Game thread Twins @ Astros, 7:10pm cdt 4/24/2019 ad

[sampleSizeOfOne]

The rubber game.

 

So named in the hope that we bounce back.

 

Rubber was originally made from a tree in india i think. But when synthetics started, maybe it got made in Cleveland, and they could be harking back to the old days in the tree? Or maybe they just wish they were in Indiana rather than Ohio. Which brings me to a favorite franchise. The adventures of Henry Jones Junior.

 

But in Houston they are more about the future. Meet George Jetson... Now to tie it all together, Elroy will have very fond memories of his dog. And that's how Houston named it's major league franchise...

 

Next topic: Glue. Strong stuff.

 

If it is a rubber game for us, does it not follow that it is a glue game for Houston.

 

I won't make up my own history for glue, as that would just beating a dead horse.

 

But i would like to honour the noble sacrifice that Twins make in the name of science every day. Or at least every day that someone tries to explain relativity.

 

Woah!

 

Pitching for the Twins...

#53... Kohl Stewart!!!

 

Pitching for the Astros...

#35... Justin Verlander!

 

It's like we got the young whipper snapper first round pick (if memory serves) out of Texas ( was it A&M he'da played for if not for us?)

 

Againat the aged scarred veteran of many campaigns, mostly for the Tigers.

 

All fo which i'm likely to miss because of set work for community theater stuff.

 

So i'm trusting you will take notes and tell me what i miss. taking this intro as a template, or at least inspiration, for the most straight

forward and concise narative.

 

Thanks a bunch!

[Dave The Dastardly]

"I won't make up my own history for glue, as that would just beating a dead horse."

 

It's a little known fact that after they ran out of dead horses, they started making glue out of Elmers. Probably why I haven't run into an Elmer in the last 20-30 years. Course if I had, I'd probably have stuck with him.

 

Reminds me when I was kid and my brother broke my Rocky Colavito (sp) bat throwing a tantrum after striking out... again. Rocky bats had a handle about the width of a pencil, so it wasn't like my brother was super strong or anything. Anyway, since we'd exhausted our combined allowances on a string of double feature movies at the local Pix and thus were short of bat-buying money, we decided to repair Rocky. Smeared the splinter halves with Elmer's, then drove several nails through the handle to hold it together. Finished off the repair work with some of that fuzzy electrical tape they had back then. Imagine our surprise when the umps wouldn't let us use Rocky in Little League games anymore. Worked good though for pounding tent stakes into the ground and killing the errant frog.

[Twodogs]

It appears that Astrudillo is getting the start over Buxton?

[Nine of twelve]

 

It appears that Astrudillo is getting the start over Buxton?

  1. Max Kepler (L) CF

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. Willians Astudillo ® RF
8. Ehire Adrianza (S) 2B
9. Jason Castro (L) C

 

No Houston lineup and batting order posted yet.

[woolywoolhouse]

With the smaller left-field to cover at Minute Maid, would it have made more sense to put Astudillo in left, move Rosario to center, and then keep Kepler in right? Or are they afraid of messing with Eddie's mojo right now?

[Mr. Brooks]

Something wrong with Buxton?

[wsnydes]

 

With the smaller left-field to cover at Minute Maid, would it have made more sense to put Astudillo in left, move Rosario to center, and then keep Kepler in right? Or are they afraid of messing with Eddie's mojo right now?

I think RF would be easier to play in this case. It's more conventional. The left-center gap where the Boxes end is quite odd. RF certainly has more area to cover, but there's less quirkiness to it.

[MMMordabito]

 

It's a little known fact that after they ran out of dead horses, they started making glue out of Elmers. Probably why I haven't run into an Elmer in the last 20-30 years. Course if I had, I'd probably have stuck with him.

 

My great-grandfather was named Elmer.  I knew there was something weird about his interment.  A lifelong question finally answered.

[curt1965]

I remember Buxton’s major league debut. It was at home vs. Detroit. Batting lead-off for the Twins and facing Verlander, everyone was excited to see their “savior,” as he was finally in the majors.

It didn’t go very well! Buxton struck out in his first 3 plate appearances, and looked helpless against the Detroit ace. Don’t believe he had ever seen a major league slider before!

Don’t know if he is getting rested tonight, but it seems like it might be a good idea to avoid a repeat of history.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Is Stewart pitching? Who got sent down/DFA’d for the roster spot?

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/32869-stewart-romero-up-cave-duffey-down/

[Mr. Brooks]

I remember Buxton’s major league debut. It was at home vs. Detroit. Batting lead-off for the Twins and facing Verlander, everyone was excited to see their “savior,” as he was finally in the majors.

It didn’t go very well! Buxton struck out in his first 3 plate appearances, and looked helpless against the Detroit ace. Don’t believe he had ever seen a major league slider before!

Don’t know if he is getting rested tonight, but it seems like it might be a good idea to avoid a repeat of history.

Given Buxton's previous struggles, he's going to be getting a lot of days off if this is the reason.

I really hope this isn't the reason.

[wsnydes]

Given Buxton's previous struggles, he's going to be getting a lot of days off if this is the reason.

I really hope this isn't the reason.

Agreed. What better way to see where he's really at then to face someone like Verlander.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd rather Astudillo play for Gonzalez right now....

[LifeLongTwinsfan]

I sure hope the Twins win!

[Twodogs]

im just not sure that Astrudillo is an everyday type of player.  Im a little bit worried about pulling guys like Buxton and then having poor defense?

 

 

I really like Astrudillo, but I also liked Matt LeCroy too.  I just don't want them sitting guys like our OFers so as to get him at bats.

[Mr. Brooks]

Yeah, give the kid a chance with the best possible defense behind him. Unless Buxton has an injury, I don't get this at all. Isn't tomorrow an off day?

[Danchat]

Baldelli must like what Gonzalez brings at 3B defensively, because having Tortuga at 3B and Gonzalez in RF makes a lot more sense to me. Marwin played a lot at LF and was rated as a top 15 fielder there out of around 70-80 qualified outfielders.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I remember Buxton’s major league debut. It was at home vs. Detroit. Batting lead-off for the Twins and facing Verlander, everyone was excited to see their “savior,” as he was finally in the majors.

It didn’t go very well! Buxton struck out in his first 3 plate appearances, and looked helpless against the Detroit ace. Don’t believe he had ever seen a major league slider before!

Don’t know if he is getting rested tonight, but it seems like it might be a good idea to avoid a repeat of history.

Buxton's debut was actually against Texas, batting 9th vs Nick Martinez. He didn't face Verlander in his first season:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=buxtoby01&t=b&year=2015

 

Career he is 2-for-10 vs Verlander, with 5 K's and a HR. Although his first 4 PAs were K's, so he has fared better since then:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitcher.cgi?batter=buxtoby01&pitcher=verlaju01

 

Found the game you were likely referring to. 0-3, 3 K's versus Verlander, although Buxton was batting ninth and it was his 99th career game:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET201607200.shtml

[ashbury]

Buxton's debut was actually against Texas, batting 9th vs Nick Martinez.

 

Forget it. He's rolling.

[wsnydes]

 

Forget it. He's rolling.

Perhaps Buxton has been on double secret probation all season!

[ashbury]

Perhaps Buxton has been on double secret probation all season!

Was it over when the Astros bombed Tyler Duffey?

 

(Well, Tyler somewhat kinda shot himself down...)

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

My great-grandfather was named Elmer.  I knew there was something weird about his interment.  A lifelong question finally answered.

My grandfather as well...

 

perhaps it wasn't the car accident that eventually killed him but the glue makers. 

[wabene]

Verlander iz coming

[bighat]

Interesting lineup. Would have preferred the regulars in there with Astudillo replacing Gonzalez as the one change. We'll see what happens eh?

[bighat]

Kep up there hackin'.

[Dman]

Can Stewart get through the first inning?

 

[bighat]

Nice grab by Astudillo, looking slick out there!

[h2oface]

Adrianza, Gonzalez, and Castro (three monstrous holes in the lineup) - no Buxton in center and the turtle in right - against Verlander in support of Stewart. Not enough that Stewart has to pitch against the Houston lineup, eh? Good Luck, Kohl. You will need it.

[bighat]

So Cave got sent down? Geez.

[Dman]

Come on Kohl put Brantley away.