Target Field 101

What the Eff?

2011-06-28T00:16:00.002-05:00

"Somebody's poisoned the water hole!" Or so it seems...

The Twins' come off a great 8-game winning streak only to lose 6 in a row. It makes one ask, why even bother getting up just to fall back down? All I can say is WTF?! I'm sure the Twins can comeback from this skid the way they came back from a terrible first month of the season, but the climb just got a lot steeper.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Streak Ends at Eight, Plenty to Look Forward To

2011-06-23T00:56:00.002-05:00

Not to make excuses, but to lose a game against Tim Lincecum isn't all that bad. He hasn't been having another one of those Cy Young seasons, but he's still Tim Lincecum. It was a tough loss though, especially when Brian Deunsing was pitching so well, roughed up a little bit a couple times, but other than the second inning run, the game he pitched was as good as you could ask for.

But that was just one game. There were eight before that one that had gone so much better. Getting to under 10 games under .500 is a major accomplishment, especially the way the Twins started the season.

There's not much I can say about the 8-game winning streak without rambling on about each game, so I'll keep it simple, and say the Twins' season just got that much sweeter. I'm going to look forward to seeing another historic comeback season.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Never Say Die Twins!

2011-06-20T20:31:00.001-05:00

Twins, not quite getting back to their heralded "Twins Baseball" ways in the true sense of the phrase, but aren't rolling over quite yet. Sweeping the White Sox in a shortened series, and taking all three in the series against the Padres, the Twins are looking more like contenders than anyone would have thought a month ago when they were 20 games under .500.

Drew Butera giving us the walk-off win yesterday was huge for the team, giving everyone a little bit more hope, not only in the team, or the season, but in Drew Butera as a player. I was beginning to think he only wore a Twins' uniform to serve as Pavano's personal catcher/assistant, (not to say nothing goes on behind the scenes...) I don't like to rip on players, especially players who have dads named Sal Butera, but he's just not Joe Mauer. He is however, in my opinion at least, a better catcher than Mauer, for the pitchers. It just seems that when he catches, the pitching staff pitches a little better. I'll look into the stats, but I'm just posting on a hunch right now. But whatever the reason, the whole team is playing that much better.

Just as the Twins aren't giving up on the season, I would like to recognize the few of us true fans that haven't thrown in the towels, and are still getting ready for a September comeback, which in its own right has become "Twins Baseball" over the last few years.

Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

No Longer the Worst, Still Uphill Battle

2011-06-13T19:09:00.003-05:00

Since the Twins went 2-10 at the end of May, they've been playing much better, and have most importantly out of last place in all of baseball. A 5-game winning streak got some momentum going in the right direction for the Twins, going on a 9-2 run. Not to make a mountain out of a molehill, but this is the first step to getting back into the division race.

The primary objective right now is to get back to .500, and hopefully before the All-Star break. That's a lot of ground to cover, and to ask the Twins to play baseball this well is foolish, but I think getting to .500 is possible, and will happen over the course of the season.

Now to get onto bigger and better news, Liriano almost threw another no-hitter, which would be his second of the season, the first being against the White Sox, in Chicago on May 16. On Twitter all hell broke loose...well not really, but Frankie's, demise if you will, was blamed on the offense's big seventh inning where they scored 5 runs. The Rangers came back in the top of the eighth after spending about half an hour in the field, to break up Liriano's no-hitter, and push a run across. That was as much as they could do though, as the Twins beat the Rangers again by a final score of 6 to 1.

If our pitchers keep pitching like they have as of late, and our offense can score 5 or more runs a game, they're right back in the division.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Summer Weather and Twins Heating Up

2011-06-07T00:09:00.004-05:00

Of course the Twins still haven't done anything significant enough to warrant much praise, but coming off a win against the first place Cleveland Indians, and a more notable 4-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals, it has come to my attention that the Twins have a winning streak. It seems ridiculous that the Twins, a team with a winning tradition in recent years, are 15 games under .500 and are celebrating a winning streak as if they've won the Super Bowl.

Not to overshadow the accomplishment, but this is after they've played 2-10 baseball over the last 12 games up to that point. It was apparent this season was going downhill fast, and something needed to be done.

I'm not one of the people on the "Fire Gardy" bandwagon, but I think he might need a few days off to clear his head. I can't imagine what he's doing to some of our players. I can only imagine...

Here's to hoping this sudden streak can get some momentum going.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Interleague Woes

2011-05-23T00:16:00.001-05:00

As we all know, after last night's loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Twins' record drops to 15-30. Obviously the overall record is sub par, and the red hot D-backs aren't helping our cause. One of the bright spots of every Twins' season is the interleague schedule, where the American League, and the Twins especially have dominated. However the Twins haven't started this season very well, getting swept in a 3-game set at Arizona.

The Twins don't play another interleague game until June, when they play a whole slew of west coast teams, starting with the San Diego Padres on June 17 at Target Field. If the Twins expect to do anything with this season they need to start winning the small games. Interleague games don't tend to help out a whole lot within the division, but at this point every win is worth it.

There's a lot of ground to make up, but it's still early in the season, and the Twins are comeback specialists. All we need is to start winning games, series, and then the division. The rest will fall in (or out) of place.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

2011 Minnesota Twins Predictions

2011-03-31T16:02:00.003-05:00

It's about halfway through Major League Baseball's Opening Day, and I guess I've seen all I need to see to make my predictions for the 2011 season. About one year ago I made my first official season predictions. This year is a whole new year and I've selected new recipients for nearly every category.

Twins Predictions:

MVP - Justin Morneau

Last year I chose Joe Mauer as my MVP prediction. It was a safe bet and turned out to be a good selection because Joe was awarded the Twins' Diamond award for Most Valuable Player. This year is Morneau's year. Not playing in a game since July 7 has to be hard for him, and I know he wants to get out there this year and put up some monster numbers. This year I think he'll break that new scoreboard like he did in Milwaukee.

Cy Young - Fransisco Liriano

Nick Blackburn was, uh...decent last season. He definitely didn't win any Cy Young award for his performance, and if you voted for him you ought to get your brain checked. This season I picked more of a safe bet with Frankie. He started out very strong but began to lose his edge about halfway through the season. Whether or not you liked his season, it was an improvement from his 2009 season.

Rookie of the Year - Tsuyoshi Nishioka

Anthony Slama didn't do as well as I had anticipated at all. I really wish I went with my gut and selected Valencia. This year I am going with the more obvious choice and picking experienced Nishioka. He had plenty of success in Japan and Gardy, analysts, and reporters are doing nothing but praising him. This is probably the smartest choice, and I hope for him and the Twins he turns out to be a huge success at Target Field.

Comeback Player - Justin Morneau

Last season Neshek was supposed to be one of the bright sights in our bullpen. It was anything but, not because he was terrible, but because he couldn't manage to stay. Hopefully the Minnesota native can get a few good seasons in while enjoying beautiful San Diego. Morneau hasn't played in a game in nearly nine months, and it was hard for me to choose between Morneau or Nathan, especially since Nathan hasn't played in longer, but I suspect Morneau will have a larger impact on the Twins' season.

AL Central Standings

1) Minnesota Twins

2) Chicago White Sox - 2 GB

3) Detroit Tigers - 6 GB

4) Cleveland Indians - 17 GB

5) Kansas City Royals - 34 GB

MLB Predictions:

AL:

MVP - Carl Crawford

CY Young - Felix Hernandez

ROY - Chris Sale

MOY - Terry Francona

Comeback - Justin Morneau

NL:

MVP - Albert Pujols

Cy Young - Ubaldo Jimenez

ROY - Aroldis Chapman

MOY - Dusty Baker

Comeback - Johan Santana

Post Season:

AL:

ALDS - Red Sox, Twins, Athletics, & Yankees (wc)

ALCS - Red Sox & Twins

NL:

NLDS - Phillies, Reds, Giants, & Brewers (wc)

NLCS - Giants & Brewers

World Series:

Red Sox & Giants

Giants repeat

10 Bold Predictions:

1) Twins edge out Chicago and Detroit due to big injuries and late season collapses to both teams.

2) Yankees trade Joba Chamberlain in a huge blockbuster deal.

3) Washington Nationals finish third in NL East.

4) Only 1 no-hitter thrown this season, and not by Roy Halladay.

5) Felix Hernandez will NOT be traded during the season.

6) Prince Fielder WILL be traded during the season, and Greinke disappoints, but the Brewers make the playoffs anyway.

7) Phillies win game 163.

8) Andrew McCutchen and Jay Bruce up for NL MVP.

9) Pablo Sandoval (AKA Kung Fu Panda) kicks butt this season after sophomore slump.

10) Mariano Rivera retires.

PS: I had a fortune cookie where some of the numbers were 1, 4, 11, & 20. If you rearrange them you can make 4-1-2011 ;)

Happy Opening Week!

- Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Spring Training in Full Swing

2011-03-06T12:01:00.004-06:00

Through February the biggest story Twins fans were talking about was Spring Training in Fort Myers, Florida. It is true these games don't count, but when the Twins are 5-2 heading into this afternoon's game against the Baltimore Orioles, things look great. Obviously the team is playing as a pretty solid unit, and there are a few more players who are serious contenders for roster spots. Other than the fact that Spring Training baseball is here, there were some important and interesting stories going around.

One of the focuses this season will be the bullpen, and the new arms that will be in there. Joe Nathan will be returning, and so far the team is excited that he is already so far ahead this spring compared to past springs. Also returning will be Capps, who is a guy I'm not too sure I like, especially for the price we paid, but he's proven he's not all that bad, closing for the Pirates, Nationals, and a few games for the Twins last year. Although several of our proven relievers left the team this off-season, I think there are a few pitchers who have a chance at getting into the bullpen, namely Manship, Diamond, Neshek, & Perkins. The Twins have released an article saying pitching coach Rick Anderson and Jeff Manship are serious about taking over the steady set-up role that has belonged to Matt Guerrier for all these years. Personally I will be rooting for Manship, hoping that he finds success because this guy, along with Glen Perkins, has the stuff to be a spot starter in case of injury. Speaking of starters there are more than a few things that should be mentioned about our starting staff.

First of all the most controversial story among Twins fans was the fact that Brian Cashman called the Twins about Francisco Liriano's availability. Then he went on to say "I'm not talking to anyone about anything right now. Nobody's available. Nobody of value, anyway." Now there was a lot of comments on these post jeering at Cashman for insulting our starter, but then inquiring about him. The fact is the public doesn't know the whole story. The timeline breaks down like this: First Yankees' GM Brian Cashman called the Twins to ask about Liriano's availability in a trade, then at least a month later he was quoted saying no one of value was on the market. Whether or not he considers Liriano a valuable starter, Liriano was not on the market, so Cashman wan't jeering at him. On a lighter note, Gardenhire has stated that Blackburn and Duensing are locks for the starting staff, and given Pavano and Liriano were locks at the beginning of spring, the fifth spot will be a competition between Baker and Slowey. The twist in the story is that now it appears the Twins are open to talks regarding Slowey, which to me says Baker will make the staff regardless of performance (and obvious injury), and the team will try to trade Slowey before the start of the season. If Slowey goes I will definitely be a little sad to see him go, but in my opinion before it was either Slowey or Blackburn, and the team seems to like Blackburn's stuff a little better, especially since he has found success against the White Sox.

Now it's the fielders' turn, starting with the outfield. Michael Cuddyer has been battling this mutant wart on his foot all spring and finally had it removed. There was a picture of the hole posted, and I would post it on here but I don't want to lose my small fan base because they gouged their eyes out. Cuddy should start his spring in 2 weeks when the black hole on the bottom of his foot heals, but until then he'll have to continue entertaining the team with his magic tricks while the Star Tribune will likely have a little more fun writing strange stories about the plantar wart. Continuing with foot stories, Delmon Young has been set back with his turf toe. It's still not clear when he'll be back, but hopefully it's soon, because in Delmon and Cuddy's absence Kubel has been playing an awful lot. He's been having a good spring, and I hope he's going to have great momentum carry into the season, but I don't want to see him in the outfield. If only we could harness his offense, and transfer it to Repko, then we would have a pretty solid bench outfielder.

The infield has made headlines day after day this spring, starting with Nishioka. Gardenhire made it known that Nishioka will be the second baseman this season, and Alexi Casilla will be our shortstop. I'm 100% positive it had to do with Nishioka's misfiring that took Bailey off the bag and allowed Longoria to reach safely. This doesn't surprise me at all because all along analysts, bloggers, fans, and everyone's uncle was saying Nishioka was going to be the second baseman because he didn't have as good an arm as Casilla. But that's tough to beat considering Casilla has a cannon, you couldn't do that much damage to Gardy's ear even with a pirate ship. It was also good to hear that Nishioka tries to beat out infield grounders, but I don't know how much is the Twins over-promoting this guy, or Nishioka actually putting in the effort. I'm hoping for the latter but wouldn't be surprised either way. The Twins have also been promoting the Hughes story, saying that if he's healthy he could be a force to reckon with. I watched his homer and was really happy for him, and he's representing Australia in a Twins uniform, so he's one of only a few players the entire country has to cheer for. With Valencia off to a hot start, second base and shortstop figured out he's competing for a utility role with Tolbert. Tolbert has upside with his decent speed, but that's about it. Everything Tolbert has Hughes has better, especially in the power category. I'll be glad when Luke Hughes is our utility guy, but until then we have a guy who chews gum like a cow eating grass filling in for our infielders. First base is a smaller question mark with Morneau recovering, but when will be be ready? He hasn't been cleared to play in a game yet, and Jeff Bailey won't be ready for the bigs this Opening Day. It looks like Morneau will be ready by April but won't be anywhere near full strength. The best we can hope for is a slow start but an explosive season, especially in the second half as we have renewed competition from the Tigers and White Sox. I just hope He's at 100% anytime this season, because having the real Justin Morneau back will be great. Last but not least, Joe Mauer still isn't doing any catching, but I'm not really that worried. Mauer has come back from injury in the past, and I'm sure many of you haven't forgotten when he came back May 1, 2009 and hit a home run in his first at bat. He's Joe Mauer, he'll always be a great hitter and there's no way he'll completely hold us back. Like Morneau, I'll be happy when he's at 100% because we're just that much better.

We're now at under 4 weeks until Opening Day, and this is going to be an exciting season. I hope to see you at Target Field, especially this October through November.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

2011 Top Stories: January

2011-02-06T19:23:00.006-06:00

I haven't been doing much blogging lately considering I've been busy with school. The semester ended the last week of January, and the next Tuesday, February 1, was my birthday. So as expected I've been a little busy lately. As I've gone on my small hiatus, the Twins have not, and there are several things I feel I should address and offer my two cents.

January 14: Thome returns to the Twins

Jim Thome and the Twins agreed to terms on a 1 year, 3 million dollar deal. Of course there are plenty of incentives in the contract, so Thome isn't going broke on the deal. Sources said Thome passed on the deal from the Texas Rangers, who offered a significantly larger contract, because he enjoyed his time in Minnesota, and because it's closer to his home in Chicago.

I'm personally glad to see Thome back in a Twins uniform for the 2011 season, especially since there were reports that the Twins were interested in Manny Ramirez. I couldn't stand to watch "Manny being Manny" on the field in Minneapolis, or in Chicago or Detroit where it matters. I liked what he brought to the field every day in 2010, as a pinch hitting threat, veteran presence, and how great it was to have him in the lineup to fill the DH role when Kubel was asked to play the field, especially after Cuddy took Morneau's duty while he was treating his concussion. Not only on the field, but off the field is Thome raved about. Everyone who has met Thome says he's a classy person and I haven't heard anything negative all season last year. It was great to see him climb the all time home run list last year, passing our beloved Harmon Killebrew, especially while he was wearing a Twins uniform himself. Going into this season he is only 11 homers away from 600, so watching the milestone run will certainly be one of the highlights of this coming season.

January 19: Pavano to play in the Twin Cities for two more years

The Twins and Pavano agreed to a 2 year, 16.5 million dollar contract. Carl Pavano seemed to be the Twins ace for the 2010 season, finishing with a 17-10 record and being named the Twins' 2010 Pitcher of the Year award.

I love this deal as well, because Carl is definitely comfortable playing in Minnesota, and his numbers with the club have proved it. Since joining the Twins Pavano has rarely had a bad game, and I don't think I've seen a downright terrible performance. He does have a higher WHIP than most of our other starters, and that doesn't really seem to fit the "Twins' Pitching Philosophy," but he has proven effective nonetheless. He's been a workhorse for the Twins, throwing about 200 innings over both the 2009 & 2010 season, (2009 was split between the Indians & Twins), and that would really help out the team this next season, especially since our bullpen has fallen apart over the off season. I'm looking forward to seeing Carl succeed further for this organization, and make the Yankees even more jealous when we finally beat them during the season, and in the playoffs, (if the Yankees even make it that far.)

All throughout January: Twins avoid arbitration with several players

The Twins have avoided arbitration with all the arbitration eligible players except Delmon Young so far. I can't even remember the last time the Twins have had to go through the arbitration process, and it looks like I won't see another one for a while.

Since the beginning of the off season: Target Field renovations looking good

Shortly after our season ended, theTwins announced renovations would take place in Target Field. The biggest change is the additional scoreboard that will be placed above the right/center field grandstand. The new scoreboard will be a lot smaller than the one already installed in Target Field, but will offer better views for people in the home run porch area. Other renovations include a "Twins Tower" which will be located on Target Plaza, additional limestone added to the facade of the Legends' Club, and they have made some much needed changes to the free WiFi, or "TwiFi" as it will be known, and made cell phone reception a little better. I'm personally not a huge fan of Twins Tower because I see it as an unnecessary, glorified clock. As I understand it it is a tower that will display the time at the top, and display messages and images throughout the game. So in other words it will be another one of the displays located on the facades of every ballpark in America, only this one is vertical. Now on the other hand the improved WiFi and cell phone reception is very important, and I'm glad they're making this change now rather than a couple years down the road. Last month the team announced they would remove the trees from the batters eye. At first I was a little sad they would have to go but I know what it's like having trees as a backdrop and I'm more of a fan of a solid color. It really is a lot harder to see the ball when all the different shades in the leaves make it harder to see the pitcher's release point. Overall I'm pretty excited for the new renovations, and I'm not too worried about the Twins Tower, because it will bring extra life to Target Plaza, but I can't wait for more Twins baseball at Target Field!

Important dates for the future:

February 26: Mandatory Spring Training report date for all players.

February 17: First game of Spring Training against the Boston Red Sox

April 1: Opening Day for the Twins. Playing the Blue Jays in Toronto.

April 8: Opening Day for Target Field. Playing the Oakland Athletics.

May 8: Mother's Day! I love the pink bats supporting Susan G Komen Foundation

June 11: Jim Perry will be inducted into the Twins' Hall of Fame before the game.

July 12: The Twins will have at least 5 players at the All-Star Game.

July 16: Bert Blyleven's number will be retired.

This is going to be a great season, and I'm looking forward to every second of it.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Bert Finally in the Hall

2011-01-05T23:34:00.003-06:00

On the 14th and final ballot, Bert Blyleven was voted into the Hall of Fame. With 79.7% of the vote he made it in one year after coming just 5 votes shy. Roberto Alomar also was elected into the Hall of Fame in his second year on the ballot, with 90% of the votes.

For the past 13 years voters have been overlooking Bert and his amazing pitching career. He is only 13 wins shy of the coveted 300 win mark, but is still fifth on the all time strikeout list with 3,701. He also has 60 shutouts, 2 time All Star, a 5-1 postseason record, 242 complete games, & twice finished in third place for the Cy Young Award. On the other hand many voters were focusing on the negatives of his career such as 430 home runs allowed, leading the league twice allowing 50 in 1986 and 46 in 1987.

This year enough people looked past the negative, and voted him in. It was long overdue, but here he is nonetheless. The first "Flying Dutchman" elected in, presumably the fourth to go in as a Twin. It is still up to the Hall to decide what team he goes in with but being drafted by, debuting, and winning one of his two championships with the Twins, it seems the obvious choice. Congratulations Bert, it was a long wait, but better late than never, and Bert didn't deserve to be left out.

Hey Bert, how many days until your Bert-day?

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Welcome to Minnesota Nishioka

2010-12-16T20:33:00.005-06:00

Today it was announced that the Minnesota Twins and Japanese infielder, Tsuyoshi Nishioka have agreed to a three year deal for $10 million. Currently it has not been announced on the Twins' website. On the other hand it was stated the Twins have traded backup catcher, Jose Morales to the Colorado Rockies for Paul Bargas. I guess this means Drew Butera, who has plenty of talent, but he's no Mauer and still not a Morales, will be the man Gardy slots behind Mauer.

It was confirmed that Nishioka had landed in Minneapolis this morning, likely for a physical, and since it was stated that the two sides were close to a deal.

I am very excited for this deal because I see Nishioka as a talented player who has the potential to bring some much needed excitement, Japanese fans, and overall diversity to the club. Also it gives me a chance to show off my cool Photoshop creation.

Great job Bill Smith and the rest of the front office for pushing this deal, I'm sure it will pan out in more than one way. Let's hope the Twins can reach an agreement with Carl Pavano and a couple good arms for the bullpen. I think the team is already good enough to beat the Tigers and White Sox, both teams have made a few off season acquisitions.

I hope to see a lot more Japanese fans in Target Field next year, and for years to come. Welcome to the elements Nishioka, Minnesota isn't like Japan.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Tsuyoshi Nishioka! ^_^

2010-11-27T12:47:00.008-06:00

Friday, November 26 it was announced the Twins have won negotiating rights with Japanese shortstop, Tsuyoshi Nishioka. The Twins had the winning bid of $5.3 million to the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League. Winning the bid gives the Twins 30 days to strike a deal with Nishioka. The way most analysts see it a 3-4 year deal will be made, but the dollar amount has varied. I've heard some say as low as $2 million a year, and I've heard as high as $7 million a year. The way I see it the Twins should sign him at $4 million for 4 years.

In my opinion this is one of the best things the Twins organization has done in quite some time. As Fanatic Jack mentioned in his podcast, this may be one of the smartest business decisions the Twins will make this season. Assuming the Twins sign Nishioka, all the merchandise sales for his jerseys, shirts, and putting the Twins in the Japanese eye, the $5.3 million bid will be paid off well before pitchers and catchers report next February. With the Twins centered around Nishioka, the newly found Japanese fan base will be great for the front office. The other idea is that the Twins are coming out of their comfort zone, as they did in the '60s when they scouted Rod Carew out of Panama. This is one small step for the east coast teams, one giant leap for middle market Minnesota. It shows the Twins are serious about winning and they're willing to go out and drop a few million just to get a chance to talk to a player.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka was an excellent player in 2010, but has been held back with injuries throughout his career. The 26 year old certainly has a lot of potential. Over the last 3 seasons, he hit between .260 (2009) and .346 (2010), but is good for around 12 home runs, and around 20 stolen bases. What I think is most spectacular about his game is his defense. He has above average range, and a cannon of an arm. Watching some videos, he is great at charging the ball, and making solid throws, as well as some acrobatic throws similar to the ones we will miss losing Nick Punto. Early on he was a character, batting left his rookie year in 2003, then batting switch the following season. Not many players make the change while playing professional baseball. It all get stranger when you learn he was batting left-handed, but is a natural right-handed batter.

Overall I see this as a great venture for the Twins organization, and for Nishioka. I think he is an excellent fit for this team, and can play either shortstop or second base, and that gives freedoms to Gardenhire when making his lineup card every day. But that leaves one lingering question...what happens to JJ Hardy?

What I think will happen is the Twins will tender Hardy a contract now so we have him on the off chance we cannot reach an agreement with Nishioka. If we do make an agreement, Hardy is one of the largest names for the very small shortstop/second base market, and his trade value is high enough to get some pitching (Giants need a shortstop and the Twins like Sanchez). With Hardy gone we have Alexi Casilla and Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the middle infield. Casilla is a much better shortstop than he is second baseman, but because we have two shortstops where the transition to second base has been made, it shouldn't be any issue for Gardy to make his decision as to who plays where. Around the internet it seems Nishioka will be the second baseman and Casilla the shortstop, but I like it the other way around. The transition from Japanese style of play to American style should be difficult enough, so I would leave Nishioka at shortstop where he has played since 2006 so he is as comfortable in Minnesota as we can make him. But then there is the off chance Hudson accepts arbitration, and he remains our second baseman for another season. This is very unlikely because it sounds like Hudson and the Twins have a spoken agreement that Hudson would be offered arbitration, but would decline so the Twins would be compensated with draft picks. However if Hudson accepts it is almost definite that the Twins will have Hudson at second base and Nishioka at shortstop. I like this middle infield, but it seems far too unlikely this will happen. So until we get any news on Hudson, Hardy, and Nishioka, our middle infield has yet to be determined.

For your entertainment I have done some YouTube-ing and have found a few interesting videos on Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Please enjoy.

Impossible Is Nothing - Tsuyoshi Nishioka

The Nishioka dance/chant thing the fans do for him (How special would it be to bring this to Target Field in 2011?)

Some cool highlights of him on the Chiba Lotte Marines

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Congratulations San Francisco Giants

2010-11-02T17:06:00.003-05:00

As most of you know the San Fran Giants are this year's World Series Champions! As my favorite National League team, I couldn't be any more proud. Luckily this all happened around election time, so Timmy Lincecum can legally smoke as much dope as he wants...but be smarter than that please.

The biggest play I believe was Lincecum's outstanding pitching performance, going up against Cliff Lee. He had a strong start throwing some perfect frames, eventually losing it, but how great a performance. Edgar Rentaria was the obvious choice for WS MVP, and for great reason, because "Mister Clutch" went yard with two on base after joking with Torres, sarcastically claiming he would smack one outta there.

The only thing I didn't like about this Series, and is a common occurrence, is that the winning team didn't win at home. It's just a part of the game, but the NL did have home-field advantage, but three of the games were played in Arlington. Not a problem for the Giants though, and I'm not seriously complaining. All I'm saying is that it would have been nice for them to surround Wilson on the mound at AT&T Park.

Congratulations Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants...wait a minute...

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Twins Tie Terrible Record

2010-10-08T16:32:00.002-05:00

The Minnesota Twins have now tied the record for most consecutive home playoff losses originally set by the Phillies. The Twins get a one day break from the Evil Empire, but play what could be their last game of 2010 in New York.

One time has a team come back from a 2-0 deficit in the first round to take the series, that team being the Yankees, and the Twins try to do it this weekend. Possible 2 more games in New York, then a return to Minnesota if the series goes to 5 games.

The Rangers are up 2 games to none on the Rays, and it seems when the Twins win the next 3 games they play the Rangers with home field advantage in the ALCS. After the Twins beat the Rangers in the ALCS they will beat the Giants in 7 games for the 2010 World Series crown. Or anyone but the Yankees if the Twins lose this series...

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

October Baseball

2010-10-07T16:02:00.002-05:00

Yesterday's playoff games in 15 words:

-Doctober!
-Damn Rangers
-Crain-Wreck
-The Empire Strikes Back
-I HATE the Yankees
-Win Tonight!

We know the Twins don't win in New York very often, so tonight is a must win game for us. That would even the series heading into New York. If we can win one game in New York we come back to Minnesota for our home field advantage. This is still possible, but please get your act together pitchers.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Don't Shave Your Mustache

2010-09-15T21:03:00.003-05:00

I was invited to participate in an event on Facebook. The rules were that for every series the Twins won, I couldn't shave, not until the Twins lost a series. I have to say this is all good in theory, but I have some personal conflict with this game. First of all, I can barely grow facial hair at all, and I would like to blame this on my indigenous Mayan heritage. So I would like all of you to know that I am growing out my mustache in spirit.

Basically since the Twins were one-hit in Arlington, they've picked up the pieces and found a way to keep on winning. As it stands tonight, the #Twins have taken two games in Chicago and are 8 games ahead in the standings. The magic number is 10, and it seems even more likely the Twins will have post season baseball in the great outdoors. I don't want to say anything more, but it seems the Twins are playing playoff caliber baseball.

With school started again, I will likely have noticeably longer stretches between posts, but I will try to write as often as I can for my readers, (however many I have I'm unsure) and I promise if the Twins make the playoffs, I will post even more frequently.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Goodbye for Now...

2010-07-28T11:45:00.008-05:00

I'm not sure how many people read my blog...if any, but anyway, I will have to say goodbye to my readers for at least two weeks. Friday, July 30, 2010 I will catch a morning plane from National Airport in Washington DC, to Miami, and from Miami to Guatemala in Central America. I will be in Guatemala for two weeks, I return to DC around August 15. After that, in case I don't have enough flyer miles, on the 17th or 18th, I take a plane from DC to Philly, and from Philly back to Minneapolis. I've had fun here in DC, spending time with my dad and my brother, but it's almost time to go home, and back to school *uugh* for my junior year of high school.

The Twins have been on a roll lately, winning 7 of their last 10, and on the road nonetheless. A large part of this is because the Twins have at least 19 hits in the last three games. Delmon Young has continued to light up in the month of July, and hopefully will continue his great hitting into August.
Danny Valencia, the third baseman of the Twins' future, is also doing extraordinarily well, going 14 for his last 19...batting .737 in case you're not near a calculator...Danny also has one highlight he will never forget, hitting a grand slam for his first Major League home run. Congrats Danny.
Joe Mauer's 5 hit, 7 RBI game certainly helped keep the Twins rolling. On a day where former Twin, Matt Garza pitched the fifth no-hitter this season, (anyone else see something wrong with this stat?) Joe's feat was actually less common. He became the third catcher to have 5 hits and 7 RBI in one game.
And Last, Alexi Casilla has been red hot since coming back, going 7 for 15, with a triple. I would say he definitely wants to be with the club. But what did he do while on the DL? How did he learn to get on base? He could be counting the days until he takes over Punto's utility player role. Whatever it is, keep it up 'Lexi. It pays off not only for you, but the whole team.

The Twins look to win the last game of the three game series in Kansas City, and the sweep they've been longing. The Twins are 10 games over .500 at home, and if they win this last game in Kansas City, the will even their road record at 26-26, proving we're more of a road warrior team than we were in the past. After today the Twins return to Target Field to host the struggling Mariners. A must win series, possibly for first place as the White Sox take on the Athletics.

As it stands today, the Twins are still in second place, but this could all change by the end of the week. Luckily the Tigers have fallen apart recently, and are 3 games behind the Twins, and their schedule is only getting harder, as they finish up in Tampa Bay, to Boston this week. I would say they have the most unfavorable schedule of the 3 teams.

Standings:

Chicago.....55/44 -
Minnesota..55/46 1.0
Detroit........51/48 4.0

This could be a whole new AL Central at week's end. Hopefully the Twins are the ones in first place.

I will rejoin the Twins blogging community around August 18, because I will be at the White Sox @ Twins game on the 18th. For now, bye Twins Bloggers.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Turning it Around?

2010-07-26T14:48:00.004-05:00

As of today, the Twins have gone 7-3 over the last ten games, including taking three games in Baltimore. I was at the game on Saturday, glad I didn't go to the game on Sunday.My hat would have wound up in right field, and I wouldn't have waited an extra hour to watch the end of the game.

Joe Mauer is having quite a mediocre season for an average player, but luckily he has been picked up by Delmon Young and Nick Punto, both are having better years then the last few. The Twins are still dearly missing Morneau, and now with Hudson back on the DL, Alexi is getting another chance to show Minnesota why we haven't gotten rid of him. One of the bigger stories of the Baltimore series was Danny Valencia, who went on a tear going 6 for 11, improving his season batting average to .346. He hasn't shown the power he has been known to have in the minors, but I hope that will come later.

Okay, so back to the game I saw on Saturday...Scott Baker started out strong, not throwing too many pitches, and going 7 strong innings giving up only 2 runs. Joe Mauer went 0 for 5. My views of the game, inning by inning break down:

1)Baker looked good, 1,2,3 inning for him. The double steal for Span and Casilla was smart baseball, good play, and set up the sac fly for Delmon Young.
2)SPAAAAAAAAN!! He robbed Luke Scott of yet another home run (though he would hit one out to right later) Span's first great rob...brought back some memories of those Gold Glove winners we've been fortunate to have since the '80s.
3)Matusz is throwing way too many pitches, the fans behind me were already demanding he be taken out, knowing how terrible their bullpen is, I would like to agree.
4)Luke Scott sought redemption and took Baker for a ride, a no doubter to right field, homering a second day in a row.
5)DELMOOOON!! He didn't want to lose in Baltimore again. He hit the game winner, and we have something in common now...we were on TV when he hit his game winning homer.

6)Alexi Casilla wants to prove he's here to stay, driving in Hardy on a single to right, following Hardy's stolen base.
7)JJ Hardy, Danny Valencia, Jason Repko, and Denard Span all come through this inning for three runs, extending the lead to 5. Twins winning by a score of 7-2, it would turn out to be the final score.
8)Delmon Young goes 4-4, The Orioles are still stifled by the Twins pitching, Guerrier throws one scoreless.
9)Rauch finishing the game rather dramatically, two outs, one on, and he walks the batter on what seemed like 20 pitches, then finally ends the game on a DEEP fly ball caught be Denard.

Overall I liked Camden Yards, Orioles Park is very nice. Too bad they can't sell out. Target Field is obviously the best ballpark in the World, but Oriole's Park at Camden Yards, (too long a name?) is very nice. The tickets were inexpensive, but the food was not. $12 for a hot dog! Nonetheless, Eutaw Street, Babe's Dream, and the Twins' win all made for a great night at the park.

Twins better keep up the improved play, Pavano can't take the team to October baseball by himself. Scott Baker needs to continue to pitch as well as he did Saturday, Duensing needs to pitch like his last start every time out, Slowey was on pace to go deep into yesterday's two part game, and Blackburn...AAA? AA? Trade? Any of those three work for me, but I would like to keep him, he proves to be a good pitcher when he pitches effectively.

Mauer needs to improve his average .050 at the least, Morneau needs to be back in the lineup, and Delmon needs one of those trophies on his mantle at year's end.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

What Happened?

2010-07-11T00:11:00.001-05:00

I haven’t blogged the past few weeks because there hasn’t been much to blog about other than the fact that most of our starting pitching staff has struggled. The only “good” pitcher as of late has been Carl Pavano, who is likely surprising all by not getting injured, and has more wins than anyone else on the Twins’ starting staff.

As the Twins move further and further back from their once cushioned lead in first place, and fall deeper and deeper into the runner up position, they go into the All-Star break, a tired and broken team. Hopefully a rest will do the pitchers good.

Some of the more news worthy stories of the past few weeks are Denard Span hit three triples in a game, the first player to do so since 2002 when Rafael Furcal did it. Jim Thome tied, then passed Harmon Killebrew for tenth place on the all time homerun list in the same game. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau were both voted in as starters to the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim, California while Delmon Young was recognized for his outstanding year, and put on the Final Vote ballot. Justin will not be able to play however after taking a knee to the head while in Toronto. And one of the more frustrating notes is the Twins were frontrunners in acquiring Cliff Lee from Seattle, then all of a sudden it was New York. Obviously Texas wound up getting him, but the fact that New York all of a sudden was named the frontrunner angered me. I actually yelled at the TV.

On the not so bright side, the Twins are limping into the All-Star Game, and many bloggers, tweeters, and Fanatic Jacks among us are worried the Twins season is already over. Well…it’s not. Not even close. There is an obvious need for some pitching, and with Cliff Lee already dealt, the focus now turns to Dan Haren, Roy Oswalt, or perhaps a name that has been thrown around a little bit over the past couple years, Ted Lily.

Dan Haren is obviously a quality starter, who has plenty of experience, Roy is a veteran having a spectacularly amazing season, and then there’s Lily, who will likely not ever play for the Twins, but could be shopped if Chicago feels they have no need for him anymore, (which might be easy considering he’s older, and suffering from a 3-8 season thus far.)

The Twins upgraded in the double play duo, getting Hardy, and O-Dog, but the lack of offensive production at third base continues to be one of the Twins’ Achilles heels. Michael Cuddyer has filled in at third for a while, but he hasn’t started a game at third since 2005, you can’t expect him to go out there and have the same impact in the field as Nick Punto, who is an amazing third baseman, but obviously has struggled a bit in the batters boxes. The Twins went almost the entire first half of the season with no errors committed by a third baseman, but creeping toward the All-Star Break, the entire defense, not just third base, has struggled. This could be a little bit of a problem when playing teams at the end of the year such as the Tigers, who could capitalize on a misplayed ball, and decide the Twins’ post season status.

Hopefully at the trade deadline Billy can get something done. I haven’t given up on the Twins yet, we’re still a team built for the playoffs, we just need to play like it.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

I Don't Normally Do This...

2010-06-24T20:44:00.003-05:00

I'm typically not the ranting person, but when the Twins are getting swept by the Brewers, something has to change.

The Twins came off a notable series in the City of Brotherly love, highlighted by a spectacular comeback being down 9-4 in the ninth. But since heading to Milwaukee their luck started to turn. Losing all three games to a team with a reflection record at 32-40 at the end of the series, the Brewers are not a team that should have won all three games against the Twins, (at least not on paper.)

And another rant worthy subject...when is the last time Liriano or Blackburn have won a game? I understand Blackburn had an okay start basically until the fourth when he was run out of the game, but why hasn't he had a nice, full start since...May it seems like? Liriano was the most dominant pitcher in April, winning the Pitcher of the Month Award. but since then his record has plummeted to 6-5, obviously not dominating.

I know the Twins will pull themselves together before the end of the season...I just hope it isn't too late, and we miss the playoffs. Or worse...another game 163!

As Mr. Batting Stance Guy always says, "It's a long season, but it's a great one."

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

An Update Long Overdue

2010-06-15T22:45:00.002-05:00

Well today was another fine example of American League dominance in Interleague play. Although not all games have finished while I’m writing this, it looks as though the American League teams will have won ten, and only lost four by night’s end. The Twins are in the middle of a competitive Interleague battle, winning tonight’s game 9-3 over the Colorado Rockies. The Twins, a very dominant team in Interleague play, are only 4-3 against National League teams this year. Although this doesn’t matter a whole lot now, it might come October when one team is in the playoffs and a division rival isn’t. I liked the point Bert brought up the other night…all teams in the same division should play the same Interleague teams. We’ll say the Twins make the playoffs by one game, but they played the Cardinals, Braves and the Dodgers. Then we say the Tigers come in second, but they played all teams with sub .500 records…who really won? The Twins obviously overcame the tougher teams, but if we switch the outcomes, Tigers faced the same teams, but found themselves in first place one game ahead of the Twins, then who really won? I would like to see the Twins play all the National League teams, perhaps all teams from one division a season. That way every three seasons, the Twins play every 29 Major League club.

But back to today…there are three things I learned:

1) Jason Giambi still plays Major League Baseball.

2) Jason Giambi needs to wear longer, looser sleeves when the Rockies decide to wear their sleeveless jerseys.

3) It’s not a bad idea to write down your password to your blog…or remember which email address you signed up with.

But anyway, Pavano, mustache and all, has been the most consistent pitcher recently, and again tonight allowing three runs over seven innings. Kudos to “Pornvano,” that’s only half the story. The Twins’ offense came alive again as they scored nine runs. Jason Kubel hit a nice two run home run, and in an inning where Mauer and Morneau batted, who would have guessed it would be Tolbert that would hit the homer? Tolbert hasn’t been a total fail this season, but he hasn’t lived up to be what I would have expected. Also the hype surrounding Valencia as the future third baseman for the Twins, he hasn’t been big news since his call up. He sort of reminds me of Jason Bartlett, with the potential to hit above .300, and the barely noticeable powers, the only things missing are the sideburns and the 30 errors a season. That is an exaggeration, but what is not is the fact that a Twins’ third baseman has yet to commit an error all season, (knock on wood.) Although the errors have been coming at an alarming rate, (for us this season, nowhere near alarming for the average MLB team,) it can likely be linked back to Punto playing three different positions a week. I hope Hardy and Hudson get better soon…the field, not to mention the lineup, miss you…oh yeah…and us fans. We have the talent to get to the World Series, but the team needs to stay healthy, and our pitching needs to stay consistent.

This Thursday I head to DC for two months, and I’m not going to get MLB.tv, so I’m relying on all my Twitter friends to keep me updated on their blogs, FaceBook, and anywhere else…

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Mother's Day Game

2010-05-10T08:32:00.003-05:00

I was at the Mother's Day game yesterday, and it was my first of many games at the beautiful Target Field. Both my mom and I went, and saw Nick Black Beard pitch a seven inning shutout, and Denard Span's triple, and Brendan Harris' great day at the plate.

My mom enjoyed the game, maybe more than I did, but I don't know, it was a great game, considering I might want to see the Twins play in Baltimore while I'm out there this summer.

Nick Blackburn, way to follow up your complete game.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

13-6, Not Too Bad...

2010-04-25T17:09:00.004-05:00

The Twins are back on the road, where they have proven they can win, and have won 7 of their 13 total.

The great start we haven gotten off to is the best in Twins history. Not once have the Twins won their first 6 series of the season. I think the biggest thing that stands out with that is the fact that we have lost 1 game, each of those series, the sweep still hasn't come.

There are several key factors as to why they still haven't swept a series thus far:

1) Denard Span, Orlando Hudson, and Jason Kubel haven't been playing at their full potential. Span is capable of hitting over .300 but has only been hitting in the lower .200's, and his 1-11 skid isn't helping. Orlando Hudson has started warming up, and flexed his muscle with his huge blast that hit the second deck at Target Field. Jason just isn't hitting recently, and even missing the fastballs up in the zone isn't typical Kubel, so maybe he isn't picking the ball up in the Target Field batter's eye? I don't think so, but who knows?

2) Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau haven't been smashing the ball like they were at the beginning of their seasons last year. Justin has a home run in each of his last two games against the Royals, but Joe has one all season. I'm not saying I expect Joe to hit 28 every year, but around 20, and at this rate, he might hit 10. Either way, I'm not worried, but that would certainly add some much needed offense with RISP...just saying.

3) RISP. Need I say more? I'm not worried about this either, because we have a winning percentage of about 70%, and that is with a terrible RISP. However, when Span and Hudson are at full strength, and on base, the Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer combo will knock in the extra 3 runs a game that we need. So like I said, I'm not worried at this point.

So far this season is going great, but there are a few things we could work on before we get to the World Series, but we have time...

Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Target Field Now Open: Home Opener

2010-04-14T16:07:00.004-05:00

April 12, 2010 marked the first regular season game played at Target Field in the history of the Minnesota Twins. The day was capped off with a win, and Rauch's fifth save, leading the AL.

The pregame ceremonies were great, but what was with FSN starting their pre game coverage at 5 AM? They played the same clips over and over. But when the ceremonies started, it was a fun time. The Kirby Puckett statue looks great, him rounding the bases after his World Series home run. The one thing I may disagree with is who the first pitches were thrown by...who were those guys? I would have had someone we knew from the Old Met, like Bert, or Jim Kaat. Anyway, the game started great for Carl, who I thnk will have a very good season, (around 15 wins,) and it started a game of firsts. One of the most notable was Jason Kubel's huge blast into the bleachers of right field. It was nice that a thirteen year old kid caught it, and not some White Sox fan.

The Minnie and Paul celebration piece has a nice Twins touch to tie the whole park together. And the post game fireworks display was a nice way to finish off the day. It will be nice to see a fireworks show this season, something the old Dome couldn't handle.

Watching the 2009 version of game 163 still gives me goosebumps, I love the Gomez helmet slam, the clubhouse champaign, and the chanting of "MVP! MVP! MVP!" with Joe Mauer. I still can't believe that game. It was probably the hardest fought, and plain best baseball game I have ever seen. With it, the Dome seemed like a run down old dump compared to what the Twins will call home for years to come. As much as I love Target Field, I do miss the Dome. It's where I saw my first Twins game, had my first Dome Dog, (obviously), and it's where the Twins won their two World Series trophies. Hopefully, Target Field can bring more of those memories, and win a few more of those trophies. Target Field looks great, hope everyone else thinks so too.

Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Target Field Now Open: Exhibition

2010-04-04T20:14:00.005-05:00

The two exhibition games played against the St. Louis Cardinals April 2 & 3 were the final dress rehearsals of Target Field before the first official game. As a major upgrade from the Metrodome, the ballpark had a nice Minnesota feel, and offered a great feel for what games will be like in the new home of Twins baseball.

A few things I like about the ballpark were that almost everything was made in Minnesota. The screen, bricks, even the flagpole from the Old Met. Also, the availability of several features the Metrodome didn't offer, such as the open concourse, the extra bathrooms, and plenty of walking room. Of course, all of this is only a small part of what makes Target Field such a great ballpark. There are also a few things that stand out more to me, my favorite aspects of Target Field are the beautiful skyline, Target Plaza, wood-back/bleacher seats, and the celebration piece with Minnie and Paul.

We'll have to wait and see how the ballpark plays, but with everyone saying it will be a hitters park, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Delmon Young, and everyone else should have a good season at Target Field.

Opening Day is April 12 against the Boston Red Sox. See You There.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

2010 Minnesota Twins Predictions

2010-04-02T14:37:00.006-05:00

To go along with almost every other Twins blogger, I have made my 2010 Twins predictions. Hope you enjoy.

Twins Predictions:

MVP - Joe Mauer
Joe will put up more power numbers, similar to what he did last year. I look for him to hit around 25 home runs and about 90 RBI.

Cy Young - Nick Blackburn
Nick has been consistently good within the division, especially the White Sox, but I think its time for him to come out of his shell and start dominating the big East Coast teams.

Rookie of the Year - Anthony Slama
I haven't jumped on the Slama bandwagon yet, but this spring I've seen lots of potential, and it seems he might be the successor to Nathan in the closer role.

Comeback Player - Neshek
This was the toughest decision overall, Hardy and Casilla are hoping to bounce back, and between Liriano, Neshek, and Pavano, all pitchers are expected to have great years, but it is Neshek whose season will stand out the most. Pavano will likely rack up around 12 to 14 wins like last year, but his losses will drop significantly to somewhere around 6 or 7. Liriano of course had a terrible year last year, but his performance over the course of winter ball, and so far this spring have shown glimpses of his 2006 season, (pre-injury.) However it is Neshek who has been out of the game the longest, and if he shows his dominance, he will be one of the biggest stories of the season.

AL Central Standings:

1) Twins
2) White Sox
3) Tigers
4) Royals
5) Indians

MLB Predictions:

AL:

MVP - Joe Mauer
Cy Young - Felix Hernandez
ROY - Brian Matusz
Comeback - Ben Sheets
MOY - Don Wakamatsu

NL:

MVP - Alberto Pujols
Cy Young - Tim Lincecum
ROY - Jason Heyward
Comeback - Brandon Webb
MOY - Bruce Bochy

Postseason:

AL:

Twins - Angels (WC): Twins in 5
Yankees - Mariners: Yankees in 4
Twins - Yankees: Yankees in 5

NL:

Cardinals - Dodgers (WC): Cardinals in 4
Giants - Phillies: Phillies in 4
Cardinals - Phillies: Cardinals in 7

World Series:

Cardinals - Yankees: Cardinals in 6

10 Bold Predictions:

1) Giants beat Dodgers in game 163
2) Milton Bradley isn't ejected from a game until July
3) Washington Nationals finish ahead of Braves, 2 games behind Atlanta
4) Adrian Gonzalez & Carl Crawford will be traded by Independence Day
5) Miguel Tejada, Roy Oswalt, and Jamie Moyer will announce retirement after season's end
6) Manny Ramirez returns to AL after this season, before retiring next year
7) Nyjer Morgan gets some recognition, DC wins 74 games
8) Granderson disappoints, loses starting CF to Brett Gardner
9) Longoria & Sandoval are runners up for MVP
10)Cuddyer/Kubel makes first All-Star team appearance

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Opening Day is almost here.

2010-03-31T15:36:00.004-05:00

With Opening Day right around the corner, the Twins are getting their final roster situated. It was announced this morning that Wilson Ramos, and Glen Perkins were optioned to Triple-A Rochester, meaning Drew Butera will start the season as backup catcher to Joe Mauer. The normal backup catcher Jose Morales, was placed on the 15 day disabled list with his wrist still recovering from surgery.

During the split squad games today there were a few things that should be noted.
1) It looks weird seeing a guy standing on the mound, wearing number 57 again. Kyle Waldrop has a similar posture compared to Johan Santana.
2) Scott Baker got his bad day out of the way. When Opening Day comes April 5, Baker should have gotten rid of all his bad energy, similar to Carl Pavano the other day.
3) Is Brian Duensing's 5 inning, 1 run performance against the Yankees better than Liriano's 6 inining, shutout performance against the Pirate's B squad? Maybe Duensing should get some consideration for the closer role...

In a couple days, all of us will be able to see just how Target Field plays out for the Twins, as the 2009 AL MVP takes on the NL MVP, Twins vs. Cardinals. Twins play two exhibition games against Albert Pujols, and the St. Louis Cardinal on April 2 & 3, see you there.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Final Bench Spot

2010-03-27T18:07:00.003-05:00

Today the Twins announced the final bench spot belongs to Alexi Casilla. Matt Tolbert was sent down to Rochester, and in a recent article it was said that Jacque Jones will not be on the Opening Day roster.

In my opinion Jacque Jones would be the logical option. Alexi Casilla and Matt Tolbert are both having terrible springs, while Jones is hitting in the mid .300's, with power. He hasn't proven homself to be very consistant, but he hasn't been in the majors for over a year. With playing time he could return to his '04-'05 playing shape.

On the other hand, I think Gardy is going to sit Morneau a lot more often than he has in the past, but because we already have two DH's, Morneau is going to have to sit for likely the entire game. In cases like this we would normally put Cuddyer at first, put Kubel in left, and Young in right, or since Harris is getting more time at first this spring, maybe he is being considered as an option. In these cases, unless we have an injured outfielder, or Harris is on the shelf for a significant amount of time, it doesn't look like Jones will be playing until maybe September, otherwise his career is probably cut short.

I don't see him going and playing in Japan, so if this is really the end of his career, leaving Torii Hunter as the last active member of the infamous "Soul Patrol."

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101

Target Field Now Open: My First Post

2010-03-27T10:33:00.003-05:00

This morning I woke up to do dwthegreat's radio show. It started out well, bit toward the end of my bit he asked me about my blog. That was when I had to admit I hadn't gotten around to finally making it.

For a while I had been considering making my views on all things Twins, (with the occasional exceptions) public for fans, and fellow bloggers.

I can now say, that my blog is finally up, and running.

-Patrick Matteson, Target Field 101