Don't drive angry; don't drive angry!
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Oct 19, 2009 9:24 PM EDT
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So here we are again--different year same story.
...so much for postseason enjoyment. I think I'll cheer for the Vikings. You see what you have done to me TWINS? I am considering abandoning baseball to cheer for the Vikings; that's how low I have sunk this time.
This may sound like sour grapes; well, actually I guess it is sour grapes. Why do the Twins play like that whenever they play against the Yankees or the Red Sox? Did anyone notice the distinct difference between the way the Twins played the Tigers (full of confidence and swagger) and the way the Twins played the Yankees (like children of the corn)? They actually did few things that would make anyone believe that they won the Central. The Yankees looked beatable!!!!!!!!!
The Twins led in every game, but never held the lead for even two full innings! The Twins swiped what, two bases? This, despite the fact that opposing teams were stealing bases at over 70% against Posada. EVERYONE should have been trying to steal against him. Did the Twins hit and run against their slower opponents? NO! Did the Twins try to bunt with Captain Cheeseburger on the mound? NO! Did the Twins hit like -.700 with runners in scoring position? YES! Did the Twins have 900 runners left on base? YES! The Yankees simply hit home runs so they didn't have to worry. (And did anyone notice the difference in the Yankee dugout when they scored a run compared to the Twins? Where was that us against the world spirit?)
The Twins gave us all hope with the way they played in September. No way could they catch the Tigers, but they did!! And RG gets a lot of credit for that; however, NONE of that carried over into the games agains the Yankees. I don't care if your tired--it's the playoffs! The adrenalin should be flowing like Niagara Falls.
The bottom line is this. The Twins play the same way every time they enter the playoffs under Ron Gardenhire and company. This year looked no different to me than any other year they have entered the playoffs. RG has still not learned tha the playoffs are a different animal than the regular season. Nothing could have magnified this more than his statement after the first two losses: "Now we're going to have to take some chances." As much as anyone would hope and wish that the regular season and the playoffs are the same; they are not. The Twins did not play every game like it was Game 7 and for that, we sit here watching the Yankees and Angels play (except some of us who cannot tolerate doing so--and they are showing the games because of Matsui).
Sorry, LESSON STILL NOT LEARNED, but I have vented, and please let the poison arrows rain from the sky. I don't mind,; I've been critical of RG and the Twins in the past. Whew! Now I'm done. Bring on 2010.
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I'm a Homer
But I agree. What is the solution though? Fire Gardy, yeah, not happening. Not that he did anything, but O. Cabrera seemed to bring some swagger. Maybe the Twins need more guys like him, and not guys with superior “metrics,” like, I don’t know, J.J. Hardy for instance. How is that loser going to help things?
I thought Duensing, with his World Cup experience, did admirably, and I’d like to see Tosoni and Ramos on board next year, and probably Hughes as well. He might be a stiff at 3B, but I’d love to see him smack one in the clutch.
I’m just hoping and dreaming.
by Han Joelo on Oct 19, 2009 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No, no, a thousand times no
O. Cabrera seemed to bring some swagger. Maybe the Twins need more guys like him, and not guys with superior "metrics," like, I don’t know, J.J. Hardy for instance.
Please, please, please tell me this was a joke. The Twins just got swept out of the playoffs by a soulless corporate behemoth with superior “metrics”. You know what you call a team with a bunch of scrappy guys and no statistically great players? The Pirates.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Oct 20, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I don't mind the Angels
or the Phillies for that matter, but the other two teams, well, it shouldn’t need to be said
P.S.
Jiff is waaaayyy better than skippy
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by thewild_viking_twins on Oct 19, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cheer up! Gardy will be back next year!
The same Gardy who led the team all season and Game 163 and beyond. Same Gardy who brought us five division titles in eight years. Why you would fire the guy that brought us that far, I don’t know. You’d rather be the Royals? Yes we got swept, but as you point out we led at some point in all 3 games, I’m not going to blame Gardy for Punto overrunning the base, or Nathan throwing one right down the center of the plate, or putting Mijares in, OK I’ll give you that last one.
We already had this post a couple of times. No poison arrows, but the Steinbrenner approach getting old. Thanks for venting.
“and they are showing the games because of Matsui” What?
And SKOL VIKINGS!!!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 20, 2009 12:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I knew that such things would be posted, but I just couldn't...
…bring myself to read any posts until today.
And the same Gardy who has put us in the playoffs only to have our heads handed to us in 3/4 games once again. Why is the team so lethargic? Where’s the fire in the belly? It was the Yankees who were the ones celebrating like kids when they scored a run or should I say celebrating like the Twins did when they scored against the Tigers in the one-shot title game. The Twins dugout gave a few high fives, but I saw no one jumping up and down with glee. The Twins lost before they got to NY. Anyway, enough said by me.
PS-I live in Japan and they don’t show many MLB games unless Japanese players are in the line-up.
Skol Vikings! (I agree; I might as well watch :-)
"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Oct 20, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
PS 2: I didn't say fire him--not this year anyway
"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Oct 20, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well you didn't say "Fire him"
But you are sure pointing the finger of blame his way. Mistakes killed us, not Gardy. The Twins seemed pretty fired up when they scored, so I didn’t see what you are talking about either. We came up against a team of hired guns with 3X the Twins payroll, even the Angels, who have almost 2X our payroll, are having trouble against them too. If that’s what you meant by “The Twins lost before they got to NY,” then I would almost agree.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 20, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True enough; I was pointing the finger because I thought that if the Twins...
…had tried to do some things a bit differently on offense, the results may have been a bit different as well. And, in fact, I wasn’t advocating firing Gardy—not this year, but I was disappointed in the manner in which things transpired. It seems like the Twins play the same in the playoffs every time they make it in. The Yankees can be beat by the Twins, but the team has to believe they can do it.
"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Oct 20, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm.
It was the Yankees who were the ones celebrating like kids when they scored a run or should I say celebrating like the Twins did when they scored against the Tigers in the one-shot title game. The Twins dugout gave a few high fives, but I saw no one jumping up and down with glee.
It’s interesting that you say that. My friend and I were discussing this while watching the games. I actually think the Yankees were more reserved than the Twins. You got a fist pump and clapping when the Yankees scored, but it didn’t seem like much. When they won the series, of course, there was more. But it just didn’t seem like they were…I don’t know, super thrilled when they scored a run. Maybe that’s just me (it very possibly is). Or maybe that’s what buying championships will do to your excitement level. :\
Either way, getting to the playoffs 5 times in 8 years is nothing to scoff at. The players’ mindsets during those times is what seems to be suffering more than Gardy’s managerial skills. He can only get into their heads so much.
And enjoy Viking fandom, it may bring great things this year! :)
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 20, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe you're right but how does the mindset change?
Isn’t it partially the manager’s responsibility? I cannot figure out how you go 18-4 and then 0-3 (with hardly a whimper); I don’t care who you are playing; 18-4 is mind boggling good, and then, the Twins suddenly play like the post-slate clearing Cleveland Indians in the playoff games.
OK; OK. I’ll shut-up and start watching the Vikings—grudgingly, but I’ll watch them (or least check ESPN to see highlights).
"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Oct 20, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
It’s the manager’s job to do what he can, for sure. I’m just saying, he can yell at them until he’s blue in the face, it’s not going to guarantee that they listen. Or change.
The run to make it to game 163 was incredible, there is no doubt about that. Unreal, some of the best baseball we’d seen all year. But then we faced the Yankees, and as the Twins are apt to do (for the past few years at least), they ran scared. I don’t think there’s anything that Gardy could have said that would have changed the mindsets of some of the guys out there during that series.
And really…the Vikings are looking mighty promising this year. Not the prettiest wins so far, but they’re getting the job done (with some luck thrown in) and it could be very fun here on out. :)
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 20, 2009 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
...they ran scared...
Those are the words my tired brain was searching for. Anyway, what’s done is done.
I’m gonna put on my Viking helmet and caribou-skin tunic starting today.
"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."
by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Oct 21, 2009 5:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um...
those three games were against the best team in baseball, and one of the best of the decade.
Two of the three were in New York
None of the three featured our best starter.
Going 0-3 happens, even if you are playing at a high level. it happens more often when you play the Yankees.
by lookatthosetwins on Oct 21, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"with hardly a whimper"?
Game 1 was the night after a 12 inning death match, Game 2 went 11 innings, and we held them scoreless in Game 3 until the 7th. They played their hearts out.
As heartbroken as I was, I talked to my friends, found a few laughs on TT, and I got over it. My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
—Hasta la victoria siempre ¡Patria o Muerte! –Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 21, 2009 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha, that is some quality advice.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 21, 2009 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The next step..........
A brilliant end to a season in the weakest division in baseball this side of 1987. Players riding high, yet worn, worn…and then the playoffs.
The Yankees, bless their soul, have many, many weapons. They do.
The Twins, put together to be division competitive. Have yet to take that next step and think ahead about what it takes to maybe dominate the playoffs. The Twins are still dreamers, thinking maybe the little engine can/could.
Yes, paying money, haveing big sticks and power pitchers, doesn’t automatically make you a winner, but if all the cylinders in the expensive engine are running-in-tune, nothing will ever beat it!
Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!
by rosterman on Oct 20, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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