkg-moos-mission-impossible-5-tom-cruise-00001504-large-169.jpg

[spinowner]

 

Is it just me or is it really weird that four east coast teams have a regular 7pm start on Labor Day? No other teams are starting at the usual weekday 7pm.

3 of the 4 teams--Tampa Bay, Boston, and Atlanta-- played road games yesterday so maybe the reason is to allow more time to acclimate after travel. Boston only traveled from New York but they played a night game last night.  As for the 4th team, Miami, I don't know. A side note: the Yankees played last night and then had to travel to Baltimore for a day game today so they are the ones dealing with the worst of the scheduling.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Is it just me or is it really weird that four east coast teams have a regular 7pm start on Labor Day? No other teams are starting at the usual weekday 7pm.

It's nice because I can spend the day outside with the family and get back home and watch the Twins before going back to work tomorrow. Great day ahead.

[Squirrel]

Is it just me or is it really weird that four east coast teams have a regular 7pm start on Labor Day? No other teams are starting at the usual weekday 7pm.

It is kind of weird but then I think it's better. One can go out and do the family picnic thing, or boat thing, or gathering thing of some sort thing ... and then catch the game in the evening before work the next day. I think Florida schools have already started, so it's not the last day of 'freedom' for school kids. That's already done.

 

Edit: I should have read further. TheBOMisthebomb already said this.

[yarnivek1972]

3 of the 4 teams--Tampa Bay, Boston, and Atlanta-- played road games yesterday so maybe the reason is to allow more time to acclimate after travel. Boston only traveled from New York but they played a night game last night. As for the 4th team, Miami, I don't know. A side note: the Yankees played last night and then had to travel to Baltimore for a day game today so they are the ones dealing with the worst of the scheduling.

 

If the Yankees were smart, they would go old school by train. Probably be faster than even flying given the location of the stadiums relative to the airports.

[jimbo92107]

"So, you wanna learn to fly, little boy? Hang on!"

[Craig Arko]

"So, you wanna learn to fly, little boy? Hang on!"

Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?

[Circus Boy]

I'm scarred 3rd degree after the two unrealized walk-offs. Will check in but will comment only when the lead is by 10 runs. That is all.

[Craig Arko]

Garver and not Castro catching.

[amjgt]

Nevermind... tried to embed a Tweet with the lineup. 

 

Failed

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI56FnjXkAAIWZH.jpg

Edited September 4, 2017 by amjgt

[Squirrel]

 

Nevermind... tried to embed a Tweet with the lineup. 

 

Failed

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI56FnjXkAAIWZH.jpg

The lineups are posted now ... but thanks for the attempted assist!

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?

Maddon, Mcarthy, Mauer, Montana: Yes.

 

Morgan: Starring whom?

Edited September 4, 2017 by sampleSizeOfOne

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Garver and not Castro catching.

A small surprise, going against the platoon split against the righty pitcher. But Garver caught Berrios's last gem, so let's do it!

[Craig Arko]

Good thing they're on the road. Storming pretty good here right now.

[Squirrel]

Good thing they're on the road. Storming pretty good here right now.

Not storming this way ... yet. Glad we aren't playing Miami following the Rays.

[TwinsCD]

*waves from first row of RF bleachers*

 

I promise not to commit any interference...unless Rosario's ball needs help getting into the seats.

 

Been a while since I've been to the Trop. It's still a dump...but an air conditioned one!

[DocBauer]

Really stinks to have lost 2 very close games to the Royals, when we have been playing much better at home, and could have won either/both games. But they've been good on the road year, and there is just not quit in this team! They really believe in themselves.

 

Been a couple days, so, I will say thjs again..."I just love this team!"

 

Despite the injury to Sano, despite the injury to Buxton, despite Kepler missing a few games, despite the injury to Castro, despite to the solid and talented young Mejia, they just keep playing good ball and putting up a winning record. The bullpen has really stabilized, despite the trade of Kintzler, as have 4 spots in the rotation, (Man...sure hope I didn't just curse Gibson).

 

Really, really happy to see Slegersbgetting another shot, (He deserves it), and hope like he'll he gets some rope after his first start and his AAA season. I mean, a prospect with a great season or Gee? I'm going with the prospect with potential and shift Gee back to the pen no problem!

 

Let's play some ball!

[spinowner]

*waves from first row of RF bleachers*

I promise not to commit any interference...unless Rosario's ball needs help getting into the seats.

Been a while since I've been to the Trop. It's still a dump...but an air conditioned one!

So you're the one sitting there!

[DocBauer]

Anyone else have have problems at times trying to post and then being told your post is empty?

 

I'm sitting here staring at a post and all the words I typed...can see the words...and remember typing them...but it says it's empty.

 

Do I just have a curse with electronics?

[PDX Twin]

Tampa Rayses sing this song, Duda, Duda?

[spinowner]

Dangit, they had him at third.

[kydoty]

Mauer should've cut that off. Don't know why he didn't when it was clear the runner wasn't going to try to score.

[spinowner]

Mauer should've cut that off. Don't know why he didn't when it was clear the runner wasn't going to try to score.

The rest of the infield needs to communicate and tell him to cut but you're right.