[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDYpNGOZkYQ/T8TGMzv0WgI/AAAAAAAAAXc/uGVDEsFR_pM/s320/Herrmann.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption] If you want to see Chris Herrmann playing for the Rock Cats, my advice would be to get a ticket soon [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] Catching depth in Minnesota is . . . interesting. In fact, I'm not sure that "depth" is the correct word. There's Joe Mauer. And then there's a pretty big drop off. Ryan Doum
[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
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spxEoWvSljE/T1dnwKsK0qI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Si870g9dhMM/s320/Jersey.bmp[Originally posted at Twins Fan From Afar] I've written before, as have others, that Joe Mauer isn't only valuable to the Twins for his contributions as the star catcher and third batter in the lineup. Make no mistake, that's how he earns his paycheck, but it's also evident that, over the last few years, he has become his own brand. Even where I live, far removed from Twins Territory, I have noticed more T
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] [TD=align: center]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5voEsiX99s/UhVn3sCEbuI/AAAAAAAAAqA/GZC6T-TeUwk/s320/Smiddy.jpg[/TD] [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]Rock Cats' Manager Jeff Smith. Courtesy of Richard Messina, Hartford Courant [/TD] [/TABLE] I've been spoiled. This summer, I've been able to watch Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario, from right over the home dugout, for $15 a ticket. You might think that having Sano and Rosario on the same minor league team, at
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] One of the more common Joe Mauer complaints in Twins Territory is that he grounds out to second base, and does it a lot. This phenomenon was on display last night in Anaheim, when Mauer was retired on a 4-3 putout in each of his three at-bats. And if you go back to his last plate appearance on April 29, before his day off against lefty C.J. Wilson, Mauer grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. That marks 4 straight at-bats in which Mauer has been retire
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
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] The New Britain Rock Cats defeated the Portland Sea Dogs tonight 10-5. Despite the lopsided score, this game actually took 11 innings to produce a winner. The sides were knotted at 5 runs until the Rock Cats exploded for 5 runs in the 11th inning, and then shut down the Sea Dogs in the home half to secure the victory. For all the runs tonight, New Britain only accumulated 9 hits (they also walked 5 times). Big producers tonight included shortstop P
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xtyQYSXbRKc/T6fBiL8aLDI/AAAAAAAAAUY/9XBCELyGchk/s320/JM2.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Since taking a foul tip to the knee last week, Joe Mauer hasn't been the same [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] Since Joe Mauer dinged his knee taking a foul tip on April 29, he has not been the same player. Yes, he missed only one game, which is a testament to the fact that he is resolute in his desire to to play
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] The Rock Cats lost big last night, 10-3, against the Reading Phillies. You can read a good re-cap of the game by Seth Stohs here at TwinsDaily, and here at the Rock Cats' website, but I thought I'd try to provide you with a few things that won't show up in the box score, which you can check out here. [TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2uXA3aAKXk/T60E6sSjrSI/AAAAAAAAAVE/yRZAEjR_28g/s320/Benson.bmp [TD=class: tr-ca
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0fuwzoau8g/T00s3AYerOI/AAAAAAAAALQ/VyO94XGtCr0/s1600/Rock+Cats.bmp [Originally posted at my blog, http://twinsfanfromafar.blogspot.com] There is breaking Twins-related minor league news this afternoon in Central Connecticut, where it has been announced that the New Britain Rock Cats, which had done very well in the community and in terms of attendance, under owners Bill Dowling (former attorney for George Steinbrenner) and Coleman Levy (local attorney), is being sol
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
The way it seems right now, even with the optimism that accompanies Spring Training, it's tough to imagine the Twins hoisting the 2012 World Series trophy. In fact, I can't reasonably imagine the Twins having the AL Cy Young award winner on their pitching staff, or the AL MVP in their batting order. But there is one award that this team was built for: The Comeback Player of the Year. According to the criteria, the award is given to a player judged to have "re-emerged on the baseball field du
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] [TD=align: center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfGvYWNUy-U/Uiadg78Eu1I/AAAAAAAAAq4/5S1qwvRBrms/s400/Pinto.jpg[/TD] [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]Rock Cats, Red Wings, and now Twins catcher, Josmil Pinto [/TD] [/TABLE] I'll be the first to admit that the bulk of my Rock Cats coverage this season has centered around Miguel Sano. And it's for a reason -- he's the best prospect that has played for New Britain since I have been following the team. People
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] [TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJCnCcjGt5g/T5ShICdLmhI/AAAAAAAAASg/yzaETgGmm7w/s320/Rock+Cats+013.JPG [TD=class: tr-caption]New Britain fans have been treated to a lot of wins early in the 2012 season [/TD] [/TABLE] The minor league baseball season is just about 3 weeks old. For the New Britain Rock Cats, it has been a successful first few weeks. The team stands at 12-5, and is currently 1/2 game up on the Readin
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] He wasn't a household name last year at this time, even among many followers of the Twins' minor league system, but much has changed in the past 12 months. Depending on whom you speak to in the front office, there seem to be differing interpretations on Dozier's role in the Twins' organization this season. Make no mistake -- everyone is speaking of him highly right now. Terry Ryan, for instance, recently mentioned that he would not hesitate to call
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0f2g-yolc8c/T9sp3Sj_8JI/AAAAAAAAAak/dyMpB6xgVLs/s320/Hanson.JPG [TD=class: tr-caption]Player of the Game: Minnesota's Own Nathan Hanson, who dramatically raised his batting average last night [/TD] [/TABLE] http://twinsfanfromafar.blogspot.com [Originally published, with more pictures, at Twins Fan From Afar] I stayed for all 12 innings of last night's 3-2 loss to the Akron Aeros. It was a picture-perfect night for baseball
[Originally posted at Twins Fan From Afar] The Twins' offense hasn't really showed up this far in Spring Training, but yesterday, Francisco Liriano had a great 3-inning start against Tampa Bay, striking out five and, most importantly, walking none. Additionally, the three innings took only 34 pitches to get through. Sure, many in Tampa Bay's lineup weren't major league hitters, but it's still encouraging and hopefully is a sign of things to come. The big Twins news yesterday, of course, w
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7zyBGQ0B484/T99Jtvy1YhI/AAAAAAAAAa4/8f049vuGD8A/s320/Nishi.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]The look of a displaced man who will never again see Target Field [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] For purposes of this post, I need to start of with 2 limitations: First, I'm thinking about players in the upper levels of the minor leagues that have yet to "make it" with the Twins in any real sense of that phra
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] [TD=align: center]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1zADOr1fJw/T8Ybf6L7vAI/AAAAAAAAAXo/GIX9w-rlBIo/s320/Hicks.bmp [/TD] [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]New Britain is looking for more consistency from center fielder Aaron Hicks [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] Last night's Rock Cats-Fisher cats game was postponed for weather. If the weather in New Hampshire last night was anything like the weather in central Connecticut, postpon
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 🙂