My friends: Justin Morneau, class act.

[PseudoSABR]

I, for one, felt very rewarded by Justin's return to Target Field.

 

Justin had the opportunity to explain his mutual respect for Twins fans; he describes his reception from the crowd as moment he'll never forget. Speaking about it, Morneau struggled to contain his emotion. He misses us.

[glunn]

Last year at a game in Anaheim Justin was the only Twins player to come over to sign baseballs for fans. He was patient and friendly. Definitely a class act. I am glad that the concussion symptoms seem to have subsided.

[Blackjack]

Maybe he learned some humility after his concussion, realizing his career could be over, but I listened to more than one interview with him in his younger days where he was really rude to the interviewer, rude to the point where if I was the interviewer I'd never have him back. I know I'll get barbecued here but count me as not a Morneau fan.

[tobi0040]

Last year at a game in Anaheim Justin was the only Twins player to come over to sign baseballs for fans. He was patient and friendly. Definitely a class act. I am glad that the concussion symptoms seem to have subsided.

 

You always used to hear how if a young player didn't run out a grounder or showed up late to something, it was always Justin that told him how it was going to be. You have to wonder who is doing that now.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

You always used to hear how if a young player didn't run out a grounder or showed up late to something, it was always Justin that told him how it was going to be. You have to wonder who is doing that now.

 

that's a good question - it seems like Morales has been talking to some of the young guys, Arcia in particular.

Dozier could step to be that guy. Even someone like Colabello, who doesn't have the same MLB resume, could be an example to the young guys. He's certainly had to work really hard to get here. Suzuki seems to be that guy for the pitching staff.

With Morneau gone, I do wonder who became the vocal leader in the clubhouse. Maybe Kurt, maybe Dozier.

[Wyorev]

Maybe he learned some humility after his concussion, realizing his career could be over, but I listened to more than one interview with him in his younger days where he was really rude to the interviewer, rude to the point where if I was the interviewer I'd never have him back. I know I'll get barbecued here but count me as not a Morneau fan.

I am a Morneau fan.

I won't barbecue you, but I will suggest that people mature, and one might not be out of line in suggesting that a corresponding maturity might be called for in giving someone a break.

[D. Hocking]

It has been interesting to see Dozier develop in his post-game interviews over the past year. Not that sometimes is not deceptive, but he seems to have matured into someone who could fill this role. Kurt as well, but I suspect Dozier will be around longer.

 

I read an interview of a bat boy a couple of years ago (on one of the west coast teams - Oakland?) who dealt with the visiting players. He specifically named Morneau (and Mauer) as being two of the nicest players he had to deal with and enjoyed working with the Twins in general.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Maybe he learned some humility after his concussion, realizing his career could be over, but I listened to more than one interview with him in his younger days where he was really rude to the interviewer, rude to the point where if I was the interviewer I'd never have him back. I know I'll get barbecued here but count me as not a Morneau fan.

 

Define "younger days"? Morneau got married in 2009 and had his first kid in 2010 -- those events are sure to change anyone's personality, particularly that of a talented young male athlete. (Although he certainly has faced some new professional challenges since 2010 too.)

[Longdistancetwins]

Maybe he learned some humility after his concussion, realizing his career could be over, but I listened to more than one interview with him in his younger days where he was really rude to the interviewer, rude to the point where if I was the interviewer I'd never have him back. I know I'll get barbecued here but count me as not a Morneau fan.

 

I'm bringing this up for the first time, only because I don't want Blackjack to be "barbecued." Years ago, I heard stories--at the time--from an on-the-ground source of what Morneau's minor league teammates thought of him, and it could not be worse. So, yes, it has been hard for me to embrace him they way other Twins fans have. I do believe in transformation, and I do believe he has changed. If it wasn't a religious conversion, I'd have to give Joe Mauer a lot of credit for this. But don't be hard on Blackjack; he's not wrong.

[cattlefeeder]

I'm bringing this up for the first time, only because I don't want Blackjack to be "barbecued." Years ago, I heard stories--at the time--from an on-the-ground source of what Morneau's minor league teammates thought of him, and it could not be worse. So, yes, it has been hard for me to embrace him they way other Twins fans have. I do believe in transformation, and I do believe he has changed. If it wasn't a religious conversion, I'd have to give Joe Mauer a lot of credit for this. But don't be hard on Blackjack; he's not wrong.

 

If that's true, then it makes Morneau even easier to root for. Based on the way current and former teammates lobbied...HARD...for him to make the All-Star roster, he's a beloved teammate now. If that's only after a major shift in personality it's all the more remarkable.