Game Thread: Twins vs Rangers, 4/26 - 7:10pm

[Ultima Ratio]

Sano dials "9" for the 9th time tonight. Jeebus.

 

As my grandfather used to say: anybody can do easy things.

 

[Guest USAFChief]

Is he trying to get an outside line?

For "long distance."

[glunn]

I am going home now so I can watch this on TV. Please don't let the Rangers score while I am gone.

[Ultima Ratio]

scripted like the WWE

[ashbury]

For "long distance."

 

From the Wikipedia page for home run:

 

Slang terms for home runs include: blast, bomb, circuit clout, "dialing 9 for long distance", dinger, ding-dong, dong, donger, four-bagger, four-base knock, goner, gonzo, gopher ball, homer, jack, long ball, moonshot, quadruple, round-tripper, shot, slam, swat, tape-measure shot, tater, wallop, and yahtzee. The act of hitting a home run can be called going deep or going yard or going home; additionally, with men on base, it can be called clearing the table. Home runs hit to the highest-level stands are upper-deckers. A comparatively long home run can be described as Ruthian, named after Babe Ruth's legendary drives. Babe Ruth himself was often referred to as "The Sultan of Swat", a nickname earned due to the number of home runs which he hit. The act of attempting to hit a home run, whether successful or not, can also be termed swinging for the fences or going downtown. A game with many home runs in it can be referred to as a slugfest or home run derby. A grand slam is often referred to as a grand salami. If more than one grand slam occurs, a game may be referred to as a salamifest. With the increase of Latin American players a home run is also being called the whole enchilada, or as Kenny Mayne described it, jonrón, the Spanish pronunciation of the word home run.

 

Any additional nominations?

[Squirrel]

okay, that was a couple of interesting outs.

[stringer bell]

Chief, you and I are of the same generation, I think. It always was called "dialing 8" IIRC.

[stringer bell]

okay, that was a couple of interesting outs.

 

I'll say! I was going to comment that Diamond is having a Pelfrey-like start.

[Guest USAFChief]

"Running the bases aggressively" by Ron Washington. Available at Bookman's now, at the discount rack.

[ashbury]

scripted like the WWE

 

I definitely need an eyewitness account to that Berkman "infield single" that resulted in the runner on first getting tagged at home.

[ashbury]

Chief, you and I are of the same generation, I think. It always was called "dialing 8" IIRC.

 

That was what prompted me to go look for confirmation, which brought me to that wiki page.

[stringer bell]

I googled this: "In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong – the cornerstones."

[Guest USAFChief]

Andrus on 1st. Berkman bloops a single just over the infield into short right. Dozier tracks it down near the line. Andrus keeps on trucking for 3rd, Dozier can't get much on the throw, it's up the line towards home and gets by Plouffe, to the wall. Andrus breaks for home. Plouffe tracks it down and throws out Andrus at home, nice dive tag by Mauer towards the infield side. Berman ends up on second, then gets tagged by Florimon when Beltre hits a sharp one hopper in the hole that Florimon snags.

[Ultima Ratio]

Why didn't Florimoney take out Andrus with the slide? Could have easily broken that up.

[ashbury]

Berman ends up on second, then gets tagged by Florimon when Beltre hits a sharp one hopper in the hole that Florimon snags.

 

Yeah, I wondered about that one too, but I assumed it was just a bonehead move by the runner. Berkman's never been one of my favorite players. There are slow but smart runners like Hrbek, and then there are guys like Berkman that I somehow have pegged as occasionally getting into a play like that.

[Guest USAFChief]

I googled this: "In hotels, Dialing 8 was calling long distance. In baseball, Dialing 8 is a home run. In blogging, Dialing 8 is a set of posts from a blogger that I find lasting long and being strong – the cornerstones."

Huh. Never heard it referred to as "dialing 8" before, either for a HR or long distance. "Dialing 9" was common as a HR reference in my day. I typed it without even thinking it might not get recognized.

[ThePuck]

Why didn't Florimoney take out Andrus with the slide? Could have easily broken that up.

 

Yeah, Andrus was asking for it the way he played that...he's lucky a fellow shortstop was running...

[ashbury]

Yeah, Andrus was asking for it the way he played that...he's lucky a fellow shortstop was running...

 

Similar to how Nishi broke his leg within the first few days of his major league career?

[Riverbrian]

We may want to start picking up a hit or two.

[Guest USAFChief]

I'm not sure how this game is only 2-0, but I'm glad it is. The offense is once again making a nondescript pitcher look like Cy Young.

[Badsmerf]

My patience for Plouffe is wearing thin. That was a terrible error. Completely lazy. He might need to be benched a few days to send a message.

[Riverbrian]

I gotta say... When Morneau was at the top of his game. MVP Justin Morneau... He would use the whole field... Now the Rangers are using a shift.

 

Could be part of the problem.

[ashbury]

We may want to start picking up a hit or two.

 

I just checked the boxscore. Mission accomplished already, sir.

 

Edit: and only in the fourth inning. On time and under budget.

[snepp]

Andrus on 1st. Berkman bloops a single just over the infield into short right. Dozier tracks it down near the line. Andrus keeps on trucking for 3rd, Dozier can't get much on the throw, it's up the line towards home and gets by Plouffe, to the wall. Andrus breaks for home. Plouffe tracks it down and throws out Andrus at home, nice dive tag by Mauer towards the infield side. Berman ends up on second, then gets tagged by Florimon when Beltre hits a sharp one hopper in the hole that Florimon snags.

 

 

Did you need oxygen after this?

[Guest USAFChief]

Did you need oxygen after this?

No, but I will if John brings back the pole vaulter avatar.

[ashbury]

Did you need oxygen after this?

 

Ben Gay for the joints in the fingers and wrists, I would imagine.

[Riverbrian]

The Wild are down 5-0 to Edmonton. Things ain't going as planned obviously.

[ashbury]

No, but I will if John brings back the pole vaulter avatar.

 

A man of discerning tastes. But I'll stick with the current one a while longer. A boss long ago had a term for someone like her: a day-brightener.

[snepp]

Random irrelevance, I did a networking job for a company one time that used '91' for accessing an outside line.

 

A brilliant piece of short-sightedness there.

[Guest USAFChief]

The Wild are down 5-0 to Edmonton. Things ain't going as planned obviously.

It wouldn't be Minnesota without some team somewhere peeing one down their collective legs.