Game Thread Our Twins vs. Red Sox 9/4 7:10 AM HKT (or 9/3 6:10 PM CDT)

[David HK]

 

Why I loathe Boston, and how I came to miss my Baby, by David in HK

 

Greetings to all back in the World, and elsewhere.

 

As the home town team embarks on a rather testing first half of September, I raised my hand to offer some thoughts, and grind a personal axe for this series at the same time.

 

As many of you know who have followed these threads for the past few years, I'm in Hong Kong these days, (more on that later), having been on the China side of the water now since '09. And why I'm still here has a lot to do with Beantown.

 

The shortest story version, but still long, so bear with me a little bit-

ND native, Twinkie fan since my toddler days in '65. Living in the Cities in '87, soaking it all in! Those were great days! A sea change in the working life- decided, in my early 30s, to chuck it all and become an actor. Chicago-theatre for the 90s, then LA for the 2000s. Teaching school in East LA for the day job, while doing the film/TV thing. Some nice stuff here and there, but never to the point of quitting the day job, as they say. Then one day, outta the blue, the wife meets the guy with the yacht, and life goes upside down.

 

Had a friend in Guangzhou, working for a clothing company (Heh...ex-and-future GF, as it were). Suggested I get out for a while, come see the other side, take a break from the life and heal the ol' broken heart. So I did. Took a leave from the teaching ESL to Spanish-speaking students, spent a year teaching ESL to Chinese-speaking students, experiencing that other-side life.

 

That was enough. Came back to LA at Xmas time. Connected with the former schools where I'd taught, secured some substitute teaching jobs for the Xmas season (LA schools go year-round on staggered schedules). Landed in LA on a Friday, having had my fill of adventure, and ready to start anew.

 

Now- to the Baby. She was under the care, and in the garage of a fellow actor-friend, whom you may have seen on your screens from time to time. He'd wrecked his own bike a month before, had to go to the airport to fly out for a film shoot for a week. Sooooo.... he took mine. Parked in long-term parking. Came back at the end of the shoot----*poof*.

No more Baby.
Gone.
Swiped.
PInched.
Vamoosed.

 

He sent a message about a week before I came back, in response to my own message requesting that he get her out and started up for my return. So, as noted above, I landed in LA on a Friday, jet-lagged, wiped out, and in a taxi to my buddy's house in Van Nuys, a world and a half away from LA Unified School District's downtown HQ. If I'd had my bike, I'd have made the run downtown to the office to get officially reinstated, but as it was, the thought of a couple of long-ass bus rides and connections halfway across that hellish megalopolis, or a taxi tab that would have approached the $ of my flight across the Pacific, made the couch and a long nap look a whole lot more inviting. I'll go in Monday morning, I said to myself.

 

As it happened, that Friday was the last day of my leave of absence. If I'd gone in that day, hunky-dory all the way. As it happened, that little thing called the Financial Crisis of 08 was still having ripple effects. LAUSD was shedding everyone they possibly could, with a hiring freeze also in effect. Hit that brick wall when I went in on Monday. Tried to fight it through channels, through the union, etc, to no avail. Clock ticking, no income, no way to rent an apartment of my own, no foreseeable way out from under that red-tape nightmare any time in the immediate future, and savings already long-since drained.

 

But- a job awaiting, back on the other side. Bit the bullet, packed up, and headed back, and been there ever since.

What does this have to do with baseball, you ask? What does all this have to do with night games that come on at 7AM, and day games that start at 2AM? What does this have to do with my absolute and total loathing of New England sports of any kind?

 

That dude, who got my Baby stolen--  was from Beantown.

I've hated them all ever since.

Go Twinkies. Moider dem Sawks.

 

Cheers from HK, all!  

 

Speculative lineups:

Our Beloved Twins                                                       Evil Empire 2
1 A Good German                                                        1 Some punk
2 Switch hitting future MVP                                          2 Some other punk
3 The Ancient Mariner                                                  3 Who Cares
4  Ever-Ready Eddie                                                    4 Yeah, whatever
5 The Big Bopper                                                         5 a Nimrod
6 Joe Morgan III                                                           6 Some jagoff
7 Mr. Mutton-chops                                                      7 Nimrod, Jr.
8 Fidel                                                                          8 Yet another nimrod
9 Barbara Bach's Husband                                          9 Seriously?

 

*Official lineups, I'll have to ask someone to help post, as I'll most likely be asleep when they come out.

[glunn]

Great stories. I hope that yacht guy is now sorry and/or broke.

[twinssporto]

Great Story!  

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Concur.

 

I got a friend who has had terrible luck keeping motorcycles. 3 or 4 stolen in the past year or two, the most recent one within a week of bringing it home before he could get round to registering it...

 

Didn't realize how such a thing could change a life so drastically. Like something from Inside Llewin Davis.

 

Anyway, if things go as planned, i should be at the game today, balncing out the fandom in a small group of friends.

[stringer bell]

Seth reports that Trevor Hildenberger will meet the club in Boston, with no others from Rochester being promoted. ESPN is listing Randy Dobnak as the starting pitcher for the Twins tonight.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I went to Fenway once and it was a bandbox...but oh the history. The Sox do have a loyal fan base. I hope that Red Sox Nation gets to see some Twin Bombas fly over the Green Monster tonight.

[Dantes929]

Ringo Starr batting 9th?

 

[Dantes929]

 

Great stories. I hope that yacht guy is now sorry and/or broke.

Or pretty much any yacht guy.

[Blake]

 

Or pretty much any yacht guy.

Boat: Noun

 

Definition: "A hole in the water into which one continually shovels cash."

[wabene]

Boat: Noun

 

Definition: "A hole in the water into which one continually shovels cash."

BOAT: Break Out Another Thousand

[gocgo]

That was one of the most entertaining intro's I have read.  I'd volunteer to do an intro, but nothing in my life compares to that!  I'm hoping fate intervened and the guy that stole the motorcycle also stole the ex-wife from the yacht guy.  Meanwhile, the yacht guy rents out his yacht to a Hollywood production company which casts the Beantown buddy.  During production, the thief gets spotted by the cops with ex-wife on the back and a chase ensues which results in him launching himself, the bike, and the ex-wife off a dock and into the side of the yacht causing it to sink.  The only thing salvageable is the bike after fishing it out of the marina and it is now sitting in a lot somewhere waiting for you.

[David HK]

 

Ringo Starr batting 9th?

You're on the right track--

 

Keep going around the bend...

 

To where Ringo and Barbara met...

 

On the set...

[Dantes929]

 

You're on the right track--

 

Keep going around the bend...

 

To where Ringo and Barbara met...

 

On the set...

Wow.   That's a little obscure.   I thought it was because Ringo Starr and Nick Cave were both on the list of baritones in non-classical music but then I thought "no, that's too obvious".    Oh well, I guess we got to the same destination.

[Don Walcott]

 

Or pretty much any yacht guy.

Except, of course, Raymond Luxury Yacht. He's one of us. And it's pronounced "Throatwobbler Mangrove."

[David HK]

In perhaps one of the worst movies of all time...

We have a winner!

[Dantes929]

 

Except, of course, Raymond Luxury Yacht. He's one of us. And it's pronounced "Throatwobbler Mangrove."

Of course except for him.   I don't want to be accused of anti-semitism.

[David HK]

 

That was one of the most entertaining intro's I have read.  I'd volunteer to do an intro, but nothing in my life compares to that!  I'm hoping fate intervened and the guy that stole the motorcycle also stole the ex-wife from the yacht guy.  Meanwhile, the yacht guy rents out his yacht to a Hollywood production company which casts the Beantown buddy.  During production, the thief gets spotted by the cops with ex-wife on the back and a chase ensues which results in him launching himself, the bike, and the ex-wife off a dock and into the side of the yacht causing it to sink.  The only thing salvageable is the bike after fishing it out of the marina and it is now sitting in a lot somewhere waiting for you.

   

You could totally pitch that screenplay.

 

I'd hold out for Tarantino to direct, if I were you.

[Dantes929]

 

In perhaps one of the worst movies of all time...

Geez,   I was thinking the answer was Caveman but now am wondering how Caddyshack II fits in.

[David HK]

Alright, it's off to bed. 

I'll catch y'all around first pitch time, as I leave for work.

 

Just back inside, as a typhoon whips its way through town. Had to get up and go outside just now, and tie down my bike cover, as it blew completely off.

 

Heh... somehow, after all these years, I managed to find another Magna....

 

[Blake]

 

Except, of course, Raymond Luxury Yacht. He's one of us. And it's pronounced "Throatwobbler Mangrove."

"Busted Flush."

[stringer bell]

 

Seth reports that Trevor Hildenberger will meet the club in Boston, with no others from Rochester being promoted. ESPN is listing Randy Dobnak as the starting pitcher for the Twins tonight.

Hildenberger had company! Also back with the Twins are Ryne Harper and Fernando Romero.

[Diesel]

Hildenberger had company! Also back with the Twins are Ryne Harper and Fernando Romero.

It will be interesting to see who makes the final bullpen for the postseason and beyond. A lot of very capable names to choose from

[Bomba2026]

All I can say about this lineup is....Baldelli must think he has the Central Division Locked up...If you have to play some of these guys, I'd prefer they play against DTW or KC.

[stringer bell]

We still have two (2) vacancies for game thread introductions during the regular season--September 15th and September 26th. If you thought you'd like to do an introduction and put it off you have one (or two) last chance(s). 

 

Guidelines for the introductions are in the Game Thread Intro Signup thread, also pinned in the Twins Talk Forum. If you have any questions, contact me via message.

 

stringer bell

[PDX Twin]

 

All I can say about this lineup is....Baldelli must think he has the Central Division Locked up...If you have to play some of these guys, I'd prefer they play against DTW or KC.

 

This lineup looks pretty strong to me. Wade for Rosario is the only real switch, and Eddie has been hitting like Nick Punto with less plate discipline lately, so I have no problem with that. Wade is likely to get at least one walk and is no easy out.

 

The pitching situation is what it is right now. But someone has to start.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

At game. Closest i ever been.

 

Row g.

[stringer bell]

Awright Kep reaches!

[twinssporto]

 

We still have two (2) vacancies for game thread introductions during the regular season--September 15th and September 26th. If you thought you'd like to do an introduction and put it off you have one (or two) last chance(s). 

 

Guidelines for the introductions are in the Game Thread Intro Signup thread, also pinned in the Twins Talk Forum. If you have any questions, contact me via message.

 

stringer bell

David HK did such a nice job with his intro today I think some people will be intimidated.  I feel awful.  I have to follow up his intro with my own tomorrow.  Very tough act to follow. Thanks David!

[notoriousgod71]

I wish they'd bring Ted Robinson back to do the games with Kaat.

[FlauerPauer]

Awful third strike call on Arraez. Literally called that same pitch a ball earlier in the count.