[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container, align: center] [TD=align: center]http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2012/11/07/3zZ4tfaM.jpg[/TD] [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]Logan Darnell, New Britain's most consistent pitcher this season. Image: Kevin Pataky, MiLB.com [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] It's been a fast 40 percent of the New Britain season. The team has played all right -- about what I expected, given difficulty of replacing guys like Aaron Hicks, Chris Herrma
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container, align: center] http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/AP_MLB/201302191444530758115-p2.jpg [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]Contrary to what is implied here, I can report that Josmil Pinto DOES indeed know how to wear his tools of ignorance [/TD] [/TABLE] Twins catchers. There's Joe Mauer. Then a big, big gap. Sure, Ryan Doumit can technically sit there and intercept a pitch before it hits the umpire. But to call him a full-time catcher -- or even an adept
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container, align: center] http://www.milb.com/assets/images/7/3/4/45176734/cuts/meyer480_yw1gwbv3_yjk0mgqz.jpg [TD=class: tr-caption]Alex Meyer, probably throwing a really, really hard fastball. Courtesy of Kevin Pataky at MiLB.[/TD] [/TABLE] For a Twins fan, I had perhaps the best seat in the house. Literally 1 row behind me -- same seat number in fact -- Twins' General Manager Terry Ryan sat with a pencil, scorecard and notepad. Literally the 2 rows in front of me,
It was a picture perfect night for baseball in Connecticut. No, our winter didn't extend into late April, as it did in Minnesota, but this was one of the first days where it actually would have made sense to wear t-shirts and shorts around town. 4,615 were in attendance this evening as the Rock Cats took on the Richmond Flying Squirrels. [TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] [TD=align: center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e41-TQ7qT2U/UXxd5AiKX0I/AAAAAAAAAhs/bic6EGOIviU/s320/IMAG0430.jpg[/TD] [TD
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] [TD=align: center]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EctjgVfwZLE/UXLSVCXvCbI/AAAAAAAAAhY/21kS0rHiBc8/s400/IMAG0425.jpg[/TD] [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]This picture of Justin Morneau hangs in a suite at New Britain Stadium. The Rock Cats do a great job of paying tribute to the Twins' greats that have come and gone from this stadium. [/TD] [/TABLE][Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] After approximately the first two weeks of the 2013 season, th
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] This was my second year attending the Rock Cats' Annual Welcome Home Dinner. The players attend this function shortly after arriving in Connecticut. In fact, some don't even have housing or vehicles arranged yet! It's truly a crazy time of year for these guys. Last year, I had the good fortune of sitting with Twins' top prospect Alex Wimmers at this charity event that raises funds for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Wimmers was kind, fun
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dS2x4TU9e8k/UL-4HDSaK7I/AAAAAAAAAgc/JQ6KoS-k0Gg/s320/Wimmers.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Alex Wimmers: Let's Not Forget About Him [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] It's no secret now that the Twins are essentially punting in 2013. It's disappointing. I felt it coming months ago (as did many of you). Make no mistake -- I'm not fine with it by any means. But I more or less accept it (or I'm just men
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jgbOh8Mq8aw/UL9W-7td2cI/AAAAAAAAAfo/I262BsuGsts/s320/AW+Pitch.JPG [TD=class: tr-caption]Steely Determination [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] This past spring, when I attended the Rock Cats' annual welcome home dinner, where I was seated with (a pre-Tommy John) Alex Wimmers, I purchased $5 worth of raffle tickets and won the opportunity to throw a ceremonial first pitch before a Rock Cats game. I
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7P0n8p_uIw/UGwrL7pS4nI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/jM9rwUSf_2Q/s1600/Target+Field.bmp The fact that the Twins were awful for a second straight season admittedly diminished the amount of baseball that I watched this year, and I found it somewhat difficult to write about the Twins as the season dragged on, which is probably one of the reasons why I enjoyed covering the Rock Cats -- a winning baseball team. Still, though, it's always disappointing when the season comes to an end. Here
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AdKSjCGY274/UEiZQtQIynI/AAAAAAAAAd0/AxQ_RTFFrVw/s320/Arcia.jpg [TD=class: tr-caption]Emerging prospect Oswaldo Arcia batting late in the 2012 season [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] For the second consecutive season, the Rock Cats made it to the final game with a chance to make the playoffs. For the second consecutive season, they fell just short. They ended the season with a respectable record o
To think, just 5 months ago, I questioned whether Aaron Hicks had earned his promotion to AA. Of course, at that time, I was basing my concern on Hicks' less-than-impressive High-A slash line of .242/.354/.368 in 2011. Importantly, Hicks was repeating High-A that season, so I had reason to be suspicious. Boy, was I wrong. Hicks unquestionably had a breakout season in 2012 that, at least for me, firmly places him in the top 5 of Twins prospects going into 2013. Let's look at his numbers from thi
The minor league season is about to wrap up. A couple teams -- E-Town and Beloit -- are headed to the playoffs, which is great for fans of the minor league system. Let's take a look at the action down on the farm. ROCHESTER -- OFF NEW BRITAIN 3, TRENTON 1 It still has been a solid season for the Rock Cats, but their performance in August has been dreadful. Unfortunately, they're fighting a very uphill battle for the final playoff spot. They did, however, turn in a good performance tonight. L
I was at the Rock Cats game this evening. It wasn't a great game for New Britain -- not nearly enough offense, and our pitchers had some trouble keeping the ball down. Terry Ryan was in attendance. I spoke to him for a few minutes, and it sounds like he plans to follow the team through its upcoming weekend series in New Hampshire, as we get closer to the date when a few players on this team might get a call-up to Minnesota (or, if the Rock Cats make the playoffs, after their playoff stint ends).
It feels like almost every Wednesday night when I write this, the Twins have lost, or are in the process of losing. I didn't watch or follow today's game. It looked from the highlights like Max Scherzer had a pretty good day. Oh well. Let's take a look at tonight's minor league action. ROCHESTER 6, INDIANAPOLIS 2 Esmerling Vasquez had a great game tonight, going 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits, striking out 10 and walking 2. Deolis Guerra pitched the remaining 2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] **Full disclosure: this post is full of hypotheticals, and is not grounded in reality** [TABLE=class: tr-caption-container, align: center] [TD=class: tr-caption]Twins fans, can you picture Bryce Harper wearing the TC logo? [/TD] [/TABLE] The 2010 season produced some great memories for Twins fans. Jim Thome proved that you could be old (in baseball terms) and still
. Joe Mauer had a solid season. Justin Morneau played the first half
Today's Twins game was disappointing on several fronts. The Twins lost a chance for a sweep, Ben Revere failed to extend his impressive hit streak, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka continued to look ... confused at second base. Oh well. Let's take a look at the action down on the farm. ROCHESTER 3, SCRANTON/WB 7 Shairon Martis turned in a quality start, tossing 7 innings and giving up 2 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 4 and walked 2, but did allow 2 home runs. Deolis Guerra had a tough outing. In 1 inning
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9G9zyxHb9rY/UAQIxjePMWI/AAAAAAAAAcY/OOmINSGxY6Q/s1600/MNTwins.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Who are "the 99 percent" when it comes to Twins Territory? [/TD] [/TABLE] If you made your way to this blog, you're not an average Twins fan. Did you find it from my Twitter account (where I tweet almost exclusively about the Twins and Rock Cats)? Do you subscribe to my blog and read or peruse most every post? Or are you reading this at TwinsD
I really hold back what I would like to say about then payroll arguments here. The fact that people don't accept the amount taken in dictates the amount going out requires one of two things. Extreme financial ignorance or fanatical bias that prevents the acceptance of something some basic. I did not change the argument. It's the same idiocy over and over. Do you really want to be on the side that suggests revenues does not determine spending capacity?
At this point in the pre-season, I’m just so happy to be seeing games again, I don’t care about the Twins record in 2023. I think they’ll win it all, unrealistically speaking 🙂
I really hold back what I would like to say about then payroll arguments here. The fact that people don't accept the amount taken in dictates the amount going out requires one of two things. Extreme financial ignorance or fanatical bias that prevents the acceptance of something some basic. I did not change the argument. It's the same idiocy over and over. Do you really want to be on the side that suggests revenues does not determine spending capacity?· 0 replies
