Squirrel

Probably a LOT ... I mean, it's only April and we have to go 6 more months

Yeah ... Cave is not a starter. And since Buxton isn't on the IL they can't/won't call up a good replacement and go with Cave out there.

I wish we had gotten Donaldson when the A's traded him. That's when I wanted him. I'm still happy he's here, even knowing what an injury risk he is, but, I wanted him then.

This is one of the most impressive things I've read on TD. Well done, Renabanena!

Oh Tom, you are such an optimist! heh

I know that being able to attend workouts was in an article I think around the time it was announced this would be available to fans ... but a nice follow up article with details of an actual experience there would be really good.

I'm just glad we didn't go into extra innings

Phew! Good thing because I had planned to have chicken for dinnah tonight!

This is not a covid discussion group, beyond discussing the protocols for the players. While we all share differing opinions on individual rights and choices, this is not a platform to present misinformation or conspiracy theory half-truths. Keep to baseball. And regardless of whatever differing opinions we have, treat one another respectfully and no name calling.

ooops ... 4:25, not 5:25 ...

Game 2 will start at 4:25pm CT. Here are the lineups: Red Sox 1. Enrique Hernandez (R ) CF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. J.D. Martinez (R ) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R ) SS 5. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 6. Christian Vazquez (R ) C 7. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 2B 8. Bobby Dalbec (R ) 1B 9. Franchy Cordero (L) LF Eduardo Rodriguez (L) P Twins 1. Mitch Garver (R ) C 2. Josh Donaldson (R ) 3B 3. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH 4. Kyle Garlick (R ) LF 5. Jorge Polanco (S) SS 6. Luis Arraez (L) 2B 7. Miguel Sano (R ) 1B 8. Max Kepler (L) RF 9. Jake Cave (L) CF Jose Berrios (R ) P

#whowillneverbeMaryPoppinstome

lol ... and I know who said that line, too ...

I think it's more of a 'One for me, one for me, two for me, two for me' scenario ...

From the Twins website: "The organization spent much of Wednesday morning conducting contact tracing protocols. By the time Falvey addressed media an hour and a half before the first game, he said the Twins had cleared every player and staff member who had been tested in the initial phase of the protocols." https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/andrelton-simmons-placed-on-covid-19-injured-list

It's on the Twins website, too ... but here it is ... saying he tested positive and is experiencing mild symptoms. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/twins-place-andrelton-simmons-on-covid-19-list-select-jt-riddle-promote-alex-kirilloff.html And as Nick said, this isn't the place to get into a heavy Covid discussion. If you are referring to his choice not to vaccinate, that was on either his Twitter or IG account. (I forget which one I saw it on, but if you are curious, I could point you in that direction via PM)

Yes, he is. He chose not to get vaccinated with the team, so I hope his symptoms remain mild.

Yes, from home. Do you deliver to Chicago?

Hopefully he gets a shot and proves he needs to stay.

Well ... it's 'Two for the Price of One' day today. What does that mean? If you are lucky enough to have tickets for today's game, you get to see two for the price of one. For the rest of us at home, it's still a two-fer, which means, double the time sitting and watching, double the game-time beers, if that's what you do, double the time being productive elsewhere while having the game on in the background, double the joy if there are two wins, double the grief and disappointment if there are two losses. If we get a split? Probably still double the grief and disappointment. For me, it means, time spent working on the two wedding presents I need to make more progress on. Yes, two ... I said it was a two-fer day today, and it is. What to expect for today's game? I really have no answer to that. Every time I try to give a rational sense of what will probably be, it ends up being wrong. Which means it ends up being one of those games, or, I really don't know what I'm talking about. Before Chief says 'yes,' go with the latter. But for now, indulge me. Maeda for us, Eovaldi for them. Maeda has been ... sorta good, effective ... but I wouldn't say he's been particularly sharp in his outings so far this year. Eovaldi has been, well, really good so far this year. Going for us ... we've done okay against Eovaldi in the past, and I don't think Boston has a ton of experience against Maeda, so maybe that works in our favor? (I'm really guessing here, so, that's why I said, 'go with the latter' above.) As for the lineups ... I've said this a few times ... I think the Twins batters really, really, REALLY miss Rowson. I don't think there is much more to say about it because I think that pretty much says it. And it's been covered elsewhere on the site. Our expectations, particularly of certain players, are just not being met and I have no answers for that. And the bullpen? Well, it shows signs of good, and then, well, then signs of not so good. Again, let's just hope that the players pull it together, at the same time, and soon. I usually give the team the month of April, and then I start grumbling for changes. It's a long season and I like to keep some for the end just in case. Then there's the weather ... brrrrr! That's all I have to say about that. If you want more analysis or details about the game, talk among yourselves in thread. Or listen to Morneau, I think he's pretty good. Or Cory. And, as always ... ya'll can take it from here, you know what to do, and go Twins! LINEUPS: Red Sox 1. Christian Arroyo (R ) 2B 2. Alex Verdugo (L) CF 3. J.D. Martinez (R ) DH 4. Xander Bogaerts (R ) SS 5. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 6. Marwin Gonzalez (S) 1B 7. Hunter Renfroe (R ) RF 8. Franchy Cordero (L) LF 9. Kevin Plawecki (R ) C Twins 1. Luis Arraez (L) 3B 2. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B 3. Nelson Cruz (R ) DH 4. Max Kepler (L) RF 5. Willians Astudillo (R ) 1B 6. Alex Kirilloff (L) LF 7. Jake Cave (L) CF 8. Ryan Jeffers (R ) C 9. JT Riddle (L) SS Join us for the game 2 lead in here.

For some reason I think it's a harder feat in softball ... but maybe that's just because it was one of my sports

Okay ... so let's move on, please. And I'm asking as a moderator. Thanks.

Wow ... good for her ... I found it interesting that she had no idea when she finished what she had done. She was just out there getting it done. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/04/12/hope-trautwein-perfect-game/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3bDn7YgQ7eRcOzPyMFp7Biy9_Tb5hl4BJkEUfMweBbMqCK-77KDSI54ZQ

It wasn't cancelled because of the event itself. It was cancelled because of safety concerns in the area due to the events. I know the Twins said 'in respect of the family', but that was linked to the unsafe public areas around the stadium. If the next time someone is shot, resident or police officer, and a protest ensues, and the area becomes unsafe for fans, players, staff, etc., I'm sure the decision will be the same. And they will likely say 'in respect of', but it will primarily be because of safety issues in the area. If there aren't safety issues in the area, you won't see them postpone a game. When you have a situation where a curfew is imposed and the national guard are called in and there are protests that could easily turn to riots, you postpone whatever it is. The Twins can't be the only business in the area that closed down because of this. I don't think this is a precedent to shut down every time there is an injustice or perceived injustice ... unless the area is unsafe to open up for business as usual. The sad thing about this discussion for me, is people saying 'the next time ...' In my perfect dreamworld, there wouldn't be a next time. I think it's time to move away from guessing intent and 'the next time' and trying to guess actions of 'the next time.' Hopefully the Twins will get the series in, one way or another, whether here or elsewhere.

That is your interpretation that it is political. So I restate, don't make it political here. It's been proven that we cannot have these kinds of discussion at TD for all the partisan primping and talking points and disingenuous rhetoric and name calling that usually follows and does nothing but inflame. So, once again, stop and turn around. This decision was about the safety and welfare of those in and around Target Field and with respect to the family involved. You can think all you want about the decision that was made, that is your right, but don't turn this into a political hash and rehashing.