Dinkelman Outrighted: A Twinkie Town Retrospective

by RandBall's Stu on Oct 21, 2011 10:55 AM EDT in Player Profiles

The Minnesota Twins continued to clear space on their 40-man roster on Thursday by outrighting infielder/outfielder Brian Dinkelman

--Tom Pellisserroo, 1500ESPN.com

Twins fans have been through a lot over the years. The premature end to Kirby Puckett's career. September 1984. The Mike Maksudian Era. But nothing could prepare them for the body blow that was landed yesterday, as beloved Twin Brian Dinkelman was let go to make room on the Twins' 40-man roster. As we deal with our collective loss, let's look back at some of the moments that "The Dink" provided us over the years:

June 4, 2011: Dinkelman makes his MLB debut. He gets hit by a pitch, collects a single, draws an intentional walk and makes a terrific diving catch. The DinkelSlam, as it came to be known, was the talk of Twins Territory.
September 11, 2011: Dinkelman fails to advance baserunners twice in one game. As much as we criticize players, chances are, if we were in their shoes, we would fail miserably. Dinkelman showed us what would happen if some internet comment jerk had a bat in his or her hand. It was a valuable lesson, one that needed to be taught.
September 17-18, 2011: Dinkelman, burning white with the heat of a thousand suns, goes 7-for-9 over the course of two games. The DinkelMonster, as he came to be known, had been loosed on the American League.

There are countless other stories to be told about Dinkelman. Like the time he got sent down to Rochester, only to be called back up again because someone else got hurt again. No, not that time, the other time. The time he was accidentally sent on a deep space mission. The time he did something bad and Gardy yelled at Valencia.

Of course, if The Dink were here, he'd tell us not to worry about him, and to maybe spare a thought for Derry, Maine prison guard Phil Dumatrait, who was also outrighted yesterday and will have to spin it for someone else in 2012. That's just our Dink.

DINKELMAN.

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Comments

Oh my god.

I’m actually laughing out loud.

by Jesse on Oct 21, 2011 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

A fitting tribute

Rec’d

The other teams could make trouble for us if they win. — Yogi Berra

by Twnzfan on Oct 21, 2011 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

Happy trails, Dinkleman.

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

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 21, 2011 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

Tears of laughter, tears of sorrow.

totally rec’d.

I don't know, but I've been told it's hard to run with the weight of gold,
'the other hand, I've heard it said, it's just as hard with the weight of lead.

by montanatwinsfan on Oct 21, 2011 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

To me he was always El Man.

That's absurd!

by Devereaux on Oct 21, 2011 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

Don’t say goodnight, Brian Dinkelman.
Say you’re gonna stay forever.
Oh, all the way.
Can Brian Dinkelman take me high enough, to fly me over yesterday?
Can Brian Dinkelman take me high enough?
It’s never over.
Yesterday is just a memory.
Yesterday is just a memory.

/nuge guitar solo/

I will never forget you Brian Dinkelman. I love you.

by Brad B. on Oct 21, 2011 1:55 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Brilliant

Jesus, I just heard this on 90s on 9, too. Them Damn Yankees.

by RandBall's Stu on Oct 21, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Dinkelman,

Eased our troubles when we seated Span,
Now I need some words so this will scan,
Oh, I believe in Dinkelman.

Suddenly,
He’s not on the team he used to be,
There’s a shadow hanging over me,
Oh, Dinkelman left suddenly.

Why he had to go
I don’t know, it’s someone’s plan.
They did something wrong,
Now we long for Dinkelma-a-a-an

by ColossusOfRhode on Oct 21, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

And, like Parmelee, he married well.

by Gunnarthor on Oct 21, 2011 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

always remember

I don't know, but I've been told it's hard to run with the weight of gold,
'the other hand, I've heard it said, it's just as hard with the weight of lead.

by montanatwinsfan on Oct 21, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

yes. I've already forgotten how to downsize the photos :(

I don't know, but I've been told it's hard to run with the weight of gold,
'the other hand, I've heard it said, it's just as hard with the weight of lead.

by montanatwinsfan on Oct 21, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions