Thank You Nick Nelson

[Vanimal46]

Your recent Twitter thread should be promoted to all fans. I'm so tired of LEN3 and other media personalities tearing down fans that want to see a bold move.

 

[SF Twins Fan]

This market lost a very good reporter and one that really dug for information when Berardino left. He wasn't the friendliest but at least he was good at his job. The current ones that work for PP and the Strib are worthless.

[blindeke]

Amen.

[Vanimal46]

This market lost a very good reporter and one that really dug for information when Berardino left. He wasn't the friendliest but at least he was good at his job. The current ones that work for PP and the Strib are worthless.

Couldn't agree more. This market is flush with 'reporters' who are simply happy to have a free seat at Target Field and push PR agendas.

[redstorm]

Would be nice if Russo were looking for a summer job 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

don't know what exchange prompted this, but I approve.

[Doomtints]

I don't think the Twins market is unique in this regard, is it?

 

Access journalism is the world we live in.

[Vanimal46]

I don't think the Twins market is unique in this regard, is it?

 

Access journalism is the world we live in.

Yeah this isn't unique to Minnesota. There are reporters in all sports and all markets that wear their press badge as an honor and look down upon us simpleton fans from their press box seats.

[bird]

It would be easier for me to take if the only journalism that was in hospice was sports journalism. I used to turn to the sports pages to get over the news. Now I turn to Twins Daily to avoid all the 24/7 crass polarizing nonsense the corporate news monsters throw at us and call journalism. Oh, and the incredible complacency of our Twins sports writers too.

 

But I find some solace and humor it it all. For example, Sid Hartman hasn't been responsible for breaking a news story since before most of you whippersnappers were born. And there he is. Now THAT'S funny!

[Ebby Calvin Laloosh]

The day I found Nick's Twins Blog years ago changed my life for the better. The only thing worth looking at in the papers was the box scores. Just ignore them, let their fabled culture of access be the meteor that sends them the way of the dinosaurs. More Nick, Seth, Parker and Carole, thank you very much.

[Regular Sized Rudy]

Twins twitter got pretty heated today, which was honestly kind of awesome.  But I think it's healthy for fans to express their frustrations and opinions. It's unfortunate certain members of the media tend to "dunk" on fans considering every person on twitter (including the TC media!!!) is obviously supremely unqualified when it comes to putting together a baseball team.  We know what we know, the media knows what they know, and the people running the team know 1,000,000x more than the fans and media combined.  There's clearly a reason the Twins are sitting at $96 million today, but because we don't have access to that reason, we have a right to be annoyed with that number.  If anything, the interactions today showed this fan base is still passionate, and to Nick's point, is ready for this team to start making a run for it.

 

"You gotta jump in to swim."

[Regular Sized Rudy]

Nick: Fans don’t need to be talked down to or told they’re dumb because they want the team to spend more, or be more aggressive.

 

SKOR North (prolly Mackey tbh):

[Vanimal46]

Nick: Fans don’t need to be talked down to or told they’re dumb because they want the team to spend more, or be more aggressive.

 

SKOR North (prolly Mackey tbh):

https://twitter.com/SKORNorth/status/1086393198715510784

Jesus. I remember my first SCORCHING HAWT taek to boost sagging ratings... Someone forgot to tell him to never go full Skip Bayless.

[TheLeviathan]

Out of curiosity...what was the lead up to that?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Nick: Fans don’t need to be talked down to or told they’re dumb because they want the team to spend more, or be more aggressive.

 

SKOR North (prolly Mackey tbh):

https://twitter.com/SKORNorth/status/1086393198715510784

Wow, that’s a heck of a leap...

[Regular Sized Rudy]

 

Out of curiosity...what was the lead up to that?

I think it primarily started with fans flooding the mentions of various Twins media members expressing frustration after Ottavino and Allen came off the board. LEN3 and Mackey--amongst others--have been responding to fans with their own (valid) opinions about payroll and other Twins-related offseason topics, but have kind of been using a condescending tone at times. It's been quite amusing.

[Nick Nelson]

Haha, wow. This was quite a thread to run into on a Friday evening. Thanks vanimal, and all who've said nice things. 

 

I'm extremely disappointed with the local Twins media landscape right now, and I guess things bubbled over a bit there. Berardino was a star performer and he's left a huge void. 

 

That Twitter thread truly wasn't triggered by any one thing in particular, but I kinda reached my limit after seeing Mackey and Warne chide fans for having the gall to take issue with the current payroll number, after this tweet from La Velle last night:

 

 

So, the team actually should be pretty decent, better than people expect, and that's the rationale for not spending to improve it? Where is the logic there? 

 

I'm not saying beat writers or media folks need to criticize the team about payroll, or even care about payroll. But dismissing and ripping fans for questioning it? C'mon. Are we being accountable to the team, or our readers/listeners? That SKOR poll was an embarrassment (but the replies are quite amusing).

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

This market lost a very good reporter and one that really dug for information when Berardino left. He wasn't the friendliest but at least he was good at his job. The current ones that work for PP and the Strib are worthless.

Beradino is a UNC grad.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Jesus. I remember my first SCORCHING HAWT taek to boost sagging ratings...

And eventually the whine line thread was cancelled for lack of advertisers

[Seth Stohs]

 

Nick: Fans don’t need to be talked down to or told they’re dumb because they want the team to spend more, or be more aggressive.

 

SKOR North (prolly Mackey tbh):

 

I listened to the segment on this topic, and while I think this is a poorly asked Twitter question it isn't quite what they were saying. It wasn't saying that if they add anything more they would be losing money. The discussion fully said that if the 2019 Opening Day payroll is $96 million, everyone should be disappointed. They also said they would like the Twins to add and go above the 50% of revenue mark when they are in a place to win... unlike the 2000s when they wouldn't give up anything to add the one more big piece that might have helped them in the playoffs. We don't know what the Falvine front office would do in that situation yet. Hopefully we find out soon. 

 

Here's a link to the show if people want to hear what Mackey said...  (starts about the 15:30 mark of hour 1)

 

https://www.skornorth.com/mackey-judd/2019/01/1-18-19-write-that-down-twins-payroll-and-judd-on-the-wild/

 

[sdangus]

I personally think what they did last year is exactly what you are suggesting Seth. I think they stretched the budget in the hope that adding a couple pieces would push them over the top. It didn't work out.

That doesn't necessarily lead to the conclusion that they would set this year's budget at that level.

[Regular Sized Rudy]

 

I listened to the segment on this topic, and while I think this is a poorly asked Twitter question it isn't quite what they were saying. It wasn't saying that if they add anything more they would be losing money. The discussion fully said that if the 2019 Opening Day payroll is $96 million, everyone should be disappointed. They also said they would like the Twins to add and go above the 50% of revenue mark when they are in a place to win... unlike the 2000s when they wouldn't give up anything to add the one more big piece that might have helped them in the playoffs. We don't know what the Falvine front office would do in that situation yet. Hopefully we find out soon. 

 

Here's a link to the show if people want to hear what Mackey said...  (starts about the 15:30 mark of hour 1)

 

https://www.skornorth.com/mackey-judd/2019/01/1-18-19-write-that-down-twins-payroll-and-judd-on-the-wild/

I want to preface this by saying that I have not yet listened to this segment, so perhaps I am wrong on this, but I think the issue with the wording of this poll and Mackey's stance in general is that he thinks Twins fans expect ownership to spend at a level that is competitive with the top spenders in the league. While I know that there are some fans that probably do expect that, the majority of Twins fans (specifically fans that follow and respond to the likes of Mackey, LEN3, BW, the TD folks, etc. on twitter) are smart enough to understand the Twins' payroll situation and limitations and don't need be talked down to as if we don't comprehend. 

[TheLeviathan]

Mackey is knocking down a strawman. If they acknowledge 96M is too low than why go after Gleeman?

 

This is the worst kind of sports talk. Mackey has generally been better than this, but this little Twitter strawman deserved to be called out. No one thinks the team needs a 200M payroll, but 96 is a slap in the face.

[Mr. Brooks]

I want to preface this by saying that I have not yet listened to this segment, so perhaps I am wrong on this, but I think the issue with the wording of this poll and Mackey's stance in general is that he thinks Twins fans expect ownership to spend at a level that is competitive with the top spenders in the league. While I know that there are some fans that probably do expect that, the majority of Twins fans (specifically fans that follow and respond to the likes of Mackey, LEN3, BW, the TD folks, etc. on twitter) are smart enough to understand the Twins' payroll situation and limitations and don't need be talked down to as if we don't comprehend.

Do you really think Mackey can be convinced that anyone is as smart as him? Good luck with that.

 

LEN III on the other hand, seems like an affable guy, but the next time he gives an actual hard hitting criticism of the Twins will be the first.

[Mr. Brooks]

Mackey is knocking down a strawman. If they acknowledge 96M is too low than why go after Gleeman?

 

This is the worst kind of sports talk. Mackey has generally been better than this, but this little Twitter strawman deserved to be called out. No one thinks the team needs a 200M payroll, but 96 is a slap in the face.

And this is why that station couldn't even stay on the air for most of the day. Beyond unlistenable.

[amjgt]

SKOR one for the Pohlads!

[Tom Froemming]

 

The discussion fully said that if the 2019 Opening Day payroll is $96 million, everyone should be disappointed. 

This makes it even worse to me.

 

My problem with Mackey's whole shtick today was that he built up this straw man Twins fan who expected the team to be in the top 10 in MLB payroll. This is not a thing.

 

I'm not in this camp, but a lot of Twins fans were bummed when the team didn't sign Cody Allen to a one-year-deal worth less that $10 million. Or even Adam Ottavino for 3/$27MM. Nobody was demanding that the Twins go out and sign both Harper and Machado. 

 

Then later on he says the same thing everybody else was saying: I'd be disappointed if they had a $96 million payroll. OK, well that was fun, I guess.

 

Again, I'm not in love with the Allen or Ottavino signings. I'm OK with the Twins not going after those guys. I'm also really encouraged by what the front office has done to put this franchise in a good spot moving forward. But ...

 

Twins fans have every right to be pissed off about the current situation. It's OK. Yes, things may change in the future. Mackey told me a "well-placed" member of the front office said they would pounce when the time is right. Twins fans are tired of waiting for the time to be right. And that's OK. Future is basically treated as the F word in these parts these days. I'm fine with that too.

 

Don't tell fans how to feel about their team. Fans are always going to want more. We should! We love our team and want to see it be successful and we get upset when there doesn't appear to be a strong effort being made in that direction. That's what it all boils down to.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I want to preface this by saying that I have not yet listened to this segment, so perhaps I am wrong on this, but I think the issue with the wording of this poll and Mackey's stance in general is that he thinks Twins fans expect ownership to spend at a level that is competitive with the top spenders in the league. While I know that there are some fans that probably do expect that, the majority of Twins fans (specifically fans that follow and respond to the likes of Mackey, LEN3, BW, the TD folks, etc. on twitter) are smart enough to understand the Twins' payroll situation and limitations and don't need be talked down to as if we don't comprehend. 

 

That's why I did want to include the link to the segments on here because that is not at all what he thinks.

[Regular Sized Rudy]

 

That's why I did want to include the link to the segments on here because that is not at all what he thinks.

He literally starts out that segment by saying "Why is it hard to figure out why the Twins don't spend with the Yankees or the Phillies?"

[Seth Stohs]

I think that the Twins Daily readers appreciated what Mike Berardino did as a beat reporter over his time with the Twins... Brandon had him on his podcast on Friday afternoon. Mike talked about his HOF ballot, but if you scroll to the 35:00 mark, Mike gives his thoughts on the Twins payroll.

 

https://zonecoverage.com/2019/twins/midwest-swing-mike-berardino-reveals-hall-of-fame-ballot-weighs-in-on-twins-payroll/