[8 and 9 in Left]

I had the misfortune of being subjected to the Twinkies' radio announcer on XM this afternoon. He kept calling Oki, "Iwo Jima." It was embarrassing.

[Sooner Steve]

I had the misfortune of being subjected to the Twinkies' radio announcer on XM this afternoon. He kept calling Oki, "Iwo Jima." It was embarrassing.

You'd think a sports announcer would be proficient at pronouncing players names, even if they are Japanese.


Sincerely,

Harry Caray

[KenTremendous]

I listened to game two (I think) on XM radio in my car. (Yeah, I have XM in my car. Whatever. No big deal.) At one point in the game, they went on an endless tangent about the '87 and '91 teams, and how they compare to the '09 Twins. They both agreed that it was ridiculous! to compare them because those teams won championships, and it pointless to compare teams that had won championships to teams that had not. While I was formulating the lengthy argument in my head about why it was not, in fact, "ridiculous!" to do that anymore than it is ridiculous! to have any kind of sports discussion about anything, and also was mentally asking them why they were so angry at the very idea of comparing two teams when it sure seemed to me like they brought it up to begin with, they went position by position, comparing the '91 team and the '09 team. Among the highlights -- and there were many: Hrbek v. Morneau is, and I quote, "A wash." (Hrbek, 1987: 125 OPS+. Morneau, 2009: 187 OPS+)

Also, while this was happening, I heard no fewer than four pitches/crowd reactions occur in the BG without any update on the results of those four pitches. Finally, after the fourth one, the PBP man casually announced: "It's 2-2."

Either that night or the next night, they went into a lengthy and completely incorrect history of the DiceK bidding/contract process. They announced that after spending $50 million [sic] (small [sic] but still a [sic]) on the bid, they then signed DiceK to a $50 million contract [sic] for four years [sic]. "That's a lot of money!" they exclaimed, chortling at what they had determined was a $25 million/year contract for four years.

Sometimes I forget how lucky we have it, generally, with both of our main announcing teams.

[Greg29fan]

All logic goes out the window with Twins fans/broadcasters as it relates to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek. Hrbek is a Minneapolis born and raised fatass who everyone in that part of the country relates to, an "everyman" if you will. He's still a legend for the Ron Gant toss off the bag in the 91 WS, and he still has tv shows and sells stuff up there.

This post has been edited by Greg29fan: 29 May 2009 - 01:46 AM

[MoGator71]

Also, while this was happening, I heard no fewer than four pitches/crowd reactions occur in the BG without any update on the results of those four pitches. Finally, after the fourth one, the PBP man casually announced: "It's 2-2."

This happened with the games in Houston last year, I forget who the announcer is/was but it's the guy who apparently has some problem with Joe Castiglione (anyone know the story behind that?) It's incredibly maddening, and at the time I didn't have EI so it was away radio on XM or nothing.

[CrackpotTheory]

The color guy is Dan Gladden (a member of those "great" Twins teams), so there's some bias there.

[Average Reds]

All logic goes out the window with Twins fans/broadcasters as it relates to Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek. Hrbek is a Minneapolis born and raised fatass who everyone in that part of the country relates to, an "everyman" if you will. He's still a legend for the Ron Gant toss off the bag in the 91 WS, and he still has tv shows and sells stuff up there.

As someone who lived there for the '87 team, I can tell you that the local perception of that team is something close to sainthood. (I'm sure the '91 team is the same.) So to expect a rational discussion about the players ..... well, it's just not going to happen.

Add in the fact that Kent Hrbek is the personification of all that is good and holy about Minnesota - local boy with a wonderful personality, good work ethic, loves to hunt and fish - and you have a recipe for turning a solid, above-average first baseman into the second coming of Lou Gehrig.

This post has been edited by Average Reds: 29 May 2009 - 02:22 PM

[americantrotter]

Hrbek is a Minneapolis born and raised fatass who everyone in that part of the country relates to, an "everyman" if you will. He's still a legend for the Ron Gant toss off the bag in the 91 WS

I will forever hate that fatass. That 91 braves team was full of players I'd seen come through Richmond. It was a real treat watching the AAA kids reverse the fortunes of the lowly Braves. Gant happened to be my favorite along with Glavine, and I never got over it. I still think about it everytime someone talks about game 7. A game that should have never happened.

[drleather2001]

Add in the fact that Kent Hrbeck is the personification of all that is good and holy about Minnesota - local boy with a wonderful personality, good work ethic, loves to hunt and fish - and you have a recipe for turning a solid, above-average first baseman into the second coming of Lou Gehrig.

Paging Keith Hernandez...Another guy that's achieved legendary status for odd reasons.

Hrbek wasn't anything to sneeze at, he was pretty much a proto-Kevin Youkilis. However, I agree that people in Minnesota would rather have a team that is competitive and likable than a team that is excellent and devoid of "hometown heroes."

I think when Joe Mauer leaves, the city will collectively weep.

This post has been edited by drleather2001: 29 May 2009 - 10:22 AM

[Spacemans Bong]

Hernandez is a near Hof player, that's a lot more than Hrbek. Also I don't think Mauer is going anywhere - the feeling is mutual for the twin cities guys.

[drleather2001]

Hernandez is a near Hof player, that's a lot more than Hrbek. Also I don't think Mauer is going anywhere - the feeling is mutual for the twin cities guys.

I don't think it's nearly that cut and dried. I concede that Hernandez had a much better glove, but it's first base, not a premium defender's position. Their relative value as a 1B is based, in most part, on their offense, and they are about neck and neck in that regard.

Hernandez played 17 seasons to Hrbek's 14 and had about 1400 more plate appearances. He also had an MVP award which, of course, counts for something, even though Winfield was probably more deserving that year.

Both have a career OPS+ of 128.
OBP: Keith - .384; Kent - .367
SLG: Keith - .436; Kent - .481

"Triple Crown" Stats:
HR: Keith - 162; Kent - 293
RBI: Keith - 1071; Kent - 1086
Avg: Keith - .296; Kent - .282

This doesn't even get into the fact that Hernandez' best years were, generally, with another team and not in NY while Hrbek played his entire career in TC. Both were the best offensive player for one WS championship team (Hernandez in '86, Hrbek in '87), so their relative importance to the championship is about equal.

I think Hernandez was better, but not by much. However, I think the Twins' fans adoration of Hrbek makes more sense than the Mets fans' eulogizing of Keith Hernandez, given the bigger picture.

This post has been edited by drleather2001: 31 May 2009 - 09:48 PM

[Rough Carrigan]

As someone who lived there for the '87 team, I can tell you that the local perception of that team is something close to sainthood. (I'm sure the '91 team is the same.) So to expect a rational discussion about the players ..... well, it's just not going to happen.

Add in the fact that Kent Hrbek is the personification of all that is good and holy about Minnesota - local boy with a wonderful personality, good work ethic, loves to hunt and fish - and you have a recipe for turning a solid, above-average first baseman into the second coming of Lou Gehrig.

What animal could possibly be slow enough for his elephant ass to keep up with it to shoot it? You'd need reinforced concrete to make a deer stand that could bear his tonnage.

[m0ckduck]

I lived in the area during the Twins' 56-88 disastrous 1995 campaign (the season that ended with Puckett getting beaned on his last at-bat of the season) and can tell you that not a single critical thing was written in the local press about the team or organization during the entire season. It was pure, unadulterated, 'Our scrappy guys giving it their best!' for game after game. I've also listened to radio broadcasts where the commentators will openly moralize about how the Twins 'should' beat a large-payroll, station-to-station-type team like the Sox because they play a more virtuous, scrappy style of baseball. There's a clear, implicit admission that you're not going to hear or read honest analysis of the local team in Twins country-- it's just how it works there. Blind faith in the local team is part of the whole Fargo-esque 'keep your spirits up, eh?' Scandanavian pluck that keeps people asking their neighbors 'cold enough for ya?' day after day as the temperature approaches -50. And, yes, I'm indulging in a cultural stereotype, but if their announcer refers to Oki as 'Iwo Jima' so can I.

[MoGator71]

I've also listened to radio broadcasts where the commentators will openly moralize about how the Twins 'should' beat a large-payroll, station-to-station-type team like the Sox because they play a more virtuous, scrappy style of baseball.

That bugs me about 100% less with the Twins than it does when I'm bombarded with the same sentiment re: the Angels.

[drleather2001]

FWIW, in my first winter here (which was apparently the coldest one in several years), I not once heard the phrase "Cold enough for 'ya?"

On one hand, I think the fans are proud that the team has managed to compete, pretty convincingly, despite having a low payroll. They have produced a good number of homegrown players and figured out a way to run the team effectively, which is something to be respected.

On the other hand, after three quick exits in a row (totaling a measly 2 wins) from the playoffs in a span of 4 years, I would think Gardenhire would have been let go.

[richgedman'sghost]

I don't think it's nearly that cut and dried. I concede that Hernandez had a much better glove, but it's first base, not a premium defender's position. Their relative value as a 1B is based, in most part, on their offense, and they are about neck and neck in that regard.

Hernandez played 17 seasons to Hrbek's 14 and had about 1400 more plate appearances. He also had an MVP award which, of course, counts for something, even though Winfield was probably more deserving that year.

Both have a career OPS+ of 128.
OBP: Keith - .384; Kent - .367
SLG: Keith - .436; Kent - .481

"Triple Crown" Stats:
HR: Keith - 162; Kent - 293
RBI: Keith - 1071; Kent - 1086
Avg: Keith - .296; Kent - .282

This doesn't even get into the fact that Hernandez' best years were, generally, with another team and not in NY while Hrbek played his entire career in TC. Both were the best offensive player for one WS championship team (Hernandez in '86, Hrbek in '87), so their relative importance to the championship is about equal.

I think Hernandez was better, but not by much. However, I think the Twins' fans adoration of Hrbek makes more sense than the Mets fans' eulogizing of Keith Hernandez, given the bigger picture.

One minor point of correction....Keith also played for the 1982 Cardinals which won the World Series. I think Keith's offensive impact on the 82 Cardinals was greater than the 86 Mets. The 86 Mets had Stawberry, Carter, Knight, Dykstra etc... Anyway....sorry for the interuption....