Don't Feed the Greed Guy

Amen! With that said, it would be nice to see Hick's batting average climb over .200 by the All-Star Break, with increased production over the second half of the season. Of course, if the wheels fall off, AAA is an option, but that would be a "fail" for Hicks, and the organization.

Reposted from the blog page: The key, as Cody proposed, is the starting pitching--and the possibility that Gibson, Deduno, Devries or another arm could bolster the rotation. I would love to see Hernandez convert to a lefty option out of the bullpen. Worley needs some time in AAA, it appears. As for the offense, I could see an uptick in production. Just to use the 8th spot in AL runs scored as an example, I could see the Twins move up two or three spots here, especially when Hicks, Willingham, and Doumit and Plouffe are tied for 3-5 in runs scored. They haven't exactly been filling the bases. We could easily see more production here.

The key, as you propose, is the starting pitching--and the possibility that Gibson, Deduno, Devries or another arm could bolster the rotation. I would love to see Hernandez convert to a lefty option out of the bullpen. Worley needs some time in AAA, it appears. As for the offense, I could see an uptick in production. Just to use the 8th spot in AL runs scored as an example, I could see the Twins move up two or three spots here, especially when Hicks, Willingham, and Doumit and Plouffe are tied for 3-5 in runs scored. They haven't exactly been filling the bases. We could easily see more production here.

Put it on the board... I hate you, Ralph Macchio.

And there's the extra point. Please, no two-point conversion...

Let's see if we can find another creative way to put the #9 hitter on base, again.

Plouffe, Doumit, or Arcia? One of the three plays some "Redemption Song" tonight. I think it will be Plouffe.

Okay... so now it's not so important to hit it to the right side and move the runner over????? "Just hit it hard someplace..." Dickbert are talking out of both corners of their respective mouth(s)!!!

C'mon Fien, block the extra point!

Okay, so I appreciate moving the runner from 2nd to 3rd when the score is close--like in the 2nd and 3rd inning, but I'm not so sure about that approach in the 6th, when down by 6 runs. My sense is that Dickbert are playing old tapes that no longer fit the current stategy. Baltimore seems more focused on hitting doubles than hitting to the right side of the infield. Thoughts?

I'd say he's awake now!

...and he rolls one over.

Hammer's due...

Nice work again, Parker. Good visuals.

(I originally posted this on the blog side) These are the managerial moves that will define Gardy's final contract year. Are the young players progressing? Is the current manager building up the organization? Too soon to tell, but woudln't it be nice if a ballgame at Fenway in early May 2013 will be remembered as a turning point in Aaron Hick's long career as a Twin? Gardy has had this impact in the past, as Justin Morneau credits his turnaround, not on a fight with Torii Hunter in Kansas City, but with a sit-down heart-to-heart with his manager, early in his 2006 MVP season. JockBio: Justin Morneau Biography I'm hoping Uncle Gardy takes the kid aside when the cameras aren't rolling, debriefs the situation, and puts "Hicksie" back in center field tonight. I would love to see the kid get his first multi-hit game of the season on the backside of this incident. Here's La Velle's take: 3. HICKS IN CROSSHAIRS?: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire did not like the way Aaron Hicks, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, flipped the ball to Brian Dozier after catching a fly ball in the eighth. And Gardy let Hicks have it after the inning. Hicks said he understood why the manager wasn't happy with him. Hicks didn't start on Tuesday and part of the reason might have been how he's gone after fly balls. But I wouldn't be surprised if Hicks is back in there Wednesday. More at: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/206538961.html

These are the managerial moves that will define Gardy's final contract year. Are the young players progressing? Is the current manager building up the organization? Too soon to tell, but woudln't it be nice if a ballgame at Fenway in early May 2013 will be remembered as a turning point in Aaron Hick's long career as a Twin? Gardy has had this impact in the past, as Justin Morneau credits his turnaround, not on a fight with Torii Hunter in Kansas City, but with a sit-down heart-to-heart with his manager, early in his 2006 MVP season. JockBio: Justin Morneau Biography I'm hoping Uncle Gardy takes the kid aside when the cameras aren't rolling, debriefs the situation, and puts "Hicksie" back in center field tonight. I would love to see the kid get his first multi-hit game of the season on the backside of this incident.

Interesting post, with plenty of time and perspective on our side. In football, it's called "Monday Morning Quarterbacking." Dad's jargon: "If if's and but's were candy and nuts, every day would be Christmas..." Still, this whole website is an opportunity to reminisce and speculate.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1674-The-Birthday-of-Charles-Albert-Chief-Bender-Minnesota-s-First-Hall-of-Famer

Before there was a Winfield, a Molitor, or a Mauer, there was a Bender. Charles Albert "Chief" Bender was born in Crow Wing County on May 5th, 1884. He bounced between his home on the White Earth Reservation, and various boarding schools. At a teenager, Bender was recruited by the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle Pennsylvania, the first of many off-reservation boarding schools. Carlisle is perhaps most known for it's resident coach, Pop Warner, and his star player, Jim Thorpe. Bender attended Dickinson College, also in Carlisle, before turning pro. He pitched for Connie Mack's Philadephia Athletics from 1903 to 1917. Bender pitched during an era of entrenched prejudice, and open racism. The definitive biography, that chronicles Bender's early years and his big break, was written by Tom Swift. It is aptly titled, Chief Bender's BurdenThe Silent Struggle of a Baseball Star. Chief Bender's Burden - University of Nebraska Press Swift has a wonderful short biography on Charles "Chief" Bender on the SABR website: Chief Bender | SABR A nugget from Swift's bio: "Bender is known foremost for a rare ability to pitch under pressure. 'If I had all the men I’ve ever handled, and they were in their prime, and there was one game I wanted to win above all others,' said Philadelphia Athletics icon Connie Mack, who managed fellow all-time pitching greats Lefty Grove, Herb Pennock, Eddie Plank, and Rube Waddell, 'Albert would be my man.'" Albert Bender is also credited by some as inventing the slider. He won 212 games over his Hall of Fame career. Again, from Swift's biography: "Bender’s life partner was Marie (Clement) Bender, whom he married in 1904. The couple’s marriage, which lasted nearly 50 years, did not produce any children. In 1953, Bender became the first Minnesota-born player enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and he remained the only one until Dave Winfield joined him in 2001. On May 22, 1954, the year following the vote, Bender died, a few weeks shy of his 71st birthday and a few weeks before his induction ceremony."

Before there was a Winfield, a Molitor, or a Mauer, there was a Bender. Charles Albert "Chief" Bender was born in Crow Wing County on May 5th, 1884. He bounced between his home on the White Earth Reservation, and various boarding schools. At a teenager, Bender was recruited by the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle Pennsylvania, the first of many off-reservation boarding schools. Carlisle is perhaps most known for it's resident coach, Pop Warner, and his star player, Jim Thorpe. Bender attended Dickinson College, also in Carlisle, before turning pro. He pitched for Connie Mack's Philadephia Athletics from 1903 to 1917. Bender pitched during an era of entrenched prejudice, and open racism. The definitive biography, that chronicles Bender's early years and his big break, was written by Tom Swift. It is aptly titled, Chief Bender's BurdenThe Silent Struggle of a Baseball Star. Chief Bender's Burden - University of Nebraska Press Swift has a wonderful short biography on Charles "Chief" Bender on the SABR website: Chief Bender | SABR A nugget from Swift's bio: "Bender is known foremost for a rare ability to pitch under pressure. 'If I had all the men I’ve ever handled, and they were in their prime, and there was one game I wanted to win above all others,' said Philadelphia Athletics icon Connie Mack, who managed fellow all-time pitching greats Lefty Grove, Herb Pennock, Eddie Plank, and Rube Waddell, 'Albert would be my man.'" Albert Bender is also credited by some as inventing the slider. He won 212 games over his Hall of Fame career. Again, from Swift's biography: "Bender’s life partner was Marie (Clement) Bender, whom he married in 1904. The couple’s marriage, which lasted nearly 50 years, did not produce any children. In 1953, Bender became the first Minnesota-born player enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and he remained the only one until Dave Winfield joined him in 2001. On May 22, 1954, the year following the vote, Bender died, a few weeks shy of his 71st birthday and a few weeks before his induction ceremony."

I hope you are right, and the Twins discover that "few game run of brilliance" that Deduno displayed in the WBC. I believe he passed through the waiver wire last winter, and no one took a chance on him. I still hold out hope for that limited stretch of brilliance at best--or perhaps--pinch me--but maybe a servicable back-end-of-the-rotation starter that throws off opposing teams because he looks/pitches so differently than the rest of the Twins starters? If only? I guy can hope...lots of fans do.

Regarding Rosario: "The 21-year-old has made great improvements and is statistically the best defensive second baseman in the Florida State League." Okay, I just moved from excited, to giddy...

Great write-up. Thanks for the links, especially Amore's explanation of Meyer's knuckle curve, and how he developed the pitch. Good read.

Guillen's comments on illegal aliens as workaholics might fit too, for those who spend too much time in front of a computer screen, blogging about baseball: "There are a lot of people from this country who are lazy. We're not. Prove me wrong. A lot of people in this country want to be on the computer and send e-mails to people. We do the hard work. We're the ones who go out and work in the sun to make this country better."