powrwrap

This really doesn't take that much time. Actually, the home plate umpire and the catchers are really quick about swapping the ball out for a new one. Just watch for it when you watch your next game.

Serious baseball fan here and pace of the game is a factor for me. If they don't fix this my interest will likely drop to attending one or two games a year, just for the atmosphere and attempt at nostalgia and watching snippets of games in between other video content I happen to be watching, catching Baseball Tonight and/or the MLB Network highlight shows. They need to have a rule that the batter must keep one foot in the batters box (like high school) and also enforce the timing rule for pitchers. Voila--instant sub 2 1/2 hour games. The changing of relievers is not the main factor in the increase in the game times. It's also the tendency for batters to try to work a walk instead of trying to get a hit. But the biggies are the batter stepping out after every pitch and the pitcher taking time between pitches.

I suppose there's a stat for everything. Did they say how many more games the Twins would have won? I've got to believe in a bigger park like Target Field outfield defense is going to be important.

If they had decent outfielders that could chase down fly balls instead of statues (Kubel, Willingham, Parmelee) or brain dead (Arcia), or guys playing out of position (Santana, Escobar, Parmelee, Herrmann), they probably would have won another 10 games.

I like the suggestion of Dave Martinez. If you can't get Joe Maddon, get one of his acolytes. I agree with you that Molitor seems to be the favorite. I don't like the idea of Molitor, or Mientkiewicz, or Steinbach. I think the Twins need to go outside of the organization. Steinbach is likely headed to Arizona to work with LaRussa. Mientkiewicz seems too young and only has two years of managerial experience at A ball. The recent history of former ballplayers becoming managers hasn't been the greatest.

Yes, if OPS is the only stat you consider to be of worth when judging a hitter, then he is one of the best hitters on the team. And, yes, I agree that OPS is a good statistic to use. But in my mind a good hitter is someone that actually gets a hit, or failing that he gets on base with consistently and reliably. Arcia's OBA and AVG are terrible. He gets his OPS somewhat respectable by having a decent HR/AB ratio. A good hitter is not someone that swings and misses with alarming regularity (like Arcia). Is Adam Dunn a "good hitter"? He's a good comp to Arcia this year. When you really need a guy to get a hit, are you looking to Arcia? I'm not. For that matter, isn't Dozier a better hitter than Arcia? Suzuki? Mauer? Even Plouffe? They all have higher BA and OBA than Arcia.

Deion Sanders has more career triples than Torii Hunter (from BaseballFact)

Another random memory. There was a game where the batter hit a foul ball down the right field line at Target Field. Arcia went over to catch it, put his glove above the wall into the stands to catch the ball AND CLOSED HIS EYES! A fan stood up and caught the ball, his mitt a couple of feet above Arcia's glove. What professional ballplayer closes their eyes when attempting to make a catch?

Yes, they won in spite of themselves. Do you see, say, the Angels failing to score on a single to left field after putting a pinch runner at second base? Do you see ANY other team taking a power hitter out of a game you are losing in the eighth inning and inserting a backup catcher?

Arcia is not one of the best hitters on the team, but he can certainly end a game with one swing. You're right that the speed advantage is not enough to pull Arcia out of the game. You're also correct that Gardy manages as if there won't be extra innings (FWIW, Kelly did this as well.)

A valid point. Why not have Schaefer steal while Santana shows bunt? Or have him steal with Santana trying to bunt? One of the mistakes was bunting at a pitch that was not a good pitch to bunt.

After decades of being a die hard fan, I have only seen one Twins game in its entirety this year. That was a day game against the Indians back in July that the Twins won 3-1. The only reason I watched the whole thing is because I was at the game. (This is the only year I can remember in decades that I've only attended one game in person.) Otherwise my viewing time has been limited to a couple of innings here and there. Lately, I can scarcely stand to watch an inning, because I see so many goof-ups, mistakes, dicey managerial moves, mental errors, etc.that it's better I not watch at all. Let's look at the Friday night vs. Cleveland. Eighth inning. Twins are down 4-3. Schaefer is on first base, no outs. Here comes Santana. Bunting situation, right? Indeed. Realize the two fastest runners on the roster are involved in this play. Santana's impatient and bunts at the first pitch. He can't get down a good bunt as the pitcher fields it and throws out Schaefer at 2nd base. Really? OK, Santana's safe at first. Steal situation, right? Yep. Except, let's wait for a couple of pitches before we steal (why, Gardy?) and then let's have Dozier foul pop out. Here comes Mauer. Here comes the half-hearted attempt to disguise an intentional walk. Which brings up Vargas. Ah yes, anxious to be the hero, Vargas strikes out. Inning over. Ninth inning.Suzuki doubles. Nunez comes in as a pinch runner. Good move. Except when Arcia singles to left center Nunez hesitates and has to stay at third base. He should have easily scored. So then Ron, I Need Three Catchers on the Roster, Gardenhire lifts Oswaldo Arcia from the game, a player that can win a game with a swing of the bat, for a pinch runner, Chris Herrman, back up catcher. So now the Twins need a fly ball to score Nunez. Instead Hicks grounds out to SS, who might have gotten Nunez at the plate but instead threw to second base. Tie game. Not all is lost because you have speed on first base with Hicks. Steal situation, right? Ummm...no, no. Don't want to do that. Schaefer ends up striking out to end the inning. Top of the tenth and your lineup now contains Chris Herrman and Eric Fryar instead of Kurt Suzuki and Oswaldo Arcia. Boy, that's an upgrade, especially as you head into extra innings. I flip the channel in disgust. I really don't care what happens to this team. This makes me sad.

It's been my observation that new Dad's have a great ball game their first game back. Let's see what Arcia does.

Escobar and Fuld on 1st and 2nd. Speed on the bases, bottom of the ninth. When is the last time the Twins pulled off a double steal?

How many people? When do you want to buy your tickets? (I wouldn't worry about it being a sellout.) If you want to buy in advance of arriving in Mpls. your best bet is probably going to be StubHub. Regular price on left field bleacher seats are $24, I think. You could probably upgrade to seats between the bases, on the lower level for around $25 on StubHub, especially if you waited until the day of the game. If you wanted to get left field bleacher seats on StubHub I bet they would be around $10. If you can wait to buy on the day of the game you can get some serious bargains on StubHub. I went to a Tigers game on a weeknight last September and got 2nd level seats behind the dugout, regularly $35, for $4 each. Granted, the Twins were awful, it was a school night (Tues. night, I think), late in the season, but it was quite the bargain. I've used StubHub quite a few times. Your other option is to buy from scalpers on the street. There aren't any "all you can eat/drink seats" that I know of. If you are going to drink beer, by all means check out the stuff brewed locally that's available at Target Field, especially Surly Beer. M-m-m-m-mmm.

Given the recent Hall of Fame vote I thought this video was topical:

Oh yeah! Although we usually did the stomping just after the game ended cause there were lots of them lying about. Other memories I have from the Met: Walking underneath the bleachers along the left field foul line looking for loose change. Going under the seats in left field, walking up to the field and watching the game at ground level just behind the fence. When leaving the game from the left field seats walking along those rickety boards suspended over the metal framework, or else walking down the exit ramps behind home plate. I remember riding my bike to games and sneaking in during batting practice (there was a place in the fence in the left field corner where you could gain access), going to games with mom on Mother's days (which was every Thursday afternoon) because box seats were $3.00. Eating popcorn out of those megaphone cone-shaped containers, wearing the chinese coolie style straw hats. Wow, your post has induced nostalgic overload!

My ideal candidate would be: 1. Someone, anyone, that has never played for, coached for, or scouted for the Twins or their minor league teams. In other words, someone that has NEVER been attached to this organization. 2. Someone not named Ozzie Guillen. 3. Someone not named Bobby Valentine. 4. Someone not named Jim Leyland.

You need to learn the rules. The catcher has every right to stand in front of the plate or even in the baseline so long as the ball is in the air en route to him or he is in possession of the ball. The thing is the catcher is correctly positioned--one foot just off the plate on the third base side of the plate and standing in front of the plate. The catcher is giving the runner access to a (large) part of the plate. The runner simply decided to deck the catcher.

Yep. Easy score on a conventional slide. Catcher is not standing in the base line. He's got one foot at/near the plate and is standing off to the side. The runner simply wanted to put a hit on the catcher. Totally bush league.

The Twins just set a single season record for strikeouts with 1,127, eclipsing the record of 1,121 set by the woeful 1997 club. The Twins are 25th in MLB in runs scored and 26th in BA. They are on a pace to set a new AL record for strikeouts in a season. They are terrible at getting hits with runners in scoring position. I read in the Strib today that the Twins have gone 38 consecutive innings without scoring more than one run. In years past this sort of futility would lead to Twins' fans brandishing torches and pitchforks and yelling for the firing of the batting coach. This year, I've hardly heard a peep. Why is that? Yes, this team has some young and/or lousy hitters but so did the 1997 club. But look at the Marlins, an NL team with a pitcher getting a couple of ABs per game--they are young AND lousy and they only have 964 strikeouts. Should Tom Brunansky's job security be called into question?

Dave Philley, of the Phillies (and of the Philadelphia Athletics) OK, I cheated and looked that up. Also checked Brewers that might have played for the Brewers, but there was nothing.

Jesse Orosco, the Oriole. If the Twins were to trade Scott Diamond to Arizona...

Went to the full list at the link provided and was agreeing with almost everything until I got to Best Manager. #1 Jim Leyland? and Joe Maddon of the Rays isn't even on the list. This is so wrong.

Not even Sid Hartman?