mikelink45

The love that the fans and now the media have for Willians Astudillo is great. It is fun, inspiring, laughable and also good baseball. Out of nowhere Astudillo has risen to mythic levels for his speed, his body, his smile, his hitting skills, and his ability to play everywhere. It got me thinking – who else has had this unique position on the Twins roster – beloved for the style and character that they bring to the team. Puckett was a similar build and a similar smile. If we forget the off the field issues we see Puckett in that ambassador of baseball position. Of course Puckett was also a HOF centerfielder and hitter who would have been great even if he did not smile so much. But his HOF ballot was stamped with a collective smile and laugh. He was beloved within the game and brought joy – one stat that still cannot be measured. Hrbek enjoyed his life and gave us a lot including some professional wrestling moves on the field, but he cannot rank with the two above. Going back in history I am reminded of the great Piranhas. Thanks to Ozzie Guillen for this wonderful label. The Piranhas were four players who were all fast and played the kind of ball that Ron Gardenhire really enjoyed – as did the fans. The names are not exceptional in Twins history – Jason Bartlett, Jason Tyner, Luis Castillo and the head piranha – Nick Punto. Guillen said, "All those piranhas -- blooper here, blooper here, beat out a ground ball, hit a home run, they're up by four. They get up by four with that bullpen? See you at the national anthem tomorrow. When I sit down and look at the lineup, give me the New York Yankees. Give me those guys because they've got holes. You can pitch around them, you can pitch to them. These little guys? Castillo and all of them? People worry about the catcher, what's his name, Mauer? Fine, yeah, a good hitter, but worry about the little [guys], they're on base all the time.” Punto was an all-around utility player who did not have the same charisma with the fans as he did with the manager, but he lasted a long time on the skills and work ethic that he did possess. Going to the early days of the franchise it was Cesar Tovar that everyone loved. Cesar played everywhere and he played better than Punto and any other Jack-of-all-trades player in team history. He is the first Twin to have an every position day and he did it well. César Leonardo Tovar, nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees. He shined shoes in Venezuela before signing as a ballplayer at age 19. Billy Martin called him “my little leader” and used Tovar to motivate the team. In twelve years the 5’ 9” Tovar hit .278 with 46 homers and 226 stolen bases. The Twins got him because Pete Rose came up for the Reds and took the position that Tovar was going to have. ony Oliva said, “Tovar plays the game hard. He runs, he chases down groundballs, dives at the ball, steals bases. And he sure can hit.” When Carl Yaztrezemski missed getting a unanimous vote for MVP in 1967, it was Max Nichols, beat writer who gave Tovar his vote. ““He played six positions for the Twins and I saw him win games for them at all six positions. We didn’t have the best of player relations on our club, but Tovar never got mixed up in any of the clubhouse politics. He kept plugging away, no matter where they put him, and to me he did a tremendous job. If I wanted to be a ‘homer,’ I would have voted for Harmon Killebrew. But Tovar was my choice and, if I had to do it all over again, I’d vote for him again.” Billy Martin said he would have had his vote too! Five times he got the only hit to ruin no-hitter bids. Then he was traded to Philadelphia where they wanted him to keep 3B warm until Mike Schmidt took over. Then Billy Martin took over for the Rangers and said get me Tovar, “I didn’t want him back just because I had him before. That’d be foolish sentiment. I wanted him because of his leadership and his hustle and his ability. He’s always played for me – given 100 percent – and I know he will. The little guy can beat you so many ways – his bat, his feet, his brains, his hustle.” Will Astudillo have a career to match Tovar? I know that like Punto and Tovar that when he is given a chance he will hustle and produce. Like Hrbek and Puckett he can be a winner.

What am I missing. Perez stunk. Why am I ready positive things about him? Otherwise, great game, great fun, and the legend of Tortuga continues.

My biggest take-away was Buxton's double. No it was not well it and it should not have been a double, but this is what can happen when you make contact with the ball. A strikeout is just an out - a dull spot in the lineup - but when parts move many things can happen. Keep making contact Byron!

Enjoy yourself. Openers - team, not pitchers - are a worthy celebration for those unable to make spring training and home openers are often after some games have been played.

The home opening games: We have a long history of opening games now and I got to wondering what our record is. Here is the summary of games. 1961 – Our first opening game was 1961 and who did we play – the new replacement Washington Senators. Pascual pitched and went 8 innings with three runs and reliever Moore gave up two and lost the game. Mincher and Green hit HRs. 3 – 5 1962 – Los Angeles Angels clobbered us 12 – 5. Jim Kaat started and gave up 4 in 4. Versalles, Green and Rollins hit HRs. 1963 – we lost our third straight opener – 4 – 5 to Cleveland. Pascual 5 runs in 7 innings. Green had a third opening game HR in three seasons and Vic Power added a HR. 1964 – finally we won, playing the Senators again and winning 7 – 6. Pleis won, but Kaat started and made it for 2/3 inning giving up 4 runs. Rollins, Oliva and Mincher slugged HRs. 1965 – Two in a row – this time 5 – 4 against the Yankees. Kaat went nine innings, but we won in 10 and a pitcher named Fosnow got the win. No HRs. 1966 – We beat KC 2 – 1. Mudcat Grant pitched a full game and won. No HRs 1967 – we beat the Tigers 5 – 3. Four in a row. Boswell went seven and Merritt ended the game and got the win. Allision and Versalles hit HRs. 1968 – Versus the Senators for the third opener in our short history. We won 13 – 1. Jim Merritt pitched a complete game. Killebrew, Hernandez and Tovar HRs. 1969 – We beat the Angels 6 – 0 giving us six openers in a row. Tommy Hall threw a complete game shutout. No HRs 1970 – Oakland went down 8 – 2. Kaat complete game win. No HRs. 1971 – The Brewers broke the winning streak 2 – 7. Perry went only 4.1 innings and took the loss. No HRs. 1972 – Back to winning 8 – 4 over Oakland. Blyleven complete game win. Darwin HRs for Twins. 1973 – Oakland 8 – 4 again – déjà vu. Kaat won, Hisle and Darwin HRs. 1974 – Twins over White Sox – 3 – 1. Blyleven wins and Hisle HRs. 1975 – The Angels beat us 3 – 7. Goltz gave up six. 1976 – White Sox beat us 1 – 4. Blyleven start and loss. 1977 – Oakland beat us 2 – 3. Thormodsgard (WHO?) was our opening day starter. Carew hit a HR. 1978 – We beat the Mariners 14 – 5. Zahn pitched complete game victory. 1979 – the Angels shut us out 0 – 6. Goltz loss giving up 5 in 4.1 innings. 1980 – Beat the Angels 8 – 1. Zahn complete game win and Smalley HR. 1981 – Loss to Oakland 1 – 5. Koosman 7 innings and 4 runs. 1982 – Seattle Mariners loss 7 – 11. Redfern loss, Engle and Gaetti HRs. 1983 – Loss to Detroit 3 – 11. A real WHO? – Havens starts and gives up 8 in 1.1 innings. 1984 – Detroit beat us 1 – 8. Williams ??? our starter. 6 in 6.1. 1985 – Angels beat us 0 – 5. Zahn beats his old team and Smithson continues the no-name set of opening starters and gives up 5 in 7. 1986 – We beat the Mariners 5 – 1. Blyleven won and that famous closer – Davis got the save. Gaetti and Brunansky HRs. 1987 – Victory over Oakland 5 – 4. Blyleven won and Frazier Save. Puckett HR. 1988 – Blue Jays lost 6 – 3. Blyleven one, Reardon save – three in a row, three different closers. Gladden and Gaetti HRs. 1989 – Viola lost to the Yankees 2 – 4. 1990 – Twins beat Angels 13 – 1. Tapani 8 shutout innings. Puckett and Harper HRs. 1991 – Twins shut out Angels 6 – 0. Tapani shut out. 1992 – Twins beat Texas 7 – 1. Tapani gave up one run and won. Mack HR. 1993 – White Sox won 5 – 10. Bad day for Tapani with 9 runs in 3 innings. Puckett and Winfield gave us two HOF HRs. 1994 – Loss 2 – 8 to the Angels. Tapani had another bad one – 7 runs in 3.1 innings. Munoz and Winfield HRs. 1995 – We beat the Oriols 7 – 4. Tapani gave up 3 in 5 innings and Aquilera saved. 1996 – Twins 8 – Tigers 6. Radtke six innings and one run. Stahoviak home run. 1997 – Twins 7 – Tigers 5. Radtke gave up 5 in 5 and Aquilera won. Pat Meares HR. 1998 – KC Royals won 5 – 9. Radke gave up 5 in 5 again. Ortiz HR. 1999 – We beat the Blue Jays 6 – 1. Radtke went seven for the victory. 2000 – Twins lost 7 – 0 to Tampa Bay. Radtke gave up 6 in 5 to continue a mediocre, at best, opening game record. 2001 – Twins 11 – Detroit 5. Radtke again 7.1 innings 3 runs. Mientkiewicz and Guzman HRs. 2002 – Twins 4 – Tigers 2. Radtke 6.2 – 2 runs. 2003 – Twins 2 – Blue Jay 7. Another no name opening day starter – Reed – pitched six and gave up 4. Mientkiewicz HR. 2004 – Twins beat Indians 7 – 4. Radtke 6 and 4 runs. Rincon won. Shannon Steward HR. 2005 – We lost to White Sox 1 – 5. Lohse lost 5.1 innings, 4 runs. 2006 – Twins 7 – Oakland 6. Radtke 7 Innings, 4 runs. Bautista and Morneau HR. 2007 – Twins 7 – Baltimore 4. Santana won. Six innings and four runs. Morneau and Hunter HRs. 2008 – Twins 3 – Angels 2. Livan Hernandez won. 2009 – Twins 1 – Mariners 6. Liriano lost – 7 innings, 4 runs. 2010 – Twins 5 – Boston 2. Pavano won and Kubel HR. 2011 – Twins 2 – Oakland 1. Pavano and Nathan for the Twins. 2012 – Twins 1 – Angels 5. Blackburn 6 innings, 5 runs. Willingham HR 2013 – Twins 2 – Tigers 4. Worley – remember him! – lost. 2014 – Twins 3 – Oakland 8. Correia and Deduno took the mound. 2015 – The Royals beat us 3 – 12. May started and gave up 5 in 5. Plouffe HR. 2016 – Twins 1 – White Sox 4. Gibson lost. 2017 – Twins 7 – Royals 1. Santana won. Sano HR 2018 – Twins 4 – Mariners 2. Gibson start, Duke win, Rodney save. Sano and Garver HR. 2019 – Twins 2 – Indians 0. Berrios start and won. Rogers Save. The Twins have a 33 – 16 home opener record! In Season openers there is a different set of statistics. Pedro Ramos started the very first season opener in 1961. Radtke had the most season opening starts and Blyleven was second.

Very nice. Enough optimism to make opening day the hopeful event it is supposed to be and enough realism to keep us from our 162 - 0 expectations! The BP is our weakness, which is true of Cleveland too. I sincerely hope we pass Cleveland because we are better and not because they are worse.

I like this team - not because they are great players, but they are going to be interesting. They could swipe 80% of MLBs SBs this year. What a great approach. If you do not have and cannot afford the sluggers do something the other teams do not have to deal with regularly. Go go Royals even if it is just a battle with Gardy and the Tigers!

John Hicks and Niko Goodrum both on the team. Nice to see the former Twin MILB players get some playing in. I was hoping they would pick up a few more.

Moving Romero to relief reminds me of moving Sano to the OF. We have had a mess ever since then and I do not want to see us wasting one of our truly good arms. It also reminds me of the last leadership and their great idea of drafting a bunch of relievers and making them into starters. That did not work either.

From my perspective the ump is an outsider, not part of the game. Their errors and sometimes their arrogance does not add to the game. And when they decide to squeeze rookies and expand for vets that too does nothing for me.

I either want them or want them to quit talking about them. But actually I do want them and I do not want the other proposal - reduce the mound and move it back. We already reduced it after Bob Gibson dominated the leagues. But we keep searching for faster and better pitching then look for ways to make it less effective.

Where is the pitch clock? How about the electronic ball and strike count? What about more limits on the mound visits? Still a lot to be done.

Make a rule and stick with it. Tweaks are not necessary, adjustments in strategy are. With three man benches there is only so many substitutes and the opposing manager knows what they are.

I will take the minority opinion here. September does not bother me and if it lets career minor leaguers get points towards the pension I am happy with that.

I love it. How encouraging is that for the Kid!

Here are the words from the actual pension plan. PDF is here if you want to read the entire agreement. You can start to receive your pension: "As early as age 45 if you are no longer employed by a Major League club, or as early as age 62 if you are still working for a club (or its affiliates, including a Minor League club owned by a Major League club). Benefits that you begin to receive before your normal retirement age will be reduced (see “Your Age When Benefits Begin” under “The Three Factors that Determine Your Benefits” beginning on page 101 for details)." http://www.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/bhb/eng/mlb-0f0-pension-print.pdf

I really enjoyed this. What is really does is remind me of why I think that the major league pension system is all wrong. "A big league player needs just 43 days of service to qualify for a pension benefit. Forty-three days of service can guarantee an MLB player a $34,000 per year pension benefit." But what about the minor leaguers who serve their teams but do not get to the required games in the big leagues. I suspect that they could use the pension more than Harper and Machado. I would like to see the minor leaguers included - maybe they have to play three - five years. That does not matter, but they are often giving up college, giving up the early years of a career, and I am not sure what happens to many of them. USA today had an article last year - https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/06/11/mlb-10-years-service-time-benefits-pension/682546002/ "The tangible benefits of putting in 10 years of service – with a minimum of 172 days on the active roster or disabled list as the annual requirement – are significant even for players who earn millions of dollars a year. ""The plan pays fully vested members a minimum of nearly $68,000 a year for those who start drawing at 45, with a sliding scale that goes up to $220,000 for beneficiaries who wait until age 62. The payout is even more meaningful for coaches, managers and trainers, who are also eligible and have lower salaries. But the 10-year mark goes beyond any monetary rewards, especially for those who battled long odds to even make it to the majors. Romo was a 28th-round draft pick without the typical prospect’s fastball. Phillies reliever Pat Neshek, who achieved the milestone in April, had to overcome skepticism about his sidearm pitching style. Sandoval was a low-level prospect from Venezuela with a pudgy build." What about a 10 year minor leaguer who never gets a chance? The income of the MLB players is not a problem for retirement for the stars, but the minor leaguers do not have a pension. If they play one game in mlb they get lifetime health care. As a result I am not against the September open call ups. I just wish they would call up more career minor leaguers.