TV: That's between you, FSN and your cable provider
Radio: Twins Radio Network
The Dugout is just the best thing.
It's the home opener. It's glorious outside. Let's do this:
Unless he spontaneously combusts on the mound, I predict Carl Pavano will improve on his first start, even if he's forced to throw to a catcher who can hit major league pitching.
The lefty was part of Oakland's haul (along with Carlos Gonzalez) in the Dan Haren trade. The book on him is to distract him with wind chimes and ghost stories, which messes with his release point.*
*Made this up. But I bet it would throw him off a little bit, don't you think?
Lineups, courtesy LEN3:
Oakland
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Daric Barton, 1B
3. David DeJesus, RF
4. Josh Willingham, LF
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Kurt Suzuki, C
7. Mark Ellis, 2B
8. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
9. Cliff Pennington, SS
Twins
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Delmon Young, LF
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Jim Thome, DH
7. Danny Valencia, 3B
8. Luke Hughes, 2B
9. Alexi Casilla, SS
Notes:
- I like this lineup a lot, honestly. If Gardy were to accidentally leave Mauer in the 2-hole all year, I could live with that.
- And hey, welcome to the big time Luke Hughes. Is there an Australian metaphor for something like this? "Dingo your baby, mate?" "Sydney Opera House?" Yeah, I don't know either.
- Athletics on the DL: Rich Harden, Andrew Bailey, Michael Wuertz and Adam Rosales. With Bailey out, former Twin Brian Fuentes is Oakland's closer, with Bubb Rubb acting as the set-up man.
Enjoy the game, everybody. Try to get SOME work done between 3 and 5, though.