Twins Sisters

Spring training tidbits:

Francisco Liriano has worked out his visa issues and arrived in camp.  Of course, we all know this, but it bears mentioning anyway.  Now it'll be highly interesting to see how fast he throws, if he can still hit the strike zone, and how much his pitching style has changed since that nasty Tommy John surgery.  Man.  If he resembles his pre-injury 2006 self in the least, us Twins fans can all rejoice. 

I learned today on LaVelle's blog that Cuddy hates it when he has wet, clammy socks.  They have to take their shoes off for sliding practice, and I guess the grass was really wet today.  To keep his socks from getting all soggy, he wrapped his feet up in plastic bags and wrapping tape.  The more I learn about him, the more I like him.  He can do eye-popping card tricks and he hates wet socks, which is one of my pet peeves too.  Add to that his charming southern accent, his ability to knock the ball over the fence, and his sweet fielding skills, and I can't think of a thing not to like about him. 

I love reading the blogs of the writers who actually get to be in Ft. Myers for Spring Training.  I can't get enough of them.  This one is especially intriguing.  I learned about it one day when I was reading Those Twins Girls.  Thanks for the tip!

I really want the season to start up. Spring Training is great, but the season will be better.  I'll have a game to watch and obsess over almost every day for six months.  Woo hoo!!  I can hardly wait to see how all of our really young pitchers do.  I want to see if the bullpen is still amazing.  I'm curious to see how Livan Hernandez pitches.  I want to see if our lineup will be so much better than last year, like everyone is saying it will be.  I wonder if Adam Everett really is all that as a shortstop.  I hope Jason Kubel can keep hitting the way he did the second half of last year.  I want the season to start, damnit!!

On a non-baseball note, it seems that NBC has cancelled one of my favorite TV shows, Las Vegas.  I haven't been able to figure out for sure if it's actually been cancelled.  I really hope not.  It's pure fluff, but it's totally entertaining.  i don't get really attached to TV shows too often, but I'm attached to this one.  The season ended on a cliffhanger.  I need to know how things turn out for these characters!  Plus I really like Josh Duhamel, and seeing him on my TV every Friday night.  I've got a 6 degrees of separation thing going with him.  A former co-worker's wife went to high school with him in North Dakota, in Minot, I believe.  He'd show up in class and ask if he could copy her homework, and she let him.  I probably would have too.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the show will be back now that the writer's strike is over. 

Hang in there people.  Opening Day is only 32 days away.

--Tricia--

All the talk about the trade with Tampa Bay was about Delmon Young. How he's putting his troubled past behind him and how he's looking forward to playing with the Twins, etcetera. I think we have another great young player on the brink as well but has been overshadowed. That would be our new infielder, Brendan Harris. My good friends over at Wikipedia provided me with the following stats from 2007:  Batting average of .273 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs. He's only 27 years old and has played with 5 other teams prior to joining the Twins.  This blogger thinks he's coming into his best years and thinks that if he can stay with the same team instead of being bounced around he will only get better. So welcome, Brendan! I look forward to seeing what you will do with our beloved Minnesota Twins.

Brendan Harris, circa 2007 with Tampa Bay.

**Becca**

Twins 5  Royals 0

I just watched Scott Baker's one hit shutout from August 31, 2007.  Hats off to FSN for replaying one of the few games that I missed last year.  I sat there watching the game just knowing that Mike Sweeney was going to ruin it in the 9th inning with that stupid bloop single. I still hoped that it wouldn't happen, which I know is silly.  It is like how I've seen Titantic 20 times and still hope that Jack won't freeze in the water at the end. Dumb.

Anyway, watching that game leaves me feeling hopeful about the 2008 Twins. I really feel like they are going to have their act together. Oh sure, I know there will be slumps and frustrating days, but that's just part of being a Twins fan.   I also had a nice talk with one of the higher ups at my office today, who also happens to be a crazy baseball fan.

Him: So Becca, how are you feeling about the Twins?
Me: I don't know. Ok, I guess.
Him: You should be more excited! They are going to be fantastic.
Me: Really?
Him: Think of the lineup: Gomez, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer and Young. That should score 2 or 3 runs every inning. (He obviously doesn't know that I'm on a first name basis with all the players!) 
Me: It should good, but I don't think I'll count on that.

He was really enthused. That kind of positive energy is hard to ignore, especially after the game I watched tonight.

We are only a little over a month away from Opening Day 2008. That itself is a lot to be happy about!

**Becca**

I found this link on LaVelle's blog on the Star Tribune web site. 

I'm glad Jason Tyner found a job in baseball, but REALLY, Cleveland? Are we still allowed to like him?  He won't look nearly as good in an Indians uniform as he did in a Twins one, but nobody does. 

Far more questions need to be asked, but I'm at work and should not be blogging at all.  More to follow. 

--Tricia--

FYI to everyone out there in Twins Territory--FSN North will be airing the following Twins games from 7:00-9:00 CST:

Friday, 2/22/08  Scott Baker's near perfect game.  Game date was: August 31, 2007
Tuesday, 2/26/08  Francisco Lariano outduels Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmin. Game date was: July 18, 2006.

I was out of town of town for Labor Day weekend so I missed Scott Baker's near no hitter. I'm excited to have to chance to see it!  People were talking about it when we were in Kansas City. Impressive!

I'm sure I saw the game that Francisco pitched in, though I don't remember it.

Seeing Torii in center field and Barty playing at shortstop will make me sad, but I'm going to watch it anyway! 

Today marks the offical start to Spring Training!  Only43 more days until the open opener with the Angels on March 31, 2008.

Spring will be here before we know it and we get to see these familiar faces on an almost daily basis.

                             

I hope that LNP doesn't lose his starting spot to one of the Twin newbies. If he can get his hitting back to what it was it 2006 he should be fine, because is defense is nothing short of fantastic! 

And to Mr. MVP 2006: Smile, darn it! 

**Becca**

 I want to wish all of our blog readers a Happy Valentine's Day!  I'm a single gal in my mid 30's and I'm trying to make the best of it.  It didn't start out all that great!  I was at Walgreen's this morning before work to buy a Mountain Dew and a couple bags of candy to bring to work. I thought it would be nice.  I see the cashier at her post and there are 2 or 3 people milling around the register but there was not a line. It was just a big old mess. Since no one was moving forward I walked right up to the register to pay for my stuff.  I got a bunch of evil glares and one lady said, "You must think your time is more important than everyone else's." I said, "Sorry, I didn't see any kind of organized line." Whatever. I really wasn't that sorry.  How stupid are are people that don't know to form a line at a store?  They must be Yankee fans.

I also want to send early birthday shout outs to Craig Monroe (2/27) and Nick Blackburn (2/24).  I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of great things from them in 2008!

Have a great night!

**Becca**

This has been a rough off season for a die hard Twins fan like myself.  I've had a hard time knowing that a lot of my favorites guys will not be back.  I know the saying, "It is just a game."  Yet it is hard not to get emotionally invested in a sport you love and the guys who play it. I'm going to try and not dwell on it any more.  After all, there's a whole new crop of guys that need our time and devotion and I don't want to ruin the 2008 season for myself by being bent out of shape over the guys that left.

I wish all of our guys that left the team well. I hope they have great success with their new teams.   

Torii Hunter, now an Angel.
Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett, now with the Devil Rays. Kick some ass in the AL East! I'm tired of the Red Sox and the Yankees.


Carlos Silva, now with the Mariners. I couldn't find a small enough photo.

Johan Santana, now with the Mets. I guess if I had to find a bright side it would be this: We don't have to worry about him pitching to the Twins on a regular basis!  All kidding aside, he will be missed and I hope that the Met fans appreciate what they have, but  I doubt it.

I want to give the last, and most important shout out to:


 Jason Tyner

I know he was not a great power hitter or everyday player, but it is guys like J.T. that makes the game such a joy to watch.  I'm really going to miss him and I hope he finds a team to sign with.

**Becca**