Sad? Why should I be sad?

The Yankees finished their ALDS sweep of the Twins last night, meaning the Twins’ 2010 season is over. So what am I doing this afternoon? You guessed it—I’m taking the afternoon off to celebrate the Twins amazing 2010 season!! WOOHOO!!

Okay—so I know a lot of Twins fans out there are very sad/depressed/angry, because their dreams of a World Series Championship have been dashed. You know what I think about that view? How depressing! Why should I let 3 lousy games make me forget about the joy and excitement I got from watching the Twins play over the last 6 months?

There are different ways one can go about their fandom. One way is to expect your team to win the World Series every year. This, obviously, is the ultimate task to be accomplished every season. Why else does your team play? So, then, if your team is clearly having a losing season, there is no point in watching (except, maybe, to complain about what the team needs to change to win a World Series the next year). If your team is clearly having a winning season, you don’t really need to pay much attention until October, because a few extra wins or losses during the regular season are meaningless. All you really want is for your team to win the World Series, and if they don’t, the entire point of the season has been frustrated. The year will be a failure, and you’re understandably peeved about the whole thing. You complain about what you think needs to be changed to make sure next year isn’t such a god damn awful failure as well. But if your team happens to win the World Series, your expectations are met and you can gloat to all other fans about how your team is so much better than theirs. What a joy! Because the whole point is just to win it all—right? So your team wins! This might be called “being a Yankee fan.”

But that is not the only way to be a fan. You can also be a fan just because you like to watch your team play baseball. You want your team to win, of course—but that’s not the ultimate point. The point is actually watching baseball. That’s what makes it a pass-time. That’s what makes you look forward to game time everyday, because every game is unpredictable: maybe today someone will hit for the cycle. Maybe tomorrow everyone on the field will hilariously be attacked by bugs. Maybe the next day someone will break a record. And maybe the day after that, your team will play horribly and lose. But because you continue watching everyday, you become invested in your team. You notice how different players interact, how they react to wins and losses, how they grow and change over time. You might even start to notice similar interactions, reactions, and growth among the fans and society around you. You might notice your team becoming more popular, or how a new stadium has transformed the city you were born and have lived in the majority of your life, or maybe even how fans are starting to become disenfranchised by recent events. Most importantly, however, is that over time, you really start to care about noticing these things—because this isn’t just a movie, this is real life passing before your eyes. This is it. As a great Twin once said, “Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us.”

I cherish every Twins game I get to attend, watch, or listen to. The Twins have certainly given me a lot to be happy about throughout this season. Why should I be sad? Sure, I would love a World Series championship, or just to be able to watch the Twins play more baseball games. But thus is life. All I can do, being the fan that I am, is try my best to cherish every moment I have. That's what makes me a fan. And that's what makes me happy.

And that's why I love baseball.


P.S. Perhaps my explanation of fandom will help explain why I still think this was my favorite moment of the entire "season". How far this team has come since 2001, how much they have been through, and how loyal true Twins fans are... This made me so proud to be a Twins fan.

Please take a moment…

…to remember George Steinbrenner.

Never in my life did I think I'd be sad to see this man pass. But alas—he was a baseball legend.

I was inspired to draw a picture.




I tried to make it as realistic as possible.

R.I.P.



…to cheer on the Saint Paul Saints.

After Sunday’s Twins’ game, I flipped channels until I came to a Saint Paul Saints’ game during a rain delay. Lots of videos detailing Saint Paul Saints history, Kevin Millar love, etc. It went on for about an hour. Then the game started back up, and the Saints were losing 2-13 in the top of the 9th.



…to watch Jacque Jones pop out?

(Click to Englarge)

Picture Courtesy of My Mom!

Cuddyer, Terry Tiffee, Red Dog, Gardy, Varitek?

Everybody loves Jacque Jones.



…to realize the American League's All-Star game winning-streak is over.

Dang it!

10 Videos to Give Twins Fans the Warm Fuzzies

With the disappointing loss to the Detroit Tigers today, I thought I’d try to send out some good vibes.

Here are ten videos sure to give the Twins Fan the warm fuzzies:

#1- Loose Cannon #1 brings home Loose Cannon #2, Game 163 (Turn your volume on max for the best experience!)




#2 1991 Twins Dancing (with Tony Oliva)




#3 Al Newman Twins' Commercial: "YOU GOTTA GO! GO! GO! GO!"




#4 1991 Twins Coming Home Celebration on the Runway




#5 Blowing Out of the Metrodome




#6 Johan Santana wins bet, gets shout-out; shaves Bert Blyleven's Head.





#7 Jacque Jones: Already Home





#8 1991 Minnesota Twins Music Video: "One thing's certain about the Minnesota Twins, win or lose: they are one loose bunch of cool customers."




#9 Joe Mauer: "I made it really clear when we started this process: This is where I want to be. . . ."





#10 Take Me Out to the Twins Game


Tomorrow is a new series! Go Twins!