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Andrew  August 7, 2008, at 6:52 am  - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Conan O'Brien, Hitchhiker's Guide, Kent Hrbek, Michael Cuddyer, Minneapolis Millers, Pride and Prejudice, Scott Baker, The Simpsons, Thisisbeth, Tom Brunansky
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!

Andrew  June 19, 2007, at 9:00 am  - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired) Andrew, BKAC, Field of Dreams, Herb Carneal, Hitchhiker's Guide, Jeff A., Pat Neshek, Sal Butera, San Antonio Spurs, The Padre
Name: Jeff A
Hometown: Delmont, SD. Actually, though, the town I currently live in is much more my “home town†than the town in which I grew up.
Town I currently live in: Wessington Springs, SD
Profession: Lawyer/Pastor
Bats: Poorly
Throws: Weakly
Positions: Generally seated.
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: I hit a home run when I was eleven. We were playing on a full-size field, and I hit a groundball down the right- field line that rolled almost to the fence. I’m currently the public address announcer for the local teams, and I’m a lot better at that.
Hobbies: Baseball public address announcer. Statistician for the boys high school basketball team. Amateur singer/songwriter.
What are you known for around the WGOM? This assumes I’m actually known for something, of which I’m rather skeptical. If anything, maybe for throwing random questions or comments to generate discussion.
Sports Allegiances: Twins, Vikings, San Antonio Spurs (not a bandwagonner—I’ve rooted for them since the mid ‘70s, when they were still in the ABA). Also, any Wessington Springs, SD sports teams.
Favorite Books: The “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy†series. Also, any of the SABR books about the early days of baseball.
Favorite Baseball Movie: “Field of Dreamsâ€
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: “Harveyâ€. I once got to play the Jimmy Stewart role in community theater, which was a lot of fun. Also, any Laurel and Hardy movies.
Favorite Food & Drink: Chocolate chip cookies and milk
Favorite TV show (s): Any baseball game. “Doctor Whoâ€. “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friendsâ€. “The Benny Hill Showâ€.
Favorite Twins Player, historically: Sal Butera
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Pat Neshek
Best Twins Memory: When Herb Carneal came to Delmont, SD to speak at the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame banquet.
Favorite Sport to Play: Bowling. It’s the only one I was ever any good at.
Favorite Sport to Watch: Baseball. Anything else is a distant second.
If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d live in: Wessington Springs, SD, where I live now. Seriously.. I know it’s a little dinky town in the middle of nowhere, but there are some wonderful people here.
If I was commissioner for a day, I’d: Resign. When’s the last time there was a commissioner people actually liked?
If I had Terry Ryan’s job for a day, I’d: Improve the offense.
SBG—great on-line magazine, or greatest on-line magazine? Greatest. Is that even a question?
Favorite Ballpark: I’ve been to so few major-league parks that I’m really not qualified to answer. But if they’re playing baseball in it, how bad can it be?
First MLB game: 1977. My big brother took me to a game in Kansas City, Twins at Royals. Gary Serum pitched eight innings for the win. Mike Marshall got the save. Rod Carew got three hits, each to a different part of the field. If anyone researches this and finds that it couldn’t be correct, I’d appreciate you shutting up about it. I’d rather cherish my memories.
Favorite blog: SBG nation. Are there other blogs?
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people—dead or alive—who and why? You know, when people are asked these questions, they usually choose either great historical figures or celebrities. But really, what would I say to any of those people? I think I’d pick my wife and a couple of close friends.
If you could pick any 3 people—again, dead or alive—to go out and party, who and why? Since I don’t “go out and party†myself, I’d pick three people I don’t like and send them on their way, knowing that then they wouldn’t be bothering me that night.
Can you dance if you want to? Sadly, no. I watch people dancing, and they look so graceful that I’d love to be able to do it, but unfortunately I can’t.
Can you leave your friends behind? I’ve moved a couple of times in my life, so yes, I can. It does make me sad, though. You always say that you’ll stay close, but most of the time you don’t. You live your life, they live theirs, and you drift apart.
What’s your hidden talent? I’m a really good speller. Unfortunately, I’m a lousy typist, which kind of negates it.
Do you have a TV show or movie that you won’t admit to liking? No. But then, if I did, I wouldn’t admit it.
SBG note: I don't mean to step on Andrew's toes, but I thought I'd add a map of hometowns for those who have been profiled.

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Cup of Coffee  64 LTEs
Wolves give up 79 points in the first half on Tuesday night (a club record), but they tightened the screws in the second half and only gave up 73. I expect another Korean recipe over at Canis Hoopus.
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
54: 2009-10
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Recent Letters to the Editor
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brianS wrote: Pinstripes ARE slimming.
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In Response to Brought Along, Kicking and Screaming, Into the 21st Century,
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In Response to Jackie Wilson - Danny Boy,
Klawitter wrote: Glad you posted it - definitely worth watching. And I will check out the Orbison version -- he's got the voice that makes dramatic authentic.
E-6 wrote: I played this one as much for the WTF factor as anything. (I love Jackie, too, but this number ain't exactly in his wheelhouse, so to speak.) Roy Orbison does a pretty reading that you…
Klawitter wrote: I love soul music and Jackie Wilson is great. That said, Danny Boy is one of those songs that benefits from understated, simple arrangements to undercut the sentimentality (and I think it's a great…
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In Response to Happy Birthday--March 17,
CarterHayes wrote: A little late (TwinsCards was down for maintenance most of the day today), but better than never: