Remember Me?

[jokin]

I only turn 29 next month. I'm pitching for $750,000 this year on a one-year deal. I have nearly averaged 6 IP in my 3 starts this year, and with a pretty shaky and inexperienced defense behind me, I've still compiled a 2.04 ERA. The teams I faced in those 3 games? Glad you asked. 3 of the better hitting teams in baseball, including 2 of the favorites to win it all. I am fairly confident that all 3 of these teams will finish higher than the Mets. I parted ways with the Twins awhile ago on less than amicable terms, I've moved on- and yet DicknBert are still taking shots at me from the cheap seats. Whatever.... Best of luck to you all, and I won't be as catty as Chief and Glunn and heartily remind you to cheer up! Minnesota does NOT have the worst weather in the country. Thanks goodness for Alaska! See you next week, and you all are welcome to come down to South Beach and party (but don't bring Gardy), in June.

 

Kevin Slowey Stats, News, Pictures, Bio, Videos - Miami Marlins - ESPN

[one_eyed_jack]

You make yourself sound like a really good pitcher. How many major league wins do you have since your less-than-amicable parting with the Twins?

[DaveW]

Kevin Correia also has a 3.00 era or so....also didn't slowly have like a 9.00 era in AAA last year?

[ashbury]

Someone needs to update the Hipster Slowey site and the second installment to make him South Beach Kevin.

 

/ Note well: I was into Hipster Slowey a long time before it was cool.

[Seth Stohs]

Oh yeah, we exchanged a couple of e-mails a few weeks ago. You said you knew that if you could stay healthy, you would be just fine. I agreed!

[cmathewson]

Glad he's healthy and productive. That was the issue that caused his departure, with the former medical staff discounting his injury and calling him a whiner.

[Shane Wahl]

I was disgusted by Bremer and Blyleven continuing their Slowey hatred on air this season. It was uncomfortable and they just kept going with it for a minute or more. Totally unprofessional and weird.

[kab21]

Imagine a time when there were too many pitchers for the Twins rotation.

[snepp]

I was disgusted by Bremer and Blyleven continuing their Slowey hatred on air this season. It was uncomfortable and they just kept going with it for a minute or more. Totally unprofessional and weird.

 

It seems like they've never had a problem bad-mouthing ex-Twins as long as it fit the narrative coming out of the Twins front office.

[jokin]

How professional standards change. Trying to think of similarly embarrassing bits by Herb Carneal, John Gordon, Jim Kaat, Ray Scott- or even Joe Angel......Nope

[Fatt Crapps]

Dick's a tool. I knew someone who used to work for FSN, and he took his old man with him to some type of FSN banquet. The father went up to Dick just to say hello and shake his hand, and Dick completely blew him off. This old man is one of the kindest guys I know and a diehard Twins fan, so screw Dick.

[PseudoSABR]

Please tell me, how else have the Twins done wrong?

[old nurse]

Slowey is new to the NL hitters. Not that I wish ill but wait and see the second time through the teams.

[glunn]

Who said that Minnesota has the worst weather in the country? I would nominate Alabama or Mississippi for this distinction, because the summers there can be brutal.

[gunnarthor]

I guess there are really two issues here. 1) Is Slowey a good pitcher and 2) Is he a good person? He isn't a good pitcher. He had one solid season five years ago and that was pretty much it. We have a pretty good sample size to work with there. But if you want to think that one quality start in 3 starts this year means he's turned the corner (and in his defense, a 33% QS or 5.9ip/game would be far better than anything he's done in a long time), more power to you. But it's far more likely that he is the same pitcher that has sucked for so long.

 

The second issue is he a good person. No one here knows him but there have been stories about him being a D-bag for years. On the old ESPN forums, a fan mentioned some dicky things Slowey did to a young fan seeking an autograph during ST. Souhan mentioned that he had never seen someone burn as many bridges in the locker room, coaching staff and front office as Slowey had managed and that no one liked him. I suppose we could say that Souhan is libeling Slowey but he probably had some basis for the charge. And I'll print below all the teammates who spoke out in his defense:

 

We do know that he pouted and refused to go to the bullpen despite being unable to pitch deep into games. So, he's probably a dick. I suppose we can hear from anti-Twins people (and it's really hard to say these are pro-Slowey guys, it's just people trying to be contrarian) who will say Gardy doesn't like him b/c he could read a book or refused to be one of Gardy's guys or some such bull****.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Slowey was a 95 ERA+ pitcher for the Twins -- that is about average for a starting pitcher (starters tend to have lower ERA+ than relievers). Even if he wasn't durable, that's pretty good. Obviously not a superstar, but good.

 

His problem was health: missing time in a few seasons, culminating in 2011 when I think his initial move to the bullpen was partly a response to his health issues at the time. He was definitely a different pitcher in 2011-2012. If he's recovered now, I would not be surprised to see him become a league-average starter again.

 

It was frustrating at the time because we never had perfect information, but in hindsight it's definitely hard to fault the Twins for the Slowey saga.

[Otto von Ballpark]

How professional standards change. Trying to think of similarly embarrassing bits by Herb Carneal, John Gordon, Jim Kaat, Ray Scott- or even Joe Angel......Nope

To be fair, there is a TON more media now than even 10-15 years ago. Especially the TV guys. They have to fill 3+ hours of air time 150+ times per year now, which was not nearly the case for previous generations. So there is a greater chance they will say stupid/insensitive stuff.

 

Furthermore, there are greater records of it now, and we're all a little more sensitive. I have no doubt that Gordon, Carneal, etc. regurgitated some one-sided front office gab back in the day -- I'd be surprised if there was ever an announcer who didn't do that. I'd guess they probably committed that act about as frequently as newspapers of the time, but there simply is no paper trail for the announcers.

 

I will say that recent acts like this have probably increased, due to the vast increase in media coverage and a bit of an "echo chamber" effect. Also, the Twins had a ~10 year run of relevance, which focused that attention further.

[bird]

Yes,you're absolutely right (again). What a collossal mistake (again) by Twins management, and by Gardy to run such a fine pitcher and fine fellow out of town.

 

God knows we need him to shore up he #6-7-8 spot in the rotation, which is his ceiling.

[nicksaviking]

I guess there are really two issues here. 1) Is Slowey a good pitcher and 2) Is he a good person?

 

However this is professional baseball. The goal is to win and I don't know how anyone could argue that after the 2010 season, Slowey should have gotten the 5th rotation spot over Blackburn in 2011.

 

Even if the Twins laid on the lame "clubhouse harmony" BS, it's not like he was off the team, they initially put him in the bullpen until he blew up and got a demotion. If the Twins intent all along was to put him in the bullpen knowing he would stew and complain long enough to demote him, that's pretty dirty and underhanded in itself.

 

Slowey is a widely regarded as a jerk while Blackburn is widely regarded as Gardenhire's good ol' boy from Oklahoma. It's clear the decision was at least made in large part due to personality, is that the best way to win in this league? I don't believe so.

[Halsey Hall]

"I have no doubt that Gordon, Carneal, etc. regurgitated some one-sided front office gab back in the day -- I'd be surprised if there was ever an announcer who didn't do that. I'd guess they probably committed that act about as frequently as newspapers of the time, but there simply is no paper trail for the announcers."

 

You never heard me talk about Calvin or Billy like that. Cough, cough cough........

[IdahoPilgrim]

Dear Kevin,

 

Glad to hear you're doing so well.

 

Hope that continues after the chip on your shoulder wears off.

 

Best wishes!

[Guest USAFChief]

To be fair, there is a TON more media now than even 10-15 years ago. Especially the TV guys. They have to fill 3+ hours of air time 150+ times per year now, which was not nearly the case for previous generations. So there is a greater chance they will say stupid/insensitive stuff.

 

Vin Scully seems to have been able to make the transition without taking cheap shots.

[johnnydakota]

Please tell me, how else have the Twins done wrong?

 

If i did (1) I would get banned ,and (2) It would take an hour to read =)

[johnnydakota]

Yes,you're absolutely right (again). What a collossal mistake (again) by Twins management, and by Gardy to run such a fine pitcher and fine fellow out of town.

 

God knows we need him to shore up he #6-7-8 spot in the rotation, which is his ceiling.

100% correct my friend especially since Terry already shored up the 6/7/8 spot during the off season...

[ThePuck]

Personally, I am rooting for him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Vin Scully seems to have been able to make the transition without taking cheap shots.

Vin Scully is primarily a radio guy, and a play-by-play guy at heart. They generally describe the game more than TV talking heads, who are really just having a conversation (often a stupid or unnecessary one).

 

I'm not trying to defend Dick 'n' Bert, and I never listen to them anymore, I just think it's not really fair to compare them to broadcasters of old, particularly radio broadcasters, on matters criticizing players / promoting the team's opinion.

[jay]

Can't say I ever understood the Slowey hate either. He's no All-Star, but it could quite well just be that the narrative fits what we want to believe.

 

I ran into him a few times and he never came off as a dick, including a time on the road when he was out with Morneau, Nathan, and Punto. He was the drunkest of the bunch (why not when you're the only guy in between starts?), but he fit right in with the other guys.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm rooting for him too. The Twins talking heads treatment of him has always baffled me. What professional whose career is on the line likes having his usage toyed with? Turns out he was right too that stretching him to start all spring and then days later turning him into a back to back one inning reliever was trouble for his arm. God forbid he look out for his own livelihood.

[ThePuck]

Gleeman wrote an interesting piece about how the Slowey situation was handled.

 

Jim Souhan » AaronGleeman.com » Aaron Gleeman's Baseball and Minnesota Twins Blog

 

Have to scroll down about halfway, dated Dec 9. The Souhan's quote makes me sick...

[snepp]

The Souhan's quote makes me sick...

 

Along with most of what he writes.