Friday, March 25, 2005
Good morning to everyone! It is Friday, that is always a good thing, but it's big for me. I just need to get through work today, and then I get to start a week's vacation. Hopefully the weather in Florida is great and warm! Today will be a rather short entry. Why? Because last night I had to also write up/enter all five of next week's entries as well. There will be four guest columnists next week, one day I will post my predictions for 2005, and there will also be a Twins-related discussion question. So I apologize for the brevity today and hope you understand.
But I will post some Twins Thoughts still and our good friend Dewey Moede went down to Ft. Myers and sent more of his thoughts on his trip down there and the Twins, so I will also post those. Today, you will get the stats of Former Twins, but it will likely be the last time for those. So, please feel free to e-mail me to just say hi or if you have any questions or comments.
FRIDAY RAMBLINGS
My friend Neil sent me the following link. Click here to see/hear Napolean Dynamite's Top 10 List on The David Letterman Show. (Top 10 Signs You're not the most popular guy in high school) It is hilarious!
An Acton, Massechusetts elementary school is trying to get the Yankees and Red Sox to shake hands before their first game of the year. Apparently some students are Red Sox fans and some were Yankees fans and an argument ensued. It was dealt with by the school, but they would like it to carry into the Red Sox and Yankees first game.
By the time I get back, the Twins will have all of their roster decisions made. I will have to find a computer down there to keep up with what happens. It will be an interesting week!
Yesterday, the Twins played the Twins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5. Shannon Stewart was the instigator on top of the order. He went 2-2 with a walk and a home run. Terry Tiffee went 3-3. Joe Mays got the start and went four innings. He gave up four runs (3 earned) on seven hits. He struck out one. Matt Guerrier pitched two scoreless innings. Jesse Crain and CJ Nitkowski each pitched a scoreless inning. Willie Eyre gave up a run in his inning. For lots of great pictures, click here!
The Twins won in the bottom of the ninth with what would not be considered the most intimidating part of their lineup. As DADDYCAT wrote on the Dickie Thon Twins Fan Forum, "The Pirates must have known they didn't have a chance in the 9th against the likes of Ojeda, Tyner, Abernathy, Ryan, and Fox!!!!!" That made me laugh out loud. Fox singled to end the game.
It seems as though one of the Twins roster spots will be taken by either Eric Munson or Terry Tiffee. Yesterday was an interesting day for Tiffee. Yes, he went 3-3, but no one has questioned his bat. No, the question with Tiffee is if he can make the plays at 3B. Well, yesterday, he had two errors in one inning. Eric Munson has not been hitting great this spring and is not known as a defensive wizard by any means. Eric Munson is not on the 40 man roster, so someone on that list would have to be cut for him to make it. Tiffee obviously is on the 40 man roster. Munson is a 'veteran' presence from the left side of the plate. Tiffee had just a few dozen plate appearances last year, but is a switch hitter. Both can play 1B and 3B. Munson would make $700,000 if he made the team. Tiffee would make less than $350,000. If the Twins send Tiffee to the minors, he goes to the minors. If they send Munson to the minors, I believe he has the right to refuse. Seth's Choice - Go with Tiffee!
LaVelle E. Neal further discussed Tiffee's spring and roster shot.
Gordon Wittenmeyer writes about Corey Koskie's pranks and how he continues to do such things, even as a Blue Jay.
Nick Punto could be the Twins starting 2B!! He still wants the SS job, but that is all but sewn up by Jason Bartlett. So, Gardy has told him to go after the 2B job. Twins fans should be delighted! I realize that based on past history, Punto is not (much) better a hitter than Luis Rivas. Obviously Rivas is better defensively (although I will not say that he is good). I would prefer Punto get the job because, given equal production, I want to see the guy playing who I will never have to question his heart. That would be Punto!
Twins Geek answered some interesting Twins questions on the Twins Territory site today.
From SoCalTwinsFan, 10 Reasons the Twins are Better in 2005.
Over at Stick and Ball Guy, SBG plays Pepper! with the Twins Junkie. Great discussion on the Twins position players.
Check out Will Young's Twins 2005 Preview at The Baseball Think Factory.
DEWEY'S SPRING TRAINING THOUGHTS
Our friend Dewey Moede spent a few days in Ft. Myers and took in some Spring Training. He sent back this report:
Fort Myers is a wonderful place!!!!!!
Hammond Stadium where the Twins play and there Farm Team the Miracle play is a awesome minor league park!
The sad thing is it's better to see baseball at than the Twins Major League home!
The Twins are fourth in American League attendance for Spring Training!
I just cannot get over why Minnesota cannot work something out to get a new crib for the Twins!
Sad moment.......Beer vendor at the stadium yelling to fans that a least one of you has to get drunk during the game! Wow!
Now to the players..........
Seth, I agree with you so much about Bartlett is ready. he is so quick! quick hands and foot work....needs to work on his throws to First Base, however! Could give the Twins some smack with his bat....
Rivas looks so lost at the plate and at times in the field! Nothing new right! At other times he looks like a million bucks in the field........I think Punto could open the season as the starter at second base or at least "share it with Rivas"
Not much of a chance to make the club.. but a guy I liked was Brent Abernathy......he hustles and can swing it.......He hit .294 at Buffalo last year playing second base.
Willie Eyre is a hard thrower......One of the things about the Twins organization is that they have more than there share of hard throwers...what a future this team has!
Corky Miller picked up last year on waivers from the Reds.. a catcher that the Twins have liked for years can really throw it down to first base...he has picked one runner off already. he is not afraid to throw it! He is outstanding behind the plate. he has never hit however.. but the Twins like his defense....Twins have a lot of depth at this position.
Garrett Jones the big first baseman who will be in Triple A this year can really smoke it and field!
How about trading Kyle Lohse??? I don't get this guy....he has talent but cannot be consistent.....With Joe Mays coming along trade Lohse??? I don't like Kyle's attitude either, when he was having a hard time last year.. he even got on Gardenhire..... Lohse needs to look in the mirror....
What a story Joe Mays is!!!!!!!!
C.J. Nitkowski......sure looks great if he can keep putting his fastball over. The Twins want him just to pound strikes!
I like Armando Rios or Terry Tiffee as the left handed pinch hitter...prefer Rios at this stand point because of major league time......
Look at this line up of Coaches the Twins have in camp besides there excellent major league staff.......Carew, Stan Cilburn, Stu Cilburn, Bobby Cuellar, Remember Jim Dwyer???, TK, Tony O, Rick Knapp, Rich Miller, Phil Roof, Terry Steinbach, and Joe Vavra who ran Dodgers Spring Craning for years......
Carew and Steinbach are not in camp the whole spring........
Cuddyer looks great hope he can carry it over to the season!
The Twins look on paper to be stronger than last year ....On paper they can win the World Series!!!!! Let's hope they can do it on the field!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There you have Dewey's thoughts from Spring Training. If you have any questions or comments for Dewey, e-mail me, and I'll be sure he gets them.
Any thoughts on the Twins? Please e-mail me.
Thursday
Damien Miller, MIL, C, 1-2, RBI
Bobby Kielty, OAK, LF/RF, 0-4, K
Todd Walker, CHC, 2B, 1-4, BB, R
LaTroy Hawkins, CHC, RP, 1 IP, H, K, Save
Dustan Mohr, COL, RF, 0-2
Quinton McCracken, ARI, RF, 1-2, RBI
David McCarty, BOS, 1B, 0-2, R, SB
Chris Gomez, BAL, SS, 0-1
Jack Cressand, BOS, RP, 1 IP, H, K
Casey Blake, CLE, LF, 2-4, HR (3), 2 R, RBI, K
Jose Offerman, PHI, 1B, 1-3, BB
Corey Koskie, TOR, 3B, 0-2
Greg Myers, TOR, C, 0-3, 2 K
Aaron Fultz, PHI, RP, 1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 K
Todd Jones, FLA, RP, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
Javier Valentin, CIN, 1B, 0-2, 2 K, 2 E
Well, it was a day late, but American Idol did eliminate another contestant last night to bring us to the Top 10. Here is what I predicted after watching the performances:
I would have to say that the Bottom Three should be Mikalah Gordon, Nadia Turner and Anthony Federov. I would then predict that Mikalah is gone, but again, I fear her fan base. I think Anthony Federov has a big fan base. I fear that Nadia's one sub-par performance may cost her. I just think that Mikalah was so bad that she will be gone.
Well, the Bottom 3 were Mikalah Gordon, Nadia Turner and Anthony Federov. Anthony was sent back, leaving Nadia and Mikalah as the bottom two. In the end, it was, in fact, Mikalah that was eliminated, and rightfully so. I should probably brag about being absolutely right in my predictions, but I won't, since it has never happened before and likely won't happen again.
On a side note, Paula Abdul was charge for a hit-and-run yesterday.
Any thoughts on the show? E-mail me.
And with that, thank you again very much for stopping by my site today. I hope you enjoy what you have read, but if you have any questions or comments on anything, please feel free to e-mail me. Have a great weekend! Have a great week next week and be sure to let me know how you feel about the guest columnists.