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Kirsten Brown

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Blog Entries posted by Kirsten Brown

  1. Kirsten Brown
    Originally posted at k-bro's baseball blog



    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgStkr25J7A/T2_BFHR57QI/AAAAAAAAByo/b7FqkhfNkxk/s200/filing.PNGIt's been a while since I've kept up with the Twins news. I figured I'd go back and see what I missed and file the info away as needed.
     
    File under: Recognizing a Good Thing While You Have It
    Glen Perkins signed a 3-year, $10.3 million extension with an option for 2016. Twins fans remember that things weren't always so rosy between the Twins and Perkins, dating back to 2009 and 2010. In fact, I'm guilty of losing my fandom of him, too -- regrettably. He's matured and proven himself. The Twins have allowed the ugly past to stay there. And I've changed my mind. Everyone's cool now.
     
    File under: I Didn't Really Think They Would
    The Twins optioned Tsyoshi Nishioka to AAA Rochester. Last fall, I asked that the Twins admit their mistake regarding Nishioka, but I kind of figured they wouldn't listen to little ol' me. He's been in the MLB for a year now; the adjustment period has been more than generous. While it's true that he had a tough go with a new country and a broken leg and all, it's alarming that during his second spring training with the Twins he still didn't know fundamental stuff such as where to position himself to be the cut-off man. According to several writers and baseball analysts, he's been lost and the plate and lost-er in the field -- literally out of his league. He has bigger baseball problems to solve than some culture shock and a (should be healed by now) fractured fibula.
     
    File under: On The L Back To Chicago
    The Twins sent Rule 5 draftee, RHP Terry Doyle back to the White Sox. The deal with Rule 5 drafts is that if the drafted player can't make the 25-man roster for the whole season, the drafting team must return the player to the original team or work out a trade. The Twins claim that they couldn't find common ground with the White Sox, so they sent him packing. He made a memorable first impression with me -- memorable for all the wrong reasons. He was largely responsible for a10-run first inning for the Pirates. Doyle couldn't find the strike zone, and when he did, he grooved the ball in the heart of the plate.
     
    File under: Better Luck Next Year, Kid
    The Twins are beginning to cull their Spring Training roster. They've optioned several players to the minor leagues:
     

    Arcia, Oswaldo (OF)
    Diamond, Scott (LHP)
    Guerra, Deolis (RHP)
    Gutierrez, Carlos (RHP)
    Mastrionni, Darin (LF)
    Nishioka, Tsuyoshi (IF)
    Oliveros, Lester (RHP)
    Robertson, Tyler (LHP)
    Tosoni, Rene (OF)

  2. Kirsten Brown
    originally posted at k-bro's baseball blog
     
    ~~~
     
    You may have noticed that every time I talk about attending Spring Training games, I mention that I like to visit with the other fans, especially the retirees. I like the retirees because they always seem so happy. Since the game doesn't matter so much, it's pretty easy to develop a great, interesting conversation.
     
     
     
    Such was the case on Thursday the 15th, during that 15-7 debacle against the Pirates. My husband and I, along with our friends Mr. and Mrs. P, sat in the shade down the third-base line, while our kids sat in another section. Behind us was a pair of retired couples who clearly lived in Florida (they were happy and tan). As we took our seats, always the goofballs, Mr. P and Hubby started apologizing ahead of time for the other's behavior, and our game-neighbors laughed and the guys' lame joke. The four of us had hit it off with the four of them right away.
     
     
    We got the small talk stuff out of the way -- "are you from Minnesota?" "yeah, you?" "yeah, where abouts?"...etc. After a very short time of this, one of the fellows noticed my Radke jersey and asked if I was a fan of his. I confirmed that he's my favorite all-time player, and my new friend dug out a piece of paper and a pencil and asked me to write down my address. He wanted to send me a Brad Radke bobblehead. I tried to politely decline; I couldn't accept such a nice gift. He insisted, and eventually his wife plead with me because it would really be doing her a favor. Well, in that case...
     
     
     
    I did, however, have to earn my prize. I had to demonstrate some Twins knowledge. His first question was "Who's #8?" I knew who he meant, but I wanted to play along. Jamey Carroll just happened to be running sprints in front of us, so I pointed to him. He said, "No, before that." "Nick Punto" I said with a wink. "No...Before that." Of course he meant Gary Gaetti; I was just showing off.
     
     
    He asked me several other questions, mostly about the off-season moves, and I answered to his satisfaction. However, he did cheat -- he had a team roster that he printed off at home. But I did all right with the top of my head.
     
     
    Throughout the rest of the game, we all chatted about all of life's important stuff -- baseball, Florida, Minnesota, food, beer, kids, knitting, Brian Dinkelman, etc. What a delightful distraction from the disaster on the field.
     
     
    When we parted ways, I really didn't expect to receive the bobblehead. I wanted to give him the opportunity to change his mind (or not be able to find it, or forget) without being bummed out.
     
     
    Silly me. Look what came in the mail today:

    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNJ6XB8sbKE/T2vOjTgnoVI/AAAAAAAABx4/P4I-YWULFuk/s320/295151_3488443179820_1533682127_33103494_1501863060_n.jpg
    Amazing. He also included a very nice note that made me smile.
     
     
    Yes. I put a handwritten thank you note in the mail -- thanking him not only for the bobblehead, but also for the happy memories.
  3. Kirsten Brown
    [continuation of Part 1]
     
    Tuesday:
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6848285264_8779f2d796.jpg
    Nice seats for the Blue Jays game.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6994409011_31c20545b8.jpg
    This is the "Richard Simmons Burger": a cheeseburger topped with a bratwurst, a chicken breast, and bacon. Probably could have fed the whole row. $10.50
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6994409901_af9712b2ac.jpg
    TC being TC.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6994410307_f5108dca03.jpg
    Francisco Liriano pitching.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6848287862_93e749d37f.jpg
    Joe Mauer batting.
     
     
    Thursday:
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7059/6994430981_2638c6bd95.jpg
    Tony O working with Danny Valencia in the cage.
     
     
    [/url]
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7049/6994433069_4fcd635835.jpg
    A gaggle of pitchers waiting their turns to do their pitchers' fielding practice drills.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6848309812_8c59129817.jpg
    I don't think Gardy liked what he saw.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6994434423_56a3e1ed72.jpg
    The kids couldn't get any Twins' autographs, but they did get Andrew McCutchen from the Pirates.
     
     
    And with that, I didn't take any pictures of the game on Thursday. It's just as well; it wasn't really worth the pixels.
     
     
    The baseball was fun, but I have to admit that I enjoyed this just as much:
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6994404533_9bdbdf4d6b.jpg
    I miss it already.
  4. Kirsten Brown
    Originally posted on k-bro's baseball blog
     
    To be clear, the word "lame" in the title modifies "report" and not "Spring Training." Spring Training is always cool.
     
     
    If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you may have noticed that I took a nice vacation in beautiful Fort Myers, Florida. It was an amazing trip, and I had a great time.
     
     
    I was lucky enough to attend three Twins Spring Training games -- against the Yankee, the Blue Jays, and the Pirates.
     
     
    And here's the lame part. I don't really have a scouting report for you. I didn't keep a scorebook. I'm not sure who pitched. I didn't even manage to get to the ballpark as early as I wanted to. I only accomplished to take a few crappy pictures with my phone.
     
     
    But that's not to say that I didn't enjoy the baseball -- everything except that 10-run first inning by the Pirates on Thursday. I really enjoyed sitting in the Florida sun and visiting with other fans -- especially the retirees because they're all so happy.
     
     
    The phrase of the games was "give me the book." As soon as the lineup started turning over to the rookies, I'd dig out Seth Stohs's MN Twins Prospect Handbook and look up the replacement guys. The fans around me wanted to borrow it and pretty soon, it was being passed around faster than a church basket.
     
     
    Anyway, here are some of the pictures I took.
     
     
    Sunday:
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6848262240_9ec9d069a4.jpg
    Hammond Stadium is beautiful on the outside.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6994388441_474c1426a2.jpg
    The Twins take the field to face the Yankees. I think it's Nick Blackburn pitching, but I don't really remember.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7182/6848266012_abe73ca705.jpg
    The bullpen. I'm not really sure why the banner behind it is advertising MLB '11 The Show. MLB '12 The Show has been out for a couple of weeks now. Besides, the Twins should know that 2011 baseball season never really existed.*
     
     
    *Delusional Twins fan talking.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6848266578_586fe8bcb4.jpg
    A win over the Yankees! Whee!
     
     
    [due to limitations for images, the rest of this post is continued in Part 2]
  5. Kirsten Brown
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHxgYs4H5Z0/T1bJD0Y3RcI/AAAAAAAABwE/eATs_4llk6E/s200/bucketofballs.png
    Originally posted at k-bro's baseball blog
     
    If I think of my brain as a bucket, I sometimes imagine that it begins to overflow and I have to intentionally get some of my thoughts out of there before they just spill over and are gone forever.
     
     
     
    Here are some baseball-related bucket thoughts:
     
     
    Denard Falls Down
    During Saturday's Spring Training game, Denard Span fell down twice while making fly-ball catches in the outfield. If this had been a year ago, everyone would be thinking "ha ha, at least he made the catch" and had gone on with the game.
     
     
    This year, however, I have to admit, every time he falls down, crashes into a fence, or makes a diving catch, I worry. Why did he fall? Is he dizzy? Can he see alright? Did he bang his head? Did he whip his neck? Is he ok?
     
     
    True, I'm especially prone to worrying, and that's fine. It's no big deal if I sit here and think all these things. But, unfortunately, I'm not the only one; the media asked him about it all the time. And that has to be annoying for him.
     
     
    It's not the writers' fault for asking him questions that everyone wants answers to, but it must be difficult to have to make the same assurances all the time. Yes, having to address the media comes with the territory, but I bet he's looking forward to when he can simply talk about the game and not his head.
     
     
    I'm hoping, for both his and the fans' sake, that very soon, he won't have to address these issues every time he has a tiny stumble or makes a difficult play. I'm sure he hopes so too.
     
     
    Your New Voice of Summer
    I had a chance to listen to the Twins new play-by-play announcer Cory Provus a couple of time, and he made a very nice first impression.
     
     
    His voice is rich, smooth, and easy to listen to, and he calls the game well. If he's telling a story or anecdote while the play is going on, he'll interrupt himself to call the play -- like he should. He's well prepared for the games, and he doesn't give the impression of being the new guy at all (not bad for calling Spring Training games when it's likely there'll be guys coming to bat that even Gardy doesn't know). He already sounds comfortable, as if he's always been here.
     
     
    I'm not sure that it's really possible, but I think he even makes Dan Gladden better. Well done, Cory, well done.
     
     
    The Zumaya Decision
    After thinking about his situation a few days, JoelZumaya decided to go ahead and have Tommy John surgery and attempt a comeback. Right after his elbow blew, it sounded like he was leaning heavily toward retiring.
     
     
    I imagine this decision came with much thought, prayers, and even tears. This will be his sixth surgery, and the rehab that will come with it will most likely be the most difficult. Plus, there's no guarantee on the other side that he'll even be able to pitch again in the Major Leagues (he'll be a free agent when he's ready to come back, and he'll need to convince a team to sign him). No one would have blamed him if he had just wanted to forget it all and walk away.
     
     
     
    Instead, he'll take a huge leap of faith and go for it. And I'm kind of happy for him.
     
     
    I certainly wish him all the best.
  6. Kirsten Brown
    Originally posted at k-bro's baseball blog
     
    You may have heard that MLB has changed the playoff scheme starting with this season by adding an additional Wild Card team to each league. Some people like it; some people hate it. I really don't have an opinion of it yet, because, honestly, I don't really understand it. I've read a lot of stuff about it, and it all makes my head hurt. I figured I'd map it out on some spreadsheets to see if that helps.
     
     
    Yes, I know, I'm supposed to be afraid of spreadsheets. I am. But if they have some pretty colors on them, they're not so bad.
     
     
    Ok, so lets take the standings from the 2010 season and pretend that 2012 will be exactly the same (I chose 2010 because, as a Twins fan, I'm going to delusionally believe that 2011 didn't exist). Here they are:

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8oEBkEglQIU/T1OtpTwkHLI/AAAAAAAABvs/YmaGI44lTTI/s400/2010standings.png

    The Rays, Phillies, Twins, Reds, Rangers, and Giants all won their divisions and the Yankees and the Braves won the Wild Card spots (with the Yankees settling for the Wild Card just so they could play the Twins -- they even admitted it).
     
    Ok, so for 2012, there will be two Wild Card teams for each league, and they'll have a one-game play-in for the Divisional Series. Here's how that would look:

    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7SMWaemIWII/T1Oujry1c0I/AAAAAAAABv0/oKJ_X1fiafY/s400/2012wildcard1.png

    So the four Wild Card teams will battle on October 5th to get into the playoffs: the Yankees versus the Red Sox (which will probably last 5 and a half hours), and the Braves and the Padres (which would actually be the more interesting game to watch, but, of course, not the one that will be televised during prime time).
     
     
    Let's say, for the sake of argument, that the Yankees and the Braves win the games (sorry Padres) and move on to the LDS. Now the team with the best league record will play the Wild Card winner and the other two division winners will play each other.
     
     
    In the past, the team with the best league record would face the Wild Card team, unless those teams were from the same division. In that case, they play the division leader with the worse record.
     
     
    Now, they're doing away with all that. No more regard to who's in what division. Straight up, the first seeded team plays the Wild Card, and the second and third seeded teams play each other.
     

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6q6tp66yi9o/T1OxT1BdnwI/AAAAAAAABv8/WulWf0aaB3g/s400/2012wildcard2.png

    Well, that would turn out a little different, huh?
     
     
    There's also discussion about where and when the LDS games will be played with regard to which team gets home games blah blah -- 2012 will be different than 2013 and beyond merely because the schedule was already set when they figured all this out. Honestly, though, I'm not really concerned about any of that because I'll be sitting on my recliner in front of the TV watching the games -- it doesn't really matter to me which park they're in.
     
     
    So, is this better? I get it now.
     
     
    As for my opinion, I'm not a big fan of a one-game play-in. Way too stressful for fans of those teams and it really messes with the pitching alignments, giving an (unfair, in my opinion) advantage to the league leaders. Also, things will get really mucked up if divisions end in ties; there'll be more one-game play-ins just to get to the one-game play-in. But, there should be more motivation for winning and less intentional tanking towards the end of the season and settling for Wild Card berths, and that's kind of appealing. And, of course, it's just more baseball, which is never a bad thing.
     
     
     
    I see both sides of the argument. I guess I'll just roll with it.
  7. Kirsten Brown
    Originally posted at k-bro's baseball blog
     
    Twins 2012 Spring Training games start on Saturday! Isn't it wonderful that they figured out to have practice games in Florida right at the time when baseball fans can't stand not having baseball anymore and Minnesotans want to go somewhere warm?
     
     
     
    If you've never been to Fort Myers for Spring Training, I highly encourage you to go. It's a great family vacation, whether you love baseball, the beach, or both.
     
     
    I've been to Fort Myers once, and I'm going again this year. I know several fans who've gone many times. If you're one of those fans, you can probably go on to read the next blog on your list because you already know everything I have to say (probably much better than I do).
     
     
    But, if you've never been, and would like some tips on the baseball part (the beach part you can figure out on your own), well then, read on.
     
     
    First of all, I'll refer you to fellow blogger, Thrylos98. He's written up a very nice Spring Training Guide to Fort Myers and a Fort Myers Culinary Guide (with a curve). Be sure to check them out.
     
     
    I will focus on what to do once you're at Lee County Sports Complex.
     
     
    The complex is comprised of several practice fields and the main field, Hammond Stadium. Hammond Stadium is the home of the Fort Myers Miracle Single-A affiliate and it's where the Spring Training games are played. It's kind of funny because it has a beautiful exterior, with a fountain and nice landscaping, but then the inside is really boring.
     
     
    As you would expect from a minor-league stadium, it's pretty small. Which means there's not really a bad seat in the house. Even up in the second level, you're still pretty close to the action. Keep in mind that most of the Spring Training games are day games, and that the seats near the field are in the sun (hot!) and the seats "up high" are in the shade. There is also a grassy area where you can sit on a blanket and have a baseball picnic -- perfect if you have little kids who would rather run around than sit and watch baseball.
     
     
    If you go to the complex in the morning, you can catch the players doing their drills or hitting BP. The minor league affiliates have their Spring Training there too, so there are a lot of players. They usually have a table set up near the entrance with roster sheets. Each group of players wears different uniform combos -- blue and red tops, blue and gray tops, white pants, gray pants, etc. -- and the roster sheet will tell you who's who (there may be a total of four or five guys who wear #7 and there are no names on the jerseys, so you want to be sure). Get a new roster sheet every day because the groups change their uniforms every day. Also, you should probably bring Seth Stohs' Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook with you so you're armed with information about these guys.
     
     
    The atmosphere around the complex is relaxed and casual. Fans can wander from station to station watching players do their thing or even take some pictures. However, you have to remember that they're doing their jobs, so they may not have time for chit chat. They don't want to get in trouble with their manager after all.
     
     
    You may be able get some autographs before games or walking around the practice fields, and while a lot of players will be as accommodating as they can, it's not really an autograph signing event. Many players will limit their autograph signing for kids, and other guys prefer to wait until after the game to sign.
     
     
    If you're lucky enough to get a player willing and able to sign, be sure to help him out by having your item and pen -- cap off, ink flowing, and handed to him properly -- ready to go. Use a blue ball-point pen for baseballs (ball-point won't bleed into the leather, and blue won't fade like black does) and a Sharpie for everything else. Be nice; if he can't sign, he can't sign. Also, know who you're asking -- just because a guy looks like Jason Kubel doesn't mean he is Jason Kubel (yes, this actually happens more than you'd think).
     
     
    Don't be in a hurry to leave after a game, because if you hang out near the exit where the players park (it's a fenced-off lot), you might see a player who is willing to hang out in his car and sign autographs for a while. But don't expect premier players like Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau to be doing this -- there is just way too much demand for their autographs.
     
     
    Above all, relax and have a good time. Don't worry about the score of the game -- no one else does. Visit with folks. Enjoy the sunshine. Notice how everyone is happy.
  8. Kirsten Brown
    Originally posted at k-bro's baseball blog.
     
    I didn't intend to start up the paper doll machine until the season started. After all, the point of it is to show who's been put on the Disabled List, and they don't really do that during Spring Training. But this one is a special case because ... well, I just feel so darned bad for him.
     
     
     

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apx70TKPH68/T0rm0Zrp9yI/AAAAAAAABvk/Uwl6BRMBAkY/s400/zumayaucl.PNG

    Joel Zumaya tore his right ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow (UCL) while throwing a bullpen session on Saturday. It was reported that right before the fatal pitch, he was "throwing gas."
     
     
    The UCL is the Tommy John Surgery ligament. This is the ligament that attaches to the humerus (upper arm bone) to the ulna (the inside forearm bone). And, surprisingly, of all the arm injuries Zumaya has suffered, his UCL was fine. Until that one pitch.
     
     
    The Twins knew they were taking a risk when they signed him. This is why they structured the contract so that he would only make $400,000 if he didn't make the team out of Spring Training. Now he'll be out for at least a year.
     
     
    Now he has a big decision to make. He doesn't really need to go through a major surgery and all that difficult rehab. But if he ever wants to pitch again, he does. This decision is kind of a no-brainer for most pitchers, but I don't think it will be for him. He's already had several arm surgeries -- he missed all of last year after having surgery to replace the screw they put in to set the broken arm he suffered in 2010 (apparently the screw was too big, and the broken arm was suffered mid-throw while pitching to Delmon Young at Target Field). And in the previous four years, he never appeared in more than 29 games. In fact, his only "regular" year was his rookie year of 2006.
     
     
    It's hard to say why he's so injury prone. I do wonder if his mechanics, or his tendency to throw unbelievable heat, have something to do with it. Maybe he's simply not built to throw 99 MPH. Although, if I remember correctly, he had two injuries that had nothing to do with baseball (his wrist due to over-playing the video game Guitar Hero, and straining his shoulder by ... I think ... helping his buddy move furniture). Going through all that, and all the rehabilitation that goes with all that is huge. Having to do it all over again might just be too much.
     
     
    Too bad. I was really looking forward to seeing him pitch. But more than that, I feel bad for him on a personal level. He was reported to be distraught -- understandably. The poor guy just wants to play baseball.
     
     
    I want give him a hug.
  9. Kirsten Brown
    Originally posted at kbro's baseball blog
     
    I read LaVelle's piece about whether the Twins should carry three catchers on the roster. It's a good question -- should they keep three just so they have adequate fill ins in case one of them gets hurt, or should they free up that roster spot for, say, another utility guy or pitcher (how many pitchers they should have on the roster is another rant entirely)?
     
     
    So here's the design the Twins will use if they go with three: the regular catcher will be Joe Mauer, the DH who can also catch will be Ryan Doumit, and Drew Butera will be bench catcher.
     
     
    Joe Mauer should be fine in 2012 and will catch the lion's share of the innings. When he needs a "semi-day off," he can either DH, in which case Doumit can catch, or he can play first base, in which case Morneau can DH and Doumit can catch, thereby keeping all those bats in the lineup.
     
     
    If they choose to go with only two, it'll probably be Mauer and Doumit. The risk with having only two catchers, of course, is that if whoever's catching gets hurt during the course of a game, the Twins lose the DH and the pitcher has to hit for the rest of the game. Besides, Carl Pavano really likes to have Butera as his personal catcher.
     
     
    In a perfect world ... you know, when Joe Mauer is healthy and hitting and, well, being Joe Mauer, and Justin Morneau is healthy and hitting and being Justin Morneau, and Josh Willingham is healthy and hitting and being Michael Cuddyer -- wait -- well, you get the idea ... I don't mind having Butera in there once every five days or so. Yes, he's a sub- .200 hitter, but the other guys in the lineup hitting well make up for it. In a perfect world.
     
     
    But it's not a perfect world. I'm not completely confident that everyone will be hitting like they're supposed to. Or even if they're hitting like they're supposed to, that it'll be enough. There may be plenty of holes in the lineup without Butera, there's no reason to intentionally make one with him.
     
     
    Apparently, having to pull the DH so he can catch and make pitchers hit is a big fear of Gardy's. LaVelle's article pointed out exactly how many times that has happened, and it doesn't seem like it happens enough to worry about. Of course, there's always a chance that a pitcher can hurt himself while running the basepaths, but I'm not terribly concerned about that. These guys have played baseball for a long time; they know what to do out there. There's no more risk to a pitcher hitting than there is to a pitcher fielding a bunt.
     
     
    Final conclusion: leave Drew at AAA.
     
  10. Kirsten Brown
    The biggest news in recent days is obviously that pitchers and catchers have reported and are participating in baseball activities. Finally. However, there are a couple other news bits to mention since I last checked in.
     
     
    Alexi Casilla avoided the opportunity to have the Twins tell him that he's not as awesome as he thinks he is. He and the Twins settled on a one-year, $1,382,500 contract. The amount is a smidgen under the halfway point between the numbers the two sides exchanged, but still a nice raise for Casilla.
     
     
    Ok, Alexi, now go be awesome.
     
     
    ~~~
     
     
    Sounds like the biggest news out of Spring Training so far is that Joe Mauer is participating in all his catching duties and drills like any other catcher. This is newsworthy because, last season, it took three weeks into Spring Training before he could even participate. This delay caused him to rush himself in order to catch up, which turned out to be a one-step-forward-two-steps-back venture.
     
     
    For what it's worth, I know a lot of fans (and some newspaper columnists) are frustrated with Mauer. Ok, fair enough -- last year was a crappy year for him. However, that's all it was ... ONE crappy year. It's way too soon to call his catching career over.
     
     
    It's also too soon to call his contract a bust. Yes, his contract is a huge burden on the team. That's not his fault. Also, it's not fair to claim that should be considered less prone to injury just because he makes a lot of money. I seriously doubt his knees or hips or lungs or any other body parts know how much money he makes. In my opinion, any injuries he suffers and his salary should never be mentioned together.
     
     
    So, I'm glad to read that this camp is starting out well for him. I have every confidence that he'll have a "good Joe Mauer" year this season. And the team will be better for it.
     
     
    ~~~
     
     
    You need to check out the new enterprise by the TwinsCentric guys (Seth Stohs, Parker Hageman, Nick Nelson, and John Bonnes) called Twins Daily. This great site is not only an aggregator of their work and the work of other great Twins bloggers, but it's also an entire community experience. If you register to their site, you can participate in the forums or even write blog posts. It's a great way to catch up with your favorite Twins bloggers and fans and to find new ones.
  11. Kirsten Brown
    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azn05pwnFLQ/TZUrW2YE9RI/AAAAAAAABe0/D-P1hu1nyvk/s320/welcomeback.JPG
    Do you know what today is?
    Do you know what's going on today?
    Of course you do.
     
     
    Today is the day when boys,
    and men with boys' hearts,
    gather by the hundreds
    in places like Clearwater,
    and Mesa, and Surprise,
    and Fort Myers,
    to participate in baseball activities.
     
     
    They're perfecting their changeups,
    and bunts,
    and double-plays.
    They're practicing covering first,
    and running down flies,
    and knocking the ball out of the park.
     
     
    They're breaking in new gloves,
    and new shoes,
    and new routines.
    They're greeting old friends,
    and making new ones.
    They're preparing their bodies
    and minds for the new season.
     
     
    And they're bringing their dreams.
    Dreams as fresh as the grass beneath their feet
    and as optimistic as the sun on their faces.
    And their dreams may vary in the details
    -- some dream of winning it all,
    while some dream of making the big team --
    their dreams are essentially the same.
    They dream of besting the competition:
    the other teams,
    the other players on their teams,
    themselves.
     
     
    And their fans are dreaming too.
    On this day, we all have a small voice
    that says "this is the year."
     
     
    So our boys practice,
    and play,
    and prepare.
    They'll bat,
    and throw,
    and catch.
    And they'll make their fans very happy to see them.
     
     
    Good luck boys.
    Work hard and have fun.
    The best is yet to come.
     
     
    ~~~
    I wrote this poem about three years ago, so if you've been here for awhile, you might recognize it. I'm replaying it because I like it. Besides, I can't think of a better way to celebrate the start of Spring Training than with a hopeful poem.
  14. Kirsten Brown
    Now that the spectacle of the NFL championship is over, thoughts of green grass, and leather gloves, and wood bats take over baseball fans' minds. Spring Training is right around the corner, and I bet you can't wait. I know I can't.
     
    And, by now, it kind of looks like the Twins are done adding players and the Spring Training crew is set. If you're planning on heading to beautiful Fort Myers to visit our boys or if you're planning on listening to some broadcasts, you'll want to know who it is you should root for. So I decided to compile a helpful list.
     
    Guys With Whom We're Acquainted

    Scott Baker, RHP
    Nick Blackburn, RHP
    Alex Burnett, RHP
    Drew Butera, C
    Matt Capps, RHP
    Alexi Casilla, IF
    Brian Duensing, LHP
    Luke Hughes, IF
    Francisco Liriano, LHP
    Jeff Manship, RHP
    Joe Mauer, C
    Justin Morneau, 1B
    Tsuyoshi Nishioka, IF
    Carl Pavano, RHP
    Glen Perkins, LHP
    Trevor Plouffe, IF/OF
    Ben Revere, OF
    Denard Span, OF
    Rene Tosoni, OF
    Danny Valencia, 3B
    Guys Whose Names Sound Familiar, But If They Walked In Our House And Raided Our Refrigerators, We Wouldn't Be Sure If We Knew Them

    Joe Benson, OF
    Scott Diamond, LHP
    Liam Hendriks, RHP
    Lester Oliveros, RHP
    Chris Parmelee, IF
    Anthony Swarzak, RHP
    Brian Dinkelman, IF (non-roster invitee)
    Phil Dumatrait, RHP (non-roster invitee)
    Rene Rivera, C (non-roster invitee)
    Anthony Slama, RHP (non-roster invitee)
    Guys Who Will Be Wearing Twins Uniforms For The First Time But We Know Them From Other Teams

    Jamey Carroll, IF
    Ryan Doumit, DH/OF/1B
    Jason Marquis, RHP
    Josh Willingham, OF
    Joel Zumaya, RHP
    Guys On The Twins 40-man Roster Who Make Us Say "Who?"

    Oswaldo Arcia, OF
    Terry Doyle, RHP (new)
    Jeff Gray, RHP (new)
    Deolis Guerra, RHP
    Carlos Gutierrez, RHP
    Matt Maloney, LHP (new)
    Tyler Robertson, LHP
    Esmerling Vasquez, RHP
    Guys Whose Numbers Will Probably Be Greater Than 60 Because They're Non-roster Invitees

    Aaron Bates, 1B
    Jason Bulger, RHP (new)
    Sean Burroughs, IF (new)
    Jared Burton, RHP (new)
    Matt Carson, OF (new)
    Ray Chang, 3B
    Samuel Deduno, RHP (new)
    Casey Fien, RHP (new)
    Pedro Florimon, IF (new)
    Chris Herrmann, C
    Mike Hollimann, 2B (new)
    Danny Lehmann, C
    Steve Pearce, 1B (new)
    Luis Perdomo, RHP (new)
    Wilkin Ramirez, OF (new)
    Daniel Rohlfing, C
    Aaron Thompson, LHP (new)
    Daryl Thompson, RHP (new)
    JR Towles, C (new)
    PJ Walters, RHP (new)
    Brendan Wise, RHP (new)

    Wow, that's a lot of bodies...64 to be exact. 33 pitchers. 24 new guys. 12 guys with first names that start with J. 2 guys with initials for first names. 2 Diamonds if you count the one they'll play on.
     
    I'm sure they're all ready to get this season started. I am.
  15. Kirsten Brown
    Nothing breaks up a drab, blah, boring, post-holiday winter's weekend quite like talking baseball. And the best place to talk baseball, and see baseballs, and hear baseball stories, and to think about baseball, and otherwise get your baseball fix in January is TWINS FEST!
     
     
    I was especially motivated to go this year, because Brad Radke was appearing for the first time since he retired. I don't normally like to spend my time in autograph lines, but this was for Brad Radke, so I had to.
     
     
    He shared an autograph station with Jacque Jones and Shannon Stewart, so it was kind of like a 2004 reunion tour. The line was longer than I expected, but fortunately I made it in just in the nick of time (they closed the line 5 or so people behind me).
     
     
     
     

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3zJ4t-F1Z8/TyWyKmP6dkI/AAAAAAAABug/IN9FuaJZt9o/s320/bradke.jpgSuccess!
     
     
     
     
    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N33IY7ps7tA/TyWyegqxCNI/AAAAAAAABuw/1svtk4GAd_s/s320/jonesstewart.jpg
    I didn't want Jacque and Shannon to feel bad, so I got theirs too.


     
     
     
     
    For the record both Jacque Jones and Brad Radke are better looking in person than any picture I've ever seen; they both have fabulous smiles.
     
     

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3zuXVZoIbk/TyWxQpcEFNI/AAAAAAAABuQ/qo5Ni3vVUoE/s320/brad.jpgBrad has short hair now. But he's still good looking. But not so much in this picture.
     
     
    After I finally got my autographs, I went inside. It's the first time I'd been in the Dome since they put on the new roof. It was a lot brighter in their than it used to be. I can't imagine trying to catch a fly ball with that sun-bright roof.
     
     
     



    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8b5KpS7448/TyWzvbZZPoI/AAAAAAAABu4/iNR-BIqoJRw/s320/twinsfest.jpg
    It was crowded, but not as much as it was a couple of years ago.
     
     
     



    I sat at the ESPN1500 radio area, which is one of my favorite things to do -- you can relax, and listen to the radio guys interview the players. It's a great way to see the guys as they're being interviewed.
     
     
     



    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_e-biq3ReU/TyW0ylrEKvI/AAAAAAAABvA/aGsbbAm-_0c/s320/justin.jpg
    Justin Morneau also commented on the bright white roof.
     
     
     



    When we started wondering around, we checked out Bert Blyleven's new Hall of Fame plaque, ...
     
     
     



    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SArkWFe-npQ/TyW14dHvXNI/AAAAAAAABvI/CQgpU51F_x4/s320/bert.jpg
    Hmm. I don't think it really looks like him.
     
     
     



    visited the Twins Pro Shop, ...



    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7EU8tmShqw/TyW20A4IymI/AAAAAAAABvQ/6mZGgBNS7SY/s320/mikelamb.jpg
    You can get your very own Mike Lamb banner.
     
     
     



    and found TC Bear, among other things.
     
     
     



    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXVj-kKGwpw/TyW42sA3FZI/AAAAAAAABvY/pU1sMoMQ7vE/s320/tckbro.jpg
    Best mascot in the Majors.
     
     
     



    By the time I did all that, the Twins Grab bag booth was closed down because they had run out of grab bags for the day. I was really disappointed because for $15, you can get a treasure of stuff -- old stadium giveaways, media guides, and other prizes. Bummer. Next time, I'll get those first.
     
     
     
     
    All in all, though, I had a great time. And now I'm really in the mood for baseball to start.
     



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