This is an amazing feat. More homeruns, more RBI, and a better average than anyone else in the American League. Even Yaz, back in 1967 TIED with Harmon Killebrew for homeruns when HE got the Crown.
I'm glad someone finally did it again. (I'll get used to the idea that it was Cabrera over time.) His last week of the season EARNED him that title. He deserved it.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Twins Ending Season With Whimper
The Twins aren't playing horribly. They just aren't playing well enough to win.
The pitching isn't bad. The hitting isn't bad either, but it always seems like they can't get that ONE hit they need when our guys are on base, and they always seem to give up that ONE hit in critical situations when THEIR guys are on base.
Last night they lost 4-3. That, in a nutshell, has been the Twins season. Mostly in it, but never quite winning it. With Mauer most likely out of the batting race and Willingham sitting out the rest of the season as to not aggravate his shoulder, there really isn't enough going on to watch the last game of the season today. At least Diamond is pitching. He gives us a better chance than most at ending the season with a win.
The pitching isn't bad. The hitting isn't bad either, but it always seems like they can't get that ONE hit they need when our guys are on base, and they always seem to give up that ONE hit in critical situations when THEIR guys are on base.
Last night they lost 4-3. That, in a nutshell, has been the Twins season. Mostly in it, but never quite winning it. With Mauer most likely out of the batting race and Willingham sitting out the rest of the season as to not aggravate his shoulder, there really isn't enough going on to watch the last game of the season today. At least Diamond is pitching. He gives us a better chance than most at ending the season with a win.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Twins Support
The Casual Fan has learned that two of his regualr readers were at last Saturday's game. Both Curtis (The disappointed Twin's fan) and Eric the Vike Man got to see the Twins lose that day. All was not lost for Eric, however. He did get this picture with Twin's great Tony O.
R.A. Dickey
Former Twins Knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey, is having a Cy Young type season for the Mets. His record is 20-6 and his ERA is just 2.69. He's the first knuckle ball pitcher in over 30 years to have that many wins. He gets his last start of the season today against the Marlins. IF he wins, it would be hard not giving him the award.
It's too bad the Twins couldn't have found a place on the roster for him.
Did I mention that ANOTHER former Twins starter is also having a Cy Young type season? Kyle Loshe (one of my all-time favorite Twins) has put together a monster season of his own for the Cardinals. His record is 16-3 and his ERA is just 2.89. Say what you will about the Twins and their management style, they could NEVER judge good pitching. They've let so many good starters get away over the years that's it's no longer funny.
It's too bad the Twins couldn't have found a place on the roster for him.
Did I mention that ANOTHER former Twins starter is also having a Cy Young type season? Kyle Loshe (one of my all-time favorite Twins) has put together a monster season of his own for the Cardinals. His record is 16-3 and his ERA is just 2.89. Say what you will about the Twins and their management style, they could NEVER judge good pitching. They've let so many good starters get away over the years that's it's no longer funny.
Thoughts
Vasquez looked good as a starter last night. The bullpen stumbled and Perkins blew his first save since the All-Star break. Mauer looked average while Cabrera had an incredible night in KC. It looks like Cabrera is going to EARN that Triple Crown and I have to admit that I'm kind of excited about the possibility. Yaz did it the year BEFORE I started following baseball, so it would be kind of cool for it to happen after 45 years. It's the greatest feat in sports.
The Bears look like the best team in the NFC North. Their offense is okay, but their defense gobbled up Dallas last night. It's possible that Dallas is really lousy, but either way, the Bears established themselves as the team to beat.
The Vikes still are tied for first place in the division, though, and I'll gladly take that.
The Bears look like the best team in the NFC North. Their offense is okay, but their defense gobbled up Dallas last night. It's possible that Dallas is really lousy, but either way, the Bears established themselves as the team to beat.
The Vikes still are tied for first place in the division, though, and I'll gladly take that.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Football
The Vikings surprisingly find themselves alone in first place this morning. The Bears have a chance of moving into a tie after tonight's game.
I counted half a dozen bad ref calls in the Vikes game yesterday and I wasn't even watching that closely.
I saw several horrible calls in the Packers game as well. IF New Orleans had made that last field goal at the end yesterday it would have been the refs' fault. The clear Sproles fumble was missed. Even the last offsides call against the Packers that gave New Orleans five extra yards at the end was blown. The Packers were drawn off by a New Orlean's player clear "twitch" that the refs didn't see. The refs also blew a call on a completed pass to New Orleans earlier that resulted in a long TD drive.
These refs were as bad as usual. People can complain about the replacements all they want, but you'd have a hard case proving these refs were better. EVEN the long delays as refs sorted things out was very "substitute-ref-like."
In the end. My Vikes and my Packers won. So all is right with the world.
And I'm still not convinced the Vikings are a good team. A kickoff return AND a punt return BOTH for touchdowns? We can't plan on those types of plays to win. So far, I feel we've been more lucky that good. I'm not complaining though. Lucky is way better than playing badly.
The season is 25% done and the Vikes are in first place. No one saw that coming.
I counted half a dozen bad ref calls in the Vikes game yesterday and I wasn't even watching that closely.
I saw several horrible calls in the Packers game as well. IF New Orleans had made that last field goal at the end yesterday it would have been the refs' fault. The clear Sproles fumble was missed. Even the last offsides call against the Packers that gave New Orleans five extra yards at the end was blown. The Packers were drawn off by a New Orlean's player clear "twitch" that the refs didn't see. The refs also blew a call on a completed pass to New Orleans earlier that resulted in a long TD drive.
These refs were as bad as usual. People can complain about the replacements all they want, but you'd have a hard case proving these refs were better. EVEN the long delays as refs sorted things out was very "substitute-ref-like."
In the end. My Vikes and my Packers won. So all is right with the world.
And I'm still not convinced the Vikings are a good team. A kickoff return AND a punt return BOTH for touchdowns? We can't plan on those types of plays to win. So far, I feel we've been more lucky that good. I'm not complaining though. Lucky is way better than playing badly.
The season is 25% done and the Vikes are in first place. No one saw that coming.
Mauer Gets Three Hits
And Liam Hendriks pitched GREAT. The Twins lost but it was still a good game.
All the articles I've been reading lately discuss how bad the Twins pitching outlook is for next season. Actually, it's the starting pitching that has looked good the last couple of months. We lose when the bats go dead. Or like yesterday, we got TEN hits but just ONE run.
Mauer's only a couple points back in the batting race. I'm still hoping he stops Cabrerra from getting the Triple Crown. I'm also looking forward to Josh Hamilton getting a couple of more homeruns, too.
Three games left. Not much to watch for anymore.
The Twins drew 2.75 million fans this season. That number will go down even further next year without a dramatic turnaround.
All the articles I've been reading lately discuss how bad the Twins pitching outlook is for next season. Actually, it's the starting pitching that has looked good the last couple of months. We lose when the bats go dead. Or like yesterday, we got TEN hits but just ONE run.
Mauer's only a couple points back in the batting race. I'm still hoping he stops Cabrerra from getting the Triple Crown. I'm also looking forward to Josh Hamilton getting a couple of more homeruns, too.
Three games left. Not much to watch for anymore.
The Twins drew 2.75 million fans this season. That number will go down even further next year without a dramatic turnaround.
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