John Bonnes

Aaron and John's Minnesota Twins podcast visits a bar for sale. Then they talk about Aaron Hicks historic struggles, their move to KFAN, what went right for the Twins this week, conficting explanations for how the Twins ended up with a low-K pitching staff, Oswaldo Arcia's role this week, what makes Aaron curl into the fetal position, misperceptions about the infield, batting practice misfires, charging the mound and #42. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or click below to listen.

Aaron and John's Minnesota Twins podcast visits a bar for sale. Then they talk about Aaron Hicks historic struggles, their move to KFAN, what went right for the Twins this week, conficting explanations for how the Twins ended up with a low-K pitching staff, Oswaldo Arcia's role this week, what makes Aaron curl into the fetal position, misperceptions about the infield, batting practice misfires, charging the mound and #42. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or click below to listen.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3687[/ATTACH]Aaron and John talk about the Minnesota Twins' winning opening week, bouncing back from last week's podcast, what to make of Aaron Hicks' slow start, Glen Perkins' excellence and managing the bullpen, appreciating Roger Ebert, the upcoming "Tix For Tots" event, close games and late-inning heroics, Tyler Robertson's goodbye, and "The Running Man" coming true. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or click on the link below...

I had no idea (or had completely forgotten) that Ricky Bones was ever in the Twins organization. Or that he is now a pitching coach. Thanks for this.

I'm fairly optimistic about Dozier this year. I hope this was just a bad day.

John and Aaron talk about loving Opening Day at the ballpark and on the couch, the Minnesota Twins' lowest expectations ever, moving Joe Mauer up and Brian Dozier down in the batting order, what to do with Justin Morneau, appreciating the greatness of Johan Santana, bullpen and bench usage issues, finding what you need on Ticket King, exactly how bad the rotation can get, and why baseball is so damn comforting. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or just click below:

John and Aaron talk about loving Opening Day at the ballpark and on the couch, the Minnesota Twins' lowest expectations ever, moving Joe Mauer up and Brian Dozier down in the batting order, what to do with Justin Morneau, appreciating the greatness of Johan Santana, bullpen and bench usage issues, finding what you need on Ticket King, exactly how bad the rotation can get, and why baseball is so damn comforting. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or just click below:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3601[/ATTACH]“Look at every path closely and deliberately, then ask ourselves this crucial question: Does this path have a heart? If it does, then the path is good. If it doesn't, it is of no use.” - Carlos Castenada It was seven years ago – in 2006 – that Justin Morneau won his American League Most Valuable Player award. That year Brad Radke was still pitching. Johan Santana was still a Twin. All that existed of Target Field was the funding. And Justin Morneau was just 25 years old. This year, he’ll turn 32. And his six-year contract with the Twins, which was signed a year after he won the MVP, will end. The question is whether that will also be the end of his Twins career. ~~~ This is a story from a free ebook that TwinsDaily is publishing on Opening Day that previews the Minnesota Twins 2013 season. To get your free copy, just make sure you follow @TwinsDaily on Twitter or Like our Facebook page. ~~~ Morneau followed that 2006 season with three-and-a-half productive seasons, never giving anyone cause to doubt that he would finish his career as one of the top Twins of all time. But midway through 2010, which was shaping up to be the best season he had ever had, he slid into second base and his head hit John McDonald’s knee. It gave him a concussion, ended his season and ruined huge stretches of two more. By most observations, that seems to be behind him now, as do the nagging injuries and rust that the hiatus also brought. Morneau is in a position to have a healthy, productive season. Whether he will or not is one question. The second is what the Twins will do if he does. Worst Case Scenario We’ve seen the worst case scenario. It’s the second half of 2010. And 2011. And the first half of 2012. The worst case scenario is that Morneau is hurt – a wrist injury or a back injury or a case of hypothermia from returning to Canada sometime before June. But worst of all would be another serious concussion, which might end his career. Best Case Scenario The tougher question is “What is the best case scenario?” Obviously it involves Morneau rediscovering his boom-boom stick (as Bat Girl used to call it). But then what? Your answer may depend on whether you want to follow your head or your heart. Your head is going to ask whether it makes sense for the Twins to invest in a 32-year-old with a recent injury history that would give even the Canadian health care system pause. This is a team that is actively rebuilding, who has several high-upside prospects approaching the majors, and some of them have their own boom-boom sticks. Is it time for Morneau to make room, just like it was time for Doug Mientkiewicz to make room for him? But your heart wants to know why we would cut bait on a player who could still end up as one of the best Twins of all time. Morneau has a decent chance this year of moving up to fourth all-time on the Twins home run list, and third place (Bob Allison) and second place (Kent Hrbek) are within reach before his career is over. Morneau can serve as a bridge from one generation of the Twins to the next, just like Brad Radke did for the last generation. Plus, he lives here. He married here. Can’t we, as Minnesota Twins fans, EVER have nice things? Signs To Look For Obviously, a lot depends on Morneau. He needs to stay healthy. He needs to be productive. It would be best if he could hit left-handers again like he seemed to over the second half of last season. But he’s not the whole equation. Playing about 50 yards behind Morneau on the diamond is “right-fielder” Chris Parmelee. Like Morneau in 2006, Parmelee is 25 years old. Like Morneau, he’s a left-handed hitter. Last year as a 24-year-old, he slugged 17 home runs in just 228 AB in AAA-Rochester, or one every 13+ at-bats. (Morneau slugged 22 in 288 AB – or one every 13 AB – as a 23-year-old.) Finally, Parmelee’s best position, where he started all 62 games in Rochester, is first base. It’s probably fair to suggest that if Parmelee hits well, it would make losing Morneau easier on the Twins front office. There is also the Toronto Blue Jays. They’ve coveted Morneau both for his performance and Canadian ties for years. And despite their other expensive roster additions, their designated hitter is still Adam Lind, who hasn’t cleared a 734 OPS since 2009. If they find themselves in the middle of contention and with a black hole in their lineup, why not pay the freight on Morneau? But will the Twins listen? It might depend on whether they want to trust their head or their heart. You'll get to kick off Opening Day with your free @TwinsDaily Minnesota Twins 2013 Season Preview Ebook. Just add us to your Twitter feed by following us, or tell us you like us (we're pathetic like that). We'll publish a link to the free ebook on Opening Day on both sites.

"John, Thanks for the support. I sometimes wonder if I'm hollering weird photoshops and awkward puns into the void. ..." I remember that terrible feeling. Only I really was hollering into the void. ~~~ A few days ago, I dropped a note to one of our bloggers on Twins Daily, telling them that I enjoyed their latest entry and planned to promote it. Their response is above, and it reminded me of my first seven months of blogging back in 2002. I'd spend an hour or two writing every night. And every day I'd look and find at most 15-20 people were reading me. I also remember that once Brad Zellar, an oustanding local professional writer found me and dropped me a not telling me how good he thought one of my entries was. It meant a lot to me then, but looking back, I wonder if it didn't mean everything. It might well have been the difference between stopping or writing. ~~~ It was the second time this week I've been reminded of that. The first time was yesterday when I read an outstanding short entry by internet marketing guru Seth Godin: "The cost of setting up a lemonade stand (or whatever metaphorical equivalent you dream up) is almost 100% internal. Until you confront the fear and discomfort of being in the world and saying, "here, I made this," it's impossible to understand anything at all about what it means to be a entrepreneur. Or an artist." Or a blogger. This is why I love bloggers. It's also why I have so little patience any more for media who take shots at bloggers. Yes, they're also putting themselves out into the world. But it's one thing to publish when you know you're being read (and paid). It's another to publish in the face of the monster of the void. I love people who have stared down that demon. Blogging is an act of faith, and there are few things I find more beautiful than an act of faith. (Posting on a message board the first time can be one too.) If you recognize that or feel the same way, I'd encourage you to reward those writers you think deserve that recognition with a comment or message. I also hope you'll think twice before discouraging someone brave enough to confront that fear and discomfort. ~~~ Twins Daily will continue to try and do what it can, too. If you're an independent blogger and want to let the world know you're there, please consider posting a link in our forums of any store of which you are especially proud. Hundreds of people read those links and people will find you. We want people to find you. Just remind us where you are. Or you can blog on our site, too. We set you up one when you registered. Just go to the Blogs page and look for a line in the upper right to "My Blog." If you're willing to try hollering at the void, know that we promote quality entries to the front page, where thousands of people will read it. That also is true for existing bloggers that want to republish a story from their site. We'll only promote full stories, but include as many teasers back to your blog as you like. We want people to find you. This is as much of the mission of Twins Daily as it is to provide independent quality Twins coverage. It is no fun hollering at the void. Blog on, John

"John, Thanks for the support. I sometimes wonder if I'm hollering weird photoshops and awkward puns into the void. ..." I remember that terrible feeling. Only I really was hollering into the void. ~~~ A few days ago, I dropped a note to one of our bloggers on Twins Daily, telling them that I enjoyed their latest entry and planned to promote it. Their response is above, and it reminded me of my first seven months of blogging back in 2002. I'd spend an hour or two writing every night. And every day I'd look and find at most 15-20 people were reading me. I also remember that once Brad Zellar, an oustanding local professional writer found me and dropped me a not telling me how good he thought one of my entries was. It meant a lot to me then, but looking back, I wonder if it didn't mean everything. It might well have been the difference between stopping or writing. ~~~ It was the second time this week I've been reminded of that. The first time was yesterday when I read an outstanding short entry by internet marketing guru Seth Godin: "The cost of setting up a lemonade stand (or whatever metaphorical equivalent you dream up) is almost 100% internal. Until you confront the fear and discomfort of being in the world and saying, "here, I made this," it's impossible to understand anything at all about what it means to be a entrepreneur. Or an artist." Or a blogger. This is why I love bloggers. It's also why I have so little patience any more for media who take shots at bloggers. Yes, they're also putting themselves out into the world. But it's one thing to publish when you know you're being read (and paid). It's another to publish in the face of the monster of the void. I love people who have stared down that demon. Blogging is an act of faith, and there are few things I find more beautiful than an act of faith. (Posting on a message board the first time can be one too.) If you recognize that or feel the same way, I'd encourage you to reward those writers you think deserve that recognition with a comment or message. I also hope you'll think twice before discouraging someone brave enough to confront that fear and discomfort. ~~~ Twins Daily will continue to try and do what it can, too. If you're an independent blogger and want to let the world know you're there, please consider posting a link in our forums of any store of which you are especially proud. Hundreds of people read those links and people will find you. We want people to find you. Just remind us where you are. Or you can blog on our site, too. We set you up one when you registered. Just go to the Blogs page and look for a line in the upper right to "My Blog." If you're willing to try hollering at the void, know that we promote quality entries to the front page, where thousands of people will read it. That also is true for existing bloggers that want to republish a story from their site. We'll only promote full stories, but include as many teasers back to your blog as you like. We want people to find you. This is as much of the mission of Twins Daily as it is to provide independent quality Twins coverage. It is no fun hollering at the void. Blog on, John

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3584[/ATTACH]Aaron and John talk about the Twins officially naming Aaron Hicks their starting center fielder, Drew Butera's demotion to Triple-A, the Twins Daily get-together at 612 Brew, the rotation with Scott Diamond on the disabled list, meeting podcast listeners and smart fans, realistic expectations for prospects, trying to get to second base without passing out, Joe Benson's future, remembering their debut episode, feeling old because of Tupac, trying not to hate Duke, and Las Vegas vs. Mystic Lake. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or just click below:

I'm confused - I think you said Baxenale had a ball in play on a 3-1 count, but that he only had one called ball? Am I reading that right?

You may want to post this on the forum. More people might see it there. John

And unfortunately, they play Houston - but it's here in Target Field. The only time the Twins play in Texas is the weekend that Oldgoat_MN talked about. The only other option I can think of is Kansas City, which looks to be about a 13-hour drive from Del Rio. That's the bad news. The good news is that it is a gorgeous ballpark and that city has some awesome bbq. They're there three times this year, but only one of them is after you get to Del Rio - it's the week after the series in Dallas. So if you really wanted to go for it, I suppose you could catch the Sunday game in Arlington and the Monday night game in KC, and drive back on Tuesday. Thanks for the post and for your service. Good luck!