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Around SBN: MLB Trade Deadline: Where each team stands right now

Twins Towers

I am sure that most of the bloggers on TwinkieTown have read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Anybody remember the second book in LOTR: The Two Towers?  Also, I am sure we all remember the famous World Trade Center Steel Behemoths: The Twin Towers.  Well, as I surfed around on several Twins sites today, I came across the Twins Towers.

More after the jump....

Star-divide

Loek van Mil, standing at 7'1", could possibly become the tallest pitcher to ever play in the Major Leagues.  However, at the present time, the Twins already have the tallest pitcher in the big leagues: Jon Rauch.

Rauch, standing at 6'11", still looks up to van Mil, even though it is a mere two inches that separate the height of these two colossal pitchers.  As a matter of fact, Rauch and Van Mill's lockers are very near each other in the clubhouse down in Florida.

Naturally, these two pitchers have quickly become acquainted, how could they not?  Rauch even offered to help van Mil with mechanics: 

"Not that you’ll ever need it, but if you ever have any questions about mechanics, or whatever, let me know," Rauch said to van Mil before asking about his belt size.

Now, one would think that a pitcher standing at 7'1" would be able to muster enough torque to put about 120 MPH on the ball when delivering to home plate.  However, van Mil has only been able to get his fastball up to about 99 MPH, but consistently hits 95 on the gun.

Loek van Mil has a nice minor league career going for him, with low ERAs and BAA, but generally has a bad BB/K ratio.  If van Mil shows more control this spring, Twins fans could possibly come to know the Rauch/Mil combo as the Twins Towers.  More than likely, however, van Mil will start in the minors, but possibly could be called up mid-season, especially if he manages to control his pitches and cut down on the number of walks.

Hopefully, van Mil will be in the bullpen with the Twins in 2011, and we all will hope that the Twins retain Rauch for at least one more year, so that the Twins Towers will forever live in Twins memory as the tallest double combo in Major League history.  

*Also, this spring, Rauch and van Mil could work on ball control; this way, after day games at Target Field, the Twins Towers just head across the parking lot to Target Center to play for the Timberwolves - (imagine those blocked shots and tip-toe dunks!)

**One ball to rule them all, One ball to miss them, One ball to bring them all, And on the bench - bind them!

Poll
Would you like to see the Twins Towers at Target Field?
It would be a sight to behold
153 votes
Punto isn't tall enough to grab their asses
100 votes
No, way too big
19 votes
I wonder what Ozzie Guillen would say?
154 votes

426 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 38 comments |

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Comments

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Nice piece.

I thought about doing something on these two guys, but you beat me to it. Nice job.

by Jesse on Feb 24, 2010 3:34 PM EST reply actions  

oh please Jesse

do write a piece on these two. I am sure you could/would make it much more witty than I did. But thank you…

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 24, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm glad you did it.

I didn’t have much to write about. This is a better approach than I would have taken.

FP.

by Jesse on Feb 24, 2010 3:37 PM EST up reply actions  

Thanks Jesse!

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 24, 2010 3:59 PM EST up reply actions  

We already HAVE the Twins Towers.

Their names are Jon Rausch and Loek Van Mil.

by Twins4Life on Feb 24, 2010 3:45 PM EST reply actions  

Nevermind that

I didn’t read the whole article. Ha.

Silly text that is after the jumps… Tricky…

by Twins4Life on Feb 24, 2010 3:47 PM EST up reply actions  

haha

very tricky I am! (wait a minute, I was going for LOTR, not Yoda!)

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 24, 2010 3:59 PM EST up reply actions  

I think

Rausch and Van Mil aren’t just the tallest pitchers to play the game, they are the tallest ball players to play the game

by mmaland on Feb 24, 2010 4:37 PM EST reply actions  

The joy is that Loek......

is on the 40-man!

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Feb 24, 2010 4:58 PM EST reply actions  

Thing is, the two towers are occupied by the bad guys...

…just sayin’

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Feb 25, 2010 12:22 AM EST reply actions  

Everyone failed the geek test...

EVEN YOU!

"I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"

by maxisagod on Feb 25, 2010 1:13 AM EST reply actions  

Speaking of "what Ozzie Guillen would say"

He’s on Twitter! Not one single F-Bomb yet though. :/

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 25, 2010 1:28 AM EST reply actions  

Even without the f-bombs

his Twitter feed is pretty entertaining.

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Feb 25, 2010 2:05 AM EST up reply actions  

Ozzie Twitter Quote..

“Thanks a lot for the support i like it the twitter…”

Wow. They only get better after that too.

I always loved that one.

by FoulJack on Feb 25, 2010 6:47 PM EST up reply actions  

Yeah, apparently the bigwigs in the Chicago organization aren't too pleased with Ozzie.

Makes sense, since he’s been known to not be very um…candid. Linky

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Feb 25, 2010 9:45 PM EST up reply actions  

I can't wait

until the annual Twins/Sox game where Minnesota wins by 10+ runs. I will be refreshing that twitter feed all day.

by matty_b on Feb 25, 2010 11:39 PM EST up reply actions  

I only wish his TV show

Wasn’t going to be on the heavily edited MLB Network. Let Ozzie be Ozzie!

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 25, 2010 11:51 PM EST up reply actions  

Free Ozzie!

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Feb 25, 2010 11:59 PM EST up reply actions  

Actually, that does sound pretty fun.

And that 10+ run day is so great. Last year’s 20-run game was fantastic, I’m hoping for a repeat this year.

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Feb 26, 2010 12:00 AM EST up reply actions  

Game scenerios I want to see in a weekend series

Liriano vs. Peavy:
Twins win 10-0
Liriano: 7 IP, 14 SO, 1 BB, 0 R, 2 H
Peavy: 5 IP, 3 SO, 3 BB, 6 R, 10 H

Slowey vs. Buerhle:
Twins win 10-0
Slowey: 9 IP, 8 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 3 H
Buerhle: 4 IP, 6 R, 1 SO, 5 BB, 13 H

Baker vs. Danks:
Twins win 10-0
Baker: 8 IP, 9 SO, 2 BB, 0 R, 5 H
Danks: 5 IP, 8 R, 0 SO, 3 BB, 15 H

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 26, 2010 12:26 AM EST up reply actions  

Twins win!

on 10 consecutive home runs!

by caluofmn on Feb 26, 2010 10:19 AM EST up reply actions  

Explain yourself!

Why are none of those no-hitters?

"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 Feb 26, 2010 11:36 AM EST up reply actions  

Such little faith in our pitching staff...

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Feb 26, 2010 11:57 AM EST up reply actions  

well

with the putrid White Sox offense, I would not be at all surprised to see any of those pitchers throw a no hitter/perfect game.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 26, 2010 12:10 PM EST up reply actions  

More HR data please

I was hoping for who hits five consecutive home runs

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Feb 26, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions  

Punto, of course.

Silly question…

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Feb 26, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions  

Punto hits 5 consecutive home runs

carrying Delmon on his back… 5+5 = 10
Twins win by 10!

by caluofmn on Feb 26, 2010 2:30 PM EST up reply actions  

sure can!

he’d slide into every base on his home run trot, and Delmon would wave his big white stenson over his head…

before hitting his 5 consecutive home runs, Punto was heard saying “get on my back and I’ll get us the win” Only Delmon Young took him up on his offer

by caluofmn on Feb 26, 2010 3:34 PM EST up reply actions  

I'd like to see him do it with Mijares on his back

Remember when he face planted trying to slide into first and cracked two ribs? Remember that? That was awesome!

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Feb 26, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions  

Wow, cmath.

Hostile. Haha.

RonGarde: Target Field is going to be exactly like Progressive Field, except you'll have a chance to die of frostbite in the middle of July

by fischean on Feb 26, 2010 6:04 PM EST up reply actions  

Head-First.

But he’d get hurt doing it.

by sw mn guy on Feb 27, 2010 9:48 PM EST up reply actions  

Rauch to Van Mil:

Loek, I am your father.

by Han Joelo on Feb 25, 2010 7:50 AM EST reply actions   1 recs

+1

too funny

Will the Real Thor Please Stand Up ... ?

by the Real Thor on Feb 25, 2010 8:39 AM EST up reply actions  

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