LOHO Votes--Day 4 Of Democracy In Action: The Minnesota Twins
Welcome to Day 4 of LOHO Votes: Democracy in Action, wherein we enjoy listening to fans of other teams cajole, plead, and beg for us to cheer for their team in the post-season. If you missed the Rangers, Yankees, and Rays posts, make sure you scroll back a bit and read their campaign pitches.
Today: the Minnesota Twins.
It's no secret that the Twinks are my favorite "other" team and that, id I had my druthers, we'd simply move them to Chicago and call them "the Cubs." Alas, my dream has falle n on deaf ears this far.
It's hard to believe that, after last year's post-season debacle, the Twinks would have us back. But there's a lot to be said for "Minnesota nice, eh?"
Erin Nagel of Girl Meets City, take it away!
Minnesota Twins, FTW!
So, your team didn't make it to the Postseason, but you still want to follow a team in October? Why not pick up the Minnesota Twins as your team to win it all? Besides being a team on the hunt in October, they're also a fun team to watch.
I grew up in Florida where I spent most of my time cheering on my favorite college football and minor league baseball teams. I adopted the Twins as my American League team in 2000 after moving to Minneapolis and I'm the first to admit that in my time as a Twins fan I've had it pretty easy. But I know how it feels to be a Cubs fan. I come from a long line of devoted Cubs' fans. I thank my Grandma for instilling the Cubs as the team of choice among my cousins and I. Like most I've made the yearly pilgrimage to Mesa, AZ for Spring Training to welcome the promises of a new baseball season. I've wonder each season it finally "this is our year" will become reality like the millions of Cubs' faithful.
So after pleading my case as to why you should trust me, because I am a Cubs' fan at heart too, here's my best attempt at wooing you to root for the Minnesota Twins in the Postseason.
After winning the World Series in 1991 the Twins had a dismal run throughout the 90's and were almost lost to contraction after the 2002 season, but in true Twins fashion the team regrouped and has won six American League Central Division Championships since 2002.
Even though they don't (and probably never will) have the payroll of the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers or Cubs; they've had no problem keeping up with the Joneses in the talent department. With a roster that boasts players who have earned some of MLB's highest accolades; including two American League MVPs, Rookie of the Month, AL Pitcher of the Month, AL Player of the Month, ten players who have been selected for the All Star game, American League Batting Champion (Joe Mauer 2006, 2008 & 2009) and Jim Thome (he's from Chicago and grew up a Cubs fan!) who currently sits at number eight on the All Time Home Run List with 589; it's going to take a lot to stop this team.
The Twins lost their All Star Closer Joe Nathan to Tommy John surgery in Spring Training and then lost All Star First Baseman Justin Morneau on July 7 to a concussion. With the loss of two cornerstone players to injury, it's understandable that a team might have a hard time filling this void of talent, but not the Twins. Thanks to right fielder Michael Cuddyer moving to first base and a Minor League system that has been able to step up and fill in wherever needed, the Twins haven't missed a beat all season.
When the Twins moved into their new home Target Field (voted best stadium in the country by ESPN the Magazine) this season, it was a given that this would be a season full of firsts. But what's a better way to christen a new stadium, then by playing deep into the Postseason in the crisp Minnesota October weather? Winning that elusive World Series Championship in the crisp Minnesota October weather would be a great way to cap off a season of firsts at Target Field.
_________________________________________________________________________
Sorry Koyie, THIS is the best beard in baseball.
In addition to Erin's fabulous post, I would like to add a few reasons of my own:
1) Target Field serves awesome wild rice soup.
2) Nick Blackburn's awesome beard.
3) Joe Mauer
4) The Replacements
Playoffs start Wednesday.
Tomorrow, we vote.
27 Comments
flyball said:
I love that this is invoking good baseball, talented players and good management as reasons to cheer for them
I think its giving me more credit than I deserve, but thanks
JulieDiCaro said:
LOL.
you gotta go with your gut.
JulieDiCaro said:
Ahahahahaha! one last E6 screw up for the season:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/-Qu-Pirates-Cede-o-mistakenly-wears-Spanish-l?urn=mlb-274227
thanks to Dan for the link!
Doc said:
We cheered for them last year and it got both them and us nowhere. I'm not falling for that again.
NEXT!
gravedigger said:
Rangers.
gravedigger said:
Also, I get like 10x the number of votes as everyone else. Right?
sloan peterson said:
You have to pay her the usual fee, I assume..
JulieDiCaro said:
assume the position!
JulieDiCaro said:
If anyone feels really strongly about the Giants, Philies, Reds, or Braves and wants to right up a little blurb for tomorrow, let me know1
flyball said:
does strongly against count?
JulieDiCaro said:
sure, why not?
Doc said:
I feel strongly about the Phillies...
But I don't feel strongly about writing anything up because, well, I'm a lazy bum.
Dmband said:
I'd like to write a blurb on the Giants but alas I dont know wnough about them.
Here, I'll try:
Tim Lincecum, Mark DeRosa (on ir, but still!)
enough said. Go Giants!
JulieDiCaro said:
ha!
wanna give me like 200 more words and I'll put it in the post tomorrow?
sloan peterson said:
The biggest reason to root for the Giants: Every L.A. Sports broadcaster will have to swallow their LA bias and report on Giants wins. These guys passed off Manny's cheating as nothing, and make fun of every other cities fans, clubs, ballparks, etc. every chance they get. For the chance of making any one of the 10-15 LA loser broadcasters or sportwriters explode like the drummer in Spinal Tap...VOTE GIANTS!!!!!
sloan peterson said:
Hsving said all that- I may change my vote or have a AL & NL proxy team....
JulieDiCaro said:
Got a taker for the Reds! If anyone wants to write a little blurb about the Giants, Phillies, or Braves. shoot me an email!
Carl Heartscubs Gierhan said:
Some old Dusty apologist?
JulieDiCaro said:
definitely.
Carl Heartscubs Gierhan said:
Congrats to Liam's Team for winning the LOHO Beer Pong Fantasy Baseball League!
JulieDiCaro said:
Does anyone in beer pong even still know they're playing?
Carl Heartscubs Gierhan said:
I knew (3rd) and teebob (4th) knew, other than that, probably not. And we had the two top seeds (Bob first).
gravedigger said:
Am I in a league this year?
berselius said:
Congrats to me for my wire-to-wire win of the LOHO Nerd league.
AndCounting said:
Hey, I'm telling you, I was in first for two weeks in May.
Carl Heartscubs Gierhan said:
Canopygrl (who just happens to be serving our country in Iraq) earns the distinction of finishing last in the league, which is no easy feat in a league abandoned by it's creator
MNjoe said:
Yeah! Gotta root for the Twins, especially since they're finally out of that horrible dome. And it's always fun to watch them humiliate the White Sox.
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