SB Nation User Blog: Neil

Souhan wants Twins to lose in one-game playoff

Neil — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:08:54 -0000

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?

Ayala requested a trade ... and Gardy's spot-on reaction.

Neil — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:20:59 -0000

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.

A move means a Ballpark Trip

Neil — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:20:22 -0000

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.

Everyday Eddie a Twin again: UPDATE – It is official. Just heard it on XM’s The Show. The trade is E...

Neil — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:29:38 -0000

Everyday Eddie a Twin again: UPDATE – It is official. Just heard it on XM’s The Show. The trade is Eddie Guardado for Mark Hamburger. Hamburger had been named the Appy League’s top reliever over the weekend.

http://sethspeaks.net/

Rob Neyer - Hernandez is getting hit historically hard

Neil — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:34:54 -0000

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.

All Star Jerseys, in case you're interested

Neil — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:33:07 -0000

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.

From Pat Neshek: Don't believe everything you read.

Neil — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:13:49 -0000

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.

Liriano sent down

Neil — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:59:54 -0000

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.

Some Cuddyer Magic

Neil — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:41:32 -0000

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.

Phil Miller Blog

Neil — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:16:59 -0000

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/