At this point, I want to see Gardy take Mike out after 5 good innings. He always seems to lose it in the sixth. It shouldn't matter if he's pitching great through five. Take him out, as a matter of course, after five just so he doesn't have to experience that disastrous sixth. It will help HIS confidence and the confidence his teammates currently do not have in him.
We all saw it happening again last night. I turned it off BEFORE it happened. Why Gardy can't or won't see it is beyond me. If you are NOT going to work out these problems in the minors then give him a five-inning limit. You have an excuse with the Tommy John surgery. Just do it.
Otherwise the Twins played a pretty good game against a really good pitcher.
Worley versus Verlander today. Oh, joy.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Tebow Released
My Take:
Mark Sanchez threw a going away party for Tebow...
But it was intercepted and ran back for a touchdown.
Mark Sanchez threw a going away party for Tebow...
But it was intercepted and ran back for a touchdown.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Vikings Notes
Now that the draft is over, it's safe to say that the Vikings no longer want Chris Kluwe. No team ever wastes a draft pick on a punter, let alone as early as the fifth round. The Vikings have basically told Kluwe that his services will no longer be needed in Minnesota this coming season. The Vikes drafted the best punter in college this past season AND this punter, UCLA's Jeff Locke, is also a fantastic deep kick-off man. The Vikes have just had enough of Kluwe's big mouth. He hasn't done himself any favors by missing corner kicks either.
The Vikes didn't draft Locke to compete with Kluwe. They drafted Locke to REPLACE Kluwe. They did the same thing with Ryan Longwell last season when they signed Blair Walsh. Let's hope this move is as successful.
In other Vikings news, the Vikes are thinking of signing Cris Carter's son to be a wide receiver. MOST reports have said that they have already signed him. MY sources say that the Vikes are going to give him a try-out. Duron Carter has had a spotty college career. He hasn't focused enough to stay in school and hasn't a got a great track record because of some personal issues.
At the same time, he is 6 foot five and said to be an incredibly gifted athlete. Let's hope he gets his life together the same way that Cris Cater did so many seasons ago. The Vikes could always use a great wide receiver.
The Vikes didn't draft Locke to compete with Kluwe. They drafted Locke to REPLACE Kluwe. They did the same thing with Ryan Longwell last season when they signed Blair Walsh. Let's hope this move is as successful.
In other Vikings news, the Vikes are thinking of signing Cris Carter's son to be a wide receiver. MOST reports have said that they have already signed him. MY sources say that the Vikes are going to give him a try-out. Duron Carter has had a spotty college career. He hasn't focused enough to stay in school and hasn't a got a great track record because of some personal issues.
At the same time, he is 6 foot five and said to be an incredibly gifted athlete. Let's hope he gets his life together the same way that Cris Cater did so many seasons ago. The Vikes could always use a great wide receiver.
Correia
It's so nice to have have ONE starter who knows how to pitch. I watched quite a bit of yesterday's game and came to the conclusion that the Twins have as an excellent pitching staff.
The American League average ERA going into yesterday's game was 4.00. The Twins was 3.92.
The problem, of course, is that the Twins still have a couple of suspect starters, and it's THOSE starters that keep us hovering around the .500 mark. You really can't build much momentum with Mike Pelfrey and Vance Worley pitch back to back in a crucial series.
Yesterday's game was just superb. Kevin Correia IS the Twins ace at this point of the season and he managed 8 shutout innings. It's so fun to see someone get ahead in the count and THEN nimble at the corners, forcing players to bat defensively.
I had almost forgotten what a really good pitcher looks like.
It was also nice to see Morneua go deep again. Justin hasn't been exactly horrible this season, but knowing the season is already 1/8 over and he only had one homer going into yesterday's game was a bit troubling. He still has one of the worst swings in the modern era, and seems to lunge at just about everything. But, for one moment yesterday, he looked pretty good.
Joe Mauer, on the other hand is now batting .302 mired in an Aaron Hicks-like slump. Remember how he was batting .400 less than a week ago. Considering the Twins have had a lot of time off recently, it can't be that he's already tired. Once more it looks like the $25 million dollar a year man is not worth anywhere near what the Twins are paying him.
The Tigers are next. The bad news? it's at Detroit. Worse news? Pelfrey and Worley have the next two starts for the Twins.
The American League average ERA going into yesterday's game was 4.00. The Twins was 3.92.
The problem, of course, is that the Twins still have a couple of suspect starters, and it's THOSE starters that keep us hovering around the .500 mark. You really can't build much momentum with Mike Pelfrey and Vance Worley pitch back to back in a crucial series.
Yesterday's game was just superb. Kevin Correia IS the Twins ace at this point of the season and he managed 8 shutout innings. It's so fun to see someone get ahead in the count and THEN nimble at the corners, forcing players to bat defensively.
I had almost forgotten what a really good pitcher looks like.
It was also nice to see Morneua go deep again. Justin hasn't been exactly horrible this season, but knowing the season is already 1/8 over and he only had one homer going into yesterday's game was a bit troubling. He still has one of the worst swings in the modern era, and seems to lunge at just about everything. But, for one moment yesterday, he looked pretty good.
Joe Mauer, on the other hand is now batting .302 mired in an Aaron Hicks-like slump. Remember how he was batting .400 less than a week ago. Considering the Twins have had a lot of time off recently, it can't be that he's already tired. Once more it looks like the $25 million dollar a year man is not worth anywhere near what the Twins are paying him.
The Tigers are next. The bad news? it's at Detroit. Worse news? Pelfrey and Worley have the next two starts for the Twins.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Wild Secure Playoff Birth
Happy they managed this for the first time in five years.
Sad that they just barely made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season knowing that many thought they'd easily be the best team in the NHL this year before the season started.
Bring on the playoffs. Let's see what happens next.
Sad that they just barely made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season knowing that many thought they'd easily be the best team in the NHL this year before the season started.
Bring on the playoffs. Let's see what happens next.
Twins Win
The Twins played a great game yesterday, but I'm still bummed.
"Why?" Because I'm so used to the Twins playing home games on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. that I missed it entirely. I could never figure out why they made fans sit around until 6 on Saturday nights when they could EASILY have 3 o'clock games.
I know that Fox's national coverage game gets the clear Saturday afternoon slot nationwide, but I always figured they could easily have everybody else start at 3 or 4. Except they finally did do that and now I missed a perfectly good Twins game when they played really well.
Watching highlights and reading about it just isn't the same.
I am excited about Pedro Hernandez and his five scoreless innings yesterday, though. He's basically the last minute call-up pitcher who gave the Twins a five man rotation when Liam Hendriks failed and Cole DeVries got hurt. The problem is that with all of the Twins bad weather postponed games that I haven't got to see this guy pitch yet. He simply hasn't got that many starts. That he managed five innings and no runs is a real bonus for a team that isn't scoring many runs as of late.
Knowing Josh Willingham clubbed another rocket shot also gets me a bit more excited about the Twins chances. Even Aaron Hicks got his first extra-base hit yesterday and he did it in the big eighth inning when we needed it most. The only REAL disappointment? Perkins, who hasn't got a lot of use lately because of the weather AND the Twins losing streak, looked really bad in his one inning of relief. He had a huge lead to work with, which always seems to screw up closers, but still, he's had a couple of those outings in his 6 relief attempts this year. He hasn't blown a save yet or anything, but he definitely has not been lights out either. (Okay, Aaron Hicks losing a ball in the sun didn't help matters.)
Overall, no complaints (except of course that I missed the whole game.)
I'll try to do better today.
Did I mention that the attendance was 37,000? Now THAT'S more like it. Outdoor stadiums are for summer NOT extended winters.
"Why?" Because I'm so used to the Twins playing home games on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. that I missed it entirely. I could never figure out why they made fans sit around until 6 on Saturday nights when they could EASILY have 3 o'clock games.
I know that Fox's national coverage game gets the clear Saturday afternoon slot nationwide, but I always figured they could easily have everybody else start at 3 or 4. Except they finally did do that and now I missed a perfectly good Twins game when they played really well.
Watching highlights and reading about it just isn't the same.
I am excited about Pedro Hernandez and his five scoreless innings yesterday, though. He's basically the last minute call-up pitcher who gave the Twins a five man rotation when Liam Hendriks failed and Cole DeVries got hurt. The problem is that with all of the Twins bad weather postponed games that I haven't got to see this guy pitch yet. He simply hasn't got that many starts. That he managed five innings and no runs is a real bonus for a team that isn't scoring many runs as of late.
Knowing Josh Willingham clubbed another rocket shot also gets me a bit more excited about the Twins chances. Even Aaron Hicks got his first extra-base hit yesterday and he did it in the big eighth inning when we needed it most. The only REAL disappointment? Perkins, who hasn't got a lot of use lately because of the weather AND the Twins losing streak, looked really bad in his one inning of relief. He had a huge lead to work with, which always seems to screw up closers, but still, he's had a couple of those outings in his 6 relief attempts this year. He hasn't blown a save yet or anything, but he definitely has not been lights out either. (Okay, Aaron Hicks losing a ball in the sun didn't help matters.)
Overall, no complaints (except of course that I missed the whole game.)
I'll try to do better today.
Did I mention that the attendance was 37,000? Now THAT'S more like it. Outdoor stadiums are for summer NOT extended winters.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Flip Saunders
The Wolves haven't been any good since we fired Flip Saunders as coach. Kevin McHale almost had us back on track until he too was fired.
Maybe Glen Taylor is getting smarter in his old age. He's thinking about bringing Saunders back, this time replacing the incompetent David Kahn as the team's next president of basketball operations. Better? It's possible that Taylor, now 72, will sell the Wolves to a group led by Saunders.
I'm still angry that Saunders was let go so many years ago. Maybe this is Taylor's chance to finally right the mess that is currently the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Let's face it, very few moves could make us worse.
Maybe Glen Taylor is getting smarter in his old age. He's thinking about bringing Saunders back, this time replacing the incompetent David Kahn as the team's next president of basketball operations. Better? It's possible that Taylor, now 72, will sell the Wolves to a group led by Saunders.
I'm still angry that Saunders was let go so many years ago. Maybe this is Taylor's chance to finally right the mess that is currently the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Let's face it, very few moves could make us worse.
Adrian Peterson Models
For those who missed my exclusive a couple of days ago, Here's Adrian Peterson wearing the Vikings new uniform combo.
I'm just glad they still haven't put the purple together.
I'm just glad they still haven't put the purple together.
Aaron Rodgers Even Richer
Aaron signed an extension yesterday that will give him an extra $110 million over 5 years when his current deal ends.
Wild Clobbered 6-1
I decided to check a little on the Wild last last night with a playoff spot at stake. Boy, was that a bad decision. I haven't seen a worse NHL game in a long time. 6-1? Yep, 6-1. The Wild have ONE MORE CHANCE to secure a play-off spot. They are currently tied for eighth place and are one point behind seventh place Detroit. They have the tie-breaker IF they win at Colorado on Saturday night.
Another promising season might be going down the toilet.
Another promising season might be going down the toilet.
Twins
Well, the ninth inning was pretty good.
What's amusing for me is that the ESPN report of the game was WRITTEN before the game was actually over. Here's a quote from the article:
"... as the Twins lost their third straight and were shut out for the second time this season."
They weren't SHUT OUT as Arcia hit his second three-run homer of the season in the ninth to make the final score look respectable at 4-3.
Diamond struggled through 6 but only gave up 3 runs. That's two "good" starting performances that the Twins have simply wasted.
Losses like this are a lot harder to deal with then 8-1 blowouts.
It's baseball. Another game today.
What's amusing for me is that the ESPN report of the game was WRITTEN before the game was actually over. Here's a quote from the article:
"... as the Twins lost their third straight and were shut out for the second time this season."
They weren't SHUT OUT as Arcia hit his second three-run homer of the season in the ninth to make the final score look respectable at 4-3.
Diamond struggled through 6 but only gave up 3 runs. That's two "good" starting performances that the Twins have simply wasted.
Losses like this are a lot harder to deal with then 8-1 blowouts.
It's baseball. Another game today.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Vikings Draft
Well what do you know? The Casual Sports Fan got another call right. He said that the Vikes would probably draft Cordarelle Patterson at wide-reciever in the first round to HOPEFULLY get a chance at someone to replace Percy Harvin. The Vikes traded a bunch of later round picks to New England to get Patterson.
The Vikes also drafted an immense defensive tackle named Sharrif Floyd with another number one pick. According to John Clayton at ESPN the Vikings had the best 1st round draft of any team in the NFL. Shariff was considered a top FIVE pick by many analysts. That he lasted until pick 23 for the Vikings was amazing. Cordarelle was the second best receiver available and went about where he was predicted at 29. Another great first round pick at 25? Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
All THREE of these guys should be starting regularly for the Vikings this season. I'm pumped.
The first round was pretty odd. Offensive left tackles were the best early choices for most teams and for the first time since 1963 there were NO running backs selected in the first round. NONE at all. None of the top QBs were selected either. EJ Manuel was the only QB taken (at number 16) and he wasn't even on the radar of most teams, so it was a bad day for QBs as well.
The Vikes have no picks today because they traded them to New England. The three they got yesterday more than make up for that.
The Vikes also drafted an immense defensive tackle named Sharrif Floyd with another number one pick. According to John Clayton at ESPN the Vikings had the best 1st round draft of any team in the NFL. Shariff was considered a top FIVE pick by many analysts. That he lasted until pick 23 for the Vikings was amazing. Cordarelle was the second best receiver available and went about where he was predicted at 29. Another great first round pick at 25? Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
All THREE of these guys should be starting regularly for the Vikings this season. I'm pumped.
The first round was pretty odd. Offensive left tackles were the best early choices for most teams and for the first time since 1963 there were NO running backs selected in the first round. NONE at all. None of the top QBs were selected either. EJ Manuel was the only QB taken (at number 16) and he wasn't even on the radar of most teams, so it was a bad day for QBs as well.
The Vikes have no picks today because they traded them to New England. The three they got yesterday more than make up for that.
2-1
I hate games like this. Worley struggled, but was in no way awful. The bullpen pitched FOUR shutout innings.
And the Twins managed just ONE run the entire game.
Nothing to see here folks, just move along.
And the Twins managed just ONE run the entire game.
Nothing to see here folks, just move along.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Notes
Worely pitches tonight for the Twins. Scared.
The NFL draft starts tonight. Excited.
I woke up early this morning. Tired.
The NFL draft starts tonight. Excited.
I woke up early this morning. Tired.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Viking Uniform Spoiler
The Casual Sports Fan sent some photographers down to Florida this week to get an early look at the Vikings NEW uniforms.
You won't find this any place else. Even the Vikings haven't shown their new uniforms to anyone yet.
You won't find this any place else. Even the Vikings haven't shown their new uniforms to anyone yet.
Twins Split Series, Have Today Off
I liked the first game yesterday.
Mike Pelfrey is just so bad right now that he didn't give the Twins a chance at winning that second game.
And I can't believe the Twins get another day off today.
It's starting to feel like the NBA or NHL with all of these days off.
Send Pelfrey down to the minors for a few months on a rehab assignment. He clearly is not yet ready to pitch at the big league level. It worked for Joe Nathan. It's time to do it for Mike AND the Twins sanity.
The Twins had won 5 straight after switching Brian Dozier to lead-off. He's good in the role. Mauer has responded in kind.
Eduardo Escobar has become like a secret weapon for the Twins. He doesn't play much, but when he does, he sure hits. He's now batting .480 for the season.
Oswaldo Arcia may only be hitting .167 since being called up, but his three-run blast gave the Twins the win in the first game. The Twins seem to be winning on BIG hits rather than solid play. In the long run, that'll probably cost them. And I still can't believe how many runners we get to second and third base that end up stranded.
Mike Pelfrey is just so bad right now that he didn't give the Twins a chance at winning that second game.
And I can't believe the Twins get another day off today.
It's starting to feel like the NBA or NHL with all of these days off.
Send Pelfrey down to the minors for a few months on a rehab assignment. He clearly is not yet ready to pitch at the big league level. It worked for Joe Nathan. It's time to do it for Mike AND the Twins sanity.
The Twins had won 5 straight after switching Brian Dozier to lead-off. He's good in the role. Mauer has responded in kind.
Eduardo Escobar has become like a secret weapon for the Twins. He doesn't play much, but when he does, he sure hits. He's now batting .480 for the season.
Oswaldo Arcia may only be hitting .167 since being called up, but his three-run blast gave the Twins the win in the first game. The Twins seem to be winning on BIG hits rather than solid play. In the long run, that'll probably cost them. And I still can't believe how many runners we get to second and third base that end up stranded.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Snow Out
Since there was no game, again, I'd just like to comment on FSN's coverage of the games so far this year.
This is baseball, you do not need sports headlines on the bottom of the screen the entire game. Seeing minor league injury reports for the Reds and how Manchester United did in soccer are just huge distractions during a baseball game. Crawlers on the bottom have become so common for news and sports channels that most people forget that they really aren't necessary.
I know that FOX Sports does that nationwide now, but can we PLEASE go back to the 10-minute clicker and just have the baseball scores?
Actually most of these crawlers have become just stupid. Channel 9 news in the morning often has news that's two or three DAYS old. We live in a spastic world. But let's ditch the crawlers for awhile and see if anyone really complains. For most, life will just seem calmer, and they won't even know why.
This is baseball, you do not need sports headlines on the bottom of the screen the entire game. Seeing minor league injury reports for the Reds and how Manchester United did in soccer are just huge distractions during a baseball game. Crawlers on the bottom have become so common for news and sports channels that most people forget that they really aren't necessary.
I know that FOX Sports does that nationwide now, but can we PLEASE go back to the 10-minute clicker and just have the baseball scores?
Actually most of these crawlers have become just stupid. Channel 9 news in the morning often has news that's two or three DAYS old. We live in a spastic world. But let's ditch the crawlers for awhile and see if anyone really complains. For most, life will just seem calmer, and they won't even know why.
Monday, April 22, 2013
DUI of the Day
The voice of Monday Night Football, Al Michaels was picked up in Southern California this weekend for DUI.
Let's make this a major crime. No one should drive drunk ever.
Let's make this a major crime. No one should drive drunk ever.
Great Scott!
Scott Diamond's pitching was better than his fielding yesterday and Josh Willingham came through with the big hit when the Twins really needed it.
Even Aaron Hicks got an RBI single.
Mike "Can you smell 'em?" Redmond and his Miami Marlins are rolling into town tonight. Another HUGE snow-out is predicted. A winter storm warning starts at 11:00 a.m. this morning and it will be snowing heavily by 7 p.m.
We already have a really rested bullpen. Most haven't pitched for over a week.
With KC sweeping Boston yesterday, The Twins find themselves ABOVE .500 and one game out of first.
Even Aaron Hicks got an RBI single.
Mike "Can you smell 'em?" Redmond and his Miami Marlins are rolling into town tonight. Another HUGE snow-out is predicted. A winter storm warning starts at 11:00 a.m. this morning and it will be snowing heavily by 7 p.m.
We already have a really rested bullpen. Most haven't pitched for over a week.
With KC sweeping Boston yesterday, The Twins find themselves ABOVE .500 and one game out of first.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Vikings
With Percy Harvin gone, the Vikes KNOW they need another top reciever. What are the odds that they will nab one in the draft?
Not very good. The BEST is West Virginia's Tavon Austin. Many scouts compare him to Harvin in ability and explosiveness. That's saying quite a bit. The good news is that the first 10-11 teams in the draft are not looking for a wide reciever. That means that Tavon will probably be the 12-15th player selected this year.
The bad news? The Vikings aren't schedule for a pick until pick number 23. He'll be long gone by then unless the Vikings move up by trading some of their other draft picks. They did that last season to get defensive back Harrison Smith and I think MOST Vikings fans would agree that move was worth it.
But what would they give up to go as high as 12? They'd have to give up their 1st first round pick (they have another at 25) AND their ONLY second round pick AND their fourth round pick from Detroit AND probably a little more besides. THAT'S probably not going to happen. If Tavon is still available at 15, they'd have to give up a number one and number two pick. More likely, but Tavon will probably be gone by then.
The only other touted first round receiver is Tennesee's Cordarelle (where do these names come from?) Patterson. He may actually be available at 23 when the Vikings pick, so it's possible that the Vikings will just wait for him. He's not in the same discussion as Tavon BUT he is good enough to be a very good receiver.
I'm getting excited about the draft. It begins this Thursday.
Not very good. The BEST is West Virginia's Tavon Austin. Many scouts compare him to Harvin in ability and explosiveness. That's saying quite a bit. The good news is that the first 10-11 teams in the draft are not looking for a wide reciever. That means that Tavon will probably be the 12-15th player selected this year.
The bad news? The Vikings aren't schedule for a pick until pick number 23. He'll be long gone by then unless the Vikings move up by trading some of their other draft picks. They did that last season to get defensive back Harrison Smith and I think MOST Vikings fans would agree that move was worth it.
But what would they give up to go as high as 12? They'd have to give up their 1st first round pick (they have another at 25) AND their ONLY second round pick AND their fourth round pick from Detroit AND probably a little more besides. THAT'S probably not going to happen. If Tavon is still available at 15, they'd have to give up a number one and number two pick. More likely, but Tavon will probably be gone by then.
The only other touted first round receiver is Tennesee's Cordarelle (where do these names come from?) Patterson. He may actually be available at 23 when the Vikings pick, so it's possible that the Vikings will just wait for him. He's not in the same discussion as Tavon BUT he is good enough to be a very good receiver.
I'm getting excited about the draft. It begins this Thursday.
Vanimal Returns
Let's be honest. When Chicago's first batter hit a leadoff homerun against Vance Worley yesterday, most Twins fans let out a quiet sigh and said, "Here we go again."
But then something wonderful happened. Chicago went 30 straight outs without scoring another run. 21 one of those outs were thrown by...
...Vance Worley.
The Twins managed to strand about a million runners yesterday, but somewhere in there they also managed to score TWO runs.
The final was 2-1 and the Twins have managed to find their way back to .500 with their THIRD straight win. Even cooler? While the Twins were taking most of the week off due to inclimate weather, our rather pathetic division rivals were losing regularly. The Twins now find themselves just ONE-HALF game out of first place this beautiful Sunday morning.
Joe Mauer didn't get four hits yesterday. He only got two, but for a brief while he was actually batting .400. AND he walked twice. That means he's been on base at least 4 times in each of the Twins last three games. Maybe Joe is finally breaking out of his three-year-long slump.
Scott Diamond is scheduled for his second start today.
But then something wonderful happened. Chicago went 30 straight outs without scoring another run. 21 one of those outs were thrown by...
...Vance Worley.
The Twins managed to strand about a million runners yesterday, but somewhere in there they also managed to score TWO runs.
The final was 2-1 and the Twins have managed to find their way back to .500 with their THIRD straight win. Even cooler? While the Twins were taking most of the week off due to inclimate weather, our rather pathetic division rivals were losing regularly. The Twins now find themselves just ONE-HALF game out of first place this beautiful Sunday morning.
Joe Mauer didn't get four hits yesterday. He only got two, but for a brief while he was actually batting .400. AND he walked twice. That means he's been on base at least 4 times in each of the Twins last three games. Maybe Joe is finally breaking out of his three-year-long slump.
Scott Diamond is scheduled for his second start today.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Thoughts
Finding the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing was way more important than anything that happened in sports yesterday. Go law enforcement!!!!
Of course, if you are a Minnesota sports fan, not a lot has happened in the last several days because northern climate teams refuse to put roofs on their baseball fields. IF the Twins were going to be contenders this season, these bad weather games would really bother me. It just means that in a close race, ALL your free dates at the end of the season, you know, the ones that you NEED to rest up because of baseball's grueling schedule, will be filled with make-up games, destryoing your pitching staff just before the playoffs start.
BUT, it could be years before the Twins have to worry about such a situation so, right now, it's no big deal. But someday all of these cold outs, rainouts, snow-outs, and bad weather in general WILL catch up with us. They will affect winning, they will affect attendance, and they will make professional baseball in Minnesota less successful.
All of this just so a few die-hard Twins outdoor weather fans can enjoy outdoor baseball while soaking up the sun's cancer giving rays.
Give me a regularly scheduled game everyday of the season instead.
Speaking of weather. I'm starting to think high school baseball and softball in Minnesota are getting started a little late this year. Sleepy Eye Public will be out for the year in just a little over a month, and there's STILL foot-high drifts on the warning track at Sleepy Eye ballpark.
Weather shouldn't have the same effect on PROFESSIONAL baseball.
Of course, if you are a Minnesota sports fan, not a lot has happened in the last several days because northern climate teams refuse to put roofs on their baseball fields. IF the Twins were going to be contenders this season, these bad weather games would really bother me. It just means that in a close race, ALL your free dates at the end of the season, you know, the ones that you NEED to rest up because of baseball's grueling schedule, will be filled with make-up games, destryoing your pitching staff just before the playoffs start.
BUT, it could be years before the Twins have to worry about such a situation so, right now, it's no big deal. But someday all of these cold outs, rainouts, snow-outs, and bad weather in general WILL catch up with us. They will affect winning, they will affect attendance, and they will make professional baseball in Minnesota less successful.
All of this just so a few die-hard Twins outdoor weather fans can enjoy outdoor baseball while soaking up the sun's cancer giving rays.
Give me a regularly scheduled game everyday of the season instead.
Speaking of weather. I'm starting to think high school baseball and softball in Minnesota are getting started a little late this year. Sleepy Eye Public will be out for the year in just a little over a month, and there's STILL foot-high drifts on the warning track at Sleepy Eye ballpark.
Weather shouldn't have the same effect on PROFESSIONAL baseball.
Friday, April 19, 2013
More Vikings
The Vikes are expected to reveal new uniforms in the near future. Supposedly, it's been seven seasons since they unveiled their last new look. I really like their current look, so it's going to take a lot to convince me that they really do need new ones. It'll take quite a design to make me forget the current ones as well.
My Percy Harvin jersey is obsolete anyway now that Harvin is gone, but my Jared Allan jersey has only been worn once. I'm a little bummed that this one is also now considered old.
Just so they doesn't look like the hideous throwback jerseys of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those things always remind me of escaped criminals from silent movies.
My Percy Harvin jersey is obsolete anyway now that Harvin is gone, but my Jared Allan jersey has only been worn once. I'm a little bummed that this one is also now considered old.
Just so they doesn't look like the hideous throwback jerseys of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those things always remind me of escaped criminals from silent movies.
Vikings
You just have to love the NFL and its way of thinking. The Vikings play three of their first four games this coming season away from the Dome. Two NFC North opponents (Detroit and Chicago) to start the season. Then the Browns at home. Then Pittsburgh at London. The odd thinking? The Vikings are the designated "home team" in London so it will LOOK like we don't have a miserable schedule to start the season.
I've never been happy with those stupid games in London. Europe likes the NFL, but the league would be nuts to actually put a franchise or two there. The jet-lag of teams flying back and forth to England or Germany every week would be idiotic.
IF the league wants to expand, Canada and L.A. would make more sense. So would half a dozen other metropolitan areas in the U.S. But the travel nightmare between the U.S. and Europe just wouldn't be fair for the teams or their fans.
I actually liked the NFL Europe League they had a few years back. Putting more time and money into THAT venture could have paid big dividends if the league had established more seasons there.
Oh well. IF the Vikes want to play with the big boys, they are going to have to put on their big girl panties and deal with it.
Me? I expect a 1-3 start to the season. Anything better would be a pleasant surprise. 0-4 wouldn't be out of the question either.
I've never been happy with those stupid games in London. Europe likes the NFL, but the league would be nuts to actually put a franchise or two there. The jet-lag of teams flying back and forth to England or Germany every week would be idiotic.
IF the league wants to expand, Canada and L.A. would make more sense. So would half a dozen other metropolitan areas in the U.S. But the travel nightmare between the U.S. and Europe just wouldn't be fair for the teams or their fans.
I actually liked the NFL Europe League they had a few years back. Putting more time and money into THAT venture could have paid big dividends if the league had established more seasons there.
Oh well. IF the Vikes want to play with the big boys, they are going to have to put on their big girl panties and deal with it.
Me? I expect a 1-3 start to the season. Anything better would be a pleasant surprise. 0-4 wouldn't be out of the question either.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Oswaldo Arcia
You remember that the Twins called Oswaldo up when Wilkin Ramirez was away for one game for daddy-time?
Well, one game not played later, the Twins are calling him back up because Darin Mastroianni is going to the DL with his injured ankle.
Here's the deal for me. Darin doesn't play much anyway and his ankle was sore before they sent Oswaldo down. In effect, he's just a utility outfielder. Why did the Twins just not put him on the DL right away and leave Oswaldo up here in the first place? We're not talking Joe Mauer here, we're talking about a back-up, rarely used outfielder. So what if he has to sit out an extra week or so to give his ankle time to heal? I hate to say it, but he's an interchangeable cog in the roster.
I'm sure Oswaldo doen't care either way since he's back in the show, but he only needed ONE plane trip in three days, not three. It's just another example of the Twins training staff NOT diagnosing injuries very well. You can tell when an organization isn't managed well by little things like this. And all of those little things translate to losing ball club.
I'm glad that Worley didn't pitch last night with the rainout. The sad thing is that he's now pitching Friday. Maybe we can just skip his turn in the rotation and give him a few days rest? We can only hope.
Well, one game not played later, the Twins are calling him back up because Darin Mastroianni is going to the DL with his injured ankle.
Here's the deal for me. Darin doesn't play much anyway and his ankle was sore before they sent Oswaldo down. In effect, he's just a utility outfielder. Why did the Twins just not put him on the DL right away and leave Oswaldo up here in the first place? We're not talking Joe Mauer here, we're talking about a back-up, rarely used outfielder. So what if he has to sit out an extra week or so to give his ankle time to heal? I hate to say it, but he's an interchangeable cog in the roster.
I'm sure Oswaldo doen't care either way since he's back in the show, but he only needed ONE plane trip in three days, not three. It's just another example of the Twins training staff NOT diagnosing injuries very well. You can tell when an organization isn't managed well by little things like this. And all of those little things translate to losing ball club.
I'm glad that Worley didn't pitch last night with the rainout. The sad thing is that he's now pitching Friday. Maybe we can just skip his turn in the rotation and give him a few days rest? We can only hope.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Mauer
For the second straight night Joe Mauer got four hits. And his only out was a screaming, sinking line-drive as well. I rag a lot on Joe, and I think rightfully so, but when this guy gets hot, there is no sweeter swing in baseball.
The Twins needed all of his hits last night, and several more from other players just to stay ahead of yet another poor Pelfrey outing. It ALMOST looked like Pelfrey was going to have a good game after throwing so few pitches in those first two innings, but then, in typical Twins starter fashion he lost whatever he had, and ended up leaving after five innings giving up four runs.
Perkins picked up his third save of the season but looked horrible doing so. That last play of the game is worth looking up on the internet. It's bound to be web gem.
ANYWAY, the Twins have now won TWO straight and are just ONE game below .500. As bad as the starters have been, the offense (especially Mauer) has been good enough to pull out a few.
I noticed that Gardy FINALLY dropped Hicks to the eighth spot in the order. Dozier is now in the leadoff spot. ANYBODY would be better there right now. Willingham is still sick and did not play last night. If this is like what's going around lately, he won't be feeling well for a couple of more days. It's possible he could play today, but anybody who has had this bug will tell you that it's effects will be with him for a while yet.
Did I mention that Hicks was 0 for 2 last night and is now batting .044? It really is hard to imagine any player being worse than this at the plate while still being in the lineup every day. At least he was patient enough to walk twice.
As always, it's nice to play in our division. Believe it or not, both Chicago and Cleveland trail us, and the Twins are only TWO games out of first place.
Attendance was right around 23,000, but once more a lot of those fans stayed home or left early because of the colder weather. The forecast is continued cold for at least another week.
The Twins play at Chicago this coming weekend, but come back home Monday. The weather will still not feel like baseball weather.
Vance Worley pitches for the Twins tonight. My hopes are not high.
I have to admit that watching the games in high def over the last couple of seasons means that I notice differently things now. Last night, the lady behind home plate, in the best seat in the house, just above the Target logo was busy looking down at her cell phone all night long, not paying any real attention to the game.
Seriously, when Mauer was up in the second inning with the bases loaded, she didn't look up once to see what was going on. EVEN when he smashed that single up the middle and all of the fans around her started cheering, she didn't stop playing with her phone long enough to even glance up and see what had just happened.
The BEST seat in the house and she just wasted it...
I'm going to be looking for her tonight, now, too. Seats like that don't come easy or cheap so I'm thinking her husband must be the rich fan and she just comes along just to be with him.
WASTED!
The Twins needed all of his hits last night, and several more from other players just to stay ahead of yet another poor Pelfrey outing. It ALMOST looked like Pelfrey was going to have a good game after throwing so few pitches in those first two innings, but then, in typical Twins starter fashion he lost whatever he had, and ended up leaving after five innings giving up four runs.
Perkins picked up his third save of the season but looked horrible doing so. That last play of the game is worth looking up on the internet. It's bound to be web gem.
ANYWAY, the Twins have now won TWO straight and are just ONE game below .500. As bad as the starters have been, the offense (especially Mauer) has been good enough to pull out a few.
I noticed that Gardy FINALLY dropped Hicks to the eighth spot in the order. Dozier is now in the leadoff spot. ANYBODY would be better there right now. Willingham is still sick and did not play last night. If this is like what's going around lately, he won't be feeling well for a couple of more days. It's possible he could play today, but anybody who has had this bug will tell you that it's effects will be with him for a while yet.
Did I mention that Hicks was 0 for 2 last night and is now batting .044? It really is hard to imagine any player being worse than this at the plate while still being in the lineup every day. At least he was patient enough to walk twice.
As always, it's nice to play in our division. Believe it or not, both Chicago and Cleveland trail us, and the Twins are only TWO games out of first place.
Attendance was right around 23,000, but once more a lot of those fans stayed home or left early because of the colder weather. The forecast is continued cold for at least another week.
The Twins play at Chicago this coming weekend, but come back home Monday. The weather will still not feel like baseball weather.
Vance Worley pitches for the Twins tonight. My hopes are not high.
I have to admit that watching the games in high def over the last couple of seasons means that I notice differently things now. Last night, the lady behind home plate, in the best seat in the house, just above the Target logo was busy looking down at her cell phone all night long, not paying any real attention to the game.
Seriously, when Mauer was up in the second inning with the bases loaded, she didn't look up once to see what was going on. EVEN when he smashed that single up the middle and all of the fans around her started cheering, she didn't stop playing with her phone long enough to even glance up and see what had just happened.
The BEST seat in the house and she just wasted it...
I'm going to be looking for her tonight, now, too. Seats like that don't come easy or cheap so I'm thinking her husband must be the rich fan and she just comes along just to be with him.
WASTED!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Twins Worth My Time
I wasn't planning on watching the Twins game last night, but because of a power outage, I couldn't see Dallas in its entirety so I ended up watching part of what was a great game, especially if you are a Twins fan, For one of the rare times in this early season, both the Twins starting pitching and hitting showed up the same night to play. Maybe the Angels are worse than us!
I'd like to comment on the number 42 event. I love it when baseball does this. Jackie Robinson WAS a pioneer for the game and I like the way that baseball chooses to remember that. It's fun when you see every single player on the field wearing the number 42. HOWEVER, I'm sure it's confusing for fans who tune in late and don't know WHY it's being done. My brother and wife were two of those fans.
I was also pleased to see that "42" (the movie about Jackie Robinson's life) was the number one movie in America last weekend. It was the first baseball movie ever to break the $20 million mark on its first weekend.
Back to the game...
Just when you think Joe Mauer forgot HOW to play the game, he turns in a night like last night. He ended up a triple short of the cycle, but let's face it, with his speed, that probably wasn't going to happen anyway. What he did accomplish was pretty spectacular all by itself. His four hits, including the homerun and double, were JUST what the doctor ordered for this ball club. His average has now climbed to .346 on the season.
Better? Kevin Correia IS looking like the one small hope in our pitching rotation. He evened his record at 1-1 yesterday, but he did it by bringing his season ERA under 3.00 AND going seven strong innings. He HAS been good, and he has been good consistently.
Oswaldo Arcia WAS sent back down after the game yesterday. He got a hit in his first at-bat BUT he also dropped an easy fly ball in left field. Wilkin Ramirez is back from paternity leave and the Twins are sticking with Aaron Hicks for now.
As to Hicks, his batting average stayed at .047. He walked in his sole plate appearance last night.
Pedro Floriman is STILL batting .333 in the number 9 spot. IF we are going to keep Aaron Hicks in the lineup, at this point it would seem to make sense for Floriman and Hicks to exchange spots in the batting order, at least for a while. Hicks would end up getting one less at-bat a game on the average, and Floriman would get one more. It's the little things like that can make just a big enough difference between winning and losing close games, and I'm always a little frustrated when Gardy doesn't DO those little things.
One more comment. What happened at the Boston Marathon yesterday was sick, twisted, and perverse. It doesn't matter if we ban high powered guns or not, these acts of violence WILL continue because the heart of man is depraved. IF people want to hurt or kill people, they will find a way. Last week it was a guy with a knife in Texas and he ended hurting over a dozen people, a couple very seriously.
Yesterday it was a madman (or group of madmen) who decided that they needed to make a statement in the most violent way possible. The problem with these types of violent episodes is that deep down inside we know we can never adequately punish the persons responsible. Three died yesterday. Well over a hundred more were injured. Even finding all of the perpetrators and lining them up against a wall today and shooting them in front of a firing squad wouldn't be enough to "balance the scales." They hurt too many for even their quick deaths to satisfy our need for justice.
So what's the answer?
Knowing and acknowledging that evil exists in the world is the first step in slowing it down. We have to realize that some people don't need or deserve rehabilitation and counseling. Sometimes what they need (what society needs) is for them to be is punished to the full extent of the law. That is justice. Sometimes the ultimate crime deserves the ultimate penalty, the ultimate punishment. And we have to accept that.
I think our biggest fear is that acts of terror like this will go unpunished and they will continue on an even grander scale. If there ever was a time to arm and protect yourself and your family, this would be the time. We do not live in a safe world. Events like yesterday's just drive that point home.
Government is not big enough to protect everyone. And IF it was, I would fear it more than the people who did what they did yesterday.
Government's job is protect the innocent by punishing the guilty. That is justice.
Sometimes I think we try so hard as a country to protect everyone that as a result we end up punishing the innocent by taking away THEIR rights while coddling those who need to be punished. In effect we trade liberty for the illusion of greater security. And I say the "illusion of greater security" because of what happened yesterday. We are not safe as long as there are evil people who wish to do evil. In other words we ARE NOT SAFE.
What we need are tougher penalties for those who use guns (or any other kind of weapon) illegally. I don't mind making it harder for those who have a criminal past, or those who have had bouts of mental illness, to be deprived of weapons, in fact I think that's just common sense.
And I don't want to turn what happened yesterday into a case for gun rights. Yesterday would have happened ANYWAY. But I DO remember that in the Oklahoma bombing case, only Timothy McVeigh was put to death. His co-conspirators, who planned the whole thing with him (Michael Fortier and Terry Nichols,) were merely given jail time.
That was not justice. And without justice we ARE less safe as a society.
I'd like to comment on the number 42 event. I love it when baseball does this. Jackie Robinson WAS a pioneer for the game and I like the way that baseball chooses to remember that. It's fun when you see every single player on the field wearing the number 42. HOWEVER, I'm sure it's confusing for fans who tune in late and don't know WHY it's being done. My brother and wife were two of those fans.
I was also pleased to see that "42" (the movie about Jackie Robinson's life) was the number one movie in America last weekend. It was the first baseball movie ever to break the $20 million mark on its first weekend.
Back to the game...
Just when you think Joe Mauer forgot HOW to play the game, he turns in a night like last night. He ended up a triple short of the cycle, but let's face it, with his speed, that probably wasn't going to happen anyway. What he did accomplish was pretty spectacular all by itself. His four hits, including the homerun and double, were JUST what the doctor ordered for this ball club. His average has now climbed to .346 on the season.
Better? Kevin Correia IS looking like the one small hope in our pitching rotation. He evened his record at 1-1 yesterday, but he did it by bringing his season ERA under 3.00 AND going seven strong innings. He HAS been good, and he has been good consistently.
Oswaldo Arcia WAS sent back down after the game yesterday. He got a hit in his first at-bat BUT he also dropped an easy fly ball in left field. Wilkin Ramirez is back from paternity leave and the Twins are sticking with Aaron Hicks for now.
As to Hicks, his batting average stayed at .047. He walked in his sole plate appearance last night.
Pedro Floriman is STILL batting .333 in the number 9 spot. IF we are going to keep Aaron Hicks in the lineup, at this point it would seem to make sense for Floriman and Hicks to exchange spots in the batting order, at least for a while. Hicks would end up getting one less at-bat a game on the average, and Floriman would get one more. It's the little things like that can make just a big enough difference between winning and losing close games, and I'm always a little frustrated when Gardy doesn't DO those little things.
One more comment. What happened at the Boston Marathon yesterday was sick, twisted, and perverse. It doesn't matter if we ban high powered guns or not, these acts of violence WILL continue because the heart of man is depraved. IF people want to hurt or kill people, they will find a way. Last week it was a guy with a knife in Texas and he ended hurting over a dozen people, a couple very seriously.
Yesterday it was a madman (or group of madmen) who decided that they needed to make a statement in the most violent way possible. The problem with these types of violent episodes is that deep down inside we know we can never adequately punish the persons responsible. Three died yesterday. Well over a hundred more were injured. Even finding all of the perpetrators and lining them up against a wall today and shooting them in front of a firing squad wouldn't be enough to "balance the scales." They hurt too many for even their quick deaths to satisfy our need for justice.
So what's the answer?
Knowing and acknowledging that evil exists in the world is the first step in slowing it down. We have to realize that some people don't need or deserve rehabilitation and counseling. Sometimes what they need (what society needs) is for them to be is punished to the full extent of the law. That is justice. Sometimes the ultimate crime deserves the ultimate penalty, the ultimate punishment. And we have to accept that.
I think our biggest fear is that acts of terror like this will go unpunished and they will continue on an even grander scale. If there ever was a time to arm and protect yourself and your family, this would be the time. We do not live in a safe world. Events like yesterday's just drive that point home.
Government is not big enough to protect everyone. And IF it was, I would fear it more than the people who did what they did yesterday.
Government's job is protect the innocent by punishing the guilty. That is justice.
Sometimes I think we try so hard as a country to protect everyone that as a result we end up punishing the innocent by taking away THEIR rights while coddling those who need to be punished. In effect we trade liberty for the illusion of greater security. And I say the "illusion of greater security" because of what happened yesterday. We are not safe as long as there are evil people who wish to do evil. In other words we ARE NOT SAFE.
What we need are tougher penalties for those who use guns (or any other kind of weapon) illegally. I don't mind making it harder for those who have a criminal past, or those who have had bouts of mental illness, to be deprived of weapons, in fact I think that's just common sense.
And I don't want to turn what happened yesterday into a case for gun rights. Yesterday would have happened ANYWAY. But I DO remember that in the Oklahoma bombing case, only Timothy McVeigh was put to death. His co-conspirators, who planned the whole thing with him (Michael Fortier and Terry Nichols,) were merely given jail time.
That was not justice. And without justice we ARE less safe as a society.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Oswaldo Arcia
Infielder Wilkin Ramirez is going to be gone for a few days so the Twins have called up another centerfielder, Oswaldo Arcia, to take his place on the roster. I know most think when Ramirez comes back that the Twins will send Arcia back down.
I'm thinking the Twins will send Aaron Hicks down and that Arcia and Mastroanni will share centerfield honors for awhile. Hicks may be a talent for the future, but what he's doing right now is just embarrassing himself. Getting him out of the spotlight and into the minors is probably what he needs. OR I'm wrong, and they'll just send Arcia back down.
Either way, the Twins are horrible and I don't see one person changing that either way.
The Twins postponed yesterday's game because of the THREAT of freezing rain. I'm not sure if they got any or not, but I'm actually glad the Twins didn't play again yesterday. They have the Angels tonight, and as bad as the Angels are this season, there's nothing like the pitching staff of the Twins to get the Angels back on track. It's still cold and the game will be at Target Field.
I'll be watching the season finale of Dallas and WWE Raw. The Twins aren't worth my time right now.
I'm thinking the Twins will send Aaron Hicks down and that Arcia and Mastroanni will share centerfield honors for awhile. Hicks may be a talent for the future, but what he's doing right now is just embarrassing himself. Getting him out of the spotlight and into the minors is probably what he needs. OR I'm wrong, and they'll just send Arcia back down.
Either way, the Twins are horrible and I don't see one person changing that either way.
The Twins postponed yesterday's game because of the THREAT of freezing rain. I'm not sure if they got any or not, but I'm actually glad the Twins didn't play again yesterday. They have the Angels tonight, and as bad as the Angels are this season, there's nothing like the pitching staff of the Twins to get the Angels back on track. It's still cold and the game will be at Target Field.
I'll be watching the season finale of Dallas and WWE Raw. The Twins aren't worth my time right now.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Aaron Hicks
His .047 batting average is the third worst in baseball history after 10 games. The TEAM is batting .219 so far this year. The Twins didn't even get a hit until two outs in the seventh yesterday. Opponents are batting .291 against our staff so far.
We can't pitch (at least the STARTERS can't pitch) and we can't hit. It's amazing that we have 4 wins at all.
Officially the Twins had 28,000 fans yesterday, but it was pretty obvious again that many who bought the tickets stayed home in the 35 degree temperatures.
Diamond collapsed in the fifth making him look like every other starter the Twins currently have.
And of course the Twins sent Liam Hendriks to Rochester to make room for him. We wouldn't want the magic trio of Worley, Pelfrey, and Correia, (though Correia has been good since the season started) broken up for any reason.
Correia starts today.
Worley has pitched 12 innings for the Twins so far this season and has given up 14 earned runs. That's better than one run an inning.
We can't pitch (at least the STARTERS can't pitch) and we can't hit. It's amazing that we have 4 wins at all.
Officially the Twins had 28,000 fans yesterday, but it was pretty obvious again that many who bought the tickets stayed home in the 35 degree temperatures.
Diamond collapsed in the fifth making him look like every other starter the Twins currently have.
And of course the Twins sent Liam Hendriks to Rochester to make room for him. We wouldn't want the magic trio of Worley, Pelfrey, and Correia, (though Correia has been good since the season started) broken up for any reason.
Correia starts today.
Worley has pitched 12 innings for the Twins so far this season and has given up 14 earned runs. That's better than one run an inning.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Quentin to Miss Eight Games, Grienke to Miss Eight WEEKS
Carlos Quentin broke Zack Grienke's collarbone when he attacked him Thursday night on the baseball field. Quentin was given a $3000 fine and an eight game suspension, Grienke, will miss EIGHT WEEKS of the season after having surgery. Baseball also ruled that Greinke did nothing wrong.
If it were me, I would suspend Quentin for the rest of the season and take away his entire salary for the year. What he did was assault, and if this had happened anywhere other than the baseball field, he would be doing some jail time. It's time baseball started treating incidents like this as a crime.
We've all seen the public service announcements lately that tell us that it's NEVER right for a man to strike a woman. I agree with that. But somehow, subtly, we as a society keep saying that it's okay for men to hit men. I personally believe in equal protection under the law. IF men shouldn't hit women, they shouldn't hit MEN either. Let's stop the violence completely instead of saying that ONE thing is unacceptable while allowing the other to continue. Let's take it a couple of steps further as well. Should women be allowed to strike other women? Should women be allowed to hit men? Domestic violence works BOTH WAYS. Stop pretending that men have this macho right to get in fights as long as it's with other men. What irritates me the most is that it's usually the muscle-bound bully who picks the fight with the scrawny kid. I think it's hilarious that we say bullying is wrong with kids but we let adults WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER get away with it.
I reminds me of those dumb TV westerns from years ago where an experienced hired gun would come into town, give a gun to farmer who never used one, and tell him he could draw first. You know, because then it was a "fair fight" and no one could ever do anything about it because it the fight was "fair."
People looking for fights have an advantage over those who don't pursue violence in much the same way gunfighters had the advantage in the old west.
Most of the adult men I know have never been in fights, and those that have been usually have alcohol associated with the event. Carlos Quentin has no excuse other than that baseball has allowed this stupidity to continue. What Quentin did was criminal. Let's treat him and the act AS CRIMINAL.
If I were Grienke, I would have Quentin arrested. There were plenty of witnesses, and I would love to be on the jury.
If it were me, I would suspend Quentin for the rest of the season and take away his entire salary for the year. What he did was assault, and if this had happened anywhere other than the baseball field, he would be doing some jail time. It's time baseball started treating incidents like this as a crime.
We've all seen the public service announcements lately that tell us that it's NEVER right for a man to strike a woman. I agree with that. But somehow, subtly, we as a society keep saying that it's okay for men to hit men. I personally believe in equal protection under the law. IF men shouldn't hit women, they shouldn't hit MEN either. Let's stop the violence completely instead of saying that ONE thing is unacceptable while allowing the other to continue. Let's take it a couple of steps further as well. Should women be allowed to strike other women? Should women be allowed to hit men? Domestic violence works BOTH WAYS. Stop pretending that men have this macho right to get in fights as long as it's with other men. What irritates me the most is that it's usually the muscle-bound bully who picks the fight with the scrawny kid. I think it's hilarious that we say bullying is wrong with kids but we let adults WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER get away with it.
I reminds me of those dumb TV westerns from years ago where an experienced hired gun would come into town, give a gun to farmer who never used one, and tell him he could draw first. You know, because then it was a "fair fight" and no one could ever do anything about it because it the fight was "fair."
People looking for fights have an advantage over those who don't pursue violence in much the same way gunfighters had the advantage in the old west.
Most of the adult men I know have never been in fights, and those that have been usually have alcohol associated with the event. Carlos Quentin has no excuse other than that baseball has allowed this stupidity to continue. What Quentin did was criminal. Let's treat him and the act AS CRIMINAL.
If I were Grienke, I would have Quentin arrested. There were plenty of witnesses, and I would love to be on the jury.
Sports Notes
It looks like Kobe tore his Achilles tendon last night. The Lakers may still make the playoffs, but Kobe's season is over.
A-Rod continues to make headlines even though he won't be playing for some time because of his hip surgery. I reported a while back about a sports clinic in Miami that MAY have been giving players forbidden drug treatments. One of the players mentioned was A-Rod. Now it appears all of Alex's records (that MAY have been there) have disappeared.
Investigators think A-Rod MAY have paid a clinic employee to give him his records. Right now, with NO records, the feds have no evidence against Alex. Their ONLY hope of now convicting A-Rod of anything is to get witnesses to say that A-Rod DID do something like this.
Of course, there's always the possibility that A-Rod never did anything and everything else is just unprovable speculation. I'm starting to think that ALL medical records should always be private and that NO ONE, not even the government and their investigators should have access to them. MY medical records should be MY business and nobody else's.
Let's not forget that that this whole scandal started because some employee of the clinic leaked some of the records ILLEGALLY in the first place. Evidence should never come from illegal sources.
For all I KNOW, some investigators MAY have paid an employee to illegally release those original records to a newspaper in the first place. Honestly, which would be the GREATER crime?
Exactly.
Tianlong Guan is only fourteen years old and he just made the cut to play in his first MASTERS. He was penalized a stroke for "slow play" yesterday but still played well enough to beat out many established tour pros. I KNOW it 's not possible for him to win this, but I'll be rooting for him to do so anyway. Golf has a new phenom and I'm hoping he gets better than anybody, ever. Finally, SOMETHING in sports to get excited about.
The Wild have eight games left in the season, and even though they are currently in seventh place in their division, they are only three points better than THREE other teams who are tied for ninth. In other words, if they have a couple or three bad games in a row, they could EASILY find themselves in 11th place in about a week. The top eight teams make the playoffs, and at best, they are just clinging to their spot right now. Like every other Minnesota sports team, they have to WIN, now!
The NBA season is winding down as well. Currently there are EIGHT teams in the league with a worse record than the Wolves. With just a couple or three games left for all the teams, the Wolves have assured themselves of not being the worse team in the league this season. Be thankful for the little things.
A-Rod continues to make headlines even though he won't be playing for some time because of his hip surgery. I reported a while back about a sports clinic in Miami that MAY have been giving players forbidden drug treatments. One of the players mentioned was A-Rod. Now it appears all of Alex's records (that MAY have been there) have disappeared.
Investigators think A-Rod MAY have paid a clinic employee to give him his records. Right now, with NO records, the feds have no evidence against Alex. Their ONLY hope of now convicting A-Rod of anything is to get witnesses to say that A-Rod DID do something like this.
Of course, there's always the possibility that A-Rod never did anything and everything else is just unprovable speculation. I'm starting to think that ALL medical records should always be private and that NO ONE, not even the government and their investigators should have access to them. MY medical records should be MY business and nobody else's.
Let's not forget that that this whole scandal started because some employee of the clinic leaked some of the records ILLEGALLY in the first place. Evidence should never come from illegal sources.
For all I KNOW, some investigators MAY have paid an employee to illegally release those original records to a newspaper in the first place. Honestly, which would be the GREATER crime?
Exactly.
Tianlong Guan is only fourteen years old and he just made the cut to play in his first MASTERS. He was penalized a stroke for "slow play" yesterday but still played well enough to beat out many established tour pros. I KNOW it 's not possible for him to win this, but I'll be rooting for him to do so anyway. Golf has a new phenom and I'm hoping he gets better than anybody, ever. Finally, SOMETHING in sports to get excited about.
The Wild have eight games left in the season, and even though they are currently in seventh place in their division, they are only three points better than THREE other teams who are tied for ninth. In other words, if they have a couple or three bad games in a row, they could EASILY find themselves in 11th place in about a week. The top eight teams make the playoffs, and at best, they are just clinging to their spot right now. Like every other Minnesota sports team, they have to WIN, now!
The NBA season is winding down as well. Currently there are EIGHT teams in the league with a worse record than the Wolves. With just a couple or three games left for all the teams, the Wolves have assured themselves of not being the worse team in the league this season. Be thankful for the little things.
Nine Runs and Three Outs
Can we please get rid of Vance Worley, now?
I watched about 40 seconds of last nights's game. I figured WWE Smackdown would be more entertaining than anything the Twins and frozen Target Field could throw at me. At about 20 minutes after 7, during Smackdown's first commercial break, I switched over briefly and saw that the Twins were already trailing 5-0 with two outs in the top of the first.
I turned it on about an hour and a half later and saw that the score was 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth.
I have NO IDEA how many fans stuck around and watched this game to the bitter end, but I'm pretty sure Target Field was pretty much deserted by the time this mess ended.
The only highlight was seeing snow falling during the 40 seconds I watched it.
Scott Diamond is scheduled to make his season debut in Saturday's game. I really wish they'd hold on off on that until the weather got warmer. His risk of re-injury is probably much greater in the cold. I can't imagine many Twins fans showing up at all for this game.
The Twins only sold 23,000 tickets for last night's game, but it's pretty obvious many of them decided to stay home. I can't see today being much different.
The years of 3 million attendance are over. The Twins will be fortunate to get half of that this year. And it's only going to get worse.
Just like the Twins.
I watched about 40 seconds of last nights's game. I figured WWE Smackdown would be more entertaining than anything the Twins and frozen Target Field could throw at me. At about 20 minutes after 7, during Smackdown's first commercial break, I switched over briefly and saw that the Twins were already trailing 5-0 with two outs in the top of the first.
I turned it on about an hour and a half later and saw that the score was 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth.
I have NO IDEA how many fans stuck around and watched this game to the bitter end, but I'm pretty sure Target Field was pretty much deserted by the time this mess ended.
The only highlight was seeing snow falling during the 40 seconds I watched it.
Scott Diamond is scheduled to make his season debut in Saturday's game. I really wish they'd hold on off on that until the weather got warmer. His risk of re-injury is probably much greater in the cold. I can't imagine many Twins fans showing up at all for this game.
The Twins only sold 23,000 tickets for last night's game, but it's pretty obvious many of them decided to stay home. I can't see today being much different.
The years of 3 million attendance are over. The Twins will be fortunate to get half of that this year. And it's only going to get worse.
Just like the Twins.
Friday, April 12, 2013
BaseBrawl
Zack Grienke, one of baseball's best, got his collarbone broken yesterday.
He hit a player with a pitch. A brawl ensued. At the bottom of the scrum, when it was all over, was Grienke with a broken collarbone.
I HATE this stupid part of baseball. Quentin, the player who charged the mound, has been hit by Grienke's inside fastball before, and he's says Grienke does it on purpose. Grienke says he never throws at anyone on purpose.
My solution? IF the ball comes at the head of the batter, and it's a fastball, the pitcher is ejected immediately AND the manager is suspended without pay for a week. Intentional or not, you protect the batter and you send the message.
IF a player is hit anywhere else and stays in the game, he takes his base. IF he even threatens to go to the mound, he is ejected immediately suspended for a week without pay.
ANYONE who leaves their bench, and should not be on the field, is suspended for a week. EVEN IF IT'S THE WHOLE TEAM. You call up your triple A squad to be your team until the suspension is up.
IF a player, hit by the pitch, misses time because of injury caused by being hit by the pitch, the pitcher will be suspended for 3-5 starts without pay depending on the severity of the injury.
It should no longer matter if the pitch was intentional or not. NO ONE can measure intention. You can only measure the result.
Basketball has fixed much of their brawling problem by keeping players on the bench. Baseball can sort this out. Hockey fans love their brawls, but THIS IS NOT HOCKEY.
And this macho "carp" has went on long enough. Enough is enough. Baseball can easily fix this, and players who like to crowd the plate will now have an advantage. So what? Pitchers have had the advantage forever and look what that has gotten us.
He hit a player with a pitch. A brawl ensued. At the bottom of the scrum, when it was all over, was Grienke with a broken collarbone.
I HATE this stupid part of baseball. Quentin, the player who charged the mound, has been hit by Grienke's inside fastball before, and he's says Grienke does it on purpose. Grienke says he never throws at anyone on purpose.
My solution? IF the ball comes at the head of the batter, and it's a fastball, the pitcher is ejected immediately AND the manager is suspended without pay for a week. Intentional or not, you protect the batter and you send the message.
IF a player is hit anywhere else and stays in the game, he takes his base. IF he even threatens to go to the mound, he is ejected immediately suspended for a week without pay.
ANYONE who leaves their bench, and should not be on the field, is suspended for a week. EVEN IF IT'S THE WHOLE TEAM. You call up your triple A squad to be your team until the suspension is up.
IF a player, hit by the pitch, misses time because of injury caused by being hit by the pitch, the pitcher will be suspended for 3-5 starts without pay depending on the severity of the injury.
It should no longer matter if the pitch was intentional or not. NO ONE can measure intention. You can only measure the result.
Basketball has fixed much of their brawling problem by keeping players on the bench. Baseball can sort this out. Hockey fans love their brawls, but THIS IS NOT HOCKEY.
And this macho "carp" has went on long enough. Enough is enough. Baseball can easily fix this, and players who like to crowd the plate will now have an advantage. So what? Pitchers have had the advantage forever and look what that has gotten us.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Red Sox DON'T Sellout
The hardest ticket to get in Boston is always a Red Sox ticket at Fenway. With a seating capacity of 37,493 they ALWAYS sellout.
Well, not always. After 820 consecutive games, they only drew 30,862 last night. The streak is over. You would think it's because they are terrible this season, but actually they aren't. Going into last night's game they were 8-4. The thing is they were BAD last season and fans simply have not yet got their interest back.
If Red Sox Nation gets this bored this quickly for a team like Boston, what hope does Minnesota have for getting fans interested in the Twins again after two already horrible seasons and a third one that may be worse than the last two?
Target Field was a gift from the state of Minnesota to the Twins. IT drew sellout crowds for almost two full seasons for them. Now its time for the Twins to do their part. Without a winning team, attendance levels are going to start dropping to historic lows. The fans don't want a new stadium any more, now they want a winning, exciting ball club.
And if they don't do something SOON, all the goodwill garnered from that new facility will mean nothing. It may already be too late.
I bet I'm not the only Twins fan who is only watching a couple of innings a ball game already. This early in the season that's an absolute disaster. A couple more weeks of this, and I won't even be turning their games on.
Sports fan need a reason to watch. And winning is the best remedy. Looking at the minor league ball club the Twins have put on the field this season, I really don't see winning as a possibility at this point.
The Vikings are still 4 1/2 months away.
sigh
Well, not always. After 820 consecutive games, they only drew 30,862 last night. The streak is over. You would think it's because they are terrible this season, but actually they aren't. Going into last night's game they were 8-4. The thing is they were BAD last season and fans simply have not yet got their interest back.
If Red Sox Nation gets this bored this quickly for a team like Boston, what hope does Minnesota have for getting fans interested in the Twins again after two already horrible seasons and a third one that may be worse than the last two?
Target Field was a gift from the state of Minnesota to the Twins. IT drew sellout crowds for almost two full seasons for them. Now its time for the Twins to do their part. Without a winning team, attendance levels are going to start dropping to historic lows. The fans don't want a new stadium any more, now they want a winning, exciting ball club.
And if they don't do something SOON, all the goodwill garnered from that new facility will mean nothing. It may already be too late.
I bet I'm not the only Twins fan who is only watching a couple of innings a ball game already. This early in the season that's an absolute disaster. A couple more weeks of this, and I won't even be turning their games on.
Sports fan need a reason to watch. And winning is the best remedy. Looking at the minor league ball club the Twins have put on the field this season, I really don't see winning as a possibility at this point.
The Vikings are still 4 1/2 months away.
sigh
Hendricks Good, Offense Bad
I know Kansas City has a better pitching staff this season BUT it sure is hard seeing the Twins load the bases TWICE in early innings and NOT score. Mauer struck out with the bases loaded AGAIN last night. Remind me why this guy is worth around $25 million a year?
I feel sorry for Hendricks. ONE run in five innings of work is BRILLIANT for this staff. He didn't deserve another loss last night.
Mets at a currently snow covered Target Field on Friday. Even when they clear the field it's going to be around 38 degrees at game time. Indoor baseball is starting to sound pretty good, isn't it?
I feel sorry for Hendricks. ONE run in five innings of work is BRILLIANT for this staff. He didn't deserve another loss last night.
Mets at a currently snow covered Target Field on Friday. Even when they clear the field it's going to be around 38 degrees at game time. Indoor baseball is starting to sound pretty good, isn't it?
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
A Little More
It's really hard to watch a game when your starter can't even get an out before the game is basically over. It was nice seeing Mauer, Willingam, and Escobar go deep, but the starting pitching is just not good enough. The bullpen was great again last night, giving up just ONE run in seven innings but bullpens aren't supposed to pitch seven innings.
Is it time to switch to nothing but bullpen pitchers as I keep on suggesting? IF you don't have any good starters why are you starting them? I know the season is just getting started but none of these guys looked good in spring training either. Each may have an occasional flash of brilliance, but that's not a starting five.
Let's be honest, who watched this game in its entirety? It won't be long before every game is completely skippable.
Is it time to switch to nothing but bullpen pitchers as I keep on suggesting? IF you don't have any good starters why are you starting them? I know the season is just getting started but none of these guys looked good in spring training either. Each may have an occasional flash of brilliance, but that's not a starting five.
Let's be honest, who watched this game in its entirety? It won't be long before every game is completely skippable.
Pelfrey Gives Up FIVE in First
And Mauer stuck out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth.
There's your summary of the 7-4 loss.
There's your summary of the 7-4 loss.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Notes
The Twins game was a great pitching match-up. It's too bad OUR starter lost his mojo late. Correia was superb through seven. I think Gardy left him in too long to "protect" an overworked bullpen. It's early in the season and Gardy really should have gotten him out of there sooner.
At the same time, Santana was very, very good for KC. I'd like to blame Twin's hitters, but I can't. They've see some excellent pitching so far this year, and yesterday was no exception. That's baseball.
Kevin Love is "out for the season" now that he's getting some minor knee surgery to clean up some old wounds. It doesn't bother me at this point. Even if he'd come back healthy with a healed hand, he may have only played a handful of games. Either way, the season was lost. THOUGH I still wonder WHY the minor knee surgery wasn't performed while he was also waiting for his hand to heal? He could have been recovering from BOTH at the same time. It's not like the knee thing just suddenly happened.
I didn't watch any of the college basketball championship game last night. A number one seeded team won, so I guess the rankings were still somewhat valid. Three other number one's were left in the dust ages ago, though.
At the same time, Santana was very, very good for KC. I'd like to blame Twin's hitters, but I can't. They've see some excellent pitching so far this year, and yesterday was no exception. That's baseball.
Kevin Love is "out for the season" now that he's getting some minor knee surgery to clean up some old wounds. It doesn't bother me at this point. Even if he'd come back healthy with a healed hand, he may have only played a handful of games. Either way, the season was lost. THOUGH I still wonder WHY the minor knee surgery wasn't performed while he was also waiting for his hand to heal? He could have been recovering from BOTH at the same time. It's not like the knee thing just suddenly happened.
I didn't watch any of the college basketball championship game last night. A number one seeded team won, so I guess the rankings were still somewhat valid. Three other number one's were left in the dust ages ago, though.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Baseball History
I know there are still some baseball fans who do not like the DH rule. I would mention one such fan, but since I've already mentioned him TWICE in about a week, so I won't do it this time.
The DH rule turned FORTY-ONE years old over the weekend. That means that it's been around since I was 12 years old. I actually do think it's a weird rule, but at the same time couldn't imagine having to watch pitcher hit (really poorly) most of the time. One of the reasons I hate watching inter-league play in a National League ballparks is because I HATE seeing pitchers come up in a rally inning with two outs. It's like having three outs because you KNOW that nothing is going to happen next.
Asking these guys, some who haven't had to hit AT ALL for many years to participate at the plate seems grossly unfair. Even a great athlete like Michael Jordan couldn't hit major league pitching when he tried baseball for a few seasons. If Micahel couldn't do it when playing regularly, how are ptchers supposed to do it when some may get only half a dozen at-bats a year?
Even if you despise the designated hitter rule, you should be able to say that ALL should convert to the same rule knowing that it is never going away. It's not a matter of preference any more, it's a matter of fairness and safety to participants.
I also like the way that it extends careers. I got to enjoy Jim Thome for a couple seasons in a Twins uniform just because that rule exists. IF you truly hate that rule, you should despise what Thome and his "ilk" have done to sully the pureness of the game. IF you've ever celebrated a Thome Twins blast, you really are not against the DH rule. Logic dictates that you cannot have it both ways.
But I'm not here to talk about the DH rule. I'm here to talk about OTHER baseball rules that have changed. The pro game has been around 130 YEARS. It's been adding and changing rules the entire time. There's no such thing as "playing the game like its meant to be played." Not unless you go way back to the beginning. I'm going to discussing some of those early rules today.
Originally a pitcher had NINE pitches to get a batter out. If he couldn't do it in that time, the batter was awarded a walk. There were even some small variations of that rule. For a brief time strikes weren't called either. A player was expected to HIT the ball by getting a good pitch from the pitcher.
The ball sizes and weights varied greatly. There was no standard ball.
There were regulations on size of the batter box. There were no regulations on bat sizes and weights.
Bases weren't standard either.
Balls that bounced over the wall were considered homeruns NOT ground ruled doubles. Even Babe Ruth was given a designated RUNNER late in his career every time he batted the ball, someone ELSE would run for him from home plate since he could no longer move.
Did you know that the spitball was banned in 1920 BUT that the moistened ball wasn't banned until 1968? That's right, as long as the moisture used wasn't SPIT, you could still legally moisten the ball through the 1967 season.
1968 also brought about a lowered mound and a smaller strike zone. Even though officially the strike zone is still listed as it's always been.
The DH rule IS weird, but it's been around for more than a third of the modern era. It's part of the game. And if you don't like it, you can always stop watching American League games. The National League is as stubborn as some fans. They don't plan on changing their rule either. They are the last holdouts world-wide. And they don't plan on changing soon either.
The DH rule turned FORTY-ONE years old over the weekend. That means that it's been around since I was 12 years old. I actually do think it's a weird rule, but at the same time couldn't imagine having to watch pitcher hit (really poorly) most of the time. One of the reasons I hate watching inter-league play in a National League ballparks is because I HATE seeing pitchers come up in a rally inning with two outs. It's like having three outs because you KNOW that nothing is going to happen next.
Asking these guys, some who haven't had to hit AT ALL for many years to participate at the plate seems grossly unfair. Even a great athlete like Michael Jordan couldn't hit major league pitching when he tried baseball for a few seasons. If Micahel couldn't do it when playing regularly, how are ptchers supposed to do it when some may get only half a dozen at-bats a year?
Even if you despise the designated hitter rule, you should be able to say that ALL should convert to the same rule knowing that it is never going away. It's not a matter of preference any more, it's a matter of fairness and safety to participants.
I also like the way that it extends careers. I got to enjoy Jim Thome for a couple seasons in a Twins uniform just because that rule exists. IF you truly hate that rule, you should despise what Thome and his "ilk" have done to sully the pureness of the game. IF you've ever celebrated a Thome Twins blast, you really are not against the DH rule. Logic dictates that you cannot have it both ways.
But I'm not here to talk about the DH rule. I'm here to talk about OTHER baseball rules that have changed. The pro game has been around 130 YEARS. It's been adding and changing rules the entire time. There's no such thing as "playing the game like its meant to be played." Not unless you go way back to the beginning. I'm going to discussing some of those early rules today.
Originally a pitcher had NINE pitches to get a batter out. If he couldn't do it in that time, the batter was awarded a walk. There were even some small variations of that rule. For a brief time strikes weren't called either. A player was expected to HIT the ball by getting a good pitch from the pitcher.
The ball sizes and weights varied greatly. There was no standard ball.
There were regulations on size of the batter box. There were no regulations on bat sizes and weights.
Bases weren't standard either.
Balls that bounced over the wall were considered homeruns NOT ground ruled doubles. Even Babe Ruth was given a designated RUNNER late in his career every time he batted the ball, someone ELSE would run for him from home plate since he could no longer move.
Did you know that the spitball was banned in 1920 BUT that the moistened ball wasn't banned until 1968? That's right, as long as the moisture used wasn't SPIT, you could still legally moisten the ball through the 1967 season.
1968 also brought about a lowered mound and a smaller strike zone. Even though officially the strike zone is still listed as it's always been.
The DH rule IS weird, but it's been around for more than a third of the modern era. It's part of the game. And if you don't like it, you can always stop watching American League games. The National League is as stubborn as some fans. They don't plan on changing their rule either. They are the last holdouts world-wide. And they don't plan on changing soon either.
I Told You So...
About a week ago I published this injury update from ESPN:
"RHP Cole DeVries, who left Friday's game after just three innings with forearm tightness, is doing fine and is expected to make his start on Saturday."
I then added THIS in my own commentary:
"The DeVries news sounds GREAT but I haven't trusted a Twins diagnosis on injuries for at least a season now. They ALWAYS seem to get it wrong."
Well, just as an update, I'd like to add here that DeVries IS now on the 15 day disabled list and that my OTHER prediction was that the Twins wouldn't even make it through their expected rotation ONCE before something would happen was also correct.
I'm batting two for two and the season is only a week old.
"RHP Cole DeVries, who left Friday's game after just three innings with forearm tightness, is doing fine and is expected to make his start on Saturday."
I then added THIS in my own commentary:
"The DeVries news sounds GREAT but I haven't trusted a Twins diagnosis on injuries for at least a season now. They ALWAYS seem to get it wrong."
Well, just as an update, I'd like to add here that DeVries IS now on the 15 day disabled list and that my OTHER prediction was that the Twins wouldn't even make it through their expected rotation ONCE before something would happen was also correct.
I'm batting two for two and the season is only a week old.
Twins Win Second Straight Series
The starters continue to struggle for the Twins, but the bullpen continues to shine. Hernandez wasn't horrible in his first start for the Twins and he did last five innings. At this point giving up on three runs in five innings is starting to look like a good outing for a Twins pitcher. The bullpen managed four more scoreless innings.
At times it seems that the Twins are more lucky than good. Justin Morneau's pop fly, which should have been an easy third out, was lost in the sun and resulted with him getting credit for a two run double instead. Things like that NEVER happened to the team last year. Maybe this year will be different.
The best part is that the Twins have now won their first two series of the year. And those series were against two very good ball clubs. I'll take the wins any way we can get them, but you KNOW you're not playing well when your whole team only has FOUR hits.
Hicks only has two hits for the Twins all year, but both have produced RBI. Yesterday's single drove in the eventual game winner. I'm still waiting for both he and Mauer to start hitting up to expectations.
Still a 4-2 record is nothing to sneeze at. We all know this could/should come tumbling down at any moment, but all it takes is for a couple of starters to consistently start pitching well and before you know it, the whole ball club looks better.
At times it seems that the Twins are more lucky than good. Justin Morneau's pop fly, which should have been an easy third out, was lost in the sun and resulted with him getting credit for a two run double instead. Things like that NEVER happened to the team last year. Maybe this year will be different.
The best part is that the Twins have now won their first two series of the year. And those series were against two very good ball clubs. I'll take the wins any way we can get them, but you KNOW you're not playing well when your whole team only has FOUR hits.
Hicks only has two hits for the Twins all year, but both have produced RBI. Yesterday's single drove in the eventual game winner. I'm still waiting for both he and Mauer to start hitting up to expectations.
Still a 4-2 record is nothing to sneeze at. We all know this could/should come tumbling down at any moment, but all it takes is for a couple of starters to consistently start pitching well and before you know it, the whole ball club looks better.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Worley Bad, Twins Good
Vance Worley was horrible yesterday. He gave up 10 hits in 5 innings while his own throwing error cost us at least one run as well. Despite that, the Twins still won. A two out single up the middle in the ninth by Morneau gave the Twins the win.
The best? Josh Roenicke gave the Twins three innings of one-hit relief, and Perkins was perfect in the ninth.
We won, but wow is Worley hard to watch. He needs to do so much more for the Twins.
The worst beside Worley? Aaron Hicks is batting .045 and was thrown out by a mile on a steal attempt yesterday. Mauer is batting .217.
We're 3-2 and tied for first place in the division. It's not pretty, but 3-2 is way better than I expected.
The best? Josh Roenicke gave the Twins three innings of one-hit relief, and Perkins was perfect in the ninth.
We won, but wow is Worley hard to watch. He needs to do so much more for the Twins.
The worst beside Worley? Aaron Hicks is batting .045 and was thrown out by a mile on a steal attempt yesterday. Mauer is batting .217.
We're 3-2 and tied for first place in the division. It's not pretty, but 3-2 is way better than I expected.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Chris Davis
Yes, the Twins got clobbered 9-5 yesterday. Chris Davis' eighth inning grand slam making the difference in the game. Davis now has 4 home runs and 16 RBI and it's only the fourth game of the season.
Hendriks blew an early lead and that put pressure on the bullpen. Fien was just awful in the eighth.
Worley gets his second start tonight. The rotation has already changed. DeVries was pulled and the Twins will have 23 year-old Pedro Hernandez pitch on Sunday.
Let's see if Mauer remembers how to hit the ball soon. That .222 average is stinking up the joint. And Aaron Hicks isn't doing himself any favors with a .059 average either.
Hendriks blew an early lead and that put pressure on the bullpen. Fien was just awful in the eighth.
Worley gets his second start tonight. The rotation has already changed. DeVries was pulled and the Twins will have 23 year-old Pedro Hernandez pitch on Sunday.
Let's see if Mauer remembers how to hit the ball soon. That .222 average is stinking up the joint. And Aaron Hicks isn't doing himself any favors with a .059 average either.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Corruption In NCAA Basketball
The Rutgers basketball program is a mess. Mike Rice was forced to resign after video footage of him abusing his players was released a few days ago. It involved him shoving players, throwing basketballs at them from close range, and using offensive politically incorrect slang words when doing so.
The bigger problem is that several Rutgers athletic department officials were aware of the incidents, which were a regular occurrence over a period of years, and they elected to do nothing about it to "protect" their program. Yesterday, a team assistant was also forced to step down. I'm thinking this assistant was sacrificed as the scapegoat but this will not be enough to satisfy those who are now investigating the charges.
It's just starting.
When big money is at stake it produces big corruption. More and more of these type of incidents are going to be reported from across the country in the near future. This is just the tip of the ice burg. University officials will start voluntarily giving up some information to protect their own jobs. They'd rather be the whistle blowing "heroes" than those dismissed in shame later. And ESPN will be there to listen to them.
In hindsight, I'm guessing those in charge of the Rutgers program had wished they'd said something sooner. Now they just have a lot of hurt and disgrace in their futures. And ESPN will be there for that as well.
The bigger problem is that several Rutgers athletic department officials were aware of the incidents, which were a regular occurrence over a period of years, and they elected to do nothing about it to "protect" their program. Yesterday, a team assistant was also forced to step down. I'm thinking this assistant was sacrificed as the scapegoat but this will not be enough to satisfy those who are now investigating the charges.
It's just starting.
When big money is at stake it produces big corruption. More and more of these type of incidents are going to be reported from across the country in the near future. This is just the tip of the ice burg. University officials will start voluntarily giving up some information to protect their own jobs. They'd rather be the whistle blowing "heroes" than those dismissed in shame later. And ESPN will be there to listen to them.
In hindsight, I'm guessing those in charge of the Rutgers program had wished they'd said something sooner. Now they just have a lot of hurt and disgrace in their futures. And ESPN will be there for that as well.
More on Auburn
You remember yesterday when I mentioned that Auburn was caught doctoring grades and giving money to key football stars?
It gets worse. Another report released by ESPN shows that they also didn't report failed drug tests. The drug in question was synthetic marijuana commonly referred to as "spice." Since the University wasn't technically obligated to report this particular drug use, when players failed it's test, they just continued to let them play. One player failed the test seven consecutive times on weekly tests and was still allowed to play on the team.
The effects of the drug may also have been responsible for another scandal that hit the university a few years back, when three of the players went on an armed robbery spree while high on spice.
Big money produces big corruption. The NCAA football programs are ripe with it. Auburn happened to get caught.
It gets worse. Another report released by ESPN shows that they also didn't report failed drug tests. The drug in question was synthetic marijuana commonly referred to as "spice." Since the University wasn't technically obligated to report this particular drug use, when players failed it's test, they just continued to let them play. One player failed the test seven consecutive times on weekly tests and was still allowed to play on the team.
The effects of the drug may also have been responsible for another scandal that hit the university a few years back, when three of the players went on an armed robbery spree while high on spice.
Big money produces big corruption. The NCAA football programs are ripe with it. Auburn happened to get caught.
2.45
Mike Pelfrey had another good start for the Twins yesterday. The bullpen was outstanding. The eighth inning was a lot of fun to watch and both Plouffe and Willingham homered.
The final was 8-2 and the Twins took the series from the Tigers 2 games to 1.
Twins starters for the series gave up 5 earned runs in 18 1/3 innings for an ERA of 2.45.
Worley, Correia, and Pelfrey, have a combined ERA of 2.45? Yep. Let's enjoy this ride while it lasts.
Pelfrey had season ending Tommy John surgery May first of last year. Doing THIS well, this early, is amazing. The former first round pick of the Mets may turn out to be the starter the Twins thought they were getting.
Am I excited? I'm getting there. Much like the Twins, we have no real history for the top three starters in our rotation. The next few weeks will give us all a better "pitcher."
A special shout out to Tom the Twins Fan. The occassion? This is the second time in a week that he's been mentioned in this blog. What could be bigger than that?
Congrats Tom!!!!! You should never have to miss an afternoon game again.
The final was 8-2 and the Twins took the series from the Tigers 2 games to 1.
Twins starters for the series gave up 5 earned runs in 18 1/3 innings for an ERA of 2.45.
Worley, Correia, and Pelfrey, have a combined ERA of 2.45? Yep. Let's enjoy this ride while it lasts.
Pelfrey had season ending Tommy John surgery May first of last year. Doing THIS well, this early, is amazing. The former first round pick of the Mets may turn out to be the starter the Twins thought they were getting.
Am I excited? I'm getting there. Much like the Twins, we have no real history for the top three starters in our rotation. The next few weeks will give us all a better "pitcher."
A special shout out to Tom the Twins Fan. The occassion? This is the second time in a week that he's been mentioned in this blog. What could be bigger than that?
Congrats Tom!!!!! You should never have to miss an afternoon game again.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Richard Pitino
The Gopher's basketball program has replaced Tubby Smith. If the name Pitino rings a bell it's because he's college coaching legend Rick Pitino's son.
At this point, I don't care one way or the other. The Gophers haven't had a good program since the days of Bill Mussleman and Jim Dutcher. Until SOMEONE actually give the Gophers a winning record in the Big Ten, he's just another guy.
Decades of incompetence can bring about indifference.
At this point, I don't care one way or the other. The Gophers haven't had a good program since the days of Bill Mussleman and Jim Dutcher. Until SOMEONE actually give the Gophers a winning record in the Big Ten, he's just another guy.
Decades of incompetence can bring about indifference.
Auburn Football
Reports are surfacing that... GASP...the Auburn football program that won the National Championship in 2011 actually...GASP... altered key players grades to keep them eligible and ...gasp... paid some of these key players several thousand dollars to keep them at college another year rather than going pro.
I'm in no way saying that what Auburn did was right, I'm saying I'm guessing this is pretty common at every single major college University that features a great football program. All you need are some rich alumni able to bribe someone in the records department and a few coaches/alumni willing to filter money to the players under the table.
I would be shocked if more players, from many more universities, wouldn't tell similar stories, if they were asked under the right circumstances. College football is BIG money. To think that certain people wouldn't use some of that money to ensure a winning program is naive.
Until college players are actually compensated for their work, things like this will continue to happen. I won't bother with all the reasons why. I've done that a few times in the past already. Huge money brings about corruption. Look no further than government to see how this works.
I'm in no way saying that what Auburn did was right, I'm saying I'm guessing this is pretty common at every single major college University that features a great football program. All you need are some rich alumni able to bribe someone in the records department and a few coaches/alumni willing to filter money to the players under the table.
I would be shocked if more players, from many more universities, wouldn't tell similar stories, if they were asked under the right circumstances. College football is BIG money. To think that certain people wouldn't use some of that money to ensure a winning program is naive.
Until college players are actually compensated for their work, things like this will continue to happen. I won't bother with all the reasons why. I've done that a few times in the past already. Huge money brings about corruption. Look no further than government to see how this works.
Bottom of the Ninth, Two On...
Twins had a couple of opportunities in Mondays game where ONE more hit would have changed the game. They didn't get that hit.
Yesterday, Kevin Correia gave the Twins seven SOLID innings, giving up jut two runs while in there. It's the Twins offense that's been disappointing so far this season.
Flash forward to the ninth inning. The Twins still had not done much with their bats. Trailing 2-1 entering the inning, it looked like the Twins were going to waste their second good team pitching performance of the season.
Then FUN baseball finally came into play. The worst crowd in Target Field history, less than 23,000, saw a really great rally capped by new Twin back-up shortstop Eduardo Escobar's double to left, lifting the Twins to a 3-2 victory.
I admit I'm baffled. The hitting has been horrible. The starting pitching has actually been pretty good. At least yesterday's win made the new season a little brighter.
I'm more worried about the crowd. The SECOND day of the season against the division champion Tigers and they only managed 22,000 fans. MOST who had already left by the time the Twins got their bottom of the ninth win. I guess I'm not the only fan who has given up hope on the season. The team didn't just need a new stadium. They needed a good team.
It only took two seasons for the freshness of the new stadium to wear off. Now the Twins have to earn their attendance. A lot of good will was lost by slashing $30 million dollars from their roster cost just two seasons ago. It's going to take a massive effort by the Twins to achieve some favor with this fan base again.
We don't want to settle for a rebuilding year after two horrible seasons in a row.
Yesterday, Kevin Correia gave the Twins seven SOLID innings, giving up jut two runs while in there. It's the Twins offense that's been disappointing so far this season.
Flash forward to the ninth inning. The Twins still had not done much with their bats. Trailing 2-1 entering the inning, it looked like the Twins were going to waste their second good team pitching performance of the season.
Then FUN baseball finally came into play. The worst crowd in Target Field history, less than 23,000, saw a really great rally capped by new Twin back-up shortstop Eduardo Escobar's double to left, lifting the Twins to a 3-2 victory.
I admit I'm baffled. The hitting has been horrible. The starting pitching has actually been pretty good. At least yesterday's win made the new season a little brighter.
I'm more worried about the crowd. The SECOND day of the season against the division champion Tigers and they only managed 22,000 fans. MOST who had already left by the time the Twins got their bottom of the ninth win. I guess I'm not the only fan who has given up hope on the season. The team didn't just need a new stadium. They needed a good team.
It only took two seasons for the freshness of the new stadium to wear off. Now the Twins have to earn their attendance. A lot of good will was lost by slashing $30 million dollars from their roster cost just two seasons ago. It's going to take a massive effort by the Twins to achieve some favor with this fan base again.
We don't want to settle for a rebuilding year after two horrible seasons in a row.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
26 Straight Outs
Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers yesterday came EVER SO CLOSE to perfection. 26 up, 26 down. All he needed was one more out and he would have had a perfect game...
He didn't get it. The next batter grounded one right through his legs for the Astros first hit of the game. Another hit followed that. It was still a win, but potential immortality was left for another day. It was merely the best start of the early season.
Twins and Tigers play again this afternoon. The weather should be much nicer. The pitching for the Twins is expected to be much worse. It's only the second game of the season, and I already feel like the cause is lost. It's tough trying to be a Twins fan.
Maybe the Twins will win a slugfest? The season is just getting started. Unreasonable hope still abounds.
He didn't get it. The next batter grounded one right through his legs for the Astros first hit of the game. Another hit followed that. It was still a win, but potential immortality was left for another day. It was merely the best start of the early season.
Twins and Tigers play again this afternoon. The weather should be much nicer. The pitching for the Twins is expected to be much worse. It's only the second game of the season, and I already feel like the cause is lost. It's tough trying to be a Twins fan.
Maybe the Twins will win a slugfest? The season is just getting started. Unreasonable hope still abounds.
Heat Scorched By Melo and New York AT MIami
The Miami Heat have now lost two of their last three games. Their win streak is now even less impressive. They are 28-2 over their last 30 games. I'll say it another way. The Lakers 33 game win streak of 40 years ago is looking even better than it did.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Commentary
Since the Astros moved to the AL, inter-league play will now become common throughout the season. I'm thinking it's time for BOTH leagues to have the same rules. It's time to have the National League add the DH rule. They are the ONLY league anywhere that doesn't and it's going to negatively effect how they perform against their AL counterparts in the long-run.
It's no longer a matter of keeping a tradition alive, it's about giving National League teams an equal chance to effectively compete against the AL.
OUR DH is expected to hit 20 homeuns this year. An average National League DH, when games are played on AL fields, will be some utility infielder or second string outfielder. The advantage will be seen over time. Even now, the AL has a huge lead in wins with the short time inter-league play has been around.
I don't mind the Twins having every advantage they can get this year, but fair is fair. Baseball needs to have all of its teams playing the same game...
...even if traditionalists have a hard time letting go of the past. (cough...cough...Tom the Twins Fan...cough...cough.)
It's no longer a matter of keeping a tradition alive, it's about giving National League teams an equal chance to effectively compete against the AL.
OUR DH is expected to hit 20 homeuns this year. An average National League DH, when games are played on AL fields, will be some utility infielder or second string outfielder. The advantage will be seen over time. Even now, the AL has a huge lead in wins with the short time inter-league play has been around.
I don't mind the Twins having every advantage they can get this year, but fair is fair. Baseball needs to have all of its teams playing the same game...
...even if traditionalists have a hard time letting go of the past. (cough...cough...Tom the Twins Fan...cough...cough.)
Baseball Notes
The Nationals look like the superb team everybody expects. Phenom Bryce Harper hit TWO homeruns yesterday while their rested ace, Stephen Strasburg pitched seven shutout innings, at one point retiring 19 consecutive batters. IF he stays healthy, he is going to be one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game.
Another of the game's best pitchers, Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw, shutout the Giants yesterday AND hit a homerun for good measure. It's so cool knowing that great pitching is still out there, even if none of it is anywhere near the Twins.
The Twins are tied for last place in the division after one day of play. Expect them to be around that spot all season.
Another of the game's best pitchers, Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw, shutout the Giants yesterday AND hit a homerun for good measure. It's so cool knowing that great pitching is still out there, even if none of it is anywhere near the Twins.
The Twins are tied for last place in the division after one day of play. Expect them to be around that spot all season.
Worley NOT Horrible in Loss
Vance Worley had a couple of bad innings early, but managed to give up only three runs in six innings of work. I'll take that from any Twins starter at this point. He also induced a ton of ground ball outs and only walked ONE. I see now why the Twins like him a lot more than I do.
On the flip side, Justin Verlander looked like the best pitcher in baseball, which coincidently makes sense since he probably is. I turned the game off for awhile after the Twins got down early. I figured Veleander wouldn't be going the whole game and just maybe the Twins would mount a rally when Verlander left.
They did but it wasn't enough.
Not a horrible game by any standard. The Twins officially sold-out the game, but there were thousands of empty seats. Fans say they want outdoor baseball, but in reality cold weather kept many of them away. Wenesday's game should be much warmer.
Sadly, the pitching for the Twins the next two games will probably be much worse. Time will tell. And I'll still be watching for a while longer.
On the flip side, Justin Verlander looked like the best pitcher in baseball, which coincidently makes sense since he probably is. I turned the game off for awhile after the Twins got down early. I figured Veleander wouldn't be going the whole game and just maybe the Twins would mount a rally when Verlander left.
They did but it wasn't enough.
Not a horrible game by any standard. The Twins officially sold-out the game, but there were thousands of empty seats. Fans say they want outdoor baseball, but in reality cold weather kept many of them away. Wenesday's game should be much warmer.
Sadly, the pitching for the Twins the next two games will probably be much worse. Time will tell. And I'll still be watching for a while longer.
Monday, April 1, 2013
NCCA Basketball Ratings
I'm still not quite sure where "Madness" fits into the title of the NCAA championships. Now that CBS has all the games to themselves, you would think that if madness were truly afoot that tens of millions would be watching these games. I mean the Final Four was determined this weekend and CBS only managed an average of about 6 million viewers Friday night.
To put that in perspective, that's what an average new episode of Pawn Stars gets on the History Channel on cable on Monday Nights. Vince McMahan and his WWE RAW wrestling show on USA Network Monday nights gets an average of 5 million viewers for their three hours. No one calls those "Madness" ratings. If anything Vince is DOWN from his "heyday" years of a decade ago when he was averaging nine million viewers every Monday. The hottest regular show on cable this year? Duck Dynasty. They get a whopping 8 million viewers every week when new episodes are broadcast. People who make duck calls for a living get 33% more viewers than the NCAA's finest BB players?
Madness? I think the numbers speak for themselves.
Five million viewers is what CBS averaged on Thursday night. What's madness to me is that CBS would preempt their normal Thursday night lineup to make room for college basketball. Bing Bang Theory is the top comedy show on television. It averages OVER 15 million viewers every time they show a new episode. Person of Interest brings in 13 million. Elementary averages 11 million.
A regular season college football game on ABC Saturday night during the fall will average over 15 million viewers. Not the bowl games, mind you, just the normal top teams playing each other to determine the two teams who will play in the National Championship game MONTHS later.
THOSE are big television numbers in this era of TV viewing. The Madness games don't really do anything ratings-wise until NEXT weekend. The semi-finals and finals will do well, but they would even without all of the inflated hype of the previous couple weekends.
I don't begrudge those who watch the games and enjoy them, but the ratings show that there just aren't many people who actually DO watch and enjoy them.
At it's peak, American idol averaged over 30 million a viewers a week for several seasons. This week, on Thursday night, they had their lowest viewership since their first season. They are in their death spiral. Their viewers? 11 million. Or about what CBS got for BOTH Thursday AND Friday night combined for their basketball games.
What madness is this?
To put that in perspective, that's what an average new episode of Pawn Stars gets on the History Channel on cable on Monday Nights. Vince McMahan and his WWE RAW wrestling show on USA Network Monday nights gets an average of 5 million viewers for their three hours. No one calls those "Madness" ratings. If anything Vince is DOWN from his "heyday" years of a decade ago when he was averaging nine million viewers every Monday. The hottest regular show on cable this year? Duck Dynasty. They get a whopping 8 million viewers every week when new episodes are broadcast. People who make duck calls for a living get 33% more viewers than the NCAA's finest BB players?
Madness? I think the numbers speak for themselves.
Five million viewers is what CBS averaged on Thursday night. What's madness to me is that CBS would preempt their normal Thursday night lineup to make room for college basketball. Bing Bang Theory is the top comedy show on television. It averages OVER 15 million viewers every time they show a new episode. Person of Interest brings in 13 million. Elementary averages 11 million.
A regular season college football game on ABC Saturday night during the fall will average over 15 million viewers. Not the bowl games, mind you, just the normal top teams playing each other to determine the two teams who will play in the National Championship game MONTHS later.
THOSE are big television numbers in this era of TV viewing. The Madness games don't really do anything ratings-wise until NEXT weekend. The semi-finals and finals will do well, but they would even without all of the inflated hype of the previous couple weekends.
I don't begrudge those who watch the games and enjoy them, but the ratings show that there just aren't many people who actually DO watch and enjoy them.
At it's peak, American idol averaged over 30 million a viewers a week for several seasons. This week, on Thursday night, they had their lowest viewership since their first season. They are in their death spiral. Their viewers? 11 million. Or about what CBS got for BOTH Thursday AND Friday night combined for their basketball games.
What madness is this?
Twins and Tigers This Afternoon
It's going to be cold. Worley vs. Verlander.
The Astros made a superb American League debut last night against Texas, besting them 8-2. It's just one game. Thousands more are coming over the next 6 months. Sill wishing I was more excited, and hoping somehow that the Twins pitching is way better than projected.
The Astros made a superb American League debut last night against Texas, besting them 8-2. It's just one game. Thousands more are coming over the next 6 months. Sill wishing I was more excited, and hoping somehow that the Twins pitching is way better than projected.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)