Tuesday, July 30, 2013

WAITING FOR THE PHONE NOT TO RING.

The MLB trade deadline: that special time when all we seem to talk about are potential scenarios involving telephonic speculation and best guesses, possible three-ways, and sometimes things actually called "considerations." There are always one or two big move stories, but mostly it's a lot more talk than action (and there are very few three-ways -- settle down).

I watch it all with a casual curiosity, never too much anticipation either way since the Twins are rarely players on either end of the market. But this year is different; this year all eyes are on our big, beautiful, wry-witted, big-swinging, Canadian, MVP first baseman.

Hey, that's me.

I really only have one eye on it because I can hardly bear to watch. I get it. We all get it. Now it's this big game between agents and owners and stat heads and on-paper this and building for the future that... I'm not going to run through it all here (it's certainly all broken down smartly on Aaron Gleeman's blog) other than to say: This is one of those rare times I don't care so much about the numbers and that I just really, really want Justin to stay.

I want him to stay for me, for all of us, because, I, we, just fucking like him so much. He's a legacy player. He's a great presence in the clubhouse, on the field, in the Twin Cities. He could be really good again. There's no one right in line behind him who is better. And he wants to stay. He's always said that wants to retire here and I believe him because, come on.

I  also want him to stay for him. One of the things I hate the most to watch is when formerly (even very recently formerly) great players go down the free-agent rabbit hole, hopping from team to team and filling in where they need a thing (maybe offensive spark, maybe defensive leadership) more than they need a player. So many great players end up as basically well-meaning mercenaries for hire or trade for a season here, half a season there, until they just sort of disappear. That is the wrong ending for Justin Morneau.

We all know this in our baseball souls.

But we also know in our baseball minds that what's right is rarely the lead player in this game. I won't be shocked if tonight's is Justin's last game as a Twin, but I won't be happy either.

So, stay, Justin. Just, stay.

Ciao, buddies.
-christine

  

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Just a Little All Star Break Catch-You-Up

I'm just going to go ahead and take my beautiful, bold, bossy, blogger-buddy Kate's advice and not apologize for my total lack of posts. So, let's start now, ok? OK.

The All Star game is coming up next week, which brings us all short, but vital breather midway through the sometimes soooooo very, very long baseball season - - and this is one of those sooooo very, very long type of seasons for Twins fans.

So, in case you don't follow MLB at all and only get your baseball 'information' from this blog (that would be incredibly silly, please don't do this), how about we do SIG Baseball's Take on the Top 5 Stories from the first half of the season.


1. the MARIANO RIVERA RETIREMENT TOUR

Hands down, my favorite story in baseball. Mariano Rivera is the best closer the game has ever seen, truly baseball royalty, and he is also one of the classiest, kindest, coolest dudes the game could ever imagine. To see him received in ballparks across the country with the enthusiastic reverence he deserves for his final year -- and to watch him so modestly and earnestly moved with each offering, each ovation -- has been sensational. I could go on and on about Mariano, and I probably will. Stay tuned.

Twins tie-in to the Mariano Rivera Retirement Tour: probably the perfect parting gift possible.


2.  the ROOKIE PHENOM

And there is always a rookie phenom or two that dominates the coverage (the last few years dominating coverage to the point that you are already exhausted by said phenom before they can even hit their sophomore slump).

This year's RP: the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig. Puig had a sick opening month to his major league career, batting .436 with 7 home runs and 44 hits in 26 games. He narrowly lost out an ASG spot in a final ballot vote, but will probably still end up there. He's huge, twenty-two, hits monster homeruns, and has a mysterious backstory as a Cuban defector. He has an awesome name and he balls so hard.

(But, does this add up to anything more than YP's turn as the next big thing? That's a clown question, bro.)

Twins version of Yasiel Puig: Oswaldo Arcia, who also has an awesome name (and excellent hair).


3. these PIRATES ARRRRR FOR REAL

I like these Pirates a lot. After twenty years of losing seasons, they've quietly and efficiently built a strong young team with real offensive and starting pitching depth, solid defense, and a stellar bullpen called the "shark tank" (with an actual shark tank). They have Andrew McCutchen and now Russell Martin. They're packing PNC Park and their merch is selling like crazy; even if they fall off the second half like they have the last two years, I think the trend of good baseball again in Pittsburgh is for real and I am on board, captain.

Twins tie-in: Yes, that is Francisco Liriano. He seems to have recovered his slider and maybe his career in Pittsburgh. Good for you, Frankie.


4. A-ROD and RYAN BRAUN WERE PROBABLY BOTH DOPING, NOBODY GIVES A SHIT ABOUT A-ROD ANYMORE

The newest round of doping drama broke in June and I haven't heard much more about it since then, but I'm guessing big news is coming soon. Stop me if you've heard this before... illegal performance enhancing drugs, a list of players to be named and then suspended, Alex Rodriguez, lawyers, blah blah.

The Ryan Braun implication is bigger news to me since a) he had a previous positive test overturned on a procedural appeal last year (and, with his ugly attitude about it all, has burned all the good will he once had piles) of and, 2) nobody give as shit about A-Rod anymore.  Bad news, good news, I guess.


and, most importantly...



5. JOE MAUER IS WEARING A LOT MORE STUBBLE THIS YEAR

No word yet on my request for tighter pants, but this'll do, Joe. This'll do.


Ciao, buddies!
-christine