Starting the season with a win, as opposed to the recent standard "L" is so much fun, I was disappointed the Twins didn't play yesterday. Instead, I watched the Wild clinch home ice for the playoffs and the Timberwolves hang with the Warriors for about 2 quarters before the Splash Brothers blew the thing up.
So, with limited optimism for this season, and with the understanding that Spring Training results mean next-to-nothing, basically all I have to point to today will be historic results.*
The last time the Twins opened the season with a win, 2008, they proceeded to lose the next three games in a row. After 10 games, they were 5-5 and ended the season at 89-74, good for 2nd in the Central (losing Game 163 to Chicago ... booo!)
The last time they won multiple games out of the gate was a decade ago - 2007 - when they won 3, had a couple days off, lost a game and then basically traded wins & losses on their way to a 6-4 start. They went 79-83 and finished 3rd in the Central.
In 2010, the Twins lost their opener, and then pulled off 5 wins in a row, and 7 wins out of the first 10 games. They finished the season with 8 losses in the last 10 games. They still won the Central, but were swept by the Yankees in the LDS and have not returned the playoffs since.
Whatever - I certainly like the idea of a 2-0 start to an 0-2 start. Though I'd argue the Twins are pitching-poor if Hector Santiago is your #2 starter, I certainly wouldn't mind if he can get back to the 2015 version of himself (32 games started, 180.2 IP, 8.1 SO/9, 3.59 ERA, 105 ERA+, 1.256 WHIP).
The Royals counter with Ian Kennedy on the mound.
*Historic results also mean nothing ... but what else am I going to talk about?
Hector Santiago career ERA+: 103
Ervin Santana: 101
Starting pitching is only getting better!
BTW, Ervin leads the AL in IP (tied), WHIP, ERA+ and wins (tied of course). That's after every AL ace starter has already pitched, barring injury that forced teams to push their ace back in the rotation to start the season.
I hate Adam Kennedy. Oh wait -- Ian
The sad thing is that I would take an end result that's the same as any of the three years you mentioned.
gulp ... me too.
Defense!
Jeeze, Gordon was out by 4 feet.
I almost thought he wasn't actually running. He wasn't in the KC broadcast's frame until after the throw arrived.
Good thing, too. Castro probably just saved like ten pitches.
Strike-em-out-throw-em-out's are a good time.
Have y'all been to the Budweiser deck? Highly recommended. We have our own bar, food, bonfire and bathrooms. I knew that going in, but it's still awesome.
Just the Legends club, which has all that except for the bonfire 🙁
How big of a group do you need and what is the cost? WGOM outing!
Are you the guy yelling "He Gone!"?
Dear god, no. I haven't even heard that.
Damn, then I can't tell you to stop. Its clear as day on the broadcast.
Bonfire? This sounds like something that would happen at New Comiskey. Fueled by disco records as is traditional in Chicago.
Guaranteed Rate Field is a cookie cutter stadium. I can't really think of one distinguishing feature and I've been there many times. I'll be there on Saturday, actually.
It's not exactly cookie cutter, but if you want a distinguishing feature, it's CONCRETE. Lots and lots of it. Like someone finished their basement, but left the foundation as the outer walls.
Limestone > Concrete
Double plays are Santiago's best friend (because his arm would probably fall off without them).
(Guhh, I sound as whiny as Dick)
Its a lot more fun scoring the runs earlier than later.
Less dramatic, though.
I assumed this would be a 1pm game, so I'm joining late. Apparently the MLB app didn't see fit to notify me the game had started.
You've missed A LOT of pitches.
It doesn't help that the ump seems to have a pretty small strike zone (except for Joe).
Early runs and a pitcher that has 1 K an inning. This is fun.
I really want Buxton to get a hit today. I don't want him to start putting pressure on himself early in the season because he hasn't got a hit yet.
Aaron Hicks Syndrome
Aaron Hicks Syndrome is having 1 good season in the minors that makes everyone think that you can actually hit.
He also had his one good season in the majors.
Walks will
hauntscoreHeck of a stretch by Mauer there.
Its a benefit to have a 20 ft tall first baseman.
You forgot to mention how many pitches are saved per foot over 6'.
Pfft, stats are for nerds.
Dudebro who robbed the kid of a foul ball and then acted like hot stuff to his buddies reminds me that Minnesota has its share of jerks.
Was it Spooky?
No kids up here to steal from, sadly.
I'm not sure what part(s) the "sadly" modifies, so I'll just assume you like stealing from kids as a hobby.
That's the gag, yes.
I thought maybe you were lamenting that your children weren't with you. That seems like something you'd do.
I suppose it's a bummer, but the Milkmaid and I get very few opportunities like this.
My guess is he's said he won't be able to get an easy foul/home run ball, He might have to work for it!
let's not assume he's from Minnesota
Either way, MN has its share of jerks. (Just like everywhere else.)
He was wearing Twins gear. I'm trying to think of a neighboring state he'd be from that doesn't slander a fellow Citizen.
Canadian then, eh?
He didn't apologize, so I think we can rule that out.
Heh, I was going to make a Canada joak, but I realized it would be followed with profuse apologies, so I passed.
Glad I wasn't paying attention during that. That crap enrages me.
insideoutanger.jpg
It's Wear Down Your Bullpen time. Oh yeah, we have several thousand -- nevermind
Good thing they've got, like, a billion relievers!
I forgot to mention a week or two ago I was at the LCS and the ballgame on had the Mariners' TV crew. In the booth was former Twins' Rule 5 Ryan Rowland-Smith, an Australian, who's currently a free agent. LCS owner thought it sounded like a golf broadcast, with Ryan's quiet English accent, but I thought he sounded very intelligent and could make an outstanding broadcaster someday.
*Local (baseball) Card Shop
Castro knows BBs
Six complete and I'm shivering so badly I wish it was at least seven. I can't really feel the phone in my hands from the numbness.
pansy-@ss Arizonan.
*kicks up thermostat*
I was never Arizonan, pal. Unfortunately, I underestimated the wind and wore a paper-thin jacket...
Kinda thing an Arizonan would do...
Shivering and numbness, huh?
Clearly he was peeing in the bonfire and warming his hands in the urinal.
While having an ice cream cone and an ice-cold Arnold Palmer.
Bonfire area is completely crowded. Also, the Milkmaid doesn't want to go over there because she knows she won't come back. The bathroom breaks have been nice and toasty, though.
Assuming you're well-hydrated, Moises Alou could probably give you some tips on ways to keep your hands warm...
You know, I feel like I'd rather see Park playing DH..
So do we call that a
Sanodoubter?Sano-iple
You know you've got a pretty special hitter when he gets beat by a pitch and hits it high off the wall for a triple. Sano was not trying to drive that ball to right field.
This Sano guy might be ok.
More Sano triples please. So awesome.
Think I'm gonna be more pragmatic and ask for more Buxton triples instead.
where's the fun in pragmatism
In Byron Buxton hitting a triple.
expectations I guess.
Triples are sexy. Not as sexy as Grand Slams, however.
Apparently, the Royals pitchers have seen too many Friday the 13th movies. They really fear Jason.
What's the Twins' record for walks drawn in the second game of the season? There's a chance he might set it! #EarlySeasonStatGrasping
His 4 walks today were more than Mauer has ever had in a game. The Twins record is 5 by Roy Smalley.
This is fun!!
Baseball is Fun
These bats must be sucking up all of Milkman's heat.
There have been two little warm patches in the game, and one lasted the length of that half-inning. That was doubly nice.
The other was during the kiss-cam.
Twins didn't score their 16th run of the season until Game 10 last year, which was the first game they scored more than 3 runs.
I had to come in from the car following a meeting, but waited until Mauer finished his at-bat to do so. I get into the office and knock out a few quick things, and then open up the MLB app on the phone to a 9-1 Twins lead.
.
.
.
They keep that up, you fellas may not see much of me this season.
All right. Got Buxton off the schneid.
Escobar doesn't like to be on the bench.
That was such a great play
Still on pace for 162-0! Of course, pythag isn't quite so optimistic. There, the Twins are only on pace to go 159-3.
Back in first! And the Twins have won their first series and are guaranteed to have a winning record after tomorrow's game.
Plus TLO still hasn't seen a Twins loss!
[Onewgom]
She's obviously good luck!
Twins are tied for the fewest runs allowed through the first 2 games of the season in Twins history. The other teams to do it were the '03 Twins, who opened against the woeful Tigers, and the '61 Twins in their first 2 games after the franchise moved to Minnesota. They shut out the Yankees in New York on Opening Day (yes, the '61 Yankees) and presumably after a rainout or 2, went to Baltimore and gave up 2 runs in a win over the Orioles. That Twins started their existence at 8-2 but finished the season at 70-90, which actually be an 11-win improvement for this Twins team over last year.
We're still on track for 162-0!
I'm quite pleased that you are able to say this, but then I started to realize that this is something you've never actually been able to say after games have been played.