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Twins (4-1) host the Yankees (2-2) for three at the dome.

Game 1: Monday, April 9th, 6:08 PM

Sidney Ponson (R) vs. Carl Pavano (R) 0-0, 8.31 ERA

Game 2: Tuesday, April 10th, 7:10 PM

Boof Bonser (R) 0-0, 3.00 ERA vs. Andy Pettitte (L) 0-0, 3.60 ERA

Game 3: Wednesday, April 11th, 7:10 PM

Ramon Ortiz (R) 1-0, 2.57 ERA vs. Mike Mussina (R) 0-1, 13.50 ERA

i say they sweep but reallistically will be 2 out of 3.

NightRider wrote:i say they sweep but reallistically will be 2 out of 3.

Agreed. It's pretty tough to ever pick a sweep over the Yanks. I'll also go 2 out of 3 with the loss coming Wednesday. Although I don't have great confidence in that pick because Pettitte & Mussina have been thorns in the Twins' side for years. I'll take the dome-field advantage as the deciding factor.

TWINS MAGIC NUMBER: 158!!!

We're almost there!

Yeah I'm not liking those pitching matchups

That team that just got swept at the dome took two from the Yankees this weekend. Heck, it would have been a sweep if not for the Arod Salami on Saturday.

The last few years it has been good to get the Yankees early, it seems like they fumblefart around until June and then drop the hammer.

With Ponson going, they better start hittin the Boofin ball.

Hopefully it was the weather in Chicago because the pitching they were up against wasnt very good.

Punto and Bartlett need to get going. They wont both hit .300 again but lets go, get some hits.

Nothing from left field except weak throws.

Castillo, Mauer, Cuddyer and Morneau carry the team. Hunter helps out once in a while, you never know when.

Ya gotta think S.P. gonna toss BP to the Yanks.

I like the Twins in the other two though....

TWINS MAGIC NUMBER: 158!!!

GOT TO LOVE IT, GO TEAM!

Sweep for the

Skippin' school and heading to the game tonight and Tuesday. If the Twins are going to win a game it will be on Wednesday. I really like how Ortiz has been looking and the Moose hasn't been what he used to be. Ortiz will give the Twins enough to win in that game, it's all about if they hit the ******' ball.

My thoughts on tonight are...Yankees win. The only reason is, I am not sold on Sidney Ponson. I expect him to pitch 4-5 innigs and give up 4-6 runs. The Twins will really need to pound the baseball tonight to win, or so I expect.

boblee wrote:The Twins will really need to pound the baseball tonight to win, or so I expect.

I don't know what the fascination with Carl Pavano is. The guy was a flash in the pan with Florida for 1 season, and hasn't been worth 2 turds since. If ever there were a case of "the sun shining on a dog's ass", he would be it.

I think the Twins should be able to knock him around pretty good... I'm just hoping it will be enough to counter what the Bombers are going to do to Sir Sid.

Also remember, the Yanks have the most errors and worst fielding percentage in the majors so far this season, so as long as Minnesota can put the ball in play, they can make things happen with their speed. "The Pirhanas" are going to be a big key to success in this series.

Though the Twins competed and teased us a little, they just weren't ready to beat the Yankees back in '03 &'04. The good news is the Twins are now older and the better news is.....so are the Yankees.

Some of the core of those World Series teams has moved on and the ones that remain like Moose, Pettite, Rivera, and Posada are slowing down.

Time to pass the torch Yanks.



Why not?

Agreed Gov, but the Pirhanas are still treading water in that aquarium in the commercial.

At least they're not floating belly up, though Bartlett's hitting .067 and Punto .150 so they're pretty close. Castillo and Morneau have looked the best at the plate to me, though Cuddyer had a good weekend hitting after a weak start. Mauer's hitting .368 but has yet to drive in a run

It seems like the Yankees are sputtering right now, I'm expecting the Twins to take two out of three. Reports from spring training indicated that Ponson was pitching well so I think he'll do OK against the Yankees. If the Piranhas finally make an appearance and knock Pavano around the Twins will win tonight.

I'm concerned about Reyes since he's the only lefty in the pen. They'll have to bring up Venafro or Perkins if he doesn't pick it up. And I've been one of the biggest Silva bashers here, it was nice to see him pitch well on Saturday.

Venafro gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings in his first AAA appearance this season.

boblee wrote:Venafro gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings in his first AAA appearance this season.

I think you misspelled the guy's name - I think the correct spelling should be: S-I-L-V-A

boblee wrote:Venafro gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings in his first AAA appearance this season.

Right and Garza went 3.1 innings with 5 walks, 3 K's, 3 R, 0 ER in the same game. Joe Christensen described the game as a 'freezefest' so the conditions may have played a part in the performances. And maybe Reyes' performance on Saturday too, but he hasn't pitched well in the Dome either.

I am now convinceed that ChrisK might be unsalvagable. The guy has gone completely around the bend.

The bullpen gives up 2 runs and he is scouring the minor league rosters and waiver wires to replace Reyes. Chris, the White Sox only scored 3 runs ........thats how many hits we got.

Punto and Bartlett havent hit 2 balls hard and its just fine and dandy. Geez, I wonder why Mauer hasnt driven in a run?

Get some people in here who can hit the Boofin ball.

I've been beating this drum for a week now but Denise Reyes being brought out onto the field is going to confuse me, and I don't like being confused.

I don't get the lefty lefty matchup when the righty lefty can accomplish what the lefty lefty is supposed to do better than the righty lefty, a lefty lefty is only advantageous when the lefty is actually better than the righty against a righty and I don't think our lefty is any better than any of our righties against a lefty so why ever go with the lefty to set up the lefty lefty when the righty lefty is the better matchup?

Irishmans Shanty wrote:I've been beating this drum for a week now but Denise Reyes being brought out onto the field is going to confuse me, and I don't like being confused.

I don't get the lefty lefty matchup when the righty lefty can accomplish what the lefty lefty is supposed to do better than the righty lefty, a lefty lefty is only advantageous when the lefty is actually better than the righty against a righty and I don't think our lefty is any better than any of our righties against a lefty so why ever go with the lefty to set up the lefty lefty when the righty lefty is the better matchup?

I'll answer you when my head stops spinning.....

ESPN game tonight.

I passed up on tickets from a friend ... bad choice?

As for Pavano ... he's been hampered by injuries, but when he's on, there's no stopping him. Good velocity and a heavy sinker.

NumberCruncher wrote:I passed up on tickets from a friend ... bad choice?

As for Pavano ... a heavy sinker.

Sounds like a Yankee version of Silva, game #1 to the home team.

Pavano's had 1 season where he has thrown more than 100 innings and had an ERA under 4.00, so I'm not worried about him. At the dome the offense is significantly better and the Yankees starting pitching has been dreadful and its pen overworked.

If Ponson can have a quality start, I think the Twins take this one. Of course, that's a big if.

Ponson gets his first visit to the mound.
1-0 Bases loaded
one out
TOP OF THE FIRST!