Game Thread: Twins @ Tampa 4:10 PM PST (6:10PM CDT) 5/30/2019

[Blake]

Two things happened that caught me off guard this last Tuesday:

 

Jack Morris choking up when talking about Devin Smeltzer

 

And

 

Dick Bremer mentioning Wednesday was an off day.

 

I didn't believe I'd heard what I'd heard until I checked the schedule and reviewed the clip provided in the game wrap up on the best baseball site on the web, Twins Daily. 

 

The off-day thing I put off to Bremer being Bremer but the Morris thing, well.....

 

 

As for the Twins beating Milwaukee, eh. Sort of expected it. 

 

 

Now, the Twins move on and play the Rays, which should be another excellent test for the Twins.

 

With that, here are some things to think about;

 

1. Wednesday as an off day? Say what?

2. Thursday as a game day and the start of a series? Say what?

3. A Twins pitcher debuts and pitches 6 shutout innings against one of the best teams in the league? Say what?

4. Twins are 9.5 games up on Cleveland in May? Say what?

 

Pitching for the Twins:

 

Martin Perez

 

Pitching for the Rays:

 

Charlie Morton

 

5. Play ball!

 

 

(edit by ashbury: lineups)

 

Twins

Max Kepler [L] RF
Marwin Gonzalez 3B
Jonathan Schoop [R] DH
Eddie Rosario [L] LF
C.J. Cron [R] 1B
Luis Arraez [L] 2B
Ehire Adrianza SS
Jason Castro [L] C
Byron Buxton [R] CF

 

Rays

Avisail Garcia [R] RF
Tommy Pham [R] DH
Austin Meadows [L] LF
Willy Adames [R] SS
Travis d'Arnaud [R] C
Christian Arroyo [R] 3B
Brandon Lowe [L] 1B
Guillermo Heredia [R] CF
Daniel Robertson [R] 2B

 

[Blake]

Disclaimer: Twins Daily in no way endorses the author plugging the best baseball blog on the web in the thread opener. In fact, Twins Daily has taken the extraordinary step of reminding the author that Twins Daily is the best baseball site in the entire known universe.

 

Thank you.

 

The second assistant to the head bottle washer.

[ashbury]

1. Wednesday as an off day? Say what

2. Thursday as a game day and the start of a series? Say what

3. A Twins pitcher debuts and pitches 6 shutout innings against one of the best teams in the league? Say what

4. Twins are 9.5 games up on Cleveland in May? Say what

Is that a dare? I respectfully decline.

 

[stringer bell]

Mod note: Thanks Blake for another outstanding intro to another interesting series. We're almost to the month of June and there are vacancies on the signup sheet for game thread introductions. The "regulars" have done a nice job, but we do want anyone who is interested to get a chance to set up another Twins victory game. If interested, please post on (pinned) Game Thread Intro thread or send me a message. Thanks! stringer bell

[Blake]

 

Is that a dare? I respectfully decline.

 

That is outstanding!

 

I'm jealous I didn't work that into the intro.

 

But, that's why you're a mod and I'm, well, whatever I might be.

[amjgt]

Something I've been wondering.... What's up with listing games on Pacific time?

[Blake]

 

Something I've been wondering.... What's up with listing games on Pacific time?

I live in CA.

 

It's been "my thing" since I started writing game threads a few years ago.

[amjgt]

I feel like it's turned into everyone's thing. Or maybe all of our game thread authors live out west.

[Squirrel]

 

I feel like it's turned into everyone's thing. Or maybe all of our game thread authors live out west.

We did make a 'rule', however, that the central time zone must also be listed in the title. It does make the title a little ... more challenging ... but it's all in fun!

[MNTSchmitt]

Excited for the game tonight. Got seats between 3rd base and the let field corner. Anyone one else here live in the Tampa/St. Pete area going to the game tonight? Thought I was gonna see Berrios pitch tonight, thinking we were back at the top of the rotation, but Perez will be fun to watch. Any word on Buxton playing tonight due to this bruised knee?

[USAFChief]

 

Something I've been wondering.... What's up with listing games on Pacific time?

or even in Pacific time?

[USAFChief]

Sheesh, my boss is such a grouch. He calls me into his office yesterday and just starts yelling at me.

 

"You're late. It's the third time this WEEK you've been late. What do you have to say for yourself? Does this mean ANYthing to you??"

 

"Uh....welll...it's only Wednesday?"

[TFRazor]

 

or even in Pacific time?

Didn't know time could swim

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Is that a dare? I respectfully decline.

 

What.

What.

What.

What.

 

Done.

 

What next?

[Han Joelo]

Knock Knock

[Blake]

 

I feel like it's turned into everyone's thing. Or maybe all of our game thread authors live out west.

"Yes."

[Blake]

 

Sheesh, my boss is such a grouch. He calls me into his office yesterday and just starts yelling at me.

 

"You're late. It's the third time this WEEK you've been late. What do you have to say for yourself? Does this mean ANYthing to you??"

 

"Uh....welll...it's only Wednesday?"

Admit it, this wasn't the boss, it was the boss boss, AKA, "she who must be obeyed."

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Knock Knock

Come on in!

You know you are always welcome here!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Knock Knock

NO SOLICITING

[akmanak]

This is a big test for the Twins. The Rays like the Twins were underdogs at the start of the season and both IMO have played well above their expectation.

 

The Rays as of right now are sitting 1 game back of the Yankees and a similiar record to the Twins.

 

The Twins have been up and down this year when it comes to playing teams with a .500 and I believe this series will give us a litte better idea on how far along this team has come.

[Squirrel]

 

Knock Knock

Say what???

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Excited for the game tonight. Got seats between 3rd base and the let field corner. Anyone one else here live in the Tampa/St. Pete area going to the game tonight? Thought I was gonna see Berrios pitch tonight, thinking we were back at the top of the rotation, but Perez will be fun to watch. Any word on Buxton playing tonight due to this bruised knee?

Live... probably not... used to work out the way a lot... Fun fact, but I got to attend the lowest attended game in Rays history against the Twins... It was about 2 days before Irma hit. 

[GCTF]

 

What.
What.
What.
What.

Done.

What next?

I hope you don't have a friend who owns a Flock of Seagulls t-shirt.

[scottz]

I hope our baseball team wins tonight.

[ashbury]

Knock Knock

[DocBauer]

So wait a moment. The Twins didnt play Wednesday and it's called an "off day".

 

But if a player has a really bad game, it's referred to as an "off day". But it cant really be an off day because he participated.

 

I'm so confused!

[drock2190]

Twins playing their get away lineup on the first day?

 

Bold move.

[twinssporto]

I'm back to civilization after a brief trip into the Boundary Waters...It was a rough trip: Too much rain, cold, wind, bourbon and bears.  However, I did make it back and looking forward to a game on the TV tonight versus the radio. I had to pry my rain gear off with a crowbar yesterday but I'm mostly in good health overall.  Thanks for all the notes of encouragement while away on my adventure.

 

Go Twins! 

[MMMordabito]

Four games in the tomb .... At least the teams competing are good ....  Here is what we can look forward to:

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Twins playing their get away lineup on the first day?

 

Bold move.

This team doesn't have a getaway lineup, IMO.

It almost feels dirty, how deep this roster is, offensively.

I've never seen anything like it in this town. Even when we've had relatively good offenses in the past, they were always top heavy.

Remembering lineups that included guys like Drew Butera, and Matt Tolbert batting second seem like a bad dream now.

I'm just going to enjoy it while it lasts, whether that's 10 days or 10 years.