stringer bell

For almost totally the opposite reasons that I think Tony-O should be in the Hall of Fame, I think Kaat belongs there too. He won over 280 games and pitched in the majors for parts of 25 seasons. He reinvented himself after being traded to the White Sox and reinvented himself again as a relief pitcher. Of all color commentators I have listened to, Kitty is my all-time favorite. He holds a fistful of Twins all-time pitching records and won something like sixteen gold gloves.

It is my understanding that flattening the curve absolutely can and will save lives. A certain percentage of people will die from COVID-19 no matter what but also a certain percentage would die needlessly if hospitals are overrun and ventilators are not available. I don't know how that can be argued. We can have the discussion about whether the cure for COVID-19 is worse than letting the chips fall where they may. I have to believe that most people don't buy the "people will die" argument when talking about their family and friends. As a relatively young senior citizen, I'm approaching but not in the high risk categories for the virus. I don't want to get it, but I'm relatively confident I would survive, probably without medical attention. If I transmitted that virus to the second circle outside of me (friends of friends, relatives of friends, friends of relatives), there could be tragic results. I will stay inside and do all I can not to infect anyone.

I was eleven years old in '65. Zoilo Versales was the MVP and had a career year. Much credit for Zoilo's emergence was given to new coach Billy Martin. During the World Series, I was in sixth grade and was allowed to watch the games during lunch. Instant replay was in it's infancy. I remember watching Allison's great catch and then instants later seeing the replay--the old janitor (a German immigrant) yelled "he did it again!" My recollection is that the Twins '65 group was outstanding on both sides of the ball--Grant Perry, Kaat, Pascual and Boswell formed a really good rotation. Al Worthington and Johnny Klippstein anchored the bullpen. Bench players such as Don Mincher stepped up (Killebrew was injured). things didn't connect the last half of the decade despite having Harmon and Tony-O along with Carew starting in '67.

All good choices. I think of a couple of G-Men (Gaetti and Gagne) asunderrated although they won three championships combined for the Twins. Four of the five were position players. A couple more pitchers could get consideration. Jim Perry is one that comes to mind. Kevin Tapani is another that comes to mind.

Just listened to Cuomo speak on the crisis in NY. He is saying that unless they get more ventilators to NY, people will die (needlessly). He is pleading for the federal government to release their stockpile of ventilators and to invoke the act which requires companies to produce specified equipment.

Oliva and Mauer declined while members of the Twins. In Tony-O's case, there were several years in which he kept playing and was a shadow of his former self. Between '64 and '71 his lowest OPS+ was 129 and won three batting championships. Because his career was shortened and it was a pitching-friendly era, the counting stats aren't that impressive. I was still in school when he played, and was probably impressionable, but I think he belongs in the MLB Hall of Fame.

Trump appears to want to relax “shelter in place” in two weeks. Oh my!

Moderator note: We at Twins Daily have attempted to keep divisive discussions on politics out of the forums for several months. At the time, it detracted from our principal topic--Twins Baseball.​ Much has changed in the last month. There will be no baseball for the forseeable future and COVID-19 (coronavirus) is the topic of discussion everywhere, including here at TD. Since the response to the virus is completely enmeshed in politics, we have decided to allow some latitude in this thread and any others that cover the virus. We continue to have a policy of treating our fellow posters and the people we are referring to in these threads with respect--no name-calling or demeaning terms. Thanks.

I was at the last game before the All-Star break in 2018. The Twins were playing the Rays, fell behind and rallied. There was tension and the dugouts emptied at one point. Dozier hit a walkoff grand slam in a game that took over four hours. I thought it might springboard the club into good things in the second half of the season, but they sold and the team floundered. Still a great memory.

I've returned from Fort Myers (actually Cape Coral) intact. My last full day in the area was spent indoors after I checked out the Twins' complex and found nothing but a softball tournament going on. Later I read that everyone was sent home. It is amazing to see how rapidly things have changed. By now, "shelter in place" is pretty much going on everywhere, either suggested or mandated. In taking two and a half days to drive home, it was remarkable to see how hotels were empty and highways were not crowded on normally busy rush hours during the week. I stayed in Atlanta, near the airport, and the hotel I found had approximately 20% occupancy, when usually close to full according to the desk clerk. Finding a place to eat in was impossible, so I used drive-thrus. Now I can shelter in place. My fiancée has stocked us well. Two plus days in and I'm already antsy. At least there's plenty of entertainment to binge on. Prepare yourself folks. It will probably be June before we see baseball.

I wonder if we don’t end up with a 30-team postseason. Two team get a bye, everyone else plays.

BTW, the most recent death from COVID-19 in Florida was a 77 y.o. from Lee County (Fort Myers).

I have decided for sure to leave ASAP. Medical professionals in my family think that even if I'm asymptomatic, that I've probably been exposed. They think I should get home right away and I concur. I have an automotive issue to take care of, hopefully tomorrow, and then I'll be on the freeways heading north and west.

I’m cutting my Spring Training stay early, I think. I’ve been to the beach and played golf, but the reason I came was baseball. All of the people I was supposed to meet have canceled. I drove to the Hammond and the training site to see if any players were still working out. Not a soul. It looked like the administration parking lot was full.

Lewis played only SS this spring. I don’t think that is the track for a super-utility player. While Jorge Polanco is an asset as a shortstop, because of his bat and contract, I believe Lewis could at some time force the move of Polanco off of SS or traded. Perhaps Polanco could become a regular second baseman.

Seeing Rooker, Larnach, Kirilloff and Lewis in person turned out to be a highlight of this abbreviated spring training for me. I think the lefties are more ready now, but are corner OF/first basemen. I was glad that Larnach got a game in left field. I have a hard time seeing Rosario in a Twins uni for 2021.

I’m “stuck” in Fort Myers with no games to watch. I am going golfing later this morning. My fiancée is scheduled to fly down a week from yesterday, but that plan is doubtful. I’m waiting until the weekend to determine whether I’ll head back early or hang on here. I made a blog entry entitled “Strange Days” about my experiences yesterday.

I write this blog entry when I was expecting to do other things. I am in Fort Myers in 80 degree weather with just a hint of a breeze on a nice Thursday afternoon. What could be wrong? Well, actually, plenty. My significant other and I made plans for the rest of winter sometime in January. Because we had made an extended trip of the Christmas/New Year holidays and because we were planning a family gathering for the summer, we decided to stay in Minnesota for the rest of January and I decided I would stay in February until I could make it to spring training for my favorite baseball team. The plan was for me to drive to Florida by way of my daughter's residence in Indiana. I would be in Fort Myers by myself until she was on semester break and then we could enjoy a week together in Florida--baseball, beaches, warm weather--before driving back together so that she could be ready for college to start up again. Things often don't go as you plan them. The expensive ticket for her flight could now be purchased for pennies on the dollar. The Minnesota Twins and all of major league baseball have cancelled the remainder of spring training games. The Final Four won't happen, to quote a song "Broadway is dark tonight" and I would expect more cancellations going forward. This has brought me to think about what is important and what isn't. Having something like baseball to occupy my time is important. Filling that gap is essential. Having health is really crucial. I am thankful to be in good health at this time and I certainly don't want to get the coronavirus, even though it likely wouldn't effect me long term. Many people could die needlessly if measures aren't taken to diminish the acceleration of exposure. I'll do what I can to avoid getting the virus and spreading it to others. Oh yes. I did get to watch the future of the Minnesota Twins (IMHO). On Tuesday, in Clearwater, the starting lineup included Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Brent Rooker and Royce Lewis. They all impressed me, particularly Lewis, who homered and made an outstanding defensive play at shortstop. If two or three of these prospects pan out, the pipeline will be intact and the Twins should be able to have a first-division lineup for most of the next decade. Today, before MLB's announcement suspending exhibition games, I watched Twins minor leaguers play. I saw Duran throwing absolute gas, Matt Wallner (big kid--6'5") looking good, but not making contact and I found out about a Twins prospect Seth Gray (4th round draft choice from Wright State) from his dad. I'll be a Gray fan now. Seems like a nice kid. Finally, as I was walking back to my car I saw a man walking over to a somewhat elderly guy wearing a Twins hat. Tony-O!. I waited until the conversation was over and asked Tony if I could take a picture. He said that we should make it a selfie, but that he couldn't sign autographs--bosses orders. I asked Tony how old he really was and he said something to the effect of "in America, I'm 81" with a chuckle. According to BB Reference, that is his correct age FWIW. I got back to my room excited about spending more days like today at the spring training complex, meeting icons and nice people from Twins Territory, and now it seems it is over almost before it started. Since I started writing this entry, Disneyland announced they were closing and March Madness was cancelled. This is serious stuff folks.

I have been to two exhibition baseball games the last two days and have been around a lot of people. I don’t want to get sick and I don’t want to die. Does that make me stay in my room and not enjoy 85 degree weather? No, but I’m trying to do the right things. The idea of limiting the spread of this virus so that there are enough resources to deal with it has resonated with me. Slowing the acceleration of cases is the best thing until an effective vaccine can be processed. There are real costs and real losses going on.

I read somewhere that the Twins were limiting his time in the outfield, which would probably give Jake Cave a leg up for the last bench position. Could playing a corner outfield position a couple or three days in a row impact Gonzalez’ health and/or availability?

Lewis looked great and the other top hitting prospects (Larnach, Rooker and Kirilloff) all looked pretty good. Kirilloff looked pretty comfortable at first and I was impressed with Lewis particularly in the field.

2-1 Phillies in the 4th. Lewis with an outstanding play in the hole to start the bottom of the fourth. Jax gives up a 2-run big fly. 4-1.

Great day to watch the best hitting prospects—Lewis, Kirilloff, Larnach and Rooker all in the lineup.

Royce Lewis! Long ball to left (off Wheeler).

Of course Gregorius gets a hit, his first of the spring, ‘cause he’s facing Minnesota.