Article: Game Thread: Twins v Tigers, 5/21 @ 7:10pm CT

[Riverbrian]

We are well into the month of May and it doesn’t seem like we’ve had much AL Central action. It’s about time that we get some. Starting tonight, the Tigers come to town for a 3-game series at Target Field. Since it’s the Tigers… that means that ‘you know who’ is coming to town… the guy whose last name starts with a “G”. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that he was one of us. He was a part of us for such a long time that his face is still probably burned into your memory. Speaking for myself, and I assume others, I wish him nothing but the best.

It is indeed a homecoming for Niko Goodrum.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Top (Non Trump) News Story of the Day:

Harry and Meghan got married on Saturday in front of Elton John and a few others. Even if it was an American gal, for the life of me I don’t understand why we care at all on this side of the pond. But obviously we do care because 29.2 million viewers in the U.S. tuned in to watch the wedding. It was broadcast on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, E, TLC, Univision, BBC America and even HBO. So, with so many channels broadcasting the same thing, who won? NBC did with 6.4 million viewers.

Although, I will say that I won because I woke up, turned on the TV, scrolled the channels, saw what was happening, quickly turned the television off and went out and mowed my lawn instead. My wife heard the lawn mower and ran out to tell me that the neighbors were going to complain about mowing at 6AM. Sure enough, my neighbor did come out in pajamas to complain. He said that he was trying to watch the wedding and the lawn mower was making it hard to hear.

2. Our Twins:

I think it’s safe to say that the Twins have not been playing inspiring baseball. However… the Twins are still only 2 games behind the Indians for 1st place. So, imagine what happens when they become inspired. It’s important for them to know that it is going to be OK… if Plan A fails… there are 25 other letters.

3. The Tigers:

Ron Gardenhire currently has 1,088 victories as a major league manager which ranks 54th on the all-time list. That means only 53 managers since the dawn of time have won more games. Ron is even better on the all-time lost list ranking 46th with 1,064 losses. Connie Mack is the greatest manager of all time with 3,948 losses. BTW… with John Hicks on the Tigers roster, they of course… have 3 catchers.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation:

Maddon: All right, guys, gather ‘round and tell me what you hear.

Maddon’s Iphone: Laurel

Mauer: Cool… this is that internet thing.

Maddon’s Iphone: Laurel

Morgan: I heard Laurel

Montana: What? Are you crazy? It said Yanni.

Maddon: Morgan, sit down… relax.

Maddon’s Iphone: Laurel

McCarthy: Yanni

Mauer: Definetly Yanni

Maddon: Joe… Joe… relax now. Deep breaths now, Morgan… I hear Laurel, too... it’s okay.

Morgan: You should… the man said Laurel… I don’t know what you two are up to… the man said Laurel. I’ll beat you both to a pulp if you don’t knock it off with that Yanni crap.

Mauer: Play it again.

Maddon’s Iphone: Laurel

Morgan: See… Laurel

Montana: Once again… Yanni

Morgan: I don’t know why I hang around with the bunch of you. I don’t like you, Montana.

Maddon: Just another thing to divide us all.

McCarthy: We need to take off the ‘United’ and just call it 'The States' pretty soon.

5. New Doctor:

I’m looking for a new doctor. At my appointment a couple of weeks ago, she grabbed my tie, checked her watch, declared me dead, and then left the room.
____________________

Lineups:

TIGERS
Leonys Martin(L) CF
Nick Castellanos(R ) RF
Victor Martinez(S) DH
John Hicks(R ) 1B
Niko Goodrum(S) 3B
James McCann(R ) C
JaCoby Jones(R ) LF
Jose Iglesias(R ) SS
Dixon Machado(R ) 2B

Blaine Hardy(L) P

TWINS
Brian Dozier(R ) 2B
Max Kepler(L) RF
Eduardo Escobar(S) 3B
Eddie Rosario(L) LF
Mitch Garver(R ) C
Logan Morrison(L) 1B
Robbie Grossman(S) DH
Ehire Adrianza(S) SS
Byron Buxton(R ) CF

Jose Berrios(R ) P

Gametime forecast: low 60's, cloudy with a chance of rain, winds at 6mph from the ESE.

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[Platoon]

1) You just have to get over not being invited to the wedding. Originally I felt the same way. But after seeing the the USPS was so busy delivering packages for Amazon for free, it occurred to me that your invite, and mine was lost or delayed in the mail along with others. Apparently the biggest glitch was that many of the invites in the entire Washington DC area were lost.

2) What happens when Cleveland wakes up? They are probably lamenting the fact that they don't get to feast on the rest of the AL Central. Whoops, that includes us!

3) I do hope Gardy gets tossed at least once in the series, for old times sake. Btw, it's not fair, Detroit has three catchers, and we can't find even one?

[Blake]

 

1) You just have to get over not being invited to the wedding. Originally I felt the same way. But after seeing the the USPS was so busy delivering packages for Amazon for free, it occurred to me that your invite, and mine was lost or delayed in the mail along with others. Apparently the biggest glitch was that many of the invites in the entire Washington DC area were lost. 2) What happens when Cleveland wakes up? They are probably lamenting the fact that they don't get to feast on the rest of the AL Central. Whoops, that includes us! 3) I do hope Gardy gets tossed at least once in the series, for old times sake. Btw, it's not fair, Detroit has three catchers, and we can't find even one?

Trade Molitor to Detroit for Gardenhire and a catcher?

[slash129]

With both teams going nowhere fast, Gardy's gotta get tossed today on principle just to provide the fans with some entertainment.

[lukeduke1980]

Niko Goodrum OPS: .778

[sampleSizeOfOne]

The Twins have the same number of losses as Cleveland. If we win out, we'll catch 'em.

[Blake]

It will be nice to see Gardenhire again. 

 

Though, I cringe at the thought that Gardenhire might outmanage Molitor to the point the Tigers win.

 

 

[Blake]

By the way,  another excellent intro, Mr. RB!

[mickeymental]

all-time manager ejections, as of 2017 per wikipedia:

1 Bobby Cox 161
2 John McGraw 132
3 Earl Weaver 94
4 Leo Durocher 94
5 Tony La Russa 87
6 Paul Richards 80
7 Frankie Frisch 80
8 Ron Gardenhire 73
9 Jim Leyland 68
10 Joe Torre 66
11 Lou Piniella 63
12 Bruce Bochy 61
13 Clark Griffith 58
14 Bill Rigney 51
15 Charlie Manuel, Clint Hurdle 50

[joefish]

I don't miss Gardy. Never will.

I miss our bats though. Would someone please get hot? Our starters deserve some "W"ins.

[Vanimal46]

Post your favorite Gardy quotes...

 

"We'll be back tomorrow night. I can promise you that."

 

"Tough loss."

 

"I've got my cell phone handy in case if that big trade happens." Note: it never happened.

[Blake]

 

Post your favorite Gardy quotes...

"We'll be back tomorrow night. I can promise you that."

"Tough loss."

"I've got my cell phone handy in case if that big trade happens." Note: it never happened.

"Battled our tails off."

[sampleSizeOfOne]

...

 

 

"I've got my cell phone handy in case if that big trade happens." Note: it never happened.

They happen all the time, just involving other teams...

 

And with his cellphone he can keep up with that breaking news.

[gocgo]

 

all-time manager ejections, as of 2017 per wikipedia:

1 Bobby Cox 161
2 John McGraw 132
3 Earl Weaver 94
4 Leo Durocher 94
5 Tony La Russa 87
6 Paul Richards 80
7 Frankie Frisch 80
8 Ron Gardenhire 73
9 Jim Leyland 68
10 Joe Torre 66
11 Lou Piniella 63
12 Bruce Bochy 61
13 Clark Griffith 58
14 Bill Rigney 51
15 Charlie Manuel, Clint Hurdle 50

I don't know that anyone could get tossed like Lou P.  When he got tossed, he did it with style.

[David HK]

 

 Btw, it's not fair, Detroit has three catchers, and we can't find even one?

One of whom used to be ours, whom we gave away for nothin'...

 

The one with the .894 OPS

[gocgo]

 

Post your favorite Gardy quotes...

"We'll be back tomorrow night. I can promise you that."

"Tough loss."

"I've got my cell phone handy in case if that big trade happens." Note: it never happened.

"The ball is really coming out of his hand nice."....I believe he said that after watching 50 cent throw out the first pitch.

 

[Platoon]

Post your favorite Gardy quotes...

"We'll be back tomorrow night. I can promise you that."

"Tough loss."

"I've got my cell phone handy in case if that big trade happens." Note: it never happened.

..........anything ending in ee or ey. .

[David HK]

 

I don't miss Gardy. Never will.
I miss our bats though. Would someone please get hot? Our starters deserve some "W"ins.

I want all 3 of these dang games.

 

Let's beat their brains in.

[mickeymental]

 

..........anything ending in ee or ey. .

EVERYTHING ending in ee or ey!

[John Kelsey]

 

One of whom used to be ours, whom we gave away for nothin'...

 

The one with the .894 OPS

 

Hicks is more of a first baseman than catcher these days, he's only caught 7 times this year. 

[Dantes929]

 

Post your favorite Gardy quotes...

"We'll be back tomorrow night. I can promise you that."

"Tough loss."

"I've got my cell phone handy in case if that big trade happens." Note: it never happened.

"Everything checked out fine. They even said I had a heart."

[Puckett34]

 

"Battled our tails off."

AHHH beat me to it.

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

all-time manager ejections, as of 2017 per wikipedia:

1 Bobby Cox 161
2 John McGraw 132
3 Earl Weaver 94
4 Leo Durocher 94
5 Tony La Russa 87
6 Paul Richards 80
7 Frankie Frisch 80
8 Ron Gardenhire 73
9 Jim Leyland 68
10 Joe Torre 66
11 Lou Piniella 63
12 Bruce Bochy 61
13 Clark Griffith 58
14 Bill Rigney 51
15 Charlie Manuel, Clint Hurdle 50

With the option to review plays now it is unlikely those top positions will ever change. Gardenhire, in fact, should find it difficult to get into a tie for 7th place.

[Vanimal46]

With the option to review plays now it is unlikely those top positions will ever change. Gardenhire, in fact, should find it difficult to get into a tie for 7th place.

If there's a will, there's a way!

[Platoon]

With the option to review plays now it is unlikely those top positions will ever change. Gardenhire, in fact, should find it difficult to get into a tie for 7th place.

Oh my! There's balls and strikes to argue. There's replays that didn't go his way. Maybe during bringing up the lineup card.

[wsnydes]

 

With the option to review plays now it is unlikely those top positions will ever change. Gardenhire, in fact, should find it difficult to get into a tie for 7th place.

I'd argue the presence of replay would make it easier.  You get tossed for questioning the replay ruling!

[Vanimal46]

Oh my! There's balls and strikes to argue. There's replays that didn't go his way. Maybe during bringing up the lineup card.

RG: "That was clearly a ball. I'm going to argue that."

 

JV: "According to stat track that was a strike... Don't argue it."

 

RG: "Stat what? Don't confuse me with your video analysis. I saw what I saw!"

 

JV: "Sigh... I guess I'll get to manage for a couple of innings."

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Post your favorite Gardy quotes...

"We'll be back tomorrow night. I can promise you that."

"Tough loss."

"I've got my cell phone handy in case if that big trade happens." Note: it never happened.

Punto! How did you get in here with that camera?

[yarnivek1972]

all-time manager ejections, as of 2017 per wikipedia:

1 Bobby Cox 161

2 John McGraw 132

3 Earl Weaver 94

4 Leo Durocher 94

5 Tony La Russa 87

6 Paul Richards 80

7 Frankie Frisch 80

8 Ron Gardenhire 73

9 Jim Leyland 68

10 Joe Torre 66

11 Lou Piniella 63

12 Bruce Bochy 61

13 Clark Griffith 58

14 Bill Rigney 51

15 Charlie Manuel, Clint Hurdle 50

Tom Kelly had what, 9?

[Broker]

 

Tom Kelly had what, 9?

I can only remember once.