Michael (ClassicMNTwins)

One absolutely can’t be faulted for questioning the Twins thought process in completing this trade. I also see Paddack as a potentially strong contributor after he rehabs, but it makes me wonder if Falvey and Levine used a big chunk of hope and prayer when they pulled the trigger, given the injury history. I would have liked to be a fly on the wall when they were discussing his medical charts and plasma injection procedure of last September. What guided them to be as positive as they were about his chances to remain injury-free?

Excellent video, gives me hope Kepler is actually making adjustments, appears to be hitting more to left field - even making some big knocks against left-handers, including E.Rodriguez tonight. Was very nice of him to cooperate and make you look good, smart with this article!

I think it will be a very pleasant revelation to Twins fan’s re: just exactly what impact a top flight shortstop can make. Minnesota hasn’t had a 7+ WAR shortstop since Zoilo Versalles in 1965. Yeah, barring injury, it could be incredible with this fellow anchoring the infield!

To stand up and have your own opinions about your own health decisions and buck the mainstream has become unpopular in our society, and it was disgusting to watch the degree to which people subjected Simmons to abuse, very much so because of the stand he took. Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree with these comments. No matter how right you think you are, and how wrong you thought he was, using ugly language to knock someone else down paints you as a Twins fan in an ugly light. I hope we never have to witness that again.

Paul Sorrento sure could polka those home runs over the fence! Heckuva throwback to simpler times, especially seeing cr@ppy, old Tinker Field again, that ancient minor league facility! The Twins finished 5th in the 7 team AL West that season. Herbie, ha, you’d never know he’s from Minnesota!

They will post a “36A” and a “36B,” I predict!

BTW, I especially enjoyed your statistical dive, very interesting to view how both Kaat stacked up favorably against players from their era, and historically as well. Well done!

Well said, Tom, re: your comments “Yeah, dead Babe Ruth and Ted Williams aren’t exactly upset at including these mere mortals Oliva and Kitty into the Hall.” Exactly! Speaking on behalf of all the “get off my yard” old duffers, this is just such an incredible development, seeing such very worthy Twins superstars from our formative years being honored! My most ingrained memory of Kaat is from a listening to a game he pitched AGAINST the Twins, Sept. 9, 1973 (thank you, BBREF!), the first one in which the Twins were his opponent. I recall his old batterymate Phil Roof whacking a triple to cf in the second inning to score Steve Brye - and what stood out for me in that instance was Herb Carneal’s voice on the play by play call, so absolutely consumed with the excitement and drama of the moment: the light-hitting, career second string catcher Roof connecting so solidly off his old friend Kaat, who was in the midst of his second life as a pitcher, and experiencing wild success as a White Sox player; he apparently gave Roof a wink and a knowing glance over at third afterward, I gleaned by listening to Herb’s animated description...so, even as a young kid, that was all pretty obvious to me, and made me appreciate all the more Kaat’s place in Twins history. Fun stuff, I actually had recorded that portion of the game,and replayed that moment for years after the fact. The tape was eventually lost or reused and taped over, unfortunately. Kaat eventually won that game 10-7, going 7+ innings. Wouldn’t mind having that cassette tape back, especially now that Jim Kaat and Tony have been given Cooperstown honors!

Super job, Seth, you really got a lot of great info and responses from the brothers Varland. And they absolutely appear to be brainy, intuitive guys that are invested in learning/improving their craft -it will be great to see if they can take their thing “to the next level,” and find out if it plays in MLB. Your Spotlight series hasn’t been on my radar, but I think it has to be after viewing this! BTW- Thanks to Gus for all the compliments about being the GOAT (as “Michael Busch” is my actual, birth name, LOL).

Should Jim Kaat have his number 36 retired? Seriously? Well, consider… the fact that he was an original Minnesota Twin, part of the 25 man roster when the Twins first season commenced in 1961, and would be in the Twins organization for parts of the next 12 seasons that he was on the mound to pitch the complete game victory in 1965 that clinched the team’s first League pennant. that he would have been the team’s first Cy Young award winner in 1966 with a 25 wins, but the retiring Sandy Koufax was the sole pick, as only one pitcher in both league was honored back then that he is among a small fraternity of players who have been active in 4 decades - beginning with the 1959 Washington Senators, and ending with the 1983 Cardinals. He pitched against both Ted Williams and Darryl Strawberry that his great durability and character, the huge number of innings pitched yearly, besides his well-publicized 16 Gold Glove Awards, etc, and stellar broadcasting career both locally and nationally… …make him a beyond-worthy choice to have his uniform number retired. So, I could really care less if he pitched another 20 years in Japan or on Pluto, the guy’s got an incredible story and legacy. And he should be on the Wall.

Cesar Tovar was absolutely magnificent-a Tasmanian devil-type energy was what he brought to the game every day, and his BBREF black ink for about six years running jumps off the page. Pat Reusse is right, it’s ridiculous he’s not already on The Wall. He’s long since passed away, and thus is not present in any way post-career to make an impression upon people born after his playing days ended, a la Kitty or TonyO.

The Orioles were the gold standard of the late 1960s and early 70s, definitely. Their infield was a rock wall against batted balls, so outstanding!

The early Twins had it good too, John.

I use "Eddie Rosario, Glory Hog" as if it's a bad thing. Far from it. Consider me your friendly, neighborhood baseball barber, if they still exist. I coat and lather you with Baseball Ref homer and hit charts until your head spins (if anyone cares, I'm going into the 12-step process for souls imbibing on the play index search). Classic Minnesota Twins will get back to posting vintage Twins photos like there's nobody's business again soon, dispense with all this new-fangled hullaballoo.

Oh, she was there alright. You were off buying beverages, probably.