strumdatjag

We already know that a good slider from a lefty can be a strike-out pitch. It was for Francisco Liriano.

You wouldn't want to start a MELEE over this - would you? Then again that m ay be PAR for the course.

Yeah, I'd rather have Schaub too. Ironic since he used to back up Vick.

So, no QBs after the top three go fast. If it goes like that, the Vikings should be able to take a decent QB in the 2nd Round to be groomed behind next year's starter Free Agent Signee Michael Vick (just predicting!)

Big 20 win year for Dean Chance, who was one of the worst pitchers once he came up to bat. The Twins also had Jim Kaat who was one of the best pitchers in the batter's box. The best commercial from that era had the Hamm's Bear attempting to shag a few fly balls - watch it all, trust me. Darn it - I can't find a link that works - Just search youtube for - Hamm's Beer Commercial Bear Baseball - Watch the one with the guy sitting at the bar watching the TV

When Buxton takes over CF, and presuming Hicks is worthy, then is Hicks better suited for LF (to take advantage of his speed in covering more ground) or RF (to take advantage of his arm)???????????

Tale of Two Lineups - Early and Late Season: Early (April, May and June): LF Pressley 2B Dozier 1B Mauer DH Willingham and Kubel Platoon RF Arcia 3B Plouffe CF Hicks C Suzuki SS Florimon or Bartlett (if Drew or SS by trade, may bat higher in line-up) Later Season July and Beyond 1. LF Hicks 2. 1B Mauer 3. (September Call-up Buxton in CF Bumps everyone, starting with Sano one spot lower) 3 (4 in Sept) 3b Sano 4 (5 in Sept) DH Plouffe and Kubel Platoon (Willingham released or traded) 5 (6 in Sept) RF Arcia 6 (7 in Sept) 2B Dozier 7 (8 in Sept) C Pinto 8 (gone or reserve in Sept) CF Pressley 9. Florimon or Bartlett (or other SS obtained by trade maybe batting higher in lineup)

Don't bring back the trough urinals, like the ones in the Metro-hole. You want a reason? One word: Richochet. Another thing: advise the singers of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" of the correct words (They words are right up on the screen!!!) WITH the crowd - Cracker JACK - I don't care if I NEVER get back LET ME root root root Sorry, I'm the jerk in the crowd who shouts out the right words just before everyone sings the wrong ones.

Sometimes the Twins make non-baseball mistakes, the top 3 I have witnessed: 3. Giving Nishi (before we knew his limitations) a check for Japan Tsunami Relief and then having the flags raised by a veteran who was a survivor of the Bataan Death March (with his Bataan Hat). Probably should have picked a different war that day. 2. Playing Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" during a pitching change (having previously been used to intro opponents' at-bats), allowing the song to play into its raunchy lyrics. 1. Announcer gives two brief heartfelt stories of young lady and young man who overcame addiction problems as part of Teen Challenge Day, then having them throw their "ceremonial pitches" and then immediately having the sound system blare Roxy Music's "Love is the Drug" as the two walked off the mound.

Time for the annual encouragement to the Twins to make the game day experience less annoying - Top three non-baseball things to eliminate at Target Field: 3. Stop letting the players pick their own intro music - Some of it is boring (Joe Mauer's and Doumit's intros last year), some of it is baffling (Trevor Plouffe with 70s Zeppelin song "When the Levee Breaks" - I just don't get the connection to batting) and very few good and appropriate ones (like Oswaldo Arcia's lively Hispanic intro). Get a musicologist or the person who chooses the WWE intro songs to find the appropriate songs, not the uninspired idiots with the Twins who pick the country sing-a-long songs. Certainly don't let the players pick their own songs (unless a veto is exercised regularly). Since we missed this opportunity when Jon Rauch was the closer, when 6 foot 9 inch Alex Meyer starts a game, his warm-up song should be: The Dictators - "I Stand Tall" 2. Get rid of the word "Guy", such as putting "P.A. Guy" on the back of an announcer's jersey. 1. Retire permanently - the Mayo Dance Off.

I also posted to Twins forum - wanting to know if the Twins fans will boo Jeter.

Jeter has announced that 2014 will be his last season. I never understood the booing of Jeter versus other more detestable Yankees (A-Rod for example). Nevertheless, I don't know if I'll be able to stand two back-to-back seasons of Yankees in a farewell tour. The Baseball Media will be gaga again for this (like last year with Mariano Rivera), and that includes the Eastern Sports Promotional Network (ESPN). Jeter was a great player and future HOFer, but I get sick of the Yankee-hype machine. By the way, I predict the Lemmings at Target Field (i.e. our fans), who used to boo Jeter between Day-ohs, will cheer in lock-step to the ridiculous farewell tour.

The Twins may take Trea Turner, a speedy college junior SS, in the 2014 draft. He projects to be a SS if he makes it to MLB. He's a potential leadoff hitter who can steal bases (which would allow the Twins in 2016 to bat Buxton #3, Sano #4 and Mauer at 2 or 5 depending on his power numbers after the move to first and considering his age). No need to panic at SS. There are a lot of options including trading for one.

Many of us have had similar skin cancer problems and are capable of providing a better diagnosis than the guys who gave us "bilateral leg weakness". So, I have no problem with amateur medical diagnosis. Good luck Terry, this shouldn't be a problem, but make sure you go get checked out once a year. It's a common problem with us fair-skinned caucasions who never used sun screen as kids.

It's called reasonable expectations (like Rocky in his first film setting the goal of going the distance, and then having the goal of winning in the rematch). You're setting yourselves up for disappointment, if you think "success" for this year's club is defined as playing meaningful games in September. This Twins team has a big climb back. They appear to be making strides in improving, both with free agent signings and a great stable of prospects. But they are just starting to climb the ladder. If they gain significant altitude this year, and they appear to still be climbing higher, then this year should be declared a success. Then in 2015 and 2016 and beyond, we can talk about playing meaningful games in September, getting into the playoffs, winning a playoff series (remember when that was the goal) and then becoming a World Series winner.

I am hoping this is the last transition year, with 2015 as the year the Twins break out of the doldrums. June, July and August of 2014 will be the key. Here are the keys: 1. Have the Twins developed or acquired at least one staff quasi-ace (ERA under 3.90 and over 180 innings), one other above-average starter, a developed prospect able to join the staff and contribute in 2015 and the ability to fill out the rotation with something better than total stiffs (I'm not asking for much)? 2. Can Aaron Hicks, and Oswaldo Arcia prove themselves worthy of starting in an outfield with Buxton, and if one or both can't, then can the Twins acquire or develop some (Rosario?) who will? 3. Can Pinto prove himself to be a reliable and productive MLB catcher and if not, can the Twins find someone who can? 4. Can the Twins find at least an average shortstop SOMEWHERE? 5. Can Dozier maintain or improve his level of play? 6. Can Mauer stay healthy? 7. Can they pleasantly surprise us with something very good and unexpected (a vast improvement in Worley, Plouffe or Parmalee - something like that - Willingham bouncing back is just a short-term euphoria but could make this season a little more bearable)? If the Twins answer 5 out of 7 of these questions positively by October, this year will be a successful year, even if they lose 88 games (my prediction). And then the positivity will flow in 2015 and hopefully beyond!!!

Denny Hocking and Chip Hale (and one or two more bench riders) referred to themselves as "the slugs" in pre-piranha days.

I'd also say that Cuddyer was a force in the clubhouse, a goody-goody version, but a force nevertheless.

OK- I agree Gomez is dropped for Torii Hunter in the outfield. Since the other looser cannon was dumped, I'll dump Alexi Casilla at Second Base and replace him with Billy Martin, who played 2nd Base, for the Twins in 1961 (then going on to be a third base coach and manager) OF - Torii 2B - Billy Martin

I left off the DH. Let's go with Jim Thome, more of an Ah Shucks attitude but a real good presence in the clubhouse during his tenure here.

I'm 59 years old, but aside from Billy Martin and Quilici, I had a hard time finding players from the 60s and 70s who I preferred over the ones I listed. Maybe I'm just losing my memory.

There are some concerns that the Twins clubhouse in the past few years has been DULL!!! Many believe adding some fired-up, good attitude players would help. Here are my picks for the all-time ATTITUDE team, emphasizing good, dedicated and "different" personalities (but emphasizing the "different") and "characters": First Base: Doug Mientkiewisz (even more than Hrbek) Second Base: Alexi Casilla (one of two "loose cannons" according to Gardie) Shortstop: Cristian Guzman (tough position to pick, Orlando Cabrera got fired up but that was during a very short stint) Third Base: Corey Koskie (like Dougie Baseball, a very dedicated Twin, who even took a full page ad in the newspaper to thank the fans when he left for the Blue Jays) Utility Infielder: Frank Quilici (for dedication to everything Twins) - Nick Punto is the runner-up Outfield: Dan Gladden (drove over to Lombo's house to punch some sense into him), Carlos Gomez (the other loose cannon), Kirby Puckett (Get on my back!!! All-time King of the Locker Room) Killebrew and Cuddyer were just too nice to make the list - but it was tough leaving Disco Dan out of this. Catcher: A.J Pierzynski (the easiest pick) Starting RHP: Jack Morris (only one year, but shunned Tom Kelly and kept the ball in the 10th for the biggest game ever for a Twins pitcher) Blyleven had bad attitude when he left after his first stint and took away the sombrero on his second, so he's out. On the positive side Dave Boswell did get punched out by his manager, and Joe Niekro had the emory board, but Morris gets it)) Starting LHP: Johan Santana (Insisted he was good enough to start and then proved it as a multi-CyYoung-winner) Set-Up Reliever: Juan Berenguer (so many possibilities, but the answer is obvious) Closer: Eddie Guardado (for overall, longterm fired up attitude, his pre-pitching ritual and engaging personality) This is tough, however, Joe Nathan had fire on the mound, Jon Rauch and Jeff Reardon looked menacing. Rick Aguilera, however, was too nice to make this list. Manager: Ron Gardenhire (willing to storm out of the dugout and had more longevity than runnerup Billy Martin - BUT look below) Third Base Coach: Billy Martin - How can you leave him out of the all-attitude dugout. Owner: Calvin Griffith - Old school baseball guy, even if he was a tightwad.

Looks like no QBs after Carr. Vikings Reaching Again?????

The Rochester Red Wings are the oldest team in AAA. Indianapolis is the affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. I doubt they would want to swap with the Twins - but I'd prefer a three-way swap with the Cubs who have the Des Moines AAA affiliate if that could be accomplished. Unfortunately, Rochester Minnesota is too small to support a AAA Team and so is even the Fargo-Moorhead area (around 250,000). In comparison the Rochester NY area (Western NY) has around 1,000,000, and Des Moines around 600,000. Ideally, I'd like to see the Twins AAA team in Des Moines, AA in Fargo (in PCL), High A in Fort Myers (utilizing their Spring Training and other facilities) and Low A in Cedar Rapids. Accomplishing that requires the acquiescence of other MLB teams and their minor league affiliates - nice to think about about unlikely to happen.

Another one: I don't remember when. The Twins were down 9-1 going into the bottom of the 9th. Only a few hundred of the faithful watched them rally to 9-8 with men on base, when the game finally ended. The sparse crowd was going nuts. My two kids were young at the time. They still do NOT leave early to "beat the traffic". crowd.