The Twins are Kickin'

Frank: Well, the Minnesota Twins pulled off another amazing turnaround last week -- recovering from a three-game sweep at the ballpark of an AL East powerhouse by winning a series on the home turf of an American League Central Division rival -- for the second time this month. This leaves us in a really good position, two and a half games behind the division leading Chicago White Sox, who begin a huge four-game set tonight at the Metrodome. This weekend we remain in the Central with the second half of a home-and-home matchup with the Cleveland Indians, which started this past weekend. Since we play every day this week at home (Tonight through Saturday evening on FSN), I asked Bert about home field advantage:

Earlier this season, you mentioned that an old baseball saying was to try to play .500 baseball on the road, and about .700 at home, and you might be competitive in your division. While the Twins are pretty close to that mark in games at the Metrodome (34-19, .642), they have not been very good on the road (23-28, .451). Included in that performance away from the confined confines is a 2-7 mark playing at the home field of the division leading Chicago White Sox. But due to a scheduling quirk, the Twins were done for the year in Chicago and Detroit -- the home of the other American League Central Division team above .500, the Tigers -- by the All-Star break. So far this year, we are 2-0 at home against the White Sox and 5-1 against Detroit.

How much of an advantage will it be to play all the remaining games against these two rivals at home?

Bert: It has always been said that if you can play .500 on the road and win big at home, you have a good chance to get into the postseason. There are 30 Major League teams and there are ONLY five teams with winning road records. In the American League there are the Yankees and Angels and in the National league there are only the Phillies, Brewers, and Cardinals with winning road records.

Now there are ONLY six Major League teams that do not have winning records at home. In the American League there are the Royals and Mariners and in the National League are the Nationals, Astros, Giants, and Padres that have losing home records. All six of these teams are teams that will probably not make it to the postseason.

Over the final two months of the season there are 58 games left for the Twins, 31 road games and, by my California math, that leaves 27 home games. There are 25 games left to play in the division against the White Sox, Tigers, Royals, and Indians. Nineteen of the 25 will be played at home for the Twins. Hopefully the Twins can take advantage of our home field advantage.

Frank: This Thursday night is the non-waiver trading deadline, after which trades become much more difficult to make. Manager Ron Gardenhire has been quoted as saying that -- although his team doesn't need any new players -- if the people in the front office can make a deal that brings in either a powerful right-handed hitter or a quality setup reliever to pitch the eighth inning and get games to Joe Nathan for the ninth, he would appreciate it.

What do you think? What do the Twins need most?

Bert: O boy, tough question Frank. What do the Twins do about maybe adding some right-handed power and is the current bullpen setup to hand the ball over to Nathan for the ninth? These are questions that I'm sure the Twins front office along with manager Ron Gardenhire are asking themselves. What will the organization have to give up to get some added help? Do we go out and rent a player for the final two months who might help us get into the postseason? But what do we have to give up? Can the Twins win the division without any future deals? Can the offense continue to hit with runners in scoring position, as we have all season long? We have led the Major Leagues in this department for the whole year, while hitting the fewest home runs in the Majors. The Twins need more power in their lineup, but what would they have to give up for added power? We all know that the Twins worry about the future years as well as they do on where they are now in the standings. I really would be surprised if the Twins make a move. But in the event that we do, I think Bonser would be the likely pitcher to be involved in a trade.

Frank: Over the next two weeks, you will broadcast every game the Twins play, even an afternoon game in Seattle.

Does it drain you to work all the time? Or does it energize you to be able to watch the Twins every day?

This stretch begins with four huge games, starting tonight against the Chicago White Sox. We are hitting the dog days of August and September this week. Does that term apply to the announcers as well as the players?

Bert: I love broadcasting the game of baseball and I would love to do every game throughout the season. Announcing is fun because as a former pitcher I had the opportunity to pitch every fourth or fifth day. Announcing every game is like pitching everyday. Each game is different and each game I probably see something I haven't seen for a long time or see something that I have never seen before. The Twins have a young exciting club and it's fun and entertaining to watch this team go through their ups and downs throughout the season.
Usually the dog days of baseball are June and July. Once August comes around you hope you are in the race for the final two months. The Twins have put themselves in this positive position so the last two months should be exciting. As a player this is the time of the season to catch your second or third wind and start thinking about that finish line.
The long baseball season can be compared to running the 440 on a track team. April is the start and May is the first turn on the track. June-July is the straight away on the backstretch of the track. August is the final turn before you get back to the final straight away, which is September. After the final turn, August, you want to be running neck and neck with your opponents when you come off the curve. Hopefully the Twins can stay with these opponents until we hit that straight away for the final kick. It will be the team that has the strongest kick that wins the race. Let's hope that the Twins have enough left to kick it in at the end. I know I will be kicking up in the booth and hoping that the players on the field will be kicking just as hard.

Have a great day; be good to each other and Go Twins!

Check out the Twins on FSN North this week:

Monday, July 28: vs White Sox--6:30 PM
Tuesday, July 29: vs White Sox--6:30 PM
Wednesday, July 30: vs White Sox--6:30 PM
Thursday, July 31: vs White Sox--6:30PM

Friday, Aug 1: vs. Cleveland--6:00 PM
(special 1-hour pre game show, 1 year anniversary of 35W Bridge collapse)

Saturday, Aug 2: vs Cleveland--5:00 PM
(special 1-hour pre game show from Hugo, MN celebrating First Responders)

Pitching, Yankees and Bert's Favorite Teams

Frank: The last week was another great one for the Minnesota Twins. It started last Monday night when slugger Justin Morneau won the home run derby at the All-Star festivities. Not bad for a guy from a small ball team. Then it continued the next night with all three Twins representatives getting in the All-Star Game. Catcher Joe Mauer got the start, calling the first pitch of the game. First baseman Morneau got the finish almost five hours later, when in the bottom of the 15th inning he tagged from third and slid home just ahead of the throw with the winning run for the American League. In between, closer Joe Nathan pitched a perfect inning and the M & M boys went 3-5 with two walks and two runs scored. Not bad representation for a small market team.

As the first full week of the second half of the season gets underway tonight in New York, starting pitcher Nick Blackburn goes against the Yankees for the first time since Abreu knocked him out of the game on June 1 with a wicked line drive off his mouth and nose. Will the memories affect him more tonight than they have for the last month and a half? Did you ever get hit by a ball? How do pitchers deal with memories like that?

Bert: I was very fortunate that over my 23 years of throwing the baseball to the world’s greatest hitters that I was never hit by a line drive above the waist area. I was hit several times by line drives in my legs but never hard enough to make me come out of a game. What happened to Nick was a pitcher’s nightmare. Being hit in the head is always a fear you have when you stand 60' 6" away from home plate. Nick was very lucky, if I can use the word lucky, that the ball hit back up the middle deflected off his glove to slow it down just a little bit. Still the ball hit him near his nose and Nick had to leave the game. I'm sure he will remember that when he faces Abreu in New York but he also needs to realize that it could happen at any time when you are on the mound. Fear is not a bad thing when you can use it to your advantage. Knowing that a line drive could be hit back at you at any time keeps you aware of your surroundings.
Sidney Ponson has always had some of his best games against the Twins so let's just hope his nasty sinker isn't sinking tonight.

Frank: This weekend the second half divisional battles begin, as the Twins play 10 games in 10 days -- beginning Friday night in Cleveland -- against the Indians and the Chicago White Sox. How much of the focus that is obviously required by the playoff chase could be drawn away by the Francisco Liriano situation? Any chance that the Twins would part ways with 33 year-old veteran Livan Hernandez and his 5.30 ERA to let Liriano join the quartet of younger pitchers and their combined 3.73 ERA? Or is a six man starting staff possible?

Bert: I sure hope that the Twins don't go to a six-man rotation. Pitching once a week cannot and will not benefit the starting staff. All the Twins starters rely on their control and an extra day’s rest might make them feel too strong at the beginning of their starts, which would affect their control. This is especially true for pitchers like Livan Hernandez and Nick Blackburn, who rely on their sinkers to get hitters out. As a former starting pitcher, I would rather have a little bit of a tired arm than a stronger arm because I would have to rely on movement and control rather than overpowering the baseball.
Liriano will just have to wait his turn. He started the season with the Twins’ starting staff but we all saw he wasn't quite ready after having the Tommy John surgery. He was sent down to Triple-A Rochester to build his arm strength back and it sounds like he has done that. Francisco just wants to compete back at the Major League level because of his recent success in Rochester and wants another chance. To me there is nothing wrong with this, except that he and his agent went to the Players Association and the media to state their case. What are the Twins going to do? Eliminate one of the current starters? WHO? All the starters have done a great job and the main reason the Twins are in the race is because the starters have been very consistent. But isn't it nice knowing that "IF" something should happen to one of the starters that Liriano is in the wings waiting for another shot?

Frank: As the Twins wrap up our final trip ever to the current Yankee Stadium (the new stadium is being built on an adjacent lot and will share the name, but not the history) Wednesday afternoon, what do you think you can steal from the announcing booth or the stadium for me? Seriously now, let's talk about your favorite memories of, as Babe Ruth put it, some ballyard. This week you don't have to focus on home runs you allowed there, unless that's all you remember! Do you have a favorite statue or plaque, or any stories about all the retired jerseys?

Bert: To be honest with you Frank I was never a huge Yankee fan. Growing up in California I was more of a Dodgers and Angels fan. The Yankees were just the team that seemed to always win the World Series year after year, but as a kid falling in love with baseball, I loved watching and listening to the local teams’ games with my dad. He was a huge Dodgers fan. Having the opportunity to pitch in Yankee Stadium was a great thrill, but pitching in front of my parents in Anaheim and Los Angeles was a greater thrill for me. So when we leave Yankees Stadium on Wednesday, I will remember more the great players I got to pitch against that wore the Yankee uniform than what the stadium meant in Yankees history and baseball history. I can maybe try and get you a souvenir from the monument area out by the bullpens. How about Yogi Berra's plaque?

Have a great day and Go Twins!

Frank: I have heard that nobody ever goes out there to view his plaque, because it’s always so crowded (A paraphrase of my favorite of many famous quotes by Yogi.)
The Twins keep climbing the charts in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and other categories. The continuation of this offense is one of many things to look for that would help the Twins “Go” this week.

Check out the Twins on FSN North this week:

Monday, July 21: vs. NY Yankees

Tuesday, July 22: vs. NY Yankees

Wednesday, July 23: vs. NY Yankees

Friday, July 25: vs Cleveland

Saturday, July 26: vs Cleveland

All Stars in New York

Frank: Quite a lot has happened with the Minnesota Twins since our last post. Since then – when the Twins were in the middle of a winning streak against National League teams – the Twins have won 12 of 17 games (eight of 10 division games). We closed out the first half of the season Sunday at 53-42 with a three-games-to-one series victory over the Detroit Tigers, clinching the season matchup versus the team many experts picked to win the American League Central Division. The Twins improved to 27-17 against division rivals, including an impressive 14-3 at home. We stand poised to battle for the division championship, and another trip to the playoffs, until the end of the regular season, currently 1.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox and 2.5 back in the wild card race. As we bid a fond farewell to the first half, it is time to shift our focus to the second half and the pennant race. One thing that should help us the rest of the year is our improved lineup, especially against left-handed pitchers:

The Twins seem to be hitting much better against left-handed pitchers. Is that your view too? Now that Nick Punto is settling in as the everyday shortstop, allowing Brendan Harris to platoon at third base with Brian Buscher, it's a pretty solid lineup for the Twins, against right-handers and left-handers. Don't you agree?

Bert: I always say on the air that the baseball season is like a roller coaster ride. So many ups and downs and that's the way it has been against left-handed pitchers throughout the season. Let's hope the success continues against lefties as well as
righties!
There have been so many combinations to the Twins infield throughout the season and it's nice to see the job that Alexi Casilla has done at second base and also the job Nick Punto has done at shortstop. Not only have these two players played highlight reel defense every night, but they both are producing at the plate as well. Brendan Harris did a great job at shortstop too, while Punto was on the disabled list, and now Gardenhire can use Harris at third base and other infield positions. Versatility is the key to the Twins infielders because most of them can play all the infield positions.

Frank: The annual All-Star Game will be played this week, at Yankee Stadium, and three Twins will be there. So I asked Bert about the team representatives:

Tuesday night Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Joe Nathan will represent the Twins in the Midsummer Classic, the annual All-Star Game. You participated in a few All-Star Games, did you not? What will it mean to these men? You were a pitcher, though, not a position player, so you were never subject to fan balloting, were you? This year Major League Baseball fans wised up enough to vote Joe Mauer into the first All-Star start of his career. What do you think this special honor means to Joe? Any chance that Morneau will get another crack at taking Ben Sheets or Brandon Webb deep? And what are the odds that Nathan will get into the game, with six closers among the 12 American League pitchers?

Bert: Yes, congratulations to Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Joe Nathan on their All-Star selection. The fans voted in Joe Mauer and talking to him he is very proud and elated that the fans voted him to start the game. It will be Joe's second All-Star Game as well as Justin's. Joe Nathan is making his third All-Star appearance. What an honor for these three players and I know, making two All-Star Games myself, they will have a blast, especially being part of the festivities at Yankee Stadium. Let's hope Mauer and Morneau get some hits and Nathan gets in the game and pitches a shutout inning. Maybe one of them will bring back to Minnesota the MVP Award from the game.
I just heard that Yankee great Bobby Murcer lost his battle to cancer and I just want send our condolences and prayers to the Murcer family. He was a great man that loved baseball and was a true Yankee!

Frank: I guess now is a pretty good time to go, since the attention of the baseball world is focused on the happenings at Yankee Stadium for the next couple of days. Last week the Twins played at historical Fenway Park in Boston, and I heard you during the telecast of a game there talking about some of your favorite things about the park. Now that you have had some time to reflect, can you list some of them for us? The All-Star Game will be played Tuesday night at the other great historical ballpark of the East, Yankee Stadium. Is it really closing after this year? What are your favorite memories from playing in these two great ballyards, The House where Ruth pitched (Fenway Park, as Babe Ruth pitched for the Boston Red Sox early in his career) and the House that Ruth Built (Yankee Stadium)?

Bert: It will be kind of sad knowing that after this baseball season that Yankee Stadium will be no more. Playing there for 20 years as an American Leaguer brings back a lot of memories. My first year in 1970, as a Twins pitcher, I started my second Major League game there. We lost 2-1 on a Horace Clarke 2-run home run in the fifth inning, but I got my first hit that day. It was a high chopper over the head of Yankee starter Mel Stottlemyre into centerfield. Over the years that high chopper as become a line drive that almost took Mel's head off!!!!!
Just like Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park brings my memories back to 1970, my rookie season. My first Major League start in Fenway Park was on Saturday, August 15 and it was the second game of a doubleheader. We lost the first game so I wanted to pitch well. But I lasted only 1/3 of inning! It would be my shortest start of the 685 Major League starts I had in my career! I walked the Red Sox leadoff hitter Mike Andrews, Reggie Smith hit a 2-run home run, Carl Yastrzemski followed with a home run, Rico Petrocelli struck out and Billy Conigliaro hit a double. That was it; I was out of the game. I ended up getting a no-decision as the offense picked me up but we still lost the game 11-7. The next day Luis Tiant started for us and he lasted only 1 and 1/3 innings. I came in to relieve in the second inning and pitched 5 2/3 innings and actually got the win as we won the game 9-6. I gave up three runs in this relief outing. So, in my first experience of pitching in Fenway Park, my pitching line was: 2 games, 1 start, 6 innings pitched, 8 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 3 home runs allowed with a record of 1-0. What a great country!
Be safe and be kind to each other. Go Twins!

Frank: Bert forgot to mention that his strikeout during the brief Fenway debut, the only out he got, ended up putting him over the 3700 mark for his career (He fanned 3,701 in his 23 seasons in the Major Leagues.) Bert remains one of only five pitchers ever to accomplish that feat. Denard Span needs to lead off the order, if not replace struggling Carlos Gomez in center field. Span hits much better (.324 to .253) and gets on base much more often (.429 to .287), and he runs really well. He might not have the speed of Gomez (who does?), but Span does everything else that you want from a leadoff hitter much, much better. His next walk will tie him with Gomez, despite having 230 fewer at-bats! Span switching spots in the lineup with Gomez is the key thing that would help the Twins “Go” this week, and it’s a perfect time of year to make the switch!

Check out the Twins on FSN North this weekend:
Friday, July 18 vs. Texas: 6:30 PM
Saturday, July 19 vs. Texas: 5:30 PM