Name: Beth Miller
Hometown: Buffalo, Minnesota
Town I Currently Live In: St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Profession: Administrator
Bats: Neither
Throws: Like a girl
Positions: Scorekeeper. (In my brief career playing softball for my company team--about 25 games--they usually stuck me in right field. I had two games at catcher, and one game at 3B.)
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: I got a hit once!
Hobbies: Sewing (quilts, crafts, and clothes), reading, writing, watching sports
What are you known for around the WGOM? Random appearances?
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? Ack! I hate these questions! I'm going to limit my answer to people alive, because I pretty much want to talk to anyone with historical significance, whether it be personal, scientific, political, or cultural. And I want to meet with Terry Ryan, Tom Kelly, and Jim Rantz, just to get their perspective on how the Twins organization is going.
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? There are so many people, I'm going to pick one group: I'd like to meet with some of the "stars" of baseball from the late 1800's. I'd like to show them what the game is like today, and have them explain differences from how the game was then. As the rules were evolving, I'd like to know how they decided to make the changes.
Sports Allegiances: Twins, Wild, Swarm
Favorite Books: Pride and Prejudice, Hitchhikers' Guide
Favorite Music: Generally pop, but my iPod holds a wide variety
Favorite Baseball Movie: 61* or For the Love of the Game
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: I don't watch a lot of movies, so of the limited ones I've seen, it depends on my mood.
Favorite Food & Drink: For simple pleasures, I really like a good hamburger. I don't drink alcohol. (Which means I watch all these games sober!)
Favorite TV Show(s): I never really watched TV, but I do enjoy The Simpsons.
Favorite Twins Player, historically: Tom Brunansky was my favorite player as a kid, but Kent Hrbek is the all-time favorite.
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Michael Cuddyer and Scott Baker
Best Twins Memory: Someone gave me good tickets to a Twins game for my 12th birthday, and Tom Brunansky hit a walk-off home run! That or Baker's near-perfect game.
Favorite Sport to Play: Tennis
Favorite Sport to Watch: Baseball
If I could live anywhere in the world, I'd live in: Somewhere near enough to attend lots of Twins games.
If I was commissioner for a day, I'd: I'd make Manny Ramirez cut his hair. It annoys me.
If I had Bill Smith's job I'd: I'd completely abuse my position to watch a lot of baseball from some really good seats. I'd like to go to Twins minor league games, but they're so far away (exception: Beloit). As for the work part of the job, I'd make sure all my assistants were giving me full reports from a scouting and statistical view.
Favorite Ballpark: Wrigley Field for the history, Kauffman Stadium for the ballpark
Favorite blogs: WGOM, Aaron Gleeman, Seth Speaks, the Strib/SPPP blogs
What is your take on Conan's discussion with old time baseball players? Absolutely hilarious. That's pretty much what someone with a time machine would look like if they went back in time (except the natives would probably not be so tolerant). I've seen the old-time baseball exhibition they do at the Dome every year, and while it's interesting, I'm really interested in knowing the thought process that went behind the changing of the rules. When did they decide that gloves were a good idea and allowed them (which would change the "catch on one bounce" rule), why did they decide on four balls for a walk, etc.
Why is your Buffalo better than FTLF's Buffalo, NY? I list it as my hometown! My parents property is oddly located with ties to four cities; the address is Buffalo and that's where I went to high school, so I usually go with that.
What kind of writing do you enjoy the most? Honestly, most of my writing these days are just e-mail messages to friends, blog entries, and stuff like that. I don't have the attention span to write anything longer.
Who do you credit with creating your interest in baseball? My parents. My mom loves the Twins because her father loved baseball, and listened to all the Twins games on the radio (he died in 1990), and before that followed the Minneapolis Millers. My dad loves all sports (his mother was a huge football fan; his dad didn't care about sports).
Map time!


Recent Letters to the Editor
In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 19, 2010,
E-6 wrote: But speed freaks should be shot on sight. So you're in favor of the conceal and carry law, then? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make a triple-espresso shot for my latte.
twayn wrote: I like how they use Slowey as the pitcher talking about what a good receiver Butera is. Slowey can spot his fastball in a frigging thimble. He's got to be the easiest pitcher on the…
twayn wrote: I saw Kareem on TV not long ago (Bill Maher, maybe?) talking about medicinal marijuana and how it was about the only analgesic that worked for his migraines. I know two people who used it…
rowsdower wrote: I was planning some yard work for this weekend too, but now they tell us were supposed to get 2"-3" of snow in Omaha tonight. Sheesh, it was 65 degrees here yesterday!
Beau wrote: the only thing worse than losing Mauer is reading a year's worth of salivation from the east coast
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: From Rumour Monger, Buster Olney The Joe Mauer contract negotiations remain cordial. No deadlines have been set, no ultimatums have been given. Optimism about the possibility of a long-term deal is still in place, because the…
Beau wrote: Man, the KFAN morning show is one big pile of suck. Do these guys ever discuss sports or do they just hem and haw and yell and talk over the top of each other?…
SBG wrote: Ron Washington admits to marijuana and amphetamine use as a player. I'm not sure why he's admitting this stuff now. But, we all know that amphetamines were part of baseball for a long,…
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: 3rd? We need Mauer to be the closer!
Jeff A wrote: In doing player bios, one of the things I've come to realize is how many Drew Butera-type catchers have had long major league careers. They never play regularly unless there's an injury, but if…
In Response to TGIF,
UncleWalt wrote: Lots of Big John Cash lately, it seems. I don't own any of the American recordings and I prolly should.
UncleWalt wrote: I recently rediscovered Mermaid Avenue after not having listened to it for years and I think it has held up well.
hungry joe wrote: gah, "summertime rolls" is a song i find difficult to listen to these days. too many good memories, and the sadness that that brings, if that makes any sense...
E-6 wrote: Glad you like it, pal. It's gonna take a helluva record to knock that one off the top of my year-end fave list.
Big Mak wrote: Summertime Rolls - Jane's Addiction - Nothing's … - Sonic Youth - Juno Soundtrack It Only Took a Day - Dredg - El Cielo L.A. - Butthole Surfers - Electric … - Static X- Machine Brick is Red…
hungry joe wrote: nice dylan track.
hungry joe wrote: the padre's into the reverend. i like it. just remember: you've got a friend in jimbo.
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: Good Intentions.. is probably my favorite track off of that album. I am really enjoying it, thanks for turning me onto it, 6.
rowsdower wrote: Hermitage - Charlie Haden - Quartet West Poor Jenny - Rockpile - Seconds of … Plates - John Hiatt - Slow … - The Beatles - Abbey Road I Didn't Know About You - Thelonious Monk -…
E-6 wrote: Heroin Lou Reed Rock 'n' Roll Animal English Rose The Jam All Mod Cons Ice on the Wing Nada Surf … Song To The Siren Tim Buckley Starsailor The Wolves (Act I and II) Bon Iver For…
In Response to Happy Birthday--March 19,
CarterHayes wrote: .
In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 18, 2010,
Andrew wrote: Yeah, I got all kinds of suggestions. I'll work on a list for you (I still might have the list I made for a different friend). I'll email you.
Rhubarb_Runner wrote: I was a South Bay man myself (after a little time spent in The Valley) but lived for a few months in Century City, after we were married. Westwood is a happening place.
Rhubarb_Runner wrote: ;) "Hey - every night is Fry-day night!"
cheaptoy wrote: Never bank on anything from Milwaukee. (which I also did... Elite Eight, what the hell was I thinking?)