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 Andrew  August 19, 2009, at 6:05 am  - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired)  Andrew, Delmon Young, Guest Writers, _elm_n Last night, _elm_n hit his 7th homerun of the season, and his 5th of the month of August. For starters, here is the game in which each home run was hit [number of games since previous games in brackets]
Game 4: April 12
Game 46: June 20
ame 51: July 3
Game 67 Auggust 9
Game 68 Augus 11
Game 72 August 16
Game 74 August 18
- Game 4: April 12 [--]
- Game 46: June 20 [42]
- Game 51: July 3 [5]
- Game 67: August 9 [16]
- Game 68: August 11 [0]
- Game 72: August 16 [4]
- Game 74: August 18 [2]
As you can see, the home runs have come with more frequency as of late. Here's his line since home run #4 on August 9th:
| BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
| 0.281 |
0.382 |
0.750 |
1.132 |
With 3 doubles, 4 home runs, and 10 RBI. 10 RBI is 27.7% of his total for the year (36), in just 10.8% of GP.
For comparison, his overall 2009 and overall career numbers, respectively:
2009
| BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
| 0.265 |
0.292 |
0.388 |
0.680 |
Career
| BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
| 0.288 |
0.321 |
0.409 |
0.730 |
I'll leave it to greater statistical minds than myself to delve further into the advanced numbers. But since August 9th, he's been hitting decently well it would seem. Hopefully this either:
a) Keeps up and he becomes a useful member of the offense, or
b) Keeps up long enough to increase his trade value a bit.
Andrew July 14, 2008, at 10:00 am - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Andrew, Buffalo NY, Delmon Young, Fire Joe Morgan, FirstTimeLongTime, Ken Tremendous
 Name: First Time Long Time, on the internet or Tedd Getman in person.
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Town I Currently Live In: Buffalo, NY
Profession: Business guy.
Bats: Righty. After an ill-fated attempt to become a switch hitter.
Throws: Right
Positions: Catcher.
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: No one memory stands out. I made a lot of all-star teams because I had "heart". I guess I was sort of like the David Eckstein of the little league circuit.
Hobbies: Watching/Reading/Writing about baseball. Also, any, and everything Buffalo related. Oh, and booze.
What are you known for around the WGOM? Taking up game thread space arguing who has the best wings in Buffalo.
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? Michael Schur of FireJoeMorgan/Office fame. I think that he may be the funniest person writing now-a-days. I would love to invite Delmon Young to dinner and ask him why he swings at every first pitch. I cannot do this while drinking because I might become a little too aggressive, and I think that he could, and would, beat me up. Lastly, I would invite Keith Law. Mr. Law combined with Mr. Schur would convince Delmon Young that he should take a few more pitches and maybe to quit swinging down on the ball. Law through Sabermatics and Schur through humor. Also, Keith Law seems to be quite the accomplished cook.
If you could pick any 3 people - again, dead or alive - to go out and party (or if you're not the party type, go for martini's or whatever it is you do) who and why? My first choice is someone that I am sure only "Meat" will know. His name is Rick Jeanneret and he is the Buffalo Sabres play by play announcer. If you don't know who he is please, youtube him right now. He makes every game more enjoyable. Also, I am pretty sure that he is drunk ALL OF THE TIME. Secondly, I would have to choose Mary Louise Parker of Weeds/West Wing fame. I am just sort of in love with her and I think that if I got her drunk enough that she might talk to me. Lastly, I think that I would choose Craig Finn from the Hold Steady. He writes about getting drunk and loves the Twins. This way I would have someone to drink whiskey with and talk about baseball. Also, if it was just Craig Finn, Rick Jeanerett, Mary Louise Parker, and I hanging out, well, I would have to think that I was the best looking guy around and Ms. Parker might be a little tipsy....
Favorite Books: A Fan's Notes by Fredrick Exley.
Favorite Music: Broken Social Scene, Beulah, and The Hold Steady
Favorite Baseball Movie: Field of Dreams.
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: Manhattan/Shawshank
Favorite Food & Drink: Beef on Weck/ Jameson and water
Favorite TV Show(s): The Wire.
Favorite Twins Player: Kirby
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Joe Mauer
Best Twins Memory: Johan's 17K game last season. I went there alone on my last day of my yearly vacation to the Metrodome. I got there at 11:15 to ensure that I would get my Gary Gaetti bobble head doll. I had a grandmother and her 7 year old grandson sitting next to me and during the game I kept turning to the kid and telling him how special this game was. I even have my scorecard framed in my office. I still wish Gardy would have given him the chance for 20.
Favorite Sport to Play: Bocce Ball, is that a sport?
Favorite Sport to Watch: Baseball
If I could live anywhere in the world, I'd live in: Buffalo, NY, or Minneapolis.
If I was commissioner for a day, I'd: Allow teams to trade draft picks. It is an antiquated idea to think that this would hurt small market teams.
If I had Bill Smith's job I'd: Trade anyone over 30 that any team would take.
Favorite Ballpark: PNC
Favorite blogs: Joe Posnanski, FireJoeMorgan, WGOM.
How does a native Buffalonian come to like the Twins? With there being no major league baseball in Buffalo I was pretty much a bandwagon fan for the first couple years of my life. My first team was the Pirates. At the time Buffalo was Pittsburgh's farm team so it made sense. Then I drifted towards the A's of the Bash Brothers. Strangely enough though, my favorite played was Terry Steinbach. Then the '91 World Series happened. That sort of changed everything. Call me bandwagon if you will, but I have stayed the course. And for someone living in Buffalo who has no real connection to the team, well, lets just say it wasn't always easy.
What kind of hockey career did you have growing up? Nothing formal. I was always a baseball kid first. We certainly played street hockey every chance we had, but never anything organized
I too am Jameson man. Have you ever made a trip to the distillery? I have not. Any vacation money is for baseball trips. I am not going to make it to Minneapolis this year but I have tickets for a Twins/Jays in Toronto and I am going to make it down to Yankee stadium for a game later this month.
As a catcher from the NE - Thurman Munson or Carlton Fisk? I will answer this question from a solely historical perspective as I sort of can't stand the Yankees or the Sox. To make my decision I will look at the "Similar Batters" feature on baseball reference. Fisk= Johnny Bench. Munson= Carlos Baerga. Yeah, I think I will go with Fisk.
Map Time!
Click on the map for a better look.
Andrew July 9, 2008, at 9:40 am - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Albuquerque, meat, St. Peter
We're back with a new installment of Better Know A Citizen. Today's profilee is one of our new Citizens - meat. For those other new guys out there (or you old timers who haven't done this yet) email sbg-bkac[at]hotmail[dot]com or andrew[at]stickandballguy[dot]com to get signed up.
SBG Moniker: meat
Hometown: Saint Peter, MN
Town I Currently Live In: Albuquerque, NM
Profession: Lead Preparator, Albuquerque Museum of Art and History (AKA art janitor)/ Artist with the rest of my 'free' time
Bats: R
Throws: R
Positions: Missionary, I'm here all week. No really, beer league pitcher, 1B, LF
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: Hit a walk off HR in the 1st game of the Intramural Championship double header at SUNY-UB, went 6-7 in the second game with 7 RBI, and only allowed 4 runs- that 2nd game was killer I took a come-backer off my shin, left a bruise that I still have a scar from, the next batter doubled up on a come backer that I caught and the quick relay to first.
Hobbies: Woodworking and Furniture building, quilt making for the nieces and nephew, rug braiding, generally I'm into craft based hobbies.
Click here to continue reading Better Know A Citizen – meat...
Rhubarb_Runner April 11, 2008, at 5:30 am - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Buck O'Neil, Joe Posnanski, Negro League
The 2007 Postseason ("It's A Crapshoot!") has given us another comment to go up in the SBG HOF and Museum (and Gift Shop and Café and Planetarium). Everyone's favorite Russian Literature-studying Marine CarterHayes posted his 1000th comment after Game 4 of the World Series
Click here to continue reading Comment Club – CarterHayes #1000...
Today's plaque is from a relative newcomer to the Nation. davidwatts hasn't necessarily been a Citizen as long as some of the other honorees, but for the time he has been here he's been quite prolific. In just over 9 months, dw posted is 1000th quote with this comment during Game 2 of the NLDS between the Phillies and Rockies.
Click here to continue reading Comment Club – davidwatts #1000...
Whiffers is the genius behind today's showcase comment. This comes from the game thread on August 10th, 2007, of what was a fairly diappointing game on the Twins' part from what I read. Game 115 of the 2007 campaign was not only a 10-1 loss to the Angels, but it was also the return of RonDL to LF.
Click here to continue reading Comment Club – Whiffers #1000...
Next in our continuing celebration of the half-baked crap that floats around our small portion of the internet, we have brianS and his take on Tejada and Tyner from the August 22nd, 2006 Gamelog.
Click here to continue reading Comment Club – brianS #1000...
Or: Andrew's Attempts to Rationalize the Colts' Chances Under the Guise of Analysis
As this year's NFL playoffs approach, I thought I might have a look at the AFC side of things, specifically the Patriots' division and the Colts' division. As the #1 team in the NFL and the #1 contender, one of these two teams representing the AFC in the Super Bowl is as close to an automatic one can get in football.
One caveat: I really don't know football that well. It's definitely not my best sport for analysis and commentary. I'll admit that up front. So if my ideas/musings are not up to the usual half-baked standards 'round these parts, that's just too bad.
Click here to continue reading AFC East vs. AFC South...
I've always found statistics lacking when it comes to describing what is happening on the base paths. Consider a single with a man on first as compared to a single with the bases empty. After the hit, the batter gets a tiny bump in is batting average and +1 on his total bases in both cases, but it's obvious that the two singles are not equal. One single puts a man into scoring position while the other does not, but that very important distinction is lost when looking at statistics. I suppose you could go through a players split stats to find their batting averages by situation, but there are 8 different combinations of base runners. What I'm looking for here from my fellow Citizens is help in creating a statistic that will better help explain the differences between a single with no one on and a single that will put a main in scoring position. If there is a statistic already like this that I don't know about, then please post that as well. Otherwise, my preliminary ideas are after the jump.
Click here to continue reading Base Paths Statistics...
Name: frightwig
Hometown: Bremerton, WA
Town I Currently Live In: relocating to an undisclosed location in Oregon
Profession: dedicated parental unit
Bats: R
Throws: R
Positions: corner IF/OF
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: I was good enough to be a regular starter for my county youth league teams, but I was never an All-Star. I don't recall being the hero of any dramatic victories. Mostly, I remember a lot of inconsequential moments. I can say that my career ended at 15 when I tore up my ankle while beating out an infield single to 3B. And I remember that in my first organized game, at age 7, I scored the only run for my team in a 26-1 loss. I drew a walk, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, and scored on a wild pitch. When I got home, a neighbor asked how I did. The witnesses to the game all had a good laugh when I proudly blurted out, "I scored a home run!"
Hobbies: obsession over baseball and music. I dabble in artistic snapshots and creative cooking. I really should get out more often.
What are you known for around the WGOM? bringin' the sexy back, occasionally posting videos, loyal dissension on the subject of KG.
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? Ron Gardenhire, George W. Bush, Big Bird.
If you could pick any 3 people - again, dead or alive - to go out and party (or if you're not the party type, go for martini's or whatever it is you do) who and why? Dean Martin, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Faces.
Sports Allegiances: Twins and Mariners, Sonics, Arsenal
Favorite Books: The Great Shark Hunt, Fever Pitch, Once More Around the Park, Veeck--As In Wreck, Psychotic Reactions & Carburetor Dung, Spilling Clarence, Beneath the Underdog, Crime and Punishment, detective stories.
Favorite Music: I like all kinds of music, but I listen to jazz most often.
Favorite Baseball Movie: Eight Men Out or The Natural
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: Chinatown, Manhattan, Dazed and Confused, This Is Spinal Tap, Clue, The Thin Man series, High Fidelity, The Royal Tenenbaums, A Hard Day's Night... Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are a couple more recent favorites.
Favorite Food & Drink: BBQ chicken, baked beans, and Mom's potato salad is still hard to beat
Favorite TV Show(s): The Office, Lost, Psych, Monk, Medium, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Extras, Pushing Daisies. My all-time favorite Shows are The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Avengers, and Late Night with David Letterman.
Favorite Twins Player, historically: Eddie Guardado. Rod Carew was one of my favorite players when I was a kid, but I only knew him as the 1B of the Angels.
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Johan Santana
Best Twins Memory: Opening Day, 2002.
Favorite Sport to Play: As a kid, it was basketball, soccer, or skiing. But, sadly, I really don't play sports anymore.
Favorite Sport to Watch: baseball
If I could live anywhere in the world, I'd live in: Monterey Bay area of California
If I was commissioner for a day, I'd: Restore the balanced schedule, or something closer to it. Cut back on interleague play. I had some smart remarks to add here, but now they've slipped my mind.
If I had Terry Ryan's job for a day, I'd: Take a "scouting trip" to the Caribbean on Pohlad's dime.
If I had Bill Smith's job I'd: wave goodbye to Hunter and Silva. Trade Joe Nathan for bats. Wash my hands of Punto. Offer Santana the richest deal I could afford in 2009-13; if he declined, I'd shop him. Oh, and fire Scott Ullger and Ron Gardenhire. Then take a "scouting trip" to the Caribbean on Pohlad's dime. (Ed's Note: When I sent this to frightwig, Ryan was still the GM. It's been in the making for awhile. Really, it's been aged for enhanced flavor and depth.)
Favorite Ballpark: Fenway Park. The sense of history and the charged atmosphere is unlike the experience at any other ballpark I've visited. I've also been to, in rough order of ranking: Wrigley Field, Camden Yards, Safeco Field, County Stadium, Kauffman Stadium, PacBell Park, Old Busch Stadium, US Cellular Field, Great American Ballpark, The Big A (pre-renovation), The Vet, The Kingdome, The Metrodome, and Miller Park. Since 1999, I've made a trip to at least one different ballpark each season. I'd love to see PNC Park or make a circuit of all the SoCal parks someday.
Favorite blogs: Digby, Glenn Greenwald, Talking Points Memo. I don't read Twins blogs. I'm here just for the cat and baby photos.
How did a West Coaster endup rooting for the Twins? In 2000, I moved from Maryland to Minnesota. Of course the Twins were in the middle of another awful season. I remember the local media treating the team like an afterthought or a running joke, and hearing more than a few people say they preferred going to a Saints game, but I'd occasionally tune in because, hey, it was baseball. Then one day I was watching some meaningless September game, and there was a play at the plate where A.J. Pierzynski stood in there, absorbed the collision and got knocked backwards, but came up with the ball--and a bloody gash across his face for the trouble. I just felt excited and impressed by his dedication and passion, so I started watching more often and noticed that the team had some other intriguing players who played hard, despite the team's lowly spot in the standings, too. I've been a Twins fan ever since. I really don't think much of the management, but I've always liked a lot of their players.
What is the best part about being a dedicated parental unit? I'm a witness to almost all of the developments in a new life.
Who are some of your favorite jazz artists and why? Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson, Dizzy Gillespie, Eric Dolphy, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Andrew Hill, Gerry Mulligan, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ornette Coleman, Greg Osby, Jason Moran, Dave Douglas, Brad Mehldau, etc. The best musicians tend to have an original, personal vision of the future which ends up shaping the way we all hear and play music at some points along the line. In jazz, I'm also continuously surprised. Even in pieces I've put on hundreds of times, I may hear new aspects in the best jazz music the next time I listen. It depends on what you bring to the music at a given point, your experiences, your frames of reference, your state of mind, so listening to great jazz can reveal something to you about yourself, too.
Did you imagine Arsenal would be this good with Henry leaving for Barca? No. The team had become increasingly reliant on Henry as it lost Bergkamp, Pires, Vieira, Campbell, Cole, etc.; and last season they had a lackluster look even when Henry was healthy to play. But Fabregas has really stepped up, while Adebayor has started to show something, too. It's been a pleasant surprise.
Map time: Bonus! frightwig's relocation site revealed! Sort of.
Click here to continue reading Better Know A Citizen – frightwig...
Name: SoCalTwinsfan
Hometown: Born - Salt Lake City; Raised - All over. If I must pick, I'll go with Nampa, Idaho
Town I Currently Live In: San Bernardino, Cali
Profession: Sports Page Designer. Mainly, I design the national sports pages (Baseball and NBA/NHL) and the agate page (Scoreboard) for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, which has about a dozen newspapers in it, including the L.A. Daily News. I'm the sports agate guru of Southern California.
Bats: R
Throws: R
Positions: Wherever you want me, Coach. I've literally played every position in slow-pitch softball.
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: Hitting for the cycle in a church league softball game. Well, the outfielder screwed up the play on the triple in my last at-bat, but I still count it.
Hobbies: Playing with my kids, fantasy baseball and football, MLB 07 The Show, Madden.
What are you known for around the WGOM? Gardy defender.
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Peretti. Oh, the stories they could tell ...
Sports Allegiances: Twins, Oakland Raiders, Gophers (Football, Basketball, Hockey), Vikings, Philadelphia 76ers, Timberwolves, Wild.
Favorite Books: Chronicles of Narnia, Dragon King trilogy, The Song of Albion trilogy, April Morning
Favorite Music: Petra, DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Skillet, Newsboys, Whiteheart, White Cross, Count Basie, Mozart, Maynard Ferguson.
Favorite Baseball Movie: Major League, The Natural and A League of Their Own
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: Lord of the Rings trilogy; Star Wars movies; Amistad, Apollo 13, Princess Bride, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Favorite Food & Drink: Coke and pizza
Favorite TV Shows: Lost and Heroes
Favorite Twins Player, historically: Kirby
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Depending on which day it is will change the order - Johan, Mauer, Morneau, Torii
Best Twins Memories: The 1987 season, the 1991 WS, winning the division in 2002, the big comebacks in 2003 and 2006. As far as games I attended, I saw Huey Lewis throw out the first pitch after Joe Niekro got suspended in 1987. Lewis brought out a giant piece of sandpaper and sanded down the ball before throwing it. I was also at a game against the A's in 1991 when the Twins rallied with two runs in the ninth against Dennis Eckersley and won the game in extra innings.
Favorite Sport to Play: Pingpong; softball
Favorite Sport to Watch: Baseball
If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d live in: The Twin Cities during baseball season and San Diego in the offseason.
If I was commissioner for a day, I’d: Allow teams to trade draft picks and have all international players included in the draft. I'd also tell the owners and players that they had to have the same rules and that they had to work it out whether to have DH or not.
If I had Terry Ryan’s job for a day, I’d: Re-sign Torii and Silva and trade Johan to fill holes at 3B, 2B and/or DH.
Favorite Ballpark: Tie Safeco Field and Petco Park
Favorite blogs: TwinsGeek, Gleeman, Seth Stohs. Is SBG a blog? It's one of my favorite sites, whatever you want to call it.
How did you come to root for the Twins? My family moved from Nampa to Maple Grove, MN, when I was starting eighth grade in 1984. At that time, the only team I followed with any real passion was the Raiders. Going from pretty much a rural community to the Twin Cities, I discovered there was a lot of sports out there to watch. I began following the Gophers in basketball and hockey and even discovered I liked watching the North Stars and even the Strikers in MISL. As a kid, I think I thought baseball was kind of boring, but there wasn't much else in the summer. My older brother would take me to an occasional game and that helped stir some interest. But it wasn't until 1986 when Kirby had his breakout year that I began following the Twins on a daily basis. Then, 1987 pretty much sealed the deal. I was hooked.
If visited by Rufus and his phone booth, which personages of historical significance would you collect so you don't fail History and go to military school? Winston Churchill, because I enjoy reading books and watching movies from WWII. Sam Adams, so I can say "He's not a brewer, Dude." Abraham Lincoln, because he is one of my favorite historical figures and he really likes to party.
In the course of your work, do you ever get to go out to the events? No longer. I started out as a sports writer, mainly covering high school sports. I have also covered a boxing match (a real one), rodeos, minor league baseball games, motor racing (which included a crash-up derby at the end), a senior golf tournament (which included a chance to interview Chi Chi Rodriguez) and the greatest basketball game ever played. Ever! I couldn't do justice to it here, but maybe SBG will let me tell you about it sometime.
What are some of your kids' favorite games to play? My oldest always wants to play video games. His favorite right now is Shrek2. My youngest is 2. His favorite game is "Wake up, -----" which he learned from "The Wiggles" who sing a song "Wake Up, Jeff." Basically, one person pretends to be asleep, and the others say "Wake Up, ----!!" Usually at the top of their lungs and right in the ear. You take turns doing this.
Nampa, ID? Oh my goodness! The map has expanded!
Click here to continue reading Better Know A Citizen – SoCalTwinsFan...
Name: Erik Dikken
SBG Moniker: kg2005
Hometown: Renville, MN
Town I Currently Live In: Brookings, SD
Profession: Computer Science student, Software Quality Assurance student at Daktronics, Inc
Bats: With a 9-iron
Throws: Picture Johnny Damon
Positions: 2B, CF
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: Last year in softball I had a .700 OBP. Nevermind my OPS was .800. Yeah, I was one of THOSE guys. Wait, does beating up on my friends at Wii baseball count?
Hobbies: Reading, golfing, Halo-ing, playing poker
What are you known for around the WGOM? Sporadic commenting, winning The Big Deal
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? SBG, ubelmann, and Ron Gardenhire. The "nice, polite" part might not last very long. I believe the conversation would be fantastic though, and everybody might learn something. Another variation of that would be Ken Tremendous, Billy Beane, and Joe Morgan.
If you could pick any 3 people - again, dead or alive - to go out and party (or if you're not the party type, go for martini's or whatever it is you do) who and why? I don't party, and I'm not exactly sure whatever it is I do. However, I pick Kevin Garnett, Johan Santana, and Aaron Gleeman. Cuz really, who wouldn't have a good time with those three?
Sports Allegiances: Twins, Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves, and much to my dismay, the Vikings.
Favorite Books: Harry Potter, The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Lord of the Rings... cuz anything that's worth reading is worth reading for a long time.
Favorite Music: Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy, The All-American Rejects, and stuff like that. Yes, I have too many friends who are college-aged girls.
Favorite Baseball Movie: Field of Dreams
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: Transformers, but that changes every time I see a new awesome movie in theaters
Favorite Food & Drink: Pizza and Mt. Dew
Favorite TV Show(s): Family Guy, The Simpsons, The Colbert Report, anything sports related
Favorite Twins Player, historically: Francisco Liriano ("Have you ever watched him throw a slider? It was like the first time I heard the Beatles!")
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Michael Cuddyer
Best Twins Memory: September 2006
Favorite Sport to Play: Anything that anybody will play with me.
Favorite Sport to Watch: Baseball
If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d live in: Ack, is it wrong to say Minnesota?
If I was commissioner for a day, I’d: Take a day of vacation. Maybe watch some baseball.
If I had Terry Ryan’s job for a day, I’d:
- Not quit.
- Sign Johan to a 6 year extension, sign Morneau to an extension, sign Hunter a "thank you, but we can't afford you" card.
Favorite Ballpark: The Metrodome. I don't want to get rained on while watching baseball, sue me.
Favorite blogs: The WGOM, Gleeman, FJM, SethSpeaks
What's your favorite type of Mt. Dew- original, Code Red, Gamer formula, AMP, other? Code Red is disgusting, I've never heard of the Gamer formula, I like Amp, but I'm not much into energy drinks. I'll take the original.
What is your most effective weapon in Halo? Most effective? It's hard (but not impossible) to be ineffective with a rocket launcher. My favorite weapon is probably the shotgun, especially when people don't notice you until it's too late.
How did your Big Deal prize turn out? Truthfully, I've only gotten the chance to watch one game. Of course once the 2007 season ends and I don't have baseball to watch every day they'll probably be more appealing. Maybe I'll put the DVDs in while the World Series is going on, just pretend the Twins are playing. Gee, Morneau and Hunter are there, but I don't recognize the rest of the Twins at all...
Who would you rather have for a family - The Griffins or The Simpsons? While I find the Griffins to be more entertaining, I believe the Simpsons would scare me less. I do enjoy donuts.
It's maptastic after the jump...
Click here to continue reading Better Know A Citizen – kg2005...
Name: Will Young (pronounced "Will Young")
Hometown: Richfield, MN
Town I Currently Live In: Saint Paul, MN
Profession: Making Events Occur Smoothly
Bats: Both (more power as a righty, better bat control as a lefty)
Throws: Left
Positions: Pitcher and First Base through Little League, Left-Center in Softball
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: I threw 3 perfect innings in the Little League championship game before being pulled for the old maximum number of innings in a week rule. My replacement coughed up a grand slam in the fourth and we lost 4-2.
Hobbies: reading, playing/simming Diamond Mind seasons and games (and getting destroyed by Gleeman annually in 2 different leagues), spending way too much time surfing the internet, offering about 1% of the planning behind the upcoming wedding
What are you known for around the WGOM? Whining, WPA charts, a horrible server, and incorporating Sheenie into about half of my posts
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, and Theodore Roosevelt. I would love to just hear them talk about remaining modest and grounded while shaping the world as well as hear their perspectives on the current world climate. Genghis Khan would probably have been invited, but I would need a translator.
If you could pick any 3 people - again, dead or alive - to go out and party with, who and why? Will Arnett, Adam Carolla, and Bill Murray. I'm not sure my lungs and ribcage could take all the laughing, but I might as well try it.
Sports Allegiances: Twins, GW basketball, Nebraska football (although Callahan sucks), Gopher hockey, people named Kevin Garnett
Favorite Books: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, The Princess Bride
Favorite Baseball Movie: The Sandlot barely edges Field of Dreams
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: The Princess Bride, The Big Lebowski, The Shawshank Redemption and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Favorite Music: Arcade Fire, The Hold Steady, Bruce Springsteen, Counting Crows, The New Pornographers, Guster, and Radiohead to name a few
Favorite Food & Drink: chili-cheese half smoke, chili-cheese fries and a banana milkshake from Ben's Chili Bowl; in general, I drink a whole lot of Mountain Dew and root beer and very little alcohol
Favorite TV Shows: Arrested Development, Seinfeld, 24 except for last season, Match Game re-runs are also fun
Favorite Twins Player, historically: Matt LeCroy edges out Tim Teufel
Favorite Twins Player, currently: it really changes daily but most often the answer is Johan or Pat Neshek but Mauer, Cuddyer, and Bartlett are all frequently in the mix
Best Twins Memories: I have thousands of Twins memories and it is hard to pick the one that is the "best" or "most vivid". Watching Ruben Sierra's "homerun" call be reversed and turned into a foul ball during Game 1 in 2004 was pretty fun as I was getting heckled non-stop in the Yankee Stadium bleachers. Other good memories were seeing Paul Molitor lay down a squeeze bunt in Wrigley in 1997, attending Scott Erickson's no-hitter, Randy Bush's game-winning HR in August 1991, meeting Frank Viola in Spring Training in 1988 with him demonstrating the circle-changeup grip on a lemon, and winning the Northwest Round-Tripper contest after a Cristian Guzman homerun in 2002. Frankly, I've been insanely blessed and have too many to count.
Favorite Sport to Play: Soccer, softball, tennis and basketball are all good, but I need to get into a league or get forced to keep playing to stay in shape.
Favorite Sport to Watch: Baseball, followed by college football and college basketball.
If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d live in: As far away from Red Sox Nation as possible.
If I was commissioner for a day, I’d:
- Force the Marlins to fork over some money and get their stadium built.
- Tar and feather my predecessor before having him dropped from a tall building in a roll of carpet.
- Make the Red Sox and Yankees only play afternoon ALDS games in their next 5 appearances.
- Purchase television-time and produce a one hour special to air on ESPN and FOX featuring noted historians and researchers such as Bill James place the steroid era into context along with the deadball era and the 1930 season (for example) to show people that we do not need to take any rash actions because the numbers will speak for themselves throughout history.
- Go through Carl Pohlad's cushions for loose change.
If I had Terry Ryan’s job for a day, I’d:
- Go through Carl Pohlad's cushions for loose change.
- Package Joe Nathan and Boof to a team in need of pitching for some upper level young hitting (for example, Nathan + Boof to the DRays for Evan Longoria and Reid Brignac).
- Dear Ron Gardenhire, You are expendable. Stop being a dumbass. You're on thin ice. Yours, Will
- Aggressively shop Waldrop, Rainville, Swarzak, Mijares, Sawatski, Fox, and Slowey (basically young pitchers not named Garza, Liriano, Baker, Pino, and Manship) for young bats.
Favorite Ballpark: PNC edges Camden and Wrigley
Favorite blogs: Gleeman, SBG, Batgirl, TwinsGeek, GW Hoops, my own when it's working properly
Where did you fly on your Guzman provided tickets? I had several ideas kicking around in my head - visiting my cousin in Seattle for the first time, experiencing Las Vegas for the first time - but I finally just ended up using it as another step in my courtship to go down to New Orleans.
What drew you all they way out to GW from Minnesota? A few factors. First, I really wanted to study International Affairs in college and the DC region is obviously one of the top places to do that. After visiting all the colleges out there, GW was easily the one at which I felt the most comfortable (for example, I'm not extremely interested in burning coaches so Maryland was out). It is a great urban setting just blocks from the White House and Lincoln Memorial, as opposed to Georgetown and American which are a little further away from the "center" of DC. The other main factor was the need to get as far away from home as possible without crossing an ocean. I just really needed to go out and live on my own and I was definitely able to be independent in DC.
What your favorite national monument/museum/etc. in DC that most people don't know about? The Albert Einstein Sculpture is just across Constitution Avenue from the Vietnam Wall and is a great, secluded place to relax and read. The National Building Museum has several rotating exhibits about architecture (the last time I went, there was a wing devoted to "Disney architecture") and is practically deserted all the time. A final DC treasure is the existence of Eastern Motors commercials. Search "Eastern Motors" on YouTube and you will not be disappointed.
Do you ever see politicians just on the street, at Starbucks, at the movies? One time I was walking back to my freshman residence hall (it was the lookout during the Watergate break-in before being bought by the University in 1998) and seeing a scruffy looking guy jogging down the street. Several of my friends were laughing at him because he looked like a homeless yuppie. I turned to them and said, "You do realize, that's my Senator, right?" Yup, it was Paul Wellstone.
Other random people I came across outside of work include Tucker Carlson, Wolf Blitzer, Cobi Jones, Harry Belafonte, Nicole Kidman (she is radiant, I saw her walking through Georgetown shopping while I was riding a bus in to work one day - she just has an aura), and Chuck Hagel.
That doesn't even include people I met through work (I worked in events at GW) such as Ann Coulter, Meg Ryan, Alec Baldwin, John Stossel, Jack Kemp, Newt Gingrich, and Ted Kennedy. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed inside the bubble when we hosted a speech by President Bush, but I did get to spend several hours planning logistics with Secret Security.
Your thoughts on Pops Mensah-Bonsu:Pops is a really, really personable guy who lights up a room when he walks in. I remember his first points as a Colonial - they came in an exhibition game. He got fouled and missed the front end of a 1-and-1. However, out of no where, he leapt from the line and dunked his own miss! There was no applause, everyone in the Smith Center was too stunned to even react at first.
Anyway, I never thought he would develop into an NBA quality player because he left his feet too easily defensively, didn't really anticipate rebounding lanes that well, and his offensive game is severely limited. However, he has opened a few eyes with his heart and determination and might be able to carve out a niche for himself going forward. He has just started this season playing in Italy, but I would bet he returns to the NBA to provide decent energy off some teams' bench. He can be Mark Madsen for a lot less money.
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Name: Sheenie
Hometown: New Orleans "The Big Easy", LA
Town I Currently Live In: Just up river... St. Paul, MN ... I actually only moved 1 block closer to The River
Profession: I work at a law firm
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Positions: 2nd base and outfield and catching, basically whatever position is needed on a rec. softball team
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: in 6th grade I made an amazing play at 2nd base but I don't remember much besides it won the game for us.
Hobbies: Baking and Cooking
What are you known for around the WGOM? observing and never commenting and only appearing on Will's Title is Too Long.
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? Neil Armstrong, Albert Einstein and Thomas Jefferson. I'm a scientist at heart and always wanted to know what it is like on the moon.
If you could pick any 3 people - again, dead or alive - to go out and party with, who and why? my sister (she's in Med School in New Orleans and we never get a chance to see each other anymore), Will Smith, Christian Bale (well you have to have hot men to buy you drinks!)
Sports Allegiances: Twins, GW basketball, quasi-New Orleans Saints fan (I hate watching football, but I like knowing they are winning)
Favorite Books: Pride and Prejudice (and most Jane Austen books), The Chosen by Chaim Potok, the entire Harry Potter Series
Favorite Baseball Movie: A League of Their Own
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: My Cousin Vinny, Apollo 13, Princess Diaries, The Sound of Music
Favorite Music: The Hold Steady, Barenaked Ladies, almost anything Country
Favorite Food & Drink: Ice Cream, steaks from Argentina, Whiskey Sours
Favorite TV Shows: Law and Order, The Cosby Show, MythBusters
Favorite Twins Player, historically: I just started liking the Twins in 2002 ... so I would have to chose Corey Koskie ... he officially introduced me to Justin Morneau!
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Overall Player: Justin Morneau, Pitcher: Pat Neshek (Pat - if you read this website I have a jersey I need you to autograph!)
Best Twins Memory: Getting Justin Morneau to notice me (that's a long story that is on Will's website)
Favorite Sport to Play: swimming and tennis and skiing
Favorite Sport to Watch: baseball
If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d live in: anywhere that it snows enough to ski
If I was commissioner for a day, I’d: make ESPN show all baseball teams equally.
If I had Terry Ryan’s job for a day, I’d: pull a Rivas on Punto and send him down to the minors. How can Terry live each day knowing that a player like Punto is out there?!
Favorite Ballpark: Zephyr's Field in New Orleans ... just try the food!
Favorite blogs: Will's Title is Too Long, SBG, Pink is the New Blog, Aaron's Baseball Blog, And what used to be BatGirl
What would you want to be the first person to do on the moon? Well, seeing how someone has already landed on the moon, walked and jumped on the moon, driven on the moon, played golf and took pictures there... I think I would like to be part of the first community to live on the moon. Being the first person to live there by myself would be kind of lonely...
What do you like to bake? Cookies are my favorite, but I love to bake anything. Now that I don't have school to worry about I'm going to start trying more difficult things.
Do you think you could take out a Rodent of Unusual Size? Only if I had the Dread Pirate Robert with me. Otherwise, nope.
What's your favorite kind of jambalaya? Shrimp, sausage (andouille is the best!) and chicken. But up here I tend to make chicken and sausage most of the time. Shrimp, and seafood in general is too fricken expensive. It kills me in the summer, knowing that if I were in New Orleans I could buy a pound of shrimp, right off the boat, for about $5. I can't even buy frozen shrimp for that up here. I think the seafood part is my only dislike about living up here.
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Cup of Coffee  88 LTEs Wolves lose again by 22, Kevin Love down to 17 minutes. This is the worst possible situation for the Wolves. They are driving what is left of their fan base with a tremendous stretch of terrible basketball. Their best, or second-best, player has checked out and is getting buried on the bench. I doubt that Love is in their long term plans. How's that O.J. Mayo deal looking now?
Retired WGOM Jokes
- "The Twins should have drafted Mark Prior."
Race to the Bottom: Highest Loss Totals in T-Wolves History 67: 1991-92
63: 1992-93
62: 1993-94
61: 1994-95
60: 1989-90, 2007-08
58: 2008-09
56: 1995-96
55: 2009-10
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Recent Letters to the Editor
In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 18, 2010,
brianS wrote: Yea, Marquette did me no favors.
davidwatts wrote: I was very disappointed that the Mankato CBS station went to the Marquette game instead of sticking to the UNI game and my bracket is done blown up!
meat wrote: Cc to Andrew: I'm suddenly going to be in Dublin for a short weekend this summer (late June), any suggestions would be good as to where to stay / eat drink / be Irish.
spookymilk wrote: Boy oh boy, would most of those references be lost on my...let's call them …
twayn wrote: Danke! Bummer that there's no radio for Friday's game with the Mets. Slowey vs. Johan.
Klawitter wrote: Working in Century City. Living for the moment in Westwood, at least until I sell my place in DC this spring and move everything.
New Britain Bo wrote: How's this for script idea: At a planning session for an … a committee of twelve Indians (4 dot, 4 feather, 4 West) hires a crack director to run their event. He shows up at…
DK wrote: I missed this earlier today since I was apparently too busy … in the Nightmare thread, but I'd be down with this too. In fact, I'd probably be willing to contribute to coverage.
Milt on Tilt wrote: I'm picking up my puppy tomorrow. I couldn't be more excited.
spookymilk wrote: Oh, and Rhu: one of my challenges in this week's Survivor game was to do a six-word evaluation of Lew Zealand. These were the … flinger never flounders for puns. Better than Belladonna with fish…
In Response to Nightmares at WGOMville,
hungry joe wrote: i wasn't planning on going out, but two heavies from my company were in town, and they took me out for a crazy night (got home at 2, and i've been hating life most of…
spookymilk wrote: I instantly love the person who took that photo, hungry man. I'm sitting here drinking Bass; yesterday I went the nostalgia route with my St. Pat's choice, opting for a drink that reminded me of college…
hungry joe wrote:
Milt on Tilt wrote: hehe. Beer.
spookymilk wrote: To be fair, drama is kind of the world I live in. I'm prone to exaggeration. Plus, I'm drunk because this script is making me tense and I needed to take the edge…
Milt on Tilt wrote: Yeah, man. I wouldn't "disregard" it either, because it was truly a horrifying move. Oh come now. That's just being completely over dramatic.
Milt on Tilt wrote: O-Cab lead the majors in Outs as a batter in 2009. Call me … Jimmy Rollins actually did. But Cabrera was second, and first in the AL. Even so. I could use that same…
nibbish wrote: I don't know what to make of it. On one hand, Cabrera was made of suck. On the other, any shortstop we put in there was going to. I'd have to side with DK and…
spookymilk wrote: Yeah, man. I wouldn't "disregard" it either, because it was truly a horrifying move. 0-Cab cleared the bases for the team's best hitter over and over. I know it's nice to remember…
DK wrote: O-Cab was a baseball band-aid over a severed limb. Acting like doing that was a "victory" is what seems foolish to me.
In Response to Luna - 23 Minutes In Brussels (Tell Me Do You Miss Me),
E-6 wrote: Love me some Luna.
In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 17, 2010,
brianS wrote: I dunno. But we're not really talking about a legal argument so much as an ethical one, I think.
Moss wrote: The old "you can't have your coke and snort it too" … can't get a conviction on a … test...and is possession of any amount of coke a felony??
hungry joe wrote: tell me about it...
brianS wrote: It is hard to consume if you do not possess.