All posts by Twayn

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Indigenous – Blues From The Sky

I've been a fan of Indigenous and Mato Nanji since their debut CD in 1998. Hard to believe it's been that long. I finally got to see them about four or five years ago. After the show Mato was signing autographs at the merch table. There weren't any lines so I went up and bought a shirt and talked to him for a minute or two about the show and his music and who he listens to. He and the band never got as big as I'd hoped they would, but they did okay for a bunch of reservation kids from Yankton. This is the original band lineup, with Mato's bother Pte on bass, sister Wanbdi on drums, and cousin Horse on other drums.

1 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 101 vote, average: 8.00 out of 10 (1 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)
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Marvin Hamlisch – Nobody Does It Better

If I recall correctly, Marvin Hamlisch was in town doing some sort of engagement with the Minnesota Orchestra when I met him at the TV station during the promo tour. He was alone with no handler so I got to sit and talk with him for five minutes or so in the break room before the show. Nice guy, very polite, said yes please when I offered to get him a beverage and thank you when I brought it to him. His talent is missed.

2 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10 (2 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10)
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Shania Twain – You’re Still The One

Back when I was in the news business I had occasion to rub elbows with celebrities from time to time, so I decide with this go-round I'm going to do videos from people I've personally met. By that I mean we were in immediate physical proximity and had actual conversation, and with some there was physical contact like a handshake. I have just enough to fill out a week, so here goes.

I'll start with Shania Twain, who appeared on our late morning news show when I was a young associate producer in the mid 90s. She was just a little thing in a tee shirt and sweatpants on the way to the guest dressing room for makeup when I met her, but she was pretty enough to steal your breath, had big personality, and was as nice as could be, she totally charmed everyone there. I hear she's had some trouble on her comeback tour, which is too bad and I wish her the best. but this is how I'll always remember her, back when she was on top.

2 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 102 votes, average: 9.00 out of 10 (2 votes, average: 9.00 out of 10)
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2023 Game 76 – BoSox at Twins

The Twins pulled off a pretty exciting extra-innings walk-off win last night, despite the combined efforts of the Red Sox and the blue shirts. The Gallo/Baldelli ejections got the crowd pretty worked up, and the  out call on MAT at first base on the sacrifice,  a bad call upheld by an even worse replay review -- well, let's just say things got fairly raucous and I had to issue a few polite reminders about profanity to nearby fans. At any rate, it was a sorely needed win, it was good to see Rocco get lathered up, and hopefully the win can spark a return to the form we saw early in the season when the pitching and hitting were on the same page in the same book most of the time.

Today the Twins wrap up a long homestand and their 4-game series with Boston with a businessman's special. Young Joe Ryan, 7-4 with a 3.30 ERA and 91 strikeouts, slings for the Minnesota nine with Justin Garza on the hill for the Sox. He's 0-1 and this appears to be his first start of the season, he's thrown 13 innings of relief in 12 games in 2023. Not sure how long he'll go, this could be a bullpen start for Boston and Garza is just the first leg.

Play ball!

2023 Game 57: Guardians vs. Twins

Cleveland comes to town to kick off a four-game weekend series tonight, so this is a chance for the Twins to gain some ground head-to-head on a divisional rival. I'm not sure what to make of this team yet since we haven't seen them hitting on all cylinders since April, but I've been duly impressed with the starting rotation. Pablo Lopez has been solid (considering what we gave up I'd like more out of him), Sonny Grey has been phenomenal, but some regression to the mean has to happen eventually, right? The young guys are getting it done, too, we've seen some great starts by Ryan and Varland. The bullpen has been decent, not outstanding but solid enough to keep games winnable in late innings, with some notable exceptions, of course. I don't know what's wrong with Jorge Lopez, for example, the last two outings of his I've seen were horrendous and he simply could not get an out. It's like he's got relief pitcher yips or something, keeps throwing the ball exactly where he doesn't want to. Anyway, tonight we get Pablo Lopez and Tanner Bibee slinging the horsehide. Let's hope the offense we found in Houston made the trip home and shows up for this series.

Play ball!

2023 Game 54: Twins at Rastros

Hungry Joe is unavailable so I'm pinch hitting today. I can't say I've been happy with the quality of ball and strike calling over the past couple of weeks, but you really can't blame the Twins' chronic ass-bats on the umps. At the games on Friday and Saturday, I counted 7 Blue Jays in the lineup hitting above .250. The Twins had just two. They had two hitters above .300, we had none. And it's not just low overall averages,  it's the complete dearth of clutch hits. Rather than cheer when we load the bases with no outs, I cringe at the prospect of underperforming run expectancy yet again. Combine the ass-bats with some sloppy defense and it gets hard to win games, even when the rotation is killing it and the bullpen is showing surprising signs of adequacy.

Speaking of that rotation, Twins ace Sonny Gray takes the mound today for the home team. He's got a 1.82 ERA (236 ERA+), a 2.02 FIP, and a 1.196 WHIP. He's given up zero home runs while notching 66 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched. No pitcher on the team has done more to help win games this year than Sonny. The Astros counter with J.P. France. He's got a 3.43 ERA in four starts with a 1.19 WHIP. Hope everyone is having a pleasant Memorial Day.

Play ball!

2023 Game 32: Twins Cities at Second City

Disconcerting. That's the safe-for-work word I'll use to describe blowing into the Windy City and dropping the first two games - both of them achingly winnable - to the Pale Hosers. Pitching has not been the problem, though (odd how saying that feels like putting on a shirt that doesn't quite fit right).

Between the last two losses and a couple of others here and there the Twins could easily have 20 wins or more under their collective belt. Instead, sporadic ass-battery has reared its ugly head and is driving the team down. Six out of nine hitters in today's starting lineup have averages below .250 and as a team the Twins are hitting a paltry .232, and from that vantage point you can damn near see Mario Mendoza. Buxton solo home runs are great to watch, but if they don't ultimately deliver puppies and fireworks what's the point?

On the mound today, Pablo Lopez (2-2, 4.00 ERA, 46K) will face off against Lucas Giolito (1-2, 4.15 ERA, 34K). Hopefully when Lopez comes off the mound today it will be late in the game with the Twins leading and no trainers in sight. It's great to have starting pitching depth in St. Paul, but it's even better when you don't have to use it.

Play ball!

2023 Game 19: Twins at Red Sox

As of today the Twins have a 31.3% chance of making the playoffs and a 1% chance of winning the World Series, but as of today I'd be willing to take that World Series bet at 100-to-1 odds. A modest wager, of course, it's way too early to lose our heads. Still, a 10-7 record that includes a split four game series at Yankee Stadium is the kind of start you dream about when you're blowing the latest eight inches of snow off your driveway in the dark at 5:00 p.m.

About that start. I'd say it's fair to say that our pitching is contributing considerably more to the team's winning record than is the offense. The Twins sit atop the Central division but rank in the bottom third of the AL in most offensive categories with a meager .224 batting average (13th) and a .653 OPS (85 OPS+/12th). The pitching, on the other hand, has been uncharacteristically good, and especially so the starting rotation. As a team the Twins sport a 2.61 ERA (169 ERA+), the best in the American League, 179 strikeouts in 151.2 innings pitched (10.6K/9), and a .996 WHIP.

Today the Twins send Kenta Maeda back to the mound in search of his first victory, at 0-2 he's the only starter without a win this young season. Despite the lack of a W,  Maeda has respectable numbers with a 4.09 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.00 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 11 innings over his first two starts. The Beantown nine counter Maeda with Tanner Houck, 2-0 in three starts with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

Play ball!

2023 Game 1 – MN Twins vs. KC Royals

Opening Day greetings from Minnesota, the land that spring forgot. Outside there are still two feet of snow on the ground and there's a winter storm watch until 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Game time conditions in Kansas City, though, should be more pleasant, about 68 degrees and breezy. There's a reason our home opener is never on actual Opening Day.

To say last season was disappointing for Twins fans would be an exercise in understatement. So many things that could have gone right went wrong, and it far too often involved severe bodily harm to key players. By most accounting, if not for a plethora of injuries late in the season the Twins would have won the division. But those are the vagaries of the game that make it so maddening and endearing, and keep us coming back for more year after year.

You generally put your ace starting pitcher on the mound for Opening Day. For Kansas City, that means Donald Zachary Greinke and his 223 career wins, 2882 strikeouts, and 3.42 ERA. It will be the seventh Opening Day start of his career. The Twins, I believe, selected their Opening Day starter by draw and Pablo Lopez pulled the short straw. He'll go to the mound for his first ever Opening Day start with 28 career wins, 489 strikeouts, and a lifetime 3.94 ERA under his belt.

I have no prognostications to offer for how this season will go for the Twins, my crystal ball is perpetually hazy these days. Conventional wisdom says don't be surprised to see the Twins and Guardians battling it out for the division title again come September, but every season starts with a big old question mark. If we're lucky along the way and enough things go right, we get to end it with a giant exclamation point.

Play ball!