To really appreciate what an amazing accomplishment it is for Joe Mays to be making his first start in a year-and-a-half you almost have to have spent some time around the guy. I honestly have no idea what to expect, but I will say that I seriously never thought he’d make it back. Mays is … Read more
You obviously shouldn’t draw too many conclusions based on the first six games of the season, especially since so far it’s been a case of perceptions not exactly measuring up to reality. Or at least some perceptions. I’ve seen all six games, and without looking closely at the numbers I’d say that, with the exception … Read more
That, if I’m not mistaken, is a quote from Rick Stelmaszek, who is arguably the most hardened of the baseball lifers in the Twins clubhouse. This was last year, or maybe the year before that. At any rate, Stelmaszek’s reminder was directed at one youngster or another who was hanging his head at the time … Read more
Nice ballgame, very nice. But enough is enough; when do I get a look at this Corky Miller character? I’m getting anxious, and the Corkster’s not doing the club any good sitting on his kiester sucking sunflower seeds. I don’t understand it, quite honestly. Ron Gardenhire’s usually pretty good about keeping his lads sharp, and … Read more
Lackluster openers are disproportionately disappointing, particularly when watched indoors on the nicest day of the year so far. At times like these it would be wise for distraught Twins fans to keep in mind former Baltimore manager Earl Weaver’s famous quip: “This ain’t a football game. We do this every day.” Or at least pretty … Read more
Corky Miller. Corky Mother-Humping Miller. Get serious. That name, I don’t think I need to tell you, just isn’t going to get it done. Corky Miller is the name of the grizzled chuckwagon cook in a western round-up. Corky Miller is the fat, beleaguered first baseman on a little league team in an After School … Read more
It would truly be folly if, as has been rumored, the Twins end up keeping four catchers on their roster (two real catchers, and two imposters) and cutting Michael Restovich loose. I still have a hard time believing that’s going to happen. It’s all a result of a bizarre set of circumstances, of course, what … Read more
You have to admire a guy who does something for as many years as Bob Casey did something, and to its credit (and occasionally to its detriment) the Twins’ organization has always rewarded loyalty. Casey was treated like a local treasure, and his career was allowed to run its course on his own timetable. The … Read more
If you go beyond the Twins’ so-so 8-11 record in Florida and scrutinize what they’ve actually done in those games, you might be tempted to forecast a rather alarming repeat of what made the team so maddening for much of the 2004 season. Look at the runs scored and runs allowed numbers for the AL … Read more
Surprises and disasters large and small could still be looming in the final week of spring training, but right now it looks like the Twins opening day line-up will look like this: Shannon Stewart Jason Bartlett Joe Mauer Justin Morneau Torii Hunter Lew Ford Jacque Jones Michael Cuddyer Luis Rivas With Ford, Jones, and Cuddyer … Read more