9 InningsWin

by MNPundit on May 8, 2006 12:48 AM EDT

I think is the first time they did it, and maybe I'm wrong... but I think this is the first time the Twins have lead start to finish in a game. Congratulations Twins on winning a game in a way that doesnt' depress me in the first few innings!

A couple of questions spring to mind.

-Is Jesse Crain back? That would be huge.
-Is Santanna all warmed up now? That would be huge as well.
-Is Liriano going through some bad luck, or are players starting to figure him out so he needs to adjust to the league? Something to think about.

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Another Question

Does Shannon Stewart actually exist in left field?

From the Startrib:
How far did [Torii Hunter] run? Well, Twins first base coach Jerry White, who oversees the team's outfield instruction, said the ball actually should have been caught by left fielder Shannon Stewart.

"That was Shannon's ball," White said. "When Torii moves [toward right-center], Shannon should move, too."

....ouch. Harsh words from Whitey.

by wcooley on May 8, 2006 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

This weekend

Took the drive up this weekend to catch Saturday and Sunday's game. Twinkies definitely made it worth my while. Some notes....

The team:

Sisco's definitely got some adjustment that need to be made. Dimitri Young jumped all over that 96 MPH fastball. It's time for him to take it to the next level and get some more movement on that sucker.
Joe Nathan took 2 minutes yesterday.
Michael Cuddyer looks like a man up there in the 5 hole. He's relaxed, taking great at bats and making great contact just like he was in the 2002 and 2003 playoffs.
I could be wrong but I counted three 3-ball counts for Torii Hunter in these two games. Very encouraging. Not an unspectacular catch either.
It seems like Morneau just gets impatient and bored with hitting singles to left field with pitchers throw him outer-half, though that's when he's most productive and most likely to see inner-half pitches to drive over the baggie. Be patient J-Mo, as it stands you're looking like Jim Thome Lite.
Joe Mauer now has as many HRs as Luis Castillo :), I liked what I was seeing out of Joe's adjustments against lefties.
This is the second Johan game in a row in which the moment I get out of my seat for concessions, he blows the no-no on the next batter (the last being last year in Chicago in the 8th against Buerhle). I'm officially superstitious.

The dome:

TC Bear's got a power stroke. Loved his Jacque Jones bat flip.
Still one of the lamest crowds in baseball. I know you people are Minnesota nice, but this fanbase needs to be louder and rowdier. That means people need to be loud and on their feet with 2 outs and 2 strikes AT ALL TIMES. It was like pulling teeth to get people to clap with 2-out, 2 strike situations on Saturday and before Johan had 6 Ks yesterday.
The Famous Dave's concessions are sub-par.
I went with a couple Sox fan friends of mine. We all agreed that while the dome has its quirks, the sitelines mop the floor with Wrigley Field.

Music:

Great Joe Mauer plate music with TI's "What You Kno?", the explicit hook is "What you know about crack? What you know about crack?..."
Rondell's "Drop It Like It's Hot"? C'mon Rock, it's not 2004 anymore.
Minnesota is home to the leaders of three great contemporary music in the last 45 years. By that I'm referring to Bob Dylan, Prince, and The Replacements. Why is the victory song a U2 song from 5 years ago? I want to hear something energetic and something that makes you proud to be a Minnesotan when we win.

by TheMattWilke on May 8, 2006 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Dylan

Bob Dylan disowned his Minnesota roots, didn't he? Does he still count?

by MNPundit on May 8, 2006 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

That's true

There aren't a lot of Jews in Minnesota and most people there like alike. It's pretty easy to feel like an outsider. No offense, I love Minnesota and the people there but I'm Asian and when I lived here when I was little I definitely felt insecure about how different I and my mom looked. I'm just trying to get in his head.

Either way, "Let's Go Crazy", "1999", or "Baby I'm a Star" are better than "Beautiful Day". Nick Punto would earn my respect if his plate music was "Darling Nikki".

by TheMattWilke on May 8, 2006 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Rowdier

Have you ever been to another team's park? They don't do that there either...

by AdamOnFirst on May 8, 2006 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Twins fans this season

this fanbase needs to be louder and rowdier.

I felt that too the other night, when I wrote that the atmosphere was like a morgue, I should have said mortuary.

I was talking with a casual fan the other day and she said, "Have the Twins won one game this year?" Not that I pay it too much attention to folks who don't follow the team, but when you're swept in your three weekend road series, it does leave that impression, especaillly that embarassing series in Detroit.

The reason why I bring this up is Twins fans have become really spoiled the last few years. If the team isn't winning every series, fans stay away. Even the fans that do come expect something bad to happen any minute and don't bother cheering when good things happen. Torii should have gotten a standing O for that catch. What kind of reaction did he get?

Joe Mauer for MVP.

by cmathewson on May 8, 2006 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Whatever

The reason why I bring this up is Twins fans have become really spoiled the last few years. If the team isn't winning every series, fans stay away.

There are about 2.5 million people in the TC metro area, and there are 4 major professional sports teams and 3 D-I sports (football, hockey, basketball) that have drawn 10K+ per game in the past. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another metro area comparably sized with more professional sports teams.

What exists in the Minnesota sports scene is competition for limited dollars. It's not as fun to go see a team lose as it is to go see a team win. So when you have limited funds for sports entertainment, you go see the team that's probably going to win, because that will probably be more entertaining.

As fun as it is to hang out with the hardcore fan-types here, I can't reasonably expect most Minnesotans to stick through thick and thin with the Twins when there are so many options for their sports dollar. It has a lot less to do with being some lesser form of sports fan than other areas as it has to do with being a reasonable consumer.

by ubelmann on May 8, 2006 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

So you don't think...

...winning three consucutive division titles and putting five consecutive winning seasons together has changed the fan base at all?

I disagree. I think Twins fans are spoiled. Any struggles and it's almost like they're embarrassed to be associated with the team. The season ticket holders in my section the other night did nothing but whine about Hunter's or Stewart's or Radke's contract, the play of a certain first baseman and a certain DH, etc. Never mind the fact that Santana was pitching a gem and we were winning 4-1.

I'm not saying we should be like Cub fans. But you'd think there would be more loyalty and patience towards the only team in the area that consitently wins, with the exception of Gopher hockey.

Joe Mauer for MVP.

by cmathewson on May 8, 2006 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay

You can go ahead and believe that, but you didn't present any arguments to counter the points that I made.

You know some people whose fandom you question. I saw Tony Batista win a game with a 3-run homer one time. Anecdotal evidence.

by ubelmann on May 8, 2006 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Your arguments

Are valid, but they don't disprove my point. So we're talking past each other.

he point is that even the fans who buy tickets despite all the competition for entertainment dollars in this relatively small market are not exactly exuding enthusiasm.

The atmosphere in the Dome when I went, on a night when Santana pitched very well and the Twins led after the second inning and cruised in with little trouble, was moribund.

Joe Mauer for MVP.

by cmathewson on May 8, 2006 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It's because

...most people go to a game and expect the Twins to lose because they have been so horrible this year. It's hard to get fired up when you are sure you team is going to blow it. We're like stoic versions of Cubs fans or something.

by MNPundit on May 8, 2006 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Reaction

Torii's reception was pretty big. The crowd went nuts when he approached in the dugout and Johan thanked him. He tipped his hat to the crowd.

by TheMattWilke on May 8, 2006 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Not at all lik Cubs fans

Stoic yes. Optimistic, no. Rather than naively engaging in wishful thinking and supporting the team come what may, Twins fans cynically assume that the team will suck and are pleasantly surprised when they don't. I just think fans should at least give this team some time before they assume it will suck. It has had five winning seasons in a row and it should be better than last year's team.

What ever happened to the Minnesota response, "Not bad, could be worse."? I'd say the team is not bad, could be worse. It could be the Royals or the Devil Rays, or the 1998 Twins.

Joe Mauer for MVP.

by cmathewson on May 8, 2006 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

Hmm maybe more critical than Cubs fans but...

...the groupthink that I've seen happen (not always but sometimes) at Bat-Girl or DTFC is pretty strong. I seriously mean no offense to either of those sites/boards.

by MNPundit on May 9, 2006 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Competition?

I paid $6 for a ticket + $1.66 ($5/3) + $4 for a helmet sundae. We moved up to upper deck 3rd base side, 5 rows up and kicked our feet up.

That's $11.66 to see the most exciting and dominant pitcher in baseball pitch 6 no hit innings and the best defensive CF in the game make one of the best catches of his career.

There should be no competition here. Locally most Vikings tickets for the whopping 8 home games are pawned off season tickets on Stubhub for $90-1000, ditto Wolves games. Hockey's in the winter. This is one of the best deals in baseball. I saw so much Twins gear worn casually at the mall, at TGI Friday's, everywhere. The spirit is there, spend the $12, get to the dome, and be rowdy. There is NO excuse for any Johan home games to have attendance under 30,000 not including visiting team fans.

This is just a lame baseball town. I say this because the Vikings' crowds know what they need to do to put pressure on the visiting team. It costs the Twins an advantage of the home field when the audience is as polite, reserved, and absent as they are.

by TheMattWilke on May 8, 2006 5:50 PM EDT reply actions

So

What you're saying is that if you're willing to buy the cheapest seat in the house, which a lot of people wouldn't be happy with, and then break the rules by moving to a better seat (which you should've paid more money for) and you manage to not have to pay any transportation and parking costs to the game and you are a single person and you are satisfied with a fairly minimal amount of concessions fare, then you can go for $12.

It costs the Twins an advantage of the home field when the audience is as polite, reserved, and absent as they are.

Your Minnesota Twins-- 10-6 at home, and 3-12 on the road. How much more of a home field advantage do you want?

Besides, home field advantage in baseball is something like a 3% advantage over the course of many years. It's just not as big of a factor as in other sports (like, say, the NFL, college football, and college basketball.) Baseball is a sport of skill and concentration. It's not a skill of being more pumped up and rowdy than your opponent, so I question the value of standing and screaming your ass off at a Twins game.

by ubelmann on May 8, 2006 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: concentration

Yeah I broke the rules. I drove 6 hours both ways and showed up for 2 games in a row. There were only about 12-15K there on Saturday. Consider it a statement to the fans, the stadium, and the marketing department of the organization. I'll do it the next time in town and I encourage everyone else to do the same.

A rowdier crowd would put more pressure on a hitter's concentration. Most hitters will testify that the most difficult task in all of sports (hitting what could be 95 MPH fastball or an 80 MPH curveball or slider) becomes nearly impossible with a loud stadium behind it.

It is a game of skill and concentration, but it is also a game of performing under pressure. Most audiences give their team an advantage of applying more pressure to the other team, attempting to shake concentration and at the same time encouraging the home team, Minnesota drops the ball.

We're just going to disagree with this one, but in 1987 my parents wouldn't let me go to some game in September because the place got so loud. My dad nearly passed out in Game 1 of the series because it was so loud. Terry Pendleton had to wear ear plugs so he wouldn't get dizzy from the noise. That was the advantage to this dump and that's the reason I still love going there.

by TheMattWilke on May 9, 2006 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Huh

I would think it's a huge advantage to always hit last. Especially in extra-inning games. Comparing it to football, imagine if the home team always got one more drive if they were behind by 7 points or less. How much bigger would home field advantage be.

I'm really surprised it's not more than 3%.

Joe Mauer for MVP.

by cmathewson on May 8, 2006 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

It actually...

...doesn't surprise me all that much. Everyone gets the same number of chances, all the home team gets to do is align its talent a little better, but sometimes there's just not much you can fiddle with at the end of the game. Plus, in extra innings, especially with the DH, I kind of like the away situation better. You always know how many runs you need to prevent, and whether or not you'll be able to win the game after your turn pitching, so the choice for who to send out to the mound should be more clear cut.

What does surprise me is how big home court advantage is in college basketball. It's a crazy-big advantage, and there's no material strategic disadvantage to being the visitor like there is in baseball. I think part of it is probably an illusion due to crappy teams playing away games more than good teams that draw well, but adjusting for that probably only brings it from really, really big to just really big.

by ubelmann on May 9, 2006 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Baskttball

The big advantage of home court in Baskettball is two-fold.

The firs tis your crowd can really pump you up. Since baketball is more a sport based off the "rowdy" energy, as someone called it, that helps a lot more than a skill based sport like baseball. Also, freethrows are harder on the road because of people doing stuff behind hte glass and the unfamiliar background that can mess people up.

by AdamOnFirst on May 9, 2006 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

The Future is Very Bright

Crain is abck, better than ever, as is the whole bullpen.

Liriano, as reported, had a tooth problem that may have affected his throwing.

Kudos to Silva. After getting a ten run lead, someone told him he just had to throw strikes to win the game. After two pitches and two homers, maybe some plate nibbling is still necessary.

Mike Cuddyer is proving his worth. Finally. And Justin may be the 40-homer, .225 hitter the Twins need (if Batista doesn't do the same).

The Hunter catch was a gem. Lew Ford comes in second hitting the side wall.

Mays is gone. Wouldn't it be great if the Twins could bat against Silva, Lohse and Radke?

Santana...30 starts, 60 runs, 300 strikeouts, 27 wins. Sounds good?

by twintown on May 10, 2006 12:13 AM EDT reply actions