I'm really efficient at closing my department at work. Now that this location has seen that, they want me to do it all the time. Ugh.
2012 Game Logs: Game 16 Minnesota @ Utah
I had to take a small nap during half time last night that extended about 8 minutes into the third quarter but I watched the end of the game last night on East Coast time. I think I am really falling for this team. As many of you on the site know I have always considered myself and "NBA fan" but never really had an affiliation towards a team until I started hanging out in these parts. Seeing Stick's love of the Wolves, warts and all, was kind of contagious and I started to monitor the team a little more closely. And though I am still looking for proof, there are rumors that I said I would move to the Twin Cities if the Wolves drafted Rubio in 2009. Well, the Wolves drafted Rubio and while I am still here in Buffalo, I am watching this team with much more interest than I have watched with any of my local teams in some time.
I know I volunteered myself to the Wolves last season when I made my formal decision to take my fandom to the Twin Cities. But I will admit, as the season wore on, my interest waned. I found myself watching more Oklahoma City, Trailblazers, or Heat games than anything else.. This season, well, I don't think I am going to run into that problem.
Bonus points for a Wolves win tonight as Minnesota has Utah's first round pick in the next draft!
This Week in Twins Transactions
Francisco Liriano agrees to terms on a one year contract.
Glen Perkins agrees to terms on a one year contract.
Joel Zumaya agrees to terms on a one year contract.
Brad Thompson signed a minor league contract.
This Week in Ex-Twins
Cincinnati agrees to terms with Ron Mahay on a minor league contract.
Cleveland names Adam Everett special assistant for baseball operations.
Colorado agrees to terms with Brendan Harris on a minor league contract.
Detroit agrees to terms with Delmon Young on a one year contract.
Angels name Paul Sorrento batting coach of Inland Empire (A).
Miami signs Terry Tiffee to a minor league contract.
Yankees name Scott Aldred pitching coach of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).
Yankees name Butch Wynegar batting coach of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).
Yankees name Greg Colbrunn batting coach of Charleston (A).
Yankees name Tom Nieto manager of the GCL Yankees (R).
Toronto signs Jim Hoey to a minor league contract.
Spanning the Globe
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Mayaguez 7, Caguas 4 in Caguas. Daniel Ortiz was 1-for-3 with a double, a run, and an RBI for Mayaguez.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Aragua 6, Anzoategui 4 in Aragua. Lester Oliveros struck out the side in the ninth for Anzoategui.
AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE
Perth 4, Sydney 3 in Perth (15 innings). Luke Hughes was 1-for-5 with a walk and a double, scoring once for Perth. Jacob Younis was 0-for-5 for Sydney. Todd Van Steensel struck out three in three shutout innings, giving up one hit for Sydney.
PLAYOFF UPDATES
Dominican League—Aguilas plays Escogido in a best-of nine series for the championship starting tonight.
Mexican League—Guasave plays Obregon in a best-of-seven series for the championship starting tonight.
Puerto Rican League—Mayaguez leads Caguas three games to two in their best-of-nine series.
Venezuelan League—Aragua has clinched the sixteen game round robin, leading Anzoategui by a game and a half with one game to play.
Australian League—The regular season ends tomorrow, with the playoffs beginning January 26.
Happy Birthday–January 21
Mike Tiernan (1867)
Lew Fonseca (1899)
Sam Mele (1922)
Danny O'Connell (1927)
William Wrigley (1933)
Johnny Oates (1946)
Bill Stein (1947)
Mike Krukow (1952)
Dave Smith (1955)
Mike Smithson (1955)
Jose Uribe (1959)
Andy Hawkins (1960)
Darryl Motley (1960)
Chris Hammond (1966)
Tom Urbani (1968)
Rusty Greer (1969)
Jason Ryan (1976)
Byung-Hyun Kim (1979)
Tom Urbani was drafted by Minnesota in the twenty-ninth round in 1989, but did not sign.
January 21, 2012: Success
We had a great pledge week, dudes. As of this writing, we've raised over $350 this week for our little corner of cyberspace.
One last time, thanks to all.
Sly And The Family Stone – Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
and with that, we wrap up our pledge drive today. and let me say: wow. just wow. this place is just awesome. as spoons mentioned, the pledge drive was a rousing success. i'm not going to get too gushy here, but i am so happy and proud to be a part of this community. all y'all are amazing. this one goes out to you.
1974
thank you all so much for your support. we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
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Loading... 2012 Game Logs: Game 15 Wolves @ Clippers
364 days ago I left for work in the morning with an extra hop in my step. The Minnesota Timberwolves were scheduled to play the Los Angles Clippers that night. Two of the best power forwards in the league would be facing off, in Kevin Love and Blake Griffin. Blake was really hitting his stride about this time last season, quickly becoming must watch tv for anyone with League Pass. I even thought about taking a brief nap after work just to make sure that I would be able to stay up all night at watch the game.
I didn't get to watch the game that night. Instead I was in a hospital room, watching a PBS documentary on Jeff Bridges and checking for score updates on my telephone as Mrs Buffalo yelled at me and told me to put that thing away-- I did. A couple of hours later I was feeding her ice chips, shortly after that a new member of our herd joined us.
I've gotta say, I really don't remember who won that game but I am pretty sure it wasn't the Wolves. Maybe it worked out for the best that way. Maybe this way the Calf and I will be able to watch the Wolves take their revenge. Then again, it will probably be past his bedtime.
Friday Fungoes: The Best Defense is a Good Defense
For the next couple weeks I plan to post a little online water cooler fodder on Fridays, just to provide Citizens the opportunity for some fun, low-stress baseball-related commenting before things get serious and spring training is finally here. We certainly wouldn't want anyone Citizen to pull or strain anything diving into a spring training game log without having properly stretched his fingers. Below you'll find the initial installment of Friday Fungoes.
Occasionally I go drink beer at a neighborhood joint with a close friend of mine who is every bit the baseball fan as anyone on this site. Owing partially to an older family member who played minor league ball in the Pittsburgh farm system in the Thirties, he grew up a Pirates fan, rooting with youthful intensity for Roberto Clemente and the rest of the Buccos in the 1960 World Series. Originally from Colorado, these days he's a staunch Rockies fan. What follows is a fun thought experiment, which he proposed to me last week over our second or third pitcher of Alaskan Amber:
Your team is carrying a one-run lead into the ninth inning. As the manager, you need to construct the best defense you can put on the field, manned by players of any era, with the proviso that they must be players you have watched during your time as a baseball fan. Pay no attention to a player's offensive prowess - the goal here is to prevent the tying run from scoring, not to win the game in your next at-bat.
My defense:
C Ivan Rodriguez
1b John Olerud
2b Rey Sanchez
3b Gary Gaetti
SS Ozzie Smith
LF Barry Bonds*
CF Devon White
RF Ichiro
P Greg Maddux
*Unless Sid Bream is due up.
Obviously answers will vary depending upon the age of the individual supplying them, or the age baseball fandom set in, or both. Who would you send out to guard your lead?
EDIT: sean suggested also posting your worst defense, which I heartily second. In that spirit:
C Todd Hundley
1b Frank Thomas
2b Jose Offerman
3b Bobby Bonilla
SS Cap'n Dreamboat
LF Manny B Manny
CF Bernie Williams
RF Gary Sheffield
P Mitch Williams