stewthornley

"CBD is short for cannabidiol" Thanks for explaining it. I first saw the press release from Major League Baseball and had no idea of what CBD was. (I hate acronyms, so thanks for spelling it out.) From what you wrote, it sounds like this will be a legal substance for players - at least off the field. It sounds like it could be a nice product to use with several benefits. Not that I've ever been in danger of going all "Reefer Madness" and have managed to keep alcohol as my only drug of abuse, I might try CBD. I am also subject to the joint player-management drug testing and rules, so I'll confirm that I won't get in trouble for it. Is it legal in Minnesota yet, so that I can buy it at a local Walgreen's? Thanks again for this. Good article.

As an official scorer, I enjoy reconstructing an inning after an error or passed ball to see if any runs that score are earned or unearned. Next to my regular scoresheet, with the play-by-play as it happens, I start an alternative-fact account on a separate notepad. Errors fall into two primary categories: missed-out errors, which also create or extend the life of a baserunner, and advancement errors, which do not affect the number of outs or the number of baserunners, only the placement of the baserunners. Stew Thornley is one of the Twins official scorers and a baseball historian. He will occasionally provide insight to the decisions official scorers make. If you have any questions you would like him to address in a future story, you can ask them in this Twins Daily thread. You can also read more from Stew at StewThornley.net. Missed-out errors are usually straightforward in reconstruction. If a player reaches base on an error, such as a shortstop booting his ground ball, and scores, his run is unearned. In addition, any runs that score after two out are unearned, at least to the team and also to the pitcher if he was in the game at the time the error occurred. Advancement errors, such as an outfielder fumbling the ball after a hit, are more likely to require a judgment call if a run scores. Also, a run that scores because of an advancement error may be unearned but may become earned depending on subsequent events. When an error or passed ball occurs, scorers should consider the impact after each ensuing play. Consider this sequence: A runner on first steals second and continues to third on an overthrow by the catcher. Situation: runner on third who would be on second without the error.The runner from third scores on a sacrifice fly. The run is unearned at this time although it could become earned depending on subsequent events. The scorer should determine at this time if the runner would have advanced from second to third on the fly. Even though the runner scored from third, it does not mean he could have gone from second to third on the fly. If the fly was of medium depth to left field, the scorer may determine that the runner would still be on second if not for the error. If the fly was to deep right field, the scorer may determine that the runner would have advanced to third on the fly. (If the scorer is unsure, the benefit of the doubt should be given to the pitcher and the judgment made that the runner would still be on second.)The next batter singles. If the scorer’s judgment was that the runner would have advanced to third on the fly ball in the preceding play, then the run that scored on the sacrifice fly becomes earned. If the judgment was that the runner would have remained at second on the fly, then the scorer must make another judgment on whether he could have scored from second on the single. This judgment should be made at the time of the single and tracked as part of the inning being reconstructed if the error had not occurred.The remaining batter or batters complete the inning by making outs with no plays occurring that would have created additional advancement by the runner.In determining if a runner would have been able to score from second on a single to the outfield, as noted above, the scorer may consider many factors. Some obvious ones are the speed of the runner, the strength of the outfielder’s arm, and the nature of the hit. Situational factors should also be considered:Number of outs when the single occurred—the difference between two out and fewer than two out. With two out a runner can get a better jump on a batted ball. He does not have to hold up to see if a line drive or fly ball is caught or hesitate to see if a ground ball makes it through the left side of the infield. With fewer than two out, the runner sometimes has to hold up, and it is more likely that it can be considered that he would not have scored on the hit.Likelihood of the third-base coach sending the runner home. This can be dependent on the number of outs as well as other factors, such as the score of the game. With two out, it is more likely that a team will take a chance and send the runner home. With one out, the coach may be more cautious and likely to hold the runner, determining that there is still a good chance he will be driven in by the batters who follow. With no outs, this is even more likely.If a team is trailing by a large margin, it is less likely to take a chance. Therefore, the scorer has more reason to assume that the runner would not have been waved home. This can be the case even in a two-run game if it is the potential final inning for the batting team and the runner in question is not the tying run.The inning has to be reconstructed based on what follows, even if logic dictates that the inning would have played out differently: a batter singles and goes to second when the outfielder lets the ball by him. The next batter is intentionally walked. The next batter homers. All three runs are earned. We know that the intentional walk would not have occurred if not for the error; however, intentional walks are treated the same as any other walk in reconstructing an inning. Try this one: with one out, a batter reaches first on an error. The next batter triples, scoring the runner (unearned). The next batter hits a routine grounder to the shortstop, who throws home late trying to get the runner coming from third. Can the scorer assume that, without the error, there would have been two outs and the shortstop would have thrown to first for the final out? No. The plays and actions by fielders that occur after an error must be assumed when reconstructing an inning. However, a situation could arise where an out could be assumed if it does not assume any decisions made on the part of fielders. Example: With fewer than two out Simmons singles and advances to second when the center fielder bobbles the ball for an error. Torriente strikes out on a pitch that gets by the catcher. The wild pitch allows Simmons to go to third and Torriente to reach first. If not for the error, Simmons would have been on first, and Torriente—with first base occupied and fewer than two out—would be out automatically. An out on the strikeout could be assumed in this situation. I’ve never gotten heat on the reconstruction of an inning. Give the pitcher the benefit of the doubt when making judgments (benefit of the doubt, not an outright gift). The team in the field is usually happy, and the team at bat doesn’t care. However, what happens if the pitcher affected is battling for the league lead in earned-run average with a pitcher on the other team? I’m hoping to avoid that scenario. Click here to view the article

No on that one. The second out wasn't a force. The idea with a GIDP is that the batter does something that will create a double play, regardless by decisions by the runners. In this case a runner tried to stretch and was thrown out, so it's a ground ball that's a double play but no GIDP.

The official scoring scene at Twins games has been quiet the last few home stands. We like quiet, but it doesn’t leave much upon which to comment, so I will instead go to my favorite city in the world, where a run-scoring triple play occurred Tuesday, July 25, which ties to a similar play from Twins history, and leads to some interesting questions. Stew Thornley is one of the Twins official scorers and a baseball historian. He will occasionally provide insight to the decisions official scorers make. If you have any questions you would like him to address in a future story, you can ask them in this Twins Daily thread. You can also read more from Stew at StewThornley.net. The Play In the bottom of the second the Yankees had Matt Holliday at third, Didi Gregorius on second, and Chase Headley on first. Todd Frazier hit a low liner toward short that froze Gregorius, not wanting to take off before making sure the ball wasn’t caught. Cincinnati shortstop Jose Peraza fielded the ball on one hop, ran to second to force Headley, and threw to Joey Votto at first for the double play. But the Reds weren’t done. Gregorius, with his late break from second, got hung up between the bases. Votto threw to Eugenio Suarez, the third baseman, who tossed to Peraza. Gregorius was called out for running out of the baseline trying to avoid Suarez. Since the final out of the inning was not a force, Holliday’s run counted since he had crossed the plate before the final out. Home Sweet Home Jacob Pomrenke of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) keeps the SABR Triple Play database and reports that the last run-scoring triple play was May 27, 2006 at the beloved Metrodome. The Mariners, down 8-4 to the Twins in that game, loaded the bases in the eighth. Juan Rincon relieved Jesse Crain and, on his first pitch, got Kenji Johjima to hit a grounder to second. As Richie Sexson scored from third and Carl Everett went from second to third, Luis Castillo tagged out Adrian Beltre, the runner from first, and threw to Justin Morneau to retire Johjima. Morneau then threw across the diamond as Everett had rounded third too far. Tony Batista took Morneau’s throw and tagged out Everett coming back to the bag for a triple play. The Quiz Here’s the quiz regarding these plays: 1. Were the batters charged with a grounded into double play (GIDP)? 2. Were the batters credited with a run batted in (RBI)? A runner is charged with a GIDP for grounding into a force or reverse-force double play. We all know that a batter cannot be credited with an RBI on a GIDP. In these cases, because of the add-on out that occurred after a force double play, the batters are not charged with a GIDP. Since the batters were not charged with GIDPs, do they get an RBI? Also no. This was the decision by Elias Sports Bureau, which is empowered by Major League Baseball to interpret the rules. At Yankee Stadium, an Elias representative was in the press box and was able to consult with Billy Altman, the official scorer. Elias has been consistent in this interpretation through the years; in the 2006 game at the Metrodome, Johjima also did not get an RBI. The Counter Example Can a batter ever get an RBI when he hits into a run-scoring triple play? John Labombarda of Elias Sports Bureau was able to come up with at least one example of such: On June 3, 1977 the Kansas City Royals, trailing the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth, loaded the bases when John Wathan flied out. Al Cowens scored from third and Dave Nelson went from second to third. I’m not sure exactly how Fred Patek, who was on first, was put out after right-fielder Pat Kelly threw the ball in, but as this was happening, Nelson bolted for home, only to be run down for a game-ending triple play. Wathan received a sacrifice fly and RBI. A Triple Play Database kept by SABR members Steve Boren, Herm Krabbenhoft, and Jim Smith shows 22 run-scoring triple plays in the history of the major leagues. For rarity, this puts in about on a par with perfect games. And, once in a while, it involves a decision by the official scorer. Meanwhile, please keep the questions and comments coming on this forum: http://twinsdaily.co...stions-for-stew Click here to view the article

A common conundrum for official scorers (and my last story) surrounds which pitcher gets a “Win.” This happened again twice last Saturday, June 17, as the Twins lost two games to Cleveland. The latter of these decisions led to a milestone win for a reliever, and kept him from climbing towards a record.A First Win In the first game, Gregg Wong was the official scorer and had a pretty straightforward call, awarding the win to Zach McAllister, who relieved starter Ryan Merritt in the fifth and pitched two scoreless innings. But in the night game, I had more possibilities. A rain delay in the top of the fifth meant Mike Clevinger wouldn’t be back in the bottom of the inning. Nick Goody came in with Cleveland ahead 2-1 and pitched a scoreless inning. Cleveland expanded its lead to 5-1 before Goody gave up a home run to Brian Dozier leading off the last of the sixth. He got the next two batters out and was relieved, so he pitched 1-2/3 innings with one earned run. Boone Logan, Cody Allen, and Andrew Miller pitched scoreless ball after that, but I awarded the win to Goody. In the context of each situation, all were effective. It turned out to be Goody’s first major-league win in his 58th pitching appearance. (I also tipped off the Cleveland public-relations representative so he could get word to the dugout to keep the game ball for Goody.) I suppose Goody was happy to get the win, but he had been climbing the charts for “Player Who Pitched The Most Games But Never Got A Win.” Juan Alvarez (1999-2003) and Ed Olwine (1986-1988) hold that record with 80 games without a win. Goody was the active pitcher with the most, and eighth overall. For what it’s worth, the Twins have two players in the top 11; older fans will remember Terry Felton didn’t get a win in his 55 appearances (9th place). And the new active player at the top of the list (11th overall) is Twins reliever Ryan O’Rourke, who is active, but underwent Tommy John surgery in May. A First Loss (And Then Not) The win was Goody’s first decision of any type, but he originally was charged with a loss a couple of years ago, only to have it removed a couple of days later. Unlike assigning the win – in which the scorer may have some discretion – this one had to be done according to the rules, but it was a tricky situation in which an interpretation had to be made. July 30, 2015 the Yankees and Rangers were tied 6-6 at Texas going into the last of the ninth. Goody walked Delino DeShields to start the inning and was relieved by Andrew Miller. With one out Leonys Martin hit a grounder that struck DeShields. DeShields was out, and Martin was credited with a single. Martin went to second when Adrian Beltre walked and scored on a single by Josh Hamilton to end the game. Who gets the loss? The question comes down to whether or not DeShields being hit by the batted ball is a fielder’s choice. If Martin had hit a grounder that resulted in DeShields being forced at second, Martin would still be Goody’s responsibility, because a fielder’s choice constitutes a swap of the runners. On the other hand, if Martin had grounded a single to right and DeShields was out trying to go to third, Goody would be off the hook, his runner erased. What did happen – a runner hit by a batted ball – takes on the characteristics of the latter play described above. It is not a fielder’s choice. Thus, Martin became the responsibility of Miller. When Martin scored, the run and the loss were charged to Miller. There was precedent for this interpretation, which you can read about in a conundrum in the newsletter of the Official Scoring Committee of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR): http://sabr.org/cont...etter#conundrum Who Gets The Unearned Run? How about another poser, regarding which pitcher gets an unearned run? I’ll reconstruct this inning from the last of the seventh inning in the Twins’ 20-7 win over Seattle on June 13, as though the error hadn’t occurred: 1. With Casey Lawrence on the mound, Jason Castro singles. 2. Polanco singles and Castro stops at second base. 3. Eddie Rosario flies out. 4. Brian Dozier doubles, scoring Castro with Polanco going to third. 5. Marc Rzepczynski relieves. 6. Joe Mauer hits a comebacker to Rzepczynski, and Polanco is trapped off third. Rzepczynski runs him back toward the bag and throws to third-baseman Kyle Seager, who muffs the throw, allowing Polanco to avoid being put out and to race home. The ruling was a fielder’s choice-error on Seager with no run batted in. (Polanco would have been out if not for the error.) 7. Robbie Grossman singles, loading the bases. 8. Max Kepler singles to bring in Dozier. 9. Kennys Vargas singles to score Mauer. 10. Eduardo Escobar singles to score Grossman. 11. Castro singles to bring in two more, although Castro was out trying to stretch the hit to a double. 12. After a pitching change, Polanco grounded out to end the inning. Polanco’s run is unearned and is the only unearned run because all the runs after the error occurred before two were out. Which pitcher, Lawrence or Rzepczynski, gets the unearned run applied to his line? The answer is Rzepczynski, even though Polanco, who scored the unearned run, was put on base by the Lawrence. That’s because the fielder’s choice on Mauer’s grounder was a fielder’s choice; even though there was not an out, it’s still considered a swap of the runners because of an error. This type of situation was discussed in another committee conundrum: http://sabr.org/cont...etter#conundrum Gratuitous Promotion As long as I’m plugging these conundrums, here is a pitch to join SABR (http://sabr.org) and its Official Scoring Committee: http://sabr.org/rese...earch-committee Thanks to those who have posted questions and comments on the forum for official scoring questions (http://twinsdaily.co...stions-for-stew). Keep them coming. Stew Thornley is one of the Twins official scorers and a baseball historian. He will occasionally provide insight to the decisions official scorers make. If you have any questions you would like him to address in a future story, you can ask them in this Twins Daily thread. You can also read more from Stew at StewThornley.net. Click here to view the article

An official scoring decision in the May 31, 2017 Houston at Minnesota game drew a lot of questions regarding which pitcher was awarded the "win." Michael Feliz entered the game in the last of the ninth with the Astros leading 17-6. He retired the side with one hit - and was credited with the win. "How could that be?", asked people at the ball park, fans from around the country, and members of a Facebook page devoted to college sports information directors.Starter David Paulino pitched four innings, giving up two runs. Houston led 5-2 when James Hoyt came in for the bottom of the fifth. In the sixth (after the Astros had scored another in the top of the inning) Hoyt gave up a one-out homer to Eddie Rosario and two-out single to Chris Gimenez. Tony Sipp relieved, and Jason Castro greeted him with a home run to center. Stew Thornley is one of the Twins official scorers and a baseball historian. He will occasionally provide insight to the decisions official scorers make. If you have any questions you would like him to address in a future story, you can ask them in this Twins Daily thread. You can also read more from Stew at StewThornley.net. Houston padded its lead with six runs in the seventh, and Reymin Guduan made his major-league debut. In his second inning on the mound, in the eighth, Guduan gave up a double and a walk and allowed one of the runners to score on a wild pitch. Then Feliz pitched the ninth, allowing a two-out double. I wasn’t the scorer in this game, but I was sitting next to Gregg Wong, the official scorer, who knew he was going to have to assign the win to one of the relievers. Rule 9.17( states that the starting pitcher must complete five innings of a game that lasts six or more innings on defense to receive a win. If the starter doesn’t go that long but leaves with his team in the lead, and his team holds the lead, then “the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the relief pitcher, if there is only one relief pitcher, or the relief pitcher who, in the official scorer’s judgment was the most effective, if there is more than one relief pitcher.” A comment reads, “It is the intent of Rule 9.17( that a relief pitcher pitch at least one complete inning or pitch when a crucial out is made, within the context of the game (including the score), in order to be credited as the winning pitcher. If the first relief pitcher pitches effectively, the official scorer should not presumptively credit that pitcher with the win, because the rule requires that the win be credited to the pitcher who was the most effective, and a subsequent relief pitcher may have been most effective. The official scorer, in determining which relief pitcher was the most effective, should consider the number of runs, earned runs and base runners given up by each relief pitcher and the context of the game at the time of each relief pitcher’s appearance. If two or more relief pitchers were similarly effective, the official scorer should give the presumption to the earlier pitcher as the winning pitcher.” So if you the official scorer, to whom would you credit the win? A number of writers approached Gregg in the late innings and asked if Hoyt (two earned runs allowed in 1-2/3 innings) would get the win. Wonger’s consistent reply was, “I don’t know yet.” Tony Sipp wasn’t going to get it; that was clear. What about Guduan? Two innings with one run allowed wasn’t awful, but how could it be more effective than a scoreless inning, provided by Feliz at the end? Even that didn’t become certain as Feliz gave up a two-out double to Ehire Adrianza. One more hit would bring him in, and all of a sudden Feliz’s line isn’t that effective. Gregg said if Adrianza scored that Guduan would get the win; otherwise, it would go to Feliz. I agreed completely. It wasn’t until Eddie Rosario swung and missed to end the game that Wonger could make his decision. Some people criticized it and said, under these circumstances, it would make sense to give the win to the starter, Paulino. But official scorers have to go by the rule book, not by their opinion of a particular rule. Gregg is an experienced and insightful official scorer who made, in my opinion, the only decision that made sense by the rules. By the way, it is possible for a starter to get a win without completing five innings. The starting pitcher, assuming he is the pitcher of record, may receive a win for pitching four innings of a game that lasts five innings on defense, according to Rule 9.17( . The last time this happened was June 1, 2001 in a Cleveland at New York Yankees game. C. C. Sabathia of Cleveland completed four innings and was relieved to begin the bottom of the fifth with Cleveland ahead 5-4. Cleveland extended its lead to 7-4 and, in bottom of the sixth, the game was called by rain after an error (on a dropped pop foul). Sabathia received the win. Click here to view the article

I gotta say I didn't pay much attention to the WBC in the past but, being involved, did this year. For promoting the game internationally, I think it's a good thing. I just don't think scorers' decisions should be a factor in the tiebreaker. I also suggested that they clarify the partial inning, that innings are measured in outs. Even though this should be obvious, it wouldn't hurt to get it in writing to avoid the controversy that happened. Also, I hope they will clarify how the extra-inning rules could affect this. Starting in the 11th inning, teams begin the inning with runners on first and second. The scoring on this is clear - the placed runners (or any replacing them as a result of an out on a fielder's choice) are unearned. For the tiebreaker, it would seem to make sense to not have these placed runners count at all. And it would be better to have this spelled out in advance in the tiebreaker procedure. Otherwise, each team involved would argue for whatever benefited it. But I came to like the WBC.

Download attachment: Cup_Of_Coffee.jpg Last night (April 15) Oswaldo Arcia made his major league debut and was sent down after the game. This puts him in select historical company - a Minnesota Twins player who had just a "cup of coffee" with the club. Arcia was called up by Minnesota when Wilkin Ramirez went on the paternity list. With the bat Arcia did better than another Twins outfielder making his debut this month, Aaron Hicks. Arcia singled his first time up and then flied out twice. With the glove, he did worse, dropping a fly ball in his only chance in left field.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Side note: I keep the uniform-number list for the Twins and, for now on my website (http://milkeespress....insnumbers.html) I've made a note about his number. He was assigned 31 but last night wore 42 along with everyone else. He'll probably be back up with the Twins this season and actually wear 31 in a game, but I've made a notation in the list about his assigned number and his actual number. (For the others who wore 42 in honor of Robinson, I've noted the players and coaches who chose to wear 42 in 2007 and 2008--coach Jerry White and Torii Hunter, Delmon Young, Craig Monroe, and Denard Span, only the players who appeared in a game--before everyone started wearing 42 on April 15 starting in 2009.) It will be Arcia's only game for a while. Ramirez's fiance' had a baby on Sunday, and he was taken off the paternity list after the game last night and Arcia was sent to Rochester. For now, this makes Ramirez a cup of coffee player, with one game in the majors. Of course, a lot of players have that distinction--Aaron Hicks and Ryan Pressly had it for the Twins a couple weeks ago--but most lose it pretty quickly, as soon as they play in their next game. For Arcia, his status will last indefinitely. As far as I know the Twins have only one other cup of coffee player, Fred Bruckbauer, who pitched in one game on April 25, 1961 and has a lifetime earned-run average of infinity. Bruckbauer was the second major league born in New Ulm, Minnesota. The first was Elmer "Doc" Hamann, who pitched one game for Cleveland on September 21, 1922. Hamann also has a lifetime ERA of infinity. A later New Ulm-born player, Terry Steinbach, did better in his debut--he homered in his first at bat. The Twins have had a few players who played in only one game for them, although they did pitch for other teams. Mike Smith pitched one game for the Twins, which was the last game in the majors for him, on August 6, 2006. Smith had pitched in 14 games with Toronto in 2002. Matt Fox got into his first and only game with the Twins on September 3, 2010. He wasn't even on the 40-player roster but got a call after the Twins and Detroit had played a 13-inning game the night before. The Twins went through their bullpen and had to bring in Nick Blackburn to pitch the 13th. Blackburn had been scheduled to start the September 3 game, so the Twins called up Fox, along with Rob Delaney and Alex Burnett, after the game. Fox started and got no decision on September 3 in his only game with the Twins. However, his cup of coffee status lasted only two weeks as he pitched in three games for Boston later in the month. Rob Delaney made his debut and relieved in the September 4 game, giving up a home run to the first batter he faced, Ian Kinsler. It was Delaney's only game with the Twins, and he didn't get into another game until May 8, 2011 (with the Rays). Unless Arcia doesn't get back to the majors this year, his cup of coffee status won't last as long as Delaney's. By the way, I'm aware of two players the Twins have had on their active roster who never got into a game with them. One is Chuck Schilling, who had played for Boston and was traded to Minnesota just before the 1966 season. With Bernie Allen and Cesar Tovar playing well, Schilling never got into a game and was sent to Denver (although I think he retired rather than report) when the Twins had to cut their roster to 25 players. The other was Davis May, who was called up April 25, 1977 after pitchers Mike Pazik and Don Carrithers were injured in a car accident. May never got into a game with the Twins (or anyone else in the majors) and was sent back to the minors May 16. If I have any gaps on the Twins one-gamers that anyone is aware of, please chime in. Click here to view the article

Download attachment: 52409284.jpg This is the 9th story in "Those Damn Yankees" series, stories about Twins-Yankees rivalry by some of our favorite Twins Daily writers, leading up to the Bombers visit July 1st to the 4th. I became a Yankees fan in 1962, near the end of a long period when it was fashionable to hate the Yankees. I went the opposite direction, partly because of my contrary nature and also to annoy my dad. I didn’t realize the dynasty I glommed onto would end so soon. I was at the 1965 Opener at Met Stadium between the Yankees and Twins. Mickey Mantle started a ninth-inning rally that allowed the Yankees to tie the game when Cesar Tovar later dropped a two-out pop up. However, Tovar came through with a game-winning single in the last of the 12th. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]That was the beginning of the end of the New York dominance as the Twins won the pennant and the Yankees finished out of the first division eight of the next nine years. During that period, the Yankees weren’t hated as much as they were irrelevant and ignored. Wearing a NY hat at Met Stadium barely brought a reaction from Twins fans. That changed as the Yankees bulked up in the mid-1970's and started winning pennants again. Free agency hit at this time, and the Yankees used their ample revenues, giving the new breed of haters a sense of umbrage they found justifiable. Rivalries between teams thrive only when both are competitive, and the Boston-New York battles became prominent for the first time in a quarter-century. It’s enough to get some Yankees fans worked up over the Red Sox, although I think the proper response is indifference rather than hatred. The latter only elevates the rival to a status it doesn’t deserve. As for Yankee "rivalries" with other teams, they’re always one-sided. A Cleveland fan told me he gets joy blowing his nose into an “I Hate the Yankees” hanky. I can’t imagine many Yankee fans caring enough to hate the Indians. And so it is between the Yankees and Twins. Why would the former care about the latter? But, living in Minnesota, I see the intensity of the feelings of Twins fans—delaying a game in 2001 by throwing hot dogs at Chuck Knoblauch, hanging on to being robbed by an incorrect call by umpire Phil Cuzzi in the 2009 playoffs, and, most of all, using the New York payroll as a way to rationalize their distaste for the Yankees. A 1999 ad theme for the Twins was the disparity in payroll with New York. One commercial suggested that, based on the ratio of the team salaries, each run the Twins scored against the Yankees should count as six runs. I wasn’t sure how a message of “We can’t compete with them” was supposed to inspire attendance, although I wondered if the campaign was less about attracting fans and more about getting the public to support a new ballpark to produce more revenue. I say Twins fans ought to celebrate the good times, such as Justin Morneau’s two-out, two-run ninth-inning single off Mariano Rivera in 2006, and don’t get that worked up when things don’t work out. For all fans, including those of the New York American League baseball team, cheer for your team (although not to the point where your emotional well-being is dependent on the outcome of a sporting event). Don’t hate the other teams. All it does is raise them up. All teams have fans. Only the great ones have haters. I take it as a compliment to the Yankees when people say how much they hate them. Is that what you’re really going for? In the words of Reggie Jackson, “Fans don’t boo nobodies.” ~~~ For more of Those Damn Yankees, check out.... The Cuzzi Call by Nick Nelson The Twins and Yankees Go Way Back by Thrylos Confessions Of A Twins Fan by Brad Swanson Chuck Knoblauch by Cody Christie Dealing with Yankee Fans by PeanutsFromHeaven Derek Jeter Gift Baskets by Twins Fan From Afar Don't Blame Those Damn Yankees by E Rolf Pleiss A Minnesota Twinkie in King Rivera's Court by Topper Anton. Click here to view the article

I became a Yankees fan in 1962, near the end of a long period when it was fashionable to hate the Yankees. I went the opposite direction, partly because of my contrary nature and also to annoy my dad. I didn’t realize the dynasty I glommed onto would end so soon. I was at the 1965 Opener at Met Stadium between the Yankees and Twins. Mickey Mantle started a ninth-inning rally that allowed the Yankees to tie the game when Cesar Tovar later dropped a two-out pop up. However, Tovar came through with a game-winning single in the last of the 12th. That was the beginning of the end of the New York dominance as the Twins won the pennant and the Yankees finished out of the first division eight of the next nine years. During that period, the Yankees weren’t hated as much as they were irrelevant and ignored. Wearing an NY hat at Met Stadium barely brought a reaction from Twins fans. That changed as the Yankees bulked up in the mid-1970s and started winning pennants again. Free agency hit at this time, and the Yankees used their ample revenues, giving the new breed of haters a sense of umbrage they found justifiable. Rivalries between teams thrive only when both are competitive, and the Boston-New York battles became prominent for the first time in a quarter-century. It’s enough to get some Yankees fans worked up over the Red Sox, although I think the proper response is indifference rather than hatred. The latter only elevates the rival to a status it doesn’t deserve. As for rivalries with other teams, they’re always one-sided. A Cleveland fan told me he gets joy about blowing his nose into an “I Hate the Yankees” hanky. I can’t imagine many Yankee fans caring enough to hate the Indians. And so it is between the Yankees and Twins. Why would the former care about the latter? But, living in Minnesota, I see the intensity of the feelings of Twins fans—delaying a game in 2001 by throwing hot dogs at Chuck Knoblauch, hanging on to being robbed by an incorrect call by umpire Phil Cuzzi in the 2009 playoffs, and, most of all, using the New York payroll as a way to mask and rationalize their distaste for the Yankees. A 1999 ad theme for the Twins was their disparity in payroll with New York. One commercial suggested that, based on the ratio of the team salaries, each run the Twins scored against the Yankees should count as six runs. I wasn’t sure of how a message of “We can’t compete with them” was supposed to inspire attendance, although I wondered if the campaign was less about attracting fans and more about getting the public to support a new ballpark to produce more revenue. I say Twins fans ought to celebrate the good times, such as Justin Morneau’s two-out, two-run ninth-inning single off Mariano Rivera in 2006, and don’t get that worked up when things don’t work out. For all fans, including those of the New York American League baseball team, cheer for your team (although not to the point where your emotional well-being is dependent on the outcome of a sporting event). Don’t hate the other teams. All it does is raise them up. All teams have fans. Only the great ones have haters. I take it as a compliment to the Yankees when people say how much they hate them. Is that what you’re really going for? In the words of Reggie Jackson, “Fans don’t boo nobodies.”