The Twins are actually having a better winning percentage on the road, going (11-19; .367) and are really struggling at home (6-14; .300). Combined, that is a shocking (17-33 record; .340) and the forecast is not looking stellar with all of the injuries, mental base-running and fielding mistakes, along with an unstable bullpen.
I have been to 12 home games thus far and if it were not for being outdoors at a beautiful ballpark, this season would be a lot tougher to handle. I am starting to think that I, as a fan, have something to do with the way they are playing. The Twins are (2-10) in the 12 games I have been to and they play .500 ball when I am away (4-4). This is starting to remind me of the last year in the Metrodump when I was witness to a 9-33 result.
This year it seems that every time I go to a game, they find a new way to lose.
However, I am still optimistic that the Twins can salvage respect out of this season, but it starts by winning series and playing sound fundamental baseball. I like how Gardy started last night by getting on "some" of the players for the Double-A mistakes they have been making. Still, some of the big name players seem to be getting a pass. If I had one person to call out it would be Delmon Young.
Yes, Young has been on the DL and has battled through challenges, but he is batting .206 currently with 25 Strikeouts in only 115 AB, tallying only 4 Extra Base Hits (3 2B and a HR). Young has also cost runs and not recorded outs with mental mistakes out in Left Field.
To me, Young has not been showing much hustle or desire to be out in the field most nights. When I watch Young, I see a very distracted player who is often paying attention to other things between pitches and does not appear to be focused. I do not think he was fazed when the fans let him hear it where he made 2 mental mistakes in one game by not charging the ball hard enough. Maybe someone can send him a video of the Carlos Gomez Inside-The-Park-HR from Saturday and have a discussion about hustle?
***
All right, enough about that.
The Twins lost a true legend on May 17 with the passing of Harmon Killebrew. I always wished I would have been able to meet him and have a conversation about his time in the Majors. However, I was blessed to be able to see him speak from afar at various Twins events over the years. My dad talked very highly of the killer, as he would go to the Met to watch him play and was perplexed on what he was able to do with the baseball.
My favorite story from the weeks of remembering Harmon was from the radio. I do not recall who was sharing the story pregame one night, but they said they had asked Harmon a question a few years back. The person spoke about how he asked the Killer in today’s era of baseball, how many home runs did he think he would be able to hit? Killer responded with a long pause, “oh, I’d say about 20.” The person who asked the question pushed back by saying, “You had season when you would hit 40+ homers, and 20 is all?” Harmon responded back with his wit, “well, I am 70 for God’s sakes.” HAH! That is classic!
I thought the memorial at TF was very nicely done. I enjoyed the moments and memories shared. I decided not to take in the memorial in person, as I felt I would get a better view from home and felt the Twins were promoting it as a financial gain moment (e.g. “concessions will be open, we encourage you to buy a Killebrew Rootbeer”).
I had always hoped that he would be around by the time I turned 30 and had a chance to go to the Minnesota Twins Fantasy Baseball Camp in Florida, but I hope Harmon is resting without pain and is in peace.
***
The Twins are hoping to start another streak, as they battle the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the rubber match later this afternoon.
I mentioned that I was optimistic a few paragraphs back and I am still on the Twins wagon in hopes the Twins will slowly creep back to .500. Over the last few years, the Twins have been dominating within the division. The Twins have only played 11 of 72 Divisional games this season and are 5-6 in those games (Home 3-3; Away 2-3). The Twins are about to embark on a 9-game divisional road trip to where they will need to show sharpened mental free baseball and the bullpen will need to ensure they are making good pitches and at the right time.
I have a feeling that we will know what we are going to expect from this season on June 19, as the Twins finish their next home stand with the San Diego Padres. The Homer in me believes the Twins will have a 15-5 run in this time frame, and start making up some ground in the Central Division and be (32-38) when this stretch is over. Am I likely wrong, yes, but I really feel that this last game really showed some grit and the confidence to know the fans are still behind them, a little further back, but still behind them.
This next weekend, I am going on a road trip to Kansas City with Renee, my spouse. This will be our 4th Road Trip together in 5 years and will be my 5th away ballpark. We have started a tradition of going to at least one road trip each year, with the exception of 2008 (a wedding or something got in the way, not a bad “got in the way,” but it did nonetheless).
1997: Jacobs Field (e.g. Progressive Field) (Cleveland Indians)
2007: U.S. Cellular (Chicago White Sox)
2009: New Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals
2010: Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers)
While in KC I will be documenting our entire trip and I will be writing a Blog about our trip early the following week. I am doing so to highlight KC and encourage others to take the opportunity to travel to other ballparks, as there is so much to do.
One of Renee’s colleagues questioned our sanity by putting it this way…”So you two are driving 16 hours to watch 6 hours of baseball?” YEP!
One of Renee’s colleagues questioned our sanity by putting it this way…”So you two are driving 16 hours to watch 6 hours of baseball?” YEP!
