Minnesota Twins Blog Posts

Bobby Cox has one more season in him

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:31:03 EDT

Braves manager Bobby Cox announced this week his plans to retire after the 2010 season and to immediately take on a consulting role with the team. Cox has won 2,409 games as a manager and is fourth all-time in the category, behind only Connie Mack (3,731), John McGraw (2,763) and current Cardinals manager Tony La Russa (2,550). Cox has five pennants and one World Series title to his name, and won the Manager of the Year award four times. Under his leadership, the Braves have won 100 games six times. The next manager of the Atlanta Braves will have big shoes to fill.

How ‘bout that?

How about Adam Laroche? Since being traded back to the Braves mid-season, Laroche has slugged .622 to go with his .355 batting average and .426 on-base percentage. In 126 fewer at-bats, Laroche has hit twice as many home runs (12) as did his predecessor, Casey Kotchman. To top it off, Laroche has made just one error in 47 games with Atlanta and boasts a .998 fielding percentage.

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Joe Girardi- Let the Force Be With You or Else

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:42:32 EDT

The New York Yankees have cruised through the 2009 baseball regular season, destroying teams with their 9 slugger deep line-up that includes not one player having a bad year. While every hitter is having varying degrees of success, not one man in that line-up is performing below their norms (save for mighty A-Rod, who's injury has slowed him down a bit to the tune of only 26 homers and 80+ RBI's). The bullpen has also been stellar, with Mariano Rivera looking as spry as he did in 1996, and with Phil Hughes redefining his 2009 season in the ilk of that very same roie Rivera held in '96- the gutsy set-up man that becomes a dominating extension of the closer. The defense has improved mightily too, especially around the infield, where Derek Jeter has revived his defensive career by extending his lateral range and improving his arm strength. Robinson Cano has looked interested for the first time in the field since his rookie season and Mark Texeira has done wonders for everyone, displaying why he is considered a defensive elite (you can tell Don Mattingly was his favorite player growing up, his range and glove work are superb).

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Boston Red Sox to MISS Playoffs in 09

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:00:52 EDT

Sunday August 16, 2009 following their 4-3 loss at Texas, is the first time since April 21st that the Red Sox do not have a share of the wild-card or AL East lead. Does this mean that Red Sox nation should give up hope for the playoffs or a world series birth this year? Probably not. However, they should. Sorry Red Sox fans and band wagoners, your team simply is not going to make the playoffs this year with the emergence of the Rangers pitching staff and the dominance of the Yankees offense.

Now I assume most of the Boston fans are screaming and their faces are steaming with team colors and pride. But we have to look at match ups in the remaining schedule. The Red Sox have a tougher remaining schedule than the Wild Card leader Texas Rangers and the only other team with an outside chance in Tampa Bay, has a tougher remaining season schedule than either and it would be one of the more amazing stretch runs if they make it. The Red Sox have 20 games left against teams that are trying to make the playoffs, this of course comes with 6 games against all of Boston's beloved Johnny Damon and the New York Yankees, 6 games against newly acquired division rival Tampa Bay, who play tough at home, and 3 games with the Angels. Out of the 20 playoff type team games left, there are 8 interesting games between the White Sox and Red Sox. I'm not going to predict any winners from these games {insert 2005 playoff flashback here} but will be some of the most intriguing match ups of the season as Chicago has bolstered their hitting and pitching with the addition of Alexei Rios and SP Jake Peavy. Peavy has been rumored for a late August return or early September return and could be a factor. The White Sox are doing everything they can to try to win the Central this season.

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Jason Kubels White Rocket

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:20:54 EDT

The Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers are locked in a border battle of non-epic proportions. Compared to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox rivalry, we are the two douche-bags on the play ground yelling about an ill-advised Magic the Gathering card throw.

Unfortunately for them, the Yankee’s and Red Sox’s players are tainted with steroids over the past decade so our border battle is pure like Columbian Cocaine right off the plane in Miami.

Last night Nick Blackburn lost a game that wasn’t his fault. He is looking like the Ace the Twins need for the future and yet the runs didn’t support him. Jason Kubel hit his 13th homer which keeps his 3rd place behind Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. Watching Jason Kubel hit home runs is like watching Lumberjack days. He just cuts down trees to blast balls covering the fans with his white rocket.

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Twins Verse Brewers 1st Inning Minnesota Experience

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:52:33 EDT

Deciding to sit among baseball fans, I wanted to be in the competitive environment of a major league stadium. My fraternity brothers are eclectic and both sides of the boarder. Wisconsinites mingle freely on Minnesota soil. I sat down just in time to see nervous eyed Carlos Gomez bat lead off.

Listening to my friends I sat in a room of Wisconsinites and Minnesotans. Bets flared, cases of beer and keg cups were bartered before anyone even got up off the couch. College students don’t have much to offer for bets except alcohol and $5. Miller High Life is the request of the Wisconsinites and Coors is for the Minnesotans. Well anything that doesn’t support Wisconsin is a beer of choice.

The conversation shifted to who has a better ball park. Target Field verse Miller Park (We all pretend the Metrodome isn’t real) The home run porch verse the chance to have balconies like the Chicago stadium. Unresolved, we watch the bats of the first inning. Little excitement until we see a strike 3 pitch in the dirt that advances a runner. “Hooray, an All-Star catcher like Joe Mauer wouldn’t error like that!” Ruckas becomes the norm in a fraternity. We live out loud.

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Minnesota Twins Joe Nathan Jason Kubel Defeat Oakland Athletics

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:22:29 EDT

The Twinkies seem solid. The 10 year life shelf of real Twinkies in the grocery store doesn’t work with our ball club. They flash good and bad at anytime. They might make on the shelf for about 2 days then implode. Yet with 10 runs they are undefeated.

The Minnesota twins are 8-0 when they score more than 10 runs. I wish I could except that every night. If the team hit like Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau I could expect it but unfortunately we have 7 other batters in the line up.

Jason Kubel lifted his game in this road series. The Athletics didn’t seem as dominate as he changed the game with his home-run in the 7th. Alexi Casilla did his job by getting on base and scoring the winning run of the night.

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Scouting the opposition Big Sloppy David Ortiz - 1B Boston Red Sox

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:47:33 EDT

He's been a Yankee killer for the past few years. He is a big hero up in Boston. Big Papi, yeah! What's been going on with David Ortiz? Bill Simmons wrote an article in the June 15 issue of ESPN the Magazine that will please Yankee fans everywhere. He's been slumping big time. Mr. Simmons compared him to Clark Kent in Superman II when he lost his powers and ended up getting beat down by a bully. He also said that in a game against the Twins that Big Sloppy couldn't even keep up with a 89 mph fast ball. Red Sox fans are even jokingly saying that they need to mail him some HGH. Well, they can do that all they want because it looks like Big Papi has become Big Sloppy.

I first heard of David Ortiz back when he was with the Minnesota Twins. He totally stunk back then. It just seemed to me that every time he went against Yankee pitching he was an easy out. He was flat. 2004 came around and he just kept getting clutch hit after clutch hit for the Red Sox against the Yankees. I was like, "What's going on here? He totally sucked back in Minnesota. Come on! Get him!" I tell you the last few years, no one has caused me to shut off the TV in the middle of a Yankee game more than this guy. Now Yankee fans don't have anything to worry about. The Red Sox still have a tremendous amount of faith in this guy. They are diluted enough to think that he's going to come out of it. If all goes well tomorrow against the Red Sox with A.J. Burnett on the mound, expect to see David Ortiz somewhere towards the bottom of the batting order and him not able to keep up with any pitches. I mean c'mon, not being able to hit an 89 mph fast ball? My 5 year old son can hit an 89 mph fastball and he plays t-ball. Mr. Ortiz is going to be in trouble. Joba's going to be blowing it by him. Hughes is going to be blowing it by him. Even a slower Mariano Rivera is going to be blowing it by him. So Yankee fans rejoice! Big Sloppy is on his way out.

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Sportscenter Covers Minnesota Twins Verse Seattle Mariners

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:25:08 EDT

Turning on Sportscenter and seeing a Twins story mentioned brightens my day. It reminds Minnesotans that we are not forgotten in the quiet AL Central. It’s good when they talk about our winning and not just the new stadium. That stadium will make us famous next year regardless of our record.

Minnesotans love a little fame and opening new attractions (ie): Mall of America, 35W bridge and Mall of America. (Ok there isn’t much in Minnesota, except nice people and the Mall of America)

Minnesota has an undying love for sports. No matter the crushing blow of last season, we Minnesotans proudly return for a new chance at glory or despair.

That is why the Twins making it to Sportscenter is so important. Obviously snapping Ichiro’s 27 game hit streak is an important season note but Minnesotans just want a little recognition. Joe Nathan picking up his 11th save was magical, but no crucial it did redeem the team after a 6-1 loss to Cleveland. Winning a game 2-1 in Seattle is huge but, isn’t the most important. Making is on Sportscenter reminds the world; the Twins play honest baseball.

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Drop Nick Punto Keep Alexi Casilla

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:38:37 EDT

Minnesota Twins Shortstop Nick Punto provides relief to his team injured. Thank Manager Gardenhire for deciding to stop the bleeding. There hasn’t been progress this season for Nick Punto. He is batting his worst AVG ever and holds one of the worst On Base Percentages in MLB.

In every season with at-least 40 games played or 90 at bats, Nick Punto has averaged better than his pitiful 187 AVG in 2009. His departure from the Twins organization will allow the team a better chance at victory.

Nick Punto on the disabled list with a sore groin muscle is our benefit. Manager Gardenhire blamed Punto’s injury on his poor play but then ask the question, “Why did Punto play so poorly when not injured?”

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Red Sox and Lester Same Old Same Old

Wed, 27 May 2009 07:18:32 EDT

Lester started out this season 2-0 with under a I.00 ERA. Since then, he is now 3-5 losing his last 4 in a row including last night. I think he is healthy because in these last losses he pitched a great first 4 innings with at least a strikeout an inning. But all four games when it gets to the fifth inning it's like the other team can now read him (or he is not the same pitcher?) and know what's coming and they end up beating the Sox. Last night was the same old thing: the Red Sox ended this game with more hits (9-7) and had a lead for Lester heading into the 5th, 1-0. Then Lester fell apart again allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, a huge homerun for Morneau, and 5 earned runs --all in that 5th inning. I don't really get it. Lester is a strong pitcher and the other batters must just be getting used to his fastball or something, because that's a deadly inning.Last night the 5 runs would be all the Twins would need. The Twins win this one 5-2 and you have to give the Twins and pitcher Blackburn credit as he pitched a strong 7 innings, 1 earned run and 7 strikeouts. He did allow 8 hits, but the Sox could only capitalize once (they capitalized big time, though, with the only men they really had on base). The Red Sox also did try a new lineup, which I don't think really worked, but they had Ellsbury then Pedroia as usual, then Drew,Youkilis, Bay, then Big Papi batting in the 6 spot, weird, then Variteck, Bailey (in for Lowell who had the day off), then Lugo. I personally think Bay should be 4 and Drew or Lowell at the five, but just as long as we are hitting we will be OK and in last night's loss, even with the switched lineup, we still out hit them -- just not hits at the right time and that's baseball. So we go again tomorrow against these same Twins and it will be Dice-K (coming off the injury last week and pitched well in comeback vs Yankees but still 0-2) versus Slowey (6-1). This is Dice's second start since DL so this should be a good battle you don't want to miss!! Go Sox; gametime 8:10!!

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