Game Thread 4/11/2018 Twins vs Astros 12:10pm CDT

[Doubles]

Today’s game thread will feature one of my favorite aspects of baseball-  the ‘game within the game.’  No, I’m not talking about the duels between pitcher and batter that drive the game.  Nor am I talking about the proverbial chess match as managers attempt to match wits a la Bobby Fisher vs Boris Spassky circa Reykjavik, 1972.  Stop at the gas station, grab your favorite carton of smokes, and head to your local VFW.  It’s time to play a very special edition of Dick and Bert Bingo, aka DABGO.

 

Dick Bremer has been the voice of Twins baseball on television since 1983.  Whether games were broadcast on Spectrum Sports, TwinsVision, Midwest Sports Channel (MSC!), the ill-fated Victory Sports Network, or the current-day rights holder Fox Sports North, Dick has been the one thing Twins fans can count on. 

Following his Hall of Fame (elected in 2011) playing career Bert Blyleven joined the Twins broadcast team in 1996.  Blyleven’s trademark “Circle Me Bert” bit was more popular with fans than perhaps FSN realized as a result of the backlash caused by Bert’s announcement via social media of the curtailing of CMB.  Fans from all over the Midwest went to bat in support of Bert. 

 

Dick and Bert are like and old pair of blue jeans for Twins fans.  Broken-in, comfortable, and you know what you’re gonna get from them.  To that end, let’s celebrate the paring of Dick and Bert today.   To borrow a cliché’, beauty is in the ear of the broadcast beholder.  Grab your cards, and if you have any suggestions for naming any of the squares, please feel free to share.

 

Twins    5-4, 1^st Place AL Central

Dozier         4

Mauer         DH

Rosario       7

Morrison      3

Escobar       5

Kepler          9

Buxton         8

Castro          2

Adrianza      6

 

Gibson         1

 

Astros   9-3, 1^st Place AL West

Springer       8

Bregman      5

Altuve           4

Correa          6

Reddick        9

Gattis           DH

Stassi           2

Davis            3

Fisher           7

             

McCullers     1

[woolywoolhouse]

That's very brave of the Twins, facing the defending World Champions without a third baseman.

[Doubles]

 

That's very brave of the Twins, facing the defending World Champions without a third baseman.

Twins are feeling confident today.

[twinsfanstreif]

Rosario batting third? I see Molitor also likes to live dangerously

[BoofBonser]

Winning this series would be huge going into a 6 game division stretch!
 

Go Twins and Go Kyle Gibson!

[USAFChief]

Nice job, Doubles!!

[Puckett34]

 

That's very brave of the Twins, facing the defending World Champions without a third baseman.

The shift is on.     All day.    Escobar is playing rover.

[BoofBonser]

"The changeup juuuuuuuuuust misses", even though it was clearly a ball and a curveball/slider 

[Craig Arko]

Missing 'good downward plane.'

[Doubles]

Great suggestions, please keep 'em coming.

[ThejacKmp]

Confused by the lineup choices. McCullers is a righty but has pretty stark reverse platoon splits. Last year RHB put up a 754 OPS while lefties only had a 605 OPS. That's pretty similar to his career stats.

 

I like putting seven lefties out against righties in general but not today. Would've been a good day to get Grossman, Sano, etc. in the lineup.

 

Not sure why the Twins are running out this lineup but could be a day with few runs.

[bighat]

Future bingo phrases/actions:

 

• "I'm gonna make a call here..."
• Bert mispronouncing names repeatedly
• Any reference to the 1987 Twins
• "The all-important 'Launch Angle'"

 

 

[Blake]

 

Today’s game thread will feature one of my favorite aspects of baseball-  the ‘game within the game.’  No, I’m not talking about the duels between pitcher and batter that drive the game.  Nor am I talking about the proverbial chess match as managers attempt to match wits a la Bobby Fisher vs Boris Spassky circa Reykjavik, 1972.  Stop at the gas station, grab your favorite carton of smokes, and head to your local VFW.  It’s time to play a very special edition of Dick and Bert Bingo, aka DABGO.

Bingo_night.jpg

 

Dick Bremer has been the voice of Twins baseball on television since 1983.  Whether games were broadcast on Spectrum Sports, TwinsVision, Midwest Sports Channel (MSC!), the ill-fated Victory Sports Network, or the current-day rights holder Fox Sports North, Dick has been the one thing Twins fans can count on. 

Following his Hall of Fame (elected in 2011) playing career Bert Blyleven joined the Twins broadcast team in 1996.  Blyleven’s trademark “Circle Me Bert” bit was more popular with fans than perhaps FSN realized as a result of the backlash caused by Bert’s announcement via social media of the curtailing of CMB.  Fans from all over the Midwest went to bat in support of Bert. 

 

Dick and Bert are like and old pair of blue jeans for Twins fans.  Broken-in, comfortable, and you know what you’re gonna get from them.  To that end, let’s celebrate the paring of Dick and Bert today.   To borrow a cliché’, beauty is in the ear of the broadcast beholder.  Grab your cards, and if you have any suggestions for naming any of the squares, please feel free to share.

DABGO.jpg

 

Whew, I'm relieved. I was worried this was going to be a drinking game and, as much as they let me get away with where I work, they do tend to draw the line at their people being passed out underneath their desk.

[Blake]

 

Nice job, Doubles!!

Ditto, Doubles!

[John Kelsey]

Bert saying "uppercut swing" has to be on there. 

[Mill1634]

Interesting lineup.... I have a feeling either Rosario or Morrison break out of their slump in a big way today. Go Twins

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Whew, I'm relieved. I was worried this was going to be a drinking game and, as much as they let me get away with where I work, they do tend to draw the line at their people being passed out underneath their desk.

 

Suggesting that as long as you pass out on top of your desk you're fine?

[Whammy]

Bingo:

 

Bert saying that the pitcher needs to keep the ball down

 

"Chases Ball 4" (usually Dick)

 

 

[Doubles]

George Herman Ruth Springer has to be on the short list of modern-day Twins killers.  

 

Feels like we never get that guy out.

[bighat]

Leadoff walk. Nice, Gibby.

[BoofBonser]

 

Interesting lineup.... I have a feeling either Rosario or Morrison break out of their slump in a big way today. Go Twins

McCullers is a stud... Tough matchup for lefties too as ThejacKmp mentioned

 

Rosario needs to find patience again... he's not squaring up balls consistently at all, so first pitch swinging is not a very good idea. Morrison is just behind the fastball right now... just keep giving him AB's and he'll be fine 

[bighat]

Yeeps, Gibby.

[Whammy]

Bingo:

 

Morris using the phrase "This might not be popular but...."

 

Wishing someone a happy birthday

[Han Joelo]

Ryan Lamarre, on his way to Rochester (brief visit to Lake Erie or something pictured here.)

 

The print copy says something about the "the right car for the wrong" something or other.  Kind of like todays lineups.

 

[Mill1634]

Well, we were going to have to score to win anyway

[Cap'n Piranha]

Steve Sparks, Houston's radio color analyst, expresses his amazement that Correa often bats with runners on base.  Funny how that works when you bat immediately after Jose Altuve.

[BoofBonser]

Nice damage control by the Gibmeister 

[bighat]

When are the Twins going to stop monkeying around and just put Dozier to the #3 hole?

[Mike Sixel]

I'm streaming the free game on Facebook. More than half the comments are people complaining about free baseball on Facebook....

[Mill1634]

Joe just keeps hitting. Hell yeah