Twins home opener

[Gunner55]

Seen it on replay & couldn't help but laugh. Yeah, I guess he's quite the cut up, they love him.  Arreaz hasn't pitched or played catcher that I know of but between the 2 of 'em they can play just about anywhere. Pretty valuable in today's game.

[snow1]

Since politic's in our sports is the norm,haven't watched baseball in two years besides twins games are usually blacked out on local channels these days,morning news said the twins suck bad this spring...? karma?

[Gunner55]

First week or so they played well, last couple weeks have been pretty rough though. The CV-19 hasn't helped, a few hurt lately too so they have 3-4 from the Saints playin most days.

[Dotch]

Since politic's in our sports is the norm,haven't watched baseball in two years besides twins games are usually blacked out on local channels these days,morning news said the twins suck bad this spring...? karma?

With the TV broadcast issues and racial equality stuff, it's made them less and less of a priority for us. Used to care. Anymore not so much. Do they realize the number of former fans they've alienated and what that's going to cost them in the long run if they don't change it? Or do they figure they can soak the folks who still give a rip more and make it work? Was hearing that Dish had a possible deal in the works to pick up Bally Sports for $50 a month. On top of what we're already paying for crappy TV, I'm about ready to dump Dish, get an antenna & go back to local network TV for as much as I watch TV anymore. I don't watch TC TV news. It sucks. I would miss Gunsmoke & Bonanza but that's about it.     

[snow1]

Dotch I 'm with you,thinking about canning dish,I bought a digital antenna for local channels and local weather,I get about 15 free channels but no gunsmoke late night,just walker texas ranger and the old magnum P.I. shows.

[Gunner55]

We don't get 'em down here either, up to the lake though, everything is bundled from Paul Bunyan up there. Ditched DirectTV down here about a year ago, Mediacom now, never did get FSN down here.

[LPS]

I probably already mentioned that I dropped Dish a couple of years ago and went to cable so I could get Twins and Vikes.  Bally bought out FSN.  I think it has been in the works for a while.  Now they can include gambling eventually.  I heard Bally also bought another casino in Vegas recently. 

[Gunner55]

  Sure did, the MGM Grand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bally%27s_Las_Vegas

[glenn57]

Sure did, the MGM Grand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bally%27s_Las_Vegas

WOW!!! MGM is a nice hotel. never been in a Bally's.  had a few conferences at MGM. MGM's workers are union, not sure about Bally's.  if not wonder how thats working!!!!

the hotels down there didnt get the Unions business last year because of the rona, and i heard the Internationals Convention is going to be via zoom this year.  it will be more of a dog and pony show this year then it usually is!!!!!!!

[Steve-o]

What's wrong with our Twinkies?   

[Gunner55]

1 big part IMO is the guy, Colome, that they signed to share the closer role with Rogers. He's had a hand in 6 of their losses so far & allowed 2 runs yday. He took the loss, his 3rd, in Monday's game & has an ERA over 8. He's now out of the closer role, at least temporarily. The starting pitching hasn't been very consistent either, especially Maeda who was their stud last season. With the CV-19 issue & the guys injured the offense has been pretty inconsistent as well.

[dutchboy]

They stink.   

[Gunner55]

 So did the Cubs............................... for almost 100 years!! Was following them before they ran into Koufax & Drysdale in the WS & won't be stoppin anytime soon.

[dutchboy]

The 65 team was a fun team for a young 10 year old to follow back when the sports news came from Don Riley in the St. Paul paper.

This team will be ok, by mid June they will be right back in the fight with the White Sux. They need to get everybody back and play solid defense and straighten that bullpen out. The bullpen has always be the weak spot and this year is no different. Rocco will burn this bullpen up because he just doesn't trust his starters, never has, never will.

Anyway few things are better then sitting around a fire, drinking a cocktail and listening to the Twins.

[Gunner55]

They won!! Buxton lead off with a HR, Donaldson followed, & Polanco had another all in the 1st inning for a 4-0 lead. They had 3 more HR's before it was over. Happ pitched 7, with just 4 hits & 2 runs. Dobnak did they clean up with 2 IP & givin up only 1 hit. Hope it's a sign of things to come, off today. A big series with KC startin tomorrow at home.

[Gunner55]

Big win yday as it was their 1st series win since the since early April against Detroit. The bats are starting to wake up as they had 3 HR's & 5 of the 9 starters had more than 1 hit. Berrios went 6 & looked in control for 5 of those. They're starting to get the bullpen figured out now too. Maeda & Texas today & I'd really like to see him have a good start as he's struggled the last 3-4 starts after being the ace last season.

[Steve-o]

Yep.  Their goona need Maeda if they are going to be a real threat this year.

Time to start stringing some wins together.

[LPS]

That was sure a fun game to watch.   

[Gunner55]

  Thought they were gonna let it slip away until they led off the 6th with 3 extra base hits. I see where Buxton was just named the AL Player or the Month.

[Gunner55]

They'd of lost yday's game 2-3 weeks ago. Maeda was better but still had trouble throwin strikes early in the count, bullpen struggled too. Good thing Polanco & Kirilloff had good games at the plate. Happ today.

[dutchboy]

The bats are slowly but surely coming around. They have a couple more guys to get going but Polanco getting a hit here and there makes a big difference.

I think the minor leaguers get going this week so there will be more pitching working it's way through the pipeline.

[Gunner55]

  Couldn't hardly believe it but heard 'em say it a couple times, the entire league hit just .232 in April & struck out 24.5% of the time. Both are very close to the all time record & when that happened last they changed the mound & added the DH.

[dutchboy]

I watch a lot of baseball. Between the strikeouts, shifts & replays the game is almost unwatchable. Gone are the days of base stealing, hit & runs, hitting the other way. Remember when striking out was a bad thing. Today the nerds are trying to tell us striking out is far better then hitting the ball and POSSIBLY hitting into a double play.

As bad as it is today just wait......the automated strike zone is on it's way. Yes, things can get worse. 

[Gunner55]

The bullpen let them down yday as both Rogers & Waddell, gave up, 5 of the 6 they scored, too many runs. Thorpe gets the start today in order to give Pineda another to heal from getting hit in his pitching arm.

[Gunner55]

Thorpe pitched good enough to win but didn't. Out hit 'em but were 0-9 with RISP.

[LPS]

Noonish today.

[Gunner55]

  I couldn't watch anymore after our 1/2 of the inning(7th) that they tied it. I already had a bad feeling about the way it way it was going to end. Had to go outside & do something , hopin if I didn't watch they might catch a break.          

[LPS]

I have used that angle before on the Vikes Gunner.  Can only take so much. 

[glenn57]

  MEH... I'm way too busy to be wasting my time watching them.

[Dotch]

Me too. I watched a little at lunchtime but once that was over, I couldn't have given two chits. Besides I needed to order another transport of gin!