BigTrane

End of semester is the busiest time of year for me, so I catch games & post here as I have time. Don't always catch everything, but try to stay informed as best I can. This, however, is an ongoing theme with the Twins that most around here are fully familiar with. Checking in on the latest game @ CBS, I ran across this fun little nugget: "Twins slugger Josh Willingham is still experiencing soreness in his recovery from a broken left wrist, and is backing off from taking infield swings, Gardenhire said. Gardenhire also said OF Aaron Hicks is still feeling the effects from a concussion suffered Thursday night. ''I don't know how long it's going to be,'' Gardenhire said. ..." http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20140503_BAL@MIN/twins-make-correia-a-winner-end-four-game-losing-skid Wha? The Hammer has a broken wrist... and is still taking swings? WTH? I'm sorry... that is absolutely news to me, the first I've heard of it. If his wrist is broken, why is he swinging at all? Anybody hear about this previously? Also, Gardy doesn't know when Hicks will be ok? Seems like par for the course... Plenty of talk around the forum about roster mismanagement right now, and lots of good points being made there. My questions are: How has the Medical staff complicated the use of the DL/roster spots? What is the root of the problem with the staff's consistent inability to correctly diagnose injuries and accurately project recovery times? Who is in charge- Dr. Nick Riviera? What is going on? Where's the fix? Figured I'd start a thread and toss those questions out there... really frustrated here as I don't expect this issue to be resolved any time soon.

You clearly have a command of numbers- I do not- so here's an interesting question: What is/was the % of free agents to go down with TJ? % before throwing a pitch for their new clubs? Media is always suspect #1, but they are just competing with money to drive a storyline. Imho- love to see the real numbers.

Where's China on this map? I'll give you a big 'ol blue spot on that map... Saw this on FG and loved the details; liked the 'hoagie' line and lack of A's fans anywhere.

Guess what I'm gonna say...? Nice to see some love for Suke, especially given his accomplishments, especially contrasted with the many dire predictions 'round these parts during the offseason. In other words, I've been a believer since the signing. What's intriguing to me is that his improvement is not unique in the Twins offense. Somebody (hint, hint) needs to dig into the approach at the plate and find out if it's Bruno or Molly who accounts for the change. Anyway, can't argue with results... The surprise for me, though, has been his defense. Haven't seen a game yet (limited sample size) where he excelled. Rotation? You could point to Gibson... or Pelfrey and Correia. But we already know about them.

There is the Sports Bar section in the forums... Thanks for all the replies- more or less what I expected... This was inspired by seeing the Twins listed in the Top 5 all-time in WS wins/postseason appearances following the BoSox WS win last year, and got me wondering about the records and stats. While I appreciate the team/franchise distinction (good point!) it still feels wrong that those players and stats are effectively orphaned. For a sport that celebrates its' history as much as baseball, this is glaring... and seems unique to Twins fandom. I suspect Giants and Dodgers fans don't have such a firewall between the old and new clubs.

Thanks to tshide the post on the Twins Mt. Rushmore to get my butt into gear on this! I've been dabbling with this for a while, but now I have to pull the trigger... “First in war, first in peace, last in the American League” Well, that’s how the Senators have come down to us- if we accept them at all. With Gardy's 1,00th win and the All-Star Game coming up, the question of how the story Twins history is told is constantly crossing my mind. Then I saw the first roll-out of All-Star related stuff on the Twins' website and apparently Year Zero for this club is 1961. But then, I teach history, and even my user name shows my bias, so there you go… Still, most here would probably agree that baseball is the ultimate stat-friendly, stat-driven game. Each of those stats is a moment in history, and was recorded as history. The urge to record sporting events as history, and preserve a mathematically-based, statistically valid and historically verifiable record for the ages derives from this impulse... imho. As most Twins fans are aware, our present club evolved out of the Washington Senators, which had evolved from the Kansas City Blues of the American Association. While I’m still digging into the Blues part of the story, it really bothers me that- for many- The Senators- the first 60 years of the club's history- seem to have been Photo Shopped out of the picture. Total whitewash. The Twins own the Senators’ records, yet hang no banners relating to the Senators' record. No '24 WS title is acknowledged. No '25 pennant. Yet when teams are ranked in all-time postseason appearances and titles, that is counted in the overall, all-time MLB records. Many fans might argue- with reason- that the Senators’ greatest contribution to the game is enabling the Yankees to become a sports dynasty (a tradition we still honor.) Is that why we avoid this part of the story? Are we that fickle? Consider, though, that 2014 is a special year: This year, the Twins will reach out to Chuck Knoblauch and induct him into the Twins HOF. This year, the 2014 All-Star Game will certainly include the requisite highlight reel/presentation of the teams' history, ballparks, etc. We'll see plenty of '87, '91, maybe a glimpse of '65... but any mention of '69- or just airbrushed? Who wants to bet any of that stuff goes back before the move to The Met? This year, the Nats were again heavily favored- but not looking good right now. Should they put it together and win it all, though, it would represent the first title for DC in 90 years- first since the 1924, the Senators' (Twins) victory. Considering how much effort the Twins put into honoring past greats, this is puzzling to me. Sure, the Sens were a crummy team, but they had some greats- and some of the greatest of all time! Why flush that down the memory hole, and make those players virtual baseball orphans? I mean, we own their stats! If nothing else, we have the musical Damn Yankees, movie, and expression “Damn Yankees” to thank them for... Checking the Twins website, I see no ‘history’ section, and no mention of the Senators. Walter Johnson is perhaps- second only to Cy Young- the greatest pitcher in baseball history. Nobody claims him, yet we own his record. Sam Rice, etc.- nothing? Really? Why? My question to fellow fans: why do the Twins place their own history in a black hole? Though the Senators had a tradition of losing, it’s not as though there’s nothing to be proud of. Another question to fellow fans: how do you think the Twins should present their story? Does it begin in 1961, 1901, or 1898? I think baseball is as history-driven as it is stat-driven, and the two go hand in hand. So, rant over.... I'd love nothing more than to hear what other Twins fans think about how to frame their history. Please jump in and dish it out!

The tough thing is only 4... and I agree with Brandon wholeheartedly. Go figure! I'd say Carew and Oliva were similar-type players, so you might have to make a tough choice there. I'd go with Sir Rodney. Opens up a spot for a pitcher, and I'm partial to a guy named Walter. Otherwise, Kitty Kaat comes to mind, Mudcat, Bert, Sweet Music, Reardon, Radke (?) Johan, The Gambler (just checkin'), Eddie (?), Rick Reed (checkin' again), Nathan... With the All-Star game coming, I think you're ahead of the curve... I expect all-time Sens/Twins lists to start popping up around then- hope so, anyway. With a full roster to play with, you'd have a chance to really flesh things out... 25 or 40-man rosters... could be fun. Sam Rice!

Maybe the most interesting stat would be Cameron's swing (and miss) rate...?

Sorry, no video for me- following by gametracker- my bad. Still, if the trend continues...

Wait for it...

Good for an ERA of 9.00... what's not to like?

Maybe that was 23 C, not F...?

Great write-up, Parker. Given where I am, I've only been able to actually watch a couple of games. What I've seen so far jibes with what you describe (thanks for the heat maps, btw.) Pure speculation: could it be that he's trying to change his approach at the plate to become more of a classic 1B power hitter? Swing rate might offer a clue there. If change in approach is not the answer, then maybe injury, or- gasp- age might be factoring in...?

Beer? Check. Snacks? Check. Hat? Check. Glove? For what it's worth, check. Graphics? Double check.

Think this is where you bid $1...

That's the spirit! Could have been 8 walks and six runs or something crazy like that...

Good thing I have to go to work in a bit...

Stupid game.

Yeah, Suke! Say what you will about framing, etc., he's producing.

Listening to Dazzle, so don't know what Dick said. Still, I'd pin it on Correia and Twins defense.

Suke! Who's on first? Florimon. Yeah, I know...

Was that it? Well, I stand corrected, thanks. Still our franchise holds the record, so if/when the Jays pass it, I'll be sure to weep into my beer for them.

Dude is for real.

Ok, I'll try my best to liven it up.. Here in China, baseball is a Martial Art. Bats are for personal defense only. The marketing seems to be aimed at OTR truckers, for some reason. Is self-defense really an issue? In Taiwan, you hit HRs, but on the mainland you hit shins? Ok... For the OTR guy who needs protection from hitchhikers, migrant farmworkers, organ harvesters, and itinerant sex workers, we present... the Bat.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out next time I'm back! If they do it low and slow, then it should be good.