Off-Season Slog

12.15.10 - The off-season trading seems to be slowing down, plus I'm a little bored so here are some more shots from last year.

First up, my dream seat. For the true isolationist. You're never bothered to stand up to let someone by... ↓



Here's a pregame shot on the day the Twins won their division... ↓



Here's the view from the bar... looking down. With your chin on the railing... (Just remember to wash your chin afterwards.) ↓



Here's a view from baseball jail... just kidding, I think it's just a fence to prevent the kiddies from falling on the field. ↓



Here are a bunch of Stankees. Probably thinking about badly they are going to embarass us in the playoffs. Also of note, it's fall and the grass is getting a little threadbare. As with most new landscaping it takes a couple of years for nature to take root. ↓



This is the view* from my seat for the ALDS/game 2. ↓

* to the guy walking up the stairs... If you don't want your likeness used on this site, send me an email and I'll do a "tittie blur" on your face.



// SurlyTim

The International Infield

12.10.10 - There's been a lot of activity in the trading world. Seems like the Twins a dumping the bulk of their middle infield. My guess is this means they have a lock on Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Hmmmm, that makes it; Venezuela, Japan, Canada. How about the Dominican Republic... anyone?

I've been reading a bit about the deal made for the Orioles relief pitchers and there's a lot of talk about this being a bad deal for the Twins. I'll hold out judgment until more info comes out. I think a lot of people go by the players stats in using past performance to qualify the value he will have in the future, but I got to believe that the Twins scouting folks must have seen something they like in Brett Jacobson and Jim Hoey. Jacobson sports a 2.79 era and is rumored to have some power. Hoey looks like he can throw in the mid 90's, and it looks like the Twins may need to fast track these guys given the exodus of last years relievers.

The Twins are definitely going to have a different feel to the club this year.

// SurlyTim

Chopping the Morning Wood

11.22.10 - I'm killing some time before work these days by opening some more Topps update series hobby boxes. I pulled this bat barrel as my latest hit. Man, this is one thick card. I haven't quite figured out where/how to store it yet. It doesn't fit any of the holders I have, and I'm not sure I want to use a 25 count case for a single card.

// SurlyTim

Rule of 3rd's

11.16.10 - OK, so I'm working over a hobby box of the update series while listening to sports talk radio...

		And I pull this gold parallel. This was my third Danny Valencia card. While I opened the pack, it was announced on the radio that he was third in balloting for the rookie of the year, and he plays third base. Coincidence? I think not.

// SurlyTim

Lucky 7's Part III    (Jackpot!)

Via a Twins news alert...

MAUER WINS SILVER SLUGGER AWARD

November 11, 2010 – Twins catcher Joe Mauer won his fourth-straight Silver Slugger award on Thursday. Mauer, 27, led all qualified AL catchers with a .327 batting average, .402 on-base percentage and 88 runs scored. He also hit nine home runs and drove in 75. More from Twinsbaseball.com

So now the question becomes, what will he get for the a bronze prize?!?

// SurlyTim

Rookies

11.10.10 - I'm pulling more cards I like from the Topps Update series.

Danny Valencia did a great job covering 3rd base this year. If memory serves he won the job when Cuddyer was moved to first following Morneau's concussion. (Maybe I'll get around to consulting the almighty Google for confirmation.) Not sure where he'll be next year, but it seems like the Twins are gonna need infield postion players after all the free-agency/hot stove dust settles. Question marks are 2nd & SS.

		PS ~ My Sept. 18th game in the luxury box also involved my calling the game. I'm on record claiming the game would be won in the sixth inning, and lo and behold Danny pulled through with a 3-run dinger to left. Kudos to You DV!!!!

Luke Hughes »»
Got a homer on his first at bat. I heard that one on the radio. I think he got injured and was out of action for a while. I hope he comes back. Adds a little international flavor to the team!

Lucky 7's Part II    (aka ~ Way To Go Baby Jesus!)

Via a Twins news alert...

"MAUER WINS THIRD RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE AWARD®

November 9, 2010 – Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been named to the 2010 American League Rawlings Gold Glove Team. This marks Mauer's third consecutive career Rawlings Gold Glove Award (2008 and 2009).

Mauer, 27, batted .327 with 43 doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 75 rbi and an OBP of .402 in 137 games for the Twins in 2010. He had a .996 (758 TC, 3 E) fielding percentage and threw out 17 of 71 (24%) runners attempting to steal. He ranked first among Major League catchers in hits, batting average, doubles, OBP and runs scored while establishing a career-high in doubles."

Now get to work on that throw out percentage...

// SurlyTim

Lucky 7's

11.8.10 - Picked up a jumbo pack of updates at my LCS. Pulled a silk card, my first one. The small size got me thinking. I have to guess that Topps wouldn't create a separate set of smaller printing plates just for a short run. They must stretch the fabric onto a hard material during the printing process and once cut down, it reverts to its smaller size.
    (Now imagine me smiling smugly, having thought that up all on my own!)

		I like the design of the border. Lots of swirls and glowy stuff. I don't know much about the Brewer's players, outside of the fact that they used to be in my division. Now we only play them in the interleague series once a year. (thanks a lot, I-94!) Here is what I found out about George Kottaras... Primarily a catcher, but has been used as a utility player. Batting .213 lifetime, which puts him just above the mendoza line, but well below the league average for catchers. Now that I've got your card, I'm rooting for ya!

// SurlyTim

Atlas Air



// SurlyTim

Fun Tale

10.25.10 - I bought my first hobby box of the 2010 Topps update series. I pulled this fun card...

Karaoke Time. Some close cropping creating a weird illusion. It looks like his hand is bent back.		Nice action shot. That ball looks like it's going to hit his chin.

I think they were still in my division around this time.		No chance on that one, fella.

Nice. The ball is just coming off the bat. (Or just hitting it.) Either way, great action shot.		This is a scene from one of my favorite movies; "Major League". Coincidently, the movie had the Indians as the team profiled. (Click to see it rotated proper like...)

Bert certainly looks like he's having fun. Circle this, eh?		$hameless promotion in this shot.

Next up, 1992.

// SurlyTim

FIFO

10.9.10 - A computer term comes to mind to describe the end of the Twins season. (First in, first out.) Thoroughly disappointing how the Twins collapse in the postseason. I suppose being from Minnesota, I've learned the hard way not to get too emotionally involved in my local sports franchises. Think Vikings fail, and now 3 straight postseason, first round sweeps. Maybe someday the Twins will decide they want to be winners and treat the postseason like the do-or-die series it is. It seems they were playing like these were regular season games.

Man up. pull your pitcher when they start to falter. (Game 1, 6th inning.) Throw some chin music so the opponent doesn't think they own the plate. (Game 3, I'm looking at you, Duensing.) But generally, keep pounding on them when you get the lead. The Twins seem to get ahead, then think they can coast. The first 2 games disproved that theory. As far as game 3, well, it was clearly too late by then. They were psychologically beat before they walked on the field.

The up side is that I went to game 2. I had quite a bit of fun watching the interaction with the fans, (both Twins and Yankees). I gotta give props to the visiting fans. They suffered a heapin' helpin' of abuse from everyone and anyone. From what I saw, they took it in stride. It helps when your team wins.

// SurlyTim

Season Finale

10.4.10 - Well, the long grind is finally over. The Twins did pretty well. (Tip o' the cap to you, fellas!) 94 - 68 is pretty respectable. Of course I would have liked it if they came out on top, but I think clinching as early as they did took a little wind out of the sails, and injury concerns sidelined some of the stars in preparation for the postseason.

Saturday's game was a fantastic time. I had pretty good seats, sat next to a reformed Yankees fan. Apparently living in Minnesota for several decades will change a guy. It looked like the Twins were going lose yet another game... when in the 9th, with the bases loaded, 2 outs, a 3-2 count, Casilla pounds a liner up the middle, scoring 2 runs and walking off. Talk about a LIPS. There is nothing like a crowd erupting in cheers in a situation like that. I feel sorry for the folks who left early thinking it was over or trying to beat traffic.

Going to the game 2 on Thursday, hopefully my friends will be able to adjust their schedules to accommodate the bizarre 5 pm start time. It will be interesting to experience the difference between a regular season game and a playoff game. Looking forward to a beat-down of the stankees. Working on my patter for A-riod. Should be fun.

Sunday, 10-3-10 final game //  Lose. (not too sad...)

// SurlyTim

Homerun Derby

10.1.10 - First off, some images from around the ballpark before the game started. I was up close watching some batting practice, little did I know how "prophetic" it would be...

What? You want to get closer?!?		Limber up, boys

I'm making faces at you...		Shoulda brought binoculars

Game: Thursday // 9-30-10  Lose. Boo!

Homeward Bound

09.30.10 - The Twins won their final game at Kansas City last night. I was beginning to think they were going to get swept 2 series in a row. (I was sweatin' it out until the 6th, my favorite inning.) Time to put on the serious hat and get it in gear for the final home stand. PLUS I'm hearing whispers Morneau might come back against the team that knocked him out back in July... OR maybe for the playoffs. This is definitely in the "I'll believe it when I see it" category.

I've got tix to 3 of the remaining 4 games. Look for me in the stands, I'll be the guy in the baseball cap.

// SurlyTim

Pre-Playoff Time

09.27.10 - The Twins won the AL central last Wednesday and I expected the hangover games to last for maybe one or two, but getting swept by Detroit is is a little much. Hopefully they'll get their act together prior to the playoffs. The Twins should strive to get the best record in baseball, especially since the Yankees are struggling. (snicker.) I'm not exactly sure how the divisional playoff is going to shape up at this point, but it appears we will play either Tampa or New York, my preference being the Yankees. The local pundits claim the Twins are cursed against the Yankees, but I got a feeling...

// SurlyTim

A Little Photo Journey

Previously - Below are some misc. images from the 28 games I've attended at my new backyard ballpark.

This is the Sept. 7th game against Kansas City. Delightful baby-blue outfits on them boys...



// SurlyTim

Not Quite a Rain Out

9.2.10 - Quick little thunderstorm interrupted batting practice.

This is about 10 minutes later.

// SurlyTim

A Little Luxury

9.18.10 - Here is my day in a luxury box. (thanks Jeff!)

I was way too excited to hold the phone steady for this one. I got a kick out of the silver chaffing dishes. It seemed bizarre to open them up for a hot dog or chicken strip.

// SurlyTim

The 3rd Base Line

Lots of places to stand around, if you're into that sort of thing.



// SurlyTim

Out in Left Field

The bleacher section. Benches. Sucks to sit next to the fat guy, or "Johnny Elbow".



// SurlyTim