┴Ɔ ɯd0Ɩ:ㄥ @ ϛ/ϛ 'sɔᴉʇǝlɥʇ∀ ˙sʌ suᴉʍ┴ 'pɐǝɹɥ┴ ǝɯɐפ (If I get banned for this, I'm taking Ash with me. He not only was the one who gave me the idea, but he actually voluntarily did the dirty work, and he will suffer the consequence, be it good or bad.) Aren't I generous? Weather: Mostly cloudy with the temperature starting around 70° F but finishing in the mid 60's (assuming the game is neither modern fast nor scary long - I'm guessing if either it's the latter). Relative humidity: 44%. Precipitation chance: 0% (yay! but according to a shadier source than the rest). East southeast wind around 15 mph. Sunset: 8:22 PM (an hour and 12 minutes after the first pitch). Line ups: ATHLETICS (11-16): 1. Burns, CF 2. Semien, SS 3. Reddick, RF 4. Butler, DH 5. Vogt, C 6. Davis, 1B 7. Lawrie, 3B 8. Canha, LF 9. Sogard, 2B Jesse Chavez, RHP (0-2, 2.55 ERA) TWINS (14-12): 1. Dozier, 2B 2. Hunter, RF 3. Mauer, 1B 4. Plouffe, 3B 5. Suzuki, C 6. Vargas, DH 7. Escobar, LF 8. Schafer, CF 9. Santana, SS Trevor May, RHP (2-1, 4.43 ERA) Well, here I am, making my first (and possibly last) start for TD. When I first volunteered to take on the A's on this memorable date (see below), everyone was careful to drive the point home that I must avoid being too negative. However, I've also been told more than once in my short life to stop being unrealistic for making positive remarks. That said, seeing I've already given up at least one run this game, I think I'll advance from here at my own risk; hopefully I don't get moved back to the bullpen (or worse yet, down to Fort Myers, now that I have indeed finally reached AA - but wait, last night I changed my member title, thanks to some helpful advice from the illustrious ChiTownTwinsFan). First off (concerning the game, that is), here's to a bad game for Oakland since apparently Minnesota is incapable of having good games. Oh, and the same applies to the series. And all the succeeding series. Okay, that's enough negativity for one day. If I can help the Twins in any way, it's by being supportive, and the Twins need lots of positive support from their fans. So I'll randomly drop in the phrase that should never be used in the middle of our national anthem: "Go Twins!" (Though indeed, the sacrilege would be of greater offense if I shouted "Go A's" in the middle of nothing in particular.) On a historical note, today, Cinco de Mayo, is known in the Free and Sovereign State of Puebla as El Día de la Batalla de Puebla. Today the Twins are looking to start the game which will hence be honored annually on this special date, called El Día de la Batalla de los Gemelos y Elefantes. Why? I can't say conclusively, but my guess is that it will be the longest, most drawn-out pitching duel in all the rich history of Major League Baseball - and well deserving it will be of its own holiday. Of course, we know who will ultimately win this game in the end, but A's fans don't know that yet. It'll obviously take them a while, but in the end, everyone should acknowledge us as the rightful winners of this game. Yes, even the people of Oakland. Other fun facts about May 5th that [can] relate to the Twins and today's game: ~ The Twins and Athletics both have winning records on this date in the past 5 years, but that must end today. That is, unless the game is canceled. ~ American teenager Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore for theft and vandalism on this day in the year 1994. Although this is not customary procedure in the United States (for those who wondered), Fay still received 4 strokes because he was the visitor. Luckily for the Twins, this series is at Target Field, so we won't need to worry about any canings when Vargas breaks the foul pole and Hunter steals home later on tonight. ~ You know, I've always thought that numbers like 111, 222, 333, etc. were lucky numbers. Well, it so happens that the first (and therefore luckiest) of those numbers, 111, is the exact number of years ago to this very day that Cy Young threw the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0. If that signifies anything, it must be something wonderful. But I can't say what's on my mind because if I do it'll be a sure jinx, and if there's anything that makes jinxes jinx it's a complete belief or disbelief in them. I think it's pretty obvious which side I take, but that's not the point. The point is that anything between a 0% and 100% belief in the jinx jinxes the possibility of jinxing the jinx. Finally (and most importantly), you should know by now that Trevor May is making his first 2015 start in the month of May. I don't know conclusively, but I think that if Phil Hughes' name was Phil April, the Twins would have won their season opener for the first time in a long time this year. There's so much in a name. But then again, who knows? We'll have more evidence to work from at the end of this game. But for now we'll focus on the fact that the Twins (especially Molitor) have been devoting lots of dedicated research to the project of finding the perfect recipe for a win this year, and that just may be May in May. Here is May in April: Well, that's it for now. I will proceed to open this up to critique, and ya'll can decide whether I was the year's biggest wash-up or greatest breakthrough - or, worse than either of those, something boring and in between. I suppose you guys really will boo me out of town before I'm finished like Ash predicted. Oh well, I'll just go to Cleveland with the Twins if you do; then you'll be sorry. But I'll warn you ahead of time that it isn't going to be the shortest series of the year. Once again, GO TWINS!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtO67Ner-1c