Game Thread - Cleveland @ Twins, 3/30, 1:10pm

[NumberThree]

Game 2. Here we are! Still excited because it's baseball season ... I'm sure that will change somewhere in the middle as the season goes on. For today, I hope Odorizzi progressed from where he ended the season last year, and I hope Bauer did not.

 

CLEVELAND

 

1. Leonys Martin (L) CF
2. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B
3. Tyler Naquin (L) RF
4. Carlos Santana (S) 1B
5. Hanley Ramirez ® DH
6. Jake Bauers (L) LF
7. Roberto Perez ® C
8. Brad Miller (L) 2B
9. Max Moroff (S) SS

Trevor Bauer P

 

TWINS

 

1. Max Kepler (L) RF
2. Jorge Polanco (S) SS
3. Nelson Cruz ® DH
4. Eddie Rosario (L) LF
5. C.J. Cron ® 1B
6. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 3B
7. Jonathan Schoop ® 2B
8. Mitch Garver ® C
9. Byron Buxton ® CF

Jake Odorizzi P

 

Go Twins go! Win Twins win!

 

[ashbury]

I was hoping for Berrios. Word is that he's on a pace for 162 games this season. Why jinx it by letting someone else be his Opener - what if Odorizzi pitches a perfect game and they can't take him out? I say leave well enough alone and go with Jose.

[NumberThree]

I'm also excited for the game today because I might actually get to watch it all. Since my new shift at work starts at 5pm every day, games that start at 3 ... well ... when I have to leave for work no later than 4:30, couldn't see it all. Today, I'll get to see it all ... unless it goes into extra innings ... like the 2nd game we played against Cleveland last year.

[Mauerpower]

They should start putting these game thread posts on the home page again.

[Diesel]

Props to the players and fans at Target Field! Hopefully our bats can heat up this brutally cold weather!

[USAFChief]

If Odorizzi and the pen can just match the team's average runs allowed, I predict a win.

[bighat]

Odorizzi was the Twins opening day starter a year ago. This year he's the #2 guy. Big drop off from Berrios, here's hoping Gibby gets on track and is healthy and ready to carry the load as the primary #2 moving forward.

 

Looks like it's going to be pretty chilly today, with shadows between the pitchers' mound and home plate for the first few innings. Not sure what the over/under is in Vegas, but my guess is that 3 runs would easily win this thing for either team.

[Tom Froemming]

There are a few Twins with really good numbers against Bauer. Cruz has a 1.643 OPS in 14 PAs against him and Jorge Polanco has taken him deep three times in just 25 PAs. Hopefully those two can combine to do some kind of damage each time their part of the order comes around.

 

As for Odorizzi, we know the deal. It's not about how he starts, it's all about how he navigates those second, and especially third times through the order. He had a 3.14 ERA innings 1-3 and a 6.18 ERA innings 4-6 last year. 

 

On the decision at catcher, I was surprised to see that Odorizzi has thrown more innings to Garver than any other catcher over his career. He also didn't fare too well in the five starts he had last year with Jason Castro (5.33 ERA). But maybe Rocco just wanted to make sure Mitch got into a live game early. Not sure.

[ashbury]

 

Carnac the Magnificent: "oh-duh-RIZZ-ee"

Ed McMahon: Oh-duh-RIZZ-ee. Oh-duh-RIZZ-ee. Oh-duh-RIZZ-ee.

Carnac: There seems to be an echo in the room.

Ed: I am merely trying to discover, to anticipate, the wisdom of this mystical incantation.

Carnac: You may have entered the wrong studio door if wisdom is what you were after.

Ed: Not so. Your powers of divination are exceeded only by your humility.

Carnac: My humility is the one thing I'm most proud of.

Ed: To a fault. I daresay, there is NO ONE in the world more humble than yourself.

Carnac: (stage whisper) Where're we going with this?

Ed: I state again, there is NO ONE more SELF-EFFACING than Carnac the Magnificent!

Carnac: (pause for effect) You're trying to get us in hot water with the censors again, aren't you?

Ed: No, no, O Great Sage. I merely bask in your reflected glory.

Carnac: May the fleas of a thousand camels take residence on your bathroom mirror. Reflect on that.

Ed: I shall, your eminence. I shall. If you feel ready, would you please open the envelope and reveal the question which you have already answered with 100% accuracy?

Carnac: (tears open the end of the envelope, blows into it, removes card, reads) "What pitcher's name looks like a better source for puns than it actually sounds?"

 

[jorgenswest]

Garver wasn’t very helpful to the pitchers last year. He was the main catcher for Lynn and Odorizzi. I really hope that his work this winter improve his catching to an adequate level. It would be nice to have his bat in the line up at catcher.

[Danchat]

Boy, the Indians are fielding a AAA lineup out there. Ramirez and Santana are the only real threats in the lineup, and all the rest are either borderline MLB hitters or clearly aren't. Even with Lindor back in the lineup, I don't seem them scoring many runs this season.

[Nine of twelve]

I see they have the new blue home jerseys on. I wish the team would permanently discontinue using the script that was on the 1961 uniforms.

[Vanimal46]

First impression of the new jerseys... Next!

[Vanimal46]

34 degrees at first pitch? Yikes!

[NumberThree]

Woohoo Odo!

[curt1965]

It is an absolute pleasure listening to Morneau do the color for FSN. Super knowledgeable, understands today’s players, great inside look into the game.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Cy Ordorizzi.

[MMMordabito]

Keep foot firmly planted on jugular, Odorizzi!!

[bighat]

Twins 1-2 hitters are playing like 8-9 hitters so far this year.

[Doomtints]

did the twins win yet

[Nine of twelve]

 

It is an absolute pleasure listening to Morneau do the color for FSN. Super knowledgeable, understands today’s players, great inside look into the game.

There were a few games last year when Morneau and Smalley were both in the booth with Dick. I thought it was great.

[luckylager]

 

First impression of the new jerseys... Next!

Agree. In addition to my total dislike of the "Kasota Gold", these new alts look really bad on TV. NOB is illegible. 

[ashbury]

I didn't like the lack of command on the fastball that walked Ramirez, but aside from that, so far so good for Odo.

[nater79a]

Odo vs Bauer looked like a mismatch on paper.

 

Good thing we're playing on grass and not paper then!

[Nine of twelve]

Not to worry, fans. We're just setting them up for another win on a couple late runs.

[bighat]

For what it's worth, this game has not been very entertaining. Napworthy, even.

[Jerr]

So far a great start to this season! This could become tense!!!

 

[curt1965]

It’s easy to see why Morneau won a MVP and a batting title! Cerebral approach to hitting is something that doesn’t get discussed enough. Hoped he talked to young Twin hitters in SP!

[TheLeviathan]

When did Odo become this strikeout machine?

[operation mindcrime]

That was disappointing!