Stop By, Say Hi (Get To Know Us)

[Vanimal46]

You youngins don't use ICQ anymore?

You might as well be speaking swahili to me

[Platoon]

I live in Tucson, due largely to being stationed here twice and ending up retiring from the Air Force here. Now I have grandkids here, so probably not leaving. But my "home" is Minnesota...I was raised and went to school in Cosmos. Kudos to the few of you who have heard of it, much less know where it is. Mrs Chief is from Spicer, and we both come home as aften as we can. As for age...don't want to spoil any running game thread gags, so lets just say, when it comes to age, I'm like the kids from Lake Wobegon: above average.

Been a Twins fan since my dad took me to the Met to see my first game in 1963. We couldn't find our car in that giant parking lot after. My favorite memories are that day, beating Detroit to get to the 87 series, and attending games 1 and 2 of the 91 series. Favorite player is Kirby.

I migrated here when BYTO folded, been here since, and hope to waste way too much time here until I can no longer waste time.

Did you live on one of those intergalactic streets in Cosmos? .

[Richie the Rally Goat]

You might as well be speaking swahili to me

Heri za Mwaka Mpya

[TheLeviathan]

 

Did you live on one of those intergalactic streets in Cosmos? .

 

I was going to ask if he was the one behind the strip club right off of 4....

[Platoon]

I was going to ask if he was the one behind the strip club right off of 4....

?......... or in it? Lol. I think the same owner had one in Nicollet. It was great, I love a good scandal!

[Platoon]

I was born in New Ulm, raised on a farm south of Searles MN, and now live on the muddy Minnesota River about 9 miles from there. I have 4 children, 2 of each variety, and a lovely and needless to say, long suffering spouse.

 

I spent exactly four months living in Minneapolis after leaving home, and knew I wasn't destined for big city living. It's a nice place to visit...........

So I moved home, and since have been everything from a Teamster to an Internet sporting goods site owner. And an awful lot in between. Between work and motorcycles, I have crisscrossed the US often, and have done extensive research in the category of small out of the way eating establishments! Now retired, I am appreciative of the Gen X'ers and Millennials who keep my retirement funds flowing! I won't thank each of you individually, you know who you are!

 

I was Jim Hoey before Jim Hoey. A big arm, with absolutely no idea of where the ball would end up. A friend once asked me, "what would you do if you couldn't throw anything"? At the time I didn't know, but now realize what the answer was. Peruse TD. Since I have not been able to download Twitter on my flip phone, I know I didn't follow Seth here. So how I got here, will remain one of life's mysteries, even to me. Why I stay is the other one.

 

Saying that Harmon is likely my favorite Twin, and that the absence of Tony Oliva delegitimizes the HOF, gives you another idea of my age. I grew up with 'CCO and the games on AM only car radios, and have sat on the bike at 10 PM in the Gillette WY Super 8 parking lot listening to the end of a game the year Liriano was his best. As for the most exciting moment in Twins history, it might be hearing the Spanish language version of the Puckett home run. And I don't speak Spanish. But the guys excitement was infectious in any language!

 

I have coached, umpired, and watched an untold number of baseball games. I hardly miss a Twins game on tv, and despite numerous opportunities to go to TF on the cuff, I seldom do. After seeing so much baseball up close, I find the distance from the action to be annoying.

 

As I am not exactly metrically inclined, I am likely somewhat of an outlier herein. I understand and appreciate the value that enhanced statistical analysis brings to bear, but also think that simply looking at someone's numbers leaves something on the table. How about Terry Ryan and Bill James doing the Vulcan mind meld?

 

As an established curmudgeon, and ancient philosopher, I have come to several conclusions about the game. To wit:

 

1. The game is not as complicated as we make it.

2. Pitching, pitching, pitching!

3. Defense helps pitching.

4. Being competitive is all you can plan for. It allows for the chance of end of the year success.

 

I enjoy the discussions and the witty repartee. Even the disagreements are entertaining, and normally civil. While I find it a pain to watch games in live time (thank you TiVo), I really enjoy the Game Threads. My biggest fear is that once we inevitably become competitive, GT's will become serious discussions on baseball. That would be a tragedy of epic proportions.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

You might as well be speaking swahili to me

 

ICQ is the record player of instant messaging. 

[USAFChief]

I was going to ask if he was the one behind the strip club right off of 4....

That was after my time (and hearing about it was...almost too bizarre to believe), but--true story--that building began life as a restaurant owned by a couple of teachers. I worked there when I was in high school. The "Milky Way."

[Platoon]

That was after my time (and hearing about it was...almost too bizarre to believe), but--true story--that building began life as a restaurant owned by a couple of teachers. I worked there when I was in high school. The "Milky Way."

There are soooooo many places to go with this, but first a question? Can you assign warning points to a response to your own double entendre? .

[ashbury]

My biggest fear is that once we inevitably become competitive, GT's will become serious discussions on baseball. That would be a tragedy of epic proportions.

I plan to take part in game threads.

 

Problem. Solved. You're welcome.

[TheLeviathan]

 

That was after my time (and hearing about it was...almost too bizarre to believe), but--true story--that building began life as a restaurant owned by a couple of teachers. I worked there when I was in high school. The "Milky Way."

 

Yeah, you could tell it was a restaurant beforehand.  I didn't know about it until I was on my way to Alexandria one time and drove by it.  I turned around to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.  

 

The Nicollet club was in my (figurative) backyard.  I think that lasted like a month.

[Vanimal46]

I really enjoy the Game Threads. My biggest fear is that once we inevitably become competitive, GT's will become serious discussions on baseball. That would be a tragedy of epic proportions.

Don't worry, RB and I don't know how to create serious game threads! Whether the Twins are 24-41 or 41-24, Whine Line: Used Car Lot Edition, County Fair Edition, or Gypsy Edition will always be open for business!

 

Don't take this as an old age joke, but my grandpa had a similar story to you... He knew the big city wasn't for him and moved back to the family farm during the Great Depression. Never left after that. He also believed stop signs were for the out of towners, so it's a good thing he didn't live in a big city!

[Platoon]

Yeah, you could tell it was a restaurant beforehand.  I didn't know about it until I was on my way to Alexandria one time and drove by it.  I turned around to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.  

 

The Nicollet club was in my (figurative) backyard.  I think that lasted like a month.

if I remember correctly in Cosmos they covered the windows with styrofoam panels? On another Cosmopolitan topic, they used to play a form of modified fast pitch up there. My oldest son went to the tourneys. I think it was anything you could throw by only bringing your arm back to a horizontal position, and then underhand.

[Riverbrian]

 

Heri za Mwaka Mpya

 

Wasswa Serwanga to you Sconnie as well. 

[Platoon]

Don't worry, RB and I don't know how to create serious game threads! Whether the Twins are 24-41 or 41-24, Whine Line: Used Car Lot Edition, County Fair Edition, or Gypsy Edition will always be open for business!

Don't take this as an old age joke, but my grandpa had a similar story to you... He knew the big city wasn't for him and moved back to the family farm during the Great Depression. Never left after that. He also believed stop signs were for the out of towners, so it's a good thing he didn't live in a big city!

My dad drove like that, said he never had an accident. (Not true). We always told him to look in the rear view mirror at the carnage in his wake! I am grateful for large cities! It keeps the riff raff away! . Not to get over philosophical, but when I traveled I always found the following to be true. If I drove for a long period in trees, I yearned for corn fields, and vice versa. Same went for hills, curves and flat ground. Two days on the bike in the Black Hills make I90 look pretty good.

[ashbury]

If I drove for a long period in trees, I yearned for corn fields, and vice versa. Same went for hills, curves and flat ground. Two days on the bike in the Black Hills make I90 look pretty good.

Two days on a bike on I90 would make driving in the Black Hills look pretty good, as well.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Wasswa Serwanga to you Sconnie as well.

older male twin? That makes no sense

 

 

Go Pack!

[Platoon]

Two days on a bike on I90 would make driving in the Black Hills look pretty good, as well.

We did Norwalk OH to So. Central MN in one day on the bike, including a noon ride through downtown Chicago. And you are right about I90. But ND and SD freeway driving does not have to take a back seat to the the scenery on I80 in OH and IN!

[ashbury]

We did Norwalk OH to So. Central MN in one day on the bike, including a noon ride through downtown Chicago. And you are right about I90. But ND and SD freeway driving does not have to take a back seat to the the scenery on I80 in OH and IN!

Ah. Motorcycle. I seriously thought you meant bicycling in the Black Hills, making you some kind of iron man. Well, I suppose 600 miles from Ohio to MN on a bicycle in one day would be Lance Armstrong iron man territory, too.

[Platoon]

Ah. Motorcycle. I seriously thought you meant bicycling in the Black Hills, making you some kind of iron man. Well, I suppose 600 miles from Ohio to MN on a bicycle in one day would be Lance Armstrong iron man territory, too.

Well it was an iron something, I know that. I think it was 745 miles. What was really stupid, we went out for pizza, and asked them to turn on the game. I thought the Twins were in MN. Turns out they were in Cleveland! It would have been fun to go to the game there that night, even if it was Clevleand.

[GCTF]

I was born a poor black child...

[Craig Arko]

I was born a poor black child...

I'm afraid to ask what you named your dog.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I thought I should say why I picked Buddy Holly as a handle. Until last summer I always pictured Seth as someone that looked liked Buddy Holly, until I saw his picture. Hope your not offended Seth. You do great work, thanks for giving me something to do everyday for a few minutes. Happy New Year to everyone and Let make the Twins Great Again.

 

Not offended at all... Definitely more John Candy/Chris Farley than Buddy Holly!

[DaveW]

I was born a poor black child...

What's your special purpose?

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm afraid to ask what you named your dog.

 

Lifesaver...

[Craig Arko]

Lifesaver...

A part of living...

[Craig Arko]

I suppose this is as good a place as any to confess a lifelong crush on Bernadette Peters.

[Platoon]

I suppose this is as good a place as any to confess a lifelong crush on Bernadette Peters.

You might as well, there's been a lot of confessing going on! And bubbles burst! The Seth/Buddy Holly one was for me the most traumatic.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Go Pack!

 

Pretty sure that statement is worth about 100 points... just sayin...

[Doomtints]

Mid-40s. Went to several games at the old Met, including a memorable 4th of July where they let everyone on the roof after the game to watch the fireworks. The Met was a great stadium for baseball, though there were very few amenities inside (and little room for them anyway). The outfield seats were not connected to the main stadium in any way, if you came in on the outfield side there was no way to the rest of the stadium.

 

I felt like the lone Twins fan during the 81-87 seasons. Over that last month in 87, everyone in Minnesota was a Twins fan. In many ways I think the Twin Cities needed that championship. Everyone came together, it was a good time.

 

Right after 87 World Series concluded, I moved to Texas, ending up in Austin for many years. I am currently in Chicago.

 

By trade I am a data scientist, producing data on anything the executives ask for. Dollars, sales, utilization, whatever. Sometimes it's a question like, "Why are people suddenly buying this in this part of the country?" and figuring out the answer. Other times it's more banal basic market analysis trends. If the execs can't figure out an answer, I'm the one they call. It is not uncommon for the data to show the exact opposite of what people's perceptions are and learning this has taught me to scrutinize everything that people say about baseball players. And, at the danger of sounding like an arse, I'm usually right when I am skeptical about a player that everyone else loves (or when I love a player that others don't consider interesting).