TwinsTakes-RD

I only have a couple of mine displayed (Mauer as catcher, Torii Hunter, Marian Gaborik (Non-Injured) and Fran Tarkenton). I have a Killebrew Root Beer (empty) from the game the Twins honored Harmon Killebrew after he died. It's not very organized either. Most of my McFarlane figures are in boxes. Some day I'll make a display, right? Yeah, right! It's just fun to collect something and as long as you like it, you can't really put a value on it.

I can't imagine anything stopping me from being a Twins fan! I try to watch every game, at the game, live on TV or a recording of it. At one of my Fantasy Football drafts, I recorded the Twins game and someone checked their phone and said what the score was and I said I had recorded the game. They asked why I would record the Twins game since they were having a horrible season. Why not? There's always a reason to watch in my opinion. I say "any pitch, any player" because any player can make a great play on any pitch and anything can happen in a given baseball game. You could see a no-hitter, a triple-play, someone hit for the cycle or hit 4 home runs, Ben Revere execute a somersault between 2nd & 3rd base, a great defensive play or Mike Redmond hit a triple! Why wouldn't you watch? The last game of last season was one of the best games I've ever seen! A 1-0 game with a Trevor Plouffe walk-off hit to end the season! I think the only thing that could make me think hard about being a Twins fan is if the players weren't out there playing hard every game. I can't stand when fans say they are done with this team because they are losing. Why are you a fan if you can't even last through the first 20 games of a 162-game season? They can do whatever they want but to me, if they players haven't given up than why should I?

An article posted after the exhibition game against the Twins on April 5th - http://www.news-press.com/article/20120405/SPORTS/304050051/0/NEWS0104/Fort-Myers-Miracle-First-round-pick-set-pro-debut?odyssey=nav%7Chead Paragraph of note that I didn't know about: He rehabbed in the offseason and felt good going into opening day!

Levi played all over the infield in his career at North Carolina, playing 2nd base his freshman year, 3rd base his sophomore year and finally landing at SS in his junior year. That should give him some versatility but hopefully he can stick at SS. Levi struggled through his final season at UNC with an ankle injury that kept him from making his pro debut until the 2012 season. He signed just hours before the deadline on August 15th, 2011 for $1.175 million which might've also led to not playing in 2011. Levi's a nice prospect because he knows how to get on base, plays solid defense, can steal some bases and has some power in the bat. In an exhibition game against the Twins on April 4th, Levi had a fielding error in the first inning but made up for it when he went 3-for-4 with a 2b and an rbi in the 8-7 loss. He started his professional career on April 5th, 2012 with the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League. In his first game, he hit 9th in the batting order (he's also wearing #9) and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout and an error in the field. It took all of 2 games to move Levi to the 2-hole in the batting order and he responded with his first professional hit in the bottom of the 8th inning, a single off of C.J. Riefenhauser. He would later score off a Lance Ray double. Through 16 games so far this season, Levi is hitting just .228 with a .338 OBP and a .619 OPS. He did have a career night on Saturday though going 2-4 with 2 rbis and his first career home run in a 8-6 win over Bradenton. The solo home run came off of Hunter Strickland in the 1st inning on an 0-2 pitch!

On April 23rd, 2012 at 10:19am, my first official prospect adoption was finalized! I hope the adoption papers are on their way! Levi Burt Michael Born on February 9th, 1991 in Lexington, NC Size at birth - small Height: 5'10" Weight: 180 lbs Position: SS (drafted as SS) Bats: Switch Throws: Right High School: North Davidson in Lexington, NC College: University of North Carolina Tar Heels (2009-11) Major: Exercise & Sports Science Acquired: 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft - Pick #30 of the 1st round Career Stats at UNC: [TABLE] [TD=align: center]Year[/TD] [TD=align: center]Avg.[/TD] [TD=align: center]GP-GS[/TD] [TD=align: center]AB[/TD] [TD=align: center]R[/TD] [TD=align: center]H[/TD] [TD=align: center]2B[/TD] [TD=align: center]3B[/TD] [TD=align: center]HR[/TD] [TD=align: center]RBI[/TD] [TD=align: center]TB[/TD] [TD=align: center]SLG%[/TD] [TD=align: center]BB[/TD] [TD=align: center]HBP[/TD] [TD=align: center]SO[/TD] [TD=align: center]GDP[/TD] [TD=align: center]OB%[/TD] [TD=align: center]SF[/TD] [TD=align: center]SH[/TD] [TD=align: center]SB-ATT[/TD] [TD=align: center]PO[/TD] [TD=align: center]A[/TD] [TD=align: center]E[/TD] [TD=align: center]FLD%[/TD] [TD=align: center]2009[/TD] [TD=align: center].290[/TD] [TD=align: center]65-65[/TD] [TD=align: center]262[/TD] [TD=align: center]54[/TD] [TD=align: center]76[/TD] [TD=align: center]15[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]13[/TD] [TD=align: center]57[/TD] [TD=align: center]138[/TD] [TD=align: center].527[/TD] [TD=align: center]26[/TD] [TD=align: center]14[/TD] [TD=align: center]56[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center].377[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]5-9[/TD] [TD=align: center]102[/TD] [TD=align: center]179[/TD] [TD=align: center]15[/TD] [TD=align: center].949[/TD] [TD=align: center]2010[/TD] [TD=align: center].346[/TD] [TD=align: center]60-60[/TD] [TD=align: center]214[/TD] [TD=align: center]76[/TD] [TD=align: center]74[/TD] [TD=align: center]14[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]9[/TD] [TD=align: center]54[/TD] [TD=align: center]123[/TD] [TD=align: center].575[/TD] [TD=align: center]44[/TD] [TD=align: center]17[/TD] [TD=align: center]26[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center].480[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]20-22[/TD] [TD=align: center]38[/TD] [TD=align: center]99[/TD] [TD=align: center]13[/TD] [TD=align: center].913[/TD] [TD=align: center]Total[/TD] [TD=align: center].315[/TD] [TD=align: center]125-125[/TD] [TD=align: center]476[/TD] [TD=align: center]130[/TD] [TD=align: center]150[/TD] [TD=align: center]29[/TD] [TD=align: center]8[/TD] [TD=align: center]22[/TD] [TD=align: center]111[/TD] [TD=align: center]261[/TD] [TD=align: center].548[/TD] [TD=align: center]70[/TD] [TD=align: center]31[/TD] [TD=align: center]82[/TD] [TD=align: center]9[/TD] [TD=align: center].426[/TD] [TD=align: center]12[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]25-31[/TD] [TD=align: center]140[/TD] [TD=align: center]278[/TD] [TD=align: center]28[/TD] [TD=align: center].937[/TD] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: grid, width: 500, align: left] Year AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD% 2011 .289 65-65 242 53 70 14 3 5 48 105 .434 49 15 47 5 .434 3 0 15-16 99 154 8 .969 [/TABLE] This is what I wrote about him when he was drafted:

Levi Michael

Photo Credit: Michael Donovan via Compfight Welcome to the 2012 Minnesota Twins Take of the Week! Even though this is the 2nd week of the 2012 Minnesota Twins season, this is my 1st Twins Take of the Week! That's because I just had a thought to post my thoughts on a weekly basis literally minutes ago. Here's my Twins Takes of the Week for the 2nd week of the season. The starting pitching needs to get a lot better! This is obvious but it still needs to be said. Losing Scott Baker for the season is quite a blow to the starting rotation although the bigger blow might be Francisco Liriano's horrible start to the season. Pavano and Blackburn have basically been their normal selves. Swarzak pitched well in his first two starts but got lit up last night in the series finale in New York. Jason Marquis didn't pitch great but got out of some tough jams and never gave up the lead in his first start while getting his first win as a Twin. Liam Hendriks pitched about as well as you could ask from a young pitcher but still lost 4-3 in his only start against Texas. He allowed 1 run on 7 hits in 6 innings. Glen Perkins ended up taking the loss in that game. Other thoughts on Week 2: The Minnesota Twins bats finally woke up from the offseason and have given the team a chance to win some games after an 0-4 start. After scoring only 6 runs in the first 4 games (1.5 runs per game), the Twins have scored 42 runs in their last 9 games (4.66 runs per game) and have won 4 of those 9 games. That record won't get it done but at least they are in most of those games with a chance to win. They do need to get better at capitalizing on chances to score though. Way too many runners left on base already and too many bases loaded opportunities with nothing to show for it. It was very nice to see Justin Morneau have a break out series in New York. He went 5 for 11 in the 3 games he was in the lineup with 3 home runs, 4 RBIs, 6 runs scored with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts and is now hitting .267 with a .353 on-base percentage while slugging .578 for an OPS (On-base Plus Slugging percentage) .931 for the season. Josh Willingham will take a 13-game hitting streak to Tampa Bay as he has a hit in every game this season and is now hitting .340, getting on-base at a .411 clip and slugging .700 for a 1.111 OPS with 5 home runs, 9 RBIs, 9 runs scored with 4 walks and 13 strikeouts. He even has a stolen base. Interesting fact so far this season for the Twins. Before the season started if you were asked who would be the last pitcher to be scored on, how many people would've guessed.....Alex Burnett? Huh? How many? NONE OF YOU! I wouldn't have either but Alex has pitched very well to begin the season and maybe he's showed the coaching staff that he's finally turned a page in his career. He has pitched in 6 games, going 8.1 innings, giving up 8 hits while walking one and striking out 4 for a 1.08 WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched). Gardy has even put Alex in some high stress situations. Tonight in New York, Alex was brought into the game in the bottom of the 6th with the Twins trailing 7-6, a man on first and no outs and he was able to get out that inning and the next inning with a couple inning ending double plays from Robinson Cano & Russell Martin. I'm happy for Alex and hopefully he can keep pitching well as the season goes on. The Twins head to Tampa Bay to face the Rays for a 3-game series that starts on Friday night then they start a 6-game homestand on Monday starting against the Boston Red Sox & the Kansas City Royals: Friday, April 20th - 6:10pm CST @ Tampa Bay - Liam Hendriks (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs Matt Moore (0-1, 5.54 ERA) Saturday, April 21st - 6:10pm CST @ Tampa Bay - Carl Pavano (1-1, 5.23 ERA) vs James Shields (2-0, 3.38 ERA) Sunday, April 22nd - 12:40pm CST @ Tampa Bay - Francisco Liriano (0-2, 11.91 ERA) vs Jeff Niemann (0-2, 4.50 ERA) What's your take on my Twins Take, your take on the Twins so far this season and how do you think the Twins will do next week? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter!

Photo Credit: Michael Donovan via Compfight Welcome to the 2012 Minnesota Twins Take of the Week! Even though this is the 2nd week of the 2012 Minnesota Twins season, this is my 1st Twins Take of the Week! That's because I just had a thought to post my thoughts on a weekly basis literally minutes ago. Here's my Twins Takes of the Week for the 2nd week of the season. The starting pitching needs to get a lot better! This is obvious but it still needs to be said. Losing Scott Baker for the season is quite a blow to the starting rotation although the bigger blow might be Francisco Liriano's horrible start to the season. Pavano and Blackburn have basically been their normal selves. Swarzak pitched well in his first two starts but got lit up last night in the series finale in New York. Jason Marquis didn't pitch great but got out of some tough jams and never gave up the lead in his first start while getting his first win as a Twin. Liam Hendriks pitched about as well as you could ask from a young pitcher but still lost 4-3 in his only start against Texas. He allowed 1 run on 7 hits in 6 innings. Glen Perkins ended up taking the loss in that game. Other thoughts on Week 2: The Minnesota Twins bats finally woke up from the offseason and have given the team a chance to win some games after an 0-4 start. After scoring only 6 runs in the first 4 games (1.5 runs per game), the Twins have scored 42 runs in their last 9 games (4.66 runs per game) and have won 4 of those 9 games. That record won't get it done but at least they are in most of those games with a chance to win. They do need to get better at capitalizing on chances to score though. Way too many runners left on base already and too many bases loaded opportunities with nothing to show for it. It was very nice to see Justin Morneau have a break out series in New York. He went 5 for 11 in the 3 games he was in the lineup with 3 home runs, 4 RBIs, 6 runs scored with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts and is now hitting .267 with a .353 on-base percentage while slugging .578 for an OPS (On-base Plus Slugging percentage) .931 for the season. Josh Willingham will take a 13-game hitting streak to Tampa Bay as he has a hit in every game this season and is now hitting .340, getting on-base at a .411 clip and slugging .700 for a 1.111 OPS with 5 home runs, 9 RBIs, 9 runs scored with 4 walks and 13 strikeouts. He even has a stolen base. Interesting fact so far this season for the Twins. Before the season started if you were asked who would be the last pitcher to be scored on, how many people would've guessed.....Alex Burnett? Huh? How many? NONE OF YOU! I wouldn't have either but Alex has pitched very well to begin the season and maybe he's showed the coaching staff that he's finally turned a page in his career. He has pitched in 6 games, going 8.1 innings, giving up 8 hits while walking one and striking out 4 for a 1.08 WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched). Gardy has even put Alex in some high stress situations. Tonight in New York, Alex was brought into the game in the bottom of the 6th with the Twins trailing 7-6, a man on first and no outs and he was able to get out that inning and the next inning with a couple inning ending double plays from Robinson Cano & Russell Martin. I'm happy for Alex and hopefully he can keep pitching well as the season goes on. The Twins head to Tampa Bay to face the Rays for a 3-game series that starts on Friday night then they start a 6-game homestand on Monday starting against the Boston Red Sox & the Kansas City Royals: Friday, April 20th - 6:10pm CST @ Tampa Bay - Liam Hendriks (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs Matt Moore (0-1, 5.54 ERA) Saturday, April 21st - 6:10pm CST @ Tampa Bay - Carl Pavano (1-1, 5.23 ERA) vs James Shields (2-0, 3.38 ERA) Sunday, April 22nd - 12:40pm CST @ Tampa Bay - Francisco Liriano (0-2, 11.91 ERA) vs Jeff Niemann (0-2, 4.50 ERA) What's your take on my Twins Take, your take on the Twins so far this season and how do you think the Twins will do next week? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter!

On Thursday, Morneau had Machinehead by Bush as his walk-up song.

There's a story on ESPN's Page 2 site here if you want to read about it and you can order them here for $225! They look pretty cool! I really like what McFarlane and Todd McFarlane does with his sports line of action figures and collectibles. I have a few of them and they look great. They are usually 6" versions and sometimes they make 3" versions. Obviously what he's doing with these new resin statues is a whole different level of collecting but if you're that big of a fan of a player or know somebody who is, it would be a great purchase. They have 2 Joe Mauer figures, one with him catching and one in his batting stance. The only other Twins figures are Torii Hunter and Johan Santana. He should probably make a Killebrew figure! Geez! He covers only the great players and up and coming rookies and also goes back to the greats of the past with his Cooperstown collection. Does anyone else collect the McFarlane figures? What do you think of the new resin statues? What else do you collect for fun?

Wrong bat! Haha

Good to hear about Marquis' daughter! Are there teams or examples of teams that haven't dealt with those situations in the same manner. That would surprise me!

Will we see that starting middle infield for the Twins this season? and if we do, will it be because of injuries or because of performance, either good performance from AAA or bad performance from Casilla, Carroll and Hughes (and maybe Plouffe)?

One word....NO!

Can Plouffe wear a Red Wings jersey under his Twins jersey so he feels like he's in AAA? Is AAA that big of a jump? Or is it just a matter of time until he puts up these kind of numbers and games in the majors? Did Nishioka play?

I wonder what a "recreational" substance is! Maybe I'm taking it to? What does that even mean? That's rhetorical so don't feel that you have to answer that. Haha!

He looks like a guy who has lost confidence if he has "stuff" or not and he probably needs some time in AAA to regain that confidence! He hasn't been good in Spring Training so far (or maybe they have him working on something?)

I disagree about Burnett as he looks like a player the Twins rushed a little. He's only had 23.1 IP in AAA and he's getting rocked in Spring Training - he needs more time in AAA if only to get some confidence back in his game. Now they have guys that can take his place on the major league roster.

He was in Spring Training in 2008 and 2009 before he made it to the Twins so they had to assign him a number for spring training. When they have over 60 players in camp at the beginning of spring training they have to give them all numbers and at the time Danny was assigned his number, Carlos Gomez had just gotten here in the Johan Santana trade so he had to get a number as well. I'm guessing that Carlos got his jersey & choice of number before Danny and he chose #22. I think the strange thing is when they re-use numbers of players that were pretty good for them. Brad Radke wore 22 for quite awhile. What if they induct Radke into the Twins Hall of Fame? I'm not saying they should although I wouldn't have a problem with it. This season they are inducting Camilo Pascual into the Twins HOF and he wore #17. #17 is currently worn by relief pitcher Lester Oliveros so let's say he's on the team in July (14th) when they induct Mr. Pascual. How strange would that feel to be sitting in the dugout wearing the number of the player being inducted into the Twins HOF?

Does Mr. Chass actually believe the A's don't scout anymore and just use statistical analysis?

Fielder, Morneau, Hosmer, Konerko, Kotchman! I'm not sure how much Comerica Park will change Fielder's stats but it will affect them a little for sure.

Mauer! He will show this year why he got that contract! Santana would be next followed by Avila, Perez and A.J.!

Maybe Trevor was playing HORSE with over the wall catches with Ben Revere! Did he catch it? Haha

Baker! He just needs consistency from game to game but he has the ability to be the ace of this team! He needs to be Big Spot Scott EVERY START, EVERY PITCH! Looked like he was starting to get there last June and July but injuries screwed that up.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/quotes?qt=qt1566269 Scott Hatteberg: [Responding to being asked to play first base for the Oakland A's] I've only ever played catcher. Billy Beane: It's not that hard, Scott. Tell him, Wash. Ron Washington: It's incredibly hard.