Tuesday, September 21, 2010

CLINCHED!!

My brother went to bed during the 7th inning saying "They just don't have the fire tonight." Boy was he wrong! The Twins were doing as they always do...keep playing taking good at bats and executing on defense. What a great 8th inning! Sign of how ready this team is!

Thanks A's!

Fun watching them celebrate covering poor Dick Bremer in champagne, Jim Thome hugging everybody and players out high fiving the fans!

Loving these Twins!

Go Twins!!!

Final Push....(no 163)

I imagine Gardy heads to the park everyday with a smile on his face. He knows his team doesn't have to play a game 163. Then as he sits and writes out the line up his tummy starts to churn, can't put Mauer and Morneau on the list, he pauses should I let Kubel pinch hit? Do I let Hudson play or rest him? Is Cuddy Ok without a day off? Lots of unknowns float in his head, he does his best not to think ahead to the playoffs. He wants to win as many games as possible hopefully get home field advantage for the playoffs.

Once again Gardy excels as Manager helping his team get another Division Championship. Balancing the lineup protecting his pitchers, rearranging for injuries and keeping everyone together! His low key exterior and burning inner passion helps the team make it through a long challenging season.

Maybe he isn't the most showiest manager but that is not the Twins way. Just as TK before him he stays even tempered keeps issues in the clubhouse and brings out the best in his players. The young guys called up through out the year are ready to play thanks to the system preparing them. Everyone knows what Gardy expects of them on and off the field. It is obvious that the Twins are doing things right and this year they took the extra step. Bringing in Hudson and Thome adding pitchers Capps, Fuentes and Flores.

I don't want to look to far ahead and stay in the moment just as the team is trying to do...but I am excited for the playoffs! I will watch the remaining games hoping to win a couple more then the Yankees but I will not dismay if we don't. I don't buy into the Yankee curse so I am not afraid to go there and play. This team has had a fun exciting season and entertained me greatly and no matter what they do in the playoffs I will still love them!! But first lets beat Cleveland!

GO TWINS!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Sitting Pretty...with a broom in hand!

Beautiful win tonight in Chicago! Sweeping the Sox is really fun!!

Glad the fellas are coming home so I can see them play again! What an awesome team! Everybody is contributing, getting hits from Thome and Mauer but also JJ, Delly and seems like everyone else!!

Our pitchers are rockin' firin'...yea OK Pavano smacked Konerko in the face but our bullpen has been really good the last few games.

Hope all you naysayers have jumped fully on the bandwagon! You better not start that can't beat the Yankees crap!! Seriously I doubt a single guy on that team fears the Yankees I bet some of them kinda wanta go to NY to play the opening series...

Of course Gardy won't even talk about the post season. Think the whole team would do the same thing. They are focused like lasers on the next game, they seem determined to win every single game left.

Lets all enjoy the ride!

GO TWINS!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Super Tuesday!!!

Again I was lucky enough to go to the game on Tuesday night! My big brother Jayboy took me as a birthday present!! It was a bit chilly but our seats were really close and safe from the wind. The opponent being the Royals added to the evening for me because as I have said before the Royals were my team.. My father loved the Royals so I loved them too! My first big league game was the Royals. My first cool interaction with a player was Frank White 2nd basemen for the Royals. I have many fond memories of watching the Royals play on warm summer nights in Kansas City.

Last night sitting in our new outdoor stadium I couldn't help but think of those nights with my Dad and siblings in KC. That is also a beautiful park and for us to have one like this is just thrilling!! The chill in the air, smell of grilled onions, constant chatter of fans and eruptions of cheers...this is what baseball is about.

I made myself a circle me Bert sign but don't think I got circled though Bert did wave to us from the booth! Also got my name on the scoreboard from my 8 cool siblings! The Twins played great, got some hits from the back end of the order and once again Thome blasted one out of the park. The pitcher threw one a little inside and I could tell that ticked off Jim so two pitches later goodbye ball! Went about 430ft!



The White Sox lost so we are 4.5 up! They seem to be playing really well fighting through their own injuries. Guess they had some last night too. But as Gardy said as long as we win we don't have to worry about the Sox. Of course next week when we play them I suppose we have to worry a little bit!

GO TWINS!!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Royal Welcome!

Jim Thome!! What a homerun!! That ball flew! Amazing seeing it hit the flag pole! This after Kubel knocks it out of the park, and followed by Delmon almost hitting it out too!

Again I was at the game and had a great time. Love the way the crowd gets into the games! Even though we had a little rain I was safe and dry under the canopy way up top. I dont think there is a bad seat in that ballpark. Unless you sit next to someone with a ton of cologne on like the first game I went to with my brothers. But even that wasn't a big deal as we wanted to explore the park and sat in several others spots around the stadium.

Tuesday I am hoping to get circled by Bert and who knows make it into the booth! Hope you all watch the game because at the very least Bert will say my name.




GO TWINS!!

Hi Yo Rangers!

We pulled out a squeaker Sunday. I was lucky enough to go to the game with my fabulous niece. Got to watch the legends game which was really funny...I mean fun. Looked like we had the game well in hand and then the wheels started falling off. Rauch came in and got two outs then they brought in Capps with one on first. He was terrible and loaded the bases. Quirky weird play ended the game.

Not sure what will happen with the Rangers. Hamilton may be out for a while and Lee is hurting. The hope is that the standings stay as they are and we play Tampa Bay at home and the Rangers knock off the Yankees then come here. Of course we need to make sure keep the Sox from catching up to us. Can not believe the Red Sox couldn't even get one game from Chicago.

Couple positives from yesterday Kubel was out there hitting, Blackie held his own and luck was on our side! I am off to today's game!


ME AND MY FRIEND KENT!

GO TWINS!!!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

A little up a little down...

Detroit turned out to be a tough and kinda ugly series. The Twins managed to pull out 3 of 4 and looked good and bad. The last game of the series was a sloppy crazy mess. The best thing about it was how they played the next night in the series opener with Texas. I was worried the late night and plain craziness of the game would affect them. But the beauty of this team is they keep plugging along, show up for the next game and start over. They don't get down and they don't get too high. Its a long season and making it through requires an even keeled team.

Losing Kubel for a few games sucks as well as Danny pulling up last night. But just as they have all year someone steps up. Matt Fox pitched a great game last night, not a hard thrower but made that ball move. Span seemed to wake up a bit last night making a great catch and getting some hits. Mauer catching that 13 inning game and then showing up behind the plate Friday is impressive.

This team perseveres! All the ups and downs we have stayed relatively consistent. Lost our closer, our MVP first basemen, erratic starting pitching and a rotating injury bug in the heart of the infield...yet we keep filling the holes and winning.

GO TWINS!!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Squeaker!!

What a great game!

Gotta love pulling out these close games! Sure would have loved a blow out win but those Detroit pitchers are throwing some good ball.

Keys:
Liriano pitched really well.
Alexi made a great defensive play even made it into the ESPN top ten!
Great scene to have Thome come off the bench and get a hit. Even though we didn't score it was a great moment.
Cuddy continues to overachieve covering 1st. Several big stretches to get the ball and out!
Mauers throw to seconds was perfectly placed and handled by JJ!
Rauch was throwing fire! He looked confident and intimidating.
Loved our sweet rookie Valencia coming to the plate and fighting back from 1-2 to get a sweet hit for the WIN!!!

I am loving this team and how they keep battling!! This next month is going to be so fun!!!

GO TWINS!!