Thursday, August, 6th

Twins Talk

Indians 8 Twins 1(53-54 3.5gb) WP: Laffey LP: Liriano(4-11)

Cabrera: 3-4 .288 avg double(27) Liriano: 5 inn 4 runs 8 hits 4bb 4k 5.63 era

Morneaus: 0-4 rbi(89)

• Today, the Twins finish off their series in Cleveland as Nick Blackburn gets the start for the Twins and will face Fausto Carmona of the Indians.

Rochester Wrap

• The Red Wings had yesterday off and will come home to start a series with Louisville tonight with Kevin Mulvey getting the start for Rochester.

New Britain Business

Erie 6 New Britain 4(53-57 11gb) WP: Weber LP: Waldrop(1-3) Save: Regas

Grudzielanek: 2-4 .333 avg Mata: 5 inn 3 runs 2 hits 1bb 5k 3.80 era

Hughes: 1-3 HR(3) 4rbi(18)

• Tonight, the Rockcats continue their series with Erie as Cole Devries gets the start for New Britain.

Fort Myers Minutes

Charlotte 7 Fort Myers 6(20-19 1gb) 12 innings WP: De Los Santos LP: H. Arias(3-4)

Revere: 3-6 .308 avg 1 run 1sb(34) Hirschfeld: 6 inn 2 runs 5 hits 1bb 7k 2.14 era

Dolenc: 3-5 .282 avg HR(4) double(16) rbi(32)

De Los Santos: 2-5 .284 avg double(8)

Parmalee: 2-6 .261 double(21) 2rbi(62)

Machado: 1-2 double(1)

Bigley: 1-5 HR(3) 3rbi(24)

• Tonight, the Miracle continue their series with Charlotte as Michael Tarsi gets the start for Fort Myers.

Beloit Beat

Beloit 7(15-23 7gb) Peoria 1 WP: Lanigan(9-7) LP: Shafer

Morales: 2-3 .246 avg HR(10) 3rbi(41) Lanigan: 8 inn 1 run 4 hits 1bb 6k 4.44 era

Hicks: 2-4 .245 avg

Lewis: 2-4 .277 avg double(18) rbi(45)

Harrington: 1-3 double(29) 3rbi(38)

• Today, the Snappers finish off their series with Peoria as Liam Hendricks gets the start for Beloit.

E-Town Tidbits

Johnson City 3 E-Town 1(28-12 0gb) Game 1 WP: Rada LP: Garcia(4-1) Save: Kington

Pinto: 3-4 .339 avg double(9) Garcia: 5 inn 3 runs 6 hits 4k 4.98 era

Gonzalez: 2-3 .317 avg rbi(27)

Rohlfing: 1-3 double(5)

Johnson City 6 E-Town 5(28-13 0gb) Game 2 WP: Lawler LP: Stuifbergen(4-1) Save: Terry

Dozier: 3-5 .308 avg Stuifbergen: 4 inn 6 runs 8 hits 1bb 1k 3.35 era

Klingsberg: 2-4 .288 avg 2 doubles(6) 2rbi(7)

Hermann: 2-4 .294 avg

Gonzalez: 2-3 .325 avg double(7)

Lara: 1-3 HR(3) 2rbi(14)

• The E-Town Twins continue their series with Johnson City with another doubleheader as Brad Stillings gets the start in game 1 while the E-Town bullpen will piece together game 2 for Elizabethton.

Stop the Negativity

I dont write pieces like this very often because its America and everyone has the freedom to boo who they want, cheer who they want, rip on who they want, and stick up for who they want. However, I think it is important for people to realize how good we have it in Minnesota with the Twins. Maybe this makes me a homer like many people have told me, but I just don't care because this is how I feel. I think Twins fans need to realize how people in Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Kansas City, and Baltimore would love to have the problems that the Twins are having. Granted we have had a mediocre season this year, but you also need to realize in the last 8 years of Twins baseball we have been to the playoffs 4 of those years. Besides the big market teams in New York, Boston, LA and the small market team in Oakland how many other teams can say they have done that.

In addition to that right now the Twins have probably 2 of the top 10 players in the game in Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. I went to a Twins game a week or so ago and I sat there thinking how lucky am I that I get to watch that caliber of a player in those guys. You also have great players like Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, Joe Nathan and many more. Honestly, can you name 3 starting players on Washington's team I would have a hard time doing that myself. How about Pittsburgh with all the trades how would you like to be a fan of theirs and watch them get rid of players that really are not that good. All I am saying is I think some fans need to realize how good we have it here in Minnesota where we have a consistantly good team who is in the race into August and September every season.

Like Seth over at Seth Speaks said a lot of the things the Twins do I agree with such as building within and giving young players a chance to succeed. I seriously can not stand to go over to the Star Tribune blog because all it is this player sucks, that player sucks, Gardy should get fired, Anderson should get fired, Pohlaid should jump off a building. It really gets under my skin because how long do you think Gardy would be out of work before he is managing again hmmm maybe 5 minutes. Gardy does not get the credit he deserves to take a small market team to the playoffs 4 times in his first 7 years on the job. Is he perfect of course not he makes decisions that are easy to second guess, but until you have been in his shoes I don't think it is right to second guess. The one I really don't get is those that think that Rick Anderson should be fired. He has been good every season and now all of a sudden he is a bad pitching coach because the pitchers aren't performing. Where were these calls last year when he brought along a very young staff to within a game of making the playoffs.

I like the fact that the Twins are patient with their players because that is what makes them interesting to watch. Do I wish Carlos Gomez would be more disciplined at the plate of course I do, but he is the best defensive center fielder in the game and that should not be forgotten. Do I wish Nick Punto was not starting every game, of course I do, but he is a very good utility infielder. Basically, what I am saying is people need to quit bitching about the Twins and really realize how good we have it as Twins fans because there are a lot of fans that would love to be in our shoes and have the problems that the Twins have. I know I for one am thrilled to be a Twins fan and when I am dead and buried my children will be Twins fans and their children will be Twins fans and we will all have joy that the Twins bring for Decades to come.