[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EANbn5dkhPo/T6PQ2x-FxrI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Zzb2q6T9Bn0/s1600/Safeco.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]The Twins have not realized much success in Seattle lately [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] There are some teams that, for no reason in particular, the Twins seem to struggle against on the road. No, I'm not talking about the Yankees or the Rangers here; I can list some solid explanations for the Twins' lackluster
[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
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] I've been thinking about this question lately. Baseball farm teams are, by nature, really interesting. General managers don't set the rosters, or even acquire the players. And I bet if the Rock Cats GM gets a call from Terry Ryan suggesting that he play the back-up shortstop because "something may be in the works," the back-up shortstop will get a lot of playing time, regardless of what that does to New Britain's chances. In the minor leagues, the
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G3y_g-4dnDI/T57RN9H7GyI/AAAAAAAAAT0/qNnrCngR3HA/s1600/French.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Lucas French, who logged MLB time with the Tigers and Mariners, is working his way back up the chain [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally announced at Twins Fan From Afar] The minor league moves continue in the Twins organization. It was just announced that Rock Cats lefty starter Lucas French has been promoted to AAA Rochester Red Wings. This, as with
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] [TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aH-zI-1tUI/T56Gq8dICjI/AAAAAAAAATo/R6RiPfJY1u0/s1600/Hermsen.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Newly promoted B.J. Hermsen will take the mound tonight in his AA debut [/TD] [/TABLE] The landscape for the New Britain Rock Cats is already starting to change only 23 games into the season. A couple days ago, reliever Deolis Guerra was promoted to AAA Rochester. Congratulations to him! He's
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqDW4rI70uo/T5lGaRGuc8I/AAAAAAAAATE/t9Ls1VQ9BHI/s320/Mauer.jpg [TD=class: tr-caption]I get it: Joe Mauer is getting paid $184 million and doesn't hit many home runs [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] When a team is losing, like the Twins are so far this season and did all of last season, it's easy to complain. In fact, it feels really, really good to complain. I sincerely think that us fans deserve be
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4CgSEMDxhD0/T5fsk39GnxI/AAAAAAAAASw/ftjl8qrHDD0/s320/Herrmann.jpg [TD=class: tr-caption]Chris Herrmann celebrates his first inning home run. Mauer's 2013 backup??? [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] Unlike their parent club, the New Britain Rock Cats put up a fight after the odds were stacked against them Tuesday night and, thanks to a 5-run 7th inning, came back to defeat the Portland Sea Dogs
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyIHjCc0xCc/T5afN6GtHqI/AAAAAAAAASo/1nQgtg4aAOM/s320/Mauer+Baltimore.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Though he had 2 hits last night, Joe Mauer came up short when it counted the most. [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] Regardless of what some people in Twins Territory might think, the fact of the matter is that Joe Mauer has been very solid in his career when there are runners in scoring position. You migh
[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 with a couple pictures at Twins Fan From Afar] It was a beautiful evening for outdoor baseball in central Connecticut -- the kind of night where you might come wearing a t-shirt, but had better pack a hooded sweatshirt for when the sun disappears behind the bleachers. The Rock Cats began a homestand tonight, and it was "Anti-Diet Night" at New Britain Stadium. For $12, or $14 if you wanted the good tickets, you could get all-you-can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos and po
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] The New Britain Rock Cats lost a close game this afternoon, 2-1, to the Portland Sea Dogs. This was a pitcher's duel, to be sure. Starter Steve Hirschfeld pitched 7 strong innings for the Rock Cats, striking out 7 and walking none, to lower his ERA to 1.06. He surrendered just three hits. Blake Martin struck out 2 in a scoreless 8th. Luis Perdomo blew the save after allowing two walks and a double in the 9th, and then lost the game when, after inte
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddVITCaiEjc/T466RJonczI/AAAAAAAAASA/pSTxFCSX_mU/s1600/Bake.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]With no Scott Baker in the fold, and with an ineffective Francisco Liriano, the future of the Twins' rotation is dubious, at best [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] You all know the story by now: Last night was not a good night to be a Twins fan. A completely ineffective Francisco Liriano ruined what could have been
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cWcmRxG78IM/T419D60ZDDI/AAAAAAAAAR4/w4wxuQuuC1s/s1600/Liriano.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Is tonight the night where Liriano puts it together?? [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] CC Sabathia is down. In two starts this season, he has 0 decisions. In 12 innings pitched, he's given up 16 hits, 9 earned runs, 2 home runs and 5 walks, while striking out 15. His ERA in this brief stretch is 6.75. Clearly, h
[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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njEaGw6EBSc/T4wRlmQ4KMI/AAAAAAAAARw/QHMTMEvuiWk/s320/6212306479_978e55b761_o.jpg [TD=class: tr-caption]This beautiful photo, taken by former Twin Michael Cuddyer, illustrates the main concern for the Twins organization: empty seats [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] The White Sox officially announced that they were rebuilding last December, when they traded pitcher Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Ja
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] I think 4 games in a row constitutes a winning streak. If that's not the case, well too bad! The final score today was 3-0 New Britain, and the Rock Cats, in the midst of their first road trip, are now 8-3. The Sunday Rock Cats-Fisher Cats matinee at New Hampshire was essentially a pitcher's duel for much of the game. New Britain starter Lucas French tossed 7 scoreless innings (92 pitches) for the Rock Cats, allowing only 2 hits, and walking 3 and
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] [TD=align: center]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NI0Dw6sl4l8/T4jKo5yLyoI/AAAAAAAAARY/-ijibrI5F04/s320/download+(4).jpg [/TD] [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]My stock minor league picture until I make it to another Rock Cats game next week [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] Just a quick note tonight. The Rock Cats continued their good play, beating the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6-1 in convincing fashion. Importantly, they p
[Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] [TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5vo20JSwUE/T4gjOXN7EYI/AAAAAAAAARQ/tVKHsUbz_PE/s320/Gibson.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Twins fans are wondering when, and if, Kyle Gibson will become part of the Twins' rotation [/TD] [/TABLE] This season, the Twins are shelling out $28.25 million on their intended starting pitching staff. Here's the breakdown: Scott Baker (will not pitch an inning this season): $6.5 million
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yamyJ_LSBtg/T4bUbOz-62I/AAAAAAAAARI/IePkdnSf9Bo/s320/lineup.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]How lineups are posted in New Britain -- on a large posterboard when you walk in the stadium. Gotta love it! [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] Yesterday morning, the Rock Cats played at 10:35 a.m., eastern time. That's right, as many of you in Minnesota were settling into your workday routine, so were the Rock Cats
[Originally posted at Twins Fan From Afar] [TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] [TD=align: center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4vSyn5fI_E/T4YUuZseCvI/AAAAAAAAARA/SF1qSwePFd0/s1600/scott.jpg[/TD] [TD=class: tr-caption, align: center]Will this man-child ever throw for the Twins again?[/TD] [/TABLE] There's no good news report today, as it was just announced that our best righty, Scott Baker, will miss the entire season as a result of elbow surgery. This is bad news, make no mistake. When he's
Per La Velle. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/147047085.html This doesn't sound good. I'll hope for the best, but it's tough to imagine a press conference with Terry Ryan sitting next to Baker, and Baker saying "I'm 100% ready for action!"
[TABLE=class: tr-caption-container] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifeAwJ8PVqc/T4V9F9DdRaI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/gRSid00-1as/s320/NB2.bmp [TD=class: tr-caption]Thus far, good things are coming out of New Britain [/TD] [/TABLE] [Originally published at Twins Fan From Afar] A few unrelated items this morning. First, if you missed it, yesterday I wrote about Alex Wimmers' first AA Rock Cats start that took place Monday night, and Aaron Hicks' monster game that helped give the Rock Cats a big victory. Thi
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 🙂