Note: If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it here. Comments deleted on a whim.
Perhaps the funniest part of the Span article is that Torii is referenced as a "perennial All-Star".
According to Baseball Reference, he's in fact a one-time All-Star.
Ouch. Sorry to hear about your lack of TV coverage. I don't even live in Minnesota but thanks to mlb.tv I got to personally see the Twins lose the series to the bluejays.
Which would you prefer:
a) No TV coverage, or
b) 3 hours of Bert talking only about his birthday?
Makes you think.
Did Stewart really get 2 more hits tonight AND a stolen base??? So he's on pace for 108 HR and 54 SB this year. How long can he keep it up?
How long can he keep it up?
Depends on when he gets injured, which should be about...... now.
A.*
You had me really scared about Rainville for a second there, but then I saw it wasn't a labrum tear. Thank goodness. Nerve problems seem somewhat tricky these days, but I believe it was a nerve problem that kept Brad Penny out towards the end of 2004, but he wound up having a pretty good 2005 afterwards.
Yeah, Barlett got a couple of XB knocks, but did he show that leadership on the field that Cristian Guzman was famous for?
Until he becomes more like Guzzie, he can rot in the minors.
I mean to add < /bizzaro world > to that post, but your comment program deleted that portion.
Forget Sports Illustrated...you've made the big time now...Charley Walters' column.
"Highland Park graduate Aaron Gleeman, 23, who writes a lot about the Twins on hardballtimes.com and other blogs, was mentioned in last week's Sports Illustrated." http://www.twincities.com/mld/tw...rs/
14283626.htm
If Bonser can show he is a capable MLB 5th starter/swing guy it only makes it that much easier for the organization to trade Lohse this year.
I am hesitant to respond in this comment section. However, with your new emphasis on the minor leagues it is important to mention that Garrett Guzman was playing LF last night for the Miracle. Guzman, who was a top outfield prospect, missed all of 2005 with a broken neck from an auto accident. In his case, it must have been so rewarding just to step on the field...and the 2 for 4 with an rbi was a huge bonus.
I like Bartlett's attitude. If the Twins are too stupid to give him a roster spot, then maybe they'll be smart enough to trade him someplace where he can play. Maybe they can get an overweight aging 3B with an all or (usually) nothing swing for him. Punto and Castro have no business being on the same MLB roster.
Did a little birdie tell shooter about your website?
I agree completely with sawdustking--I'm happy about Bartlett's attitude, but it also made me sad--only because he's right. If the Twins won't give him a chance, he needs to go somewhere where he'll get one.
You had me really scared about Rainville for a second there, but then I saw it wasn't a labrum tear. Thank goodness. Nerve problems seem somewhat tricky these days, but I believe it was a nerve problem that kept Brad Penny out towards the end of 2004, but he wound up having a pretty good 2005 afterwards.
This is true, but it's also a nerve problem that has knocked Eric Gagne out for a second straight season.
Forget Sports Illustrated...you've made the big time now...Charley Walters' column.
"Highland Park graduate Aaron Gleeman, 23, who writes a lot about the Twins on hardballtimes.com and other blogs, was mentioned in last week's Sports Illustrated." http://www.twincities.com/mld/tw...rs/ 14283626.htm
I'm always happy to be mentioned like that, but it's sort of an odd little note. I guess that's Walters' style, just sort of mentioning names for the sake of mentioning names, without giving any real information. But hey, I'll take it! (And I'm sure my "other blogs" like FoxSports.com and USAToday.com are thrilled.)
Aaron,
I knew about Jay Rainville's injury for two weeks, but it kind of takes a back seat when....
1. Special section stuff is due.
2. Roster spots were up for grabs late.
3. There's a space crunch at the Star Tribune.
Bartlett getting sent down, Liriano driving drunk, travel, Opening Day and getting up at 4:00 a.m. (which I did this morning) all factor in what takes priority and gets in the paper. The minor league report will begin next week with an overview of the system - plus the nerve problem Rainville had that led to the surgery.
Aaron,
I knew about Jay Rainville's injury for two weeks, but it kind of takes a back seat when....
1. Special section stuff is due.
2. Roster spots were up for grabs late.
3. There's a space crunch at the Star Tribune.
Bartlett getting sent down, Liriano driving drunk, travel, Opening Day and getting up at 4:00 a.m. (which I did this morning) all factor in what takes priority and gets in the paper. The minor league report will begin next week with an overview of the system - plus the nerve problem Rainville had that led to the surgery.
La Velle, you know I think you do a great job, but c'mon. There was no time or room for a one paragraph blurb on Rainville's injury at any point in the last two weeks? That's just silly.
You write several articles a week that include random Twins notes. Stuff like "Rondell White was 1-for-11 but hit several balls hard" or "Justin Morneau struggles in Canada" or "Ruben Sierra is still rehabbing in Florida" or "Shannon Stewart has five Opening Day homers" or "Shannon Stewart and Tony Batista received a warm applause."
I'm guessing you've done two dozen of those little blurbs since the end of spring training. You couldn't have included a season-ending injury to one of the Twins' top prospects as one of those little notes at any point over the past two weeks?
I sometimes think AG overreacts a little bit to less-than-stellar mainstream coverage of the Twins, but in this case I find it pretty absurd that the excuse for not writing about Rainville's injury until a month or so after the fact is that a lot of other stuff is going on and "there's a space crunch at the Star Tribune."
I do appreciate a mainsteam journalist stopping by to defend himself, however. The defense just doesn't seem very good.
Thanks for the link to Bladesgal's blog Aaron. I'll enjoy reading that.
While we're on the subject of minor leaguers, does anyone know where the 18-year-old Australian catcher ended up? Aan de Miguel, I think?
I'm going to leave aubrey's comment up, since I think it is even-handed and reasonable, but if this starts to turn into a bash-La Velle session I'll shut it down pretty quickly. Just an FYI.
If Alexi Casilla makes the majors, will Bert call him "Castillo"?
If Alexi Casilla makes the majors, will Bert call him "Castillo"?
If Castillo and Casilla are ever on the field together at the same time, I believe Bert's head would explode. And if Castino was in the stands watching, the world may come to an end.
Thanks for the info about Jay Rainville, Aaron. It's disappointing but he's young...hopefully he can come back. That really stinks though...darn it.
TG, da san Miguel is starting the year in Beliot splitting catching duties with Caleb Moore.
The more I read, the more I just can't believe Bartlett's in Rochester. Mark Shapiro was on ESPN with Mike and Mike this morning and commenting on how they lost out to the Sox by one game last October. He pointed out that it makes a GM over game and personnel mistakes throughout the season. I'd hate for the Twins to lose out in the last week of the season as AG predicts and have to look back at an April schedule stacked against us while we were trotting out a left side of the infield as inept offensively as this one is.
I do appreciate LEN's taking the time to put up an explanation. I'd also like to remind everyone that while we here at AG's site tend to be diehard fans with vast knowledge of the Twins and their minor leaguers, many Strib readers probably pay much more attention to the established Twins and look at a name like Rainville and their mind goes, huh??? Let's face it, the need for information like that is what drives us to websites like this. Thanks AG!
"de san Miguel" doesn't scream "Australia" to me.
Yeah, what he said...
No, the concerns here are valid points and clearly reflect the views of hard core Twins fans who love reading altenative forms of information. I'm up against some things I can't control --- I guess that's one of the many reasons why blogging is so effective.
If Rainville was closer to the majors, I would have tried to get something in the paper. But spring training is geared toward major league coverage, and many of my notes have been hacked down to one liners to cut out entirely. We have a hole to hit everyday - a concept I know is hard for Aaron (Mr. Gleeman-length atricle) to grasp.
I'm not angry. I like Aaron's work, and I think this exchange is entertaining. The scribes on the beat usually read Gleeman every day to see which hack is he ripping, then read Bat-Girl.
Oh, I guess I'm wrong about my news judgement. Terry Ryan overheard me discussing this issue in the pressbox and said, ``If you have time to read his blog, then you had time to write about Rainville....''
Oh, I guess I'm wrong about my news judgement. Terry Ryan overheard me discussing this issue in the pressbox and said, ``If you have time to read his blog, then you had time to write about Rainville....''
I think when Terry Ryan and I agree on something that's probably a sign that it's right. :)
Thanks for stopping by, La Velle. As always, I admire your willingness to respond to stuff personally. I think anyone reading this gains a newfound level of respect for you every time you do so.
The scribes on the beat usually read Gleeman every day to see which hack is he ripping
If you see Shecky around the press room buffet table, tell him I said hello.
I just can't believe LaVelle could post twice without somehow mentioning "Bears" and "1985."
(By the way, I like LaVelle. This is a joke.)
Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom.
Love the minor league stuff Aaron, please keep it up! More discussions of our farm system helps us get through these dreary days after a Twins loss! Good to see LEN3 popping in as usual. I enjoy your writing and look forward to your article in the STrib. Now if TR would stop by... that would be pretty interesting! Excited bout the tribe series this weekend. Hope Liriano has an appearance today.
Six degrees of separation....
1) I read AG's site
2) AG criticizes mainstream Twins media
3) mainstream media responds
4) I defend and applaud both positions while supplying my own thoughts and ideas on AG's blog
5) mainstream media and TRyan read and discuss AG's blogosphere
6) Obviously, TRyan's decisions take into account my thoughts and ideas
therefore, I AM
Hey, LaVelle...a few words for TR....
Jason.Bartlett.Twins.Starting.Shortstop
At least the Bartlett debacle removes focus from the Batista debacle, I suppose.
"Jason.Bartlett.Twins.Starting.Shortstop"
here here!
La Velle is good about popping into the Twins forum at the Strib now and again, too, except it's always at really weird hours when no one is at work(?!) anymore.
It's an interesting point - Rainville is nowhere near the majors, and may never be. He's a good pitching prospect, but lots of them flame out. I don't know that the STrib's priorities are out of whack on this one. This is nothing like Jason Kubel's injury. That was important to the big league club. Rainville's injury, while important to the organization, really has no effect on the Minnesota Twins.
I think this is a call that could go either way. It's not info that is vital to a beat writer, especially as opening day is approaching. Once minor league notes start, it's appropriate. While a lot of us here may care disproportionately about prospects who may never even approach the big leagues, I don't think it's safe to assume that most Twins fans care all that much about what goes on the low minors.
Just to be clear: I wouldn't expect an article about Rainville's injury or even an article devoted largely to Rainville's injury. I just think not mentioning it all for three weeks is a mistake. It literally could have been one sentence, like so many other "notes" are. If the paper doesn't have room for one sentence about a former first-round pick undergoing season-ending surgery, I'd suggest they are probably wasting too much space on other stuff.
Apparently my last post got eaten...
As the one who IMed Aaron yesterday with the Rainville news and wondering why it was never printed in any of the papers, I'm entertained by how this has spiraled. I agree that all I was asking for was a sentence tucked into the Twins notes along with "and Tony Batista was not good" on one of the past three weeks.
LaVelle, while you're still here (if you are still around), what's the latest word on Matthew Fox, fellow 2004 1st round pick?
Kyle Lohse is the worst two out pitcher in baseball. I'd rather have Michael Scott from The Office be my wingman at a bar then give the ball to Lohse when we need an out.
So frustrating.
casey blake kills us every year, or at least is seems that way.
Will,
Matthew Fox is starring on ABC's Lost this year.
Joe, wasn't it Gardentool that killed us, by not lifting Lohse WAY before that situation arose? Or even when Blake stepped in??
Granted, Lohse didn't get the job done today. But the 'Tool didn't give the team its best chance to win, either. And it is his job to do so. Unfortunately he comes up short on a daily basis.
If theres a silver lining to this beginning of this season its that the problem (mainly starting pitching)should probably be temporary. Kyle Lohse, however, doesn't have the reliable track record of the other starters (not considering Baker)and his start today was exceptionally awful. To be fair he made some good pitches and the indians can just freakin' hit, but if he doesn't produce a quality start this month I think its liriano-time.
Scott Baker gets a chance tomorrow to pick up the staff but I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. The first 5 batters on that club put big innings pretty much every other inning. I don't think I saw anyone in that lineup waste an at-bat either.
yeah, i think Gardy should've pulled the starters earlier in the last few games too but I guess I really thought Lohse was gonna get through the fifth too.
Gardy didn't want to pull Lohse because he needed to show that he "had his back."
Gardy has no stones. And no tact. And no brains. He needs a few visits to the Wizard of Oz.
"De San Miguel" is mixed Australian/Mexican blood, hence the nick name "Dirty". He doesn't really look latin american at all though.
I got banned from the DHTC forum today. I just started posted a couple of days ago. I have no idea why im banned. I had about 10 posts in about an hour, is that excessive?
What the hell is wrong with that?
"DFTC forum" -correction
With Castro and Batista in the lineup as normal yesterday, and with Nick Punto batting, maddeningly, second, a shutout really should be expected.
It appears that Rincon has been instructed to take over in JC's role from last year, complete with allowing inherited runners to score.
Meanwhile, Batista's fielding continues to be flawful...
This is getting ugly
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