As spring training winds down a few questions out of the Twins camp are being answered. Francisco Liriano seems to have locked up the fifth starters spot, Jacque Jones will not be allowed to relive the glory days of 2002, and it will be closer-by-committee to start the season.
Closer mess aside, there is one very troubling development playing out with Opening Day only a week away: Nick Punto looks to be the Twins starting third baseman, leaving Brendan Harris on the bench as a utility option. There was an article yesterday in the Star Tribune about the strong possibility that this will be the case, but I am surprised that more isn’t being said about this issue.
I know there have been jokes abound about Gardenhire’s ridiculous man-crush on Punto, but all kidding aside, this has gone far enough. I can no longer bite my tongue. We’ve all heard the argument, “Punto is a defensive god. The plays he makes on defense compensate for his shortcomings at the plate.” Bullshit.
If we didn’t have another option at the position, then maybe this would be a legitimate statement. If Alexi Casilla and Matt Tolbert were the Twins’ only other two choices at third, then maybe I could get behind that mindset for yet another season. But that’s not the case. Brendan Harris provides a more than solid defensive option at third, and is a good argument to be a starter over Punto even before you mention offense. In nine seasons Punto’s fielding percentage is .978. Harris inexcusably lags behind at .971. With such a glaring gap between the two I can see why Punto is the obvious choice on defense.
Offensively, you would be hard-pressed to find a reason why Punto is a better fit than Harris. I know the preseason means absolutely nothing, and I understand that, but just for arguments sake, Harris is hitting .351 while Punto checks in at a predictable .200 mark. The career batting average of each (.267 for Harris, .248 for Punto) is not why this argument is one sided.
In a season where the Twins powers-that-be seem to be going for more than the usual division title, they owe it to themselves to put the best lineup out there. Thanks in part to a strong top of the order, the 6-7-8 spots in the lineup are stronger then they have been in recent memory, with more pop and possibility then the team has had there in a long time. So wouldn’t it make sense to put the best possible bat, and run producing option, behind the back end of the order?
Harris not only brings in a better average, but he could also produce a 9-hitter who pitchers would not be able to point to in the order and say, “Let’s focus on this weak spot and keep them from turning over the order.” With Denard Span at the leadoff spot it would be nice to provide him with a little protection in the order, as Orlando Hudson in the two spot is not a big power-threat either. It doesn’t make sense to put three softer hitting, contact-focused hitters in a row when the rest of the order seems to be focused on doing more than just putting the ball in play and running like hell. With Harris in the 9-spot, the threat of a gap-type hitter opens the field up and could produce more runs scored from the bottom half of the order.
Harris is no different than any other hitter on the face of the planet, he needs regular at bats to find his rhythm and reach his full potential. He has yet to get that chance with the Twins. I guess I can spout ill-fated arguments for Harris over Punto all day long, but they will be just that, ill-fated. I don’t know if Harris did something to piss Gardenhire off or what, but the time for playing sentimental favorites is over, unless the manager and front office are going to be content with another one-and-done in the postseason.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Where for art thou Brendan Harris?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Joe Mauer Is the New Denny Hocking
By TwinsWin83
So I don’t know if you’ve heard or not but Joe Mauer signed some kind of blow your mind, wet your pants, pinch yourself to check reality-type deal with the Twins a few days ago. According to most sources, this is the greatest thing to happen to Twins fans, the state of Minnesota, and the majority of people living within the Western Hemisphere since the theatrical release of Little Big League.
Listen, I dig that the Twins signed the player who is the face of the franchise and accounts for a ridiculous amount of their fan-related revenue, but c'mon, who thinks he’s going to catch for the next nine years and be able to continue his current stats throughout that duration? No way. According to recent studies, catching makes you age at the same rate as a golden retriever. It can also lead to acid reflux, lazy eye and type II diabetes. The last thing Twins fans want is a catcher who is 186 in dog years, pops Prilosec like they’re Starburst jellybeans, and can look at both the first baseman and the blonde sitting down the third base line at the same time, all while draining $23 million from the team’s coffer each season.
Joe Mauer is every Minnesotans little 8 pound 6 ounce, newborn, infant baby Jesus. If something were to happen to him, everything we were told would take place on Y2K will happen for real in the Twin Cities. We’re talking about planes falling out of the sky, blackouts, riots, a Timberwolves win, looting, cannibalism and worst of all, Joe Mauer out of the lineup for an extended period of time.
Well I won’t stand for that. I won’t let the Twins brass be responsible for the end of human life in the Upper Midwest. So that means we need to come up with a list of possible spots for Mauer to play instead of catching, which is apparently as hazardous as Ice Truck driving.1st Base- You might think this is a good spot for a former catcher in transition, but wait. We have another MVP playing there in Justin Morneau. And he’s awesome. Just ask a Canadian. No wait, don’t ask a Canadian. Even general contact with one and you could become sickly; addicted to Molson, hockey and talking shit about America.
Anyways, you can’t push Morneau out of his position. If we lose him who is going to carry the team down the stretch in Septe…….. Who is going to be the outspoken, confident clubhouse lead…… Who is not going to blame the Home Run Derby for his troubles at the pla……. Who is going to give Mauer crap about making a ton of money and try to mooch a supper off him? That’s right, only Morneau can shoulder that burden.
Middle Infield- No way. Nick Punto, Alexi Casilla, Matt Tolbert and Brendan Harris can all play those positions. If they can’t get the job done then no one can. 3rd Base- Now this might be a spot for Mauer. We all know about the drama the Twins have had at 3rd since Corey Koskie left the team and returned home to Canada to raise sheep. One of the big qualms about taking Mauer out from behind the plate is that he handles the pitchers so well. Well, there is a simple solution to that problem; Mauer can call the games from his new position at 3rd. With simple hand gestures, audible coughs and sneezes, and the occasional nut-cup check, everyone else in the infield will know exactly what to do. The new catcher will never even have to put down a finger. And this way Mauer can sit back and literally watch his knees heal after years of catching. Who knows, he might steal 60 bases without having to deal with the strain of squatting behind the plate like a dairy farmer at the rear end of a cow.
Outfield- Um, absolutely. Anywhere you put Mauer in the outfield he is going to be awesome. I mean think about how the guy guns down stealing runners at second and third. Just imagine how much harder and straighter his throws will be from the outfield when he can get a running crow-hop. Wow. I mean who is going to tag from second to third when Mauer catches a ball in shallow left? No one, that’s who. And this way the Twins can move Delmon Young back to his natural position, bullpen catcher.
DH- Nope. You can’t make a legitimate case for putting his Golden Ticket Winning Wonka Bar-like talent on the bench except for his plate appearances. Can’t do it, so don’t try. And, call me crazy, but I think Jim Thome's best days are yet to come.
Pitcher- Maybe, if the Twins were a National League team. But the last time I checked baseball-reference.com they were not.
So there you have it. Your viable options are 3rd base and the outfield. What do you mean already knew that? Well then, I am sorry I just wasted your valuable time. I will get back to my Twilight book and you can head back to doing whatever it is that you do. If you’re really bored you can check out the new Twins commercial.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
What You Should Be Watching
By TwinsWin83
Best Shows on TV Today
#1 -Friday Night LightsI’m one of the biggest advocates of LOST that you will find out there, and have been since the shows inception, but for the first time in five years I have to admit there is a better show then LOST out there. That show is Friday Night Lights.
Without trying to give too much away, Friday Night Lights creates more of a connection with its dedicated viewers than any other show on television. Weekly watchers grow not only to care about each main character but also about the success and well-being of the team, its players, family and fans, and eventually become unintentionally connected to the show as a whole. Questions were raised about Lights longevity prior to the end of last season, as most of the main characters approached their senior year in high school. The producers answered any issues about the shows continued storylines in the Season 3 finale as Coach Eric Taylor (portrayed perfectly by Kyle Chandler) was let go by the high school the show is centered around and accepts the head coaching job at the newly formed cross-town rival to Dillon High.
The best way to define this show and its appeal to anyone who hasn’t seen it is that it is the “anti-Varsity Blues.” Friday Night Lights deals with teenagers, parents, coaches and fans of high school football in a close-minded small Texas town, and its validity extends far beyond the average sports fan. If you haven’t yet check out season 1 on DVD or at NBC.com and you’ll understand why this show tops my list of best TV shows currently airing.
#2- LOST Any other year, from 2004 up until 2008, and LOST would be #1 on this list. LOST is typicaly either feast of famine for its fans. Most either love or hate the series, and as someone who’s been there from the start I understand why that is. People who haven’t watched this show in its entirety could never watch an episode in season 2 or 3 and pick it up from there with any kind of understanding as to what is going on.
The show has only delved farther from reality over the past two seasons, which has either been a joyous or loyalty-testing endeavor for its fans. I, personally, loved the direction the show’s producers went in this year and have the calendar marked for the onset of the shows final season next January.
However, the reason that LOST has dropped from the previous and seemingly unmovable #1 position on my list is the fact that I know the show has become unwatchable for anyone who isn’t a diehard fan. I will wait on the edge of my seat for every episode in next year’s final season, but I now understand that most other casual fans of LOST will not.
#3- Entourage Entourage has been a favorite of mine since its inception to the HBO line-up several years back, but it has moved up my list over the past two years as its really found its stride. I said in my first favorites list that the storylines for Vinnie Chase and his tag-alongs were seemingly endless, and two years later that is absolutely the case.
Not only have the writers broken into more interesting and challenging situations for the would-be Hollywood superstar, but they’ve also dealt with intriguing issues involving his closest friends and confidants (Kevin Connolly is spot-on as Vinnie’s best friend and manager E). Hollywood never seemed like such a real place. Vinnie and his buddies aren’t just your average run-of-the-mill Tinsel Town assholes, they are average dudes who ended up there and are forced to deal with the troubles associated with surviving in LA.
#4- The Office This pick seems so basic and typical and I know that. I don’t care. I might be one of the few who feel that the American version of The Office has only gotten stronger over the past 2-3 seasons. This is really one of the few shows where I get excited to see a new episode pop up on my Tivo.
The relationship with Jim and Pam might be tired to some, but I will give the writers credit for not taking the typical break-up, get back together formula followed by most other shows. I said it in my previous article and will repeat it here: Aside from Friday Night Lights, there is no other show on TV that draws its viewers into caring so much about its main characters then The Office does.
#5-It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia I don’t know what the future of this show is to be honest with you. When I taped the season finale last fall the DirecTV summary said it was the series finale. Yet I see no indication of that when I look up the shows future online. Either way I can only hope there will be more opportunities to see the group at Paddy’s Pub live it up on basic cable’s version of HBO, FX.
Aside from South Park, Sunny is and has been the most original show over the past five years, pushing the restrictions of seemingly off-limit subjects. Sunny hasn’t just breached many of those taboo issues but blown too pieces any possibility of dealing with them in a politically correct manner. If you don’t yet know who Green Man is you haven’t lived. Sunny is a show that you can watch and laugh along without having to get emotionally involved. If you don’t feel like dropping any $ to nab the DVDs don’t worry because you can catch every episode on Hulu.com.
Honorable Mention
Dexter -
The only reason Dexter isn’t in my top five is because I have not yet gotten a chance to watch the already-aired season 3 of the miraculous Showtime series about a serial killer with a conscious. Dexter was one of those rare series’ where Season 2 was even better then the impressive freshmen effort. The problem for most viewers is that if you don’t buy the DVD’s or pay $14 a month for Showtime you don’t have a chance to see Michael C. Hall as the dark and twisted Dexter. And that is a travesty because this is a great show.
30 Rock-
Mad Men-
Jon Hamm as Don Draper is one of the most intriguing main characters on all of television and makes it worth checking out the show if for nothing else then to see him wheeling and dealing as a stoic yet-troubled New York businessman.
Weeds-
I wanted to put it higher but Weeds has lost its way over the past season and ½. Hopefully Mary Louise Parker and her neglected family will find their way apart from the creepy Mexican drug cartel because there are few shows that are funnier and more clever then Weeds when it’s on its game.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
LCS Preview
By TwinsWin83
It’s hard to believe we're already to the League Championship Series for this season, seems like just yesterday we were getting ready for the white-hot Rockies to take on the DBacks and the Red Sox to take on the Indians in last year’s LCS matchups. Now it’s 2008 and we have another surprise team four wins away from the World Series. Taking the Rockies spot as this seasons new kids on the block are the Tampa Bay Rays. Their opponents, the Red Sox, are no strangers to October baseball. The Dodgers and Phillies match-up on the National League side in a meeting of two teams with a lot of history, just not a lot of possitive history as of late. So once again, we will make our predictions, most of us without much certainty at all, and watch as we wait to see who the next entrants into the Fall Classic will be.
Rays vs. Red Sox
Season Series: Rays 10-8
What You Should Know: These two teams are incredibly familiar with one another, a result of meeting up 18 times this season as AL East rivals, so there won’t be many surprises. This series has been dominated by the home team but you can almost always throw that stat out the window come October as teams are to forced to deal with the added pressures of the postseason. They Rays are young, the Sox are experienced, but neither is a really clear favorite here. It's going to come down to which team plays like they should at home and can sneak a win or two out on the road.
Why the Rays Will Win: Because they are the best team at home in baseball. The Rays were 57-24 at Tropicana Field this year, and almost never lost when there was more than 30,000 fans in the stands ringing their cowbells. Common sense might tell you that their incredibly young and inexperienced team should be no match for the October-tested Sox, but if the previous 162 games and Division Series win over the White Sox have taught us anything about the Rays it’s that these kids don’t seem to care that they shouldn’t be here right now. If the Trop gets rocking and the Rays can pull out one or both games at home to start the series it could knock the Sox back on their heels and put them off their game for the rest of the ALCS. Look for the young pitchers to be fired up and throw well, and if the offense responds the Rays will jump out quickly.
Why the Red Sox Will Win: Because they are the Red Sox and this is October. That’s a statement that would have seemed ridiculous five years ago but things have changed and the franchise that couldn’t break “The Curse” for nearly 90 years are now on the edge of becoming a dynasty. Their pitching, which carried them in 2004 and last year, is as strong as ever, even without Mr. Bloody Sock Curt Schilling steering the ship. Jon Lester has emerged as a lights-out ace and a healthy Josh Beckett and Dice-K can shut anyone down when they are on top of their games. Throw in an often-dynamic offense and the Sox will be tough to beat. The series might come down to whether or not the Sox can pull out a win in one of the first two games in Tampa and take back home-field advantage from the Rays.
What to Watch For: Jonathan Pappelbon vs. the Rays. The Red Sox closer with the nasty glare has been human this year, with five blown saves and a ho-hum ERA of 2.34. If the Sox are ahead late in one of the first two games we might see Pappelbon in the 8th inning to protect a small lead, and it will be interesting to see how he handles the pandemonium and cow bells at the Trop.
Who Will Win: As much as it would be great to see the Rays continue this improbable run I think their luck runs out here against the more experienced Red Sox. The Trop goes silent. RED SOX IN 6.
Phillies vs. Dodgers
Season Series: Los Angeles 4-2
What You Should Know: These were the two hottest teams heading into October, as both rattled of an impressive 17-8 record in September. Both are storied franchises in the baseball world but neither has seen much October success lately. The Phillies have had a winning record for the past six years but have yet to get over the hump, and the Dodgers are a surprise coming out of the weak-NL West, but don’t tell either of them that because both clubs are four wins from the World Series.
Why the Phillies will win: Because the fans in Philly have suffered enough. The Phillies have been around for a long time, since 1883 to be exact, but they have only won one World Series (1980) and made only six playoff appearances (and this article won’t mention some of other sports inflicted-suffering that the folks of Philadelphia have faced over the past few decades). This Phillies team, which houses the past three National League MVPs, can be downright explosive when the offense is clicking. The pitching staff has done its job lately and Brad Lidge has been perfect this year in save opportunities, making most hitters look silly with his nasty slider and 97 MPH fastball. Once again, the momentum could swing the Phillies direction quickly if they are able to capitalize on the home-field advantage in the first two games.
Why the Dodgers Win: Because Joe Torre believes in karma. The Yankees who cast Torre aside after last season are at home watching now as Joe leads the Dodgers through October. As tiresome as Manny Ramirez and his antics can be there is no denying the impact he’s had in LA. His numbers are unreal, batting .396 in 53 games in Dodger-blue to go along with 17 home runs and 53 RBI’s. The pitching staff has patched things together and after the way LA finished the regular season and then dispatched of the heavily favored Cubs in the first round it looks like momentum is definitely a friend of theirs right now. All of the positive things that the Dodgers have going for them right now might pale in comparison to the simple fact that they are being led by a manager who has been here before and might be a cool head to prevail during any tight situations that might arise in this NLCS.
What to Watch For: Cole Hamels vs. Manny Ramirez. The best pitcher in this series vs. the best hitter in the series, what could be more important? Hamels was unhittable in his start against the Brewers in the NLDS and if he can shut down Manny the effect could trickle down to the rest of the Dodgers line-up. The opposite could also be the result if Manny has some success against Hamels, as it could show the rest of his teammates that the Phillies ace is hittable.
Who Will Win: I think the dynamic Phillies players, Howard, Utley and Rollins will be too much for the hit-or-miss Dodgers offense in this series, and the Phils make their city proud. Phillies in 6.
So.....
My 2008 World Series Pick
Boston vs. Philly
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Get To Know Your September Call-Ups- 2008 Edition
By TwinsWin83
Check your calendars because it’s that time of year again. Maybe you’ve been too busy pulling your hair out the past week to realize (thank you Twins bullpen), but it’s September and that means some things are about to change: the temperature, TV lineups, the number of seasons the Vikings haven’t won a Super Bowl, the color of the leaves outside, and most importantly, MLB rosters.
Last year around this time we covered the expansion of the Twins roster here at AH! during a time when there wasn’t much else to celebrate for a team that had fallen out of contention. We introduced you to such unknown names as Nick Blackburn, Denard Span and Brian Buscher. Things are a bit more interesting in Twinsville as September arrives this year as the team fights for the Central Division title with the White Sox, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pause to get to know a few of the new faces on Minnesota’s bench.
Jason Pridie- OF L/R- Some of you might recognize this name as Pridie was part of the Torii 
Hunter-replacement discussion before the season started. There were even some who felt Pridie had the best claim to the spot based on performance coming out of spring training among the three players battling to make the opening day roster at CF (Gomez and Span being the other two). The organizations hand was almost forced, however, to insert Gomez into that spot as an unhappy fan base was looking for an instant-impact player from what was perceived by most as a one-sided trade that unloaded star Johan Santana.
In 138 games at AAA Rochester this season, Pridie hit .270 with 13 home runs and 61 RBI’s. Team officials like his ability to drive the gaps (50 extra base hits), but his OBP is low at .305 and he struck out a whooping 152 times, compared to only 30 walks. Pridie is an above-average fielder and because of his potential to be more than just a singles hitter he could see some at-bats this September, regardless of the situation.
Philip Humber- Pitcher R/R- This 25 year-old righty is one of the players the 
Twins received when they shipped Santana to New York last offseason. He was a much heralded pitcher out of Rice when the Mets took him with the third overall pick in the '04 draft but following an elbow injury during the 2005 season he underwent Tommy John surgery and hasn’t been the same since. Humber got off on the the wrong foot again this season but following the terrible start he slowly began to come around for the Red Wings and is being rewarded for the turn-around with a call-up to the big club.
In 31 games, 23 of those starts, Humber went 10-8 with a 4.56 ERA in just under 137 innings pitched. His ERA is high, but his strike out to walk ratio was better than 2 to 1, and any kind of relief he can offer will be much appreciated right now for a bullpen struggling the way the Twins is. There weren’t a ton of options for the Twins looking at the staff Rochester had at the end of August, and almost everyone who had experienced any kind of elongated success this season at AAA had already been called up at some point or another, so Humber made the most sense for the team when it came time to make their call-ups.
Matt Macri- INF R/R- Macri is a 26 year-old infielder from Des Moines, but don’t 
hold that against him. In 89 games at Rochester this summer, Macri hit .259 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI’s. The fact that Matt Tolbert is returning to the team with the September call-ups to join the log-jam the Twins already have at the middle infield positions means Macri probably will see little or no playing time this month. That being said, Macri has shown he has a little bit of pop in his bat and when you compare that with the home-run hitting ability of the Twins current middle-infielders it could mean a pinch-hitting appearance or two down the stretch for the young infielder.
Bobby Korecky- Pitcher R/R- Hey, you know this guy, don’t you? Korecky appeared in 10 games during April and May for the Twins this season and was even the hero in a win against 
Texas, both on the mound and at the plate (after an odd pinch-hitting scenario). Although his stay in the majors was a brief one, Korecky went ahead and had quite the season at Rochester as the Red Wings closer.
In 53 games, Korecky (19th round, 2002- Phillies) racked up 26 saves to go along with a 6-5 record and an impressive 2.91 ERA. Similar to Humber, Korecky might see some time on the hill this September as a direct result of the struggles facing the majority of the pen. If there happen to be any mop-up situations in the season’s final three weeks expect to see Korecky as well, as the team might want to see how he responds in that role.
Also worth mentioning:
Jose Mijares- Pitcher L/L- Left handed-arm out of the pen that went a combined 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 23 appearances between AA New Britain, A Fort Myers and Rookie Ball. Don’t expect to see to see Mijares much, if at all.
Matt Tolbert- INF S/R- Tolbert isn’t so much a September call-up as he is a call-back. After providing a jolt for the team early this season he went down with an injury in mid-May and hasn’t returned until now. Tolbert hit .265 in 30 games for the Twins before being placed on the DL and could play the biggest role of any of the players called up this September. As Tolbert showed in April, he can be a spark plug when he gets the chance to play.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Case of the Mundays
By TwinsWin83
*I’m going to assume without much doubt that most of you out there went at some point over the weekend to see The Dark Knight. Not only did the newest installment in the Batman saga have the biggest opening in history this weekend, racking up a tidy 155 mil, but it also received recommendations from 94% of the nation’s top critics, a rarity for a superhero flick. I was lucky enough to get tickets for a midnight showing Thursday evening and was glad I did. Since I am assuming most people out there saw the movie I am going to steer clear of the review angle and just give a couple of my thoughts on the 
movie instead. Those that haven’t seen it yet don’t worry, I won’t include any spoilers.
Before the movie’s release a lot was made in the press of Heath Ledgers portrayal of the iconic Joker. Now, I know that fans and critics alike can exaggerate the brilliance of a performance when the actor/actress has suffered an untimely death, but this is one case where all of the attention is not only warrented but also much deserved. The movie itself is solid on almost every level, from the engrossing storyline to the dark and ominous cinematography and even the overall message it tries to convey, but the one thing that pushes this film off the corner of being a good movie over the edge into a great one is simply Ledger’s performance.
There was almost an uneasiness among the crowd in the theatre every time Ledger appeared. Many laughed at lines I didn’t think were meant to be funny, but the figure he created is one that haunts the entire film. Even days after you’ve seen the movie his character stays 
with you. Now I’ll be the first to admit I’ve seen, and liked, a lot of movies in my time, but it might not be an overreaction when I say Heath Ledger's Joker is the most interesting, sinister, complex and memorable character I have seen in any film, superhero or not.
Aside from Ledgers performance the movie was impressive, leaving only a few questions to be asked by the well-versed Batman viewer, but ones that I won’t ask here in case someone reading this hasn’t seen it yet. I thought that Maggie Gyllenhaal was a much better choice for the role of Rachel Dawes then Katie Holmes was in Batman Begins. The Harvey Dent character was an intriguing addition as well. I’ll be interested to hear what the rest of you out there thought of The Dark Knight.
*As the Twins head to New York tonight for a series with the Yankees they remain a half game out of first place. I wonder if they do overtake the White Sox for the top spot in the AL Central if that will force the sports world out there to finally take a serious look at the Twins. The 2008 Twins are doing the whole more-with-less bit better than any of the previous division winners the organization has had this decade and it baffles me that more people aren’t taking notice. If they would all just go back and look at their preseason picks they would realize just how surprising and impressive this club has been so far.
*Did anyone watch the ESPY’s last night? For the second time in three years Blake Hoffarber was up for an award for Best Play of the Year. Here's the play. But unlike two years ago, when he was up for his amazing shot from his back in the Minnesota State title game, he didn’t win. Still though, that’s pretty impressive that the kid has made two bonkers shots like that in two game-ending situations in such a short period of time.
*Greg Norman is the anti-Tiger Woods. Every time the dude has a lead going into the final round
he squirts the thing down his leg. You almost have to feel bad for the guy. I was actually hoping he could pull it off yesterday just so he could exercise some of those old demons, and because he’s almost old enough to be getting social security.
*Is anyone really looking forward to the Olympics? There are a few things in there I guess I am looking forward to seeing, like if the basketball team can finally win back some respect, but for the most part I am just dreading all of the ridiculous wall-to-wall coverage for two weeks. Especially at a time when I am going to want to be hearing more about baseballs pennant races.
*Speaking of which, I hope the Twins and White Sox are still neck-in-neck by the time Chicago comes to the Dome for that four-game set at the end of this month because if they are it’s going to be a crazy atmosphere at ol’ Triple-H. It was cool to see so many people turn out for a three game series with the Rangers this weekend. I guess that’s one thing that will always be true of Minnesotans: they support their teams when things are going well.
*Can we start an AH! pool for bets as to when Lariano will be called up?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Liriano Conundrum
By TwinsWin83
This is not so much a post as it is a question posed to AH!'s dedicated readers. Francisco Liriano is ripping up AAA Rochester right now and sooner or later the question as to what to do with him is going to explode on the Minnesota sports scene. So what does the Minnesota ballclub do? The Twins have 4, maybe 5 (depending on your definition of success), starters that are throwing well on a team that is making a suprising run at the AL Central title.
Does the team bring this phenom, a talent that ignited the imagination of Twins faithful and baseball fans across the country two years ago with his dynamic slider and sneaky-quick fastball, back up to majors? Should the Twins bring back the same pitcher who put together a +11 ERA in his three major league appearances earlier this season?
It isn’t a secret that things are going well in the Twins camp right now, but at what point does the organization realize this might not be a season long hot-streak the team is currently on and make a move to improve a surprising and overachieving starting rotation in the long run?
The Twins might be hot right now but youth does burn out at some point in a 162 game schedule, (look at the Rays right now) so the move right now needs to be to bring the best possible pitcher into the rotation at this exact point. The logical choice to leave the rotation in favor of Liriano might be Livan to most casual fans, but it might not be that simple. He does create some amount of leadership among the staff, (as the only one above the age of 26) and has won a team-high 9 games this season.
So what to do? Lariano is ready. Period. Look at his stats. And science would tell us he is about ready as well. He is now a year and a half removed from his Tommy John surgery which is the point most experts would say is close to the time when a pitcher starts to find his true form again.
So once again I ask you as AH! fans to play the role of Twins GM and tell us what your move would be in this situation.
It’s fun to play this role when the Twins are winning as opposed to when they are tanking isn’t it?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Hanson Brothers Would Be Proud
By TwinsWin83
In what might be a first here on AH! I am going to dedicate an entire article to Minnesota’s pro hockey team. I was already planning on writing an article on the Wild’s playoff series yesterday and prior to last night’s game my focus was going to be on a ridiculous article written by a Denver Post journalist named Mark Kiszla. If you haven't read it yet, check it out here. The moronic author of the article not only lampooned the Wild for being ‘goons’ but also ripped their jerseys and the very state they come from, calling Minnesota the land of “10,000 dead car batteries.”
Now I’ll admit I was a little upset as I read the article but tried to tell myself it was coming from a bitter sports writer who knew nothing about the sport or the rules of appropriate journalism and was upset that his team was down two games to one. I was planning on writing about what an idiot Kiszla was in order to rally AH! readers against any sports journalist who dares write such a preposterous article about our fair team and state. And then I sat down and watched Game 4 last night.
Not only did the Wild seemingly give up down 4-0 halfway through the second period but they reduced themselves to throwing down with every Avs player that gave them a dirty look. I’m all for a hockey game full of big hits, checks and even a fight or two, and I know players must defend themselves and their teammates, but for the final thirty minutes of this game every time there was a stoppage of play there was four or five players getting into meaningless scrapes. 
People will say, “well they needed to show Colorado that they wouldn’t back down and that they can be physical throughout a seven game series.” I think all they showed was that if they get down early by more than a couple goals they get taken right out of playing their game. I know it was 4-0 eight minutes into the second period but that means there is still over thirty minutes to be played. Throw in a rebound goal and a power play score here or there and all of a sudden its 4-2 with an entire period left to play. Instead, the Wild resorted to ringing up 26 penalties for 111 minutes, completely taking themselves out of the game.
The question now is can they snap back into playing their style in Game 5 after removing themsleves from it for half a game, or will they be reduced to ‘goonery’ should they get down early again? The Wild did a lot of things right in the first three games of the series and they need to get back their aggressive, yet controlled, style of play or they will be heading back to Colorado for Game 6 staring elimination in the face.
As much as I would love to rip Kiszla for what is truly one of the worst sports articles I have ever read, it is hard to do so on the heels of last night’s game. But you should feel free too here if you'd like.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Somewhat Subdued March Madness
By TwinsWin83
HOLY CRAP IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN SPORTS FANS!!!!!!!!! You know, the time of year when every sportscaster in North America freaks out and mentions every night for about a month how this is their favorite time of the sports year. I mean common,' you’ve got the high school tournaments, which include basketball, hockey and wrestling. On top of that the NBA and NHL seasons are finally winding down and the 
playoff push is on. Not to mention the biggest reason for all the hoopla, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is about to start.
So is this really the best time of the sports year? I should be freaking out along with the rest of them if I knew what was good for me as a sports fan, right? Then why is March 31st the only real date I have circled on my calendar this month? Well, I’ll tell you why.
The High School Tournaments in Minnesota are fun to watch but predictable. In hockey a private school is going to win the big school class tournament and probably the small one as well, unless some tiny town from up north that we’ve barely heard of can pull one out. Solution: Create 
a whole new class system for hockey, one class for public schools and one for private. I know a lot of people will disagree with this system but hear me out. After each tournament the private school winner and the public school winner could play each other in one final state title game. That would be cool and maybe it would do away with all the people that have been complaing for the past 15 years about the tourney spliting into two classes.
In basketball the winner of the big school class will more than likely be a giant school like Hopkins or Tartan from the northern part of the cities that I not only don’t care about but generally dislike because of their size. Class 3A might be interesting every other year but the other two classes usualy involve teams with too many towns hyphenated together to understand. So that means there are four classes in Minnesota High School Basketball, and more specifically four state champions. That’s too many. The tournament should be broken down into two classes and have an opening-round field of 16 teams in each class. That would not only make the tournament more competitive but also more interesting to watch.
As for wrestling….I have no idea. I guess maybe they could shut down Apple Valley High School and then it would be wide-open for everyone else.
When it comes to the NHL and NBA I’m not really sure how this is a great time of year for its fans unless the team you cheer for is in the midst of the playoff chase. In Minnesota we have a bit of both worlds as our NBA team is just starting to climb out the dark hole they’ve been in all season but are still light years removed from the playoff picture. The Wild are in the middle of a
ridiculously close race for not only the playoffs but also the teams’ first division title. With nine games to go in the regular season I guess you could say March is a ‘crazy’ time for them and their fans, but it’s not quite ‘mad’ because lets face it, aside from Canadians, Minnesotans and very select few on the east coast, no one really cares about NHL hockey. Which in itself is entirely too bad and an entirely seperate article topic.Now we come to the real culprit for the overuse of the phrase ‘March Madness,’ the NCAA basketball tournament. I will admit that the opening round of this thing can be fun to watch with so many games crammed into two nights, but aside from maybe a couple first and second round upsets this thing tends to follow a general pattern after that. I
know right now your thinking, “Well, what about George Mason dude,” but hold on a minute. George Mason was a complete aberration and it’s not like they won the national title, they just made it to the Final Four. Even though there tend to be a couple upsets in the first round or two, the Cinderella’s are quickly weeded out after that and the powerhouses take over as the same 8-10 programs find themselves playing for the title year in and year out. That is why I'm cheering for Memphis this year, because look at the other number one seeds, Kansas, UCLA and North Carolina. Same old, same old. My other qualm with this tournament is that I never even finish in the top half of any tourney pool I enter. You would think with as much insight as I have into the general workings of this thing that I would fair better, but you would be wrong.
Probably the other reason I think I’m not hip to the whole March Madness thing is that the Major League season doesn’t typically begin until April. But thanks to an odd calendar year and Bud’s plan to have MLB open in a different foreign country each year, the 2008 season will begin in March. So, I guess for at least one year I can say….HOLY CRAP IT’S MARCH, MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR!!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tuesdays With Kory
By TwinsWin83
*The Twins are 8-4 right now in Spring Training and are playing at a .667 clip. So the only way I can figure it is that level of play should automatically transfer over into the regular season, meaning the Twins will go 108-54 this year. Awesome.
*Kevin Slowey reminds me of Brad Radke more every time I see him pitch. Let’s just hope he
doesn’t end up serving up dingers to opposing hitters at record pace like Radke did throughout the second half of his career. You have to figure since the Twins no longer have Radke, Silva or Santana in their rotation the staff should give up quite a few less home runs this season. *A little less than three weeks to go before the season opener and we still don’t have a clue who will be starting in center come March 31st. Many think Carlos Gomez will get the gig but Denard Span seems to finally be playing up to his potential and according to Twins beat writer Kelly Thesier, Jason Pridie is the most consistent of all three on both the offensive and defensive end.
*Phil Humber had a nice outing yesterday. I'm trying not to get too excited over a Spring Training outing but if Humber was able to grab that 4 or 5 spot in the rotation and pick up 12 or 13 wins this season that would not only be a huge boost to the team but it would also take some pressure off the rest of the young rotation. It would also make the Johan trade look a little less haunting.
*I was listening to Common Man yesterday and he was talking about how he felt if the Twins would have started Glen Perkins in Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS in Oakland instead of the ailing Brad Radke that Minnesota would have won the game and eventualy the series. He then stated such a win would have started a chain of events that would have led to the team winning the World Series that year and ultimately change the path of the organization forever. Now I know that Common is known for making ridiculous statements, most of which he knows just as well as his listeners are not serious, but this one had me thinking.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Not So Obscure Shows You Should Be Watching
By TwinsWins83
It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I like TV. There are plenty of shows that have aired over the years that I’ve been a big fan of. From the top of my list and Arrested Development on down the line through the likes of Deadwood, The Wonder Years, Punky Brewster, Friends, Dead Like Me and even the first season of The OC, I’ve been a big advocate of television. Even though I get a bit nostalgic for some of these shows that only exist in the re-run world now, I’m OK because there is a decent crop of shows on the air now that rank right up there with some of the classics. So what are some of the best shows on TV right now you ask? Well I’ll tell you.
#1
Plain and simple this is the best series on television right now, and its first season (which aired from 2004-05) might be the best season of any show ever to air. That statement might seem a bit ridiculous to anyone who hasn’t caught the show, but I’m betting it isn’t to those who have. I challenge anyone out there who doesn’t watch this show to check out the first couple episodes of season 1 on DVD or at ABC.com and to not continue on from there completely hooked. Nowhere on television will you find more intense, enthralling and well choreographed storylines. It’s hard for someone who watches the show to try and explain the grip Lost has on its viewer, so the only advice I can give is to check it out if you haven’t already. You won’t be sorry you did.
#2
I was one of the people who thought this was an absurd premise when the show premiered last year. The book was good, the movie was so-so, but how were they going to make an entire series out of this? I felt this so strongly that I never even caught a single episode during its first year. It wasn’t until I had some time to kill and saw the DVD of the first season on the rack at Wal-Mart for only $19.99 that I finally took a look. Other then some questionable camera work Friday Night Lights is a great show from top to bottom.
The beauty of this drama is that you don’t have to be a sports guy or a football fan to enjoy it. The show focuses more on what goes on in the characters lives as they try to survive in the small, football-obsessed Texas town. Aside from taking a few plot lines from the book and movie, the show delves off on its own path and creates characters and issues viewers can relate too. Before you know it you find yourself cheering for the players and team and bam, you’re hooked. Friday Night Lights is the anti-Varsity Blues, dealing with real life issues and problems that athletes, coaches and parents deal with everyday in a sport-centered small town.
If you haven’t already, check it out. Hey, the DVD is only 20 bucks and you get 22 hour-long episodes of great television.
#3
I wouldn’t have recommended this one a week ago because I know almost no one has Showtime, and nobody really wants to shell out $50 for a 12 episode season, but I recently learned that CBS is going to run an edited first season of Dexter starting February 17th. Be sure to thank the striking writers and shortage of new programming for this little diamond-in-the-rough.
This show isn’t for the faint of heart but there are few shows out there with a more interesting main character than Michael C. Hall in Dexter. To make a long story short, Dexter is a blood splatter analysis for the Miami Police Department who has a dark secret. His adoptive father realized at a young age that Dexter had an odd tendency for violence and death and helped him to channel his burden and use it for “good.”
So as an adult Dexter comes to lead a double life. During the day he appears to those around him to be a normal, crime solving technician. But at night, Dexter stalks and methodically kills those he deems evil, like mobsters, assassins and serial killers who prey on the innocent. The irony is that he himself has become a serial killer, and thus the issues and problems arise. Hall is brilliant as the disturbed protagonist and the storylines keep the viewer tuning in each week wondering if his secret will be revealed. I’m not sure how the edited versions will play on CBS but it’s definitely worth checking out.
#4
I’m not sure how much longer this one is going to be on the air so if you haven’t already you should check it out quick. Much in the same way that Arrested Development met its demise so too will 30 Rock. The show, with quick wit and brilliant acting has yet to strike a cord with regular viewers who wouldn’t know good television if it Tivo’d itself for them. Tina Fey might be the funniest character on TV since Jason Bateman portrayed Michael Bluth. It doesn’t have the entwined storylines of Arrested Development but in an era where comedy is almost dead on network TV, 30 Rock is the cream of the crop.
#5
This one is no secret. The best part about Entourage is that the storyline possibilities for Vinny Chase and his tag-alongs seem endless. This is one of those rare shows that start out good and just get better. I’m not sure this show would work anywhere other than on HBO as the realistic dialog and unedited situations are what make the show so enthralling. Entourage allows the viewer to feel like they have a front row seat into what life is like in the far-off land of Hollywood, even if that is something they would never want to be apart of. This show is incredibly addicting and my only issue with it is that each episode is only 22 minutes long. Entourage is worth watching if only to catch Jeremy Piven as the hilarious and blood thirsty agent Ari Gold. Since each season is only about a dozen episodes long the DVD versions are very affordable for those looking to check this show out, and I recommend you do if you haven’t already.
Honorable Mention
Prison Break- This shows first season is one of the best premiere seasons of this decade. Even though the storylines have sagged since, I can almost guarantee you won’t start the first season without finishing it. Another dark, yet brilliant main character in Wentworth Miller, who plays a man intentionally incarcerated in order to help his falsely convicted brother break out of prison and avoid execution.
Heroes- Once again, another great opening season. The jury is still out on this show, as it has now entered its second year, but the characters and their interrelated stories are interesting and well executed. Hayden Penettiere plays a cheerleader that is invincible. How cool is that? Save the cheerleader, save the world.
The Office- No list would be complete without this show. I would have put it up higher but I assume all of you are already watching it. Along with 30 Rock, one of the only decent comedies that currently airs. The Office is one of the few shows that I am really starting to miss during the writers strike and its right up there with Friday Night Lights in the category of creating characters that you as the viewer, really care about. I am, however, still sore at the writers for making us wait three years to finally see Jim and Pam get together.
And what list would be complete without Mike's favorite reality TV show....
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Is it March Yet?
By TwinsWin83
These really are the dog days of winter. The holidays are over, most people have gone back to their regularly scheduled lives and there is no relief from the bitterly cold weather in sight. As bad as that might seem, work and bad weather have nothing on the sports teams in the Twins Cities right now.
The Vikings season ended just like any reasonable Purple fan knew it would. The Wolves are even worse than my 15 win prediction. The Gopher hockey team just lost to RIT. That's the Rochester Institute of Technology for those of you keeping score at home. Tubby looked like he might have the basketball team back on track before they went to Vegas and got it handed to them by UNLV. And the Wild, not to be outdone, are bouncing around in the middle of a mediocre division. The Gopher football team has been done for a while so we won’t mention them on this uplifting list of Minnesota winter sports teams.
Things have never looked bleaker, and I’m not just talking about the weather out your front window. These are trying times for Minnesota sports fans, so is there a light at the end of the tunnel or are we 
condemned to forever wander the upper Midwest bundled in parkas, mumbling gibberish about a missed field goal by Gary Anderson and a failed diving catch by Torii?
How did things go so wrong so quickly? This century started promisingly for the sports teams in the Twin Cities. All four of the major squads made an appearance in their leagues championship game. The Vikings made it to the NFC title game in 2000. A young Twins squad advanced to the ALCS in 2002 before falling to a red-hot Angels team. The Wild made an improbable run to the Western Conference Finals in 2003 and the Wolves did the same in 04’, coming up two wins short of a trip to the NBA Finals. Oh yeah, and the Gophers hockey team won National titles in 02’ and 03.’
So what happened? Is it all doom and gloom now? It doesn’t have to be you see, because there is always next year or next season. I know I’m swiping a line from Cubs fans everywhere but it really is true. Common sense might tell us that none of our sports teams are going to miraculously snap out of it and jump back into serious contention anytime soon, but that’s why they play the games.
There are plenty of questions for the Twins as Spring Training nears, not the least of which is Johan Santana’s future, but that doesn’t mean they can’t compete this year. There have been plenty of questions surrounding the Twins since 2001, but they’ve found a way to be competitive each year. So who is to say that 08’ is going to be a lost cause?
This winter sports season has not been a memorable one in Minnesota, but spring is just around 
the corner and with it comes hope for another team and another season. It might end up being a rough year for the Twins and they might follow in the footsteps of the other area teams, but they might not. There is enough talent on the team right now to win some games and if you mix in a couple career years from some key players and a great trade by the front office here or there and the Twins could restore our faith in competitive sports again.
And if not, we could just bitch and moan about everything like Boston sports fans.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Case of the Mundays
By TwinsWin83
-I really like KFAN. From PA and Dubay to the Common Man and even Mike Morris it’s nice to be able to listen to Minnesota sports radio all the way up here in North Dakota. But over the last week the talk on all of these shows has been a bit too upbeat on the Minnesota Vikings for my liking. Between the radio hosts on KFAN and the rest of the media across the country (*cough* ESPN *cough*) the Vikings already have their ticket to the postseason stamped and ready to go. If any of them used even the slightest bit of hindsight to recall the history of this franchise they would tip-toe a bit more carefully around their guarantees of Viking glory in 07.’
Now this isn’t to say I don’t hope the Vikings make it to the postseason this year, I’ve just 
learned over my years of cheering for the Purple that you can’t guarantee anything with them until the final whistle blows. There was a time in my life when I would get all worked up and excited over the Vikings when they showed promise like this but what hope and faith the 98’ team didn’t strip from me the 2000 squad finished off in the Meadowlands that January.
So, as I will be cheering for the Vikes to continue their impressive play over the final three games of the season and to carry that over into a postseason birth I will not be making any plans to watch them in January until a playoff spot is mathematically guaranteed. (Does no one remember the Vikings in Arizona on the final day of the 2003 season?)
-Miami finally got a win yesterday. Good for them, but to be honest I was kind of rooting for
them to go winless this year. I’m not even really sure why, but did you see them after they won? It was like they had just won the Super Bowl.
-From the Department of Redundancy Department: Johan is still a Twin and it seems like there isn’t a realistic trade option in site. I logged on to my favorite sporting webpage the other day and saw a headline that the Yankees and Twins were involved in talks again and I got excited. I still think the trade for Hughes, Cabrera and one more top-tier prospect is the best option for the Twinkies. I just wish they would pull the trigger on one of these things so we could all move on with our lives and begin debating how the team is going to be in 08.’
-The D-Backs are going to be good next year. They swiped Haren from the A’s and if Randy Johnson comes back healthy and can contribute to a starting staff that already includes Brandon Webb Arizona should make another run at the World Series.
-As much as I dislike Roger Clemens at the moment I think I believe Andy Pettitte’s story that he only took HGH for two days in 2002. And for some reason I don’t judge players who get caught using HGH as harshly as I do the ones that get busted for steroids. Maybe I just don’t know enough about HGH.
-Did anyone see I Am Legend this weekend? I didn’t get a chance too but it looks pretty good 
and it made a ton of money. I think for his next movie Smith should do Independance Day II: The Aftermath. I just feel like there is more to that story.
-I heard a rumor the Vikings are going to be wearing all purple tonight. Purple jerseys, purple pants. That’s a lot of purple.
-I’m not sure that Mike Lamb and Adam Everett are the answers to our prayers for the left side of the Twins infield. They might provide solid defense but neither is much of an improvement on the offensive end from what we’ve had going on over there the last few years. Who knows, maybe they will both prove me wrong.
-Apparently steriods can't help you make the throw from second base to first. Sorry Chuck. Or stay healthy enough to help your team and warrent your big salary. Sorry Rondell.
-That’s all for now, I need to get ready for the big Monday Night game now. Those Vikings are unbeatable. All roads lead to the Super Bowl.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Tuesdays with Kory
By TwinsWin83
-I think I hate it when the Gophers lose to Wisconsin in football more than any other team. Even NDSU. I still can’t decide if I liked the all maroon jersey though. They were definitely better than the all gold that they wore a couple months ago against Ohio State. The sad thing about this entire horrible season is that Brewster can’t even be fired bec
ause it was just his first year so they will just chalk it all up to Mason’s crappy recruiting, not his. Either way, I’m having a hard time remembering a worse season for a major Minnesota sports team then the 1-11 campaign the Gophs just pulled off.
-Johan and Torii both won Gold Gloves. That’s pretty cool but are they just going to be lovely parting gifts as both exit stage left this winter? To be honest, I’d much rather see Johan go in a trade this offseason so that the Twins can get a boatload of young talent. There is no way the Twins will be able to afford him as a free agent next year. Use that money that to resign Hunter and grab a decent third basemen.
-Does anyone even care about Michael Vick anymore?
-Call me crazy but I think if Monroe can cut down on his strikeouts he could actually be a decent 
addition to Twins. I mean he can’t be worse than Rondell was last year. Can he?
-The answers to the last two Obscure Twins of the Day are Keith Atherton and Willie Banks.
-I love my Wii. And I'm not the only one.
-I saw Transformers the other day for the first time and I was actually impressed. I only got it on Netflix because there wasn’t anything else out at the time and it sat around my house for like a week because I really wasn’t that pumped to watch it. It kind of looked like a nerdy movie but it turns out it was pretty badass. I never really watched the cartoon as a kid but I dig Optimus Prime. I think Shia LaBeouf is one of 
my favorite actors now. The Greatest Game Ever Played was awesome too.
-They are discussing giving A-Rod a percentage of the financial surplus MLB will see as a result of his pursuit of Barry Bonds all-time home run record. I don’t know about you but that sounds not only ridiculous to me but also incredibly premature.
-Right now the NFL season seems like it’s pointless. All the rest of the teams are just going to beat each other up to see who gets the chance to get beat up by the Patriots in the playoffs. Unless they rest a bunch of their players in the final couple games of the regular season they are not going to lose a game. Period.
-Mike Tyson is going back to prison. Albeit only for 24 hours. I miss the days when he was actualy fighting in the ring and just dominating people. He might be crazy but he was unreal for about a 5 year period there. I suppose any of us would be a bit nuts though too if we had taken that many blows to the head.
-I won’t watch Frank TV simply because of the barrage of terrible commercials they played for that thing during the first round of the playoffs and the NLCS.
-Stephon Marbury is the biggest tool in the entire shed. Is it a coincidence that every team he plays for gets worse when he shows up, doesn’t win while he is there and gets better when he leaves?
-Seriously who do you cheer for in a matchup between Eden Prairie and Cretin Durham Hall? That’s like asking who do you like more, Bud Selig or Norm Green. The only way I could like this game less is if you threw Holy Angels in there somewhere. Although I do remember going to watch the state title game when I was junior in high school with this same matchup and I got to see Joe Mauer end his career by throwing an interception in the end zone to lose the game. That’s a good memory.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Halloween Is Expensive
By TwinsWin83
There hasn’t been anything posted on here in a few days so I thought I would just throw something up. There was a Halloween party up here on Saturday where if you had a costume on you got in for free. If you didn’t it was 6 bucks a person. 6 bucks! I’m strapped for cash as it is so I went with the lesser of two evils and forked out the entry fee because I figured it would cost well over 6 dollars to put together a decent outfit. I immediately regretted this decision because everyone else there had a costume on and I felt like the boring dude who thinks he’s too cool to dress up. But that wasn’t the case, I just couldn’t afford it and that got me to thinking: what can I throw together for cheap next time so I won’t have to feel like a big party bummer?
All black clothes and a scream mask? Nope. I think I did that once in high school at the last moment and it wasn’t very cool.
Ripped attire, a Jason mask and some fake blood all over? Naw, way too unoriginal. Plus, when I see those masks I tend to think of old goalies.
Bed sheet toga? Too frat party-ish.
I guess it would be sweet though if the song "Shout!" came on at the party you were at.
Big black wig, white face paint and a black star around my eye to look like Paul Stanley from KISS? Yeah that’d be cool but where am I going to find a sweet wig at the last moment? Plus that would probably cost like 10 bucks for the wig and another 3 for the face paint. That's just too spendy. 
Wear normal clothes and carry a homemade sign that declares: “nudist on strike!” I’m not that funny. Or clever.
Then I thought about what I already had on hand, an outfit that wouldn’t cost me a cent. As unoriginal as it may seem I have all the necessary equipment to dress up as my favorite thing: a Minnesota Twin. Ah yes, an oldie but a goody. I have the jersey, the hat, the pants, socks and even cleats that don’t have metal spikes so I don’t tear up the dance floor (at least literally). Sure it might seem a little 4th grade but that’s ok, I like to show support for my favorite team even during this difficult time. And best of all, it won’t cost me a cent and I would have saved 6 dollars getting into the stupid party in the first place.
If you guys have any ideas for cheap costumes I’m more than willing to listen because I’m sure I’ll have to dress up at some point this week for some ridiculous reason or another.
