All televisions in the clubhouse were turned to the MLB Network before the game as highlights from the 1991 World Series were shown. I almost busted up when then showed a slender Ron Gardenhire giving signs at third base and Delmon Young exclaimed: “Is THAT Gardy?”

It brought back a lot of memories. Coaches talked about how Chuck Knoblauch didn’t look like much of a player in the minors until he stepped into the batter’s box.

I talked about how Kent Hrbek cheated and picked Ron Gant’s leg off of first base - oops, did I write that out loud?

Gardenhire talked about the botched squeeze play in Atlanta, when Greg Gagne asked Gardenhire to repeat the sign and Shane Mack yelled, “Now?! On the first pitch?!” when Gardy told him the squeeze was on.

Funny stuff.

Nothing is funny in Tigersland. Carlos Guillen is on the disabled with a sore right shoulder and sore Achilles. Lefthander Clay Rapada was sent to Class AAA Toledo. Clete Thomas is up from the minors and is batting third. Wow. Jeff Larish is up from the minors and is on the bench.

Someone in the pressbox joked that Dontrelle Willis will be called up to bat sixth tomorrow if the Tigers don’t score runs today. Magglio Ordonez is batting seventh for the first time since high school - I exaggerate, but you get the idea.

Update: Jerry White said before the game that he’s able to take his position.

Also, Francisco Liriano and Felix Hernandez are scheduled to collide on Tuesday at the Dome. 

Lineups

Twins (13-13)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Michael Cuddyer, RF
8. Delmon Young, LF
9. Nick Punto, SS

Pitching: Nick Blackburn

Tigers (13-12)

1. Josh Anderson, LF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Clete Thomas, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Curtis Granderson, CF
6. Magglio Ordonez, DH
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
8. Gerald Laird, C
9. Ramon Santiago, SS

Pitching: Rick Porcello

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at 4:16 pm and is filed under Game threads. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.