Twins Fans Unite

Best baseball players to wear nos. 28, 34

Mathias Baden — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:39:33 -0500

Sports Illustrated named Kirby Puckett and Bert Blyleven the best baseball players to wear their respective numbers.

Puckett, No. 34, was in a class with the likes of David Ortiz (who wears the number as a tribute to Puck), Rollie Fingers, Nolan Ryan, Fernando Valenzuela.

Blyleven, No. 28, was in a class with Sparky Lyle, Steve Blass, Tom Herr, Al Leiter, and Randy Myers.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0804/mlb.best.baseball.players.numbers.23-46/content.6.html

Twins Fans Unite

Man, I feel old

Mathias Baden — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:30:00 -0500

Man, I feel old.

I never remember my dreams unless they are really good, really bad, or important enough to tell someone. So that's why I'm telling you about this one.

One day last week, I woke up excited about an exceptional interest rate that I got. That makes me feel old, because interest rates really do lack excitement, even more so for a young person.

Other things that I've realized that make me feel old:

- Four years ago, I messed up my checkbook to the tune of having an extra $1,000. My only purchase: a lawnmower.

Amateur Athletes

Wanted: Another sweep

Mathias Baden — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:15:00 -0500

That was a nice two-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox earlier this week. The Twins are getting close to a .500 winning percentage and -- believe it or not -- first place.

I think the Twins' schedule is fairly tough this month, but it seems the Twins are ready to respond to the pressure of playing their best foes.

Maybe they're ready to face Detroit, Chicago (again), Boston, Colorado, and New York, as well as Kansas City and Texas, teams with which they've had more of a difficult time than I thought they would. All of those teams play the Twins in May.

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The Youth Squad

Mathias Baden — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:15:00 -0500

I knew the Minnesota Twins baseball team was young, but the proof was especially interesting.

Yesterday, Joe Christensen of the Strib noted that the Twins' starting lineup -- at an average age of 26.7 years old -- is the youngest in the American League and the second-youngest in baseball. Arizona's lineup is the youngest.

In the AL, the other teams with young lineups include the Oakland Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays, which have average ages younger than 28.

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Intimidation factor: Royals

Mathias Baden — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:51:25 -0500

The Minnesota Twins are facing the first-place Kansas City Royals this weekend. Whew, it's been a long time since I've said that.

Do you think the Twinks are intimidated?

I can't believe the Royals are in first, but the do have a slightly existing cast. Look for prospects Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Joey Gathright, among others, to keep the games at least somewhat interesting.

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Next time, Boof loses 40 pounds

Mathias Baden — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:53:35 -0500

When Minnesota Twins pitcher Boof Bonser reported to spring training, it was obvious he'd lost some weight -- 20 pounds, it was reported.

Then, a story in one of the big-city newspapers said 25 pounds. The next time I heard someone on the radio talking about it, Boofy had lost 30 pounds.

His rumored weight loss stayed somewhere around 25 pounds for the next few weeks, most of spring training.

Twins Fans Unite

Snowy opening day

Mathias Baden — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:17:21 -0500

A few things about the snow and opening day of baseball season:

- When was the last time it snowed on opening day? On the night of the home opener? This seems rare.

- Aren't traffic jams on the way to the game just lovely? I'm looking forward to seeing 45,000 at a game again, but I'm hoping they aren't all getting there when I do -- at 5:50 p.m. for the 6:05 p.m. game.

- Won't it be wonderful when we have an open-air stadium?

- Maybe global warming will take care of these problems for us by 2010, when the Twins' new stadium opens up.

Twins Fans Unite

Honoring Torii

Mathias Baden — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:49:39 -0500

When the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (or some convolutedly named team like that) comes to the Metrodome next week to face my favorite professional sports team, the Minnesota Twins, the hometown team will honor one of its enemies.

Torii Hunter will receive his Gold Glove award prior to the opening-day baseball game against his former team.

Twins Fans Unite

Who would you like to see pitch for the Twins?

Mathias Baden — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:34:13 -0500

Of the seven potential starting pitchers still in the Minnesota Twins spring training camp, who would you like to see pitch in the starting rotation? (Rank your top five in order.)

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Twins make tough roster decisions

Mathias Baden — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:09:34 -0500

Your Minnesota Twins made some interesting roster moves this past weekend.

Carlos Gomez is the starting center fielder. Denard Span and Jason Pridie, both of whom played well this spring, were optioned to Triple-A. Gomez led the three in slugging percentage (.510), swiped a team-high 10 bases, struck out a team-high 10 times, scored a team-high 12 runs, tallied a team-high 25 total bases, and tied Michael Cuddyer for a team-high 14 hits.

Twins Fans Unite

Twins make right decision about Nathan

Mathias Baden — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:41:53 -0500

The Minnesota Twins made the right decision about Joe Nathan, locking him up through 2011. I, for one, am breathing a sigh of relief. The young rotation will need a solid bullpen behind it, including closer Nathan.

Although the terms of the contract weren't announced today, Nathan might just be the richest closer in baseball.

See the story at http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080324&content_id=2454740&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=min.

Twins Fans Unite

Opening Day prediction: The Twins lineup

Mathias Baden — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0600

As a junior-higer, I published a baseball magazine. Sold it to all of my family members. It was very profitable.

But one feature was particularly fun, and I think I'll duplicate it here. It was called the Swami. This year, the Swami -- aka me, myself, and I -- predicts this Minnesota Twins lineup on the opening day of the 2008 baseball season March 31:

Batting first, Carlos Gomez, center field

Second, Brendan Harris, second base

Third, Joe Mauer, catcher,

Fourth, Justin Morneau, first base

Fifth, Delmon Young, left field

Twins Fans Unite

Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins

Mathias Baden — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:39:54 -0600

Start: 03/31/2008 - 6:05pm

End: 03/31/2008 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-6

Torii Hunter makes his return to the Metrodome on Opening Day today. The Minnesota Twins take on Hunter's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at 6:05 p.m.

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We traded Babe Ruth

Mathias Baden — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:12:27 -0600

This morning, an analyst for ESPN SportsCenter predicted that the Detroit Tigers would win in the strong Central Division of Major League Baseball. Cleveland got a mention, too.

He thought Boston and Anaheim will be the other American League powerhouses.

The only time the Twins were mentioned was during the National League segment, while the analyst predicted the New York Mets would be the team to beat, namely because of a guy you might know.

This analyst said the only comparison he could think of for the swap of Johan Santana was the trade of Babe Ruth.

Twins Fans Unite

Reds' errors lead to a run for Twins

Mathias Baden — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:03:44 -0600

Four errors by the Cincinnati Reds.

Five hits by the Minnesota Twins.

One run.

That's all the good guys got today, in their first official Spring Training game. (Of course, there was that exhibition almost-loss a day earlier to Concordia College of St. Paul.) It'll take a while, as it does every year, to get the bats warmed up. Come the All-Star break ... well, I digress.

At least new third baseman Michael Lamb, catcher Joe Mauer, and outfielder Michael Cuddyer are batting .500.

Twins Fans Unite

New Twins pitcher would rather eat innings than country apple pies

Mathias Baden — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:11:11 -0600

Newly signed Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Livan Hernandez is one of the best innings-eaters in baseball.

Former Twins Johan Santana and Carlos Silva tossed a combined 421 innings last year. Hernandez would throw that many by himself if you let him. This guy doesn't ever want to come out of a game. I don't know how many times I've looked at a boxscore to see that he got shelled for five runs in the first inning and then kept going through the eighth inning.

Twins Fans Unite

Good times at TwinsFest

Mathias Baden — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:30:00 -0600

At TwinsFest last weekend, I got autographs from catcher Mike Redmond and pitchers Matt Guerrier and Boof Bonser.

Each year, my dad and I go for a couple of hours because, since we're season ticket holders, it's free -- and it's always kind of fun. Our modus operandi is to check out who's being interviewed on the radio, then browse the baseball card show and the Twins pro shop booth, then get a couple autographs.

Twins Fans Unite

Goodbye Johan

Mathias Baden — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:08:20 -0600

The New York Mets just got Johan Santana, according to USA Today and ESPN.

See? http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Twins Fans Unite

Who does the city of Jordan believe belongs in the baseball hall of fame?

bhall09 — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:48:24 -0600

The baseball hall of fame inductions for 2008 will be announced on Tuesday. With Jordan being such a baseball town, I was wondering, who do people in the city think is deserving of being inducted into Cooperstown.

Southwest writers

Twins invite mystery man to camp

Mathias Baden — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:56:00 -0600

So far, the Minnesota Twins have invited one non-roster player to spring training.

I've never heard of this mystery man -- Mariano Gomez. From the Twins' Web site I gather that he is a 25-year-old lefthanded pitcher from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He is 6-foot-6 and weighs 190 pounds.

Gomez has no major league experience, but his 2004 career highlights are intriguing. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians as non-drafted free agent in 1999, entered professional baseball at age 17, and was projected to eventually become a No. 2 or No. 3 starting pitcher.

Twins Fans Unite

Short on catchers

Mathias Baden — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:31:44 -0600

The Minnesota Twins look a little short on catchers this year, despite having what I would call the best catching tandem in the major leagues in Mike Redmond and Joe Mauer.

Jose Morales, who batted 1.000 in a very short major league appearance last year, is also on the Twins 40-man roster.

As of today, there are 22 catchers listed on the minor league rosters of Twins' affiliates. Six of them are on the Single-A Beloit Snappers, and five of them are on the rookie-league Gulf Coast League Twins.

Twins Fans Unite

Twins' infield seems secure

Mathias Baden — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:45:00 -0600

So as of late, the Minnesota Twins' infield seems pretty secure.

Because they were National Leaguers, I don't know a whole lot about second baseman Brendan Harris, shortstop Adam Everett, or third baseman Mike Lamb. I have seen all of them play, and they weren't on my list of hopeful acquisitions for a team that I really, really, really, really want to make the playoffs this year.

But I don't think they'll be half bad, either.

Take a look at the stats for:

- Lamb (http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=150286);

Twins Fans Unite

Happy Steroid Day!

Mathias Baden — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:01:00 -0600

The Mitchell Report reportedly is due out today.

So we should know anytime now who are some of the most prolific cheaters in Major League Baseball. I, for one, am pretty sure Barry Bonds will be on the list of steroid users.

But what about others?

Should be interesting.

Twins Fans Unite

Twins non-tender Tyner

Mathias Baden — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:27:11 -0600

Goodbye, Jason Tyner. The Minnesota Twins reserve outfielder was not tendered a contract for 2008, making him a free agent.

Tyner batted .286 last year in 114 games, and he was capable of playing each of the three outfield positions. But the Twins' outfield is clogged. Craig Monroe, Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, and possibly Jason Pridie are ahead of Tyner.

Kubel was offered a contract and is eligible for arbitration.

Twins Fans Unite

Monroe gets good deal for Twins and himself

Mathias Baden — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:57:11 -0600

Craig Monroe's deal with the Twins is a good one for him, as well as for the team.

The outfielder could provide much-needed additional power to the local nine. Since he became a regular, he has averaged 22 homers a season. Last year, he hit only 12.

Monroe took a paycut from $4.77 million in 2007 to $3.8 million with the possibility of a $150,000 bonus in 2008. The deal is a lot of money for a guy who batted .219 going into free agency.

But last year was last year.

Twins Fans Unite

If the Twins have to trade Johan Santana, who would you most prefer to have in exchange? Rank them in order.

Mathias Baden — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 12:25:51 -0600

If the Twins have to trade Johan Santana, who would you most prefer to have in exchange? Rank them in order of your most to your least preferred player.

Twins Fans Unite

Delmon Young on my fantasy team

Mathias Baden — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0600

For all of his rookie season, I had Delmon Young on my fantasy baseball team.

Twins Fans Unite

Don't discount Twins new shortstop

Mathias Baden — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:31:12 -0600

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Just a note about Torii

Mathias Baden — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:30:00 -0600

Just a note about former Minnesota Twins center fielder Torii Hunter: He is highly ranked on several career lists for the hometown nine, but his highest ranking is fourth with 870 strikeouts.

Twins Fans Unite

Twins' compensation picks might be better than Hunter

Mathias Baden — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:34:00 -0600

Remember, the Minnesota Twins get two draft picks in compensation for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim wooing away our beloved center fielder.

Twins Fans Unite

Who should the Twins pick up?

Mathias Baden — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:51:22 -0600

My pipe-dream solutions (all from the free-agent market) for the Minnesota Twins on-field problems are:

- Tony Clark, switch-hitting designated hitter and backup first baseman;

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Free agents & arbitration-eligible Twins

Mathias Baden — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:55:00 -0600

I'm not exactly worried about the Minnesota Twins' remaining free agents.

Twins Fans Unite

MLB.com lists Silva as a top free agent

Mathias Baden — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:55:00 -0600

MLB.com lists Carlos Silva as a top free agent, along with the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Rowand and Andruw Jones.

Twins Fans Unite

So what do Twins do in outfield?

Mathias Baden — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 09:00:00 -0600

So what are we supposed to do? Name Jason Tyner the opening-day center fielder for the Minnesota Twins?

Twins Fans Unite

I can't believe I'm tearing up over Torii

Mathias Baden — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:26:54 -0600

I'd primed myself for this long ago, but it's just not going to be the same going every day to watch the Minnesota Twins without Torii Hunter in center field.

Twins Fans Unite

How ironic, Jim Souhan

Mathias Baden — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:22:10 -0600

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Lamenting the loss of David Ortiz

Mathias Baden — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:00:00 -0600

As if we needed another reason to lament the loss of David Ortiz to the Boston Red Sox, the Star Tribune printed a short story last week about Ortiz being the perfect player.

Twins Fans Unite

Twins get draft picks if they lose Hunter

Mathias Baden — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 09:00:00 -0600

Twins Fans Unite

Twins make a few offseason moves

Mathias Baden — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:00:00 -0500

The Minnesota Twins are making a few moves this offseason. Here's what's happened:

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Anniversary of the Twins' worst decision ever

Mathias Baden — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:34:38 -0500

Start: 12/16/2007 - 12:00am

End: 12/16/2007 - 12:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

Today is the five-year anniversary of the day the Minnesota Twins franchise made its worst decision since letting Harmon Killebrew go to the Royals.

Twins Fans Unite

Analyzing a hero through theater

Mathias Baden — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:59:22 -0500

This month, the Minnesota History Theatre puts on a play called "Kirby!" that examines the pros and cons of hero worship in our society.

Twins Fans Unite

Look at all the former Twins on postseason rosters!

Mathias Baden — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:17:03 -0500

While I'm driving around, I keep a notebook handy. I've become proficient at writing while keeping an eye on whoever I'm talking to or, in this case, the road.

Twins Fans Unite

Life without October

Mathias Baden — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:13:51 -0500

Life without October is a little depressing.

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Playing like L-Rod

Mathias Baden — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:00:00 -0500

Lately, I've been playing softball as often as Minnesota Twins backup utility infielder Luis Rodriguez (I like to call him L-Rod) has been playing baseball.

Amateur Athletes

Dome's bullpens get new kind of work

Mathias Baden — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:00:00 -0500

The bullpens for the Minnesota Twins and their opponents have been getting a lot of work lately -- and it's not necessarily on the mound.

Twins Fans Unite

I already miss Terry Ryan as GM

Mathias Baden — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:20:14 -0500

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A view of ballpark land

Mathias Baden — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:00:00 -0500

Here's a cool view of the land for the new Minnesota Twins ballpark: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/new_ballpark_webcam_full.jsp.

Twins Fans Unite

What it means to love a baseball team so much

Mathias Baden — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:44:00 -0500

People Who Talk About The Ends Of Movies

Does Cuddy deserve Gold Glove?

Mathias Baden — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 11:55:00 -0500

Michael Cuddyer's improvement in the outfield might just be one of the brightest spots of a dark Minnesota Twins season. He might just deserve a Gold Glove.

Twins Fans Unite

Sidelined: League's top catcher tag team

Mathias Baden — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:09:46 -0500

When they're both sidelined, that's the only time it stinks to have league's top catcher tandem.

Twins Fans Unite