Tag Archives: twins

How the Twins can win the World Series

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They probably can’t…OK, next topic.

The Minnesota Twins have won with less, so there is hope, Minnesota. A lot of things need to go right, but it’s possible if:

M&M don’t melt

Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer need time machines. Everything starts and stops with these two. Last season, the former MVPs combined to miss 173 games and the Twins had no chance. In the six seasons Mauer has played in more than 100 games the Twins are 527-368 with three playoff appearances.

Supporting cast stays healthy

Denard Span missed games thanks to a concussion, Jamey Carroll is 37 years old, Ryan Doumit played in 77 games last season, and Alexi Casilla hasn’t played in more than 98 games in a season, but that’s not because of health; it’s because he isn’t good. Put these guys around a healthy Morneau and Mauer, and the Twins are a different team.

Liriano shows up

Liriano is quickly becoming the Edwin Jackson/Javier Vazquez-esque pitcher, who shows they can dominate, but never stays consistent. A 5.09 ERA is not going to cut it for a guy the Twins hoped would replace Johan Santana. Liriano has to be the No. 1 because Carl Pavano is not and Scott Baker (3.14 ERA last season and just hit the DL) is a solid No. 2 or No. 3 at best. With Nick Blackburn and Jason Marquis (sent to the minors) at the end of the rotation, there could be a lot of 4.00 ERAs for the Twins starting staff.

Twins need surprises

Home runs do not come easy in Oakland, but Josh Willingham hit 29, 15 of which were at the Coliseum. Willingham surprised last season, but just got paid and is 33. Danny Valencia has the ability to hit 20 home runs, but his on-base percentage can’t dip as low as it did last season (.294). Matt Capps (his ERA jumped 1.78 points from 2010 to 2011) and Glen Perkins have to surprise in the bullpen because the Twins have no one else. With Baker on the DL and Marquis not being good, Liam Hendricks will have to be solid to give the Twins an actual rotation.

My predictions

AL East goes to the Red Sox, AL Central goes to the Tigers, AL West goes to the Angels, and wildcards (yes, wildcards) go to Yankees and Rangers. Yankees beat Rangers in one game playoff, Red Sox beat Yankees with ESPN dedicating 30 minutes of SportsCenter to each game, and Angels beat Tigers in ALDS. Red Sox beat Angels in ALCS.

In the NL, NL East goes to the Phillies, NL Central goes to the Reds, NL West goes to the Giants and wildcards go to the Marlins and Diamondbacks. Marlins beat Diamondbacks in wildcard playoff, Phillies beat Marlins, and Giants beat Reds in NLDS. Phillies beat Giants in NLDS.

Red Sox beat Phillies in World Series. If you’ll excuse me, I have to throw up because of that prediction.

At least we’re done with dirty college sports and can move on to steroids

Congratulations to Kentucky Wildcats coach John Calipari. You didn’t stop when the NCAA took away your Final Four season with UMass because Marcus Camby accepted $28,000 from two sports agents. You didn’t stop when the NCAA took away your national championship run with Memphis when Derrick Rose’s SAT score was invalidated.

You didn’t stop because only in college sports is winning more important than the rules of the sporting gods and is a place where the dirty car salesman is king. Thanks to this, you were able to poach on a big-name program that was so tired of losing (money and wins), it was willing to give away its soul, along with $31.65 million, just to win. You’re proof your win-loss record is the only record that matters in the NCAA.

Enjoy this championship, Mr. Calipari, because I can’t imagine you’re going to get to keep it.

Where did the summer go?

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As I sit here staring at the blank computer screen, I can’t help but have a sense of sadness come over me.

It isn’t because I had a horrible week in Pigskin Pick ‘em (which I did).

It also isn’t because former co-worker Michael Brauer gave me a quartet of shellackings in NCAA football (which he did).
 

But instead, this sadness comes from the Twins.

Of course, they are on a roll. A big series with the White Sox will greatly determine how the rest of the season plays out.

I believe a sweep, or at least a series win, all but seals another American League Central crown.

This sadness comes from Target Field. While I was there in March — when it was freezing outside — to watch the first-ever game, it wasn’t the same.

That day, the Minnesota Gophers were playing baseball, not the Twins.

This year, I have attended a total of nine baseball games.

I went to four in Kansas City on two different occasions, two in Washington, D.C. and three at Wrigley Field.

All four games in KC were against the Twins, so I have seen them live.

But I haven’t seen them at Target Field.

The cold temperatures of fall are starting to creep up, meaning the baseball season is winding down.

With a full prep schedule and a pair of college football games on the horizon, I fear my chances are dwindling.

Minnesota does have 10 home games remaining — not counting the potential playoff games — so all hope is not lost.

As a pure optimist (I have to be as a Cubs fan), I know it’s just a matter of time before I sit with the sun shining down on a warm summer day, enjoying a hot dog and Twins baseball.

It might not be this year, but someday very soon, I will be another paying customer at Target Field.

Impressive Target Field opens

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There were approximately 37,000 fans that walked through the Target Field gates on Saturday.

And I was one of them.

The first official baseball game was played on Saturday at the new Twins’ stadium. But instead of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau taking the field, the Minnesota Golden Gopher baseball team faced Louisiana Tech.

It marked the first time the general public was allowed in the sparkling stadium, and I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.

Yes, it was cold.

But it was worth it.

In the Cities to cover the state boys’ basketball tournament, I first heard of Minnesota’s game from Chad Knutson, who told me about the sweet deal. Chad, who later visited the field himself, and caught a foul ball, told me that for a mere $2, the Gophers were opening up the stadium, with all the proceeds going to the Twins Community Fund.

I had walked up to the gates of Target Field the night before, but hadn’t been able to get inside.

Walking up to the gates this time, I was full of excitement. I had been to the Metrodome quite a few times for Twins games, and this marked a historic event.

After getting through the gate, I was like a kid in a candy store.

The grass was green and everything was shiny and new. The corridors were wide, the vendors were selling new food and everywhere I looked, someone was taking a picture, making memories of this day.

The game wasn’t great, Minnesota lost 9-1, but the atmosphere was. It marked the second largest crowd to ever watch a college baseball game. I use the term watch, but not many people were paying attention to the game. Most of us were wandering around, taking in the sights.

I first walked around the stadium, pausing to take a few photos. There are no seats in center field. Instead, there is a place to stand for a moment and watch the action.

I stood there, snapping a few photos. But then, I was curious to see the rest of the place. I went up. Way up. I sat in the very top row of bleachers in left field. It was there I watched the first pitch every thrown.

At 1:08 p.m., Minnesota’s TJ Oakes delivered a ball to Kyle Roliard, and I was there to see it.

Oakes might be a familiar name to some. His father is a pitching coach for the Gophers, and his older brother enjoyed a nice career at the U. But Oakes has also seen his fair share of teams from southwest Minnesota, especially Pipestone Area. I watched as Oakes threw against the Arrows in a state baseball game. I watched as Nathan Alfson hit a home run off Oakes in the state legion tournament. But on Saturday, Oakes was throwing a historic first pitch.

After seeing everything from the Legend’s Club to the Champions’ Club, I had only one more item that generated my curiosity — the ballpark hot dogs.

With the big news recently that the hotdogs would no longer be Hormel, I had to try a Schweigert dog. It was delicious.

But what impressed, and even surprised me, was the different concession choices. From full-fledge restaurants to steak sandwiches, state fair food and even different soup varieties, Twins fan won’t have any problem finding something to delight their palate.

I will forever remember the first day of Target Field. The first pitch. The sight of green grass. The 5,800 square foot video board. Even the celebration sign where Minnie and Paul will shake hands across the Mississippi River every time the Twins hit a home run. Even though a Minnesota team hasn’t won in the stadium yet, there will no doubt be many victories in this state of the art stadium.

And I can’t wait to go back.