New member saying hello!
by MarshalltheIrish on Mar 16, 2010 1:58 AM EDT
29 comments
Hey all!
Long-time reader finally joining the crowd. Absolutely love the activity and material here and feel this is definitely the "ultimate" online Twins community. As stated in my profile, I've been a fan since 2000 and there's no sports team in the world that can top these guys as my number one team. In order to get acquainted with everyone, I'd like to ask: Who is your favorite Twins player of all-time, and what are your best and worst moments in your fan careers?
My all-time favorite player is easily Rod Carew. He is not only far and away the greatest player in franchise history, but he embodies all of the best elements of Minnesota Twins baseball: Utter class, flawless hitting mechanics, superb chemistry with the fans, and the right balance between individual achievement and team chemistry.
My best moment thus far is easily, easily the moment Carlos Gomez slid across home with a flood of Twins behind him in Game 163. To say that game was an emotional roller coaster is like saying people drive fast at the Indianapolis 500...I went through more ecstatic highs and devastating lows in those 12 innings than some fans feel in entire seasons. It seemed inevitable that we would lose, especially down 5-4 in the 10th (and having to see Bobby Keppel save a crucial moment even though he proved me wrong). Casilla's game-winner was sweet release from a nerve-shattering ride...
And then comes the worst. I'll keep it quick: The 9th inning to the end of game 2 of the subsequent ALDS in New York. I kid you not, I would rather be driven through Afghanistan by Nick Nolte than ever experience something like that again.
But hey, that was then, and this is now, and I've got a feeling like never before about this year's squad!
Take care,
Marshall Garvey
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Welcome!
Always good to have new people on board. Good first post.
My favorite player is Kirby Puckett, simply because he was The Guy as I was growing up.
Welcome Marshall!
I look forward to your contributions!
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Welcome!
Favorite player: Kent Hrbek (honorable mentions: Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Matt LeCroy, Denny Hocking, Corey Koskie, Jacque Jones)
Favorite moment: Kirby’s homer in the 1991 Series edges the end of Game 163 last year, but I have a special place in my heart for Chad Moeller’s first major-league homer, a three-run in-the-parker that helped beat the Galactic Empire Yankees, which I saw in person.
Worst moment: The inning Johan fell apart in Game 4 of the 2003 series against the Yankees. Again, I was there in person (the only playoff game I’ve attended), and the Dome was absolutely dead for the rest of the game/season. Honorable mention to the 2006 playoffs when Hunter played a single into an in-the-park homer.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Ooh, bad memories with that Hunter move.
Ouch.
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 Mar 16, 2010 10:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ahh. And Moeller is playing against the Twins today.
Nostalgic? ;)
Yes!
I remember seeing Moeller in person one other time, when he was with the Brewers. Santana was pitching, and Moeller struck out three times and hit into a double play.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Welcome to the dark side :)
You’ll enjoy it here, I’m sure.
Favorite player: tie between Mauer, Kirby, Justin, Hrbek, Killebrew, and Denard. Lots of good guys that have played for this team, hard to pick just one.
Best moment: probably 163 last year as well. What an incredible game. I remember a tiny bit of the parade in ’91, and that was pretty awesome too.
Worst: the feeling after Johan and Hunter were gone. I knew it was bound to happen, but man that hurt. Or being swept by the Yankees. Gross.
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 Mar 16, 2010 10:29 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
We have claimed another soul! Muhahahaha
Seriously, though. Welcome.
Favorite Player: Do I have to pick just one? My favorite player right now is probably Span (with obvious respect the the Mauer’s and Morneau’s of the world). I also have a slight man-crush on Pat Neshek. Favorite Twin of all time? It’s gotta be Kirby. I grew up watching him, man. He was SUCH a fun player to watch, and I still think he continues to impact the way I see the game. (I tend to appreciate centerfielders, just because I get to see them run around like I remember Kirby doing.)
Best moment: The very first game I ever went to. It was in the 92 season, and we drove to the cities from North Dakota to take my brother to a game on his birthday. We had GA tickets, so we got to the Dome extra early so we could get seats right above center field so we could watch Kirby as closely as possible. Then they announced the lineups. Kirby was DH’ing that day. We got to watch Shane Mack in center instead. Haha. So it didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but it was still an awesome experience seeing live major league baseball for the first time. Didn’t hurt that the Twins won the game, either. :)
Close second: Being in attendance for Game 163 last year. Easily the most thrilling game I have ever experienced.
Third: This moment was beautiful. I still get goosebumps when I watch this.
Worst moment: Too many to choose from. Getting swept by the Yankees in the postseason, Kirby’s death, Torii’s departure, getting swept by the A’s in the postseason….
.
This one’s good too.
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
One reason to like Casilla
He ALWAYS seems to come through in HUGE situations like that, and he has gotten some amazing walk-offs, including this one and the 163 walk-off from last year. Good stuff.
Now if he could just do it a little more consistently…
Ok.
Favorite Twin of all time: Brad Radke
Favorite Moment: Well, my first memory of baseball was watching the 91 World Series, so I might go with that. (It’s a lot clearer than my memories of Game 163…thanks alcohol!)
Worst Moment: The 2006 series against the A’s. Terrible. I really thought that was going to be the year.
Favorites
Twin: Rod Carew
Moment: ‘91 Game 6: The Catch
Runner up: ’02 All Start game, Hunter’s catch.
Worst moment: Ruben (Steroids) Sierra’s 3-run homer in Game 4 of the 2004 playoffs off of Juan Rincon.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Favorite current Twin
Joe Mauer of course
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Welcome!
Favorite current Twin: easily DSpan (though much love to all of the J-boys)
Favorite all time: close call between Bradke and Kirby
Best moment: Game 163
Worst moment: the 2006 ALDS. All of it, really. Such high hopes…
Hey Bud! Welcome
Favorite Current Twin: Franchisco Liriano
All Time: It was, is and always will be Spiderman. Honorable Mentions: The Franchisco, Matt Lecroy, Denard, Neshek.
Moment: Tie between the whole game 163 and when Kirbys Son pulled down the last number for Countdown to Target Field.
Worst Moment: Punto rounding third against the Yankees. . .
I love Twins Baseball and Minnesota Vikings Football.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Mar 16, 2010 4:20 PM EDT reply actions
Welcome!
Favorite Current Twin: Justin Morneau
All Time: Kirby Puckett
Honorable Mention: Brad Radke
Favorite Moment: Game 163, Game 6 – The Catch and Homer
Worst Moment: 2006 AL Playoffs, 2009 Playoffs
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
Welcome to Twinkie Town!
Favorite all time Twin: Kirby, I was just a wee boy in his later years, he’s why I love baseball
Favorite Moment:in 2006, watching the Royals beat the Tigers on the big screen at the dome, and the subsequent celebration
Worst Moment: A game last year at Oakland, staying up late to watch them blow a 10-run lead, and see Cuddy get tagged out trying to score the tying run on one of the worst calls I’ve seen in my life. That call ended the game btw
From the only TRUE North division
by thewild_viking_twins on Mar 16, 2010 8:16 PM EDT reply actions
wow, small world
I was at that game in Oakland… that was one of the worst collapses ever… it was a long walk to the car afterwards
I wouldn't have wished that on my worst enemy
I would have slammed my dick in a car door after sitting through that debacle. Watching on TV was bad enough
"God tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he's pretty sure you're fucked."-Braveheart
Crazy
My dad was at that game. Does everyone on Twinkietown have a “six degrees” connection to that game…? Spooky.
I watched it on TV
the plot thickens…
"Pinch-bunters don't have a ton of value, even with the Twins"
by Steven Ellingson on Mar 19, 2010 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That game
Was definitely one of the single worst games I have ever seen. Thankfully it didn’t matter too much. Horrible awful no good very bad call to end it. But bad baseball all around.
It didnt matter too much?
If we win that game there isnt one of the greatest Twins games ever a couple months later. . .
I love Twins Baseball and Minnesota Vikings Football.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Mar 17, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
it matter as we tried to get to our car in one piece
Speaking of Twins v A’s, anyone going to be in Oakland for the series the first weekend in June?
I got a gang of 4 coming with me. Always fun to meet up with more Twins fans.
Great Post, Nice String Going Here - now for my 2 cents:
Favorite Player – Kirby Puckett, fun to watch as a kid, probably the only reason I’m a Twins fan today – I loved to disagree with my dad on anything sports related just for the fun of it, and he was a Twins fan but Kirby was so much fun to watch, I couldn’t disagree with Pa on baseball.
Can I put in 2 categories for best moment?
Watching on TV – 1991 World Series game 6 – a formative event in the life of a 9-year old when your hero comes through in the clutch – indescribable.
Watching in person – I grew up in western IA and moved to Chicago later on, so I’ve never been to a lot of Twins games in person, maybe at this point I average 1 game per year I’ve been alive, but in 2008 my wife & I were determined to get to the Metrodome to catch a game, and it happened to work out to be September 25 (final game of the last series against the division leading White Sox) – the videos are in a post above, but what a game of highs & lows, very similar to 2009’s game 163. Slowey pitched 3 perfect, then got shelled in the 4th, had a couple errors behind him and eventually was hit in the wrist by a line drive. Our trip was unraveling right before our eyes, and I was thinking it was going to be a long drive back home the next day. We had been to the game earlier that year in Chicago where Gavin Floyd took a no-hitter late into the 7th or 8th, and I was afraid he was going to beat us again. It was a long comeback, but the Sox didn’t score again in the game. After Jenks blew the save in the 8th and he was back out for the 10th, I knew we had it won, it was just a matter of when, who, & how. Like I said, I hadn’t been to the ’dome too often, and I consider myself EXTREMELY lucky to have witnessed a game there that truly had that place rocking.
Worst Moment: Actually a game that really had no external implications, other than it being down the stretch of a possible playoff run, but watching the game on TV September 16, 2008 at Cleveland. We scored in the first, but allowed 4 in both the 2nd & 3rd. My mindset was “we have to win to make the playoffs” and I was steaming that we couldn’t perform against the struggling Indians and were on a 3-game losing streak ourselves. I went out to the local batting cages to let off some steam, and excitedly came back to find that we had played some catch-up and even took the lead in the 8th. Then the recently re-acquired Eddie Guardado blew the save in the bottom allowing the game to be tied on an HR. As the Twins lost all of the “clutch” in their bats as the game went into extra innings, I found myself screaming at the TV – literally shouting at the top of my lungs for the Twins to perform. When Nathan gave up the 3-run shot in the bottom of the 11th to end it, I was furious – storming around the house shouting wildly. I lost my voice, for no justifiable reason, that night and had to go into work the next day and for the next week and try to explain to my boss & co-workers why it was so difficult to take phone calls & speak to customers – because of a baseball game. Foolish, but because of a truly pitiful half-game, half-hearted performance by our Twins.
Sorry, this was a little long, but I hope you all have gotten to know me a little better as well.
"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series
by WindyCityTwinsFan on Mar 18, 2010 10:52 AM EDT reply actions
Hey WindyCity!
I’m from Western Iowa, too! The lost corner of Twins Territory.
Yeah -
- the southern-most reaches, outside of spring training, anyway. A good place to be from. Nice to meet you.
"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series
by WindyCityTwinsFan on Mar 19, 2010 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Welcome!
Favorite Current Twin: Justin Morneau, although Jason Kubel is not far behind.
Favorite Alltime: Kent Hrbek.
Best Moment: That great day in 2006 when the Twins capped their comeback and won the division.
Worst Moment: Game 3 against Oakland in the playoffs that year.
Good to meet you.
"If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error." - John Kenneth Galbraith.
by 92 MPH Knuckleball on Mar 18, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions
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