First launch: 7: 10p Central
Television: FOX Sports North
Radio (English): WCCO 830 AM; KMNB 102.9 FM “The Wolf”; Treasure Island Baseball Network
Radio (Spanish): twinsbeisbol.com
Meet the enemy: Viva El Birdos
How many of you were supposed to be in the Minnesota Twins opening game this season? raise your hand This is life. We have baseball for now, so I’ll take it. Instead, we will watch the opening of the house from our television or computer screen, or listen to the festivities on the radio. So what festivities are going to happen at Target Field tonight?
For full details of ceremonies and other activities, you can check it out on the Twins website here. But a summary includes:
- First ceremonial launch launched by nine front-line healthcare workers after a video tribute to honor those who have been helping the world fight COVID.
- The Twins will play both the Star-Spangled Banner and the Black national anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing.
- A memory video and a moment of silence for those in the MLB and Minnesota Army during the offseason, including Twins minor league player Ryan Costello and George Floyd.
- The Twins are celebrating 60 years of baseball in Minnesota this season, so to commemorate this inaugural game, a catch game between six decades of Twins players will take place via video.
- Lt. Alvin Donahoo will virtually raise the American flag. The 101-year veteran joined the US Navy after the Pearl Harbor attack. He was part of the Normandy invasion and that day he lost 400 soldiers from his unit and stayed on the beach to keep supplies for the troops marching to Germany.
- The game will stop at 8:46 p for a moment of silence to remember the death of George Floyd.
(If you wish to discuss any of the sensitive topics in the game thread, be it civilized or prohibited. Trolls are hereby warned.)
Nothing is known about an important aspect of the game yet: Will the Twins wear their new bright blue alternate uniforms? If they don’t, they probably quit because they have to. How crazy would it be if the St. Louis Twins and Cardinals used their powder blue alternatives? Pretty crazy, right? However, there is no possibility, since the Cards use theirs for Saturday games. (Fun note, I have the alternate Saturday home game for the Cardinals … I couldn’t resist.)
Alright, I’ll shut up and get to the details of the game now. Don’t blame me as this is my first thread forever. The Twins begin an eight-game home fight against the Cardinals. They are in a very good division of the National Central League where the Central American League is sure to spoil the fun for some teams. I won’t talk too much about the Letters because John did an excellent preview of the series and TJ talked to Viva El Birdos about this series (links below).
Homer Bailey will start for the home team tonight. Let’s hope he doesn’t have an outing like the one he had during the exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. He’s been tending to the positive, posting a 4.57 ERA (4.11 FIP) last season between the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics. Just … don’t honor your name, Homer. Or change it to “Strikeout” Bailey.
Mike Shildt winks at Carlos Martinez for the Cardinals. The right-hander moved from a starting role to the bullpen in the mid-2018 season. He became the team’s closer last season, racking up 24 saves on 27 opportunities and posting a FIP of 2.86 and 9.9 K / 9. By 2020, returned to initial rotation. Look for it to use its slider that will record the low 80s and its shift that will be located in the mid 80’s. It will also use a fastball and four-seam plumb bob found in the low 90s, as well as a curved ball.
Byron Buxton is back in the lineup.
GO TWINS GO
