The Twins, who last season had an overabundance of outfielders, have dealt their off-the-wall center fielder Carlos Gomez, for the solid short stop J.J. Hardy. Hardy had a disappointing 2009 season after hitting 26 home runs in 2007, and 24 in 2008. He lost playing time in mid-season to Alcides Escobar who is an emerging Brewer infielder and who was beginning to shine. J.J. was eventually sent down to triple-A until September when he was called back to the majors. The 27 year Hardy is very strong defensively — and with the Twins coaching and supportiveness — he has every potential to regain his swing and to once again be a threat at the plate.
The Twins gave up Carlos Gomez, who also had a disappointing season as he continued to surprise everyone, including his manager, with his spontaneous bizarre behavior on the playing field. He has the speed of a gazelle, and can cover an enormous amount of real estate in the outfield. But once he catches up with the ball, no one is quite sure what he’ll do with it. He has also made some amateurish decisions on the base paths, too. They would often be counterproductive to his great speed which may have advanced him to second or third, when others would have not made it that far. Suddenly he’d be called out for a mistake such as: overrunning the base then sleeping there.
Carlos is extremely talented though — and at 22 years old — he’s just a kid with plenty of time to learn. His enthusiasm for the game and bizarre behavior will be missed. But on the bright side: he did get to live out his dream for a couple of years. Carlos told me that as a teenager in the Dominican Republic, he would watch TV as his idle, Torii Hunter, played centerfield in the Dome. He would tell his friends: “Someday I will play there!” And he did.
Our everyday outfield in 2010 will be: Delmon Young in left, Denard Span in center, and Michael Cuddyer in right. Jason Kubel will DH and also back up the outfield.
Delmon Young really came alive near the end of the 2009 season. He began hitting well; especially in the clutch. He also turned up his defensive skills a notch or two. I had a long talk with Delmon near the end of the season. It helped me to understand him more and appreciate him as a player, and as a person. He had a lot going on in the last couple of years, and besides - at the age of 24 — he’s still a kid who is learning. One thing for sure though: Delmon Young is beginning to have fun.
With the acquisition of J.J. Hardy, I’m curious if the Twins will still pursue Orlando Cabrero who is a free agent. Orlando’s personality mixed well with the Twins in the clubhouse. His competitiveness and playoff experience clearly helped this young Twins club during their championship drive. He would be a great back up at short, or… I wonder if J.J. Hardy can play third.
New Twins Commercial
Sunday, November 8, the Twins will begin airing some new TV commercials featuring Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, Denard Span, and Michael Cuddyer moving in to Target Field. There will be another cameo from Tom Kelly [he made a cameo in a TV ad last season], and an unfortunate White Sox fan. The clever commercials produced by the Twins the last several years, have been recognized by the industry nationally, and given many of their top awards, including an Emmy.
We won’t know until November 23 if Joe Mauer was this year’s American League MVP — but I would put my money on him. He has already won three other awards, and the award season has only just begun.
In October, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum named Mauer the Oscar Charleston Legacy Award winner as the American League’s Most Valuable Player.
Last week, he was named the Outstanding Player in the American League. In a way, the Outstanding Player Award is even more of an honor than the writers’ MVP, because it was voted on by his peers. That means that every player from every American League team voted, and Joe beat out guys with national appeal and “big name” status such as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
And then the local writers followed suit naming Joe the Twins’ MVP. Joe will be honored for the latter award at the Diamond Awards, which will be held January 28 at the Hilton Minneapolis. Also receiving awards that night will be Michael Cuddyer, Joe Nathan, Denard Span, and Jose Mijares. The award dinner is open to the public, and tickets can be ordered by calling 612-624-4444, or by going to www.minnesotadiamondawards.org . Proceeds support the University of Minnesota’s innovative research and patient care in ataxia (which killed the late Twin great Bob Allison), muscular dystrophy, mulitiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Jake Mauer gets Promotion
Joe Mauer’s older brother, Jake, did quite well in 2009, too. Jake led the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins to a first-place finish and was named the circuit’s Manager of the Year.
Then last week came the big news: Jake was being promoted to manager of the Fort Myer Miracle. Jake was quoted on the MLB Web site as saying: ”I enjoyed working with the young kids in the GCL, but when I heard there was an opportunity [in Fort Myers], I was definitely interested. Throughout the whole system, the emphasis is on development first and winning second. The two things go hand-in-hand. So while I’m moving up to a faster game, the philosophy remains the same — to teach young men to be the best players they can be as they move through the levels, hopefully all the way to Minnesota.”
Jake will turn 31 in December. He replaces Jeff Smith, who received a promotion to Double-A New Britain, Connecticut. Jeff and Jake happen to be the only two managers in Miracle history who had previously played for the team.
Mauer appeared in 128 games for the Miracle in 2003 and 2005 after being picked in the 23rd round of the 2001 Draft. Jake retired in 2005 after suffering an elbow injury. He has told me that he always knew he wanted to be a coach someday; he just never thought it would happen so soon.
Maybe someday soon he’ll coach his “little” brother Joe in Minnesota.
Jake the Skipper
Baseball Moving Sale
The Twins have announced that they will host a moving sale on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the concourse of the Metrodome. They will provide free parking in the Metrodome lot. Shoppers should enter the lot from the intersection of Fifth Street and Eleventh Avenue and then walk around to Gate F.
Items in the sale will include bobbleheads, jerseys, signage, memorabilia, and much more. The Twins are preparing to make their move to Target Field, and they plan to liquidate nearly everything that they have in inventory or in storage.
“After 28 years of playing baseball in the Metrodome, we’ve accumulated a vast array of items,” said Patrick Klinger, Twins vice president of marketing. “We hope fans will come down and enjoy the opportunity to go home with some unique memorabilia we’ll have available.”
I recently told you about Twins historian Clyde Doepner and his memorabilia. Kevin Smith, the Twins’ executive director of public affairs, told me that the team has retained Doepner as their official curator and historian, and that his collection of Twins memorabilia will be on display at various locations around Target Field including Hrbek’s Bar and Grill. During the Twins last days at the Dome, Doepner was busy tagging and documenting many of the items used in the final games. Clyde will soon move everything, including many items from of his own collection which is now at his house, to Target Field.
Speaking of the new ballpark; beginning next season, the Twins will offer daily public tours of Target Field. The Twins, like most teams with great ballparks, will charge a small fee for the tours. It’s a great way for the fans to see some cool behind the scene stuff. Many ballpark tours take you through the locker room and down on to the playing field. Details of the Target Field tours are yet to be determined. Stay tuned!
Now that the 2009 season is behind us, Twins general manager Bill Smith has his work cut out for him. Fans were critical of Smith earlier this year, saying he showed a lack of effort to improve this team. But suddenly, near the end of the road, he made some smart moves that helped the Twins advance into postseason play. He signed Orlando Cabrera, Jon Rauch, Carl Pavano, and Ron Mahay — all four of whom played major roles in the team’s fantastic finish (when they won 17 of the last 21 regular-season games). Of the four late signees, Rauch is the only one signed through 2010.
Orlando Cabrera brought postseason experience to the clubhouse, along with positive energy, and he was a mentor to the young Latin American players: Carlos Gomez and Alexi Casilla. He has said that he enjoys playing in Minnesota, and I spoke with his wife, Katie, who had nothing but nice things to say about life in Minnesota. He made a few errors, but his many great defensive plays, hits in the clutch, and his personal attributes outweigh the mistakes. Sign him!
Carl Pavano brought leadership and experience to a nervous young pitching staff. Joe Mauer appreciated that more than anyone else. That is big! Bill Smith will want to keep Joe happy. Joe’s contract expires after 2010, and the Twins want to lock him up with a long-term deal right now. It could be a huge distraction next year if they don’t. The Twins, or whichever team Joe chooses, will pony up big bucks to sign him. But it’s not about the money, because Joe will get it, no matter what. Joe’s main objective is to win a World Series. I can only imagine how frustrated Joe was during the games when we threw away the lead. He was behind the plate for some innings that seemed to last an eternity, blocking bad pitch after bad pitch, with his bruised and battered body. Many people think the Twins have a “home-field advantage” in seeking to retain Joe because Joe’s family is here and frequently watch him play. But the truth of the matter is: Mom and Dad have fallen in love with “up north” and have been going to fewer and fewer games. In fact, when they do watch him play, they enjoy taking little road trips and seeing him at other ballparks. In 2009, they probably saw Joe play in more games away than at home - and with less hassle; at other parks, they can be a little more incognito. No matter where Joe plays, his family will see him when they want to. So my advice to the Twins, if they want to keep Joe: keep proving that you want to contend!
Mike Redmond and Joe Crede are free agents this season. Crede played a solid third base when he was healthy. But we never knew when he’d be healthy. He was on the disabled list at the end of the season because he had back surgery for the third time — not good. He always had a worried look on his face, as if something were about to go wrong. I remember talking with him on the field in Chicago back in June. He had just finished taken infield practice and was already on the lineup card. He nonchalantly excused himself and walked toward manager Ron Gardenhire, who was standing on the field with the Twins’ trainer. As Crede approached them, Gardy looked astonished, and then quickly went into the dugout. Minutes later, I heard the announcement that Crede had been scratched because of back spasms. We need to find a solid, everyday guy at third. We have young guys who are talented, but not ready to be our everyday guy. We may need to deal.
Mike “Red Dog” Redmond has been a great mentor to the many youngsters who have come through this organization. He can tell them about a certain pitcher - but, more importantly, he tells them about life. They can go to him with problems or concerns of any kind: baseball, family, business, or whatever they want to talk about. He is a wise man who helps them to find the answers themselves. Although his mind is fresh, his body is getting old. Baserunners have been stealing on him too regularly. He told me he is not ready to retire. I asked him if he’d coach when his playing career is over. He said maybe; he’d either coach or just spend time with his family. I suggest making him a player-coach, just to keep him around. He can also be tough in a pinch-hit situation.
We will go to Target Field next year with Kevin Slowey and Justin Morneau back in good health. (Knock on wood.) Just think of what might have been, had they been healthy for this postseason. Also scheduled to return next year are Jeff Perkins, Boof Bonsor, and Pat Neshek. Will Neshek be the reliever he once was? Will Boof ever become the over powering pitcher he should be? Will Perkins gel if he has a mentor with the experience of a Carl Pavano, or will the Twins trade him? It would be great to have postseason play in our inaugural season at Target Field in 2010 — and now is the time to make the moves necessary to make that happen.
It Was a Quick Postseason as the Twins Provided a Little Magic and a Lot of Frustration — Just As They Did All Year
The Twins’ marketing department might want to edit the Memorable-Metrodome-Moments video that recently premiered at the Dome. They need to add highlights from last Tuesday’s 12-inning thriller, when they beat the Tigers, 6-5, to win the central division crown. The game was the talk around water coolers statewide for days. I know people who went to the game who are still hoarse.
One star of that game – and a guy who consistently stood out near the end — is Nick Punto. He had one quality at-bat after another – spoiling good pitch after good pitch, which lead to a bunch of walks and clutch hits. And in the field he played a very solid, sometimes spectacular second base. He even dazzled the national announcers with his athleticism. Punto’s surge of great play came as no surprise to manager Ron Gardenhire or Nick’s teammates who know him well. He is a gritty player who will literally dive in head-first and give you all that he’s got. It was probably more of a surprise to see him struggle on occasion over the past few years. It was also a surprise to see him miss third base coach Scotty Ullger’s stop sign Sunday night, and then get caught trying to return to third. Nick blew it, but I put part of the blame on Ullger for being too far down the line and too low to the ground. He was very difficult for an over enthused Punto to see.
Nick, who is from Southern California, learned the game of baseball from his dad, who was a player himself. It was his dad who taught him to be a switch-hitter; giving him an advantage he that he’d never get from his size. At one point when Nick was young, he was so frustrated about his lack of height that he was about to give up on the game of baseball. His dad took him to a Yankee-Angel game. His father pointed to the Yankees’ great first baseman, Don Mattingly, and noted that Mattingly was not a big man. Standing with his teammate Dave Winfield, I’m sure Donnie did look small. His father went on to tell Nick that he, too, could do anything he set his mind to. Nick listened to his dad. He plays the game with all his heart – and will sit and talk about a game for hours after it’s over. Nick grew to be just under 5-foot-10 – plenty big enough to have a fine big-league career. [I’m not sure if Nick knows -- and I didn’t have the heart to tell him -- Don Mattingly is a hair over six-foot tall.]
Speaking of the Yankees, while playing in New York, the Twins just plain shot themselves in the foot. We can blame the second loss on a horrible call by an umpire, robbing Mauer of a ground-rule double. But Joe fought back and singled a couple pitches later. It was basically lame mistakes that helped the Twins to give away the farm. Gomez getting caught off of second hurt us badly. Squandering a bases-loaded, no-outs setup in the 11th inning killed us. I thought that Gardy was going to need an ambulance several times.
The Twins’ pitching was a mixed bag, too. Nick Blackburn and Carl Pavano pitched brilliantly. Jose Mijares has talent, but he’s green; I don’t think he was ready for play at this level. And what can you say about Joe Nathan? Last year I wrote a story about him, stating that when he was put into the game, you could count on a win. This season when he came into a game, you could hear fans at the Dome murmuring: “I wonder if he’ll make things interesting tonight.”Joe has said on occasion: “I’m human. I’m not a machine.”Joe is a great pitcher, and we wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs without him – but as he says, Joe is human, and he proved it too often this year. Everyone has a bad day now and then. The only trouble is: a bad day for Joe usually means that the Twins are going to lose.
The Twins were swept by the Yankees and are done for the year. And yes — they’d probably still be playing if it wasn’t for their own mistakes. But they gave us a season of fun, a magical extra game 163, and postseason to boot. We have a team to be proud of – and they’re only going to get better.
Dick and Bert announced the All-Time Metro Dome team in August
Since I started watching this Twins team develop at spring training this past March, I have said that they had the talent to reach postseason play. Later in the season, I almost gave up on them. I had them dangling by a thread in August. They would play fabulous baseball one day and have you pumped up and excited - and then, the next day, they would give a game away in a minor league funk. It was a season of fun, with a little frustration mixed in. Some Twins who were here in spring are now history — and some new additions already seem like family.
The Dome is an unusual structure with many flaws: small seats with no leg room, too many stairs, lack of women’s rest rooms, lack of handicap seating, a bad roof, and the list goes on. But it housed some great baseball players and some unbelievable games. It provided a venue for more baseball fun than anyone could ever have imagined. The Teflon temple of baseball was not ready to call it quits on Sunday. The Dome decided to go out in style. Every night during the last regular-season weekend was like a playoff game. The Dome helped the Twins find that winning magic, just like they did in 1987 and ‘91. And the greatest Twins of all time were on hand to join in the celebration. They were all honored in a postgame ceremony. Fans cried in their Homer Hankies as they paid tribute to Kirby Puckett. I am glad I decided to take in the last regular-season game as a fan rather than as a writer; it was quite moving. I saw see a great victory, a great ceremony, and I got to enjoy it with dear friends.
As I write this story, I do not know how the Twins will fare on Tuesday against the Tigers, but I do know this: It will be a day to remember, among so many memorable days the Twins have given us.
Coach Mauer Could Climb Ladder
After 50 years in professional baseball — 22 of them managing the Atlanta Braves — 68-year-old Bobby Cox has announced he will retire after next season. A few folks have their doubts. Braves star Chipper Jones said: “I’ll believe it when I see it happen.”
You may be thinking: “This is Twins Talk. What does Bobby Cox have to do with the Twins?” Well, some people in the game have said that if Cox retires, one of the candidates to replace him is Twins third base coach Scotty Ullger. After a successful minor-league playing career, and a very short major-league playing career, Ullger began a career in coaching. He has now coached for more than 25 years, which includes several years as a minor-league manager. I have heard many of his colleagues say that he is deserving of a managing opportunity in the majors.
If he were to leave, it would clear one more hurdle for Jake Mauer to move up the ladder. I have heard raves from top Twins officials about Jake’s talents as a manager. They say he has worked wonders in Fort Myers, where he manages the Twins’ Gulf Coast rookie team. And I have heard rumors that someday….when Gardy calls it quits, Jake Mauer — who has smarts and leadership — may replace him.
Most Twins fans know that Joe Mauer can play defense, call a game, and hit better than most major- leaguers… anywhere, in any era. From what I sense and what I’ve been told, Jake can lead and manage a team of ballplayers just as well as Joe can play. Jake would have to earn his way to the top; they would never give it undeservingly. But Jake has the full attention of those who would make such a call. And what could be a better incentive to keep Joe in a Twins uniform than the notion that someday his brother might be his manager. I know that Joe wants a commitment from the Twins that they intend to be a contender. Well, what could be a better gesture? I have asked both brothers at one time for their thoughts on this possible scenario. Although they both thought it would be pretty cool, neither wanted to dwell on it. In baseball it’s one game at a time.
The Twins toasted manager Ron Gardenhire on his 700th career victory the other night - an exciting win, with plenty of home runs, in the thick of a pennant race. What made the victory - and the Twins’ recent surge-more remarkable was that it’s all been done without two of the Twins’ stars in the lineup. Justin Morneau has a stress fracture in his back and is out for the season, and Denard Span who was taking few nights off after being hit in the head by a pitch - a scary moment that - as Denard fell to the ground, reminded me of Kirby Puckett’s career-ender.
Michael Cuddyer has taken ownership of first base while covering for Morneau. He’s been a natural on the field as he makes plays like a veteran first baseman, and at the plate he’s been sizzling hot.
Cuddyer played all over the field as a kid, then settled in as a shortstop when he turned pro. The Twins needed an outfielder, and Cuddyer happily moved to the spot where he was needed. In 2005 the Twins needed him at third base, and there he went — no questions asked. He told me he was happy at third, and that basically was - and remains — happy just to be in the lineup. Then in 2006, when the Twins once again needed an outfielder, it was back to the outfield. I don’t think Cuddyer ever felt 100 percent comfortable at third, but he plays where he’s needed.
And now he’s playing first, where he is digging balls out of the dirt as if he were Kent Hrbek, and hitting the ball like he’s Mickey Mantle. He is strong, fast, and a true team player — and a leader in the clubhouse.
Michael is a very nice guy who has dedicated his personal life to The Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities, and of course to his lovely wife Claudia, and 1-year-old son, Casey. He was the Twins’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award a couple of years ago - an award that honors a ballplayer for community service.
For relaxation, Michael enjoys performing magic tricks, and he’s interested in broadcasting. In fact, he does a weekly radio feature called “Inside the Helmet”, where he interviews his teammates. He does a good job of it, too. The show can be heard on Saturdays on the Twins Radio Network.
I’ll bet Gardy is just as proud to manage a guy like Michael Cuddyer as he was to get his 700th win. I’m sure he’d tell you that he’d never have gotten nearly so many wins without guys like Cuddy.
Mauermobiles!
Bill Mauer, brother of Twins catcher Joe, has purchased the property that was once Denny Hecker’s Southview Chevrolet. Bill was once a minor-league pitcher in the Twin’s organization, and actually had the thrill of being part of the battery with his brother during a spring training game. Bill once told me that it was the most memorable game not only of his career, but maybe of his life — pitching for his hometown Twins with his brother behind the plate flashing him signs. Unfortunately, his baseball career ended shortly after that game because of an arm injury. But maybe it wasn’t so unfortunate, because with his easygoing personality, he began to sell cars, and more cars, and pretty soon - 2007, to be exact — he was the top Chevy salesman in Minnesota. Soon he was sales manager, and now he owns the building. At this time, he has no brand for his lot, and no cars yet either. “We’re exploring several possibilities,” Bill told me during a recent conversation.
Yes, he’s good…and not just because of his name. Sure, his name may bring him a handfull of customers, but what everyone likes about him are his pleasant personality, his boyish grin atop a lanky 6-foot-6 frame, and his integrity. You’ve gotta feel comfortable with your car guy; no one would buy a car from a jerk, even if he were Babe Ruth’s brother.
Just as his brother Joe is a shining star on the ball field, I’m sure Bill will continue to shine in the car business. They are a couple winners, on the field and off.
Since spring training, I have believed that this Twins team has championship potential. But too many players have failed, too often. Too many have not played their best. That is why after a recent and much-needed victory which ended up kicking off a hot streak, Manager Ron Gardenhire was telling reporters that the Twins won’t live up to their potential unless everyone does his job. “We’ve got some guys stepping up, though,” Gardy said. “Morales continues to have great at-bats. I’ll just try to get him in there a little more. It’s fun to watch. Matty Tolbert’s getting out there and battling, covering some ground at third base. Cabrera has been putting some good swings on the ball. Nicky Punto is playing a lot better. That’s what has to happen. Guys have to step up. We know Span’s been there, and Cuddy and Mauer - those guys have been there. Oh, and Kubel. But the rest of these guys are going to have to step up and do some things here, and that’s what’s been happening lately.”
And to Think, I Didn’t Even Know That We Have a Minor League Pitching Coordinator
Some of the progress the Twins’ bullpen has experienced in the last few weeks may have had something to do with the minor league pitching coordinator, Eric Rasmussen. Eric was a major league pitcher from 1975-1981 for three different teams: the Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Diego Padres. After his playing career ended, he accepted a position as a minor league pitching coach with the Cardinals’ organization. He has worked for the Twins in the minors since 1991, in various positions until he was promoted to his current job last year.
When the minor league season ended, Eric traveled with the Twins for two weeks and observed the pitching staff, many of whom he had coached at one time or another in the minors. During the regular minor league season, Eric spends his time traveling among the Twins’ minor league affiliates, observing the pitching staff, and reporting what he sees. I asked him who he reports to. “Anyone who calls,” he said with a grin. “Usually Jim Rantz, but also Bill Smith, Dave St. Peter, Gardy, and Rick Anderson. And Andy [Rick Anderson] has been an extremely effective pitching coach. But right now I am just observing, working with some of the guys, and beginning to discuss strategy for next year.”
The Mauers Last Family Visit to the Dome
It was great to see Joe Mauer’s parents resurface at the Dome last week as they unveiled the number 7 for the count-down of games remaining at the indoor facility. Jake and Teresa Mauer were regular fixtures at the Dome during the early part of Joe’s career. They gradually began staying up north for longer stretches of time, and now they have to be coaxed into the city. Jake complained in a good- natured fashion: “I had to sit in traffic on I-94 tonight. I’m not use to that anymore. I’m usually outdoors all day, and at night I watch the Twins on TV.”
I mentioned what a great honor it must have been to be asked to unveil the number 7. “Nah!” Jake scoffed. “I’d be up north watching the game, sitting comfortably on my couch if my wife hadn’t gotten me into this,” he said with a mischievous grin on his face. Then he continued, in a more serious tone: “Yes, this is very nice.”
What made the evening even more special to Jake was the fact that he got to enjoy it with his family: Son Jake, who would be leaving the next day to manage the Twins’ instructional team; son Bill, who was once a Twins minor leaguer, and his wife, Stephanie, who is a former Gopher softball star; granddaughter Leah; and let’s not forget number 7 himself, Jake’s son Joe, the Twin’s catcher.
Before Jake left, I told him how I missed seeing him around town when his wife Teresa interjected: “Starting next week bow-hunting season starts, and even I won’t see him anymore.”
Besides offering the fun and tradition of outdoor baseball, Target Field will house a bar-and-grill named Hrbek’s. Hrbek’s will pay tribute not just to Kent Hrbek, the former slugger of the Twins, but to all former and current Twins. Kent’s face and number 14 will be prevalent in Hrbek’s, but there will be memorabilia and photos from all of your favorite Twins — from Harmon Killebrew to Joe Mauer.
The restaurant will offer full bar service and what Kent describes as “basket food.” Kent and his wife, Jeanie, said they’ve been having a good time consulting on the restaurant’s design and menu. Kent laughed and said: “Yes, I’ve made about a dozen food suggestions, just for the enjoyment of sampling them.”
Hrbek’s will be open only on game days, and for a few select charitable events. The space will be partially enclosed and have a great outdoor patio.
But will you really find Kent Hrbek hanging out there? “For sure!” he says. “I’m going to take in quite a few games next year. I’ll stop in before or after the game and have a bite to eat and hang around.”
Former Oriole great Boog Powell has a BBQ restaurant at Camden Yards in Baltimore where he can be seen nearly every game. When that was brought to his attention, Hrbek quipped: ”Well, I can’t make every game — Boog Powell doesn’t have 10,000 lakes to fish.”
The Green, Green Grass at Home!
The Twins have decided to use all Toro equipment to manicure the turf of Target Field. Toro, of course, is a Minnesota company, and the Twins are using as many local services and products as possible. A few folks grumbled about the fact that Target Field’s turf was grown in Colorado - but in defense of the Twins, no Minnesota sod farm could meet some of Major League Baseball’s specifications for turf. The Twins would have happily grown it here, had that been possible; shipping it from Colorado could not have been cheap.
A.J. Reflects
A.J. Pierzynski has made his final visit to the Dome. Fans have never loved to hate a former Twin like they’ve loved to hate Pierzynski; not since Chuck Knoblauch joined the Yankees. But socially, and away from the field, A.J. can be a true gentleman. Even at the park before a game, I have found him to be most pleasant. He is such an intense competitor that once the umpire shouts: “Play ball!” , he is so focused that he doesn’t realize, or for that matter sometimes doesn’t care what he says or to whom he says it.
With all of the boos he has heard at the Dome after joining the White Sox, and because of the White Sox’ occasional Dome jinx, I asked A.J. if he was glad he was finished here, or if he had fond Dome memories. “Of course I have fond memories,” he said almost sadly. “I played here as a Twin. I had friends, family, and great teammates here. We had many great games and great times together. Yeah, I’ve got fond memories. But when it was nice outside, I didn’t like coming indoors to play ball.” Then with a smile he said: “Next year should be great! Outdoor baseball in Minnesota!”
Attaboy Jake Mauer, Attaboy Jake Mauer, Attaboy Jake! From left to right: Joe, Grandpa Jake, Billy, Dad Jake, and Jake III
Jake Mauer, manager of the Twins in the Gulf Coast Rookie League, took his team to the playoffs for the second year in a row. They played their hearts out but lost a heartbreaker to the Nationals in 12 innings by the score of 1-0. After a short trip home to visit his wife and baby, Jake will be back to Florida because he has been appointed as manager of the Twins in the fall instructional league.
Joe Mauer’s father, Jake Mauer, coached his amateur baseball team all the way to the State Championship where they took second place. The team includes former pro, and brother of Seattle Mariner Jack Hannahan;Buzz Hannahan, Joe’s brother; Billy, Joe’s roommate and former Gopher; Tony Leisman; and son of former Twins manager, T.K. Jr.
Meantime, Grandpa Jake Mauer has retired as prognosticator and author of the Green Sheet at Canterbury Downs.
The Twins, the most entertaining team in baseball, have teetered at around .500 all season. We all wish they would win a few more games, and so do they. They very methodically take the season one game at a time - but when they win, they savor it. Watch them celebrating on the field next time, showing true support for their teammates as they jump and dance around, chest-bumping and high-fiving one another. It is a genuine and natural high that they are experiencing. They are having fun!
The same thing happens off the field. When one player has a charity event, they ALL have a charity event. They show true support for the cause. Everyone who doesn’t have another commitment is generally at the event; having fun! And that’s exactly what happened at Michael and Claudia Cuddyer’s Celebrity Waiter event. Over half of the team showed up last week to the Hotel Minneapolis and helped raise a ton of money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. Even gossip columnist C.J. of the Star Tribune couldn’t ruin the evening as she showed up stalking players with her camera, and asking: “Where’s Joe Mauer?” I generated a little fun, myself, when I began taking pictures of C.J. I was there covering the event, but was also a volunteer photographer for Michael Cuddyer and his charity. As I snapped away, C.J. covered her face and shrieked. Later, a member of a public relations firm approached me and said that I would not be allowed to publish her photo. It only added more laughter to a great evening of fun.
The bartender for the event was none other than slugger Justin Morneau — and “bartender” wasn’t just an honorary title; he was the bartender, mixing drinks for Twins fans as he cracked jokes and made small talk, just like they do at the corner pub. Later in the evening, Jon Rauch, who had just been acquired from Arizona, showed up and hopped behind the bar to join Morneau. “I want to show you how to make some Arizona drinks!” the 6-foot-11 pitcher said with a smile. His first example was a green concoction he called “Arizona anti-freeze”, which many fans tasted. It seemed that “Yum” was a common response.
When dinner was served, the players were the actual waiters — delivering salads, entrées, and desserts to hungry fans. It was inspiring to watch the players work so hard during their rare personal time and actually put their hearts into it. I think the players enjoyed serving the meals as much as the fans enjoyed being served by their favorite Twins.
Jeff Manship served beer and soda out of a tub of ice while pitchers Brian Duensing and Kevin Slowey mixed Cosmopolitans through an ice sculpture designed to chill the drink. The liquid flowed through the baseball-decorated ice block and poured out near the bottom into a glass.
Joe Nathan, Scott Baker, Brendan Harris, Bobby Keppel, Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, Mike Redmond, and Orlando Cabrera were some of the waiters. Orlando had several children at one of his tables. You could tell he enjoyed hanging out and talking with them in between serving the different courses. His wife, Katie, smiled as she watched him laughing with the children. She turned toward me and said: “This is so wonderful!” As she turned, she recognized and remembered me from Justin Morneau’s recent charity event. “You know, Orlando has been on other teams where there has been nothing like this all year long. No fundraisers. Now we are in Minnesota, we have been to three events in just the last month! It is wonderful that the families and wives can get involved.” Yes, the wives were there in force. And they were not only looking lovely, but were working hard and showing their support behind-the-scenes.
During the auction, Justin Morneau made the winning bid to purchase the AC/DC autographed guitar that he missed out on and lost to Cuddyer at his own event several weeks earlier.
When the evening was over and done, every player wore an ear-to-ear grin as they slapped each other on the back and high-fived their teammates — showing mutual support, just like at the ballpark. The Twins kept their perfect record in the giving department, as the night brought a huge victory for all.
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photos and stories by gordy jones
WCCO Saturday Afternoon
