Twins 34-34 on 6/18

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:24 pm

The other point is: Why in the Boof is Tyner the DH and White in LF?

White doesnt hit well when he doesnt play in the field? What the Boof is that? Why did we sign him? Hint: It wasnt to play LF.

But goldy is right on. If you are going to coddle White and play him in LF, put Redmond as the DH. Whats gonna happen? If Mauer gets hurt you wont win anyway.

Nevin may still come through for this club.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:34 pm

PS. i wonder where Andy Macphail will land? The boy wonder sure didnt work any magic with the Cubs. I was surprised by that.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:41 pm

Nevin will only help if he gets hit by the pitch.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:45 pm

Most of the hitting I promised for this week was lost in shipment. The package containing solo HR's did arrive Tuesday morning but the second package containing the rest of the offense did not make it. This morning I re-sent package two directly to Oakland via another carrier. Package two contains the offense necessary to win a five game divisional series. Inside the package is an ample amount singles, doubles, and HRs, RBI's, SB, and the coveted clutch hits. Triples are currently back orded, thus I included 3 extra doubles. This offense is perishable so the Twins shall not save or ration the contents for the ALCS.

In response to PB's plea I am sending a third package full of other items that the Twins may need. Inside the package are enough green turtlenecks, Cub hats, and earphones for everyone with a front row ticket for Fri and Sat's games. Secondly, I've included a copy of Lawrence Taylor's book "Tips for distracting the opponent the night before the game". And finally, two official MLB divisional lineup cards that already list Mike Redmond as the DH.

Additional suggestions for items posted here will be included until package is full.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 1:54 pm

Not a bad idea Neut.

Lets bring in Minnie Minoso and The Coach from Cheers and get these guys on base.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 3:56 pm

Well, the Tigers have tied the series and now go home with a chance to clinch in Comerica.... just as IS predicted.

Man, is it ever a good thing we didnt have to play the Yankees first and could open with Oakland at home.

Of course it really doesnt matter who you play nor where you play them if you dont ____ ____ ________.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:34 pm

Geez, Shanty, use a better shipper next time, the ledges are getting rather full around here. Could you include a circus catch from Hunter in the shipment, the guy needs a lift.

I actually like Tyner, but he's not a DH for Boof's sake. As I said a couple of months ago with his speed and ability to make contact he'd make an ideal no.2 hitter. They could have left Kubel off the active roster to add an extra catcher so Redmond could DH. They might have had to do some tweaking to get another left handed hitter on the bench but it's not likely that Kubel will do any damage in the postseason so they wouldn't be losing much.

Cuddyer and Zito have blogs on the www.mlb.com site and they actually aren't bad reads:

http://michaelcuddyer.mlblogs.com/

http://barryzito.mlblogs.com/

Among other things Barry reveals that Santana is his favorite pitcher to watch.

So, if the playoffs are analogous to the regular season, we're sitting in April right now mired in the depths of the Central Division hope all but lost. When they come back to Minneapolis tied up at 2, maybe Shanty will have to start a new thread just like the regular season.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:26 pm

MLB just released the weekend TV schedule and it looks like the networks don't anticipate the OAK/MIN game will strike much interest in too many homes. Twins/A's game #4 will air on FX at the same time as FOX's DET/NYY game.

What's even more humerous is the Sunday schedule. It says OAK/MIN will run prime time on FOX if NYY/DET and NYM/LA and Talledega 500 and WNBA Draft are over. If any of the events are still in progress and you want to view game #5, you better find some tinfoil for your rabbit ears and hope that your TV still can accept a UHF signal.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:14 am

I've sent a large spinach salad to the Oakland clubhouse for their pregame meal.

Hope it helps...

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:10 am

I sent the largest coffee pot that money can buy to be filled and strategically placed in the dugout between Milton Bradley and Danny Haren.

MISERY LOVES COMPANY
It's of little conselation but it is nice to know the Twins aren't alone. The Padres have registered one lonely run on 10 hits through two games.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:48 am

Well boys, will Billy Chapel be able to push the sun back up into the sky and give us more day of summer or is it over today.

Either way, Ive had a blast with this team. Alot of people are bitter and disappointed over the events of the last 2 games. Not me.

We love baseball and what has happened is just baseball.

Ask the 1987 Tigers who were steamrolled in the ALCS by the Twins who had won about 85 games in the regular season.

Ask the 1991 Blue Jays who split with the Twins here in the first 2 games of the ALCS and had thoughts of closing out the series at home only to be swept the 3 games in Toronto.

Ask the As a couple of years ago.

Ask the 2004 Yankees.

Thats baseball. Its unpredictable. The best team doesnt always win.

What supposed to happen doesnt always happen.

So, whats gonna happen today? I dont know but I would really like to see our boys:

HIT THE BOOFIN BALL!

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:07 am

Your right on all accounts packerboy.

We've accomplished more than making Boof a verb.

NOW GET OUT THERE AND SIGN ANOTHER PITCHER!!!!

err...

HIT THE BOOFIN' BALL

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:22 am

It's well documented in these here pages that my Crystal Ball has been somewhat eratic as of late. Therefore, on this elimination day I can not forcast glory nor doom. Rather, I will hope for the old double deuce to make one more victorious charge up that playoff hill. And I will hope for a lineup that can HIT THE BALL.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:32 am

I agree packerboy, no matter what the playoffs bring us this has been one of the best baseball seasons in Minnesota ever. Part of the appeal for me has been the chance to enjoy it with my boys, I think it will end up being one of those magical summers where they became lifelong Twins fans.

And it should be an interesting offseason, this team should be good again next year but Ryan needs to make better moves than he made last year.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:57 am

Thats a good point ChrisK. Seasons like this are important to a franchise like the Twins and to MLB.

With the seemingly indestructible popularity of the Vikings in this town, its good for the Twins to have some success and a good future outlook to 'hook' some of our kids on the game.

A championship or even a long playoff run would be great but some sustanied success as they have had the last 5 years is good. The core of this team could win a championship or 2 as was done in 87 & 91.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:04 pm

My first Twins game was Rod Carew jersey day back in the summer of 1978. I also got the flapless souvenier batting helmet that Joe Mauer now sports. The Saturday evening game with the Sox was rained out and we were treated to a double dip on Sun. My old man being the guy he was made us load up the car and make the long journey home after game 1. As you know those late 70's teams were not special and the Twins continued their death spiral until the arrival of Gaetti, Brunansky, Hrbek, Viola, and Puckett. That core of players brought the Twins out of the AL West's cellar during the Infant years of the Dome. That young team actually hung around in the '84 race long enough to acquire Pat Putnam and Chris Spier around the deadline. They also unloaded Gary Ward for a couple or arms in Butcher and Smithson.

Finally in '87, they brought home the bacon. That year I remember a Randy Bush AB late in the game was sure to be a clutch pinch hit HR. In Aug of '87 I knew the Twins would go all the way after a memorable four game weekend sweep of the A's. With a Thursday win already in the bank, Eck, still a starter in those days, threw over GMan's head on Friday, after some barking back and forth he hit the next pitch into the left field seats and the A's would remain in the Twins' rearview mirror, both physically and mentally, there after.

That moment for the Twins was a galvanizing moment where they told their fans and the league that they were going for it. As great as this season has been I've been unable to identify that moment. Either 1) I can't see it 2) it hasn't happened yet 3) maybe this isn't their time.

In any case this season has been a great one, I have no recollection of those 60's teams that you more seasoned fans refer to but it's nice to hear that this is in the equation.

I'm not fitting this year's edition of the Twins for that toe tag yet but some early offense would be much appreciated.

Whatever

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:15 pm

I don't think it was my first game, but one of my best Twins memorys is when Cesar Tovar played all 9 positions in 68. He struck out Reggie Jackson in the first. Old Met Stadium was roaring.

And to those of you who don't remember the Willie Norwood, Hoskin Powell, Bombo Rivera, Papa Ron Jackson, Terry Felton years...

Well consider yourself fortunate.

GO TWINS!!!

$HIT THE BALL$

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:49 pm

Great posts boys. Thanks ChrisK for bringing out the boyhood memories.

I go back a little further than you guys.

In 1961 when the Twins came here I was a preteen.

My dad took us to the Twins games in that first year.

We atteneded the games on Saturday afternoon which were called 'knothole gang' days. An adult would buy one ticket and would get 5 kids tickets for about a buck a piece. We sat out in the LF bleachers.

We saw Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Yaz, Brooks Robinson, Louie Aparicio, and on and on...for a buck.

Mickey Mantle.

It didnt matter how good the Twins were.

5 years later they were in the World Series. The World series against Koufax, Drysdale and the LA Dodgers.

Killebrew, Allison, Oliva ,Versailles, Kaat.

Thats how I got hooked.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:54 pm

Neutron, I was around for those years. The one good thing that came out of it was a true appreciation for that 1987 team. The 1984 team was a lot of fun too and lead to the great Gaetti quote about not being able to make the throw from third with both hands wrapped around your throat.

I'll admit that unlike Shanty I thought those '87 Twins would get unceremoniously bounced out of the playoffs so we literally popped the champagne when they won the division title. It had been 17 years since the playoffs so we were just happy to see the Twins playing in the postseason. I still remember coming back to the house after the Twins clinched the pennant and one of my roommates in a daze sitting on the couch just repeating "It's the World Boofing Series man, the World Boofing Series!" We couldn't believe it. And then they won...

Edit: Packerboy, Mickey Boofin' Mantle! That must've been cool.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:06 pm

I remember Knothole days Packerboy.

I remeber frosty cup lids flying everywhere.

I remember trying to sneak down in the box seats with all the white shirts and ties. Always got kicked. Always tried.

I remember the beer men and their church keys. Pouring two at once.

I remember...

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:18 pm

Terry Felton never did get that first Big League win did he? Seems to me he might have been 0-12 in '81 or '82. Those last couple of years in the old Met were pretty bad. If not for the strike in '82, the Twins may have made a run at one of the worst records in history.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:23 pm

We probably bumped into one another trying to sneak into the box seats.

A couple of times we made it thru the gate but then we would sit down in a box and 3 pitches later, some usher would come down and ask to see our tickets. I wonder why?

We figured out later that it was best to go up into the second deck if we snuck thru the gate because no one would bother you up there.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:46 pm

In the later years, I remember being out in right field, in the Phil Roof Fan Club. Hehe...

Tom Banard mentioned the old Met this week. He talked about the left field fence being cyclone and some guy had used beer cups to spell out "Rudi sucks"(Oakland left fielder back in the day). I remembered being under those bleachers looking for money. Never found any, but when your a kid theres a treasue around every corner.

I remember Sandy Valdespino climbing that fence to rob home runs.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:13 pm

Thanks for the memories Brad. Sincerely. You've been a horse.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:17 pm

We go to the 7th. As bad as this day and the series have gone, there is some hope left. Did Kendall get Hunter? Open for discussion later on.

If the Twins are going to mount any type of charge with their 9 remaining outs, I believe Luis Castillo will need to be a part of it, be a lead off many Luis.

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Twins 34-34 on 6/18

It wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor...

Go Twins!