The Baseball Thread!!!

[ken-do-nim]

Today, Red Sox vs. Twins baby! Afternoon game. All of my wallowing in self pity has dried up as the Sox have arisen to first place. But the Twins are a good team too so ... there can be only one!!!

[fenders53]

(04-12-2021, 05:56 AM)ken-do-nim Wrote: Today, Red Sox vs. Twins baby!  Afternoon game.  All of my wallowing in self pity has dried up as the Sox have arisen to first place.  But the Twins are a good team too so ... there can be only one!!!

We are struggling to finish games.  Until yesterday all our losses were in extra innings.  Yesterday they blew a 6-0 lead.

[fenders53]

Not sure we are playing this series or not Ken. I hate this. It's not the city I have walked freely in at many events for decades. If I were MLB commissioner the Twins and Sox would have flown to Fenway yesterday for some baseball. Lose some home games and maybe you have more incentive to provide a safe environment. Rant over but I was looking for some normalcy this season.

[ken-do-nim]

Yeah, I was shocked when I read this morning that the officer meant to fire her TASER but instead fired her handgun. Minneapolis is pretty cursed right now.

[fenders53]

(04-08-2021, 11:11 AM)EricL Wrote:

(04-08-2021, 09:55 AM)fenders53 Wrote: Eric, who are your favorite Twins lifetime?  Or anyone else that want to share their favorites on your team?  

Mauer and Morneau were fun as they put us back on the baseball map.  It was sad to see what happened to Morneau.  I'll always wonder if Mauer lost his drive to be the best after the big contract.  He was certainly one of the best hitting catchers in the history of the game.  So much natural ability.  

Torii Hunter may be my favorite.  He was so exciting to watch.  Always loved Cuddyer as I think he played better than he really was some games.  

I think everybody thought highly of Kirby Puckett.  I never saw him play in person.  He had a big heart that seemed contagious.  I would liken him to Nelson Cruz now.  I am glad they took a chance on the old man and signed him.  I think his presence is good for about 100 RBIs a year when the bat is in a team mates hands.  Maybe that's a stretch but I think his presence has a lot of value.  We would not have even sniffed the team HR record in 2019 without Cruz.  I believe he'd be a good hitting coach in a few years if he is interested.

I've enjoyed watching the Red Sox success and think highly of a lot of their players past and present.

Kirby Puckett was far and away my favorite Twin of all-time. I have well over 100 of his baseball cards that I collected as a kid. I remember emulating his bat tap at the corner of the plate before every at-bat back in Little Leagues.

Other favorites would be Brad Radke, Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

It's tragic looking back over the years at the franchise and what injuries have done to it.

Puckett's career ended with glaucoma in spring training. Radke, Santana, Liriano, Nathan all had arm problems, although Santana's was after he was traded.

Koskie, Morneau, and Mauer all had their prime years taken away through concussions.

The last couple years we've lost Buxton multiple times, and top prospects Kiriloff and Lewis to serious injuries.

I know all franchises have injuries, but it seems to me the Twins have been snakebit more than others.

(04-13-2021, 07:49 AM)ken-do-nim Wrote: Yeah, I was shocked when I read this morning that the officer meant to fire her TASER but instead fired her handgun.  Minneapolis is pretty cursed right now.

I don't want to turn this thread too political but yes they are snake bit right now.  Just a few days before closing statements in the Floyd trial and this happens.  Then city officials grab a mic and make bold statements before they have half the facts.  It's hard to un say things passionately spoken the day before.  It just makes the problems worse.  This isn't Chicago where it is just hopeless seemingly forever, but that is the path of the smaller big cities right now.  I will stop it now.

[ken-do-nim]

(04-12-2021, 07:41 AM)fenders53 Wrote:

(04-12-2021, 05:56 AM)ken-do-nim Wrote: Today, Red Sox vs. Twins baby!  Afternoon game.  All of my wallowing in self pity has dried up as the Sox have arisen to first place.  But the Twins are a good team too so ... there can be only one!!!

We are struggling to finish games.  Until yesterday all our losses were in extra innings.  Yesterday they blew a 6-0 lead.

You weren't kidding, wow.  I didn't even realize they'd played today until I just looked to see what time the game started lol.

[ken-do-nim]

(04-04-2021, 08:58 AM)ken-do-nim Wrote:

(04-04-2021, 08:03 AM)fenders53 Wrote: Baseball's back!!!!  Complete with partial fans in the stands and plenty of politics.  I am going to close my eyes on the politics part as I will not have my joy stolen.  

A couple milestones for my Minnesota Twins already.  BP blew a 9th inning three run lead game one.  It was hard to watch.  Jose Berrios probably annoyed he wasn't the opening day starter in game 2.  17Ks dealing a one hit shutout.  I'll take it!

Ouch.  I still think the Twins will be miles better than my Red Sox.  My original prediction was 81-81 ish; after 2 games I'm thinking more like 40-122.  Or maybe the Sox will be the first 0-162 team?

Wow I was a wee bit pessimistic wasn't I?  As I type this, the Red Sox are tied for the best record in baseball, and they just beat Jacob DeGrom, who pitched a gem but took the loss nonetheless.  I'm just shocked.

[ken-do-nim]

Yikes! I took a look at the standings, and the Twins are the worst team in baseball. My condolences Fenders.

[fenders53]

(05-14-2021, 12:36 PM)ken-do-nim Wrote: Yikes!  I took a look at the standings, and the Twins are the worst team in baseball.  My condolences Fenders.

Thanks lol, not.  They are usually competitive in most every game and find a way to lose anything close.  That's not what playoff teams do.  I haven't give up yet but it's not looking good for sure.

[NilesMike]

No condolences for the Twinkies!


GO GO WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ken-do-nim]

(05-14-2021, 04:39 PM)NilesMike Wrote: No condolences for the Twinkies!


GO GO WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm looking forward to the Red Sox playing the White Sox.

[fenders53]

(05-14-2021, 04:39 PM)NilesMike Wrote: No condolences for the Twinkies!


GO GO WHITE SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOX look good so far.