But what do you want me to say? Everything that could be said doesn’t need to be. I have lost the one trash talk topic I had all season after this horrendous series against the White Sox. I would just be preaching my frustration to the choir if I were to open up.

Some fans might call this season a train wreck. I don’t agree. There hasn’t been an explosion once during the Twins season that is close to a train wreck. I guess you could say the 20-6 loss against the Rangers is as close to combustion as the Twins will get.

So how would I describe the Twins season? Good question. I thought about the Twins a lot this weekend. I was at my cousins’ house on a lake in Wisconsin for a family event called Cousins Weekend. Maybe it was the random talk about the Brewers’ success or the reminder of Uncle Mike’s unfortunate infatuation with the White Sox that made me think about the Twins.

Either way, I have come to the conclusion that the Twins season is much like a tube ride behind the boat. Sound confusing? Well let me break it down for you.

The Beginning

When the boat first pulls the tube out of the water, you have to shift your weight to find the perfect balance and change your position until you find the one that is the most comfortable for you to control your body. This can be a sloppy maneuver that can lead to some screaming and even disappointment when you are tossed off before thirty seconds have passed.

The Twins started off their season sloppy. There were injuries and players struggled to find that sweet spot where a player normally finds his “balance”. They’d win a few games and then fall into a slump. Similar to the start of a tube ride: balance for a few seconds and then you’re thrown off.

Smooth Sailing

Finally getting the hang of it.

After the initial adjustment, once you’ve had time to “get the hang of it”, tubing becomes a breeze. You know which way to lean to prevent yourself from flipping the tube and potentially losing the bottoms of your swimsuit—trust me, with enough momentum, it can happen.

Pretty soon 25 miles per hour behind the boat doesn’t seem so daunting, and you begin to feel confident that you’re not going to fall. That’s when the real fun begins. You start doing tricks like no hands on the tube or jumping from one tube to the next.

Yes, this tube ride has now become an acrobat show, and you are the star.

They might have been late to the “smooth sailing”, but finally the Twins were able to start a solid winning streak in June. Jim Thome began pushing closer to 600 home runs, Joe Mauer was thrown back into the mix after coming of the DL, and the Twins looked as if they had found their “groove” and were ready to play solid, consistent baseball.

All Good Things Come to an End

There comes a point when you are tubing when the driver and the rest of the crew on the boat become bored of watching you swing left and right, jumping from tube to tube. When they hit this point, you better kiss that confident, well-balanced acrobat you’ve become goodbye.

Hanging on for dear life, like the Twins are hanging on for a dear win

The speed of the boat jumps up a few mph, and the driver begins to make sharper cuts as they search for the largest waves on the lakes to take you over. You have a death grip on the tube and are dangling for your life as you are whipped from side to side. Your arms are so extremely tired you can longer hoist yourself back on the top of the tube and instead continue to dangle from the back end, praying you can hold on long enough.

All it takes is that one sharp whip across the water that will send you through the air to skip across the water. Face first, on your back or barrel rolling; you will be thrown in the most awkward and painful direction.

After the All-Star Game, the Twins began a painful journey through the second half of their season. They went back to winning just a game or two. They were attempting to hold onto the progress gained during their win streak, but ultimately lost their grip.

And the losses have been painful to watch, just like watching that tuber flip off and plummet into the lake.

Francisco Liriano’s unimpressive performances have left many fans puzzled at how he could pull off a no-no earlier in the season. The 20-6 loss against the Rangers had many fans icing the wound even days after the fact. It didn’t matter if the Twins posted two wins after that to take the series; a loss like that was simply embarrassing.

The majority of the Twins’ games have left fans wounded; like the tuber who couldn’t hold on long enough, we our forced to ice the sore muscles of our team and wonder why we couldn’t hold on just a little longer.

Will the Twins ever get their act together? After this last series against the White Sox, I’ve started to doubt it. Maybe this year is just not their year. It’s time to face the reality.

And let the next group get on the tubes.

I did my happy dance and psyched myself up to relax and watch my first TV showing of the Twins.

Ok, I lied. I watched the Twins on TV twice last weekend while in Minnesota, but it was different. I was always in a social atmosphere and was only watching to pay attention to the score. I was excited to focus solely on the game to see what I could learn from the commentators and watching up-close action.

And I made a huge discovery: I solved the mystery of why women swoon over Joe Mauer.

Gentlemen, pay attention. This is good for you to understand.

Before I unravel this mystery, I want you to understand that I do not get caught up in the looks or “Hollywood” features of sports. I watch and follow a sport because I love the game and the team I support.

With that being said, yes, I can recognize the fact that Mauer is an attractive man. Was I obsessing over his good looks like perhaps some people I know were? No. I find an athlete attractive when he is both nice on the eyes AND he has talent. Up until last night, I haven’t seen much of the latter from Mr. Mauer.

Last night, I got it.

The beauty of watching any sport on television is you get an up-close view of the players and the play. As I watched each player step up to the plate or man their territory in the field, I realized many of the players looked…old. When you are looking close to Brett Favre’s age, I’m tempted to yell at my TV screen, “Put down the glove and call it a game, Grandpa”. However, the more players I saw, the more I realized this was the norm in baseball.

Of course, they are still exceptional athletes. But why do they look so old? Maybe it’s because the best baseball players are over the age of 30. I am used to football players who have a good chance of starting and making it big in their early 20s.

Either way, it is all starting to make sense. Now I understand why so many women fall for a ball player like Mauer. He’s got almost no competition. And when he’s making plays, it only boosts his “hotness” score. (Ok I know some may say J.J. Hardy is right up there.)

You tell me–would women pick:

A) A great baseball player who looks to be pushing 40?

or…

B) A great baseball player with soft eyes and a young chiseled face?

Fellas, don’t roll your eyes at me. It’s the sad truth, and you know it. I’m glad I finally understand what all the hype is about.

But I have to say, there’s nothing quite like a football player.

Beautiful weather, delicious food, awesome fireworks and, oh yeah that’s right…I experienced my first Twins game at Target Field!

Last week I had a set of expectations for this weekend’s adventure. So did Target Field give me what I wanted? Take a look!

At the front of Target Field, ready to be “wowed” by stadium!

Inside beautiful Target Field.

We are ready for the win! Let’s go Twins!

Mascot bonding during the National Anthem.

Getting ready to start the game!

Minneapolis skyline behind Target Field

I have my camera ready for a homer! Any second now…

Cheering for the homerun! Go Twins! Yes, I was very excited!

How about back-to-back homeruns?! Yes, please!

There’s nothing like being at the game.

Happy Twins Fans!

Judging by the look on Mike’s face, this is before the Brew Crew took the lead. Uhhhh…Matt Capps.

Still cheering on loud and proud–even though the Brewers were closing in.

Twins unbearable 9th inning. I still watched the whole thing.

So two of my three expectations were not met: no fireworks and no Twins win. But they did win the series against the Brew Crew.

All-in-all, I’d say my first Twins game was an excellent experience. It was great to be surrounded by other fans and talk about the season, their expectation,s and have someone to chime in with me for some friendly trash talk. There is nothing like watching your team play, and nothing beats being surrounded by fun, knowledgable fans.

Up next: heading into rival territory. On Saturday, I will be venturing to U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago to watch the Twins take on the White Sox.

Editor’s note: Amanda Lawson is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan who is getting into baseball for the first time this year. After much deliberation and counsel, Amanda settled on the Minnesota Twins as her team. With “Beginning Baseball” Amanda is documenting her first season of baseball fandom.

It’s finally here.

I have been waiting for the opportunity to watch the Twins play at home since I started following them earlier this year.

My friend and fellow Twins fan, Dawn, was kind enough to welcome me to Twins fandom with a ticket to the July 2^nd game. After receiving the ticket, I have had this weekend circled, starred, and bolded on my calendar. Because the past week of Twins baseball has been a rollercoaster ride, I am going to make this a short, light post regarding my expectations for this weekend’s experience.

Fireworks

Really? Yes. Really. I love fireworks. It’s Fourth of July weekend. I have discovered that you can’t get more patriotic than fireworks and baseball. According to one of my Twitter followers, I will see fireworks during the National Anthem. Perfect.

Fan Bonding

In Iowa, I don’t come across many Twins fans. Actually, I am 99.9% sure I am the only Twins fan in Dubuque. I rely on my friends who are fans, Twitter followers, and media big wigs to develop that sports convo regarding our favorite baseball team. You know when you talk about the players, analyze the rest of the season, reminisce about past seasons, discuss the history of Minnesota’s greatest players…I can’t do that here. Heck, they play the Yankees on TV before they play the Twins.

I am excited to surround myself with fans that are passionate not only for their beloved Twins but also for the game of baseball. As a beginner, I want to immerse myself in the culture of being a Twins fan. I find it important to learn from the individuals who take the time to understand what’s going on within their team’s organization, as well as what’s happening in the league. I look forward to questioning some die-hard fans and learning from the most dedicated individuals that follow the team.

Twins Win

Like I said before, this hasn’t been the easiest week of Twins baseball. A horrendous game against the Dodgers on Monday following being swept up by the Brewers last weekend was enough to put any fan in a mild depression.

Now the Twins face the rival Brewers again this weekend. Milwaukee is leading the NL Central and are looking hot right now, so the Twins have to come into the series strong. And this time, I have Brewer friends who will be at the game. It would be really nice if I didn’t have to listen to them rub in my face that I chose the “wrong” team to follow.

Road trip and fun in Twinkie Town starts today! I will recap my first Twins game experience with you next week. Have a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend!

Editor’s note: Amanda Lawson is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan who is getting into baseball for the first time this year. After much deliberation and counsel, Amanda settled on the Minnesota Twins as her team. With “Beginning Baseball” Amanda is documenting her first season of baseball fandom.

It doesn’t matter what sport you are talking about, games against your team’s biggest rival are the ones that get you pumped up the most. Whether the team is awesome that particular season or not, rival games bring out the best trash talk and have a make-or-break atmosphere that keep you coming back for more.

As a new baseball fan, I was excited to find out who the Twins biggest rival was. I never really asked who the Twins’ greatest rival was, but just learned from the smack talk and defensive comments I got from certain fans.

Until one day there was a comment on Twitter that made me think twice about my initial perception.

The Brewers are the Twins’ greatest rival? WHAT?

I am from Wisconsin, and while I may not have paid close attention to baseball, I am 99% sure I never heard much Twins-Brewers smack talk. But I am also new to baseball and the Twins.

I decided to investigate. I asked my followers on Twitter who they thought was the Twins’ biggest rival. I got a lot of responses and many agreed with my initial thought, but I still found people naming a few other teams. So I dug deeper.

Here’s my analysis on the teams in regards to their rivalry with the Twins.

Chicago White Sox

The name just tastes bad when it rolls off the tongue.

The White Sox are in the same division as the Twins. Most years the Sox and the Twins compete for higher rank in the AL Central. This year, they both started out with their feet dragging behind them.

The White Sox are also one of the closest teams in their division to the Twins, allowing the great Midwestern rivalry to run from Chicago, through Illinois, into Iowa, and up to the Twin Cities.

New York Yankees

While the Yankees are in the AL with the Twins, they don’t play in the same division. However, there is a strong tension between Yankees and Twins fans because of last year’s playoff series that has left some fans bitter.

I think Twins fans find some tension with the Yankees because they are spending lots of dollar bills to get big talent. Twins fans take pride in the way the organization raises their own talent. Some Twins fans call it unfair; maybe even stretch it to “cheating”. I wouldn’t go that far, but I definitely have more respect for the Twins overall because they don’t buy out their players. And you can feel the tension.

Milwaukee Brewers

Whoa! Like I said, this idea puzzled me.

Growing up in Wisconsin, Brewers and Cubs fans were always hashing it out, trying to decide who was going to lose more games. The Brewers originally started in the American League, but in 1994 they were realigned into the NL Central. Yes, the Brewers are a Midwestern team similar to the Twins. However, they don’t have the same contending history that the Twins do, making them less of a threat. And since the Brewers no longer play in the same league, it’s hard to line them up as the Twins top rival.

Honorable Mentions

Besides these three teams, I was told to also look into a rivalry with the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are in the same division as the Twins, but they don’t consistently compete from year to year with the Twins for the top spot in AL Central.

I was also told to watch out for the Kansas City Royals. In my search for rivals, I found that more Royals fans found a rival in the Twins, than the Twins found in them. They are in the same division, and while the Royals started off this year strong, they’re slowly slipping—aka, I’m not scared.

My Final Decision

After looking at each team and how they compare to the Twins, I definitely find the most tension and rivalry behavior between Twins and White Sox fans. I have noticed their never ending trash talk (some of which I may, or may have not, have instigated myself) about how much better they are than the Twins this year. Now the Twins might not be smoking this year, but we didn’t almost just lose a series to the Cubs either.

Funny thing about your team’s biggest rival—I find the best rivalries are between two teams that play each other often and hate to lose to the other, yet they still respect the other team. That is something I CAN say about the White Sox. I may talk a lot of trash to the fans, but it doesn’t mean that the team isn’t good or won’t beat my favorite team. I just hope that doesn’t happen, so that my trash talk can be validated.

I am looking forward to watching the Twins take out the White Sox yet again in July! I’ll be at the Saturday game, ready to cheer the Twins on. My fellow MSF writer, Drew Lange, stated earlier, “I feel bad for whoever you have to sit by.”

I feel bad for that poor White Sox fan, too. It sucks getting a loss rubbed in your face.

Editor’s note: Amanda Lawson is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan who is getting into baseball for the first time this year. After much deliberation and counsel, Amanda settled on the Minnesota Twins as her team. With “Beginning Baseball” Amanda is documenting her first season of baseball fandom.

Last Friday, the Twins reactivated Joe Mauer from the DL, marking his return from two long months of recovery. Twins fans everywhere celebrated.

However, Mauer’s long break away from the game has brought up some questioning among fans and some cynicism among the skeptics. After signing an eight-year contract extension with the Twins (worth $184 million) in May of 2010, chatter has developed about whether the organization invested their money wisely.

The Dollar Facts

Joe Mauer is the highest paid player for the Minnesota Twins, the highest paid catcher in the MLB, and the fifth highest paid player in the MLB overall. Here’s a list of the players who rank above Mauer:

1. Alex Rodriguez, Third Baseman, New York Yankees, $32,000,000
2. Vernon Wells, Left Fielder, Los Angeles Angels, $26,187,500
3. CC Sabathia, Pitcher, New York Yankees, $24,285,714
4. Mark Teixeira, First Baseman, New York Yankees, $23,125,000

He’s the only catcher in the list of top 20 highest paid MLB players. In short, Mauer makes some cash.

Rough Start in the Contract

This year began with a rough start for Mauer. While struggling to recover from knee surgery, he missed the majority of spring training. About a week into the regular season, he was put on the DL, and team doctors determined his bilateral leg weakness was due to too light of training before the regular season.

So the questions began to appear: Is Mauer worth the extra dollar? Is the bilateral weakness the beginning to the end? Will he still have the same impact as he did before? Will he make it to the end of his contract?

Well, let’s take a look at the Twins without him.

Ok, let’s not.

We all know it wasn’t pretty. Was that all because of Mauer? No. I don’t believe one player can have that kind of impact on a team. Could Mauer have changed the outcome of some of those games though? Definitely.

And now you’re thinking, “Amanda, you haven’t been a fan long enough to watch him play. How do you know?”

Good point. And frankly, I wasn’t sure how to judge the greatness of a catcher. Luckily, there is this beautiful thing called the internet. What I found led me to believe that Joe Mauer is a hidden treasure that many teams never find in a catcher.

Three reasons Mauer’s worth the money:

1. He does his job, and he does it well.

Mauer is known for his quick thinking to make the defensive plays happen. He works with his pitcher to make them a dynamic duo ready to shutdown the offense. From understanding the pitch to focusing on the players on base, Mauer is capable of multitasking at an elite level needed to be as successful as he is. I found this great little article that helped break down his success.

2. He has experience.

As the first pick for the Twins in the 2001 draft, Mauer has played in the MLB and with the Twins for a while now. He has proven that he is capable of taking on the pressure of the Majors and driving his team toward success.

3. Oh and he can rake.

Mauer was the AL Batting Champion in 2005, 2008 and 2009. He also won the Silver Slugger Award in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Mauer has a career batting average of .326. Most catchers do NOT have this much success in their batting career.

While some fans question whether or not the Twins made a wise investment in Mauer, I will be watching his strong return with confidence and optimism. Being put on the DL may have been just what Mauer needed to get his mind and body ready for the balance of the season. Two months may seem like a long, expensive time for a key player to sit out, but it is definitely worth it if the player can turn some of the close losses into victories.

Welcome back, Mr. Mauer.

In this first episode, I talk to Amanda Lawson about her Beginning Baseball column, the Twins, Harmon Killebrew, and the NFL lockout and its effect on her coverage of the Packers. (I also learn that Amanda went to Drake, which is something that I, as an Evansville alum, will not hesitate to bring up during basketball season.)

Enjoy:

The Away From the Action podcast will be available soon at iTunes. I’ll keep you posted.

Update: It’s on iTunes now. Click here to subscribe.

Music notes: The opening song is “Smooth Disturbance” by my old band, the National Biscuit Company. The closing song is “Numbers” by another of my old bands, Three Hit Combo. (I use my own music so that I don’t have to worry about rights and such.)

Editor’s note: Amanda Lawson is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan who is getting into baseball for the first time this year. After much deliberation and counsel, Amanda settled on the Minnesota Twins as her team. With “Beginning Baseball” Amanda is documenting her first season of baseball fandom.

The Twins can win.

For all the haters out there (aka White Sox fans), the show’s not over until the fat lady sings.

But how can you tell if it’s the team making a true comeback or if it is just going through a lucky streak? From what I’ve learned about baseball, you shouldn’t get your hopes up.

Too late.

As soon as we went on a winning streak, I brought back the smack talk and was dancing around like a teenie bop who just bought tickets to a Justin Bieber concert. (Barf—I can’t believe I just said that.) All I can do now is hope the Twins pull through and try to help prevent you from accidently celebrating before the party even starts.

A Lucky Streak

As the Twins begin their series against the White Sox tonight (last night’s opener was postponed), they are showing the confidence it takes to defeat one of their biggest rivals. Nine of the past eleven games have been wins for the Twins, including a 4-game sweep against the Royals.

But is this just a momentary up in a season full of downs?

Last time I got overly excited about the Twins, Francisco Liriano had a no-hitter against the White Sox in May earlier this season. And then it was all downhill from there. Plagued with injuries and inconsistencies, the frustration set it. Twins fans everywhere continued to wait on their awakening.

Cautiously, we waited as one win turned into two and three into four. Then Liriano almost had the taste of another no-hitter victory. And the Twins are up on another high.

Is it really a comeback?

The Twins still have many top starters on the DL and are pulling up no-namers to fill their shoes. But 9 out of 11 isn’t a bad winning streak, especially compared to what we’ve seen so far. So how do we know it’s really a comeback? There are three points of interest to look at.

1. The Opponents.

Take a look at the teams that the Twins have played the past 3 series: the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, and the Texas Rangers.

The Twins swept the Royals in four games. With the Royals only 2.5 games ahead of the Twins, it wasn’t too surprising that they were able to win the series.

Beating the Indians, who were in first in the AL Central, put the Twins back in the game. The Twins are 9.5 games behind them and still pulled off a solid victory. Gotta love the ego boost the team gets from beating someone in the same division.

The Rangers are also at the top of their division and have had a decent season so far. The Twins came in and dominated the series, only losing one game to a team that is competing above .500.

2. The Twins’ Improvements and Consistencies.

Looking at stats is the easiest way to tell if the Twins are ready for a comeback or if they are just getting lucky.

Looking at the Twins’ game against the Tigers prior to this streak of wins, they were weak. Scott Baker seemed a little unsteady in his pitching (3.86 ERA) and scoring runs was a challenge as well. At the start of June, this loss put the Twins 16.5 games behind the leaders of the AL Central, the Cleveland Indians.

Fourteen days later, the Twins are only 9.5 games behind the Indians. The last game the Twins played, Liriano was a star. Even though he didn’t obtain the no-hitter, his consistency kept the team rolling. Michael Cuddyer was able to lead the Twins offensively with 3 RBIs.

3. What’s next for the Twins?

The Twins are hoping to see Joe Mauer back in action soon, along with a few of the other key players currently on the DL. However, our attention shouldn’t be on them. The team needs to focus on the consistency of the players who are healthy and in the lineup. The White Sox, Padres ,and Giants may give the Twins some tough play time, but they aren’t impossible to beat.

With a quick look at where we were, where we are now, and what we’ve got coming up, I feel confident saying the Twins are heading up the slope. Their confidence is rolling, they’ve become more consistent, and they are about to take on teams who expect them to be weak. Am I afraid to flat out say it’s a comeback? Yes I am. Will that hinder my trash talk? Absolutely not.

Get ready White Sox fans…the Twins are ready to play.

Editor’s note: Amanda Lawson is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan who is getting into baseball for the first time this year. After much deliberation and counsel, Amanda settled on the Minnesota Twins as her team. With “Beginning Baseball” Amanda is documenting her first season of baseball fandom.

Why do people follow sports? Is it the love for a team? Maybe they appreciate the physical talent of the players. What about the passion for the game?

Those are all great reasons to follow a sport. However, there is nothing like the adrenaline rush from competition. The tension and drive during a game against a rival team brings the most exciting action and competition you will see and experience. And competition brings out the best trash talk.

And I am a champion trash talker.

Well…at least when I trash talk football; then I am the champ. Baseball is a little different, another learning curve for me. Since I am a devoted trash talker, I HAD to discover “the art” of being a baseball trash talker.

The Foundation: Minnesota Twins (or your choice of team—as poor as it may be)

If you want to become a successful trash talker, it is a MUST that you know how your team is structured. You should educate yourself on the character of your organization: how it’s run, the history behind the team, and who they are today.

Let’s take the Twins and use them as an example.

1. The Twins are known for growing their own talent. They don’t buy players just to make their team good (or look good). This is a very respectable point that can be used when trash talking a team who thinks they’ve got it all because they spend bazillions of dollars on their players. *Cough, cough, Yankees! Cough, cough.*
2. The Twins have dominated the Central division of the American League for the past decade. Overall, the Twins have won 3 World Series titles, 6 AL pennants, 6 Central Division titles and 4 West Division titles. Not to mention, they have had many memorable players throughout their history, such as Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett and Walter Johnson.
3. The organization prides itself on involving the players and staff to support the community and its fans. Most recently, the Twins held a fundraiser where players would sign autographs to raise money to go toward fixing the tornado damage in the local area.

These are all great trash talking points to use when discussing the overall greatness of the Twins, and you can find them for your team. (This comes especially in handy when you’re team is off to a bad start of in kind of a slump, a la the Twins this year.)

Current State

Most trash talk during the season will be a discussion of teams’ current states. Right now, that’s not a strong point for the Minnesota Twins. Therefore, I’ve attempted to avoid using current numbers and game recaps when trash talking this season.

Here are the most important things to remember about a team’s current state as it relates to trash talk.

1. Stats, stats, stats. I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing what the numbers mean. Your ability to understand the stats of players will give you a never ending stash of trash points to be ready when needed. Stats enable comparisons divisions and leagues, and the ones that make your team look good give you an upper hand when fighting for your team. This is the most challenging part of trash talk in baseball. There are TONS of stats to know, and I’m doing my best to learn them.
2. You need to know your lineup. To have a good trash talk session, you need to know who is playing and who’s on the DL. It’s pointless for me to talk up Joe Mauer right now because he hasn’t been in the game. Not saying that he won’t knock everyone’s socks off when he does return, but I’m just going to wait for that to happen first.
3. Most importantly, don’t forget that baseball is not won by a single game. I have made such a rookie mistake. After Francisco Liriano had his no-hitter against the White Sox in May, I made sure all my White Sox friends knew. Big mistake, as the Twins have faltered badly since. Now, the Twins have a 3-game series against the White Sox on June 14-16 and a 4-game series against them July 7-10. Thus, there is plenty of time and many games left for the White Sox to show the Twins up. You need to remember that one win doesn’t take the cake in baseball. (Of course, that’s not going to stop me from trash talking my friends. Nobody said I was perfect!)

Baseball is a long season with many games. You have to know when to give credit to your team and when to use other points of interest in your trash talking debate. It’s not easy to be a world class trash talker. But with time, successful studying, and a killer team, you will be unstoppable!

Really, it can’t.

The Twins are 18 games below the .500 mark. Yesterday, Francisco Liriano was put on the 15-day DL for left shoulder inflammation—and he’s only one of the many crucial Twins players who are MIA.

Sitting at the bottom of the MLB, the Twins have never looked so bleak. Naturally, I keep thinking we’ve hit the bottom. It can’t get worse, right?. It might not get better, but at least I know it can’t get worse.

Oh baseball, you proved me wrong once again.

In their most recent losses, the Twins have managed to keep the scores close, struggling in the 8^th and 9^th innings before losing. Fans are left feeling disappointed and discouraged that a turnaround is no longer a possibility.

Yesterday’s game was no exception.

A Call to Change it All

The Twins have struggled for almost every win they’ve received this year. And they’ve had to endure some tough losses. However, Monday’s game against the Tigers was an especially difficult loss for players and fans alike.

Here’s what happened: in the bottom of the 8^th, Alex Avila was up to bat with Jhonny Peralta on first. Avila nailed the ball down the left field line where the it hit two fans before falling onto the field. Delmon Young notified third base umpire Gary Darling, who called fan interference. After a huddle with the umpires, Peralta was allowed to score. Here’s a link to the hit.

The call did NOT go over too well with Ron Gardenhire and the Twins. Gardenhire was ejected from the game for his heated argument over the call not being ruled as a ground-rule double for going into the stands.

“I still don’t understand it. I don’t have any opinion on it, other than my opinion that we know it hit a fan in the stands and we know it went into the stands. Their call was not clear when I talked to them. I don’t know how that runner scored.”

The Twins only expected Peralta to be rewarded third base and were stunned by the awarded run. Stunned enough to let the play get the best of ‘em.

The Right Call?

Living in Iowa provides little access to Twins games. Therefore, I am forced to watch via my computer or rely on ESPN updates to my cell phone. I have to form my opinion based off the video footage on mlb.com. After reading a few articles on the call, researching the rules on ground-rule doubles, and watching the unhelpful video online, I was more confused at what is the right call than before I started to look into it. It’s a tough call.

I can’t help but go back and forth on whether or not I think Darling made the right call.

The Wrong Way to End

So the call doesn’t go your way. And it’s another kick to the ground for the Twins. Or is it? Poor call or not, it’s not the first time this has happened. The call only put the Twins down by one run. Top of the 9^th, batters up and ready. But three outs later, the game is over. Consistent with so many other losses by the Twins.

I can’t help but wonder if the call from the previous inning had any effect on the team as they got ready to bat. If so, get over it. The game goes on, and you can’t dwell on a wrong call forever. I don’t care if you feel like they are kicking you when you are already down. Get back up and brush the dirt of your shoulders. Since so many games have ended this way, it’s hard to tell if the one play truly messed with the players’ mental game. Or if they just didn’t have it in them to make a comeback.

Tell me what you think about the play that pushed the Twins down. Did Darling make the right call? Did Gardenhire have good reason to be upset?

According to my baseball savvy friends, I have until the start of June to use the excuse “It’s only the beginning of the season.” Once, June starts, BAM! It’s no longer the beginning of the season.

This is a phrase I have used much too often over the past two months. As we all know, the Twins aren’t exactly having a “dream” season, and as June swiftly approaches, the reality of it all is beginning to sink in.

But, what are they doing wrong?

After last week’s three wins, I thought we were on a new path – especially after Thursday night’s 11-1 win against the Athletics. But oh how foolish of me to get my hopes up, only to have them crushed by the Diamondbacks who efficiently swept my crumbling team.

Maybe you heard some chatter through a social media channel. Or perhaps you dared to Google “Twins Bullpen.” Either way, what you are bound to find is not pretty. Here is one article I found from Twinkie Town that describes a lot of the frustration Twins fans are feeling right now. I start to chuckle as I read it, until I start to realize the story is more true than just an angry exaggeration.

Pitching with a blindfold

Bullpen, bullpen, bullpen is what you’ll find if you search for news regarding the Minnesota Twins. That seems to be the target of most discouraged Twins fans. And I can’t disagree. I have spent too many games this season feeling confident with the starting pitcher, only to have the relief pitcher or closer give up multiple runs. Saturday night’s game against the Diamondbacks might be one of the messiest games of the season for the bullpen.

But that’s not even the worst part. What about our consistency? Excuse me, I mean inconsistency. Our starting pitchers aren’t off the hook. Riddle me this: How can Liriano throw a no-hitter against the White Sox one game and the next time out he allows four runs on three hits and three walks over three innings?

Of course, our pitchers are not the only one with inconsistencies. The issues in the team’s pitching just seem to stand out more than the rest of the problems with the Minnesota Twins team. Maybe I am just being over critical because I am still an amateur when it comes to baseball.

I can’t tell you how it should be fixed. I don’t know that answer. But I know the Twins are consistently losing, and the only way to fix that is with change. I am hoping they change something before June rolls around. What do you think the Twins need to change?

Editor’s note: Amanda Lawson is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan who is getting into baseball for the first time this year. After much deliberation and counsel, Amanda settled on the Minnesota Twins as her team. With “Beginning Baseball” Amanda is documenting her first season of baseball fandom.

On May 17, 2011, baseball lost a legend. Today and the rest of this week, we mourn and honor him.

Yesterday morning, Harmon Killebrew lost his battle with cancer. As a Twins fan, I knew this was a sad day for fans everywhere. I was glad to see the Twins are honoring him through the rest of the season.

But as a new baseball fan, I didn’t realize the impact Killebrew had made across the country as an icon on and off the field. I discovered many of my friends, who are long-time baseball fans, didn’t know much about him either.

Here is my tribute to Mr. Harmon Killebrew.

A Slow Start

When Killebrew, 17, signed with the Washington Senators (Oh yes, before the Twins came along) in 1954, he was the youngest player in the majors at that time. With a batting average of .215 in ’54 and ‘55, he wasn’t a star for the first few years as a Senator. As a matter of fact, after his bonus period expired, Killebrew was sent to play in the Senators’ minor league for the Charlotte Hornets. (Note: The MLB Bonus Rule required a contracted player to play two full seasons on the major league roster.)

But Killebrew would get another shot at the “Big League” on May 29, 1956 after second baseman Pete Runnels was injured in the game. That day he hit two home runs, including becoming the second person to ever hit a ball over the center field wire barrier at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. However, his batting average continued to slump (.116 by June), and he was sent back to the minors.

During the 1957 season, he spent most of his time with the Chattanooga Lookouts where he hit a league high of 29 home runs, 101 RBIs and named to the All-Star Game—despite the fact he was suffering from a shoulder injury. Besides playing for Chattanooga that year, Killebrew also played for the Indianapolis Indians of the American Association for a brief period of time. His success there was limited and returned to Chattanooga to play. But his early struggles would soon pay off.

The Launch of a Dazzling Baseball Career

Harmon “Killer” Killebrew would have his opportunity to shine in 1959. He started the season off slowly, but his true talent began to show in May. Between the 1^st- 17^th, Killebrew had five multiple hom erun games and his first 5 RBI game. By midseason, he had 28 home runs, which led to him playing in the All-Star Game.

Killebrew was receiving lots of attention for his home run hits. Even President Dwight D. Eisenhower paid him a visit. He finished off the season with 42 home runs, which tied the American League lead. The following season Killebrew was plagued with injuries. While he still finished the season with 31 home runs in 124 games, his stats did little to help the Senators’ record.

Change was the theme for the 1961 season. The Washington Senators were uprooted and moved to Minnesota. This was the start of the Minnesota Twins, and Killebrew was a part of it. Killebrew was named team captain by manager Cookie Lavagetto for their first season in the Midwest.

Obviously such privilege sparked a fire inside of Killebrew. In the 1961 season, he broke the franchise record (the one he set two years earlier) by hitting 46 home runs, contributed 122 RBIs, had a career-best batting average of .288, and had a career high of seven triples. Killebrew completed the season and led the Twins in home runs, runs, RBIs, total bases and walks. There was no denying the skills he possessed.

In 1962, Killebrew’s speed decreased after pulling his quadriceps. However, he managed to hit 48 home runs and 126 RBIs for the Twins. And since no one else in the AL hit over 40 homeruns, Killebrew led the league and broke the franchise record again. On July 18, Killebrew and teammate, Bob Allison, became the first teammates since 1890 to hit a Grand Slam in the same inning. The Twins scored 11 runs in the first inning.

During the seasons of ’63 and ’64, Killebrew continued to hammer out the home runs and break records. Unfortunately, injuries had him in and out of both seasons, and the Twins felt his absence. The 1965 season would prove to be a beautiful one for the Minnesota Twins and for Killebrew. They would bring home the AL pennant and face the LA Dodgers in the World Series. Killebrew hit only one home run in World Series and the Twins fell to the Dodgers.

The most exciting game in ’65 wasn’t the World Series though. It occurred on July, 11. The Twins were facing defending AL Champions, the Yankees, and were down one run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Killebrew took care of that! He launched one out of the field for a two-run home run to win the game. It was called the most dramatic home run in Twins history until Kirby Puckett’s epic home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.

Other Great Moments to Remember

As you would expect, Killebrew hit a number of memorable home runs among his 573 and had many clutch RBIs throughout his career. Here a few of them, and some other highlights from his extraordinary career:

June 9^th, 1966: Killebrew and 4 other teammates hit home runs in the 7^th inning against the Kansas City Athletics. They still hold the record for the most home runs hit in a single inning.

1968 All-Star Game: Killebrew injured his left medial hamstring when he slipped on the turf. This was considered a career-ending injury. We all know that his baseball career didn’t stop at this game.

1969 Season: After seven months of rehabilitation, Killebrew bounced back to have another phenomenal season. Leading the AL in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage and more, he received his first and only MVP Award.

1970 Season: The Twins won the West Division, with the help of Killebrew’s 41 home runs and 113 RBIs. This was the last time he would ever hit over 40 home runs in a season.

August 10, 1971: Despite his decline, Killebrew managed to hit his 500^th hom erun off Mike Cuellar during a game against the Baltimore Orioles.

From 1972-1974, Killebrew struggled to find the hits he once batted so effortlessly. His injuries kept him away from the field and his playing time continued to get reduced. At the end of ’74 he was given the option of staying with the Twins as a coach and batting instructor, managing the AAA Tacoma Twins or to be released.

Killebrew wanted the release. Not quite done playing, he signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. After failing to produce the power hits they needed, the Royals released him. Killebrew retired.

Killebrew’s number was retired in 1974, and in 1984, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. With a career total of 573 homeruns (11^th best) and an accumulation of 1584 RBIs, I’d say, “Not too shabby Harmon Killebrew”.

Life After Baseball

Maybe I should say “Life After PLAYING Baseball”. Frankly, Killebrew never left baseball. After he retired, he was a television broadcaster for the Twins, Oakland Athletics and the California Angels. While in Oakland, he was a batting instructor for major and minor league hitters.

In 1977, Killebrew founded the Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament. Danny Thompson was a former teammate who lost the battle to Leukemia when he was just 29. All funds go to support cancer research.

According to the Minnesota Twins Organization, baseball players across the country and the communities he lived in, Killebrew was not only a phenomenal athlete, but he also was a great individual. He was always willing to give back to the fans and players. Ready to teach and learn from those who surrounded him.

“No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins Territory than Harmon Killebrew. Harmon will long be remembered as one of the most prolific home run hitters in the history of the game and the leader of a group of players who helped lay the foundation for the long-term success of the Twins franchise and Major League Baseball in the Upper Midwest. However, more importantly Harmon’s legacy will be the class, dignity and humility he demonstrated each and every day as a Hall of Fame-quality husband, father, friend, teammate and man. The Twins extend heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the Killebrew family at this difficult time.”

— Dave St. Peter, Twins president.

So from a Twins fan: Harmon Killebrew, thank you for making your mark in the Minnesota Twins history and in baseball’s history. It’s an honor to know someone as great as you played for the team I cheer for.

Today, one day after his passing at the age of 74, we honor the life and career of a man whose story does not get told enough these days: Harmon Killebrew.

To put his legendary career into perspective, we first need to put into perspective the amazing class of players that Harmon’s career achievements place him in.

Babe Ruth and 714 remain intertwined in history, finally surpassed early in 1974 by Henry Aaron. In a perfect world, perhaps every last one of Hank’s bombs would have come representing a Milwaukee-based team. But as shrewd and unfair as it may have been for the Milwaukee Braves to pack up and leave mere years after being the first MLB team to draw two million fans in a season, Aaron turned out to be the right man for the right time to become the Deep South’s first professional sports superstar.

As Vin Scully said on 4/8/74, ‘What a marvelous moment for baseball, what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia, what a marvelous moment for the country and the world…’

And Aaron did wind up back in Milwaukee for two encore seasons with the Brewers, finally giving American League fans a chance to embrace baseball’s true home run king.

There are, of course, other legends on the home run list. Willie Mays and his 660 home runs, many of them in unforgiving conditions at Candlestick Park, is equally noteworthy. Ken Griffey Jr. (630 HRs) was a natural right out of the box. Frank Robinson (586 HRs) was also an endearing role model for African-Americans, not only as a player but later for breaking the color barrier as far as managers were concerned.

Mike Schmidt, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Jim Thome, Willie McCovey – all residing in the high-rent district of 500+ home runs, and all deserving of accolades and baseball immortality.

Then there are the tainted ones.

Who did Barry Bonds hit home run #756 off of?? You forgot already. Do you even know Bonds’ final home run tally off the top of your head?? Most don’t care. Sammy Sosa became instantly tainted the night his corked bat broke, and plenty of evidence later emerged that suggested the rest of him was “corked” as well. Alex Rodriguez is at 619 HRs and climbing, but is scarred. Same for Rafael Palmeiro and unfortunately Mark McGwire.

None of these tainted sluggers will ever see Cooperstown without a ticket, even though they all reached their impressive totals at a time when the game was not properly policed in regards to drug-testing.

But today is about Harmon Killebrew, the classy Twins slugger who lost his battle with esophageal cancer yesterday. Considering the time of his career, and where he played, and that fact that he stood a mere 5’11”, ‘The Logo‘ (the perpendicular elbow stance and pointed nose as giveaways – or are they?) accomplished as much with his power during the era he played as anyone in the history of baseball.

In 1954 Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith acted on a tip and signed Killebrew to a $50,000 contract, an amount that per baseball’s ‘Bonus Rule’ at the time mandated that Harmon spend his first two professional seasons with the big club, during which he displayed flashes of his eventual power but was also clearly not ready for a full-time gig in ‘The Show’.

Harmon spent most of the 1956 through ’58 seasons honing his stroke in the minors before being named the starting third baseman with the big club for 1959, and promptly hit 42 home runs that season.

Home-road splits from that era are not accessible, but it’s worth noting the dimensions of old Griffith Stadium in DC, where the left field fences had just been moved in but were still 350 feet to the left field pole, 380 to the power alley, and 421 feet to dead center, jutting out to 457 feet (around a tree that landlords across the fence refused to let the team cut down) just right of center. Those were not favorable home run conditions for a player playing half of his 154 games there.

After the 1960 season the team moved to a new ballpark in suburban Minneapolis constructed literally right smack in the middle of what was a farm field. And in the pitching-dominated decade that followed, Harmon Killebrew became one of baseball’s most feared sluggers. In his first four years in the Cities, Harmon hit 46, 48, 45, and finally 49 home runs. That’s four seasons, 188 home runs. Killebrew would miss a portion of the 1965 season due to injury, but did enough to help the Twins reach the World Series.

Seasons of 39 and 44 home runs (while being walked 131 times in 1967) followed. The ‘Year of the Pitcher’ that was 1968 did claim Killebrew as much as anyone. Harmon was hitting just over .200 at mid-season but still made the All-Star team based on his rep, but he then sustained a torn hamstring trying to field a throw at first base during the All-Star Game. That horrific injury was supposed to end his season and possibly threaten his career. But Killebrew was back in the lineup before the end of the season.

It was 1969 where Killebrew did his best work: 49 home runs, 140 RBI, 145 walks (late-career Barry Bonds-like walk total), .427 on-base percentage, 1.011 OPS, American League West Champions, American League Most Valuable Player.

Now entering his mid-30s, Killebrew’s career would now take the inevitable decline, and he was released by the Twins following the 1974 season. Harmon then spent one final season as a member of the Kansas City Royals before calling it a career and retreating back to Idaho and the black-diamond ski run eventually named after him.

Killebrew had to face his biggest challenges post-career, running into financial troubles and a health crisis that nearly claimed him in 1990. Fortunately Harmon survived to live many more years, and among other things his legacy lives on with an upper deck seat where one of his longest home runs landed, which resides at Mall of America on the old Met Stadium property.

It’s most likely a wash to decide between Killebrew or Kirby Puckett as the Twins best all-time player. Kirby definitely had the all-around skill-set and defensive skills, and two World Series rings to boot, but one can make a strong case for either player (and Rod Carew wouldn’t be a bad pick for third place of the past fifty years).

That said, one can only wonder what Killebrew’s final tally would had been if his career could had been transported 20 years later into the Twins’ Metrodome era. Without the cold and wind, 650 HRs would had been possible. But like several of the Minnesota Vikings of the Met Stadium era, Killebrew was a natural for the often frigid environs.

Fittingly, the Twins ended a nine-game losing streak in Seattle Tuesday night, with Killebrew’s #3 already memorialized on the players’ sleeves.

Harmon Killebrew the person is gone, just days after announcing his classy farewell to the public; but The Logo lives on, and that MLB silhouette remains forever.

Here are just a few of those that may have gone unnoticed.

Novak Djokovic improves 2011 winning streak to 37

Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal on Sunday to improve to 37-0 during the 2011 season. It was the second week in a row that he has defeated Nadal and the fourth time this year. He has now won titles in the past three ATP tournaments.

Those who are not familiar with tennis might not understand how tough this is to do.

Tennis tournaments are every week, often in different countries or even continents. They begin and end of Sundays, which means one is starting while the other one is still finishing. Djokovic has won the past three tournaments in three consecutive weeks with the venues being Serbia, Spain, and Italy.

He now gets a week break before the second major of the year, the French Open. It is a clay court event, which is the type of court that he has defeated Nadal on to win the last two tournaments.

Phoenix Suns president Rick Welts reveals he’s gay

This should not be a major news story, but in the world of sports it is. And in a league where one of its stars used an anti-gay slur and was fined, this is major news.

Welts has risen to the top of the Suns organization all the while keeping his homosexuality under wraps. I am sure that his players and the organization are in full support of him as they should be. His sexual orientation does not change anything that he has accomplished during his tenure in Phoenix. His fellow employees and players are most likely happy for him that he finally got this off his chest.

Doc Rivers signs 5-year deal with Celtics

Just days after bowing out of the playoffs at the hands of the Miami Heat, Rivers proved that he was committed to the Celtics by signing a 5-year deal. No one would have blamed him if he had decided to leave coaching and get season tickets to Duke basketball to watch his son Austin play, but Doc decided to continue doing what he loves doing: coaching.

I’m sure that he talked it over with his family, and they all decided that it would be wrong to leave his success in Boston. He has re-built a winning way in Boston with the help of his Big Three-turned-Big Four. He is still young, only turns 50 later this year, and should have the chance to win a few more title rings before he leaves the coaching ranks.

Minnesota Twins continue losing streak

Coming into the season, many thought that the Twins were favorites to win the division. But now in mid-May, the AL Central seems to be flipped upside down as the Indians are in the lead followed by the Tigers and the Royals.

The Twins are currently 12.5 games out of first and are on an 8-game losing streak. They have a league worst run-differential of -90, which is 46 worst than the next closest team, the Astros. The only bright spot this season was the perfect game by Francisco Liriano, but that was only one of their 12 wins this season.

Editor’s note: Amanda Lawson is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan who is getting into baseball for the first time this year. After much deliberation and counsel, Amanda settled on the Minnesota Twins as her team. With “Beginning Baseball” Amanda is documenting her first season of baseball fandom.

As a die-hard Packers fan, I understand that one of the most important things about supporting a team is knowing my team’s history.

During my search to find the perfect baseball team to cheer for, I researched both the organizations’ histories and key players past and present for each team in contention to be the one I would follow. Of course, I picked the Twins, a franchise with plenty of tradition and memorable moments.

To all of my fellow Twins fans, let us take a stroll down memory lane today. While this season isn’t the brightest (yet), we must not forget the great past of our Minnesota Twins.

And perhaps no season in Twins history was as memorable as 1991.

The 1991 Season Results

After finishing last place in the previous season, the Twins were ready to become champions. Winning the World Series only once since their move to the Twin Cities in 1961, the Twins were ready to add to the record books.

Minnesota had three players participate in the 1991 All-Star Game: Jack Morris, pitcher; Rick Aguilera, closer; and Kirby Puckett, center fielder. The Twins won the Western Division of the American League, posting 95 wins and 67 losses. They beat out Toronto (4-2) to win the American League Championship and advance to — according to some experts– the most memorable World Series in history.

At the Plate

Chili Davis and Kirby Puckett were the top hitters for the Twins in 1991. Davis was the team leader in home runs, smashing 29, and he added 93 RBIs. Puckett contributed 92 runs and led the team with a .319 batting average during the ’91 season.

Chuck Knoblauch (.281 AVG, 1 HR, 50 RBI) and Kent Hrbek (.284 AVG,  20 HR, 89 RBI) added depth to the Twins batting order. Knoblauch was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1991 while Hrbek won the honorable Lou Gehrig Award. (Note: In honor of Lou Gehrig, this award is given to a player who demonstrates his character and integrity both on and off the field.)

The Pitchers of 1991

The Twins were able to find success in the 1991 season due to a solid pitching rotation. Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani and Scott Erickson created a strong 1-2-3 punch for the team. Morris led the Twins in strikeouts, totaling 163 by the end of the season. Tapani had an ERA of 2.99, the lowest of the Twins. And Erickson led not only Minnesota but the league in the number of wins (20). The Twins also had a successful closer in Rick Aguilera, earning the team 42 saves in 1991.

Kirby Puckett and The World Series, Game Six

Ahhh Kirby Puckett.

Yes, he did bring many great memories to Twins fans during his 12-year baseball career (all of which he played at Minnesota).

Puckett (Center Fielder from 1984-1995) accomplished a lot in his years as a professional baseball player. He was a ten-time All-Star selection, the 1993 MLB All-Star Game MVP,  and a two-time World Series Champion, just to name a few. The Minnesota Twins have retired #34 and inducted Kirby Puckett into their Hall of Fame in 2000.

In one game, Puckett became a memorable player to not only Twins fans, but to baseball fans across the country.

In Game 6 of the 1991 World Series against Atlanta, the Twins were behind 3 games to 2, and it was nail biter. Tied up at the end of the ninth, the two teams played into extra innings. It wasn’t until the bottom of the 11th inning that Puckett hit a game-winning home run that kept the Twins alive for a 7^th game against the Braves.

“And we’ll see you tomorrow night!” is the famous line broadcaster Jack Buck announced at the end of Game 6 in the 1991 World Series. The Twins won the World Series and Puckett’s name went down in history.

Puckett not the only Star

However, Kirby Puckett was not the only star during the 1991 World Series.

After Puckett propelled the Twins to Game 7, Jack Morris let his well known big game ability shine during the decisive game in what was the only year he played for the Twins.

In the final game of the 1991 World Series, Morris shut out the Braves in 10 innings during Game 7. The Twins won the game 1-0 and became the 1991 World Series Champions. Morris was named World Series MVP for his amazing performance and won the Babe Ruth Award.

———-

Minnesota has had many great seasons, players, and moments throughout their history. While we shouldn’t live in the past, a fan should never forget the great accomplishments of their team.

Fellow Twins fans, what is your favorite Minnesota Twins memory?