Game 30: Twins @ Yankees

Time: 6:05 Central. Vegas Line: -152 NYY / MIN +142

Weather: Chance Of Rain Late, First Pitch 56°

Opponent’s SB Site: Pinstripe Alley

TV: FSN. Radio: Will mention 50 times how “these are different Twins”

I had an opening bit about Minnesota’s years of frustration against the Yankees, but this morning many of you expressed the sentiment better. Too Rich To Write Checks called the Bronx a place where Twins hopes “go to die,” and Uncle Lincoln suggested a Twins sweep might tear “the very fabric of the universe.” Greg Kirkland described New York’s early success despite a ridiculous injury list as “the blood pact they make with the demon god” before praising the team’s depth. (It is, of course, a bit easier to have depth when you own all the money in the dang world...)

Let’s just hope for an exciting series (with no rain delays!), watch this classic 2016 clip, and move on:

You may remember tonight’s starter James Paxton’s run-in with an eagle at Target Field last year, when he was a Mariner. He’s a Yankee now, due to some trade I do not understand, and will be under team control, hence cheap, for one more year after this. Because the Yankees get everything they want. The 30-year-old lefty uses a 96-ish fastball, cutter and curve. He’s usually been a bit tougher on righthanded hitters, although he’s tough against either side. Paxton’s obstacle to stardom has been staying healthy; it won’t be a problem tonight, unless more feathered enemies attack. (Paxton says he’s Friend To Birds, now.)

Did you know:

While Yankees great Roger Maris grew up in Fargo, and is buried there, he was born in Hibbing, Minnesota. (Hmm, did any other Hibbing natives get famous in New York?) He played one season for the independent-league Fargo-Moorhead Twins. Twins!

As you’re aware, Maris in 1961 broke Babe Ruth’s 1927 record of 60 home runs, but needed several more games to do it (the schedule had expanded from 154 to 162 games by then). So some said his record wasn’t as impressive.

However, while Ruth only needed 150 games to reach 60, he had 687 plate appearances in those games. Maris ended game 158 with 60 homers... and 686 PAs. What’s more, per Retrosheet, Maris had hit another home run on July 17 of that season, which was eliminated from the record books due to a rainout.

Anyhoo, if you’ve never seen it, check out 61*, one of the most underrated baseball movies. That season stressed Maris the heck out. The film’s available on Hulu, or better yet, from your library system.