I've stopped watching. Have you?

[bighat]

I just can't do it anymore. I typically enjoy watching this the Twins, even when they're not contending - but not this team, and certainly not right now. 

While the season has been over for a while now, there was a brief stretch in mid-May when the Twins won 2-of-3 in Cleveland, then swept the Orioles at home. An ember of hope flickered inside many optimistic Twins fans. Maybe this team was finally starting to dig deep and find some competitive mojo? After all, the talent is there: Donaldson, Cruz, Maeda, Berrios, Polanco, Mighty Miguel Sano, Rookie of the Year Candidate Kirilloff - teams have done more with far less. Alas, the Twins have gone 4-8 since and have once again set their sights on 100 losses.

I can watch bad Twins teams and have thoroughly enjoyed doing so. I've rooted for players like Paul Sorrento, Denny Hocking, Chris Parmalee, Darren Mastroianni and Mike Pelfrey, even as the team crashed and burned with 90+ loss seasons.

But this team is different. They aren't a bunch of "loveable losers" who are out there trying their best against superior competition. This team is made up of All-Stars, MVPs, and others who have dominated baseball at a professional level for years. And we get....last place in the AL Central? On June 10th? The lack of effort and blown plays are inexcusable. A manager who looks half asleep as he works his way through mopey quotes during interviews. The whole stew is just so toxic.

Maybe at the trade deadline I'll be able to watch an entire game again. And definitely later in the year when we start seeing new arms. But right now it's just impossible to devote any real time to watching this team get smacked around night after night.

[chinmusic]

Sad, but true.

Only this week have I finally accepted that there will be no post season (victory?) this year.

Who would have thunk it? *sigh*

[Vanimal46]

They’re background noise for me now if I don’t have anything better to do. Don’t let the Twins hold you up from planning other activities this summer. 

[gunnarthor]

Yeah, background noise at best. I'll watch Buxton when he's back and I like to watch Berrios starts but I'm sick of the 5 inning starter games followed by a parade of AAAA arms.

[wsnydes]

In fairness, I technically never started.  As a Hulu subscriber, I haven't had the opportunity.  I usually consume sports one of two ways.  It's on TV muted and I have music playing or the volume is up on the TV or radio and it's background noise.  That's not really changed.  

Even game attendance isn't an indicator in the age of COVID.  Between that and other obligations, I haven't been able to attend a game yet.  I will finally on Friday though.

[Dodecahedron]

This year's team feels like the futile Twins teams in the late 1990s.  There is some talent, but not enough, and the team is playing just plain bad baseball.

A lot of people stopped watching the Twins teams in the late 90s and didn't come back until the Twins started playing well in the 00s.

[luckylager]

I'm glad I took advantage of the MiLBTV $29.00 subscription deal when it was offered.  I'll spent the rest of the season watching the Saints/Wind Surge/Kernels and hoping for the future.  

[Number3]

Not just Twins' followers have stopped watching. MLB is in big trouble with the pitching dominance and all of the strikeouts and long low scoring games. Twins are actually 9th in team batting average but what difference does that make? Evidently none. Hard to believe they actually trail Detroit in the standings. Berrios and pray for rain. Tonight its Happ with his 5+ era which just won't cut it the way the game is today. Nothing to suggest that the Twins will not continue to hover around the .400 mark for the rest of the year. They are off of the pot.

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

@bighat

No, I have not stopped watching. Can’t stop won’t stop! Don’t know why; it’s in my blood. I’ve been a Twins fan longer than Falvey, Levine, Pohlad, or St. Peter, though not as long as some of the rest of you here. Our team, not theirs.  also, I like to see for my own eyes when someone tells me “Player X actually did good tonight” so that I can confirm for myself, or if I disagree, or somewhere in the middle.

And of course, I always want to think there will be a payoff at the end for the investment, whether it’s a World Series in some future year, or just seeing a player like Jeffers play his butt off on any given night. But I do plan to dip more into minor leagues, younger leagues, or independent ball more this summer. Somehow I survived half of 2020 without MLB better than expected, and I will survive just fine without it if there is a work stoppage in 2022. Note to owners and players. 

[MMMordabito]

I was offered seats about halfway up section 114 last night and passed.  I just didn't want to deal with the 5-6 hour and minimum $60 food/drink/transportation for two commitment in 90-95 degrees to watch what I knew would be a bad loss during a bad season to one my two most hated teams.  I also couldn't get a taker for the second ticket from any of my kids or those in my close circle.  Maybe I don't really love baseball, or maybe I've appropriately prioritized it.

I'll still watch though.  I was high on Dobnak, but right now it looks like the Twins will be pressed to get fair value out of that $9 mill commitment.  I'm hoping Ober gets a few more starts, even though I haven't been as impressed as others so far.  I hope they start moving vets so guys like Larnach, Kirilloff, Gordon and even Garlick can play every day.  Don't have to wait until July 31.  I understand Levine doesn't want to say that the team is selling, but he's just putting lipstick on a pig.

[operation mindcrime]

4 hours ago, bighat said:

I just can't do it anymore. I typically enjoy watching this the Twins, even when they're not contending - but not this team, and certainly not right now. 

While the season has been over for a while now, there was a brief stretch in mid-May when the Twins won 2-of-3 in Cleveland, then swept the Orioles at home. An ember of hope flickered inside many optimistic Twins fans. Maybe this team was finally starting to dig deep and find some competitive mojo? After all, the talent is there: Donaldson, Cruz, Maeda, Berrios, Polanco, Mighty Miguel Sano, Rookie of the Year Candidate Kirilloff - teams have done more with far less. Alas, the Twins have gone 4-8 since and have once again set their sights on 100 losses.

I can watch bad Twins teams and have thoroughly enjoyed doing so. I've rooted for players like Paul Sorrento, Denny Hocking, Chris Parmalee, Darren Mastroianni and Mike Pelfrey, even as the team crashed and burned with 90+ loss seasons.

But this team is different. They aren't a bunch of "loveable losers" who are out there trying their best against superior competition. This team is made up of All-Stars, MVPs, and others who have dominated baseball at a professional level for years. And we get....last place in the AL Central? On June 10th? The lack of effort and blown plays are inexcusable. A manager who looks half asleep as he works his way through mopey quotes during interviews. The whole stew is just so toxic.

Maybe at the trade deadline I'll be able to watch an entire game again. And definitely later in the year when we start seeing new arms. But right now it's just impossible to devote any real time to watching this team get smacked around night after night.

You'll be missed in the Game Threads! Misery loves company!

[operation mindcrime]

32 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

I was offered seats about halfway up section 114 last night and passed.  I just didn't want to deal with the 5-6 hour and minimum $60 food/drink/transportation for two commitment in 90-95 degrees to watch what I knew would be a bad loss during a bad season to one my two most hated teams.  I also couldn't get a taker for the second ticket from any of my kids or those in my close circle.  Maybe I don't really love baseball, or maybe I've appropriately prioritized it.

I'll still watch though.  I was high on Dobnak, but right now it looks like the Twins will be pressed to get fair value out of that $9 mill commitment.  I'm hoping Ober gets a few more starts, even though I haven't been as impressed as others so far.  I hope they start moving vets so guys like Larnach, Kirilloff, Gordon and even Garlick can play every day.  Don't have to wait until July 31.  I understand Levine doesn't want to say that the team is selling, but he's just putting lipstick on a pig.

You definitely made the right choice staying home! Is your 2nd most hated team the Twins?

[bighat]

10 minutes ago, operation mindcrime said:

You'll be missed in the Game Threads! Misery loves company!

I have certainly been missing the game threads.

Lately I find myself only commenting negatively about this team, I wish I could be more positive sometimes but there's just nothing to grasp right now.

[stringer bell]

I have changed my priorities a bit. If I'm home and there's nothing else to do, I'll watch. However, if it's hopeless, I'll find something else to do or watch.

I still find things to be positive about--Kirilloff and Larnach, also Ryan Jeffers. Hopefully there will be pitchers I can watch and enjoy in the last 100 games.  

[cHawk]

Same here. *sigh* I can’t watch this team. It’s like “playoffs, the 162-game season edition”

[Otto von Ballpark]

5 hours ago, luckylager said:

I'm glad I took advantage of the MiLBTV $29.00 subscription deal when it was offered.  I'll spent the rest of the season watching the Saints/Wind Surge/Kernels and hoping for the future.  

MiLB.TV is still available for $20 here (less potential student/military discount) as far as I can tell: http://www.milb.tv/yearlydiscount

I think this deal has been floating around for a few years. I suspect MiLB.TV isn't much of a moneymaker.  (Heck, I don't think MLB.TV subscriptions are either.)

[Greglw3]

I couldn’t stop watching the Twins. I’ve been a fan for 57 years and followed good and bad teams. I do enjoy watching Kirilloff, Larnach and Gordon as keys to the future. I also take hope in the nice batch of prospects, mostly at Wichita like Jose Miranda.

[twins_89]

I still watch some games, but my Twins viewing has changed. Early in the season I looked forward to watching the games, now I only watch when I have nothing else going on. I'll probably watch a bit more once the top pitching prospects make it to the majors.

[flpmagikat]

I left the state about a decade ago, and while I would get the mlb.tv for parts of some years, when I want to watch good baseball I haven't really turned to the twins for a minute. but throughout all these years, and since long before I left the state, following the team has been what's kept me interested. ive always kept at least some tabs on the guys in the minors, and will still follow the day to day operations/drama/boxscores of the team, and continue to check this site and post here and there, like I did on the forums that came before this.

but watch the games? they can be happy I haven't cancelled att tv yet. baseball isn't inherently fun to watch just because you like the team. I learned that awhile ago.

[rv78]

It comes down to 2 choices on TV: 

1. watch the Twins

or

2. watch some thing else 

It's crap either way. 

[KFEY93]

I stopped watching in early May, knew it was over then already. Now I just randomly check the score when I remember they are playing, if they are winning I might turn it on to finish the game, if they are losing I laugh and move on. Usually check the score in the morning when I get up and if they win I watch some high lights. Other than that, I have enough disfunction in my life, dont need the Twins to add to it. 

[Number3]

Then something like last night happens. Luckily Yahoo has highlights. This team should be called the 911ers.  When the light at the end of the tunnel is the proverbial oncoming train then they manage to pull out a victory or sometimes even 2.  Problem is you have to watch for 3 plus hours to see 10 minutes of bliss even in last night's impossible finish.

[USAFChief]

Not only have I stopped watching, I've stopped clicking into threads and commenting on TD. I'll have updates on my nonparticipation from time to time.

[Longdistancetwins]

20 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Not only have I stopped watching, I've stopped clicking into threads and commenting on TD. I'll have updates on my nonparticipation from time to time.

Definitely have been missing your regular presence, Chief.

[Longdistancetwins]

35 minutes ago, Number3 said:

Then something like last night happens. Luckily Yahoo has highlights. This team should be called the 911ers.  When the light at the end of the tunnel is the proverbial oncoming train then they manage to pull out a victory or sometimes even 2.  Problem is you have to watch for 3 plus hours to see 10 minutes of bliss even in last night's impossible finish.

Or, you could be like me and turn it off after 3 hours and before the 10 minutes...

[wsnydes]

23 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Not only have I stopped watching, I've stopped clicking into threads and commenting on TD. I'll have updates on my nonparticipation from time to time.

Your absence in game threads has made it much more difficult to steal your jokes.  

[Azviking101]

I agree. I haven't watched much lately. Buxton back should give me something to watch again, but I kind of need the Twins to get through Summer. AZ Summers are like MN Winter. Long and awful.