tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311755110103509262024-03-13T23:38:26.936-05:00Kirby's Left Eye"It may be cloudy in my right eye, but the sun is shining very brightly in my left eye. And just think how the sun has shined. Right up to the door of this great Hall, the shrine for the greatest game in the world, and the greatest players in the world, baseball." - Kirby Puckettmyjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-34597454719525981872018-02-01T22:45:00.004-06:002018-08-13T23:21:04.493-05:00I Want To Beat Bobby FlayTonight I watched an extremely bad episode of “Beat Bobby Flay” on the Food Network. If you’re not familiar, it’s a show where two cooks face off against each other to win a chance to beat the “famous” cook, Bobby Flay, in a cooking competition in a dish of their choice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORknI5O5G3g/WnPqNQty5yI/AAAAAAAAB2s/P3QTkTQg3DgrOTZWm49FfsuXE3hTKix8wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/BobbyFlay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="900" height="333" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ORknI5O5G3g/WnPqNQty5yI/AAAAAAAAB2s/P3QTkTQg3DgrOTZWm49FfsuXE3hTKix8wCPcBGAYYCw/s400/BobbyFlay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This particular episode featured a cook from the Twin Cities and a cook from the suburbs of Boston in the first round. They were given the secret ingredient of brats. The Twin Cities cook obviously blew the beanball nutbag out of the water (the Boston guy tried to make a “deconstructed brat” -- lmaoooo). Our Twin Cities hero (a James Beard winner) then faced Bobby Flay, and chose to compete over jucy lucys -- the classic Minneapolis dish, featuring cheese encased inside of hamburger.<br />
<br />
So the whole time I’m watching them trying to make these jucy lucys, Bobby Flay looks like he’s screwing up. He’s using tiny bits of cheddar and american cheese, whereas Twin Cities guy is using nice sized slices of Wisconsin gouda infused with truffles (melts easily -- perfect for a jucy lucy). Bobby Flay is making beets or something, while Twin Cities guy just makes a simple arugula salad to put on top.<br />
<br />
Time’s up, and they get to the judges. Bobby’s burger goes first. The judges all taste it, and all three of them say his jucy lucy is overdone. All three of them. An overdone jucy lucy? I can’t imagine many things worse than that. It wouldn’t goo, it wouldn’t ooze. Yuck.<br />
<br />
Then the judges taste the Twin Cities guy’s jucy lucy, and they all declare it delicious! It’s juicy and cheesy, just as it should be.<br />
<br />
After a minute, the three judges reveal the winner, who is… Bobby Flay.<br />
<br />
Why? Because <strike>the show producers are all assholes from the coast who just want Bobby Flay to win all the time no matter how ridiculous it looks</strike> according to the judges, the Twin Cities guy’s jucy lucy was… too cheesy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4o5KXcFB7w/WnPq5p3UvtI/AAAAAAAAB24/QrX-9iLHDBwqIXMHIfZD67nap6VI4Ya_wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/jucylucy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4o5KXcFB7w/WnPq5p3UvtI/AAAAAAAAB24/QrX-9iLHDBwqIXMHIfZD67nap6VI4Ya_wCPcBGAYYCw/s400/jucylucy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
They said he lost because the JUCY LUCY was TOO CHEESY.<br />
<br />
A jucy lucy is SUPPOSED TO BE CHEESY. That’s the WHOLE POINT. It’s a huge slab of cheese in a burger. I mean, come on. What the hell do you think we’re doing out here in Minnesota and Wisconsin? Eating kale burgers?<br />
<br />
Bobby Flay normally enrages me, but this enraged me even more. How dare a room full of coastal bastards who clearly don’t even know what a jucy lucy is say the Twin Cities guy’s jucy lucy wasn’t as good because it was TOO CHEESY. WTF?<br />
<br />
To illustrate how incredible dumb this sounded, consider the following hypotheticals:<br />
<ul>
<li>“This New England clam chowder is too thick. I prefer my chowder to be more soupy.”</li>
<li>“Sorry, I just didn’t think this New York pizza was thick enough, and it needed a lot more toppings.”</li>
<li>“Sorry, Mexico, I only like hard shell tacos.”</li>
<li>“This Cincinnati Chili is too much like spaghetti.”</li>
</ul>
I want to beat Bobby Flay... with a bat.myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-9008634140372737112017-04-15T11:10:00.000-05:002017-04-15T21:55:38.401-05:00My review of the new MST3K rebootAs many of my tens of loyal fans might know, I’m a big Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan (a.k.a. MST3K). I’m not a knows-every-riff-in-every-episode-type fan, or even a donated-to-the-MST3K-reboot-kickstarter-type fan (I’m not exactly making a fortune blogging), but I am a still-has-episodes-recorded-on-VHS-somewhere-in-my-mother’s-overpacked-storage-type fan.<br />
<br />
The new MST3K reboot came out on Netflix last Friday, and most people seem pretty happy with it. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive—especially because I’m a biased-as-hell Minnesotan who likes the midwestern heavy-handedness of the humor in the original show—but of course I gave it a try.<br />
<br />
I’ve watched one episode and it was… okay? It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t exactly knock my zubaz off either.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OCQcDRgM9k/WPKYpkhfoOI/AAAAAAAABy8/Xn1-Uf-NyxoDDTJPG6BsE_gZG-vSljBswCLcB/s1600/MST3K-Netflix-review-featured.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OCQcDRgM9k/WPKYpkhfoOI/AAAAAAAABy8/Xn1-Uf-NyxoDDTJPG6BsE_gZG-vSljBswCLcB/s320/MST3K-Netflix-review-featured.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
First of all, you can tell it was made by a big crew in LA and not by a handful of doughy Minnesotans in Hopkins, MN, like the original. There’s a lot more production involved, which is welcome in some areas (like the nice opening sequence with Har Mar Superstar and a band dressed up as skeletons singing the theme song), but completely unneeded in others (seriously, we don’t need Tom Servo flying around the theater). The cast and crew are much bigger too, as you don't see characters pulling double-duties as mads and puppets anymore. <br />
<br />
There are also apparently going to be frequent cameos from famous-type people too, including Jerry Seinfeld (who is admittedly an old friend of creator and current writer Joe Hodgson’s, so okay, whatever). The most famous cameo back in the original series was Vikings running back Robert Smith, because the Vikings used to practice next door to where they shot the show and often watched or something. He just happened to be around and willing to do it. <br />
<br />
However, the first cameo in the first episode of the reboot was probably one of the funniest parts of the episode to me, so fine. <br />
<br />
The actual most annoying Californian stuff is the over-acting and speed-talking. <br />
<br />
Jonah Ray and the others just seem over eager to be taking part in the experiment. Totally understandable. After all, they’re rebooting MST3K—the best TV Show EVER!!!!! But in the actual show, they aren’t supposed to be so upbeat and enthused about watching and making fun of these bad movies. The riffing is not quite as dry and passive aggressive as the original, and those hallmarks of Midwestern humor were part of the reason I so enjoyed the show. Rats.<br />
<br />
It did seem like there were a couple of attempts to incorporate part of the show’s old Midwestern roots, but they all fell flat. Gypsy—who has an entirely new and different voice (that I actually quite like)—is explicitly supposed to have a Midwestern accent, but as a Midwestern myself, the accent is so faint I can’t even hear it. Also at one point during the movie, a blonde Danish family was attacked by a monster and one of the characters (their voices are still hard to tell apart) quipped, “It’s attacking a Minnesotan family!” Hey—I’m all for making fun of pasty Minnesotans, but the joke felt shoehorned into the show and wasn’t funny as a result. Plus, less than a minute later, one of the characters made a riff referencing Duck Duck “Goose”, which felt like they were purposely trying to piss off every fiber in my admittedly overly fibrous Minnesotan body. <br />
<br />
But yeah, I’m biased and picky.<br />
<br />
At times Jonah and the robots talk too fast and try to fit too many riffs in that you can’t digest them. I’m hoping that gets better with time. I've heard the second episode is better, and despite my mostly minor qualms, I'm looking forward to watching it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RnwzDDwhqww/WPKa460JBQI/AAAAAAAABzI/0hMf3qsRP8gRgnKQFRJqpJbLNoziKa99ACLcB/s1600/mst3k-netflix-season-11-cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RnwzDDwhqww/WPKa460JBQI/AAAAAAAABzI/0hMf3qsRP8gRgnKQFRJqpJbLNoziKa99ACLcB/s320/mst3k-netflix-season-11-cast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
P.S. — They did a fan mail segment and it sucked because it was obviously fake fan mail. How was it obviously fake? No one sends actual letters anymore, much less 8-year-olds to a show before it even makes a first episode. The fan mail in the original show was real and that’s what actually made it so funny. Please don’t try to recreate that artificially. myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-6792343858457436692016-01-14T22:39:00.000-06:002016-01-16T19:13:05.184-06:00Vikings Fans Losing Their Crap Over Blair Walsh's Missed Field Goal<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm a Vikings fan. I'm not a very big football fan, but
sometimes baseball isn't on, so I watch football. When I watch football I root
for the Vikings, and my absolute favorite part about it is watching Vikings
fans lose their shit when the team inevitably epically messes up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is exactly what happened last Sunday, when Vikings
kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27 yard, game-winning field goal in the final
seconds of the game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I watched 50 videos of Vikings fans reacting to the missed
kick on YouTube and took notes on my observations (it just really never gets
old to me). Below is a summary of how many of the videos included fans doing or
saying the following:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li>"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!": 22 (44%)</li>
<li>Immediately collapsing on the floor: 14 (28%) (Fans
usually remained on the floor face down or in the fetal position)</li>
<li>Immediately stating the obvious "HE MISSED IT ":
11 (22%)</li>
<li>"Oh my god.": 15 (30%)</li>
<li>"I CALLED IT/I KNEW IT": 6 (12%)</li>
<li>Screaming explicitives: 29 (58%) (Often done in front of
small children)</li>
<li>Crying: 3 (6%)</li>
<li>Laughing: 10 (20%)</li>
<li>Unintelligible, extended screaming: 10 (20%)</li>
<li>Staring with mouth open speechless: 2 (4%)</li>
<li>"I'm done/That's it": 3 (6%)</li>
<li>"Are you kidding me?/You have to be kidding me.":
11 (22%)</li>
<li>Throwing objects: 10 (20%) (Most of these were Vikings hats the fan had been wearing and threw at/or near the TV.)</li>
<li>"How?"/"What?": 17 (34%)</li>
<li>Expressing denial ("That did not just happen."/"Unbelievable."):
11 (22%)</li>
<li>"No more Superbowl":
1 (2%)</li>
<li>Immediately taking off Vikings jersey or shirt (My
personal favorite): 5 (10%)</li>
<li>Expressing general, explicit agony about the Vikings and how this always
happens: 6 (12%)</li>
<li>Mentioning Gary Anderson: 2 (4%)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here's a couple of my favorite ones:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fan vaping alone in his garage:</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MSaos87Hb0U" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Fan with young unbelievably cute daughter who has no idea what just happened:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5x9_RQ7pdGY" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
Paralyzed fan:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_pK7Yh_IZKc" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Classic Vikings meltdown fan:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r0MXQ-wcfrs" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
Fan who had me in tears:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1BHIooFLiVE" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Fan who always believed in the Vikings:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4l6sLrTweoo" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Hysterical fan:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X1DE0XU4Nus" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
"No More Superbowl" fans:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4p6AnLFowA" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
SKOL!!!!myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-37768544385792929522016-01-06T21:14:00.001-06:002016-01-06T21:39:09.845-06:00Everyone's Favorite Baseball Player<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember that night, in early June of 2010, when Junior announced
his retirement. It was very unexpected (to say the least), and <a href="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2010/06/playing-along.html" target="_blank">I wrote about it then</a>, because I like to write my way through emotions. Now I'm not sure what
else I have to say, but I still have these emotions...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kirby Puckett has been my favorite baseball player since I
could even have a favorite baseball player. Same goes for most kids born and raised in Minnesota at that time. Don't believe me? Go ask Joe
Mauer who his favorite player is. But anyway... ever since I could have a
second favorite baseball player, my second favorite baseball player was Ken
Griffey Jr. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was just too damn cool. The backwards hat. That smile. The swing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iwxLKHyFBG8/Vo3VD_8r4UI/AAAAAAAABsU/YPW3ensfG-g/s1600/griffey3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iwxLKHyFBG8/Vo3VD_8r4UI/AAAAAAAABsU/YPW3ensfG-g/s320/griffey3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know I'm not alone by any means. There are Orioles fans
whose favorite player is Cal Ripken Jr. ("But I loved Griffey").
Padres fans whose favorite player was Tony Gwynn ("But I loved
Griffey"). Braves fans whose favorite player was... one of any number of players
("But I loved Griffey"). Cardinals fans whose favorite player was Mark McGwire ("But Griffey was awesome"). Giants fans whose favorite player was Barry.... ok, you get the point.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the spring of 2011 I was at my Dad's house in Arizona
with my older brother, and we were watching the Arizona D-Backs pre-game show
on TV. One of the features was a kid interviewing their star, Justin Upton. The
kid asked him, "Who was your favorite player growing up?" and before Justin
answered I said, "Ken Griffey Jr." And then Justin said "Ken
Griffey Jr." My brother was astounded. "How did you know that?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was just one of those moments where you smile, sigh, and
shake your head.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Congratulations, Junior, on your Hall of Fame induction, everything
you went through to get there, and getting there with the highest percentage of
votes of any National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee ever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<center>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="224" src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=537701883&topic_id=6479266&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</center>
<br />
<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Hip Hop Hooray" on repeat at the ballpark right now. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JrHOF?src=hash">#JrHOF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ILoveSafecoField?src=hash">#ILoveSafecoField</a> <a href="https://t.co/b6nO6tfkxO">pic.twitter.com/b6nO6tfkxO</a></p>— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/684887276627734528">January 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
<br />
(P.S. - And I will never, ever, EVER forget <a href="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2010/06/corrections.html" target="_blank">this</a>.)myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-89607316302047636812015-12-22T23:49:00.002-06:002018-06-14T22:06:51.260-05:00Dallas Stars fans need to get a grip<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Minnesota's current NHL team—the
Minnesota Wild—was gifted this year with
an outdoor stadium game, which includes an alumni game of former players and is
pretty darn cool! Since the Wild are only 15 years old, the vast majority of
the players for the Minnesota alumni team are former players for the Minnesota North
Stars. So the alumni team is going to wear North Stars jerseys, which the team
released pictures of yesterday.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And HOLY COW, are Dallas fans inexplicably and
irrationally PISSED about it.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
</blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Have we talked about the Minnesota Wild co-opting Dallas Stars history for their outdoor game? This feels criminal. <a href="https://t.co/GDSODYmfIa">pic.twitter.com/GDSODYmfIa</a></div>
— Dave Lozhohoho (@davelozo) <a href="https://twitter.com/davelozo/status/679146413415112704">December 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Are people still freaking out over the North Stars/Wild alum jerseys?</div>
— Emilie Wiener (@eminemilie) <a href="https://twitter.com/eminemilie/status/679344814316388352">December 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
The Wild stole from Stars history for their Stadium Series Alumni Game jerseys <a href="https://t.co/OHIC9Anbrp">https://t.co/OHIC9Anbrp</a> <a href="https://t.co/8AF5XXc3pD">pic.twitter.com/8AF5XXc3pD</a></div>
— GhostofChristmasPat (@Pat_Iversen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pat_Iversen/status/679325525895200768">December 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
(best and funniest for last)<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/mnwild">@mnwild</a> Get your own history.</div>
— Wes Tarkington (@racerwes) <a href="https://twitter.com/racerwes/status/679135094871711744">December 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MINNESOTA is appropriating hockey history from DALLAS, TEXAS? Did we hit a "We're not really a hockey town" nerve
or WHAT?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
15 of the 17 North Star alumni on the roster never played
a single game for Dallas. One of the two alumni players who did play for both teams was Neal Broten, who only played one and a half years with the Stars
compared to his 12 with the North Stars. The other dual-team player—Mike Modano—I'll give you that; I don't
know why he's on the team.<br />
<br />
Of the other 15 players, over half of them were either born in and/or currently live in Minnesota, mostly in the Twin Cities metro. Yet, we're supposed to pretend they are not part of Minnesota hockey history? We're supposed to pretend these players, moments, and things are exclusively reserved for Dallas, Texas? Even though they NEVER PLAYED OR LIVED THERE?<br />
<br />
The North "Stars" franchise has a longer history in Minnesota than it even has in Dallas, but we're supposed to pretend ALL of that history belongs exclusively to Dallas?<br />
<br />
Please.<br />
<br />
We aren't trying to steal the franchise from you, Stars fans. It is your franchise history. We get that. We're only acknowledging our <i>longer </i>history in what is only sadly now "your" franchise. See, us here in Minnesota actually have a bond with this sport; it's not just a random professional sports team you may or may not show up to support. We care about this sport, our history with it, and the role it has played in our local lexicon. We love hockey. We<i> love</i> hockey. You think the Texas High School Football Tournament is big? The Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament is even bigger. It might be unfathomable to have a love that deep or strong simply just for the sport of hockey, especially out there in the desert—I get it. And I am glad some of you do actually love our old hockey team.<br />
<br />
But don't you ever, EVER try to tell us we are stealing "your" history. This is OUR history just as much, if not probably more, than it is yours.<br />
<br />
Just picture this for a moment: The owner of the Dallas Cowboys suddenly sells his team to someone else, and within a year or two that team is abruptly moved and becomes the L.A. Cowboys (partially or mostly due to the fact the new owner has several damning accusations of sexual harassment against him). You no longer have your team, and fans are telling you "The L.A. Cowboys have no history in Dallas! The franchise belongs to Los Angeles! How dare you ever evoke the L.A. Cowboys or anything they have to do with your history! This isn't your team!" Because, according to your "logic", the L.A. Cowboys would have NO history in Dallas.<br />
<br />
Seriously. Just chill the fuck out. Let our North Stars who NEVER PLAYED IN YOUR CITY play an alumni game in jerseys YOUR TEAM NEVER EVEN F#$%&^* WORE.<br />
<br />
Minnesota fans don't complain about L.A. claiming Lakers history. Minnesota fans don't care about the Washington Nationals hanging Harmon Killebrew's name and number behind home plate. Minnesota fans are smart enough to realize that is an honor, not an insult.<br />
<br />
Hopefully the people in Dallas will be smart enough to realize that one day too.<br />
<br />
<b>RELATED READING:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1r8nra/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1r8nra/" target="_blank">A hockey question: Why did the North Stars get dissolved? </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://stateofhockeynews.com/2011-articles/a-look-back-the-minnesota-north-stars-the-story-back-then-and-its-legacy-today.html" target="_blank">The Minnesota North Stars: Why did they leave Minnesota?</a><br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Norm Green sexually harassed his female employees and had to leave town—but hell, why would that bother anyone in Dallas, Texas (as long as we want to play stereotypes)!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ngtu5F5aBME" width="420"></iframe> myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-71943179341019278672015-04-12T00:45:00.000-05:002015-04-26T17:30:05.747-05:00ALL 30 MLB TEAMS RANKED, 1st TO 30th (IMO)In the following, I have ranked all 30 MLB teams onf how much I personally liked them as of April, <strike>11</strike> 21 2015. These are the definitive rankings.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Without further ado:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
ALL 30 MLB TEAMS RANKED, 1st TO 30th (IMO)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>30. CLEVELAND INDIANS</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The team that uses "Chief Wahoo" on their uniforms. Their fans boo JIM THOME--who has the most Indian home runs of all time, in addition to being the coolest ever, one of the greatest Indians of all time, and one of the greatest MLB players period of all time. So congratulations, Indians fans, you and your racist-ass have achieved WORST MLB TEAM on my personal ranking.</div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(Bob Feller is completely excluded from any of
this. Bob Feller ruled. Objectively. Not up to debate with anyone. Period.)</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>29. CHICAGO CUBS</b></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The number of African-American players who have
played for this team and expressed racist treatment by fans is troubling. The
only reason the Cubs aren't last is because they haven't won a World Series in
105+ years, and that is actual hysterical.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>28. ATLANTA BRAVES</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWt_sWLpnjU/VSnY4jGX7qI/AAAAAAAABkM/uoJH8Ribzxo/s1600/AAAAAAA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWt_sWLpnjU/VSnY4jGX7qI/AAAAAAAABkM/uoJH8Ribzxo/s1600/AAAAAAA.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>27. LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I am so apathetic about this team I have listed it lower than teams I dislike.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
hate Josh Hamilton. He compared himself to Jesus <i>because
Twins fans heckled him</i>. Now, the Angels have treated him so bad I think I
hate the Angels more? That's how messed up this organization is.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
this team didn't have Mike Trout, they would be so SOL (even more) on my list. Trout is
really cool. He was really responsive to fans when he was out in left field at
Target Field.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>26. BOSTON RED SOX</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Mostly because of how crappy the majority of the
fans are. They gloat even worse than Yankees fans did 10 years ago, <i>and</i> they
don't even have the history to back it up. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>25. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Best fans in baseball.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>24. TAMPA BAY RAYS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They play inside an "ugly" dome. Domes suck.... Who would ever get emotional over a dome? A DOME? Excuse me.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>23. TEXAS RANGERS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I still just love that they gave A-Rod that contract back in the day.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>22. HOUSTON ASTROS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Biggio! Bagwell! Clemens! Fun team. Plus: <a href="http://howmanyaltuves.com/">http://howmanyaltuves.com</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>21. CINCINNATI REDS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The fact they made a secret nod to Pete Rose in
the stadium is cool. Otherwise, mostly apathy towards them.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>20. WASHINGTON NATIONALS </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Love Wilson Ramos and Denard Span. This has been
a good team. I'm mostly apathetic about this team too, sorry.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>19. COLORADO ROCKIES</b></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Obviously, this team has had Michael Cuddyer, (more importantly now) Justin Morneau, and LaTroy Hawkins. While I love all those guys, there's not much else going on here.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>18. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Got some relatives out there. And it's hot. Nice stadium.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">17. </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">PITTSBURGH</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> PIRATES</span></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Watching the Pirates in the playoffs 2013 was
freaking awesome. And Justin Morneau. Not to mention, how about that ballpark?</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>16. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS </b></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
Be happy you made it this far, Giants, since a lot of it had to do with me having to re-number everyone after you because I completely blocked out any memory of your awful team. Also, the only reason you made it this far at all is because of the greatness of Barry Bonds.</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>15. SAN DIEGO PADRES</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm
not even sure why I've always kinda liked the Padres. Tony Gwynn?
Maybe. </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Also</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: shout out to my Padres' friend Joe who I think is awesome.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>14. BALTIMORE ORIOLES</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Good
team. Never go wrong with the uniforms. Cal Ripekn Jr. Awesome stadium. I
dunno, just always liked them</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>13. MILWAUKEE BREWERS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2010/06/milwaukee-brewers-are-not-very-good.html" target="_blank">GREATEST. MASCOT. OF .ALL. TIME.</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>12. DETROIT TIGERS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite
the Tigers-Twins couple rivalries in the past decade, I never disliked this
team. I'm not sure how long my sympathy for the 2003 Tigers team will run, but
there is still a bit of it there to this day.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><b>11. TORONTO BLUE JAYS</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Touch
them all Joe! You'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!"</span></span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This just kills me.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">10. </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">CHICAGO</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> WHITE SOX</span></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
came to admire and love this team in the 00's, much due to Ozzie Gullien's
colorfulness and the great rivalry between my favorite team and them. I've met
some great White Sox fans too, and we've had a ball at Twins games. I feel like this team is a "brother" to the Twins more than any other.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>9. </b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> OAKLAND ATHLETICS</b></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
have no real connection to this team, but have always admired them for their
"Moneyball" ways. The A's and the Twins were both playoff competitors
much of the earlier parts of the 00's decade, and both had small payrolls. They
proved the others wrong, like I felt we did.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">But remember--the Twins beat "Moneyball".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>8. NEW YORK YANKEES</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Many Twins fans, and others, hate the Yankees. Some might be surprised at this placement. Frankly, I'm a baseball fan, and I would be an idiot to ignore the history of this team and the role it has played in baseball.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Furthermore, why to people even despise the Yankees so much? Because they spend a lot of money? They are smart and have used their market as an advantage and have companies that make a ton of money (unlike the Mets). They would be dumb not to use their market and financial opportunities.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Yankees have one of the richest and strongest histories in all of </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">baseball. Babe Ruth? Lou Gehrig? Ignore that if it makes you feel better about yourself, I guess. As someone who hated the Yankees, but came around to thinking they're okay, I can yell you one thing: hating the Yankees is just wasting your god damn breath and life in general.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And if you just want to complain about annoying Yankees fans, um, have you seen Red Sox fans anytime in the past 10 years?</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><b>7. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This
ranking of the Phillies is almost entirely due to how </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">awesome Phillies fans
are. Oh, you don't agree? *Reaches for spare D </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Batteries</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">*</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>6. NEW YORK METS</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I've often said I considered the Mets an older cousin of
the Twins. The Mets were made to replace the loss of the Dodgers (Blue) and Giants (Orange) to New York City National League. The Twins replaced the Twin Cities minor
league teams: Minneapolis Millers (formerly a Giants farm team) and the St. Paul Saints (formerly a Dodgers farm team).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also: "Can't Anyone Here Play This Game?" is my favorite baseball book ever,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>5. SEATTLE MARINERS</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Two of my top three ever players were Mariners. So they </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">should</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> go here. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">P.S. Junior + Ichiro forever</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">P.S.S. And A-Rod.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>4. LOS ANGELES DODGERS</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Vin Scully.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>3. MIAMI MARLINS </b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What
a lovely little low-budget team that can win two World </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Series-es</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> out of nowhere? Family connections to this team, I love them. The Dinger Machine is also
probably the greatest ballpark feature of all time. Don't agree? I will fight you. Literally. Come to Liquor Lyle's and tweet me.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>2. KANSAS CITY ROYALS</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
was born July of 1985. My aunt, as long as I will always remember, wore a Kansas City World Series pennant around her neck. Her husband got a ring for
scouting, she got the necklace. I will always love this team until the day I die.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>1. MINNESOTA TWINS </b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Baseball has eternal hope. I want to see the Twins
win the World Series again, but if I don't, that's okay. I'm so lucky, I've seen it twice,
and even better, as a small child who could never imagine anything else. Can you watch Hrbek's Grand Slam or Kirby's Home Run without crying? Because I can't. I mean, crap. I think I'm gonna start crying right now...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-58113555162347143212015-03-01T22:47:00.000-06:002015-03-20T16:27:34.757-05:00All Ten Original Star Trek and TNG Movies RankedThis has nothing to do with baseball. Sorry. I just watched 10 Star Trek movies in 48 hours, and I have to share my observations.<br />
<br />
10. <span style="text-indent: -27pt;">Star Trek
1 -- Sucks. I hated it. I watched it drunk and didn't even like it.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;">9. Star Trek (10) Nemesis --</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All
of the concepts in this movie could have been used to make a great movie. But
the exact opposite happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8. Star Trek (8): First Contact -- </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
borg make me piss my pants on the fright scale; and the Earth scientist guy is
interesting. It's eh, but gets the job done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">7. Star Trek 5: The Final </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Frontier</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> -- </span></span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;">The best part of this movie is the birth of the
line: "What does God need with a starship?" Has intriguing parts, but
tons of wasted time.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;">6. Star Trek </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(9):
Insurrection -- I have this rated here for some reason,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;">Star Trek 3: Search for Spock -- This movie
that's really just dedicated to bring Spock back to life is pretty cheesy, but
did a really good job reaching that end goal. Christopher Lloyd as a Klingon is also a good move.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;">4 </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -27pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;">Star Trek (7): Generations -- Seeing the
captains together. Enjoyable for Star Trek fans, but probably not others.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;">3. </span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;">Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country -- KIRK AND BONES GET SENT TO THE
ARCTIC KLINGON GULAG!! But seriously this was one of the best movies. Good, unique plot.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -27pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;">Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home (aka "The one
with the whales!") -- This is definitely the funniest Star Trek movie ever.
The actual premise of the movie is that an alien probe is destroying earth looking for (now extinct) whales, so the Enterprise crew has to take their stolen bird of prey back to the 1980s and kidnap some whales. . Especially
since I was like 9 the last time I saw this, the joke about Chekov (with his
heavy Russian accent) asking mid-80s Americas where "da nuclear
wessles!" were went completely over my head and cracked me the hell up. Also, when Spock jumps in the whale tank to mind-meld with the whales.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;">1. </span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;">Star Trek 2: Wrath of Kahn -- This is a perfect
movie of its era. This is a perfect sci-fi movie. It even still holds up now. The line-graph plot of this movie
is incredible. I was completely sobbing by the end. This wasn't just a good
Star Trek movie, or just a good sci-fi movie; this is a good movie.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -27pt;">Do you agree?</span>myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-68709151046994922222015-02-20T21:03:00.002-06:002015-02-20T23:15:12.571-06:00MLB and their Baseball Pace of Play rules can GO TO HELL!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
MLB has apparently come to the conclusion that there is something
wrong with baseball's pace of play. American football—the most popular sport
in America (and also <a href="http://qz.com/150577/an-average-nfl-game-more-than-100-commercials-and-just-11-minutes-of-play/" target="_blank">the slowest sport in America</a>)—is just SO FAST that baseball pales in comparison. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In view of these facts, what has MLB been doing? Trying to
make baseball more like football.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4zOZ0TGSJE/VOfzFZdZkpI/AAAAAAAABiA/RegBB9Z6jnY/s1600/ExorcistVomit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4zOZ0TGSJE/VOfzFZdZkpI/AAAAAAAABiA/RegBB9Z6jnY/s1600/ExorcistVomit.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Baseball has added instant replays, complete with a
"challenge" system like the NFL. They are now trying to add and
enforce more rules to take more of the moments of tension <i>that make baseball what it is</i> out of the
game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MLB bigwigs are completely out of touch with the very
product they are in charge over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why isn't MLB trying to market baseball in the other direction?
Marketing the unique aspects of what makes baseball <i>baseball</i> and that make it better than football? Why is MLB trying
to market baseball by just making it more like the NFL? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guess what, MLB: if you try to market baseball by making it more like football, <i>you will always be chasing the NFL</i>. A lot of the supposed weaknesses of baseball are, in fact,
its greatest strengths. Seriously. Come on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This isn't rocket science.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an epic marketing failure.</div>
myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-45649675450797026282014-11-15T21:19:00.002-06:002014-11-16T09:50:17.135-06:00I NEED TO STAY UP FOR THIS GAME<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi gang. Long time no write--I know. But this is important. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to stay up (wake up?) for this baseball game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you may or may not know, a MLB "All-Stars"
team (heh, it includes Drew Butera) is in Japan playing against a combined NPB
All-Star team (Go Carp!). They played an exhibition game and will play a 7-game
series... of exhibition games. The problem, however, is that these games are
played at 3:00 AM central time, and I am usually "asleep"
around then. So far, I have only caught Kenta Maeda's start in the first
"real" game of the series, which I guess would be my one pick of
things to see (Go Carp!), but still.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What gets me is that three of the games are being played in the
Tokyo Dome, a.k.a. the last (?) surviving replica of my favorite place on
earth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQh3VaUD01Q/VGgXPuHkQLI/AAAAAAAABfo/Y9BLfoKxzYA/s1600/Tokyo_Dome_2007-1%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQh3VaUD01Q/VGgXPuHkQLI/AAAAAAAABfo/Y9BLfoKxzYA/s1600/Tokyo_Dome_2007-1%2B(1).jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I've already slept through two of the three games.
Including one in which JUSTIN MORNEAU HIT A HOME RUN. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, for tonight (tomorrow morning?), I have an alarm set for
2:45 am. I need to see Justin Morneau in the Tokyo Dome. I cannot let go of the
past. I'm not ready. Help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. - Go Carp!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>EDIT:</b></span><br />
<br />
I didn't wake up for the game. Justin Morneau hit a three run home run.<br />
<br />
I hate my life.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-43058170792615538672013-08-06T13:27:00.001-05:002013-08-06T13:38:55.867-05:00Biogensis News Reports in Google Translated Japanese<div class="MsoNormal tr_bq">
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-text="Kirby's Left Eye: Biogensis News Reports in Google Translated Japanese" data-url="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2013/08/biogensis-news-reports-in-google.html" data-via="KirbysLeftEye" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><br />
<br />
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>
Because I just can't get enough of the Biogensis suspensions
handed out yesterday (and have entirely too much free time), I decided to read what the reporters are saying in
Japan. Because I don't know Japanese, I used Google Translate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal tr_bq">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal tr_bq">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
NHK--the Japanese news stalwart--gives <a href="http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20130806/k10013569801000.html" target="_blank">a nice overview</a> of
what happened:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>12 people of the
50 game suspension</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Was announced Major League Organization has accepted the
suspension disposal of 50 match is the twelfth person following.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Currently, five players are registered in the MLS.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Nelson Cruz Rangers players, Johnny Peralta Tigers players, Antonio Bastard Phillies
pitcher, Evers-Kaburera players Padres, is Francisco Seruberi Yankees.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Six players to play in the minor leagues.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Joe Danny Valdes pin Mets players, Cesar Puero Mets players, fouling Tino
Derosusantosu Padres pitcher, Hesusu-Montero Mariners players, Fernando
Martinez Yankees, is Sergio Esukarona Astros pitcher as well.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
It is now Jordan Norbert pitcher free agent addition.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
I love how the Western names are phonetically
translated. Too bad the translation can't pick up on nuances like
"Jhonny". Japan is missing out on some jokes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The next article I translated was apparently an opinion
piece from the Japanese sports site
<a href="http://jsports.co.jp/press/article/N2013080620532401.html" target="_blank">JSports</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Dissonance = A-Rod of the Yankees</b><br />
....<br />
It is a comment which is not clothed in the tooth. The latter is also the former also is clearly directed against A • rod that is a challenge to the suspension disposal. Can I say that without the case, the U.S. media and are concentrated attack him. It's because such superstar best ever annual salary he is, why he is not supportive of media regularly also do not's included. For example, veteran reporter of the association, told me this way on condition that the sink one's name. "Fame Brown cooperative in coverage's fall to the ground in the drug uproar It's very unfortunate. However, where A-Rod has become suspended permanently, I do not think sorry at all" to coverage The players not cooperative, sympathy is not gather much. Reporters feel bad for (former Cardinals) Mark McGwire was a fresh start to recognize the mistakes obediently many cases, reporters have compassion for (former Giants) Barry Bonds underlie no comment woman with a fearless laugh off and very are. Reporters have to feel sorry for Brown in the same way, reporters think sorry for A-Rod that you suspect while acknowledging the mistake, was using drugs again equal to nil once.</blockquote>
<br />
<div>
Really, really wondering what the Barry Bonds comment means. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Japanese sports website <a href="http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20130806/mlb13080607560002-n1.html" target="_blank">Sanspo</a>, as it usually does, includes
important quotes from each involved party at the end of its piece:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Story of Yankees Rodriguez</b><br />
"(for drug use). you want to prove that I'm glad to be worn again uniform. you can play at a high level you want to talk time to talk when he comes" </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Story of Yankees Girardito use</b><br />
"(Rodriguez) because ready. it is the hope that it will be innocence, but do not know what arbitrage or down. think first what to do use the 25 people in the club house . I also use the designated hitter in the future " </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Story of Selig Commissioner</b><br />
"will protect integrity of. baseball thorough inspection of the drug, the study to the problem, fairness, its position in the future" </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Weiner story of the Major League Players Association executive director, </b><br />
"I do not think. mechanism that respects the will to fight disposal of Rodriguez and made a proper investigation in line with the provisions"</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/mlb/news/p-bb-tp2-20130806-1168876.html" target="_blank">Nikkan Sports</a> come through with the Japanese angle:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Ichiro and "do not know" A rod drug problem</b><br />
Yankees of Ichiro outfielder (39), has puzzled drug problem colleague Alex Rodriguez infielder (38). Expected to suspension disposal is official announcement from MLB 5 days today, A • rod of the vortex merging plans in Chicago expedition earlier with returns from the disabled list. It is a turn of affairs is likely to develop into a big scandal en masse media is surging from the National, but Ichiro seemed not come and pin labeled "Do you feel that so such? tabloid show like".<br />
Sense of reality was thin with regard drug problem. Said, "~, something about me and than say. Alex (in the U.S. media) was asked yesterday for the first time, was that about medications No, but is not presented in the way so much," and for medicine for "I He said with a perplexed expression even have heard. story you do not know well knowledge is too lack, do not know whether true. to be "it because too much is just too far.</blockquote>
<br />
<div>
I gather Ichiro said he didn't know about A-Rod's drug use,
and then something really wise but I have no idea what.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anyway, I could go down this rabbit hole for hours, but I
won't. Instead I will leave you with <a href="http://nikkan-spa.jp/488057" target="_blank">this</a> strangely poetic Google-Translated quote
about the Yankees 2013 season:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It said the disabled etc. if only this one after another, the Yankees faced a number of star players, not totally vestiges of galaxy groups, sober lineup are lined up in the lineup</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-27154743453305064312013-03-13T20:44:00.000-05:002013-03-13T21:35:57.668-05:00Marlins Dinger Machine Alarm Clock: I Need This<a class="twitter-share-button" data-hashtags="Dingers" data-size="large" data-text="Marlins Dinger Machine Alarm Clock: I Need This" data-url="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2013/03/marlins-dinger-machine-alarm-clock-i.html" data-via="KirbysLeftEye" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two World Baseball Classic games were played at Marlins
Stadium yesterday, which inevitably brought up the subject of the greatest
thing the Marlins franchise has ever given baseball.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Dinger Machine.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YhGCOLE02WY" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look at this monstrosity. Can you even remember your first
thoughts upon seeing this thing? I can't, because they weren't even
intelligible words. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So of course, fartin' around on Twitter during the Italy versus Dominican Republic game, the machine came
up.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dinger Machine status: glorious<br />
— ihateprospects (@ihateprospects) <a href="https://twitter.com/ihateprospects/status/311511439246503936">March 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
@<a href="https://twitter.com/ihateprospects">ihateprospects</a> I will never get over how awesome that thing is.<br />
— myjah (@KirbysLeftEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirbysLeftEye/status/311511693391966208">March 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
@<a href="https://twitter.com/kirbyslefteye">kirbyslefteye</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/ihateprospects">ihateprospects</a> I could almost forgive Loria if they sold mini dinger machines that functioned as alarm clocks.<br />
— Mariner Moose (@moose_bigelow) <a href="https://twitter.com/moose_bigelow/status/311511806092910592">March 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
@<a href="https://twitter.com/moose_bigelow">moose_bigelow</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/ihateprospects">ihateprospects</a> I am going to e-mail the Marlins right now and tell them to do this I'm not kidding<br />
— myjah (@KirbysLeftEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirbysLeftEye/status/311512265188835329">March 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I did, yesterday, send an e-mail to the Marlins
(Note: You can contact any team by going to their website, scrolling to the
bottom, and clicking "CONTACT US". I've contacted various teams for
various [always important] reasons via this method).<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hello. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I was wondering if a mini-replica of the Dinger Machine (featuring the fish and things in right field [sic]) that functioned as an alarm clock was available or would be available in the future. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Thanks! </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
M**** *****<br />
612*** ****<br />
*****. *****@gmail.com</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
And just a day later, I got this reply:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hello M****,<br />
<br />
Thank you for writing. We do not have a mini-replica of our Home Run Feature in centerfield but it is a good idea. I will pass on your email to our Marketing Department.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
John-Albert Rodriguez<br />
Manager, Season Ticket Services<br />
Miami Marlins, L.P.<br />
Office: 305-***-**** </blockquote>
<br />
<br />
THERE IS A *CHANCE* THE MARLINS MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE THESE.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I wanted to write back and suggest the clock also spray
water a la the real thing, but I was afraid the Marlins worker would start to
think I was not absolutely serious about my need for one of these alarm clocks.
If we can make baby dolls that poop, I don't see why we can't make a little refillable reservoir of water in
a Dinger Machine alarm clock that spins and sprays water at whatever time you need to wake up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you would be interested in a Dinger Machine Alarm
Clock, please go to the <a href="http://miami.marlins.mlb.com/help/index.jsp?c_id=mia" target="_blank">Miami Marlins Contact Us</a> site and contact them about it. (Remember to
tell them about the spraying water thing!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/rcs_sidelines/Marlins%20sculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/rcs_sidelines/Marlins%20sculpture.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-37527772382459593972013-03-06T23:18:00.000-06:002013-04-09T01:50:46.659-05:00Finding What I LostI was living in Manhattan when Kirby Puckett died on March 6,
2006. And I remember the first time I ran into a Minnesotan after that. It was
obvious--to both of us.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Oh Kirby! People don't understand..."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was born and raised in Minneapolis in 1985. The Twins
winning the World Series in '87 and '91--and more importantly, Kirby
Puckett--comprise many of the first and favorite memories. Kirby
Puckett was beloved as he is by Minnesotans long before 1991. That's part of what made
his performance so special.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can specifically remember running to my Dad's dressing
room the morning after game 6. I remember my Dad telling me, excitedly, while
he tied his tie and such, what Kirby Puckett had done. He told me if the Twins
won the World Series that night, he would buy us hats. And he did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seven years ago I sat down at my computer in my little
shared studio in soho Manhattan. It was a Sunday. I saw a CNN.com news headline
for "Baseball HOFer Suffers Massive Stroke". I was curious. I
clicked. I felt like I got socked in the stomach.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wore my baby-blue Kirby Puckett jersey (the most expensive
piece of clothing I owned at the time) to school and work Monday. Kirby was
taken off life support Monday night. So of course I never took the jersey off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kirby's passing was a front page headline by Tuesday. Took a
whole subway sized NY Post cover. I remember walking into work that morning,
after seeing the NY Post newspapers on the subway, and my loud-mouth supervisor
asking, "Hey! Did you just buy that jersey because he died?"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was 8:30 am in the morning. In the middle of
Manhattan. In 2006. And I was wearing a
Hall of Fame replica Minnesota Twins Kirby Puckett jersey--that had been wearing for two days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I kind of stood there and stared at her for a moment. Then I replied.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"No. Kirby Puckett was my hero."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rest in Peace</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kirby Puckett </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1960--2006</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please add your own thoughts and memories of
KIRBBBBBBBBBBBBBYY PUCKETT!!</div>
myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-29431942170828729902012-10-04T21:06:00.000-05:002012-10-04T22:07:01.819-05:00The End of the Twins' Tsuyoshi Nishioka Era—With An Interesting Twist<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Said blog post has been moved to SB Nation's Twinkie Town. <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com/2012/10/4/3458298/the-end-of-the-twins-tsuyoshi-nishioka-erawith-an-interesting-twist" target="_blank">Read it here</a>.</i></div>
myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-67376176788460919652012-06-20T01:23:00.000-05:002012-06-20T01:23:38.044-05:00PROGRAMMING NOTICEYou may have noticed I haven't been posting here as much this year, for which apologize.<br />
<br />
However, I do post at <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com/">Twinkie Town</a> at least a couple times a week. So if you really miss me, I suggest checking Twinkie Town out (especially because of the other super talented writers there).
I do plan to keep posting here periodically, but my writing will be more spread out between here and Twinkie Town.myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-65371722534108035062012-04-15T20:32:00.021-05:002012-04-15T21:32:27.285-05:002012 Twins Opening Home-Stand: How About That Josh Willingham?The Twins have completed their first home-stand of the season, winning 2 out of 6, and ultimately leaving them 2 for 9 on the season total. Accordingly, hence, we can say the Twins suck<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">−</span>except for Josh Willingham.<br />
<br />
JOSH WILLINGHAM. Josh Willingham has quickly catapulted himself to the front of my "Favorite Current Twins List." He's already hit FOUR HOMERUNS<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">−</span>FOUR<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">−</span>not to mention, three AT Target Field (eat it Cuddy [omg jk we luv u]). He's been, by far, the biggest offensive stand-out thus far for the Twins.<br />
<br />
Which is funny<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">−</span>because you know how I used to sit often on the first baseline? Yeah<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">−</span>now I sit in left field. And I love it! I love left field! Like last Thursday, when Josh hit a homerun right into the flowers in front of me and I watched all these older guys dog-pile in front of me for the ball, but then I was the one on sports center for some reason. We did a number to those flowers.<br />
<br />
I was told by the guy who eventually found the ball that it was about 6 inches in the bowl−hence the dig.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UGm8-V0LrY/T4t-BJGIIKI/AAAAAAAABMo/q8lAkXpQPEk/s1600/joshhrmetv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UGm8-V0LrY/T4t-BJGIIKI/AAAAAAAABMo/q8lAkXpQPEk/s320/joshhrmetv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Me, upper right-hand corner, officiating all this or something)</span></div><br />
<br />
Today (Sunday−Jackie Robinson Day) was also pretty cool when I noticed Josh Willingham had ripped a huge hole in his pants.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2p-xEpXrzHY/T4t2UX1WslI/AAAAAAAABMY/6fqLFn0qcP8/s1600/willinghamPantsHole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2p-xEpXrzHY/T4t2UX1WslI/AAAAAAAABMY/6fqLFn0qcP8/s320/willinghamPantsHole.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Gritty.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Home-Stand Food</span></b><br />
<br />
One of my favorite parts of getting back to the ballpark is ballpark food (because I'm kinda a fatty, represent!). Out of the new food items presented this year, the Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n' Cheese seemed to be the most anticipated. It was for me! So here's my official review:<br />
<br />
The <b>Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n' Cheese</b> is good, but <b>EXTREMELY</b> overpriced. Imagine paying $10 for a bowl of easy mac with extra topings. Ok? This tiny bowl of Mac 'n' Cheese is $10.75.<br />
<br />
Not worth it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Other New Additions to Target Field</span><br />
</b><br />
I haven't been all around the ball park, but what I've noticed is new:<br />
<ul><li>A bronze statue of Kent Hrbek has been added outside Gate 14 (No, it does not include Ron Gant, as many multiple 'jokesters' on Twitter asked).</li>
<li>The lime stone engraving of "Target Field" behind home plate has been moved slightly towards left field (thank god, right?)</li>
<li>There is NOOO SMOKING AT TARGET FIELD. For reals now. There is not even a smoking section by Gate 6. No smoking. None. NOOOOOOO Smoking. (Rest in Peace Bob Casey).</li>
<li>Best Additions: A picture of a cancer ribbon hugging the state of Minnesota in right field, along with a large ad for "<a href="http://standup2cancer.org/">StandUp2Cancer</a>"<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">−</span>Harmon Killebrew's favorite charity<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">−</span>in the right field second deck.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bex-aV_Lw_w/T4t8smZc0cI/AAAAAAAABMg/NEsBCqkQu40/s1600/HarmonStandUpToCancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bex-aV_Lw_w/T4t8smZc0cI/AAAAAAAABMg/NEsBCqkQu40/s320/HarmonStandUpToCancer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><ul><li>LIVE MASCOT RACE: Remember the between-innings video race on the jumbotron amongst the blue ox, loon, mosquito, Target Dog, and fish? Yeah−now they have mascot costumes for all and do a live race. It's awesome. I will probably grow tired of it after awhile, but I know yesterday I laughed my ass off every time the Target Dog fell on its face (because it happened like five times).</li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Public Service Announcement </b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>STOP BOOING JOE MAUER YOU IDIOTS.</b></span></div>myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-59353044308083195272011-11-05T23:00:00.012-05:002011-12-12T23:27:48.559-06:00Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)It’s that time of year. You know what I’m talking about. That time when you find yourself watching reruns of Seinfeld you’ve seen a million times. When the days get shorter, and you have no idea what to do at 7:00 PM. You find the sports section of the newspaper sitting around somewhere, flip through it in a few seconds, and toss it aside. Then, one day, all of a sudden, you wake up and you’re watching a Vikings game, and that’s when you realize you’ve hit rock bottom.<br />
<br />
It’s Seasonal Affective Disorder—and you’re not alone.<br />
<br />
I, like so many of you, am attempting to combat this crippling disease. So today, I would like to share some of the things that have helped me through these dark times.<br />
<br />
<b><br />
1. Buy “Ken Burns: Baseball”</b><br />
<br />
You need to do this. Even if you aren’t suffering from SAD. “Ken Burns’s ‘Baseball’” is the greatest thing in the world, except for, um, baseball. And cheese curds. It’s 23 and ½ hours—11 full-length DVDs—of pure baseball glory. It chronicles all of the most important events in baseball history (except the 1991 World Series), and it will make anyone who watches it love baseball. It’s the most watched program on PBS—EVER. The Third Inning (all the DVDs are named after innings) is all about how ridiculous Babe Ruth was. And by ridiculous I mean drunk.<br />
<br />
GET IT.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. Buy the 1991 World Series on DVDs.</b><br />
<br />
Last summer, some company selling the Twins 1991 World Series DVDs sponsored contests by Twins Blogs to give away 1991 World Series DVDs for free. Apparently, my blog did not have the clout to take part. HOWEVER, after entering every contest on all of my fellow Twins’ bloggers blogs, I BAGGED MYSELF SOME 1991 WORLD SERIES DVDS! WOOT WOOT! (Shout out to the awesome <a href="http://thebatshatters.blogspot.com/">BAT SHATTERERS</a>!)<br />
<br />
The DVDs are awesome. You get to see all the crowd shots and special segments from the ‘80s (oh wait—‘90s! My bad). The 1991 graphics, by themselves, are worth the money. You can switch the audio from the TV broadcast to the radio broadcast (“TOUCH ‘EM ALL KIRBY PUCKETT! TOUCH ‘EM ALL KIRBY PUCKETT!”). You can watch Kent Hrbek pull Ron Gant off the bag, then rewind and watch Ron Gant’s momentum pull Kent Hrbek off the bag, then rewind again and… seriously what the f*** happened there? <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3. Learn about Japanese Baseball</b><br />
<br />
Japanese baseball is really cool. You watch it and it’s like you’ve entered some bizarre-o world where people eat breakfast at night and dinner in the morning. Which you then realize is super awesome. And you get to see stuff <a href="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2010/08/catch-of-century.html">like this</a>:<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YaxpAkOWNM0&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YaxpAkOWNM0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></center><br />
<br />
HOLY CARP! <br />
<br />
Unlike the USA, professional baseball is the most popular professional sport in Japan. Really—Japan <a href="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2010/05/twins-sweep-tigers-break-out-small.html">loves</a> the American pastime more than Americans! That might be why they’ve won every World Baseball Classic ever held.<br />
<br />
But just remember—the Hiroshima Toyo Carp are the best.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>4. Read Books About Baseball</b><br />
<br />
I recently got around to reading “Moneyball”. Eh, it was okay. But the best part was that I really actually felt baseball was alive again. ALIVE. This is important when combating SAD.<br />
<br />
Some good baseball books I recommend:<br />
- “Can’t Anyone Here Play This Game?” by Jimmy Breslin<br />
- “Past Time” by Julies Tygiel <br />
- “Moneyball” by Michael Lewis<br />
- “Eight Men Out” by Eliot Asinof (how “alive” this book makes you feel about baseball is to be debated)<br />
<br />
Have you read any other good baseball books? Please comment!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>5. Hockey!</b><br />
<br />
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>6. Go to Law School/Med School<br />
</b><br />
I actually don’t necessarily recommend this route—but it’s pretty good as far as battling seasonal affective disorder. As in “I’m so f****ing busy/stressed out I never even realized baseball stopped.” Plus, you’re doing something other people think is awesome, even though you know there are no jobs out there for law school graduates these days. <br />
<br />
F***ing s***, I should have gone to med school.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>7. Get a Sun Lamp</b><br />
<br />
This is just what my therapist tells me. I can’t really afford one though—anyone know if this works?<br />
<br />
<br />
Do you have a solution for SAD? Leave a comment!myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-14962598418906531462011-08-25T16:53:00.007-05:002011-08-25T22:10:28.511-05:00TOOT TOOT! Twins Train of SUCK Coming Through!<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYsv3GknT7E/TlbD7j0DLlI/AAAAAAAABHg/jVla8Nt1iR4/s1600/2011_0813August0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYsv3GknT7E/TlbD7j0DLlI/AAAAAAAABHg/jVla8Nt1iR4/s320/2011_0813August0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Minnesota Twins sucking it up against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.</span></div><br />
So far in the month of August, the Twins have won 5 games and lost 17. They were just swept by the Baltimore Orioles—the team with the worst record in the league—at Target Field. The Twins scored all of 4 runs during the series. And yes, it was a four-game series—the first four-game series the Orioles have swept in Minnesota. Ever.<br />
<br />
What has been the cause of the Twins suckitude? The following table may offer some insight:<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
<tr> <th colspan="3">Minnesota Twins Team Statistics August 1st, 2011-August 25th, 2011</th> </tr>
<tr> <td>Statistic</td> <td>Twins Performance</td> <td>Rank Among MLB’s 30 Teams</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="3">Hitting</th> </tr>
<tr> <td>AVG</td> <td>.233</td> <td>27th</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>OBP</td> <td>.287</td> <td>30th</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>SLG</td> <td>.357</td> <td>29th</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>OPS</td> <td>.643</td> <td>29th</td> </tr>
<tr> <th colspan="3">Pitching</th> </tr>
<tr> <td>ERA</td> <td>5.22</td> <td>28th</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>ER</td> <td>112</td> <td>3rd (more like 27th)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>WHIP</td> <td>1.58</td> <td>30th</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>SO</td> <td>1.15</td> <td>30th</td> </tr>
</tbody></table></center><br />
<br />
So basically, every facet of the Twins is sucking harder than a Dyson no-loss-of-suction vacuum cleaner.<br />
<br />
Please, Indians, for the love of God, take Jim Thome away from this giant ball of suck.myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-86109731092460863282011-08-06T13:31:00.006-05:002011-08-25T21:58:03.712-05:00OMG BOBBLEHEADSIf you aren’t living under a rock, you heard that yesterday was bobblehead day at Target Field. And you know that it wasn’t just any ol’ bobblehead day—it was the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Twins-seal-8216-bobblehead-of-the-year-8217-?urn=mlb-wp10">EPIC</a> 1991 World Series Game 2 Hrbek-Gant Bobblehead Day everyone and their dog has been waiting for since Hrbek lifted Gant off first base in game 2 of the 1991 World Series (or <a href="http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/08/05/11/Hrbek-bobblehead-is-a-hit-with-fans/landing_twins.html?blockID=544595&feedID=3793">held</a> the tag on Gant while he fell off base. Whatever.)<br />
<br />
I’ve done the bobblehead day <a href="http://www.kirbyslefteye.com/2010/07/vote-delmon-bobblehead-day-madness.html">thing</a> many times, but holy cow were people crazy for Hrbek-Gant dolls. By the time I arrived at Target Field around 3:30pm, there were already lines circling around the stadium. It was the most people I’ve ever seen already there waiting that early on bobblehead day. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgZsWXoCIAM/Tj1_oO47-lI/AAAAAAAABGI/xqMUc3A7cEs/s1600/bobbleheadsgate34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgZsWXoCIAM/Tj1_oO47-lI/AAAAAAAABGI/xqMUc3A7cEs/s320/bobbleheadsgate34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><center><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bobble Bobble</span></center><br />
<br />
Faced with the already long lines, Mom and I decided to diversify to maximize our chances of receiving at least one bobblehead. Mom got in line at Gate 14, while I walked around to check out the lines on the other side of the stadium at Gate 6 and Gate 3. What I found was amazing: the lines actually ran into each other, so there was basically one long line with a middle point where people were suddenly facing the other direction. People were confused and the line at Gate 6 wasn’t actually that long, so I got in line.<br />
<br />
And we waited. And waited.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4pt-FD8OlN4/Tj2BYoYxtOI/AAAAAAAABGY/kb_71DfB2g0/s1600/waitingforbobbleheadsgate6bobble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4pt-FD8OlN4/Tj2BYoYxtOI/AAAAAAAABGY/kb_71DfB2g0/s400/waitingforbobbleheadsgate6bobble.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
There is a special moment on every bobblehead day. It’s the moment when—after all the waiting and waiting—the line suddenly starts to move. The ticket scanners start to bing. And you move closer and closer to the gate, where you see that—YES! There are still boxes of bobbleheads left I’mtotallygoingtogetoneSUCCESS!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJegFrmztgI/Tj2CR3DghQI/AAAAAAAABGg/RAJkjqrh6vc/s1600/bobbleheadsticketscanbobble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJegFrmztgI/Tj2CR3DghQI/AAAAAAAABGg/RAJkjqrh6vc/s400/bobbleheadsticketscanbobble.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OePJ0pAQy38/Tj2GneJRTHI/AAAAAAAABHQ/6iagH8YmGsU/s1600/bobbleshandingouthrbekgant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OePJ0pAQy38/Tj2GneJRTHI/AAAAAAAABHQ/6iagH8YmGsU/s400/bobbleshandingouthrbekgant.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7s1JzL0OaY/Tj2Di0pSrFI/AAAAAAAABGo/rnTepBnCaJc/s1600/bobblehandingout2bobble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7s1JzL0OaY/Tj2Di0pSrFI/AAAAAAAABGo/rnTepBnCaJc/s400/bobblehandingout2bobble.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
But not everyone gets to experience this moment. Alas, there are the poor souls who showed up at 4:00 pm, or weren’t smart enough to know the lines at Gate 34 and 29 are way longer than the lines at Gates 6, 3, and 14. They get to the front of the line only to have their tickets scanned and realize they just came to the game hours early for no reason.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5eajnXJhN4/Tj2EOSignxI/AAAAAAAABGw/US0OhfBcBY0/s1600/bobblegate14bobble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5eajnXJhN4/Tj2EOSignxI/AAAAAAAABGw/US0OhfBcBY0/s400/bobblegate14bobble.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I met one of these women coming in Gate 14 just as the last bobbleheads had been given out. “There was a family of five in front of me and EACH ONE got a bobblehead,” she lamented. Unfortunately, that’s kind of the way it works, but I tried to put on my sympathetic-stranger face as I clutched my own Hrbek-Gant bobblehead. I’m not sure if she thought I’d take pity and give her my bobblehead, because she could have had mine if she preyed it from MY COLD DEAD HANDS.<br />
<br />
After locating my Mom, who was also victorious, we went to the Metropolitan Club to celebrate our obtainment of the Hrbek-Gant Bobblehead Dolls with some libations. All of the tables and chairs were already taken so we had to sit on the floor and play with our dolls.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2ynybbMDyw/Tj2FCvGnQXI/AAAAAAAABG4/dCGMWgcGT9I/s1600/bobblehrbekganthi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2ynybbMDyw/Tj2FCvGnQXI/AAAAAAAABG4/dCGMWgcGT9I/s400/bobblehrbekganthi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kp-VgZrZTLc/Tj2FJGOWkJI/AAAAAAAABHA/I_iNEoovQvQ/s1600/bobblehrbekgantme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kp-VgZrZTLc/Tj2FJGOWkJI/AAAAAAAABHA/I_iNEoovQvQ/s400/bobblehrbekgantme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9erk-gK9lbg/Tj2FQeidRDI/AAAAAAAABHI/UyY2QyEvgOs/s1600/bobblehrbekgantme2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9erk-gK9lbg/Tj2FQeidRDI/AAAAAAAABHI/UyY2QyEvgOs/s400/bobblehrbekgantme2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Two hours later there was a baseball game, and it sucked. The Twins lost to the White Sox 5-3.<br />
<br />
The end.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>P.S.</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/BitzyBetsy59">Twitter friend</a> and fellow <a href="http://girllovesbaseball.blogspot.com/">blogger</a> Betsy—who apparently almost had her bobblehead snatched at Hubert's after the game—tweeted a <a href="http://twitpic.com/61o15w">picture</a> of one lucky Twins fan who got a GANT-GANT bobblehead doll. Woah.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--4dMHAtcrkM/Tj2awaAxrVI/AAAAAAAABHY/GrJSn-0_Kbs/s1600/gantgantbobbleheaddoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--4dMHAtcrkM/Tj2awaAxrVI/AAAAAAAABHY/GrJSn-0_Kbs/s400/gantgantbobbleheaddoll.jpg" /></a></div>myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-80662996943290184572011-07-19T10:08:00.007-05:002011-07-19T17:47:59.549-05:00The Heat Index is 115 Degrees—Let’s Play a Double Header!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1czQ0ROTSY4/TiWa_9WyR5I/AAAAAAAABEY/ujvkXDavr24/s1600/meltingnazi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1czQ0ROTSY4/TiWa_9WyR5I/AAAAAAAABEY/ujvkXDavr24/s320/meltingnazi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><center><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the stands at Target Field, basically.</span></center><br />
<br />
Last April, the Twins rescheduled a rained-out game against the Indians for July 18, 2011, setting up the double header that was played yesterday.<br />
<br />
Conveniently, the heat index was 115 degrees.<br />
<br />
It was hot. It was sooooo hot. How hot was it? Consider:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>The photograph accompanying an Associated Press <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=14102711">story</a> on the heat wave was of fans at Target Field.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Dozens of fans <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/125777683.html">needed</a> medical attention. ESPN 1500 reported the number as fifty for the noon game alone. At least several fans were taken to HCMC.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Anthony LaPanta and Roy Smalley <a href="http://twitpic.com/5s9ctu">fried</a> an egg. </li>
</ul><ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3QlexXHjfeQ/TiWXK5wkG8I/AAAAAAAABEQ/OQJMNvhOEAA/s1600/FSNfriedegg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3QlexXHjfeQ/TiWXK5wkG8I/AAAAAAAABEQ/OQJMNvhOEAA/s400/FSNfriedegg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></ul><ul><li>Players <a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/125739943.html">were</a> offered IV bags in-between games. Michael Cuddyer opted for one. </li>
</ul><ul><li>At least <a href="ttp://www.sanspo.com/mlb/news/110719/mla1107191154004-n1.htm">one</a> player—Tsuyoshi Nishioka—did not play the second game due to fatigue (although he was later <a href="http://lockerz.com/s/121508603">seen</a> inexplicably wearing a sweatshirt during a meet-up with a youth soccer team from Japan, which was in town for the Schwan’s Cup in Blaine). </li>
</ul><ul><li>The Star Tribune <a href="http://www.startribune.com/polls/125802748.html?mr=1&oid=1&pid=125802748&vote.x=12&cid=8500397&vote.y=3">has</a> a poll up asking fans if they miss the Metrodome and its AC ("No" is winning, but not by all that much). </li>
</ul><ul><li>Oh, and the Twins lost both games of the double header to the first-place Indians.</li>
</ul><br />
Playing multiple games in this heat will likely wear the Twins players down significantly. On the bright side, however, Joe Mauer did go 6-for-8 yesterday, raising his batting-average to .290. <br />
<br />
The Twins play again today at 7:00pm. The heat index forecast is 113 degrees.myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-43995188755094369352011-07-01T15:59:00.017-05:002011-07-22T19:33:25.612-05:00Opinions are like…This post is about the current debate over replacing Tsuyoshi Nishioka with Trevor Plouffe at shortstop. Yes, I know many of my posts this year have been about Nishi. But no, I’m not in love with him and he isn’t my favorite player. I just find all the hoopla with him especially interesting. And I’m addicted to Google Translate. Seriously. (Side note: I just realized today that when Google-Translated Japanese reports on the Twins mention “Libya,” they are actually referring to Ben Revere.)<br />
<br />
Over the past couple days, it seems everyone has expressed some sort of opinion on Tsuyoshi. <a href="http://aarongleeman.com/2011/06/30/twins-notes-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/">Aaron Gleeman </a> is worried, but still thinks it is too early to write Nishioka off. <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/124748713.html">Sid Hartman</a> talked with Chiba Lotte Marine president Ryuzo Setoyama—a close personal friend in town to present Tsuyoshi Nishioka with his 2010 championship ring—and he thought Nishioka needs to relax and will in time become a good major leaguer. <a href="http://www.twincities.com/ci_18373160?source=most_viewed">Tom Powers</a> of the Pioneer Press second-guessed the Twins’ decision to sign Nishi, but also reserved the right to second-guess his second-guess in case Nishi improves. <a href="http://www.espn1500.com/sportswire/Numbers_Game_Nishioka_never_should_have_been_judged_as_batting_champ063011">Phil Mackey</a> of ESPN 1500 talked about some stat-head gobbledegook that apparently proves Nishioka isn't actually as good as he played last year. <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/124691938.html">Nick Nelson</a> of Twinscentric advocated sending Nishioka to AAA and calling Plouffe back up to play shortstop. <a href="http://fpbaseballoutsider.blogspot.com/2011/06/nishioka-or-plouffe-its-easy-call-for.html">Twins Outsider</a> advocated against replacing Nishioka with Plouffe, believing it wouldn’t be an upgrade. <br />
<br />
And, of course, the ever delightful <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/124688258.html">Jim Souhan</a> took a little break from calling Joe Mauer an overpaid, lazy son-of-a-[redacted] to verbally poop all over Nishioka.<br />
<br />
In fact, Souhan’s remarks were so scathing they were <a href="http://www.sanspo.com/mlb/news/110701/mla1107010506003-n1.htm">quoted and described</a> by several Japanese media outlets. One report went so far as to <a href="http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2011&d=0630&f=national_0630_082.shtml">describe</a> the STAR TRIBUNE WEBSITE COMMENTS on Souhan’s article. So now the Japanese are really in-the-know.<br />
<br />
Curious as to what Japanese fans thought, I googled around until I found a Japanese message board post <a href="http://kamome.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/mnewsplus/1309483435/l50">commenting</a> on Souhan’s remarks. Now, I don’t know exactly what was being said because I don’t know Japanese. But what I did discern was pretty interesting—the comments left by Japanese fans seemed pretty much the same as the comments by American fans: "Nishioka has been painful to watch," "It’s still too early to judge Nishioka," "Nishioka is just another Kaz Matsui," "Nishioka will come around," "Joe Mauer is batting even worse than Nishioka," "Nishioka should be sent to the minors," and "Come home Nishioka!" I even found <a href="http://toki.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/mlb/1308799315/l50&usg=ALkJrhgUrmYj0W_SyOcXZDNpmDADRWLnpQ">a comment</a> suggesting Plouffe as a replacement (comment number 889).<br />
<br />
So yes, opinions are like... well, you know. We all have them.<br />
<br />
<b>Here’s my opinion:</b> Nishioka has only played 19 major league games. Replacing Nishi with Plouffe is not going to propel the Twins to a division championship. I’m not convinced Plouffe’s minor league numbers overshadow his major league struggles. Nishioka did alright in spring training and in his minor league rehab stint; I’m not convinced the Twins need to send him to the minors. Gardenhire and the Twins are 100% justified in treating these two <i>very</i> different players in a different manner. Everyone knew Nishioka would have quite an adjustment period, and I certainly didn’t expect that period to be over in fewer than the equivalent of three weeks of major league games. The Twins suck this year anyway. Just let the kid play.<br />
<br />
I believe that whether Nishioka can succeed in the majors will depend in a large part on whether we start to see him making adjustments in the coming weeks, even if those adjustments don’t necessarily fix everything right away. I just want to see, for now, what his effort and ability at adapting will be. From everything I’ve heard and read, he seems to have a good disposition for making changes. The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/sports/baseball/14nishioka.html?_r=2">story</a> of how being cut from the World Baseball Classic team in 2009 and struggling later that season caused Nishi to reflect on his playing and lifestyle, and then go on to have a career year in 2010, makes me think he has a promising reaction to failure. <br />
<br />
Adjustments can start with Nishioka swinging the bat without looking like the final stages in a game of Jenga. Seriously. It's freaking me out Nishi.<br />
<br />
So yes—maybe Nishioka will end up just being another Kaz Matsui. But maybe he won’t. No one knows what will happen, but feel free to leave a comment with your opinion.myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-17458185389480426342011-06-17T11:04:00.024-05:002011-06-18T10:13:46.276-05:00Sardines and, uh, the Media CircusIn 2006, the ever-delightful Ozzie Guillen called the Twins “little piranhas.” This week, after the Twins swept the White Sox in a rain-shortened two-game series, Ozzie had <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Ozzie-Guillen-8217-s-new-nickname-for-Twins-is-?urn=mlb-wp9701">this</a> to say about the Twins:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"They are [redacted] sardines. You see a bunch of circus midgets out there. But they can play."</blockquote><br />
HEY, OZZIE—DON’T CALL THE TWINS CIRCUS MIDGETS! THEY ARE CIRCUS LITTLE PEOPLE!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But there really was a circus at Target Field this week—a media circus, brought on by the home-debut of recently recovered Japanese import Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Nishi got a good welcome cheer from the crowd when he first came out to do pre-game stretches, tipping his hat to the fans in acknowledgement. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-aPQLR3wUM/Tft205sz5JI/AAAAAAAABBk/G9n_Rl_-xuc/s1600/nishihattip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-aPQLR3wUM/Tft205sz5JI/AAAAAAAABBk/G9n_Rl_-xuc/s400/nishihattip.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vK9g6enFFGI/Tft3GslKJ7I/AAAAAAAABBs/Zp2HkauDFnw/s1600/Nishiwarmup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vK9g6enFFGI/Tft3GslKJ7I/AAAAAAAABBs/Zp2HkauDFnw/s400/Nishiwarmup.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A group of cameramen positioned thirty or so meters away documented his warm up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrlXmxxfVQ/Tft2gozBs2I/AAAAAAAABBc/hSA4TlSQcwk/s1600/2011_0605NishiokaDebut0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmrlXmxxfVQ/Tft2gozBs2I/AAAAAAAABBc/hSA4TlSQcwk/s400/2011_0605NishiokaDebut0682.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Then, Nishioka made a documented returned to the dugout. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ3uNdXCcbk/Tft3h-R46NI/AAAAAAAABB0/qjsMuoKTBnY/s1600/2011_0605NishiokaDebut0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ3uNdXCcbk/Tft3h-R46NI/AAAAAAAABB0/qjsMuoKTBnY/s400/2011_0605NishiokaDebut0687.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And THEN Nishi came out of the dugout and took the field.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoKzwyKY1Ys/Tft3pcb1API/AAAAAAAABB8/xd3hIfMdh6U/s1600/NISHIENTRANCE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoKzwyKY1Ys/Tft3pcb1API/AAAAAAAABB8/xd3hIfMdh6U/s400/NISHIENTRANCE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><center>(Yes, he <a href="http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/mlb/news/p-bb-tp2-20110618-791959.html">jumped</a> over the hoard of crouching media.)</center></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUjl8xVfv14/Tft8EWgyvWI/AAAAAAAABCc/WSrkEePqWzo/s1600/nishionfield2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUjl8xVfv14/Tft8EWgyvWI/AAAAAAAABCc/WSrkEePqWzo/s400/nishionfield2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Nishioka went 1-for-4 with a lucky infield hit (which he even <a href="http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2011061700104">acknowledged</a> to the press was just a lucky hit). He showed great range at shortstop, but didn’t exactly have a cannon of an arm. He fielded at least one ball every inning, and turned several double-plays. He didn’t break any bones. He had one error, and true to Japanese form, immediately apologized to Nick Blackburn. He apologized to fans for the error in a post-game interview.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYDew7whyPw/Tft6Mra1IDI/AAAAAAAABCM/7voN9Xf-4BM/s1600/nishipostgameinterview.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYDew7whyPw/Tft6Mra1IDI/AAAAAAAABCM/7voN9Xf-4BM/s400/nishipostgameinterview.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<center><span style="font-size: x-small;">Robbie-Ryo-Nishi, Nishi-Ryo-Robbie, Robbie-Ryo-Nishi, Nishi-Ryo-Robbie</span></center><br />
After the game, Nishi (roughly in Google Translate form) <a href="http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/110617/mlb11061708560002-n1.htm">said</a>, "(Fracture), but betrayed the expectations, the fans accepted me happy." Nishioka seemed to have had worries about how he would be received by Twins fans, and was put much at ease with the cheers. "In the first game at home, me accept that my fans happy. Happy days indeed was. Hope you do not forget the feelings of today," he <a href="http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/110617/mlb11061708560002-n1.htm">said</a>.<br />
<br />
I think Nishioka showed great potential, and I really like his positive and hard-working attitude. Being the youngest Japanese player to ever play in the major leagues, I think these traits bode well. Fans should show a little patience with him before writing him off. He's making quite the transition, and I wouldn't expect him to do it all overnight. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But wait! The media circus didn't stop, because after the game <b>Joe Mauer</b> was activated from the DL and held a press conference to field questions. We <a href="http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_18292171?nclick_check=1">learned</a>:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Joe Mauer doesn’t have lyme’s disease</li>
<li>Joe Mauer doesn’t have ALS</li>
<li>Joe Mauer’s knees were just really, really sore</li>
<li>Joe Mauer sees no reason why the Twins can’t win the division</li>
<li>Joe Mauer will happily interrupt a press conference to inform Sid Hartman that his tape recorder stopped</li>
</ul><br />
But alas—to make room for Joe on the 40-man roster, Brian Dinkelman was outrighted to the minors. Dinkels, we hardly knew thee. Let us pause to remember Dinkelman’s major league performance:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>14 at-bats</li>
<li>1 hit by pitch</li>
<li>4 single-base hits</li>
<li>0 homeruns</li>
<li>2 intentional walks</li>
</ul><br />
WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU, BRIAN DINKELMAN!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeCCalxbo9U/Tft0oZscd-I/AAAAAAAABBE/t6LGKCirTII/s1600/dinkelmanCameraPhone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeCCalxbo9U/Tft0oZscd-I/AAAAAAAABBE/t6LGKCirTII/s400/dinkelmanCameraPhone.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-53114006915414187032011-06-05T10:04:00.017-05:002011-06-09T00:17:07.598-05:00DINKELMAN!His name is Brian Dinkelman. Now he plays for the 2011 Twins.<br />
<br />
Last night was his major league debut—and on the very first major league pitch he faced, he was hit and awarded first base.<br />
<br />
DINKELMAN!<br />
<br />
He's the 39th different player to play for the Twins this year. Last night he played in left field, although he can play second base too. His versatility is sure to make him a hit with Gardy. He will probably call him “Dinky”.<br />
<br />
Dinkelman hit a fly-ball in his second major league at-bat, but no one will remember that, because in the top of the sixth, Dinkelman got his first major-league hit—a single on a line drive to the Royals left fielder Alex Gordon.<br />
<br />
DINKELMAN!<br />
<br />
Dinkels made a <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15539279">great catch</a> in the field—the Twins' web gem of the night. So as he came to the plate for the third time, in the top of the seventh, the chants at Kauffman Stadium majestically began:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">DIN-KEL-MAN!</span> <span style="font-size: small;">DIN-KEL-MAN!</span> <span style="font-size: large;">DIN-KEL-MAN!!</span><br />
<br />
And then he was intentionally walked.<br />
<br />
Dinkelman struck out in his final plate appearance, but that is of no import now. Alexi Casilla, even, had an excellent game with four hits and two RBIs. But no one will remember him in this Twins win, standing there in the giant shadow of <b>BRIAN DINKELMAN</b>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/30321.png&w=350&h=254" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="254" width="350" src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/30321.png&w=350&h=254" /></a></div>myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-8760321787156860602011-05-31T11:30:00.052-05:002011-06-14T21:17:08.248-05:00Losing Games, Blowing Calls, and other Twins NotesUnfortunately, the Twins seem destined to spend 2011 learning the hard way how many different ways they can lose a baseball game. In Monday’s game, the Tigers broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the 8th inning when a grounder bounced, hit a fan in an orange shirt and the umpires called it fan interference <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/More-replay-video-please-Disputed-call-hands-T?urn=mlb-wp8194">even though it should have been a ground rule double</a>. Johnny Peralta, who had been on first, was awarded home base instead of third, and thus scored the winning run. When asked about the seemingly inexplicable call after the game, crew chief Gary Darling explained: “We ruled spectator interference and we ruled the runner would have scored without it. [You know, because we said so.]”<br />
<br />
The bad call provided baseball writers with fresh fodder to once again <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/More-replay-video-please-Disputed-call-hands-T?urn=mlb-wp8194">bemoan</a> the fact there isn’t more instant-replay in baseball. Although I didn’t like Monday’s call, my position on expanded instant-replay remains the same—I don't like it. As I <a href="http://kirbyslefteye.blogspot.com/2010/06/playing-along.html">explained</a> almost exactly one year ago: <br />
<br />
<blockquote>Personally, I find anything that makes baseball any bit more like football revolting. When Gardy goes out to challenge a close call, do I want to see all the umpires run off to a little room where they will huddle around, watch a video tape, and decide what to do? Heck no. I want Gardy to be ejected, everyone to throw their hats on the field, and then be able to blame all of the Twins’ misgivings on the umpires. After all, it wasn't all those missed chances that lost the game for the Twins last night, <i>it was that one blown call</i>.</blockquote><br />
Come on guys: was it really that one stupid call that lost it for the Twins yesterday? With Kubel and Thome already pulled from the game, Matt Tolbert and Drew Butera the only available pinch-hitters, and the Twins already three-relievers deep into the 2011 Twins bullpen, were they really going to pull out a win? Maybe... but maybe not. <br />
<br />
However, a <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-05/almost-perfect-game-book-keeps-umpire-joyce-from-arizona-diamondback-games.html">tearful apology</a> from Gary Darling tonight when Jerry White or whomever trots out to present the Twins lineup card would still be very welcome.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Guess Who's Hot...</span></b><br />
<br />
Between May 1st and May 30th, when it comes to Twins players who had at least 20 at-bats, guess who had the highest batting average (.302), on-base percentage (.362), slugging percentage (.444), and OPS (.807)? If you guessed Jason Kubel... you’re wrong.<br />
<br />
It’s Alexi Casilla.<br />
<br />
I know—you might retort that Casilla has a smaller sample-size due to having fewer at-bats than some regular regulars, or that these stats aren't advanced enough, or the fact Casilla led May in all these categories just shows how bad the 2011 Twins are. But Casilla actually has been looking confident and playing well lately—take advantage of a hot streak. Casilla's certainly looking MUCH better right now than Trevor Plouffe, who <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/plouffes-sloppy-defense-resurfaces-in-twins-6-5-loss-to-angels/2011/05/29/AGn8nLEH_story.html">has been</a> repeatedly failing to catch the ball, repeatedly air-mailing throws, and repeatedly not hitting.<br />
<br />
Over the past week I've seen many people suggest benching Casilla and starting Plouffe instead, but there is simply no reason to be doing that <i>right now</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nishioka Nearing Return</span></b><br />
<br />
Tsuyoshi Nishioka <a href="http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2011/05/28/kiji/K20110528000914660.html">played</a> in his first extended spring training game last Saturday at shortstop, and he got a hit his first two at-bats, ultimately going 2 for 3 with one RBI. On Monday Nishi went 0 for 3 playing second base, but did turn a double play without breaking a leg. The training staff has been helping build Nishioka's instinct to jump while throwing to first on a double play—something <a href="http://overthebaggy.blogspot.com/2011/04/painful-lesson-to-learn.html">not normally needed</a> in Japan—apparently <a href="http://www.sanspo.com/mlb/photos/110528/mla1105280502002-p1.htm">by chucking big rubber balls at him</a>.<br />
<br />
The Japanese media originally reported that Tsuyoshi would return to the majors on June 9th, but it appears it could be a couple days later. After running out a grounder to shortstop at full-speed on Monday, Nishioka <a href="http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/ichiro-gets-2-hits-in-seattles-4-3-win-over-baltimore">told reporters</a>, "I wanted to test my condition during the game. I still feel a sense of discomfort. After I finished running, I still felt some pain."<br />
<br />
In any case, it appears Nishioka will be back within the next two weeks, and probably before Mauer—who is still suffering from some mysterious knee problem/leg weakness/flu. It makes me worried, knowing Mauer is never one to not want to play, not work hard, and not want to be back ASAP.<br />
<br />
In any case, <a href="http://www.47news.jp/CN/201106/CN2011060101000189.html">here is a photo</a> of Nishi and Joe exchanging hellos at practice on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mom's Finnish Language Lesson</span></b><br />
<br />
Mom, who is from a large Finnish family, says there is a word in the Finnish language that means "ish," "ew," or "yuck." The word is "hyi"—pronounced quite a lot like "Hoey."myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-37490678936155802852011-05-27T00:41:00.032-05:002011-05-27T12:42:57.285-05:00Remembering Harm'For the Twins and Twins fans, this week has mainly been about celebrating the life of Harmon Killebrew.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Wearing 3s</span><br /><br />On Monday night—the first home game since Harmon’s passing—everyone was encouraged to wear number 3’s in Harmon’s honor. I visited Harmon’s statue before the game, where it was surprisingly quiet for the amount of people gathered there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NocQ8_-CdfM/Td86hFBy_wI/AAAAAAAAA8w/F0YZaj8f0KI/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0311.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NocQ8_-CdfM/Td86hFBy_wI/AAAAAAAAA8w/F0YZaj8f0KI/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611268000686735106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BTWsUuTvR-A/Td865CDQoqI/AAAAAAAAA84/T_7GzSRn0N0/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0314.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BTWsUuTvR-A/Td865CDQoqI/AAAAAAAAA84/T_7GzSRn0N0/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611268412204425890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_6oZfmNT0k/Td87QCQDArI/AAAAAAAAA9A/T-gUBpgdsbM/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0318.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_6oZfmNT0k/Td87QCQDArI/AAAAAAAAA9A/T-gUBpgdsbM/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611268807395050162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I was very impressed with the amount of people who wore 3's.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-10JHHYHJioA/Td87tKcbBcI/AAAAAAAAA9I/UNk7lQkRcQQ/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0326.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-10JHHYHJioA/Td87tKcbBcI/AAAAAAAAA9I/UNk7lQkRcQQ/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611269307810645442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X3DOPwTY1rw/Td88Dofa6nI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/TYTJhD4hALQ/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0331.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X3DOPwTY1rw/Td88Dofa6nI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/TYTJhD4hALQ/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611269693833407090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VENWo9ig6TM/Td89jqWnFpI/AAAAAAAAA9o/zrlBhHPfakQ/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0449.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VENWo9ig6TM/Td89jqWnFpI/AAAAAAAAA9o/zrlBhHPfakQ/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611271343600768658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9M2xFLF22A4/Td89_0ZTwoI/AAAAAAAAA9w/ViVtHmymkiY/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0333.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9M2xFLF22A4/Td89_0ZTwoI/AAAAAAAAA9w/ViVtHmymkiY/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611271827332776578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Denard Span got in the spirit before the game, signing many autographs for fans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jEeg8BW4p2k/Td88nNZUNyI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/CBj467-QZ1k/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0339.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jEeg8BW4p2k/Td88nNZUNyI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/CBj467-QZ1k/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611270305035335458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The team also paid tribute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_pxvm-yI40/Td89KPSMT3I/AAAAAAAAA9g/8hkFF-ZLtF4/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0359.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_pxvm-yI40/Td89KPSMT3I/AAAAAAAAA9g/8hkFF-ZLtF4/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611270906837749618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-DhKDV-cws/Td_GYXfPrFI/AAAAAAAABAQ/OwSaYxGozj0/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-DhKDV-cws/Td_GYXfPrFI/AAAAAAAABAQ/OwSaYxGozj0/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611421782651153490" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Harmon Killebrew's Memorial</span><br /><br />Tonight, the team held a memorial for Harmon. I visited Harmon's statue before the game, and there were even more flowers and notes left. I also noticed, however, several people had taken single flowers out of bouquets and left a few at Kirby's statue. That was very touching to me—what a wonderful organization with the best fans in the world.<br /><br />I assume those who care watched the memorial themselves. All I can say is this:<br /><br />My favorite part was when Thome surprised us, sitting in the 523 ft. seat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnCTqNWVqF4/Td9BE_uTCgI/AAAAAAAAA94/kQytqivoupo/s1600/thomeHarmon1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnCTqNWVqF4/Td9BE_uTCgI/AAAAAAAAA94/kQytqivoupo/s400/thomeHarmon1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611275214807828994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmy29vZy-MM/Td9BMTUhgAI/AAAAAAAAA-A/eermUFhnyqE/s1600/thomeharmon2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmy29vZy-MM/Td9BMTUhgAI/AAAAAAAAA-A/eermUFhnyqE/s400/thomeharmon2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611275340327518210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The saddest part was when sir Rodney Carew broke down crying at the podium, while recalling his last visit with Harmon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nZDon5jP9U/Td9CDDjsWeI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/JaK_hIe8y7Y/s1600/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0524.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nZDon5jP9U/Td9CDDjsWeI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/JaK_hIe8y7Y/s400/2011_0515HarmonKillebrew0524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611276280988981730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The most touching part was when Nita—Harmon's wife—gave us his last days, his last words, and his last expression of how thankful he was for his fans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izCThLOdRsQ/Td9CydSn7JI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/aE2qDs0mYEM/s1600/nitakillebrew.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izCThLOdRsQ/Td9CydSn7JI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/aE2qDs0mYEM/s400/nitakillebrew.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611277095350561938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Nita: You thought you couldn't do public speaking—but you did so, so well. You definietly made Harmon proud.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other Pictures:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--9YJZ6TMy6I/Td9Lu02WjqI/AAAAAAAAA_o/atcPqJhO544/s1600/cuddyhankkaat.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--9YJZ6TMy6I/Td9Lu02WjqI/AAAAAAAAA_o/atcPqJhO544/s400/cuddyhankkaat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611286928559607458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Hank Arron, Jim Kaat, and Michael Cuddyer</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jg-l80jwlGk/Td_AG8hGUVI/AAAAAAAAA_4/84eowog5O7A/s1600/MudcatGrantsings.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jg-l80jwlGk/Td_AG8hGUVI/AAAAAAAAA_4/84eowog5O7A/s400/MudcatGrantsings.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611414886283628882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Mudcat Grant sings "It's a Wonderful World"</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52PSDiGB7zA/Td9L2Svc0XI/AAAAAAAAA_w/oiBnonj-DYs/s1600/CuddyMorneauTolbert.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52PSDiGB7zA/Td9L2Svc0XI/AAAAAAAAA_w/oiBnonj-DYs/s400/CuddyMorneauTolbert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611287056842805618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Cuddyer, Morneau, and Tolbert.<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FUOWOCA3IwA/Td9GaaHLdPI/AAAAAAAAA-o/8mDzEwvsYZs/s1600/Harmonwatertower.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FUOWOCA3IwA/Td9GaaHLdPI/AAAAAAAAA-o/8mDzEwvsYZs/s400/Harmonwatertower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611281080226903282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Love for Number Three.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TuzwJbl7Yw4/Td_CMAinoDI/AAAAAAAABAI/BkTe7iaKq1g/s1600/cuddyerspeaks.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TuzwJbl7Yw4/Td_CMAinoDI/AAAAAAAABAI/BkTe7iaKq1g/s400/cuddyerspeaks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611417172286349362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Cuddyer steps up to speak</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbdA8JoK8TY/Td_A-YL6ZrI/AAAAAAAABAA/sgU2aNWarr4/s1600/harmonmemorialback.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbdA8JoK8TY/Td_A-YL6ZrI/AAAAAAAABAA/sgU2aNWarr4/s400/harmonmemorialback.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611415838603765426" border="0" /></a>Fans, players, family, and 3.<br /></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZFECNMlrHg/Td9HK5vs9UI/AAAAAAAAA-4/zZywVPDryCk/s1600/mornourns.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZFECNMlrHg/Td9HK5vs9UI/AAAAAAAAA-4/zZywVPDryCk/s400/mornourns.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611281913352090946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Baseball listeners. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UHDob8P_alk/Td9He0sR5rI/AAAAAAAAA_A/bfBTDO2YJK4/s1600/thomepray.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UHDob8P_alk/Td9He0sR5rI/AAAAAAAAA_A/bfBTDO2YJK4/s400/thomepray.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611282255592941234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Thome mourns.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdAGjRqx6Js/Td9HtMrbBKI/AAAAAAAAA_I/yFMJL71jm4E/s1600/harmonmemorial.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdAGjRqx6Js/Td9HtMrbBKI/AAAAAAAAA_I/yFMJL71jm4E/s400/harmonmemorial.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611282502549963938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dg4ovFMJg5M/Td9IH3YsxFI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/EuTSZe0lpP0/s1600/nitakillebrew2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dg4ovFMJg5M/Td9IH3YsxFI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/EuTSZe0lpP0/s400/nitakillebrew2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611282960690758738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Nita Killebrew.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VD6K914Mxgo/Td9Ic77e5cI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/H5zAqYwE1VM/s1600/ThomeHank.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VD6K914Mxgo/Td9Ic77e5cI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/H5zAqYwE1VM/s400/ThomeHank.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611283322687645122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Thome and Hank.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxI1gPoNbSc/Td9KEHbGHDI/AAAAAAAAA_g/7FKnfHwPGoQ/s1600/hankthomekillebrew.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bxI1gPoNbSc/Td9KEHbGHDI/AAAAAAAAA_g/7FKnfHwPGoQ/s400/hankthomekillebrew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611285095299554354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Hank and Thome celebrate Harmon Killebrew.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.harmonkillebrewfoundation.org/">www.HarmonKillebrewFoundation.org</a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.standup2cancer.org/">www.StandUp2Cancer.org</a></span><br /></div><br /><br />Some other bloggers have also shared their thoughts, check it out:<br />SethSpeaks.net: <a href="http://talkintwinsbb.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/thougths-on-the-killebrew-tribute/">Thoughts on the Killebrew Tribute </a><br />North Dakota Twins Fan: <a href="http://nodaktwinsfan.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-view-of-killebrews-memorial.html">My View of Killebrew's Memorial</a>myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31175511010350926.post-85180778581937004412011-05-23T00:55:00.030-05:002011-05-23T10:07:23.387-05:00Flight of Twins Fans“I went to all three games!”<br /><br />“All the pitches he threw right over the plate today and Kubel didn’t even swing at any of them.”<br /><br />“That Delmon...” <br /><br />“Oh my god, that was the most disgusting bathroom ever!” the leathery-tanned lady sitting next to me tells her apparent husband. She has been complaining the whole flight. She’s literally now hyperventilating. Or crying. She’s clutching her copy of the ‘Arizona Reporter’.<br /><br />Probably not Minnesotan.<br /><br />I’m sitting in the window seat with two empty cans of Leinenkugel's. She’s not drinking, and she has been giving me some disgusted looks. Of all people, of course, she’s the one I get to sit next to.<br /><br />Clearly not a Minnesotan Twins fan.<br /><br />This Sun Country flight returning from Phoenix to Minnesota late Sunday is full of Twins fans. Hats, shirts, jerseys, and bags. Everyone’s talking, everyone’s smiling—and yes, even though the Twins actually lost all three games in Arizona against the ‘D-Backs’.<br /><br />But they were close games. They were exciting games. And Twins fans were certainly there to enjoy them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9FGIWIZdcVE/Tdn6km8FNMI/AAAAAAAAA50/uNzHVx1k-fY/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0266.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9FGIWIZdcVE/Tdn6km8FNMI/AAAAAAAAA50/uNzHVx1k-fY/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609790317701444802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Crowd at Chase Field when the TWINS Score<br /></span></div><br />I went to the Twins game against the Diamondbacks Saturday at Chase Field (yes, with some pretty sweet seats as a law school graduation gift!). AT LEAST forty to fifty percent of the fans there were Twins fans—which I suppose isn’t all that surprising. Phoenix is home to many Midwestern transplants and retirees. Everyone must have gone down to visit their grandma/mom/dad/uncle/grant aunt/etc. and conveniently take in the Twins game at the same time (including myself).<br /><br />At this point, I could do a run down of the Twins' games on <a href="http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_20_minmlb_arimlb_1&mode=wrap&c_id=mlb">Friday</a>, <a href="http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_21_minmlb_arimlb_1&mode=wrap&c_id=mlb">Saturday</a>, and <a href="http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_22_minmlb_arimlb_1&mode=wrap&c_id=mlb">Sunday</a>—but that has been done elsewhere. Let me point out my favorite fan experiences at Chase Field on Saturday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />1. Racing of the Legends</span><br /><br />Ok, this is really awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-slWOBtP2_8s/Tdn8COFG9wI/AAAAAAAAA58/FN_1LsST2Ao/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0188.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-slWOBtP2_8s/Tdn8COFG9wI/AAAAAAAAA58/FN_1LsST2Ao/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609791925936125698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzbGpG7DBV0/Tdn8PUg2s4I/AAAAAAAAA6E/CP2JW5EjJpE/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzbGpG7DBV0/Tdn8PUg2s4I/AAAAAAAAA6E/CP2JW5EjJpE/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609792151001412482" border="0" /></a><br />Sort of like the sausages in Milwaukee—except even better. Arizona has over-sized Diamondback Legends—Luis Gonzales, Randy Johnson, Mark Grace, and Matt Williams—run a race every game. Then afterward, they go all around the stands cheering on with the fans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2pjqKdQu3Y/Tdn-Uo4W0FI/AAAAAAAAA6M/JA8u-gIAFtI/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0194.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2pjqKdQu3Y/Tdn-Uo4W0FI/AAAAAAAAA6M/JA8u-gIAFtI/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794441391296594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVrfgl6e8pc/Tdn-tCcH5VI/AAAAAAAAA6U/jqT0lpfDbsY/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0196.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVrfgl6e8pc/Tdn-tCcH5VI/AAAAAAAAA6U/jqT0lpfDbsY/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794860569060690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9UmuhQIOD0/Tdn-1r0bEBI/AAAAAAAAA6c/089-MaXIUic/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0201.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9UmuhQIOD0/Tdn-1r0bEBI/AAAAAAAAA6c/089-MaXIUic/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609795009115787282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVckau_RGp0/Tdn_wA353kI/AAAAAAAAA6k/ab3n91dP_Xo/s1600/dbackslegendsupperdeck.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVckau_RGp0/Tdn_wA353kI/AAAAAAAAA6k/ab3n91dP_Xo/s400/dbackslegendsupperdeck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609796011199946306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Awesome Scoreboard Backgrounds</span><br /><br />Chase Field used awesome team-location backgrounds on the scoreboard when announcing all the Twins players. For example:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAYHSWKdcZc/TdoAgXQuDEI/AAAAAAAAA6s/He2z16aO6n4/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0142.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAYHSWKdcZc/TdoAgXQuDEI/AAAAAAAAA6s/He2z16aO6n4/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609796841843330114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Target Field</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uE59oGeqfc0/TdoAu1M4k1I/AAAAAAAAA60/soe8oEs4xLM/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0142.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoPc3k1xMOo/TdoCOIGbakI/AAAAAAAAA7M/qnfa5zUcQ2A/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0161.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoPc3k1xMOo/TdoCOIGbakI/AAAAAAAAA7M/qnfa5zUcQ2A/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609798727559244354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Mall of America</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c13Zbym3ZFI/TdoBgdmvcFI/AAAAAAAAA68/wv9xC7Kl2XU/s1600/cherryspoon.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c13Zbym3ZFI/TdoBgdmvcFI/AAAAAAAAA68/wv9xC7Kl2XU/s400/cherryspoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609797943057936466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Cherry and Spoon (I know this is a terrible picture!)</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AamGpJA5VaU/TdoB0eaAgZI/AAAAAAAAA7E/gou8-lV1kiU/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0255.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AamGpJA5VaU/TdoB0eaAgZI/AAAAAAAAA7E/gou8-lV1kiU/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609798286870348178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Bridge!</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />3. Scotty Baker is a Monster </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s6heE0DXDqM/TdoDQzj2TQI/AAAAAAAAA7U/XyBrARRxNNc/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s6heE0DXDqM/TdoDQzj2TQI/AAAAAAAAA7U/XyBrARRxNNc/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0185.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609799873096731906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgVA2J_7hn8/TdoDeYSPk5I/AAAAAAAAA7c/ZfEX3OBs9p4/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgVA2J_7hn8/TdoDeYSPk5I/AAAAAAAAA7c/ZfEX3OBs9p4/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609800106293302162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EV3a3dadwOQ/TdoDoZsNb9I/AAAAAAAAA7k/nHXyPQqJnB0/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EV3a3dadwOQ/TdoDoZsNb9I/AAAAAAAAA7k/nHXyPQqJnB0/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0187.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609800278469341138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spbZ_gceyQA/TdoD7-en2XI/AAAAAAAAA7s/eDtyllyOZiI/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spbZ_gceyQA/TdoD7-en2XI/AAAAAAAAA7s/eDtyllyOZiI/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0157.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609800614761978226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdbavVdKNvA/TdoEKcJLPwI/AAAAAAAAA70/Ae2Wg--kaRo/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdbavVdKNvA/TdoEKcJLPwI/AAAAAAAAA70/Ae2Wg--kaRo/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609800863243255554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uT-_UqXF0f4/TdoEUTgJovI/AAAAAAAAA78/7Jf2O2dORv8/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uT-_UqXF0f4/TdoEUTgJovI/AAAAAAAAA78/7Jf2O2dORv8/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0159.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609801032722391794" /></a><br />Okay, okay... I personally got a kick out of that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />4. So Glad Target Field Has No Roof What-So-Ever</span><br /><br />Chase Field has a retractable roof, because Arizona gets pretty inhospitable during the summer time and air-conditioning is needed. Someone on Twitter compared it to the Milwaukee Brewers' stadium. I've never been there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Lyk0stplK4/Tdp0of_TybI/AAAAAAAAA8E/F9v0mn4O3Fo/s1600/2011_0511JaysAZ0275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Lyk0stplK4/Tdp0of_TybI/AAAAAAAAA8E/F9v0mn4O3Fo/s400/2011_0511JaysAZ0275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609924524974000562" /></a><br />However, having been to Chase Field once before Target Field opened, and now, I can say I am supremely happy Target Field has no retractable roof. A lot of structure is needed for a retractable roof, which makes the stadium lose that real outdoor feeling. It's like pretending your car with a sunroof is a convertible.<br /><br /><br />The girl behind me on this flight, now, however, has most her sock stuck up between the window and my seat. A little gross to some, maybe—but she <span style="font-style:italic;">is</span> wearing a Morneau shirt.<br /><br />And a two (or so) year old child in front of me just screamed for the first time this whole flight—and the leather-tanned woman next to me grabbed her husband's leg in annoyance. The boy keeps looking back at me, but I just smile at him, which makes him smile. And he's wearing a Joe Mauer shirt too.<br /><br />Then, of course, we are about to land, and the PA comes on:<br /><br />"On behalf of Sun County Airlines, we welcome you back to the Twin Cities. <br /><br />"And if you're just visiting, we hope you enjoy your stay."myjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663674071797278704noreply@blogger.com3