Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 5

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Bill Dinneen (1876)
Wid Conroy (1877)
Bill Lachemann (1934)
Ron Hansen (1938)
Rennie Stennett (1951)
Andy McPhail (1953)
Cris Carpenter (1965)
Ross Gload (1976)
Lastings Milledge (1985)

Andy McPhail, of course, was the general manager of the Twins from 1985 through 1994, a period which included both of the Twins' World Series titles.  He is currently the President of Baseball Operations for the Baltimore Orioles.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to Mrs. brianS.

There are no players with connections to the Minnesota Twins who were born on this day.

WGOM Videos

Nine Inch Nails – Down In It

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in your latest installment of not quite live theater, here's a video that's been making the rounds on the internets lately, and i felt i'd be remiss not to share it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whVtrLrTWwE

after the video's unearthing, TR felt obliged to explain via the tweeter:

Many years ago, a young and naive Nine Inch Nails were asked what TV shows they'd be interested in appearing on. As a joke (and likely drunk), they thought of the most absurd choice they could come up with at the time. They were then informed their bluff had been called and were actually booked on said show... They hopped in their Honda Civic touring vehicle (hatchback) and travelled many miles to (I think) NJ for the big show. They had a laugh making fun of the people, their fashion choices and hairstyles. Life was good. Years later, the internet is discovered... There's a moral in there somewhere. Come to think of it, Skrillex may indeed owe me some publishing on that hairdo...

3 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 103 votes, average: 8.67 out of 10 (3 votes, average: 8.67 out of 10)
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Game Logs

2012 MLB in USA Opener: Champions at Home Run Monstrosity

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The visiting MLB champions are, of course, starting Kyle Lohse in game one. Remember him? Remember how much Gardy hated him? Now he has a ring, and so does Punto (who's now with the Sawks).

Miami (I'm not used to that yet) has Josh Johnson going. I've always been a big fan for no particular reason, and hope he's back from injury, though the Twins have done little to fill me with hope when a pitcher I like gets injured.

So, who's the first to give us a look at the home run thingy? I'll say Giancarlo Stanton.

Baseball, guys!

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 4

Bill Hinchman (1883)
John Hummel (1883)
Tris Speaker (1888)
Joe Vosmik (1910)
Mickey Owen (1916)
Gil Hodges (1924)
Gary Geiger (1937)
Bart Giamatti (1938)
Eddie Watt (1941)
Jim Fregosi (1942)
Mike Epstein (1943)
Nick Bremigan (1945)
Ray Fosse (1947)
Herm Schneider (1952)
Tom Herr (1956)
Brad Komminsk (1961)
Scott Rolen (1975)
Casey Daigle (1981)

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to CarterHayes’ brother.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 4 →

Minnesota Twins, MLB

Why the Twins Will Make the Playoffs

Because they shouldn't.

That's the best reason for hope, because history shows that the Twins under Gardy have been at their best when the prognostications are at their worst. Under Gardy, the Twins have won the division every year the consensus was that they would be lucky to be .500 except for 2008, and that season the Twins lost in a one-game playoff after another improbable comeback. Other than that, the Twins were big underdogs in 2002 and 2006 and they probably had their best two seasons under Gardy other than 2010.

I think Gardy loves to play up the "Us against Them" mentality and is able to get everyone to buy into the team concept when there is little pressure on the team. That also goes for the late-season comebacks in 2003 and 2009.

If I was to give an honest prediction, I would say that it is going to be very hard to make the playoffs in the AL. The Rangers, Angels, Yankees, Rays, Red Sox and Tigers are all going to be very tough and are all probably better than anyone in the NL. Still, every time we try to count the Twins out, they surprise us with another fantastic season. After last year, this better be a doozy of a season.

We just have to remember that a .500 season would be an 18-game improvement, which is outstanding. If the Twins can get close to that and give me hope for the future, such as a healthy season from Mauer  and signs of future success from Parmelee, Revere, Hendricks, Dozier and Benson, and an emergence of a reliever or two, I'll consider it a very successful season.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.