From the Strib today:  "Let's hope for a Game 163 on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Metrodome, and let's hope that would mark the end of baseball for the Twins in 2009."

Sigh.  Enough's been said about Souhan in this space and others, so I'll refrain from cracking back too much, but what kind of fan wants to hear this from their sports commentary?  It's his opinion, of course, so he can say what he wants... but why even say something like that? 

A very interesting Kelly Theiser Article about Ayala's last days... and I earn some mad respect from Gardy on his handling of the situation.  Some Gardenhire gems from the article:

"He asked for this, and when you ask out of here, you will get out of here.  It's simple."

"He wanted an eighth-inning role. That's why he signed over here ... But he wasn't pitching well enough to be an eighth-inning guy. So there you have it."

"I'm talking about winning this year and he's talking about if he doesn't get in the right situations here, he's worried about his contract for next year.  You lose me right there. I don't deal with that."

Sometimes Gardy's infuriating, but sometimes he's right on.  This is one of those times.  It's just too bad Smith saddled the team with this guy and ended up putting them in the situation they're in now.

Goodbye, Ayala, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Hey, guys.

I miss being a part of Twinkie Town, as my wife and I are moving to New York City from Minneapolis.  I'm stationed in Baltimore for the moment, but I thought a lot of you might like to take a look at the blog I've posted about my trip:

fennellog.blogspot.com

I took the opportunity, while driving across the country, to see as many ballparks as I could.  Hope you all enjoy, it's my little gift back to the Twins Territory that I'll miss so much.

A great take on Livan's season by Rob Neyer at ESPN.com. 

For those of you that cannot access the link, here's the meat of the article:

Only six pitchers since the 19th century have given up more than 12.5 hits per nine innings, and all of them pitched from 1929 through 1937.

Until this year. (Yes, we have finally arrived at the point of this little history lesson.) On Wednesday, pitching against the Red Sox, Livan Hernandez was touched for 11 hits before getting yanked in the fifth inning. In 120 2/3 innings this season, Hernandez has given up 173 hits. That's 12.9 hits per nine innings, which -- if Hernandez maintains that rate -- would be the highest figure for an ERA qualifier since Ray Benge gave up 12.94 hits per nine innings in 1936. Since World War II, only two pitchers -- LaTroy Hawkins in 1999 and Carlos Silva in 2006 -- have given up more than 12 hits per nine innings. Notice a pattern here? Hawkins and Silva were both Minnesota Twins, like Hernandez. Silva was (and is) an extreme control pitcher, like Hernandez. The problem is that it's very difficult to win if you're giving up a dozen hits per nine innings. Hawkins went 10-14 with a 6.66 ERA; Silva went 11-15 with a 5.94 ERA. Which makes Hernandez's season all the more remarkable. He's giving up more hits than those guys did, yet even after Wednesday's pasting in Boston he's 9-6 with a 5.44 ERA. And I'm sorry to keep hammering on this point, but while Hernandez is working his way toward an unflattering distinction, Francisco Liriano is making monkeys of International League hitters. Hernandez is earning $5 million this season. The other four members of the Twins' rotation, all put together, are making less than one-fourth of that. So when it's time to bring Liriano up -- which is to say, yesterday at the very latest -- who loses his job? One of the young, ill-paid, but effective starters? Or will it be instead the Les Sweetland of the 21st century? We can only wait and see.

I'm usually interested in what they do for the All-Star Jerseys.  I like that they base the colors on the team whose ballpark the festivities inhabit.  It can lead to some duds, like last year's poop-brown & orange San Francisco jerseys, but I feel they did it right this year:

Mauer All Star Jersey

I think it's classy.  I dig the nod to the stadium.  Again, for those interested in that sort of thing.

I really like Pat Neshek, as I know a lot of you do...  It's nice to see a guy take the press to task for reporting false information.  From his website:

"I just wanted to correct a report on me that aired on tonight's broadcast of the game.  One of the viewers wrote in and asked how my arm was doing.  It was reported on TV that I had successful surgery and was still aching a little?  I don't know who reports this stuff but they might want to find out the facts...I NEVER HAD SURGERY, my arm has never ached at all and I'm suprised at how painless partially tearing an elbow ligament is.  I really needed to clear this up because it annoys me when people continue to hear this junk from people who don't care to find out the facts and in return make stuff up and report it as fact.  My brace is coming off Monday and I will start my rehab then shooting for me to start tossing again around late August."

Way to take the press down a peg, Pat.  Good night and good luck.

From CBS Sportsline:

ARLINGTON, Tex. -- Struggling left-hander Francisco Liriano was sent back to the minors by the Minnesota Twins on Friday, after posting an 11.32 ERA and losing all three starts since returning to the rotation.

Liriano was sent to Triple-A Rochester before Friday night's game at Texas, and it was not a surprise. He gave up six runs and got only two outs Thursday against Oakland, his latest failure to find the strike zone in a return from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Right-hander Bobby Korecky was recalled from Rochester to take Liriano's roster spot. Korecky was the closer for Rochester, going 2-1 with an 0.68 ERA and five saves in 13 1-3 innings.

After all these years of hearing about Cuddyer's magic obsession, it was nice to finally see some video.  ESPN the Magazine filmed some players' "Unlikely Hobbies" and Cuddyer was featured, doing some pretty good card tricks.  I was able to access them without being logged in, so here's location:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/search?queryString=cuddyer&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&a mp;submit=Search

Something fun for a Monday.

I know that Gleeman has already pointed it out on his blog, but if you're interested in the Spring training goings-on and behind the scenes, Phil Miller's blog at Twincities.com is really a great read.  He's posted at least ten times in the past two days about this and that.  

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/

Peter Gammons is reporting on ESPN.com that Miguel Cabrera is being shopped by the Marlins.  For those teams looking for a good offensive third baseman, he's what Jack Black would accurately describe as "A cream dream."

I don't know if it's even within the realm of possibility, but here are some of the positives associated with the Twins considering going after Cabrera:

1.) Cabrera has two years before he's free-agency eligible, making the Twins instant contenders next year and the year following.

2.) He instantly replaces (and upgrades) Hunter's power at a primary power position and ends the "who's on third" debate.

3.) The Marlins are shopping him because expenses are tight with their new stadium looming, and are looking for prototypical Marlins acquistions:  Young Talent, which the twins have in spades.

4.) The Venezuelan-born Cabrera would hopefully give Johan Santana incentive to stay around.

5.) Equating Cabrera's salary against Hunter's, Cabrera saves the Twins 4-5 Million per year for those two years, loosening up some room to acquire a decent center fielder.  Mike Cameron made 7 million last year, and chances are he'll go cheaper now.

Some things that might be a deterrent for a small-market team going after a guy like Miggy:

1.) His salary jumped past the "serf" status for the first time this past year, where he made 7.4 million.  This wouldn't be unprecedented for the Twins to take on a contract of that size, and it certainly beats what Hunter is asking for.  Besides, getting a bona fide superstar for that kind of money is akin to a bargain for almost any team.

2.) For a team proclaiming to take great pride in their defense, Cabrera has some folks in Miami worried about his weight and agility playing third.  Granted he's no Tony Batista at the hot corner, but his conditioning has been cause for concern.

3.) We'd have to give up some good young pitching.  I hate speculating on names, but chances are to acquire a talent like Cabrera, it would be steep.

Gammons does a interesting study comparing Cabrera's career stats against A-Rod, obviously the pinnacle of offensive third basemen, and it's astounding how Cabrera is showing some of that same promise at only 24 years old.  

I don't know if acquiring Cabrera is feasible for the twins to consider, but he's one of the best available at a position we need.  Aside from the players we'd have to give up for him, it would be akin to signing a better-hitting Torii Hunter to a two-year, 16 million dollar deal.  Plus, I'd just plain love to see the guy hit in our town.  Like Jack Black says, a cream dream.

This is a rather small issue in the scheme of things, but I'm wondering if anyone else can relate to me on this...

Is anyone else completely tired of the cliche champagne celebrations that happen after every single round of the playoffs?  In my book, it's completely lost any significance.  Every team does the exact same tired thing after every meaningful game.  It's long since lost its spontaneousness.

Just a thought I had after seeing last night's footage of this year's 12th champagne celebration on ESPN.

With the Twins in Boston the next couple days, we get a chance to see some exciting players that we don't see a whole lot, not to mention one of the most exciting ballparks in the majors (watching last night's game, a pinball machine comes to mind).

One of the more interesting stories from Sox Nation in the past couple of years (IMO) is the emergence of Jonathan Papelbon.  For anyone who is interested in a story that captures the mentality of a competitor, and also sheds light on how a big-league club protects their investment in a pitcher, you'll love this article by Tom Verducci:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/tom_verducci/09/25/late.great1001/index.html

Tom is one of my favorite sportswriters (If you ever get a chance to read his "I Was a Toronto Blue Jay" article, where he spent a week participating in Toronto's spring training, you'll love it.  It's the only SI I've ever kept).  I thought this article regarding Papelbon's mentality, mechanics, and how the Red Sox have cultivated him was fascinating.  

Just wanted to share.

The Twins became the only team in history to score six or more runs in the top of the ninth inning and still be tied by the end of the ninth.

Words fail me.  This is unbelievable.

Apparently I am required to type at least 300 characters so my entry can be posted.  In that case:

Dear Mr. Gardenhire,

You had Joe Nathan warm for the bottom of the ninth.  Your tendency to worship the stat of the "save" has cost you one of the most embarrassing losses I have ever seen.  Congratulations.

Sincerely,

Wearing Thin in MN.

I know this is probably going to come off insensitive, due to the recent events that have taken place in our great city.  I know it seems gauche to talk about baseball management oversight when they have already been forced to make such immediate decision as to whether to play a game of baseball during a city emergency.  The Twins' decision (and action) regarding the issue of whether to play a game on the heels of such a devastating event was both bold and unselfish.  To put the team on the field last night showed a true spirit of community, for the sole purpose of keeping order.  All thoughts of a win, sweep, or division standings were null and void when the proposition was made:  'Do we make it easier or harder on the men and women working so diligently to save and preserve lives?'  The Twins deserve major props for acting in the best interest of the city at the expense of the ballclub.

All that being said...

Why on earth are they making up the postponed game as part of a FRIDAY doubleheader when the game already being played Saturday is at 11:00 am.  I know this is insensitive, but I was looking forward to a full two-game day at the Metrodome on Sept. 1.  If nothing else, to take my mind off this horrible string of days that we all have been living through.

i was thinking about getting a Morneau All-Star jersey or shirt, hoping to support him during a possible Home Run Derby stint this next week, but then I went to the mlb shop:

http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2784740&cp=2623722

These have to be the most hideous All-Star jerseys I have seen in my entire life.  Leave it to San Francisco.

Hey everyone

I just wanted to speak to an issue that I never thought would come up, being a Twins fan.

Two of my very best friends (and my groomsmen) are diligent and steadfast Royals fans (I don't know how that happened, but it did).  The three of us have taken a liking to attending games together at Kaufmann Stadium, sit side by side in our clashing jerseys, and enjoy baseball.  It's a short trip to KC from where we are in Lincoln, and we both get to watch our teams outdoors.  Last year we caught two games, the teams split, so everyone went home happy.  I have always found it exciting to have so many Twins fans in the stands, it usually is 50/50 at Kaufmann.  Every time I have gone to Kaufmann in my Navy and Red, I always get a little bit of good-natured ribbing as to be expected.  However, it's always in fun, all the Royals fans are great to me, and the Twins fans have always been so appreciative of the stadium and hospitality, and have always treated Royals fans in kind.

I was unable to accompany my friends this weekend, but the two Royals fans gentlemen headed down on their own this weekend to cheer on their team.  I could only be shocked at the stories they shared with me about pompous and rude Twins fans.  My friends, (whom I believe thoroughly) feel the same as I do about sportsmanship and good-natured heckling.  That is, it stays good-natured.

Our philosophy has always been thus:
"Cheer FOR your team.  Never cheer AGAINST theirs."  

I feel this philosophy has grown out of being a Twins fan.  What I mean is, I believe it grows out of following an upstanding team; midwestern sensibilities; etc.  I credit being a Twins fan to giving me a sense of sportsmanship and appreciation for the game, and I believe my friends credit the same from being Royals fans.

To hear that Twins fans were badmouthing and swearing at my friends, acting as if Kaufmann was not in fact the away team's home, I was in disbelief.  To be told by my friends that they needed ushers' intervention to stop the verbal abuse from the Twins fans sitting behind them, I was shocked.  I tried not to believe it when I heard that they received attitude and abuse even at the HOTEL.  I didn't believe, and I do not believe now, that these were true Twins fans.  I don't think that true fans of this team would go into someone else's house and treat that team and their fans disrespectfully.  

I only wanted to share this feeling in case this sad minority of Twins followers happened to be you or any of your friends this past weekend.  Let's not let a few months of success go to our heads.  It's not long ago that we knew exactly how those Royals felt, and all sports teams and fans should be treated with respect.  I didn't even experience from Yankee fans in the Metrodome earlier this season what I heard from my friends this weekend.  We've always taken pride in following our team with respect and tact.  Let's remember that.

Thanks for reading, I just wanted to make sure we stay the Twins Territory that I've always been so proud of.  

So it begins.

I don't know about everybody else, but I have been extremely excited about the World Baseball Classic coming up in 2006.  As most baseball fans can probably agree, the Olympic game has never captured me.  I have always loved the Olympics as a celebration of the best in sport competing against the rest of the world.  Unfortunately, the baseball teams sent to the Olympics have always lacked.  The Olympic committee seems to have noticed as well, canceling the baseball competition for Olympics 2012 and beyond.  

One can make the argument that in a team sport, one does not need a "dream team" in order to compete at the international level.  Examples include the 1980 upset of the Russian hockey team by the Americans, or the recent troubles of the USA basketball squad.  Both examples emphasize the importance of teamwork over individualism.  

Unfortunately, baseball just doesn't work that way.  It is, overall, a team sport, but there is still the man-to-man exchange of pitcher vs. batter that defines baseball's competition.  Imagine if in the 2004 Olympics, Team USA had Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson on the hill.  Imagine if Team Japan had Ichiro and Hideki Matsui patrolling the outfield.  The tiny Dominican Republic would have one of the most incredible lineups in the world, with David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Miguel Tejada, and Vladimir Guerrero all swinging for the same team.   Picture some of our Twins...  Johan pitching for Venezuela, possibly against Morneau batting for Canada...  maybe even Joe Nathan closing for the U.S.

Until this year, those were only "imagin-ables."  These dream teams were simply that.  Dreams. The Olympics never truly pitted the best against the best.  How truly good was an Olympic hitter if he never had to stare down Mariano Rivera's vicious cut fastball?  Would any of the Olympic pitchers really be able to get A-Rod out?

I was very excited when I found out that there would be an answer to those questions.  The ever-controversial Bud Selig has spearheaded the creation of the World Baseball Classic, a world-cup style baseball tournament that will be played before the MLB season begins, so MLB players can be involved.  I have since been impressed by such players as Pujols and Tejada who have affixed their excitement and committed to their respective teams.  I was ecstatic.  This would be an All-Star tournament without the "exhibition" feel that the MLB All-Star game always carries.  I keep waiting for the "Selig shoe" to drop... but at the moment, I was a kid again, contemplating match-ups and lineups.  What I was worried about was, would U.S. Players be convinced?

I predicted that among the U.S. players, there would be less excitement for the games.  American spirit seems to have been lacking as of late...  and forcing all of us to sit through more and more god-awful renditions of "God Bless America" smacks of propaganda nowadays rather than true patriotism.  My suspicions were correct.  Most of what I heard from U.S. players was, "What if I get hurt?"  Worried more about their contracts and paychecks in the bigs, I was beginning to envision a team full of second-tier players who, though probably young and hungry for the competition, would not truly be the "best" players of their game.  It would be the Olympics all over.  What we needed was someone to come forward, and make this a popular idea.  A big player, someone to step up and say, "I'm going to do this, even if it means less time off, a chance to be hurt, and more work."  I never believed who that person would turn out to be.

It turned out to be Barry Bonds.

Barry, the professor of the "me-me" school of athlete attitudes, the perennial steroid suspect, perhaps one of the most self-absorbed unpleasant people to play the game of baseball, stood up and said he would play for his country.  He decided to play on a barely healed knee and an aging body that has carried too much (alleged) chemical muscle for too many years.  Barry, who would never dream about negotiating his ungodly salary in order to provide his team with a better supporting cast, said he would rehab early and be ready to play with "USA" on his jersey.

My first reaction was one I've had every time I see Barry in the news.  "Oh great."  I was upset that he was going to be our ambassador.  I didn't want the rest of the world seeing this example as what our country has to offer.  Plus, how is he even going to play?  His diatribe about "losing 40 pounds to get back to playing weight" seems nice and convenient.  For those of us who have taken public information over this guy's word for years, it seems he's finally and truly going to be clean.  Plus, he'll have to be, since World Baseball players will be subjected to Olympic-style drug testing.  So, without the (alleged) boost in his system, will his body hold up?  Would he embarrass himself and our country?  

But then I realized, this goes beyond just Barry.  He has made it chic, he's made it cool.  Now, those on-the-fence players will be able to look and say, "hey!  Barry Bonds will be playing on one leg and totally clean.  If he's going to, I can too."   Hopefully this move will now open the door for the best in the game to sign up and give us a real show.  I, for one, can't wait.