Checking in on the Twins Starters

Apologies to my legion of fans on my 3 week hiatus, I've been busy, but have been providing short, quick updates on my Twitter page. Please follow me there for more breaking news updates, quick interesting facts, and other random quips.

The Twins rotation will look very familiar in 2011 with all 5 players returning from 2011, the first 4 have been promised spots from Gardenhire. The last spot is an ongoing battle between two experienced career Twins. Let's look into how all 6 are doing this spring.



ACE - FRANCISCO LIRIANO
Spring Stats - 0-1, 5.59 ERA, 9.2 IP, 0 HR, 10 K's.
Until last Friday, Liriano's spring could have been described as shaky at best. But his 7 strikeouts in 5 innings performance has given Twins fans the faith we needed. Liriano is coming off his best post-surgery year. No one expects him to return to his 2006 pre-surgery form, but he's shown signs that he will not succumb to the fate of many Tommy John surgery recipients, a busted career. He was, after all, the Comeback Player of the Year in 2010. He can look down the bench at Jim Thome and see what hard work and perseverance can do coming off a serious surgery, Thome won the same award in 2006.

2ND STARTER - CARL PAVANO
Spring Stats - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 IP, 7 K's.
If not for Liriano and his dominating stuff, Carl Pavano would be the team's ace. But he's more of a control pitcher, a la Brad Radke, but with a slightly quicker fastball. After sitting on offers from other teams, Pavano returns to the Twins for his 3rd year (2nd full), which has made his fans very happy. Pavano's has created a cult following in the upper midwest with his patented mustache. After a slow 2010 start, Pavano grew out a Super Mario'esque 'stache and his luck seemed to turn around. He finished the season 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA, his 2nd best big league season. Like Liriano, Pavano was troubled with injuries during what was supposed to be the prime of his career. He'll likely be remembered that way, but is trying his best in the twilight of his career to put make a mark and establish himself as the elite pitcher everyone thought he would be. His perfect spring has Twins fans salivating for what could be in store for 2011.

3RD STARTER - BRIAN DUENSING
Spring Stats - 2-0, 2.25 ERA, 12.2 IP, 0 HR, 10 K's.
Sans playoffs, Brian Duensing has yet to disappoint Twins fans. Duensing is a bullpen to starter success story that so many relievers seek and yet so few succeed. Duensing is an oppportunist, taking full advantage of the situations that have presented themselves, mainly taking over for injured players. He came up in 2009 and was nearly flawless out of the bullpen and when injuries opened up a spot in the rotation, Duensing filled it remarkably for a newbie. However, despite starting game 1 of the playoffs that year (because of game 163), he was back to the bullpen after all 5 spots were sewed up. It didn't take long to realize Duensing belonged in the rotation. Another injury opened up an opportunity and Duensing seized it, posting a 10-3 record with a 2.62 ERA and 78 strikeouts. This will be his first year starting right out of the gate, from which high expectations will be had. If anyone can handle it, Duensing has proven he's up to the challenge.

4TH STARTER - NICK BLACKBURN
Spring Stats - 2-1, 2.81 ERA, 16 IP, 3 HR, 6 K's.
Blackburn has been solid this spring and he's going to need to be solid in the regular season if he's to hold on to this spot. After struggling in the bullpen coming up for a cup of coffee in 2007, the Twins moved him to the starting rotation in 2008 where he had a solid rookie campaign, going 11-11 with a 4.05 ERA. His 2009 was neither better nor worse, it was deja vu. Blackburn again went 11-11, had a 4.03 ERA, gave up just 2 more homeruns, 2 more walks and had 2 more strikeouts. It was eerily bizarre. Unfortunately, Blackburn took a step backwards last year, although posting a similar record at 10-12, he had career lows in IP and Strikeouts. The Twins patience on Blackburn is growing thin, another mediocre season is not what this team is looking for. If he's headed for another 10-11 win season, he'll likely be headed for another team.


5TH STARTER - SCOTT BAKER or KEVIN SLOWEY
Spring Stats
Baker - 1-3, 2.84 ERA, 12.2 IP, 1 HR, 11 K's.
Slowey - 1-0, 2.25 ERA, 12 IP, 1 HR, 6 K's.
That leaves Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey. The winner gets the 5th spot, the loser gets the bullpen, or maybe the trading block. Gardy hasn't given the nod to either and in the press he has stated that it could come down to the final days. Both starters have looked good enough this spring to be in the rotation. Baker is the more veteran of the two and was at one point considered the team's #1 or #2 starter, but health and inconsistency plagued Baker in 2010, while the other starters have stepped up their games. Baker is only 1-3 this spring, but more importantly he has a 2.84 ERA and 11 strikeouts in nearly 13 innings. This will be his 7th season as a Twin and with a career 4.32 ERA we can't expect anything stellar from Baker. But he has thrown 170 plus innings with a 140 plus strikeouts the last 3 years and with a career 55-42 mark Baker's proven that he's still a winner when it comes down to it. Still it might be put up or ship out time for Baker as a Minnesota Twin.

Slowey isn't make Gardenhire's decision easy. But then again, that's a good problem to have, after all we want to see both Baker and Slowey succeed and regardless of who wins the spot, there's a good chance we'll see both as a 6 month season almost never goes as planned. Slowey really strengthened his case last Monday with 4 innings of shutout baseball against the Marlins, retiring the first 6 batters. Slowey's 2010 stats are a little skewed, he finished 13-6 but had a 4.45 ERA and was often the benefactor of some healthy runs support. While Baker has 2 more years experience, their career stats are quite similar. Slowey holds a 39-21 career mark with a 4.41 ERA. And if there ever was an indication that springs stats don't hold a lot of water, you can look at Slowey's perfect 7-0 spring record with a 2.11 ERA.

Neither Baker (2), nor Slowey (4) have thrown many games out of the bullpen, however either could be considered for the long reliever job, especially with the Twins lack of depth and experience in the bullpen. Furthermore, this all could be moot by mid-season if the Twins phenom prospect, Kyle Gibson makes a Matt Garza like ascension to the big leagues, a distinct possibility for a guy with a mid-90's fastball and previous mediocre seasons.

There are still 10 spring games left meaning Baker and Slowey should have at least 2 more times to impress the staff and GM Billy Smith. The battle in the bullpen is where there is room for great discussion and I will touch on that later this week.

Until next time, keep 'em honest and pitch inside.

Brock
TCW

Minnesota's Top 10 Sports Movies

While Minnesota may not be the first thing you think of when you ponder the greatest sports flicks of all time, there a few that hopefully come to mind. And if not, I've created this list as a helpful reminder. I had to scrape to find 10 that could fit within the criteria, so take Top 10 with a grain of salt, some of these movies shouldn't have the term "top" applied to them.

So, without further ado, here's the top 10 list of Minnesota Sports movies, ranked in order of least watchable to the most entertaining.

Honorable Mention - Miracle (movie not set in MN, but warrants a mention and if on the list, would be at least 3rd)
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: The inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question, to the millions viewing at home: "Do you believe in a miracle? Yes!"

TCW Take: While the movie is not set in Minnesota, it's centered around Herb Brooks, who coached the University of Minnesota hockey team and is a legend in these parts. It's one of the greatest stories in all of sports, unless of course your Russian.

Minnesota Connection: Herb's wife Patti is in the movie as an extra in the stands during the U.S. vs. Russia game. You can see her positioned up and to the left of the actor who portrayed Jim Craig's dad in the movie, during many of his scenes during the U.S.-vs.-Russia game.

10. Major League: Back to the Minors
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) now owns the Minnesota Twins as well as the struggling minor league South Carolina Buzz. So he decides to hand over management duties for the minor league club to former pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula), and the fate of the hapless Buzz begins to change. Eventually, the Buzz take on the Twins, with Bob Uecker back delivering play-by-play in this third Major League movie.

TCW Take: Barf. The first Major League is one of the best sports movies around. The second one had enough laughs to make it watchable. They should have stopped there.

Minnesota Connection: In Roger Dorn's Minnesota Twins owner suite, a number 4 Lou Collins jersey hangs in a case, a reference to Timothy Busfield's character in Little Big League.

9. D3: The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: The Ducks return to their roots in the third installment of this series. Back home in Minnesota. The Ducks get scholarships to the prestigious Eden Hall Academy. Faced with a new uptight coach and the mounted pressure from the alumni board, Gordon mentors Charlie to victory in life and hockey.

TCW Take: Another film series that went too far. I vaguely remember seeing this and I vaguely remember caring.

Minnesota Connection: The name "Eden Hall Academy" is an amalgamation of the Twin Cities suburb of Eden Prairie and private schools Cretin-Derham Hall and Saint Thomas Academy.

8. D2: The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: Inspired by his own players, former peewee hockey coach Gordon Bombay decides to try out in the minor leagues. He becomes the star player for the fictional Minnehaha Waves, and is expected to make it to the NHL soon. However, after a career-ending knee injury, he returns to Minneapolis. Bombay is then offered a chance to coach a team representing the United States in the Junior Goodwill Games.

TCW Take: In the movie, Bombay gets caught up in the celebrity life and forgets about coaching and motivating the kids. It's the classic story of a Junior Goodwill Games coach getting caught up in the fame game. If I had a nickel for every time that happened.....I'd have a nickel.

Minnesota Connection: Seven out of 14 members of Team USA were born in the Twin Cities Metro Area (fictionally of course): Charlie Conway, Connie Moreau, and Jesse Hall are from Minneapolis; Guy Germaine is from St. Paul; and Adam Banks, Les Averman, and Fulton Reed are from the suburbs of Edina, Brooklyn Park, and Stillwater, respectively.

7. The Mighty Ducks
Sport: Hockey
Synopsis: Gordon Bombay, a successful Minneapolis lawyer, when, as the star player in his champion hockey team, he lost the winning goal in a shootout, thereby losing the game, and the approval of his coach. After being charged for drunk driving, the court orders him to coach a peewee hockey team, the worst in the league, Gordon is at first very reluctant. However, he eventually gains the respect of the kids and teaches them how to win. In the end he must face his old coach who still holds bitterness in Gordon's inability to make to win at the mature age of 9.

TCW Take: I hope you picked up on my sarcasm at the end there. Another ridiculous story line of a judge ordering a guy to coach a hockey team after a DUI. What happened to just community service or AA classes? It's the best of the 3 movies, mostly for its originality and not for its superb acting. The entire Trilogy is B material at best, but good enough for the kids.

Minnesota Connection: The courtroom scenes were filmed in St. Cloud and were dressed up to give it a more "hockey feel." This included adding small black circles that looked like hockey pucks near the ceiling architecture. Instead of taking them down, the "hockey pucks" still remain today. Also, in the movie, Adam Banks is often referred to as a "Cake Eater" this term is a reference people who live in the Twin Cities suburb, Edina. The term refers to one being rich and stuck up. "They buy their cake and eat it too."

6. Grumpier Old Men
Sport: Fishing
Synopsis: The spring and summer fishing season is in full swing in Wabasha, Minnesota, with the annual quest to catch "Catfish Hunter", the lake's largest catfish, consuming the fishing community. New arrival to Wabasha Maria Ragetti (Sophia Loren) has purchased the old bait shop with the intent of converting it into a fancy Italian restaurant. Max and John join forces to try and sabotage the restaurant and succeed to a point. In his quest to stop the restaurant from opening, Max falls for the owner and suddenly realizes what he really wants.

TCW Take: Congrats! We've reached the last sequel in this countdown, the best of the 2nd & 3rd run movies. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon reprise their roles and continue to make each other miserable, while finding the silver lining in their friendships and life itself. The movie didn't win any acting fans over, but it's pleasant enough for a good laugh or too and quantifies the simple rural life.

Minnesota Connection: Upon entering Wabasha you will see a sign reading "Welcome to Wabasha, Home of Grumpy Old Men" as a tribute to the 2 films written by Mark Steven Johnson about his grandfather, Wabasha native Charles Gilbert.

5. Angus
Sport: Football
Synopsis: Angus is highly intelligent and steady on the football field. Faced with peer pressure and growing pains, he deals with his problems through lively humor and a boisterous attitude. Accompanied by his amusing and geeky best friend Troy, Angus spends most of his time living in the shadow of golden boy Rick Sanford, and admiring his secret love, cheerleader Melissa Lefevre. Anchored by an eccentric family, including his mother and grandfather, Angus must find himself in a riotous search for his true high school identity.

TCW Take: Less about football, more about the life of an insecure teenager. It'll strike a chord with anyone who felt high school was the wtf period of your life.

Minnesota Connection: The shots in front of the school and at the football game were shot at Owatonna High School in Owatonna. The marching band playing during the opening credits is the actual Owatonna High School Marching Band.

4. Little Big League
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: When the owner of the hapless Minnesota Twins dies and leaves his grandson (Luke Edwards) the team in his will, the 12-year-old decides to manage the team himself. Aside from the obvious headline value of his move, no one seems to like the idea and the kid finds himself battling for his fledgling managerial career. Eventually, however, he wins the confidence of his favorite player (Timothy Busfield) and before long has the team playing like kids: for the fun of it, rather than the money.

TCW Take: Aside from the fact that its another ridiculous concept, it has just enough acting and subplots to keep one interested. Plus if you're a baseball fan you get to see Randy Johnson, Iván Rodríguez, Rafael Palmeiro (pre-steroid), Sandy Alomar, Jr., Paul O'Neill, Tim Raines, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Lou Piniella, some of the game's greats try their hand at acting.

Minnesota Connection: John Gordon, who played broadcaster Wally Holland, is the real-life voice of the Minnesota Twins. While his use of silly statistics (e.g. batting average against left handed pitchers faced at home for the first time in the last month of the season) is a parody, he did use his trademark home run call when he said "Touch 'em all, Mickey Scales!"

3. Iron Will
Sport: Dog Sledding
Synopsis: In 1917, Will Stoneman's father is killed in a mushing accident leaving Will to care for his family. Needing money for college and to save the family farm in South Dakota, Will decides to travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba to take part in a dog-sled race from Winnipeg to Saint Paul, Minnesota. With the aid of Ned Dodd, the young man prepares both physically and mentally for the harsh weather and terrain throughout the race. During the race, Will becomes popular with the newspaper media due to his strong courage in what he must do.

TCW Take: Historical in nature, entertaining and inspirational are all characteristics of this film. It's by no means an exceptional flick, but it captivates you enough till the end in one of those feel good underdog stories in that old Disney way.

Minnesota Connection: Much of the movie was filmed in northern Minnesota near Duluth. Many of Duluth's citizens were extras in the movie, a large number at the end of the race. Furthermore, the trains used in the movie were from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (LSRM) in Duluth. Because they were actual operating trains, actors could not operate as engineers or the conductors. They were all volunteer employees of the museum.

2. Grumpy Old Men
Sport: Ice Fishing
Synopsis: Retired school teacher John Gustafson (Lemmon) and former TV repairman Max Goldman (Matthau) have lived next door to each other in Wabasha, Minnesota for decades, but have not gotten along since childhood. With not much else to do with their seemingly boring and lonely single lives except watch television and fishing, Max and John compete and argue with each other on just about everything, and partake in cruel (yet funny) jokes on one another.

TCW Take: This is is the most heavily influenced Minnesota movie on the list. The speech, jokes, ice fishing, and winter related things are all Minnesotan. It's a light hearted feel good comedy that is easy and fun to watch.

Minnesota Connection: Though many of the places mentioned in the movie (such as the local VFW and Slippery's Tavern) can be found in Wabasha, most location shots actually were filmed in other Minnesota communities. The only scene filmed near Wabasha was the "snow angel" scene, filmed in nearby Red Wing.

1. Field of Dreams
Sport: Baseball
Synopsis: An Iowa farmer hears a voice in his cornfield accompanied by a vision of a baseball field. "If you build it, he will come". He takes it as a sign to build a baseball diamond which would enable Shoeless Joe Jackson of the infamous Chicago Black Sox to play ball again and eventually get him to re-connect with his father. After picking up James Earl Jones character in Boston, the two are given another sign and must travel to Minnesota to find another clue from the mysterious voice in the corn field.



TCW Take & Minnesota Connection: One of the best, top 5 sports movies of all time, and the best of Kevin Costner's baseball flicks (Bull Durham, For Love of the Game). Although predominantly set in Iowa, a key character and subplot occurs in the iron range town of Chisholm, where Archibald Wright "Moonlight" Graham is from. Graham was a real person and ballplayer who famously appeared in just 1 Major league game as a defensive replacement in right field. After his career, Graham completed his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1908. He obtained his license the following year and began practicing medicine in Chisholm, Minnesota, where just like in the movie, "Doc" served the people of Chisholm for fifty years.

Well there you have it. From 10 to 1, from unwatchable to epic, from comically bad to just comical, this list has bits and pieces of each. While some connections were looser than others, they all had a connection to the North Star State, Minnesota.

until next time, remember that popcorn directions should never be fully trusted.

brock,
TCW