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 16, 2010,
sean wrote: And more is being added! BR is adding box scores from Retrosheet for 1920-1939, and play-by-play for '52 and '53 soon. There even appears to be the occasional game with play-by-play for the '20-'39 data.…
frightwig wrote: It could be true that an obsessive ego, which may compel someone to sleep with a different woman every night, might also be what drives that person to be the best in his … I…
spookymilk wrote: Stick, I've got to thank you for doing the six-word evaluations last year; I used them for my Creative Writing Survivor game last week to hilarious results. It was a blast. For the record, three…
frightwig wrote: I know a hipster woman in Portland who also loves the Twins (she grew up in Minnesota)--and she dyes her hair red. Sad to say, though, I think she's been with a guy from PDX…
frightwig wrote: His eyes will glaze over when he gets to, "However it seems like you are unaware of how much data is available on-line regarding baseball statistics and history."
brianS wrote: Rhu_Ru is about to become a Cincy Reds fan, judging from this story. despite the fact that I'm not a Reds fan and that I'd be looking at 10 hours of driving for 81 games a…
Milt on Tilt wrote: Reading a review of The Show, apparently one of the time wasting animations is a hot foot in the dugout? I've not seen this yet. Anyone else? Also, EA Sports is tracking online gameplay. Favre…
New Guy wrote: Ha! No, this is a new New Gal. Our first real date was the drunken Alice in Wonderland escapade a couple weeks back.
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: Let's just hope it isnt "Been Around A While Gal"
UncleWalt wrote: Hey, that's my neighborhood! I guess I need to get out more. In all seriousness, I wouldn't eat anything off the floor of the Uptowner.
In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 15, 2010,
SBG wrote: And, apparently, it is insured.
SBG wrote: Is Nathan's contract insured? Because if it is, then you have to readjust your calculus.
brianS wrote: that is awesome.
brianS wrote: Meat?? Calling Meat!!!
Andrew wrote: I'm … My old roommate Adam and I always refer to Juan Dixon, formerly of Maryland, as The Illiterate Juan Dixon. Through him, my hatred for Maryland basketball is 3rd to only Purdue…
SBG wrote: I'll do that, what is it?
frightwig wrote: And Sampras never even mentioned crystal meth.
In Response to The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat,
AMR wrote: That, plus the discussion, plus I've heard the FFs (Only Widow City) and I know their reputations.
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: What, the 4.14 rating gave you the impression it would be a bad video?
AMR wrote: Not as bad as I feared.
In Response to Patty Griffin - Mary,
AMR wrote: I bought it for my wife for her … two originals on it, but they're both very good. All of the songs are religiously themed. Some old gospel standards. Others not so…
E-6 wrote: I'm with you, AMR. Patty Griffin is awesome. I happen to think this is one of her best songs, too. And while I would also prefer she sang it solo, Ms. Maines doesn't exactly ruin…
AMR wrote: Awesome. One of her best songs. It and "Tony" were the first that drew me to her. One of the few things my wife and I can agree on, so she gets a lot…
In Response to Happy Birthday--March 16,
CarterHayes wrote: .
E-6 wrote: Blondie? Patsy? Flowers? It's a league of their own.