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Michael Rand started RandBall with hopes that he could keep lies from conquering the minds of the weak. So far, he's only succeeded in using the word "redacted" a lot. He welcomes suggestions, news tips, links of pure genius, and pictures of pets in Halloween costumes here, though he already knows he will regret that last part.
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Stu's Hunt Down: Ex-Twins pitcher Ramon Ortiz
Posted by: Michael Rand under Professional baseball, Twins fans Updated: May 25, 2012 - 2:31 PM
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THE HUNT DOWN
Name: Ramon Ortiz:
Claim to Fame, Minnesota: one of the precursors to Jason Marquis, Ortiz was the 2007 Minnesota Twins Crafty Veteran Starter model. Like Marquis, Ortiz fell out of the rotation around Memorial Day; unlike Marquis, Ortiz actually stuck around awhile, performing mop-up duty through August before being moved to the Rockies for Matt Macri.
Claim to Fame, Everywhere Else: best known for his time with the Anaheim Angels of Anaheim California (Los Angeles Campus [Anaheim]), where he started from 1999 through 2004. Defeated the Twins in Game 2 of the 2002 ALCS. Since 2004, has played for everyone.
Where He Is Now: was invited to spring training by the San Francisco Giants this year but didn’t make the cut. Is still hanging on in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a Yankees affiliate and a previously discussed hotbed of former Twins. His pitching coach is fellow former Twins reclamation project Scott Aldred, and the team’s hitting coach is late-‘70s Twins catching wunderkind Butch Wynegar. (Also: Jack Cust and Russell Branyan!)
Is He on Twitter: no.
Has He Been in a Twitter Fight with Patrick Reusse: well, no.
Glorious Randomness: we haven’t done an obscure mascot segment here in a while, so please allow me to introduce you to Buffalo Bull and Buffalo Bell, the cute/terrifying mascots for the Orix Buffaloes, who employed Ortiz in 2008. They are not to be confused with Buffalo Bill, who only asks that you mind the fact that there is lotion, and it is basket-ready. Is that so hard to grasp, lady in the basement pit?
Mid-day talker: "While the Men Watch" -- bad idea or worst idea?
Posted by: Michael Rand under NHL news Updated: May 25, 2012 - 12:04 PM
What exactly is "While the Men Watch?" Let's let Jules Mancuso and Lena Sutherland, who started it, explain:
As two women married to sports fanatics, there was really no escaping hockey on TV - especially during playoffs. As our men were glued to the game, we were on the phone talking to each other about what we saw on the ice in a way that was completely different than what our guys or the real announcers were saying. Why were the players getting a seat and a drink in the penalty box if it's supposed to be a punishment? And how exactly did that coach pick out a brown suit and tie combo four sizes too big?
So they started their own commentary. And it became popular. And now it will be available during the Stanley Cup finals.
We are honoured to have been invited to share WhileTheMenWatch with audiences across Canada in collaboration with CBC. You can tune in to our live play-by-play during each game of the finals. Be forewarned that we are not always politically correct; have a warped interpretation of the rules and would rather avoid overtime. But, we will be talking and we will be watching - because it's the Cup.
Backlash has been fierce. So we ask: Bad idea or worst idea ever? Or do you have a different take?
Friday (Is Morneau back, at least as a HR hitter?) edition: Wha' Happened?
Posted by: Michael Rand under Professional baseball Updated: May 25, 2012 - 8:34 AM
It's always dangerous to ask these types of questions after a particularly good game because positive memories are fresh and the stats are skewed. But few would ask "Is Justin Morneau back?" after an 0-for-5 game with three K's and a couple of week groundouts, so it's now or never.
After Morneau's two-homer game last night in an 11-8 loss to the White Sox, he has eight homers in 105 official at bats. That's a rate now of one homer per 13.1 at bats, which would be roughly fifth in the AL if he had the qualifying number of plate appearances.
As far as the eyeball test goes, Morneau seems to be swinging strong and confidently. Maybe he's not the same all-around hitter -- yet? -- that he was pre-concussion, but it seems at least clear that he has found something he can latch onto with his power swing.
And speaking of not having enough at bats to make that ESPN stat list: The Twins' offense looks, at best, awkward when he is not in the lineup. They were no-hit seven times and averaged 0.4 runs per game when he missed time with his wrist setback earlier this year (OK, it wasn't that bad, but it was this bad).
He's turning into, at the very least, a bright spot in 2012.
TFD: Yahoo contributor says A.J. Pierzynski was a better Twins catcher than Joe Mauer
Posted by: Michael Rand under Professional baseball, Target Field, Twins fans Updated: May 24, 2012 - 4:38 PM
Ever wonder if the Twins would have been better off keeping A.J. Pierzynski instead of going with Joe Mauer? Well, Blair Reynolds of the Yahoo contributor network did. Let's watch him defeat his own premise in just three easy snips:
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I can't help but think Twins general manager Terry Ryan might be a little regretful for trading away the best catcher the franchise ever had. No, you didn't miss a trade involving local boy Joe Mauer. No, this trade happened on Nov. 14, 2003, when Ryan shipped A.J. Pierzynski to the San Francisco Giants.
Premise: A.J. is the best catcher the Twins have ever had.
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While Mauer has had a great career so far, with three batting titles and a American League MVP Award, I can't help but wonder if the team would have been more successful with Pierzynski instead of Mauer.
Translation: Mauer has accomplished historical things, but would the Twins have been better off with an above-average catcher (and no Joe Nathan or Francisco Liriano) instead? Think about it!
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Mauer is a better individual player than Pierzynski. No question.
Premise: Mauer is the best catcher the Twins have ever had.
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In summary: Everyone knows Joe Mauer is the best catcher in Twins history. What the Yahoo post presupposes is: maybe he isn't?
There is plenty more for you to read, if you dare. We're not trying to pick on Blair specifically, since he did once sell tickets at the Metrodome. Here is that link, one more time.
Chad Ochocinco with the most #firstworldproblem ever: Losing his gold Starbucks card
Posted by: Michael Rand under Professional football Updated: May 24, 2012 - 2:54 PMYeah, we'd be royally mad, too, if our vehicle was broken into. But we don't think a gold card from Starbucks would be the foremost of our concerns. (And in case you are wondering, it sounds like there was a happy ending. Phew!) But first the video (we'll use the ESPN version since they cleaned up his Twitvid).
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recent posts
- Stu's Hunt Down: Ex-Twins pitcher Ramon Ortiz
- Mid-day talker: "While the Men Watch" -- bad idea or worst idea?
- Is Justin Morneau back, at least as a HR hitter?
- TFD: Yahoo contributor says A.J. Pierzynski was a better Twins catcher than Joe Mauer
- Chad Ochocinco with the most #firstworldproblem ever: Losing his gold Starbucks card
- RandBall: Someone messed up Roy Halladay bobblehead in a major way
- Thursday (Mikael Granlund and selling hope) edition: Wha' Happened?
- TFD: Let Bill Murray -- actor and St. Paul Saints co-owner -- take you on a tour of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
- First NFL odds from Vegas: Vikings' over-under is six wins
- RandBall: Will the 49ers be fooled by Randy Moss?
- RandBall: The Diamond and Walters infusion
- TFD: Video and interview with Reds fan who snagged back-to-back home run balls
- If Cole DeVries starts Thursday for the Twins, he'll be their 11th starter since Sept. 24, 2011
- Kevin Garnett (with hipster glasses) on cold showers and Philly's fair-weather fans
- Tuesday (Jason Marquis and failed Twins veteran starter history) edition: Wha' Happened?
- Big Ten schools to get nearly $2 million more from conference next season
- Video: Ex-Twins pitcher Livan Hernandez throwing seeds at failing ball boy, getting denied a high-five
- RandBall: Twins' All-Star candidates in Rochester and, yes, a case for Capps
- Monday (A real-life encounter with the crying sparkly nail polish Packers fan) edition: Wha' Happened?
Post By Category
- Is Justin Morneau back, at least as a HR hitter?
- Gophers picked No. 1 in one very early preseason hockey poll
- Stu's Hunt Down: Ex-Twins pitcher Ramon Ortiz
- TFD: Yahoo contributor says A.J. Pierzynski was a better Twins catcher than Joe Mauer
- Granlund contract details; Is Coyle or Granlund Wild's top prospect?
- Postgame: L.A. coach says 3-0 Lynx measuring stick for WNBA
- First NFL odds from Vegas: Vikings' over-under is six wins
- Love named to all-NBA Second Team
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