The old adage is that a baseball season can be broken into three columns. All teams win one third of their games--even the lousyteams. All teams lose one third of their games--even the best teams. It is the other third that makes the difference.
The series with Washington is a perfect example. Minnesota took game one on the strength of their bullpen and a hot backup catcher/dh. The Nats blew out the Twins in game two. Then, in that all-important third game, our Twinkies lost by one run as the pesky Nats poked away at the lead. A 4-1 Twins advantage slowly went "pear-shaped" from 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, into a 4-5 final.
Can the prospects coming up, if they raise production at 2nd base (Rosario vs. Dozier), 3rd base (Sano vs. Escobar/Plouffe/Carroll), andcenter field (Can we already say Buxton vs. Hicks?) raise the Twins production to the point where they win two out of three? (NOTE: also posted as a response to the article "PROSPECTS ON THE MOVE" by Rick Nelson)

Before there was a Winfield, a Molitor, or a Mauer, there was a Bender.

Charles Albert "Chief" Bender was born in Crow Wing County on May 5th, 1884. He bounced between his home on the White Earth Reservation, and various boarding schools. At a teenager, Bender was recruited by the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle Pennsylvania, the first of many off-reservation boarding schools. Carlisle is perhaps most known for it's resident coach, Pop Warner, and his star player, Jim Thorpe.

Bender attended Dickinson College, also in Carlisle, before turning pro. He pitched for Connie Mack's Philadephia Athletics from 1903 to 1917.

Bender pitched during an era of entrenched prejudice, and open racism. The definitive biography, that chronicles Bender's early years and his big break, was written by Tom Swift. It is aptly titled, Chief Bender's BurdenThe Silent Struggle of a Baseball Star. Chief Bender's Burden - University of Nebraska Press

Swift has a wonderful short biography on Charles "Chief" Bender on the SABR website: Chief Bender | SABR

A nugget from Swift's bio: "Bender is known foremost for a rare ability to pitch under pressure. 'If I had all the men I’ve ever handled, and they were in their prime, and there was one game I wanted to win above all others,' said Philadelphia Athletics icon Connie Mack, who managed fellow all-time pitching greats Lefty Grove, Herb Pennock, Eddie Plank, and Rube Waddell, 'Albert would be my man.'"

Albert Bender is also credited by some as inventing the slider. He won 212 games over his Hall of Fame career.

Again, from Swift's biography: "Bender’s life partner was Marie (Clement) Bender, whom he married in 1904. The couple’s marriage, which lasted nearly 50 years, did not produce any children. In 1953, Bender became the first Minnesota-born player enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and he remained the only one until Dave Winfield joined him in 2001. On May 22, 1954, the year following the vote, Bender died, a few weeks shy of his 71st birthday and a few weeks before his induction ceremony."

Hey all,

This is a crazy idea, but why not?

Ron Gardenhire's contract is up at the end of this year, and if the Twins Way winds up producing another 90 loss season, it may be time to shake up the culture of Twins Nation.

Ozzie Guillen would do that in a flash.

Consider the wave of Latino talent moving up through the Twins system. Ozzie might fit in well with a changing clubhouse. He is popular with the local media, who ate up his Pirhanna quotes:

"All those piranhas -- blooper here, blooper here, beat out a ground ball, hit a home run, they're up by four. They get up by four with that bullpen? See you at the national anthem tomorrow. When I sit down and look at the lineup, give me the New York Yankees. Give me those guys because they've got holes. You can pitch around them, you can pitch to them. These little guys? Castillo and all of them? People worry about the catcher, what's his name, Mauer? Fine, yeah, a good hitter, but worry about the little [guys], they're on base all the time."

How much fun would it be to watch Ozzie manage the Twins at the Cell? Can you imagine the postgame interview? I blush at the thought...:o

Hey all,

I just got done watching the Twins-White Sox matinee, and stumbled upon Cody Christie's post on best baseball movies. It's kind of hidden in a larger link post, so I thought I'd draw the conversation out a little. Cody posts a link to the IMBB Top Ten Baseball Movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/x9dmZYfeX4w/

Their list draws quite a bit of criticism on the IMBB site, with movies like "Mr 3000" and "Fever Pitch" in the top ten.

Cody's top five:

1. Bull Durham
2. Sandlot
3. Major League
4. A League Of Their Own
5. Field of Dreams

Here's my top ten:

1. Field of Dreams
2. Sandlot
3. Eight Men Out
4. Bang the Drum Slowly
5. Fear Strikes Out
6. A League of Their Own
7. #42
8. Bull Durham
9. Major League
10. For the Love of the Game

Honorable Mention:
11. Bad News Bears
12. The Rookie

Other thoughts?

Hey all,

I was captivated by the story of Jackie Robinson. His contributions to American society outweigh his accomplishments on the field. But could the same be said for Roberto Clemente and his influence on behalf of Latino ballplayers, and the manner in which he lived and died, off the field? If any jersey number is worthy of the honor bestowed on #42, it is #21. I have studied Clemente's influence over the years, and would recommend the following title to any serious fan of the game, and it's influence on the human community. Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero: David Maraniss: 9780743299992: Amazon.com: Books

Roberto Clemente's story deserves to be told, alongside the amazing life of Jackie Robinson. It's unfortunate that a biographer of Roger Kahn's talent has not told the story of #21.The Boys of Summer: Roger Kahn: 9780060883966: Amazon.com: Books Someday, I hope Roberto Clemente's story appears on the silver screen, and #21 is enshrined in every ballpark across America.

Mercy,
An Associated Press article reveals plans for major revisions at the "The Friendly Confines." http://www.startribune.com/sports/tw...202993011.html

This is dreadful. I was at the first night game at Target Field, and sat in the upper deck behind home plate, when Scotty Baker outdueled Zack Greinke, and Willie Bloomquist's defense, under the lights. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...01004160.shtml

I will remember the game forever--and the feeling of overstimulation. All the electronics made the Metrodome feel subdued, in comparison. It was loud, it was bright, and I think there was a baseball game being played down below our perch in the nosebleeds--where many of the flashing lights were at eye-level.

This is modern baseball, I guess. I just thought that the hand-operated scoreboards of Fenway, and the relative expanse of grass and ivy at Wrigley accentuated the game. Electronics are for video games, not America's Pastime.

I am depressed. This is an apocolyptic sign, of biblical proportions. Say it aint' so...

Hey friends,

I am willing to admit that it's way too early to get our hopes up regarding Eddie Rosario and his 5 for 8 outburst against AA to AAA level pitchers. Some of the heavy hitters on this site have commented that it's absurd to believe that we could hear--once again--chants of "Eddie, Eddie" as early as this spring in Minnie. I get it.

But don't tell me it can never happen. http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=carew-001rod

Calvin Griffith took a flyer on a kid named Rodney Cline Carew, who jumped from Singe A ball, in 1966, all the way to Met Stadium, in 1967. The Denver Bears (AAA) and Charlotte Hornets (AA) never knew Carew. So, how did he do in his first season in a Twins uniform? How about an All Star invitation, and Rookie of the Year?

Carew had more experience at second than Rosario. That's a major reason why Eddie will stay on pace to join the parent club in late 2014, with a chance to be in the starting lineup on Opening Day, 2015. The other reason? Delaying the start of Rosario's MLB "Years of Service" clock.

All I'm saying, Seth and Co, is that stranger things have happened.

That is all.

Okay,

This is out of left field:p, but worthy of a conspiracy buff’s amusing post: Are the Twins headed to the National League?

1) We are stocking up on NL pitchers.
2) Target Field is a pitcher’s park. It wasn’tnecessarily built for the NL game, but the fact is that the park plays more like an NL venue. You can’t rebuild the park for the AL game, but you could change leagues…
3) Financially, Milwaukee and Minneapolis could benefit by splitting 21 games a year. 21 games of full stands. Right now MN doesn’t have a state-to-state rival. Kinda makes sense, right…

How long did it take for Milwaukee to switch leagues, and Houston?

Okay, I am ready for the naysayers to have me for Monday lunch.:banghead: What say you?

Hey all,

Baseball is a form of theater. For example, we have our small-market Rebellion battling against The Evil Empire. These are the Meta narratives that we construct, in order to make sense and meaning out of a box score, or a trip to the ballgame with peanuts and Cracker Jacks with our children, or a beer with the guys.

So, take a break from the Hot Stove League, and consider (don't ponder, us Viking fans have done enough of that!), consider the question of Jeter's 3000th hit, and one fan's response.

What would you do? Click on the link below:

Blog: RP Blog | Sports | Ethics | Returning Jeter?s 3,000th Hit Ball | The Responsibility Project by Liberty Mutual

Hey all,

Here’s what I don’t understand: let’s call it “throwing good money after bad.”
Blackburn’s $5.5 million contract is bad money. The Twins still had—had money in their purses after dropping about $26 million in 2012 contracts that went off the payrolls or were traded away (Pavano, Baker, Liriano, Span, Nishi, Casilla). Now, by signing Correia, that’s down to $21 million.

I expected to see a pitcher or two get Willingham money (3 years $21M), or Pavano money (3 years $23.5M) on a two year deal, or perhaps a three year deal, so $7-8M/year. This is where the market falls, excluding Greinke, at $23.5M/year over a six year contract. His contract is the anomaly:


The Market

Pitcher	age	IP	ERA	YRs	$/yr
Peavy	31	219	3.37	2	14.5
Haren	32	176	4.33	1	13
Guthrie	33	181	4.76	3	8.3
McCarthy	29	111	3.24	2	7.75
Blanton	31	191	4.71	2	7.5
Iwamura	31	125	3.16	2	7

Correia (age 32, 171 ip, 4.21 era) for 2 yrs and $ 5M/yr

Available

Lohse	34	211	2.86
Jackson	29	189	4.03
Sanchez	28	195	3.86
Dempster	35	173	3.38
Marcum	30	124	3.70

I tried ranking the top twenty free agent starting pitchers who could hurl for the Twins for the next three years—with 2014 and 2015 being key contention years, they are all 35 or younger, with most being in that 29-31 range. Lots of room for debate here, but consider the money, and potential Willingham/Pavano size contract:

My Top 20
1. Greinke 23.5M/yr,6 yrs
2. Lohse
3. Peavy 14.5M/yr,2 yrs
4. E. Jackson
5. McCarthy 7.75M/yr,2 yrs
6. Sanchez
7. Dempster
8. Marcum
9. Haren 13.5M/yr,1 yr
10. Guthrie 8.5M/yr, 2 yrs
11. Blanton 7.5M/yr, 2 yrs
12. Iwamura 7M/yr, 2 yrs
13. Baker 5.5M/yr, 1 yr
14. Saunders
15. Villanueva
16. Liriano
17. De La Rosa 11M/yr, 1 yr.
18. Coreia 5M/yr, 2yrs
19. Sheets
20. Marquis

Bottom line, and this is about the bottom line: The Twins have room for one of the top five guys that are still on the market. They need a pitcher who can win 15 games for a 81-81 w-l season, vs. 8 wins for 73 & 89. A little Oriole's-type luck to steal 9 more w's. They needed to spend $3-4M more to make that happen. Instead they threw the $5M away, like Blackburn's $. That's throwing away good money, after bad.

The Minnesota Twins enter the offseason saddled with the need to rebuild. As the Twins fan base begins to dwindle, and the shine seems to be coming off Target Field, questions arise about the M & M boys, andtheir long-term value in Minnesota. Both players are emerging out from under a cloud of befuddling injuries, so their long-term health is a question. Both players command a significant portion of team salary, so their combined value is a question. Joe Mauer is likely to increase his playing time at first base,raising questions about how two M’s can populate one position. Both players are leaving their twenties, and entering their thirties—Mauer is 29 and JustinMorneau is 31. Age begs the biggest unanswerable question. Will production and value decrease as these two Boys of Summer enter the midseason of their careers?
Look to the East, across the St. Croix River for a possible answer in two of the greatest players to put on a Milwaukee Brewers uniform—Paul Molitor and Robin Yount. And while your gaze is turned in the direction of Wisconsin, keep looking over the horizon toward Cooperstown, NY. Both Yount and Molitor made it to the Hall of Fame because of their longevity, and their ability to remain healthy and productive over the second half of their careers. Yount nearly gave up baseball due tonagging injuries. He wanted to pursue a golfing career and briefly quit baseball. The first half of Paul Molitor’s career was a mess—injury and addiction troubled his life—and his statistical production is pockmarked with extensive gaps due to time spent on the disabled list.
Milwaukee stuck with Molitor. His former cocaine addiction bears no resemblance to a concussion—except that both maladies carry a huge stigma, and recovery is wildly unpredictable. What the Brewers could control was where and when to play Molitor, and Yount. Dan Levitt and Doug Skipper recount the young Molitor’s first appearance in the Brewer’s dugout,
“After the draft the Brewers invited their new phenom to Milwaukee County Stadium for the VIP treatment. While wearing a suit that was “way too big, I’m totally geekish,” Molitor met some of the players in thedugout. At one point he was sitting next to shortstop Robin Yount, only 22 years old but already in his fourth year as a starter. Veteran third basemanSal Bando stopped by and threw Yount an outfielder’s glove, telling him, “Well,I guess this will be your last year at shortstop, kid.” Molitor remembered acute embarrassment at the whole proceeding and just wanting to get away.” http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/f9d60ca6
Yount and Molitor would dance around the shortstop position. Both players showed versatility, as Molitor spent time at second base, and third. Yount would eventually move into center field. Molitor would become one of the most productive designated hitters in major league history. Bottom line?Milwaukee provided a flexible environment so that both Yount and Molitor could remain productive members of the team, at least for a while.
Joe Christensen recently drew some comparisons between Mauer and Molitor. “Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, a fellow Cretin-Derham Hall product, dealt with criticism with the Milwaukee Brewers when injuries limited him to fewer than 120 games in five of his first 10 seasons. Molitor hasn't spoken to Mauer about this but said it was nice to prove he could stay healthy over the second half of his career.” http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/171947481.html
Perhaps Molitor should speak to Morneau, since Molitor andMorneau have perhaps more in common, injury-wise, than the tandem of Molitor and Mauer. Concussions and cocaine, once again, are worlds apart. But finding stability and hope over the second half of a major league career—that seems to be common ground for the these two M’s.
Financial concerns would eventually undermine Molitor’s relationship with the Brewers. Molitor left Milwaukee and signed as a free agent with the team that had finished four games ahead of the Brewers the year before—the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto would remain competitive, winning two World Championships, one with Molitor as the Series’ Most Valuable Player. The Brewers’ record, post-Mollie, would not climb above .500 for each of the next 14 seasons.
In 1993, his first year in Toronto, Molitor placed second in the American League MVP vote, behind Frank Thomas. He would play for five more seasons. The following quote from Levitt and Skipper tells about his first year in Minnesota: “Molitor,the fourth oldest player in the league, appeared in a career high 161 of Minnesota’s 162 games for manager Tom Kelly. He batted .341, third in the American League behind Alex Rodriguez and Frank Thomas. He led the league in hits with 225—becoming the oldest player to ever lead the league in hits—drove in a career high 113 runs, and scored 99.”
Do you suppose the Brewers could have used that sort of production? The Twins should not make the same mistake. The Twins and Brewers locked up Mauer and Yount as franchise players. The Brewers chose not to take that direction with Molitor. Will the Twins regret not making Morneau a lifelong Twin? These are the questions that only time can provide, but bloggers can still ask, all the same. Can anyone peer into their pouch of chewing tobacco tea leaves and offer an answer?
Ps. If you have made it this far through this blog, you should REALLY make time to read the piece by Levitt and Skipper. Good research, good writing, great story!

Hey all,
I want to see what Justin Morneau can do with a healthy first half of 2013. His stats are notoriously strong over the first half of a season, and tend to taper off after the All-Star break.

Consider his last three "healthy" seasons, and and his five "full" seasons:
1st Half ....................... 2nd Half
2009: .311/.390/.575 .201/.310/.402
2008: .323/.391/.512 .267/.350/.481
2007: .295/.364/.581 .243/.318/.384
2006: .300/.352/.587 .342/.399/.531 (still, a modest decline in slugging pct.)
2005: .267/.331/.477 .211/.277/.397

I think we can agree that over the first half of 2012, Morneau was in recovery mode. Take a look at his progression over this year...

2012: .246/.312/.440 .319/.376/.505

I am ready to see what the Big Canadian can do in the first half of 2013, healthy, rested, and wearing a Twins uniform.

Lew Ford homered to left center field off of C.C. Sabathia last night (9/8/12), his third home run in 55 at bats for Baltimore. Later in the game, Nick Markakis broke his thumb. He will be out for six weeks.

So, will Lew Ford be patrolling/platooning in right field for the O's if they make the postseason? LLEEEWWW hasn't spent a lot of time in Baltimore this season, but with Markakis out, one must ask the proverbial question, 'Will Baltimore Get Mileage from Ford' on their postseason roster?

Count me as one who will be cheering him on. Ford earned quite a reputation for burning himself with a hotel iron, allegedly while wearing the wrinkled shirt. He argues that he accidently leaned into the iron, after pressing the shirt like most mere mortals do. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...e=caple/040512

He was also known for playing Dungeons and Dragons with the clubhouse staff and online all night on road trips with the Twins.

Seriously, Joe Christensen does a nice job of chronicling Ford's fall from Gardy's grace and rise back to the major leagues in the Sunday Insider. http://www.startribune.com/sports/tw...6.html?refer=y

It's a great feel-good baseball story. But can it last? Did we hear the last blast from Lew last night? Or is there more to come in this improbable story?