There has been much recent talk of who should play center when Torii Hunter returns from his injury. While no one has exactly given his job away, the general feeling seems to be shifting in Lew Ford's favor. Torii Hunter will start when he returns and Ford is going to have to find at-bats elsewhere. There will be many people who will argue with this and complain that he is better then Hunter. Mark this down: Torii Hunter belongs in center when he returns to the team.
Torii remains the Twins All-Star, arguably their most popular and recognizable face. His presence legitimizes the lineup. He has produced big numbers at the major league level and his defense is a huge asset in centerfield. That is why he is paid as much as he is. He gives the rest of the team confidence when he is out there. He is a veteran in a lineup who sets an example for the young kids.
Lew Ford has had an excellent couple of weeks. Despite the fact that he has hit at every level, there is no certainty that he will keep it up when pitchers adjust to him. His numbers have got to come down and he lacks the power potential of Hunter. His ceiling is not very high and he is more likely to be traded then given a starting job with the Twins. There is a reason he started the year at AAA. Yes the Twins wanted him to play everyday but he is also buried on the depth chart at every position except center. Given a full season, I think Michael Cuddyer can be expected to put up better overall numbers. With his short swing, Ford is an excellent pitch hitting option off the bench and his patience at the plate is refreshing. With a full time job there are too many unknowns. Will he continue to be patient when he hits a slump and how long will that slump last? His defense is above average but far below the level of Hunter.
Despite Ford's recent production he is not a valid option to hit in the middle of the order. While Hunter is sometimes erratic, he drove in 102 runs last year and has averaged 26 homeruns the last 3 years. He has proven that he can hit in the middle of the order and produce, something the Twins are in need of at this time. Ford is more of a bottom of the order guy at this time because of his lack of power. People have to respect Hunter's right-handed bat and his potential to take them deep when he is in the lineup. He is the best option to break up the rest of the lefties in the middle of the order.
Torii is paid like a star and has done nothing to warrant losing his job to a two-week phenom. Those who advocate trading him would be disappointed in the value the Twins would receive in return. They are unlikely to get fair market value trading away their star and the team would be worse off as a result. Everyone complains about last winter’s free agent losses and the team turnover. Many of the same people have encouraged a possible trade of Hunter. It makes no sense.
On a side note, people have suggested that Ford should platoon with Jacque Jones upon Hunter's return. If this risks upsetting Jones's hitting against right-handers it is not worth it. While it is true Jones struggles against lefties his hitting has taken off since becoming a full-time player, and to take that confidence away from him may cause more harm then good. This is an issue I don't believe many people have considered.
The Twins play Kansas City this weekend and Hunter is unlikely to return, due to the field conditions. It should be a telling series. If the Twins go out and play like they did last weekend they will further expose the Royals as a flawed team. If the Royals are able to come back and take 2 out of 3 or sweep, it could be 3-team race this year. After watching last weekend’s games, the Twins are not going to be able to play as well but Kansas City is not a playoff caliber team. They have no pitching. The Twins starting pitching is likely to improve at about the same time their hitting cools off. It should be a fun weekend for Twins baseball.
John
Contact me at johnbetzler@hotmail.com
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Sweetness=Greatness
First off, I want to tell everybody to check out John’s latest post below, a creative letter to Victory Sports and the cable companies from a recovering Twins “addict”- I think it’s hilarious! It’s also extremely relevant today because of the recent news about this alleged “progress” in the Victory Sports negotiations. Hopefully, the governor stepping in will help, but I seriously doubt it.
By the way, I was one of the approximately 5% of Minnesotans who were actually able to see yesterday’s disappointing 11-9 loss to the Tigers. I was one of the 15,158 people in attendance at the Metrodome, and it was a lot of fun (it always is). Twins baseball is still one of the best deals in town, as for $9 I was able to get a ticket (student discount night), two hot dogs (Dollar-a-Dog night), and a pop (ironically, my most expensive purchase!). Talk about a steal!
After watching the game, I have made a momentous decision in the history of this blog, one that will either solidify my place in history forever or doom me to eternal anonymity: “Sweet” Lew Ford is now the official player of Twins Chatter! I’m sure he is absolutely thrilled to receive this honor- closed circuit to Lew, I expect my complimentary season tickets to be delivered by Thursday.
Even though Brad Radke was horrific against these new-and-improved formula Tigers, Ford was once again “en fuego”. He went 3 for 5 with a 2-RBI triple. Boy, can he fly around the basepaths! He also made two nice plays in the outfield, including an impressive sliding catch. Ah, the wonders of Field Turf, as such a catch wouldn’t have even been possible in years past. I’ve been a Ford supporter for a while, but I have been utterly floored by his performance this season. Sure, no one can play this well forever, but if he can even play at a fraction of the level he’s at right now Lew Ford is going to be a solid major leaguer for a long time. I’m not advocating that he replace Hunter (yet), but I think this makes Jacque Jones even more expendable. Whether or not that is a good thing for Jacque’s trade value, I don’t know. Whatever the case may be, I’m actually not that sad to see that Torii suffered a mild setback today.
On another note, the enigma that is Brad Thomas was dealt to the Red Sox on Wednesday for the ever-available Player to Be Named Later or Cash. Thomas may have talent, it didn't look like he would ever put it together for the Twins. I’m glad Terry Ryan was able to get something in return. John reminded me of Ryan’s excellent track record when dealing with Boston, so hopefully this PTBNL will turn out to be the next Lew Ford! We here at Twins Chatter wish Brad the best of luck with his new organization
That’s all I’ve got for today. Again, be sure and check out John’s “letter” as it is well worth reading. It sums up my personal feelings as well. Thanks for checking out the site and keep spreading the word!
P.S. I just want to thank Seth for mentioning us in semi-regular feature “Blog Spotting” on Tuesday. It was our best day ever in terms of traffic and we appreciate it a lot!
By the way, I was one of the approximately 5% of Minnesotans who were actually able to see yesterday’s disappointing 11-9 loss to the Tigers. I was one of the 15,158 people in attendance at the Metrodome, and it was a lot of fun (it always is). Twins baseball is still one of the best deals in town, as for $9 I was able to get a ticket (student discount night), two hot dogs (Dollar-a-Dog night), and a pop (ironically, my most expensive purchase!). Talk about a steal!
After watching the game, I have made a momentous decision in the history of this blog, one that will either solidify my place in history forever or doom me to eternal anonymity: “Sweet” Lew Ford is now the official player of Twins Chatter! I’m sure he is absolutely thrilled to receive this honor- closed circuit to Lew, I expect my complimentary season tickets to be delivered by Thursday.
Even though Brad Radke was horrific against these new-and-improved formula Tigers, Ford was once again “en fuego”. He went 3 for 5 with a 2-RBI triple. Boy, can he fly around the basepaths! He also made two nice plays in the outfield, including an impressive sliding catch. Ah, the wonders of Field Turf, as such a catch wouldn’t have even been possible in years past. I’ve been a Ford supporter for a while, but I have been utterly floored by his performance this season. Sure, no one can play this well forever, but if he can even play at a fraction of the level he’s at right now Lew Ford is going to be a solid major leaguer for a long time. I’m not advocating that he replace Hunter (yet), but I think this makes Jacque Jones even more expendable. Whether or not that is a good thing for Jacque’s trade value, I don’t know. Whatever the case may be, I’m actually not that sad to see that Torii suffered a mild setback today.
On another note, the enigma that is Brad Thomas was dealt to the Red Sox on Wednesday for the ever-available Player to Be Named Later or Cash. Thomas may have talent, it didn't look like he would ever put it together for the Twins. I’m glad Terry Ryan was able to get something in return. John reminded me of Ryan’s excellent track record when dealing with Boston, so hopefully this PTBNL will turn out to be the next Lew Ford! We here at Twins Chatter wish Brad the best of luck with his new organization
That’s all I’ve got for today. Again, be sure and check out John’s “letter” as it is well worth reading. It sums up my personal feelings as well. Thanks for checking out the site and keep spreading the word!
P.S. I just want to thank Seth for mentioning us in semi-regular feature “Blog Spotting” on Tuesday. It was our best day ever in terms of traffic and we appreciate it a lot!
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Thank You Victory and Cable Companies for Giving Me My Life Back
Dear Victory Sports One and Charter Cable,
I'm writing to express my sincerest thanks for having been relieved of my worst addiction: Twins baseball. For the last 11 years I have spent my summer nights in front of a television, watching the games with my mood hinging on every pitch. I thought I was happy, but I had no idea. I would struggle through the winter months waiting for opening day and dread the November boredom. Then you guys came along and took it all away. Finally, now I'm free.
Did you know there are actually things to do at night during the summer? Only recently have I realized that by doing my homework in the month of April I get better grades come May. Some people even go out to movies and visit with friends around a friendly table of cards. I'm still learning, but cribbage is quite riveting, and I've only lost $200 so far playing poker. Every now and then, someone will mention the Twins and for a second my affliction returns. However, soon I'm able to put the quickly fading memories away and get back to what I am told is “real life”.
Never before have I had a better relationship with my family. It's been months since I've made them angry by shushing them right in the middle of a big pitch. We no longer have conversations where I'm half-listening and mostly just watching the game. I used to be really confused when they would come home and bitterly inform me that I had missed another wedding: this time my own! Turns out all the conversations had taken place during the game! What did they expect? Now, I actually respond to their questions. Today, I found out that my sister is actually 17 and not 12 as I had previously thought! I guess when you put back all those summer months they add up in a hurry. There is even a little time left over in my nights to do some chores for my dear mother, who has mysteriously gained a new bounce in her step of late.
My acne has cleared up with the decline in my stress level. Because I cannot watch the games, it is very difficult to feel connected to the team. Without this connection it’s not quite as terrible when Radke gives up 6 runs in 2 innings or Rivas grounds into yet another double play. The box score is just not as brutal as seeing it happen live. I tried getting my fix from the radio back when I was still addicted. Wouldn't you know it, Radke gave up the 6 runs and all they said was "Oh, by the way this just happened while we were talking about Dazzle's playing days or some guy Gordo sat next to on the plane." With the drama and the climax gone my blood pressure has decreased and I'm sleeping again.
Because of you I feel like a normal person. I can sit quietly in my room and not wake anyone by cheering on a game winning double. When I talk to people I do not over-whelm them with fast facts about players that really no one should know. For once, even I can communicate with the casual fan and have him understand me. It’s quite liberating to say the least. I wake up in the morning and I don't have to correct the newspaper game recaps. There is no more hurrying as home as fast as I can to catch the first pitch. Did you know that there are actually roses to stop and smell? Strange.
Most of all though, thank you for taking away Dick and Bert. Dick has steadily improved throughout the years but for someone who watches a lot of baseball, it’s amazing how little he understands. I can't tell you how frustrated I would get listening to him talk about how Guzman was “right up there with Garciaparrra and Tejada for best major league shortstops”, shortly after he had grounded into a base loaded double play. Bert on the other hand was getting me in trouble at school. Someone would claim that he didn't belong in the Hall. Since I spent so many hours on that couch listening to his commentary, I had grown attached and thus an obligation to defend him. Next thing you know (and 287 wins later), I've got a bloody nose and the other guy can't see straight. Since he and I have become estranged my medical bills have drastically declined.
Now I'm asking you to please take your time getting any deals done. Baseball may be in my blood but I'm really enjoying seeing my friends again. The time I have spent with my family is creating lasting memories and girls are actually noticing me now that the nervous ticks have gone away. Because of you guys I can actually say five sentences without mentioning the Twins, which has greatly improved my performance at job interviews. I must admit I miss Dick and Bert, but I think I was growing a little too attached; I was even starting to dress like Dick, tie and all. Thank you for freeing me of the countless hours that I would otherwise have spent following the team that I love so much. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover you also took the time to ensure that I would not be tempted by the Channel 45 game of the week since we don’t get it here in Mankato. That's right, I'm an addict so I can't have any Twins but I can watch the White Sox- the fastest way to a cure such an addiction I’m told. I have seen the light and now I must go towards it.
Sincerely,
John Betzler
Recovering Twins Addict
I'm writing to express my sincerest thanks for having been relieved of my worst addiction: Twins baseball. For the last 11 years I have spent my summer nights in front of a television, watching the games with my mood hinging on every pitch. I thought I was happy, but I had no idea. I would struggle through the winter months waiting for opening day and dread the November boredom. Then you guys came along and took it all away. Finally, now I'm free.
Did you know there are actually things to do at night during the summer? Only recently have I realized that by doing my homework in the month of April I get better grades come May. Some people even go out to movies and visit with friends around a friendly table of cards. I'm still learning, but cribbage is quite riveting, and I've only lost $200 so far playing poker. Every now and then, someone will mention the Twins and for a second my affliction returns. However, soon I'm able to put the quickly fading memories away and get back to what I am told is “real life”.
Never before have I had a better relationship with my family. It's been months since I've made them angry by shushing them right in the middle of a big pitch. We no longer have conversations where I'm half-listening and mostly just watching the game. I used to be really confused when they would come home and bitterly inform me that I had missed another wedding: this time my own! Turns out all the conversations had taken place during the game! What did they expect? Now, I actually respond to their questions. Today, I found out that my sister is actually 17 and not 12 as I had previously thought! I guess when you put back all those summer months they add up in a hurry. There is even a little time left over in my nights to do some chores for my dear mother, who has mysteriously gained a new bounce in her step of late.
My acne has cleared up with the decline in my stress level. Because I cannot watch the games, it is very difficult to feel connected to the team. Without this connection it’s not quite as terrible when Radke gives up 6 runs in 2 innings or Rivas grounds into yet another double play. The box score is just not as brutal as seeing it happen live. I tried getting my fix from the radio back when I was still addicted. Wouldn't you know it, Radke gave up the 6 runs and all they said was "Oh, by the way this just happened while we were talking about Dazzle's playing days or some guy Gordo sat next to on the plane." With the drama and the climax gone my blood pressure has decreased and I'm sleeping again.
Because of you I feel like a normal person. I can sit quietly in my room and not wake anyone by cheering on a game winning double. When I talk to people I do not over-whelm them with fast facts about players that really no one should know. For once, even I can communicate with the casual fan and have him understand me. It’s quite liberating to say the least. I wake up in the morning and I don't have to correct the newspaper game recaps. There is no more hurrying as home as fast as I can to catch the first pitch. Did you know that there are actually roses to stop and smell? Strange.
Most of all though, thank you for taking away Dick and Bert. Dick has steadily improved throughout the years but for someone who watches a lot of baseball, it’s amazing how little he understands. I can't tell you how frustrated I would get listening to him talk about how Guzman was “right up there with Garciaparrra and Tejada for best major league shortstops”, shortly after he had grounded into a base loaded double play. Bert on the other hand was getting me in trouble at school. Someone would claim that he didn't belong in the Hall. Since I spent so many hours on that couch listening to his commentary, I had grown attached and thus an obligation to defend him. Next thing you know (and 287 wins later), I've got a bloody nose and the other guy can't see straight. Since he and I have become estranged my medical bills have drastically declined.
Now I'm asking you to please take your time getting any deals done. Baseball may be in my blood but I'm really enjoying seeing my friends again. The time I have spent with my family is creating lasting memories and girls are actually noticing me now that the nervous ticks have gone away. Because of you guys I can actually say five sentences without mentioning the Twins, which has greatly improved my performance at job interviews. I must admit I miss Dick and Bert, but I think I was growing a little too attached; I was even starting to dress like Dick, tie and all. Thank you for freeing me of the countless hours that I would otherwise have spent following the team that I love so much. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover you also took the time to ensure that I would not be tempted by the Channel 45 game of the week since we don’t get it here in Mankato. That's right, I'm an addict so I can't have any Twins but I can watch the White Sox- the fastest way to a cure such an addiction I’m told. I have seen the light and now I must go towards it.
Sincerely,
John Betzler
Recovering Twins Addict
Bonus Material: Who Are These Guys?
Note: I have been having some computer problems tonight and don't have time to formulate a proper entry. I'm going to the game tonight (hopefully) so that will make for an interesting column tomorrow I hope. In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy the following, scheduled to appear in the April 22 issue of the St. Olaf school newspaper "The Manitou Messenger". I had to dumb down the content a bit to appeal to a wider audience, but I still think its a pretty good summary of the Twins season thus far.
Quick, name the Twins’ top performers so far this season. Torii Hunter? Not exactly. Corey Koskie? Not even close. Johan Santana? I wish.
The surprises keep don’t stop there. The Twins are only 13 games into this young season (through Monday) yet they’ve already had five key players land on the disabled list, including one-third of their entire starting lineup. And here’s perhaps the biggest surprise of them all: the Twins are still remain tied for first place in the American L Central, and they wouldn’t be there without major contributions from such household names as Henry Blanco, Jose Offerman, Lew Ford, Joe Roa, and Aaron Fultz.
I know what you’re thinking: didn’t Jose Offerman retire like, four years ago? Since when do the Twins have Henry Blanco? Who are the other three guys? Who the heck are ANY of these guys?
“These guys” are the glue holding together a team that is only a shadow of its former (2003) self, one decimated by free agency, trades, and injuries. Tightfisted owner Carl Pohlad wouldn’t pony up the dough this winter to re-sign relief pitchers LaTroy Hawkins and Eddie Guardado. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski was traded to save money and make way for “über-prospect” Joe Mauer. Pitcher Eric Milton was also traded for monetary reasons.
The Twins recovered and thought they had adequately filled those holes going into spring training, but then the injury bug decided to bite- and boy, what a bite it took. Fifth starter Rick Helling broke his leg in early March. Reliever Grant Balfour injured his shoulder a week before the season started. Then the carnage turned brutal: catchers Mauer and Matthew LeCroy took the fall in the season’s third and fourth games respectively, and All-Star centerfielder Torii Hunter was injured only a couple days later. The Twins were just entering a relatively easy part of their schedule and could ill afford to fall too far behind in the standings.
As it turns out, Twins fans had nothing to worry about. Blanco, a 32 year-old backup catcher with a career .219 batting average, has looked like the second coming of Johnny Bench by hitting .344 with 3 homeruns and 10 RBI in Mauer’s absence. Offerman has shown a knack for coming through in the clutch and is hitting over .300. “Sweet” Lew Ford (recently called up from AAA) has been absolutely lights-out as Hunter’s replacement, hitting .407 with 2 homers and 8 RBI in his first eight games. Journeymen relievers Fultz and Roa have pitched a combined 15 innings and allowed only 3 runs. Whoever said “help comes from the most unlikely of sources” sure wasn’t kidding!
Meanwhile, the old standbys Doug Mientkiewicz, Shannon Stewart, Brad Radke, and Jacque Jones have also been playing well of late. Set-up man J.C. Romero looks to have successfully rebounded from a sub par 2003 season and has returned to the form that made him one of the game’s top relievers in 2002. Although the starting pitchers have struggled somewhat thus far, the Twins are currently the best hitting team in the American League. This is an offense that has the potential to score a lot of runs this season, enough to make up for any possible shortcomings on the mound.
The Twins may have won the last two AL Central titles, but is 2004 shaping up to be a dogfight to the bitter end. Each of the Twins’ opponents has their own obvious strengths and weaknesses. The Chicago White Sox have always had plenty of talent, but have never been able to put it all together and usurp the Twins. The Kansas City Royals, this year’s trendy pick to win the division, have a potent offense but serious question marks in their pitching staff. The Cleveland Indians have some good young players, but are still at least a year away from contention. The Detroit Tigers made some key free agent acquisitions over the winter in a desperate attempt to improve on last year’s 119-loss season, but they are still woefully lacking pitching depth. The Twins, despite their losses, have an excellent chance to make it three in a row.
Slowly but surely, the Twins are even getting healthy again. Hunter returns this week, and LeCroy soon after (Mauer had minor knee surgery and will require about two more weeks of rehab). In the meantime, our “super-subs” are playing well beyond expectations and keeping the team right were it belongs: at the top of the standings. Personally, I don’t care if these “no-names” are supposed to be good or not. In sports, it all comes down to winning. As long as you win, it doesn’t matter what your name is.
Quick, name the Twins’ top performers so far this season. Torii Hunter? Not exactly. Corey Koskie? Not even close. Johan Santana? I wish.
The surprises keep don’t stop there. The Twins are only 13 games into this young season (through Monday) yet they’ve already had five key players land on the disabled list, including one-third of their entire starting lineup. And here’s perhaps the biggest surprise of them all: the Twins are still remain tied for first place in the American L Central, and they wouldn’t be there without major contributions from such household names as Henry Blanco, Jose Offerman, Lew Ford, Joe Roa, and Aaron Fultz.
I know what you’re thinking: didn’t Jose Offerman retire like, four years ago? Since when do the Twins have Henry Blanco? Who are the other three guys? Who the heck are ANY of these guys?
“These guys” are the glue holding together a team that is only a shadow of its former (2003) self, one decimated by free agency, trades, and injuries. Tightfisted owner Carl Pohlad wouldn’t pony up the dough this winter to re-sign relief pitchers LaTroy Hawkins and Eddie Guardado. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski was traded to save money and make way for “über-prospect” Joe Mauer. Pitcher Eric Milton was also traded for monetary reasons.
The Twins recovered and thought they had adequately filled those holes going into spring training, but then the injury bug decided to bite- and boy, what a bite it took. Fifth starter Rick Helling broke his leg in early March. Reliever Grant Balfour injured his shoulder a week before the season started. Then the carnage turned brutal: catchers Mauer and Matthew LeCroy took the fall in the season’s third and fourth games respectively, and All-Star centerfielder Torii Hunter was injured only a couple days later. The Twins were just entering a relatively easy part of their schedule and could ill afford to fall too far behind in the standings.
As it turns out, Twins fans had nothing to worry about. Blanco, a 32 year-old backup catcher with a career .219 batting average, has looked like the second coming of Johnny Bench by hitting .344 with 3 homeruns and 10 RBI in Mauer’s absence. Offerman has shown a knack for coming through in the clutch and is hitting over .300. “Sweet” Lew Ford (recently called up from AAA) has been absolutely lights-out as Hunter’s replacement, hitting .407 with 2 homers and 8 RBI in his first eight games. Journeymen relievers Fultz and Roa have pitched a combined 15 innings and allowed only 3 runs. Whoever said “help comes from the most unlikely of sources” sure wasn’t kidding!
Meanwhile, the old standbys Doug Mientkiewicz, Shannon Stewart, Brad Radke, and Jacque Jones have also been playing well of late. Set-up man J.C. Romero looks to have successfully rebounded from a sub par 2003 season and has returned to the form that made him one of the game’s top relievers in 2002. Although the starting pitchers have struggled somewhat thus far, the Twins are currently the best hitting team in the American League. This is an offense that has the potential to score a lot of runs this season, enough to make up for any possible shortcomings on the mound.
The Twins may have won the last two AL Central titles, but is 2004 shaping up to be a dogfight to the bitter end. Each of the Twins’ opponents has their own obvious strengths and weaknesses. The Chicago White Sox have always had plenty of talent, but have never been able to put it all together and usurp the Twins. The Kansas City Royals, this year’s trendy pick to win the division, have a potent offense but serious question marks in their pitching staff. The Cleveland Indians have some good young players, but are still at least a year away from contention. The Detroit Tigers made some key free agent acquisitions over the winter in a desperate attempt to improve on last year’s 119-loss season, but they are still woefully lacking pitching depth. The Twins, despite their losses, have an excellent chance to make it three in a row.
Slowly but surely, the Twins are even getting healthy again. Hunter returns this week, and LeCroy soon after (Mauer had minor knee surgery and will require about two more weeks of rehab). In the meantime, our “super-subs” are playing well beyond expectations and keeping the team right were it belongs: at the top of the standings. Personally, I don’t care if these “no-names” are supposed to be good or not. In sports, it all comes down to winning. As long as you win, it doesn’t matter what your name is.
Monday, April 19, 2004
The Under Appreciated Twins
I'm a big fan of Peter Gammons. He has great insight into the game and has always been a big supporter of the Twins. Imagine my surprise today when I discovered his latest article on things under appreciated before the season and the Twins were not included. Perhaps this was a result of the confidence Gammons had in the team from the start, but even so he's left it up to us to go through what both the national media and fans at home did not see going into the season.
Many members of the national media simply wrote off the Twins and their 2 straight division titles before the season, claiming they could not compete with the likes of the White Sox and Royals. This team has jumped out to a fast start and now sits tied atop its division. In doing so it has handily swept the Royals while revealing their many flaws. It has done this by overcoming several devastating injuries. The Twins have shown that they are not about to go away despite a few large free agent losses.
Their fast start can mostly be attributed to their incredible amount of depth. While its true they have been lucky so far with the likes of Henry Blanco others such as Lew Ford have hit the cover of the ball and shown why they could be starting for most teams out there. Even a much-maligned bullpen has come through tossing the most innings in Baseball while keeping the team in most games. With garbage-heap pickups Aaron Fultz (1.08 ERA) and Joe Roa (2.70) both having ERA's under 3 as of Sunday it's safe to say Terry Ryan's judgment of talent has been under appreciated as well. Add to that the 8 scoreless innings of J.C Romero, Joe Nathan’s first couple of saves and the solid work of Juan Rincon and the Twins have the makings of a strong bullpen.
Few anticipated the offensive output the Twins have shown. Everyone is hitting the ball well including off-season pickups Jose Offerman (who looks like the Jose of old), Blanco and Nick Punto. The Twins have been able to overcome adversity by having anyone they plug into their lineup hit. Too many people focused on the team’s bullpen and the strength of its starters. They forgot about this team’s potential to drive in runs.
Here at home fans find themselves rediscovering how valuable Brad Radke is to this team. Before the season many were ready to anoint Johan Santana the Ace of the staff, but it has been Radke who has delivered 2 quality starts and stability to a rotation still finding itself.
Some have grumbled about the ability of Joe Nathan to close out games. Having little experience coming into the season they worried that he would struggle. The kid has come in and got the job done reminiscent of Rick Aguilera where he gets himself into trouble and pitches out of it. Relax Twins fans; the one time he was roughed up was a non-save situation. His velocity is down so far but everything he has done to this point in his career points to him being a successful closer. With him getting the job done the rest of the bullpen sets up quite nicely.
The value of Shannon Stewart to this club has been shown in the last couple of weeks. His signing was questioned as being too much to pay for another corner outfielder but this guy makes the offense click. He gets on base as evidenced by his .306 average with 13 walks! Shannon Stewart is a professional hitter whose value has been under appreciated by both Twins fans and the rest of baseball, as he remains the team MVP to date.
So there you have it, just a few little things Gammons left out of his article today. The Twins are still going strong and will be even tougher to beat in the next month when they see the return of many starters. Yes, Florida's off to a great start but the Twins too have something to brag about as all the doubters have found out.
Notes (a la Gammons style):
It was great to see Griesinger and Roa give the Twins a good combined start on Sunday. This apparently has earned Griesinger a second start, which will probably determine his future with this team. If he performs well it would be great but I'm afraid Gardy may fall into the Hector Carrasco, Bob Wells, Tony Fiorie trap of gaining confidence in a mediocre pitcher and then taking way too long to realize he is not major league caliber. Obviously Griesinger is still in his prime and has some talent but has shown little in his brief stint this year and throughout his career.
I'm increasingly impressed with J.C Romero who looks like the pitcher of old. When he's on, he's un-hittable and he seems to have harnessed his control so that his wildness no longer is a hindrance. Obviously it's early but he looks ready to keep it up. My only worry is his possible overuse to this point in the season. He's the pitcher Gardy trusts the most and as a result it has got to be tempting to use him every game.
Luis Rivas had a pretty good weekend showing signs of coming out of his slump. He always kills Royals pitching but it might be just what he needed to jump him back into the hitting mode.
No matter how overrated I think Torii Hunter is, what an amazing human being he is! I have had the pleasure on several occasions to be around him and he lights up the area. What he did on Sunday by giving Jerry White his Gold Glove Award was incredible. He is a great role model for kids and it'll be good to see his smile back out in center in the next week.
Many members of the national media simply wrote off the Twins and their 2 straight division titles before the season, claiming they could not compete with the likes of the White Sox and Royals. This team has jumped out to a fast start and now sits tied atop its division. In doing so it has handily swept the Royals while revealing their many flaws. It has done this by overcoming several devastating injuries. The Twins have shown that they are not about to go away despite a few large free agent losses.
Their fast start can mostly be attributed to their incredible amount of depth. While its true they have been lucky so far with the likes of Henry Blanco others such as Lew Ford have hit the cover of the ball and shown why they could be starting for most teams out there. Even a much-maligned bullpen has come through tossing the most innings in Baseball while keeping the team in most games. With garbage-heap pickups Aaron Fultz (1.08 ERA) and Joe Roa (2.70) both having ERA's under 3 as of Sunday it's safe to say Terry Ryan's judgment of talent has been under appreciated as well. Add to that the 8 scoreless innings of J.C Romero, Joe Nathan’s first couple of saves and the solid work of Juan Rincon and the Twins have the makings of a strong bullpen.
Few anticipated the offensive output the Twins have shown. Everyone is hitting the ball well including off-season pickups Jose Offerman (who looks like the Jose of old), Blanco and Nick Punto. The Twins have been able to overcome adversity by having anyone they plug into their lineup hit. Too many people focused on the team’s bullpen and the strength of its starters. They forgot about this team’s potential to drive in runs.
Here at home fans find themselves rediscovering how valuable Brad Radke is to this team. Before the season many were ready to anoint Johan Santana the Ace of the staff, but it has been Radke who has delivered 2 quality starts and stability to a rotation still finding itself.
Some have grumbled about the ability of Joe Nathan to close out games. Having little experience coming into the season they worried that he would struggle. The kid has come in and got the job done reminiscent of Rick Aguilera where he gets himself into trouble and pitches out of it. Relax Twins fans; the one time he was roughed up was a non-save situation. His velocity is down so far but everything he has done to this point in his career points to him being a successful closer. With him getting the job done the rest of the bullpen sets up quite nicely.
The value of Shannon Stewart to this club has been shown in the last couple of weeks. His signing was questioned as being too much to pay for another corner outfielder but this guy makes the offense click. He gets on base as evidenced by his .306 average with 13 walks! Shannon Stewart is a professional hitter whose value has been under appreciated by both Twins fans and the rest of baseball, as he remains the team MVP to date.
So there you have it, just a few little things Gammons left out of his article today. The Twins are still going strong and will be even tougher to beat in the next month when they see the return of many starters. Yes, Florida's off to a great start but the Twins too have something to brag about as all the doubters have found out.
Notes (a la Gammons style):
It was great to see Griesinger and Roa give the Twins a good combined start on Sunday. This apparently has earned Griesinger a second start, which will probably determine his future with this team. If he performs well it would be great but I'm afraid Gardy may fall into the Hector Carrasco, Bob Wells, Tony Fiorie trap of gaining confidence in a mediocre pitcher and then taking way too long to realize he is not major league caliber. Obviously Griesinger is still in his prime and has some talent but has shown little in his brief stint this year and throughout his career.
I'm increasingly impressed with J.C Romero who looks like the pitcher of old. When he's on, he's un-hittable and he seems to have harnessed his control so that his wildness no longer is a hindrance. Obviously it's early but he looks ready to keep it up. My only worry is his possible overuse to this point in the season. He's the pitcher Gardy trusts the most and as a result it has got to be tempting to use him every game.
Luis Rivas had a pretty good weekend showing signs of coming out of his slump. He always kills Royals pitching but it might be just what he needed to jump him back into the hitting mode.
No matter how overrated I think Torii Hunter is, what an amazing human being he is! I have had the pleasure on several occasions to be around him and he lights up the area. What he did on Sunday by giving Jerry White his Gold Glove Award was incredible. He is a great role model for kids and it'll be good to see his smile back out in center in the next week.
Braves Still Struggle Under Curse of Henry "The Babe" Blanco
APRIL 19, 2014
ATLANTA, GA- The Atlanta Braves, some of you may remember, won 12 consecutive division titles from 1991 through 2003. And as most Braves fans are painfully aware, in the ten years since then they have won exactly zero. Not a single one. Most Braves fans will tell you that one man can be blamed for this "curse", and his name is none other than Henry Blanco. Ten years after they let him walk, the Atlanta Braves organization is still regretting their fateful decision to not re-sign the soon-to-be Hall of Fame catcher after the 2003 season.
"Even though I was the architect behind all those great playoff teams," says former Braves GM John Schuerholz, "the one decision that I regret the most is letting Blanco go. It probably would have saved my job and the fortunes of the entire franchise. I still don't know how Terry Ryan knew he would blossom into a perennial All-Star at age 32. All I can say is no one ever doubted his genius after that move."
For those of you who don't remember, Blanco was the Braves backup (and Greg Maddux's personal) catcher during both 2002 and 2003, playing in 81 and 55 games each year respectively. He only posted a combined .202 BA with 7 HR and 35 RBI over that span, but the Twins' Ryan knew when he signed Blanco to a $750,000 deal in the winter of 2004 he had gotten a huge bargain.
"I knew there was something special about Henry," said Ryan, the mastermind behind the Twins five World Series victories in the '00s, "When we signed him, he was only supposed to be a backup for this kid named Joe Mauer. But Mauer struggled with injuries his entire career and never really panned out. Luckily, we had Hammerin' Hank to anchor the middle of our lineup that year [2004] and the rest is, well, history."
"History" is putting it modestly. Blanco became the Twins starter only a couple games into the 2004 season and immediately began flashing the form that will make him first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2016. He hit .344 with 41 HRs and 135 RBIs and was named the both the American League and World Series MVP that year. He would go on to average a .335/38/128 over the next eight years, firmly solidifying his place as one of the best catchers of all-time.
"I always knew Henry had it in him," commented current Braves manager Bobby Cox, now 73 years old and in his 35th season as a major league manager. "I told Johnny [Schuerholz] to hold on to him because he really showed some flashes during his time here, but he wanted to go with this Estrada kid. We all know how that worked out." Johnny Estrada hit .221 as a Brave in 2004 and was out of the game within two years.
Since Ryan "stole" Blanco off the free agent pile, the Braves and Twins franchises have gone in completely different directions. The Twins became the "team of the 2000s" with their five championships in six years (anchored by Blanco, ace Johan Santana, flame-throwing closer Jesse Crain, and outfielder "Sweet" Lew Ford). The 2004 Series win also netted the Twins their state-of-the-art stadium, Pohlad Park, which helped vault them into the top five teams league-wide in terms of revenue.
The Braves, on the other hand, quickly became the laughingstock of the National League. Even the lowly San Juan Expos have posted more .500 seasons (1) than the Braves (0) since 2003. But Cox (along with long-time pitching coach Leo Mazzone) remains optimistic about the future.
"I can feel it in my bones," says Cox. "This is going to be the year that J.D. Drew stays healthy and has a breakout season."
Meanwhile, the Twins are gearing up for yet another championship run. But Twins fans will never forget the man who almost single-handedly turned a low-budget playoff contender into a perennial power way back in 2004. A man who will always live on in the annals of baseball history. A man named Henry Blanco.
ATLANTA, GA- The Atlanta Braves, some of you may remember, won 12 consecutive division titles from 1991 through 2003. And as most Braves fans are painfully aware, in the ten years since then they have won exactly zero. Not a single one. Most Braves fans will tell you that one man can be blamed for this "curse", and his name is none other than Henry Blanco. Ten years after they let him walk, the Atlanta Braves organization is still regretting their fateful decision to not re-sign the soon-to-be Hall of Fame catcher after the 2003 season.
"Even though I was the architect behind all those great playoff teams," says former Braves GM John Schuerholz, "the one decision that I regret the most is letting Blanco go. It probably would have saved my job and the fortunes of the entire franchise. I still don't know how Terry Ryan knew he would blossom into a perennial All-Star at age 32. All I can say is no one ever doubted his genius after that move."
For those of you who don't remember, Blanco was the Braves backup (and Greg Maddux's personal) catcher during both 2002 and 2003, playing in 81 and 55 games each year respectively. He only posted a combined .202 BA with 7 HR and 35 RBI over that span, but the Twins' Ryan knew when he signed Blanco to a $750,000 deal in the winter of 2004 he had gotten a huge bargain.
"I knew there was something special about Henry," said Ryan, the mastermind behind the Twins five World Series victories in the '00s, "When we signed him, he was only supposed to be a backup for this kid named Joe Mauer. But Mauer struggled with injuries his entire career and never really panned out. Luckily, we had Hammerin' Hank to anchor the middle of our lineup that year [2004] and the rest is, well, history."
"History" is putting it modestly. Blanco became the Twins starter only a couple games into the 2004 season and immediately began flashing the form that will make him first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2016. He hit .344 with 41 HRs and 135 RBIs and was named the both the American League and World Series MVP that year. He would go on to average a .335/38/128 over the next eight years, firmly solidifying his place as one of the best catchers of all-time.
"I always knew Henry had it in him," commented current Braves manager Bobby Cox, now 73 years old and in his 35th season as a major league manager. "I told Johnny [Schuerholz] to hold on to him because he really showed some flashes during his time here, but he wanted to go with this Estrada kid. We all know how that worked out." Johnny Estrada hit .221 as a Brave in 2004 and was out of the game within two years.
Since Ryan "stole" Blanco off the free agent pile, the Braves and Twins franchises have gone in completely different directions. The Twins became the "team of the 2000s" with their five championships in six years (anchored by Blanco, ace Johan Santana, flame-throwing closer Jesse Crain, and outfielder "Sweet" Lew Ford). The 2004 Series win also netted the Twins their state-of-the-art stadium, Pohlad Park, which helped vault them into the top five teams league-wide in terms of revenue.
The Braves, on the other hand, quickly became the laughingstock of the National League. Even the lowly San Juan Expos have posted more .500 seasons (1) than the Braves (0) since 2003. But Cox (along with long-time pitching coach Leo Mazzone) remains optimistic about the future.
"I can feel it in my bones," says Cox. "This is going to be the year that J.D. Drew stays healthy and has a breakout season."
Meanwhile, the Twins are gearing up for yet another championship run. But Twins fans will never forget the man who almost single-handedly turned a low-budget playoff contender into a perennial power way back in 2004. A man who will always live on in the annals of baseball history. A man named Henry Blanco.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
For Starters
Largely as a result of my frustration with discovering I was unable to watch the Twins on Friday, I decided to attend my first game last night. It was an exiting game where the Twins were able to overcome Kyle Lohse's control problems and an early deficit to pull out the win. The new turf really adds to the experience and I sat right by the foul pole in left field, which offered an excellent view of both the field and the bullpen. The one part of the game I found troubling was the performance of Kyle Lohse.
Somehow the Twins need to get their starting pitching back on track. Radke set the tone earlier this week and by all reports Santana wasn't as bad as the stats indicate but Kyle Lohse has really struggled. If the Twins are going to repeat he needs to be one of their horses. Carlos Silva who has been borderline solid to this point never has been a starter before in the league and Rick Helling's career era is 4.77. Last night Lohse was wild all game and gave up a couple of long balls. He fought all night to barely throw more strikes then balls. The radar gun didn't show that he was over throwing but I wonder if he has been a little exited at the start of the season knowing that the team needs him more this year. At this point he has been rather inconsistent in his career and he needs to show that he has the mentality to be a good pitcher in the league. If he doesn't turn it around which I'm confident he will it's going to be a long year for the bullpen which is improved but will never show it if overworked.
My guess is this staff is going to struggle a little bit longer then settle down into their roles. The bullpen will come together and weed out the bad pitchers just in time for Crain and Durban to be ready for a call up. Radke needs to be the calming forces in the rotation something he has at times excelled at in his career and at others really struggled with.
For Santana it's one thing to know you’re a good pitcher and go out there and show everyone and another to have a bunch of expectations. It might take him awhile to adapt to these. He has shown in the past that not only is he a bit touchy physically but sometimes mentally. Still, he was the team’s best pitcher last year and they need him to come around. Friday night was an encouraging start but his success is going to hinge on his confidence in the changeup.
So far I've been impressed with Silva although I've yet to actually see him pitch. He has kept the team in the game, which if the bullpen comes together is all the Twins need from him. It's odd to have a starter with only 2 pitches but if the Erickson comparisons are accurate he should be just fine. Hopefully he'll continue to throw 5-6 innings an outing while allowing just a couple of runs. The bullpen is going to need to be rested enough to pick him up though.
The fifth starter is really a wild card spot in baseball. It's one of the few positions where anything good you get seems to be a real bonus. Rick Helling is capable of having a solid year. He's comfortable with a pitching coach that seems to understand him and playing at home. If nothing else he's going to give the team much needed innings and experience. He was the first injury for this team and having him back will settle things down.
I must confess I've never seen Greisinger pitch, at least that I remember. I assume like most ex-Detroit pitchers at one point I have seen the back of his jersey after watching another Twins hit go over the fence. The Twins can't expect much from him other than to bridge the gap first to Helling and then to Durbin. He has been hit hard to this point in the season and his career. Using him for one start allows the team to not mess up the rest of their bullpen rotation with anything they get out of him being a major bonus.
That's it for today; we'll attempt to get into the state of the most worked bullpen in the majors sometime in the next couple of days. A few other observations from Saturday night’s game;
Neither Luis Rivas nor my new favorite player Michael Cuddyer was in the lineup. This is my justification for not calling up Morneau quite yet as I think it would take away from Cuddyer's at bats. Now is the time for him to prove himself and he needs the chance although not at second where he would make 45 errors a year. The kid has produced at every level but has never really been given a shot to even work through a slump in the majors. At 25 he is at a crossroads with more potential than others such as Matt Lecroy. The team also needs to see if he is ready to take over third next year should they choose not to resign Koskie. The bottom line though is that he's the best option to split up the lefties in the lineup until Hunter or Lecroy comes back. Offerman could then be used in spots where he will be more successful.
“Sweet” Lew Ford can straight up play. He’s got a nice short swing and is capable of hitting the ball hard somewhere every time up. Somehow the Twins need to make room for him on this team. He plays a solid centerfield although he was a little deep on some balls last night. I’m not sure what the infatuation is with Tori Hunter. He is awesome in center but his hitting continues to frustrate. You would think that someday a light would click and he would realize that with 2 strikes he’s probably going to get an outside breaking ball that he should lay off of it, until then he is simply over-rated. When he returns Ford is hopefully destined for the bench and not triple A where his short swing can best be utilized as a pitch hitter. Ford has earned his way on this team and a level of excitement surrounded every play he was a part of last night.
Somehow the Twins need to get their starting pitching back on track. Radke set the tone earlier this week and by all reports Santana wasn't as bad as the stats indicate but Kyle Lohse has really struggled. If the Twins are going to repeat he needs to be one of their horses. Carlos Silva who has been borderline solid to this point never has been a starter before in the league and Rick Helling's career era is 4.77. Last night Lohse was wild all game and gave up a couple of long balls. He fought all night to barely throw more strikes then balls. The radar gun didn't show that he was over throwing but I wonder if he has been a little exited at the start of the season knowing that the team needs him more this year. At this point he has been rather inconsistent in his career and he needs to show that he has the mentality to be a good pitcher in the league. If he doesn't turn it around which I'm confident he will it's going to be a long year for the bullpen which is improved but will never show it if overworked.
My guess is this staff is going to struggle a little bit longer then settle down into their roles. The bullpen will come together and weed out the bad pitchers just in time for Crain and Durban to be ready for a call up. Radke needs to be the calming forces in the rotation something he has at times excelled at in his career and at others really struggled with.
For Santana it's one thing to know you’re a good pitcher and go out there and show everyone and another to have a bunch of expectations. It might take him awhile to adapt to these. He has shown in the past that not only is he a bit touchy physically but sometimes mentally. Still, he was the team’s best pitcher last year and they need him to come around. Friday night was an encouraging start but his success is going to hinge on his confidence in the changeup.
So far I've been impressed with Silva although I've yet to actually see him pitch. He has kept the team in the game, which if the bullpen comes together is all the Twins need from him. It's odd to have a starter with only 2 pitches but if the Erickson comparisons are accurate he should be just fine. Hopefully he'll continue to throw 5-6 innings an outing while allowing just a couple of runs. The bullpen is going to need to be rested enough to pick him up though.
The fifth starter is really a wild card spot in baseball. It's one of the few positions where anything good you get seems to be a real bonus. Rick Helling is capable of having a solid year. He's comfortable with a pitching coach that seems to understand him and playing at home. If nothing else he's going to give the team much needed innings and experience. He was the first injury for this team and having him back will settle things down.
I must confess I've never seen Greisinger pitch, at least that I remember. I assume like most ex-Detroit pitchers at one point I have seen the back of his jersey after watching another Twins hit go over the fence. The Twins can't expect much from him other than to bridge the gap first to Helling and then to Durbin. He has been hit hard to this point in the season and his career. Using him for one start allows the team to not mess up the rest of their bullpen rotation with anything they get out of him being a major bonus.
That's it for today; we'll attempt to get into the state of the most worked bullpen in the majors sometime in the next couple of days. A few other observations from Saturday night’s game;
Neither Luis Rivas nor my new favorite player Michael Cuddyer was in the lineup. This is my justification for not calling up Morneau quite yet as I think it would take away from Cuddyer's at bats. Now is the time for him to prove himself and he needs the chance although not at second where he would make 45 errors a year. The kid has produced at every level but has never really been given a shot to even work through a slump in the majors. At 25 he is at a crossroads with more potential than others such as Matt Lecroy. The team also needs to see if he is ready to take over third next year should they choose not to resign Koskie. The bottom line though is that he's the best option to split up the lefties in the lineup until Hunter or Lecroy comes back. Offerman could then be used in spots where he will be more successful.
“Sweet” Lew Ford can straight up play. He’s got a nice short swing and is capable of hitting the ball hard somewhere every time up. Somehow the Twins need to make room for him on this team. He plays a solid centerfield although he was a little deep on some balls last night. I’m not sure what the infatuation is with Tori Hunter. He is awesome in center but his hitting continues to frustrate. You would think that someday a light would click and he would realize that with 2 strikes he’s probably going to get an outside breaking ball that he should lay off of it, until then he is simply over-rated. When he returns Ford is hopefully destined for the bench and not triple A where his short swing can best be utilized as a pitch hitter. Ford has earned his way on this team and a level of excitement surrounded every play he was a part of last night.
Friday, April 16, 2004
Get To Know Em
It's a beautiful day; the Twins have won two straight and schools just about done. What's not to love about this time of year? Brad Radke proved to everyone last night that he is worth the money. I only wish he could perform like that every time out. Ryan hit it on the head with his take. Brad has little margin for error, hence all the huge innings that occur from barely missing his spot. What's even more significant about last night is that he did it against the Indians in Cleveland, a place that has always been his house of horrors. If he can overcome those demons anything is possible. The Twins needed this last night; he calmed down what had been a hectic storm since the first game of the season. It also sets a tone for Santana and Lohse to hopefully follow. Regardless, the team now has a rested bullpen ready to go tonight should Santana trip on his way to the dugout or something.
I've already talked extensively about Luis Rivas in the last couple of days but here are a few final points. He is a solid major league second basemen who gives the Twins exactly what they need from his position. He's never going to be a star but he's also not going to continue having nights like last night. Being in a slump does not constitute sucking. 4 years ago people were talking the same way about Tori Hunter and Joe Mays right before their big seasons. It's really to early to tell on Rivas. The Stengel quote must have been from his senile Mets days. It's ludicrous to write off a young player who has been injured and has in the past contributed at the major league level. Also, the reason Rivas bats second is to give Gardie the flexibility to pitch hit for him as he did in the opening game with Cuddyer. It gives him flexibility he would not have with someone like Doug batting there. For now Rivas is the best option and it’s only a matter of time before he comes out of his slump.
Tonight's game is on TV so many of us will get our first chance to watch the team in just under a week. Listening to the radio is great but it doesn't fully capture the feel of the action and I'm rather disappointed in the quality of the broadcasts. I know why the Twins need to hold out for Victory but I fear it’s going to be a long wait making it a difficult time to be a fan.
Thanks for stopping by to check us out, tell your friends and feel free to email me at johnbetzler@hotmail.com if you have any comments.
I've already talked extensively about Luis Rivas in the last couple of days but here are a few final points. He is a solid major league second basemen who gives the Twins exactly what they need from his position. He's never going to be a star but he's also not going to continue having nights like last night. Being in a slump does not constitute sucking. 4 years ago people were talking the same way about Tori Hunter and Joe Mays right before their big seasons. It's really to early to tell on Rivas. The Stengel quote must have been from his senile Mets days. It's ludicrous to write off a young player who has been injured and has in the past contributed at the major league level. Also, the reason Rivas bats second is to give Gardie the flexibility to pitch hit for him as he did in the opening game with Cuddyer. It gives him flexibility he would not have with someone like Doug batting there. For now Rivas is the best option and it’s only a matter of time before he comes out of his slump.
Tonight's game is on TV so many of us will get our first chance to watch the team in just under a week. Listening to the radio is great but it doesn't fully capture the feel of the action and I'm rather disappointed in the quality of the broadcasts. I know why the Twins need to hold out for Victory but I fear it’s going to be a long wait making it a difficult time to be a fan.
Thanks for stopping by to check us out, tell your friends and feel free to email me at johnbetzler@hotmail.com if you have any comments.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Opening Day!
"It's a great day for a ball game; let's play two!"
-Ernie Banks
Hello and welcome to Opening Day here at Twins Chatter! Even though some of you may have noticed the link over at sethspeaks.net on Wednesday, today is officially the first day that my all-new Minnesota Twins blog will be going public. If you have read the biographical columns from earlier this week you already know that here at Twins Chatter, we care about the customer. That's why we're giving you two bloggers for the price of one, each and every weekday. Now, I can't guarantee that we'll both write everyday, but you'll get two very different takes on Twins baseball each time you visit.
I debated long and hard about what to write for my first Twins column, but I have decided to go with the old standby: yesterday's game. Now, I didn't actually "see" the game (like the vast majority of you I'd assume-don't even get me started on Victory) except through the eyes of John Gordon and his trusty sidekick, Danny Gladden. For one game out of 162, last night's 3-0 victory over Cleveland was actually very telling. Here's what we know so far:
-Luis Rivas officially sucks (usually I avoid such a crude word, but it actually works quite well in this situation)
-Brad Radke may be grossly overpaid, but he can still twizzle and twirl it with the best of them (8 IP, 4 H, 5 K's)
-The baseball gods haven't abadoned us completely, as Dougie Baseball looks like he'll be okay (day-to-day with a mild ankle sprain)
-Maybe Joe Nathan can close games... but he's no Eddie (whoa- never thought I'd say that)
-The formerly disembodied spirit that is currently taking residence within Henry Blanco hasn't left quite yet (he went 1-3 w/a walk)
-Luis Rivas sucks
And that's what we know so far. Seriously, I was very encouraged by these last two games in Cleveland, especially Thursday's win. Radke's first two outings were very disappointing, and I was beginning to wonder if we would have to wait until mid-summer again for the real Brad Radke to show up. Hopefully, we won't. Because Radke relies almost exclusively on his lights-out control, he has very little room for error. Too often it seems he is either "on" or "off"- not a exactly desirable trait for a supposed staff ace. Maybe now the light switch will stay "on" for a while.
Rivas' performance, on the other hand, was not encouraging in the least. Nothing to get the critics going than an ugly 0-5 performance with 6 men left on base. He also had a boot on extremely routine play and grounded into yet another key double play with the bases loaded. I doubt even his double-play partner (and partner in crime) Christian Guzman could top that performance in terms of futility. I say all this mostly because my fellow blogger John is a big Rivas booster and he will undoubtedly post an entry soon defending his man. Stay tuned, although personally I don't think he's up to the challenge :).
Anyway, I'll keep this initial Twins offering to a reasonable length so as not to turn any of you off. Also, be sure to check out John's first Twins entry, which should be up by Friday afternoon. Feel free to post your comments/thoughts/suggestions in my topic over at the DTFC. My screen name is twinsfan23. Also, you can e-mail me at twinsfan21@msn.com.
P.S. On the Rivas tangent, I think Charlie Saeger hit the nail on the head when he referenced Casey Stengel in his description of Louie's alleged "potential" over at Baseball Primer: "Rivas is 24, and in 10 years, he has a chance to be 34."
Couldn't have said it much better myself.
-Ernie Banks
Hello and welcome to Opening Day here at Twins Chatter! Even though some of you may have noticed the link over at sethspeaks.net on Wednesday, today is officially the first day that my all-new Minnesota Twins blog will be going public. If you have read the biographical columns from earlier this week you already know that here at Twins Chatter, we care about the customer. That's why we're giving you two bloggers for the price of one, each and every weekday. Now, I can't guarantee that we'll both write everyday, but you'll get two very different takes on Twins baseball each time you visit.
I debated long and hard about what to write for my first Twins column, but I have decided to go with the old standby: yesterday's game. Now, I didn't actually "see" the game (like the vast majority of you I'd assume-don't even get me started on Victory) except through the eyes of John Gordon and his trusty sidekick, Danny Gladden. For one game out of 162, last night's 3-0 victory over Cleveland was actually very telling. Here's what we know so far:
-Luis Rivas officially sucks (usually I avoid such a crude word, but it actually works quite well in this situation)
-Brad Radke may be grossly overpaid, but he can still twizzle and twirl it with the best of them (8 IP, 4 H, 5 K's)
-The baseball gods haven't abadoned us completely, as Dougie Baseball looks like he'll be okay (day-to-day with a mild ankle sprain)
-Maybe Joe Nathan can close games... but he's no Eddie (whoa- never thought I'd say that)
-The formerly disembodied spirit that is currently taking residence within Henry Blanco hasn't left quite yet (he went 1-3 w/a walk)
-Luis Rivas sucks
And that's what we know so far. Seriously, I was very encouraged by these last two games in Cleveland, especially Thursday's win. Radke's first two outings were very disappointing, and I was beginning to wonder if we would have to wait until mid-summer again for the real Brad Radke to show up. Hopefully, we won't. Because Radke relies almost exclusively on his lights-out control, he has very little room for error. Too often it seems he is either "on" or "off"- not a exactly desirable trait for a supposed staff ace. Maybe now the light switch will stay "on" for a while.
Rivas' performance, on the other hand, was not encouraging in the least. Nothing to get the critics going than an ugly 0-5 performance with 6 men left on base. He also had a boot on extremely routine play and grounded into yet another key double play with the bases loaded. I doubt even his double-play partner (and partner in crime) Christian Guzman could top that performance in terms of futility. I say all this mostly because my fellow blogger John is a big Rivas booster and he will undoubtedly post an entry soon defending his man. Stay tuned, although personally I don't think he's up to the challenge :).
Anyway, I'll keep this initial Twins offering to a reasonable length so as not to turn any of you off. Also, be sure to check out John's first Twins entry, which should be up by Friday afternoon. Feel free to post your comments/thoughts/suggestions in my topic over at the DTFC. My screen name is twinsfan23. Also, you can e-mail me at twinsfan21@msn.com.
P.S. On the Rivas tangent, I think Charlie Saeger hit the nail on the head when he referenced Casey Stengel in his description of Louie's alleged "potential" over at Baseball Primer: "Rivas is 24, and in 10 years, he has a chance to be 34."
Couldn't have said it much better myself.
My Twins Background
Wow, what a start to already appear in Seth's blog (which I highly recommend to everyone)! The best place to start with something like this is to know who's doing the writing. My name is John Betzler and I'm a freshman at Mankato State this year. Ryan and I have been friends since third grade and the majority of that time we have been in love with the Twins. Ryan's actually become a legend back in Northfield for his knowledge and passion of the game. He was a high school catcher so he knows what he's talking about. He's also blessed to be an amazing writer. That said, I add a little different view of the game then he does. That's what makes this blog unique and hopefully interesting.
Sadly, I discovered the Twins just after the World Series years. I was introduced to the game back in 1993 and I was instantly hooked. I remember staying up late to watch Griffey Jr. break the consecutive games with a homerun record against our Twins. The first game I attended was against the Indians, the infamous 22-inning affair. The night before I stayed up late praying that the game would go 18 innings so I could get to watch more baseball. The game remained tied through the 22nd inning when Pedro Munoz (my name at the DTFC) came up and hit a shot to end the game. It was 1:30 in the morning and definitely my most memorial Twins moment. The strike in 1994 broke my heart. I was burned a couple more times in the mid-nineties by the Scott Klingenbecks and Stohoviak's of the world. When Kirby retired, I prayed that it was all one big joke. I got my first big taste of a playoff run that year (1996) when we printed playoff tickets but really were never that close. This whole time I can remember playing Strat-O-Matic on the bus with Ryan and talking about how good it would be when Todd Walker got to the bigs. We couldn't figure out what was wrong LaTroy and we thought this Brad Radke kid could be pretty good. We got to watch Eddie Murray get his 3,000th hit here and Molitor get his at Kaufman stadium. These were the moments a Twins fan lived for, as the team wasn't very good (obviously). Unlike Ryan, I never lost hope but I did come to accept that I would never get a winning team. When the Vikings blew it in 1998 I became a true one sport man.
The Twins have been the center of my life. I have spent countless hours beside my grandfather learning the game. It has allowed me to connect to him in ways I otherwise never could have. At the turn of the millennium there were so few fans out there it was getting bleak; people even seemed to be turning against T.K. Even the best of fans were growing tired of the losing, but not I. I'm not sure if I sensed something special or if it didn't matter to me. I supported T.K., one of the best managers of all-time and the young kids he was teaching to play the game. TwinsFest that year was empty and Ryan and I got just about everyone's autograph. We even spent a significant part of our day off at Channel 9's booth where a crowd of about 10 people gathered to listen to a couple of Unknown ballplayers Joe Mays and Torii Hunter. These guys were funny and you could easily tell that they loved to play the game. Both guys still had a long ways to go to stardom, however. In 2001 it all seemed to come together and for the first time there was winning baseball team to watch. These Twins played the game right and they rallied around being the underdog.
Watching winning baseball changed everything for me. Suddenly it mattered who won! No matter how hard I tried not to I got excited. It broke my heart to see them get swept by Tampa Bay (August '01) and then have their playoff backs broken by yet another LaTroy meltdown against Cleveland. Still, now there was hope. I spent the whole winter praying contraction was a myth and I could feel the excitement building when they were allowed to live. That year we made it back to the playoffs and suddenly it was cool to be a Twins fan. Its amazing to go to games and feel the energy, something that never used to be there. Our lovable Twins gave us a playoff victory to savor against Oakland before coming up just short to the champs. Last year they built on their legacy and continued to set themselves apart in my mind. Aside from Tony Fiore, I felt like everyone of them was my guy. What's great about the Twins is that every player has a unique history to everyone of us that has grown up watching their careers.
That's my Twins experience of the last 11 years. Its late and there is so much more I could add but I think your just going to have to pick up on it through the columns that follow. Ryan and I share some unique experience but we have some very interesting perspectives on the team and the game. I think there is something special about anyone who can have fun just talking about the Twins for hours without another care in the world. That's who this site is for: the fans. We are not statheads, though some may appear here, we probably wont have much insider information, and some us can't even see the games right now (!) but we are all about the intrigue and discussing what happened, what's happening and what's going to happen. Honestly, I think you'll enjoy this site if for no other reason then that you love the Twins and this is one more place to read about them.
Sadly, I discovered the Twins just after the World Series years. I was introduced to the game back in 1993 and I was instantly hooked. I remember staying up late to watch Griffey Jr. break the consecutive games with a homerun record against our Twins. The first game I attended was against the Indians, the infamous 22-inning affair. The night before I stayed up late praying that the game would go 18 innings so I could get to watch more baseball. The game remained tied through the 22nd inning when Pedro Munoz (my name at the DTFC) came up and hit a shot to end the game. It was 1:30 in the morning and definitely my most memorial Twins moment. The strike in 1994 broke my heart. I was burned a couple more times in the mid-nineties by the Scott Klingenbecks and Stohoviak's of the world. When Kirby retired, I prayed that it was all one big joke. I got my first big taste of a playoff run that year (1996) when we printed playoff tickets but really were never that close. This whole time I can remember playing Strat-O-Matic on the bus with Ryan and talking about how good it would be when Todd Walker got to the bigs. We couldn't figure out what was wrong LaTroy and we thought this Brad Radke kid could be pretty good. We got to watch Eddie Murray get his 3,000th hit here and Molitor get his at Kaufman stadium. These were the moments a Twins fan lived for, as the team wasn't very good (obviously). Unlike Ryan, I never lost hope but I did come to accept that I would never get a winning team. When the Vikings blew it in 1998 I became a true one sport man.
The Twins have been the center of my life. I have spent countless hours beside my grandfather learning the game. It has allowed me to connect to him in ways I otherwise never could have. At the turn of the millennium there were so few fans out there it was getting bleak; people even seemed to be turning against T.K. Even the best of fans were growing tired of the losing, but not I. I'm not sure if I sensed something special or if it didn't matter to me. I supported T.K., one of the best managers of all-time and the young kids he was teaching to play the game. TwinsFest that year was empty and Ryan and I got just about everyone's autograph. We even spent a significant part of our day off at Channel 9's booth where a crowd of about 10 people gathered to listen to a couple of Unknown ballplayers Joe Mays and Torii Hunter. These guys were funny and you could easily tell that they loved to play the game. Both guys still had a long ways to go to stardom, however. In 2001 it all seemed to come together and for the first time there was winning baseball team to watch. These Twins played the game right and they rallied around being the underdog.
Watching winning baseball changed everything for me. Suddenly it mattered who won! No matter how hard I tried not to I got excited. It broke my heart to see them get swept by Tampa Bay (August '01) and then have their playoff backs broken by yet another LaTroy meltdown against Cleveland. Still, now there was hope. I spent the whole winter praying contraction was a myth and I could feel the excitement building when they were allowed to live. That year we made it back to the playoffs and suddenly it was cool to be a Twins fan. Its amazing to go to games and feel the energy, something that never used to be there. Our lovable Twins gave us a playoff victory to savor against Oakland before coming up just short to the champs. Last year they built on their legacy and continued to set themselves apart in my mind. Aside from Tony Fiore, I felt like everyone of them was my guy. What's great about the Twins is that every player has a unique history to everyone of us that has grown up watching their careers.
That's my Twins experience of the last 11 years. Its late and there is so much more I could add but I think your just going to have to pick up on it through the columns that follow. Ryan and I share some unique experience but we have some very interesting perspectives on the team and the game. I think there is something special about anyone who can have fun just talking about the Twins for hours without another care in the world. That's who this site is for: the fans. We are not statheads, though some may appear here, we probably wont have much insider information, and some us can't even see the games right now (!) but we are all about the intrigue and discussing what happened, what's happening and what's going to happen. Honestly, I think you'll enjoy this site if for no other reason then that you love the Twins and this is one more place to read about them.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Some Opening Information About Me and This Blog
As some of you may have noticed, our new blog officially went public today over at SethSpeaks.net, another great blog that you should all check out if you haven't already. This was a tad premature, as the official announcement will come on the DFTC in the coming days, but no matter. Anyway, in order to give you something to chew on for today I thought I would start out with a brief introduction of myself. As you have probably already divined, I have been a diehard Minnesota Twins fan for most of the 19 years I have been on the earth. I am a native of Northfield, Minnesota (it's about 40 miles south of the Twin Cities) and I am currently a freshman at St. Olaf College. St. Olaf is a somewhat prestigious liberal arts institution that also happens to be located in my hometown of Northfield! Around here I am known as a "townie" because a large percentage of our student body comes from out of state. I have four younger siblings and two parents that I love very much. My dad is a long-time high school baseball coach and overall baseball enthusiast, so I inherited my love of the game primarily from him.
As for my Twins experience, I first became a "true" fan in about 1995 (realistically, how much of a fan can you be before age 10?). One of the reasons I am such a diehard is the fact that I suffered through the "Dark Years", as I like to call them, of 1993-2000 along with many of you. I remember the Scott Stahoviaks, the Rich Robertsons, the Rich Beckers, and the Carlos Pulidos (the first time). Even without the aid of the Internet I followed the Twins as much as a young kid can do. I talked my dad into attending about 4-5 games a year with me, even though he absolutely despises the Humpty Dome. By the year 2000 however, my faith was beginning to crack. The youth movement of 1999 was encouraging, but when seemingly no progress was made in '00, I began to falter. The summer of 2001 really helped me get back on track, as it did for many other fans and the entire organization as a whole. These last two seasons ('02 and '03) have been spectacular. To have your favorite team experience such success after so many years of futility is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
This blog will be a unique one in many ways. I started it with my high school buddy John (also a huge Twins fans) because I sensed an "opening" of sorts in the Twins blogging scene. Twins Geek (who still does outstanding work) is now sponsored by the Strib, and longtime blogger Aaron Gleeman has decreased his Twins output a tad with his new gig over at the Hardball Times (www.hardballtimes.com). I felt we needed some fresh blood on the scene, and I think we can provide that here at Twins Chatter. Our entries won't be statistically saturated, but we will use some statistical evidence from time to time. Mostly however, it will just be John and I giving you our takes on the state of the Minnesota Twins. That might be takes on the previous day's game, player analysis, speculation, among a variety of other topics. We will also predominantly feature guest writers, whether they be from the DTFC or other places. More on that later. John should have a brief introduction up later today, so check back for that. Look for our first official entry this Friday! Thanks for stopping by. If you want to contact me, e-mail me at twinsfan21@msn.com. Thanks for looking!
As for my Twins experience, I first became a "true" fan in about 1995 (realistically, how much of a fan can you be before age 10?). One of the reasons I am such a diehard is the fact that I suffered through the "Dark Years", as I like to call them, of 1993-2000 along with many of you. I remember the Scott Stahoviaks, the Rich Robertsons, the Rich Beckers, and the Carlos Pulidos (the first time). Even without the aid of the Internet I followed the Twins as much as a young kid can do. I talked my dad into attending about 4-5 games a year with me, even though he absolutely despises the Humpty Dome. By the year 2000 however, my faith was beginning to crack. The youth movement of 1999 was encouraging, but when seemingly no progress was made in '00, I began to falter. The summer of 2001 really helped me get back on track, as it did for many other fans and the entire organization as a whole. These last two seasons ('02 and '03) have been spectacular. To have your favorite team experience such success after so many years of futility is one of the greatest feelings in the world.
This blog will be a unique one in many ways. I started it with my high school buddy John (also a huge Twins fans) because I sensed an "opening" of sorts in the Twins blogging scene. Twins Geek (who still does outstanding work) is now sponsored by the Strib, and longtime blogger Aaron Gleeman has decreased his Twins output a tad with his new gig over at the Hardball Times (www.hardballtimes.com). I felt we needed some fresh blood on the scene, and I think we can provide that here at Twins Chatter. Our entries won't be statistically saturated, but we will use some statistical evidence from time to time. Mostly however, it will just be John and I giving you our takes on the state of the Minnesota Twins. That might be takes on the previous day's game, player analysis, speculation, among a variety of other topics. We will also predominantly feature guest writers, whether they be from the DTFC or other places. More on that later. John should have a brief introduction up later today, so check back for that. Look for our first official entry this Friday! Thanks for stopping by. If you want to contact me, e-mail me at twinsfan21@msn.com. Thanks for looking!
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Welcome!
Hey everybody, welcome to Ryan and our new site. We've both been fans for so long and its exiting to be able to share our thoughts with the world. I'm a little more off the wall then Ryan but I also take baseball very seriously as it is my favorite pastime. I can't promise you lots of stats or inside information, but there will be plenty of intrigue and discussion of what we think the fans should care about. Its going to be fun and exiting, I hope you all enjoy.
Johnny
Johnny
Friday, April 09, 2004
The Battle for the Ring (Alternate Ending)
Once, eight long years ago, there existed a time of peace and prosperity in Middle Earth. The free teams of major league baseball – be they Sox of Red or White, Cubs or even Blue Jays – competed amongst one another in harmony, without one team gaining too much power. The Yankees, the most storied franchise in Middle Earth during the First and Second Ages of Baseball (winning 22 championships), lay dormant. Eighteen long years had passed since New York had last claimed baseball’s most covet prize: the World Series Ring. The free peoples of the National and American Leagues believed they had nothing to fear from The Mount that Ruth Built, which lay deep in the heart of the Bronx.
But they were, all of them, deceived. The Dark Lord Steinbrenner had lulled the free peoples of Middle Earth to sleep with feigned bouts of incompetence during the 1980s, all the while constructing a grand dynasty in secret. He finally unleashed his evil hordes in 1996, to the ruin of all. Braves (twice), Padres, Mets – all tried to challenge the Dark Lord; yet none were any match for his immense power and bottomless wallet. The baseball world plunged into a time of seemingly-endless darkness.
One by one, the free teams of Middle Earth fell to the power of the Ring, but there were some who resisted.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, a motley collection of aging ballplayers from the desert who were stout of heart (and strong in pitching), managed to push the Dark Lord’s minions to the brink of elimination in 2001. Yet in Game seven, the battle appeared all-but-over: the Yankees held a one-run lead with their most terrible servant (Mariano Rivera) on the mound. It was in that moment, when all hope had faded, that Luis Gonzalez, star of the Diamondbacks, took up his sword and struck a mighty blow against evil. His World Series-winning single cut the Ring from the hand of the Dark Lord.
Steinbrenner, enemy of the free peoples of Middle Earth, was defeated.
History became legend, and legend became myth. And for three long years, the Ring remained safely beyond the evil clutches of Steinbrenner. Following the Diamondbacks’ stead, the Angels of Anaheim vanquished the Yankees once again in 2002. It was a strong-armed flamethrower from the southern reaches of Florida (Josh Beckett) that prevented a Yankee triumph in 2003.
Meanwhile, the Dark Lord’s lust for his precious Ring grew insatiable. He vowed to spare neither expense nor revenue: the Ring would be his.
In 2004, rumor grew of a shadow in the AL East; whispers of a nameless fear spread throughout the baseball world. The Dark Lord Steinbrenner called together his most wicked minions, the terrible Ringwraiths, a collection of nine once noble All-Stars corrupted by greed and hatred. When the Dark Lord succeeded in twisting the fearsome Witch King of A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) to serve his malicious purposes, the free peoples of Major League Baseball were plunged into a chasm of despair.
The Nine have terrorized the American League for the past six months, bludgeoning their payroll-poor opponents to death with a powerful offense and strong bullpen. Even the formidable Twins and Red Sox were no match for Steinbrenner’s minions during the postseason. As you read this, the Dark Lord is ever-so-close to acquiring his prize. The Ring is so near he can feel its presence.
Yet hope remains. A last alliance of Cardinals and Astronauts has gathered in the West, poised to once again deny the Dark Lord and his hordes of misguided followers. These valiant races and their leaders (Albert son of Pujols and King Clemens of Texas) will make one last stand upon the slopes of Mount Ruth. The fate of the Ring hangs in the balance.
Will the Dark Lord Steinbrenner regain his coveted prize? Or can the army of the National League keep the Shadow at bay for another year?
The battle for the pennant is over. The battle for Middle-Earth has just begun.
The Dark Lord Steinbrenner has been defeated! Middle Earth, rejoice!
But they were, all of them, deceived. The Dark Lord Steinbrenner had lulled the free peoples of Middle Earth to sleep with feigned bouts of incompetence during the 1980s, all the while constructing a grand dynasty in secret. He finally unleashed his evil hordes in 1996, to the ruin of all. Braves (twice), Padres, Mets – all tried to challenge the Dark Lord; yet none were any match for his immense power and bottomless wallet. The baseball world plunged into a time of seemingly-endless darkness.
One by one, the free teams of Middle Earth fell to the power of the Ring, but there were some who resisted.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, a motley collection of aging ballplayers from the desert who were stout of heart (and strong in pitching), managed to push the Dark Lord’s minions to the brink of elimination in 2001. Yet in Game seven, the battle appeared all-but-over: the Yankees held a one-run lead with their most terrible servant (Mariano Rivera) on the mound. It was in that moment, when all hope had faded, that Luis Gonzalez, star of the Diamondbacks, took up his sword and struck a mighty blow against evil. His World Series-winning single cut the Ring from the hand of the Dark Lord.
Steinbrenner, enemy of the free peoples of Middle Earth, was defeated.
History became legend, and legend became myth. And for three long years, the Ring remained safely beyond the evil clutches of Steinbrenner. Following the Diamondbacks’ stead, the Angels of Anaheim vanquished the Yankees once again in 2002. It was a strong-armed flamethrower from the southern reaches of Florida (Josh Beckett) that prevented a Yankee triumph in 2003.
Meanwhile, the Dark Lord’s lust for his precious Ring grew insatiable. He vowed to spare neither expense nor revenue: the Ring would be his.
In 2004, rumor grew of a shadow in the AL East; whispers of a nameless fear spread throughout the baseball world. The Dark Lord Steinbrenner called together his most wicked minions, the terrible Ringwraiths, a collection of nine once noble All-Stars corrupted by greed and hatred. When the Dark Lord succeeded in twisting the fearsome Witch King of A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) to serve his malicious purposes, the free peoples of Major League Baseball were plunged into a chasm of despair.
The Nine have terrorized the American League for the past six months, bludgeoning their payroll-poor opponents to death with a powerful offense and strong bullpen. Even the formidable Twins and Red Sox were no match for Steinbrenner’s minions during the postseason. As you read this, the Dark Lord is ever-so-close to acquiring his prize. The Ring is so near he can feel its presence.
Yet hope remains. A last alliance of Cardinals and Astronauts has gathered in the West, poised to once again deny the Dark Lord and his hordes of misguided followers. These valiant races and their leaders (Albert son of Pujols and King Clemens of Texas) will make one last stand upon the slopes of Mount Ruth. The fate of the Ring hangs in the balance.
Will the Dark Lord Steinbrenner regain his coveted prize? Or can the army of the National League keep the Shadow at bay for another year?
The battle for the pennant is over. The battle for Middle-Earth has just begun.
The Dark Lord Steinbrenner has been defeated! Middle Earth, rejoice!
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Welcome to Twins Chatter!
Welcome to Twins Chatter, a new Minnesota Twins-related baseball blog that I have started with my friend John Betzler. Starting a Twins blog is something I've always contemplated doing, ever since I discovered TwinsGeek and the DFTC Twins forum last fall. I'm a relative newbie over at the DFTC (I've got about 50 posts) but I enjoy writing and I look forward to embarking on this endeavor. This will be a year-round site (none of those annoying "in-season only" blogs), because, as I like to say, devotion has no off-season. Be sure to read our sample pieces and I hope you keep coming back for more in the future.
-Ryan Maus
-Ryan Maus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
