Game Thread: Twins @ Tigers, 4/11 @ 12:10pm CT

Its’ the Twins vs. the Tigers and the big questions is: What is going in Minnesota? The last time I asked that question was when Jesse Ventura was elected Governor. Jesse “The Body” won in 1998 with a campaign war chest of 300 thousand dollars while our Twins are winning with a war chest of 20 players who went undrafted in most fantasy baseball leagues on the 25 man roster. The Twins have thus far beaten the Skip Humphrey Royals and the Norm Coleman White Sox and once that happens… you can get that light rail built.

Here are some things to think about:

Twins Video

1. Detroit – In the investment world there is an old saying… “The time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.” So… buy Detroit!!! Do it now before it gets all revitalized and stuff. The automobile industry isn’t what it once was and is for the most part out of Detroit now leaving behind poverty, crime and urban blight; you know, basically all of the stuff that the tourism industry loves to work with when crafting those clever ad campaigns:

Detroit: The Midnight Trains to Anywhere are full to capacity.

Detroit: You gotta lose your life in Detroit Rock City

Detroit: The New Orleans of the North

Detroit: The reason why Eminem has a nervous eye twitch

Detroit: It’s even worse than Robocop predicted

2. Our Twins – So far we have a small sample size proof that pitching and defense can win you baseball games. We’ve had 5 games of good pitching and defense and 1 game where the pitching and defense failed us. I’ll let you all guess which games we won and which one we lost. Sano is looking like he might hit 50 bombs this year while Escobar and Polanco are both coming up big. Castro has also been a decent offensive force but all in all… it hasn’t been the offense getting it done. Dozier has been average but well below expectation thus far and Kepler, Mauer, Rosario and Buxton have to get hot to get to average with the bat. It’s been pitching and defense… perhaps the two things we were most concerned about after North Korea and Charlie Sheen.

3. The Tigers – The Tigers are motivated to win this year for owner Mike Ilitch who passed away in February. It’s been well publicized that Illitch wanted to win a title for Detroit while he was alive; and he spent a lot of money in that quest but sadly never achieved it. The Tigers will wear a “Mr. I” patch on their jerseys in tribute. Mr. I also owned the Red Wings and Little Caesars Pizza. Will this wake up the Tigers and spur them to loftier heights? Maybe… but I should point out that the Red Wings were motivated enough to finish the season 11-14-3 and Little Caesars Pizza is about to get overtaken by Papa John’s despite those commercials that seem to imply that Papa John Schnatter is personally touching every pizza.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation

McCarthy: Hey Joe… I was driving on Highway 10 and drove right through the town of Big Lake.

Mauer: I’ve been there.

Maddon: How big was the lake?

McCarthy: Not that Big… I could see across to the other side easily.

Maddon: I wonder who named the lake?

Mauer: Whoever it was… they had nothing left when they reached Mille Lacs after wasting Big.

McCarthy: I didn’t see any Elks around Elk River, either.

5. Privacy – My wife has been giving me the silent treatment this past week. I didn’t realize that she that was doing that. I just thought we were getting along great.

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Lineups:

TWINS

Brian Dozier 2B

Robbie Grossman DH

Jorge Polanco SS

Miguel Sano 3B

Jason Castro C

Chris Gimenez 1B

Eddie Rosario LF

Byron Buxton CF

Danny Santana RF

Hector Santiago P

TIGERS

Ian Kinsler 2B

Nick Castellanos 3B

Miguel Cabrera 1B

Victor Martinez DH

Justin Upton LF

Mikie Mahtook RF

James McCann C

JaCoby Jones CF

Dixon Machado SS

Matt Boyd P

Game-time forecast: 62 deg F, some sun, some clouds - about half and half, small chance of rain, but probably not, winds coming from the WSW at 11mph.

Play ball!