Tag Archives: Twins

Aug 13

How to Root for a Last-Place Team

I love the Mariners. I really do. And given that this is the first season I’ve followed them closely, I shouldn’t be heartbroken because they’re out of the running for the division lead, wild card, second wild card, second place, and third place in the AL West.

Still, maintaining patience with a team sunk 15.5 games out of first is not easy. Should you find yourself equally frustrated with your last-place team, here are a few tips:

1. Blog about it.
2. Convince your family and friends that you watch baseball for its aesthetic qualities. It doesn’t matter who wins that second wild card, you just love the simple beauty of the game.
3. Find things to dislike about every other team in your division. E.g. the Rangers hit too many home runs (7th in MLB), Mike Trout will hit his ceiling by September, OakLOLand, etc.
4. Parrot your GM’s rebuilding plan until you start to believe it.
5. Blame Babe Ruth, the Black Sox, or a goat.
6. Overreact to every marginally promising trade rumor. Cry when a more deserving team takes “your” player every time. [See: Prince Fielder.]
7. Adopt the phrase “it’ll happen next year.” Use it liberally.
8. Cheer vehemently for between-inning entertainment, be it racing hydros, dots, or sausages. Return to playing Buster Bash on your iPhone when the game resumes.
9. Acquire a taste for ballpark beer. Better yet, stay home and drown your sorrows with affordable beer.
10. Keep hope alive any way you can.

Speak up, baseball fans—okay, Mariners, Blue Jays, Twins, Marlins, Astros, and Rockies fans. What keeps you going when your team is sunk mid-season?

Aug 11

The Art of the Second No-Hitter

In over a century of Major League Baseball, you have had 277 chances to witness a no-hitter. Actually, unless you were born in the late 1800s, you’ve probably had closer to 88 chances, even less if your baseball fandom, like mine, began just a few years ago.

Of those 277 no-hitters, 39 have happened in the same ballpark in the same season. It’s kind of like a do-over. If you missed Philip Humber’s perfecto on April 21, 2012, you had the chance to return to Safeco Field on June 8 for the Mariners’ first combined no-hitter in club history.

Limiting the pool of ballparks to those still in use, you might’ve seen as many as 71 no-hitters in 21 parks, 12 of which have recorded more than one. Only four, however, have hosted multiple no-hitters in a single season: Fenway Park (1916, 1917), Wrigley Field (1972), Tropicana Field (2010), and Safeco Field (2012).

Aside from upping your chances of witnessing one, ballpark atmosphere may seem inconsequential in the construction of a no-hitter. However, of the 19 seasons with multiple no-nos in a single park, 25 of 39 games have gone to the home team. From 2001-2012, seasonal park factors indicate a strong tendency towards the most pitcher-friendly parks, with allowed runs ranging from 0.625-0.819 per game and allowed hits from 0.745-0.906.

Back to you for a second. Had you been a fan of the visiting team and missed their first no-hitter, you might’ve had a chance to attend a rematch. Six times, a no-hitter was replayed between the same two teams in the same year: Reds-Phillies in 1971, Reds-Astros in 1969, Giants-Cardinals in 1968, Braves-Phillies in 1960, Browns-White Sox in 1917, and Tigers-Browns in 1912. Most impressively, the St. Louis Browns hosted three no-hitters against the Chicago White Sox in 1917. While the Sox came away with their first win on April 14, the Browns retaliated with back-to-back no-nos on May 5 and 6.

Since then, the only no-hitter to be repeated in the same year was a Braves-Phillies match-up in 1960. The Braves, then situated in Milwaukee County Stadium, took two no-nos against the Phillies on August 18 and September 16. Both were caught by Del Crandall—who, I might add, went 2-for-4 in both games with four base hits—and both featured complete game performances from the losing pitchers, Gene Conley and John Buzhardt.

Given the rarity of no-hitters, it is impossible to project a repeat of, say, the Giants-Astros meeting earlier this season. But, stranger things have happened. Allie Reynolds tossed two no-nos in 1951. Candlestick Park saw consecutive no-hitters between the Giants and Cardinals on September 17 and 18, 1968. Fenway Park has 13 no-hitters notched on its 100-year-old belt.

Hang onto your rally caps, Twins, Cardinals, and Astros fans. Your second no-hitter may be just around the corner.

Follow the jump for the complete list of ballparks that have hosted multiple no-hitters in a single season (mid-June, on partially cloudy Thursdays, during games boasting an attendance of 22,640 or higher):

Continue reading »

Jan 31

Sportswriters Needed!

If you’re a sports blogger, chances are you know about the myriad of blogging sites available for baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fans alike. There’s SB Nation, filled with insight, snark, and a lot of stats that go over my head. There’s Bleacher Report, which has perfected the art of 10-picture slideshows. There’s FanSided, which has just about every bit of breaking news you could ask for. And then there’s Aerys Sports—the only female-run sports network on the web.

As a writer, I know that personally, the biggest two needs I have to fill are 1) finding topics to write about, and 2) getting people to read those thoughts. However, when it comes to applying for blogging networks, I’m finding that the really successful sites also have tight-knit communities where you can bounce ideas off each other, help promote great work, and improve the quality of your own writing.

Back to the point… this great site I write for called Aerys Sports is gearing up for Spring Training, and it’s their goal to cover all these MLB teams by Opening Day. Check out the openings below and see if your favorite team needs a writer!

National League Teams 

American League Teams

Contributing Writer Openings

You can apply if: You love baseball!

Teams: All MLB teams

Who to contact: Click on the website you’re interested in, and contact the Lead Writers through Aerys.

Lead Writers

You can apply if: You’re a girl who loves baseball! (Sorry, guys…)

Teams: Colorado Rockies (hurry, this one might be filled soon!), Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (this might also be filled soon!)

Who to contact: Reply to us at @AerysSports, @Aerys_MLB, or through Tumblr.

Questions? Leave them in the comments!

Nov 30

Free Agent Carousel

The Giants aren’t the only ones making strides as the Winter Meetings draw near. Yesterday, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik held a conference call to outline his plans for the team this offseason.

Seattle has already committed to one trade so far, acquiring catcher John Jaso from Tampa Bay, and relinquishing RHP Josh Lueke, as well as undetermined minor league or monetary compensation.

Still, there are many gaps to be filled, and an offense that needs heating up in 2012. Prince Fielder is the big question mark on the Mariners’ list, but with $15M in extra cash, Zduriencik is understandably hesitant. As quoted by MLB.com’s Greg Johns: “There are so many factors there and no one knows where that number will end up. As much as you might have desire to go down a path, the length and dollars tie into that.”

Johns revealed that the M’s are looking at strengthening the team in many positions, building around a young—and still-developing—core. Nothing seems to be out of the question as the Mariners head into the Winter Meetings, from starting pitching to extra shortstops and third basemen.

A list of names and positions mentioned:

At this point, it’s nice to have options. I don’t expect the M’s to hook Fielder, and it may be more economical to go after a few veteran players instead. I’d rather see a team of young stars cemented by a few temporary vets than one or two big bats trying to carry the team.

Keep up with the Mariners’ moves and follow Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) on Twitter for up-to-date information as the meetings develop, December 5-8.

Oct 25

Postseason in Peoria

While the Scorpions are scraping the bottom of the AFL East with a 5-12 record, the Peoria Javelinas–affiliate team of the Seattle Mariners–are hanging onto second place in the AFL West quite nicely. After 18 games, they have a 9-9 split, topped with an 8-4 victory against Scottsdale last night.

Catcher Adam Moore and LHP Danny Hultzen are the only representatives from Seattle’s 40-man roster, but six other notable Mariners grace the Javelinas: outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang, shortstop Nick Franklin, RHP Steven Hensley, LHP Brian Moran, and RHP Forrest Snow.

Chih-Hsien Chiang leads the offensive charge for Seattle, batting .341/.438/.439 over 11 games. His most valuable play to date was during a 6-3 loss to the Mesa Solar Sox, when he scored on a triple, thanks to a throwing error by center fielder Aaron Hicks.

On the mound, Forrest Snow tops the AFL with a WHIP of 0.23 and a 0.00 ERA. Granted, he has amassed just 4 games and 8.2 innings, with one hit, one walk, and 10 strikeouts. Let me reiterate that these numbers mean squat so far, and may not indicate anything significant when the AFL concludes, either. Even so, they’re fun to examine in the hope that each of these players will only continue to improve over the offseason.

Peoria faces Scottsdale at 6:35 PST this afternoon for Game 2. Until then, head over to Twitter and follow Forrest Snow and the Arizona Fall League for updates around the league. Oh, and if you want to get some firsthand reports, check out the AFL Prospects blog, where you can find sporadic updates and insights from players on each AFL team.

Jan 7

Preserving the Hall of Fame

What does the Hall of Fame mean to you? It’s a straightforward question, but as recent voting is beginning to reflect, one that has a variety of answers. Some believe the Hall of Fame should commemorate only the most prestigious, deserving, by-the-book players. For others, the lines fall in grayer areas, where it is impossible to distinguish where raw talent ends and unfair advantage begins.

This year, Cooperstown welcomes Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar into its hallowed hall. Both men have patiently waited their turn for induction (in Bert’s case, 14 years), and both are worthy candidates. Alomar, sons of Mets bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr., was born into a family of baseball stars–from his father’s legacy in New York to his brother’s catching career. Over 17 years, Roberto built a batting average of .300, with 210 home runs, 474 stolen bases, and 12 consecutive All-Star games. Between 1991 and 2001, he won 10 Gold Gloves for outstanding work at second base, and 4 Silver Sluggers in only eight years.
Bert Blyleven, on the other hand, made his mark with a killer fastball, ranking 5th in strikeouts at 3,701. His interest in baseball blossomed as a young Dodgers fan, and his major league career began at the age of 19, with a draft by the Minnesota Twins. Over 692 games, Blyleven recorded 287 wins and 250 losses, with 60 shutouts and one no-hitter. Alomar and Blyleven will be joining notables like Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, and Cal Ripken Jr.
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that those who reach Cooperstown do so on their own merit. However, writers responsible for voting players into the Hall of Fame are not primarily concerned with merit. In two years, famed hitters and pitchers of the Steroids Era will be up for nomination, players whose accomplishments are nearly as publicized as their scandals. I can only imagine writers want to be fair. No one wants to hand even more fame to those who have reached their stardom with the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.

Still, cheating is not limited to this generation of ballplayers, whether through illegal drugs or juiced balls or stolen signs. Since the invention of baseball, teams, players, and umpires have played outside the rule book. Bobby Thomson was accused of stealing signs on his “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” Eight White Sox members started the Black Sox scandal by trying to throw the 1919 World Series. 104 players are on a blacklist for steroid usage.
This is not to say that taking steroids should be condoned or honored in any way. I fully respect writers whose moral standards prevent them from recognizing players who build their records on talent and growth hormones. In a recent article on Yahoo!Sports, sportswriter Ronald Blum quotes Hall chairman Jane Clark: “In Cooperstown, what we do [...] is preserve the history of the game. We tell the story of the game, and whatever controversy it is [...] we tell the story. We don’t opine about it. We just do it very factually.” If, however, the Hall of Fame focuses more on preserving baseball history than memorializing deserving players, Cooperstown may not be able to shut out the Steroids Era much longer.

Dec 31

A Timeline of 2010

I know it’s the trendy thing to compile a list of the best breakthroughs, scandals, and triumphs at the end of the year, but there’s just too much to choose from this season. Instead, I chose to look back at some of the memorable moments for me this past year.

Life as a Baseball Fan in 2010
June – A baseball fan is born. It’s funny, I can’t remember exactly when I started watching the Giants play on MLB TV, but it just stuck after a while.
July 20 – The first televised Giants game I watch features Bochy schooling the Dodgers over improper mound visits.
July 27 - West Coast Fan[girl] blog begins. I really wanted to drop the “[girl]“, but 49erGiantLakerFan already claimed that name, with a brief post on Zito’s ineffective pitching in April 2008. Also, the White Sox destroy the M’s 11-0, forcing Ryan Rowland-Smith to the minors.
August 27 – To date, the only game I have attended as a baseball fan. The Mariners bite the dust against the Minnesota Twins, 3-6. I cheer for the yellow seaplane, and it wins the race during the seventh inning stretch. Half of Safeco Field ditches the game by the eighth inning.
October 3 – The Giants clinch the NL West! My dad wants to know why I’m not screaming and jumping around the room, but I think I was in shock for the rest of the day.
October 7 - Atlanta gets the first win of the NLDS. Without a TV or internet access, I am helpless to cheer San Francisco to a much-needed win, and spend the weekend waiting for text updates from my family.
October 23 - The NLCS is well under way, and the Giants are looking pretty strong against Philadelphia. For the clinching game, I fly to SF and watch the last half of Game 6 in a sushi bar. Wilson makes the out against Nelson Cruz and my friend and I nearly go deaf in the explosion of happiness from the city and its fans.
November 2 - The Giants win the World Series! This time, I scream and jump around the house. Unfortunately, I am the only one who does so. My friend calls from San Francisco to let me hear just how insane the streets are, so I make a celebratory poster for the rest of the night.
I hope 2010 has been as exciting for you as it was for me! Happy New Year 2011!
Nov 18

King of the World

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The Mariners have been on quite the rollercoaster this month. Ichiro and Gutierrez took home Gold Gloves despite a 61-101 season. Seattle legend Dave Niehaus unexpectedly passed away, prompting a heartfelt and heartbroken memorial at Safeco Field last week. And now, King Felix Hernandez wins the 2010 AL Cy Young Award.
I’m proud to report that when it comes to deciding on these Cy Young winners, personal records and accomplishments carry more weight than overall team success. After all, Felix was up against postseason power players like CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee. According to MLB.com’s Greg Johns, Hernandez stole 21 of 28 possible first place votes, and finished 56 votes ahead of runner-up David Price.
As is expected of the Cy Young Awardee, this was a year of remarkable accomplishments for Felix. He started 34 games, including 6 complete games and one shutout. And his strikeout record is just as impressive as Lincecum’s, with 232 Ks over 249 innings pitched. In June, Felix faced the Twins and became the third Mariner to strike out four batters in one inning. August brought the King’s 1,000th strikeout, placing him behind such greats as Bert Blyleven and Bob Feller. Felix tried to redeem the end of Seattle’s season with a no-hitter, but the soon-to-be ALCS champs overturned the game in the 8th with Nelson Cruz’s home run. Still, with an ERA of 2.27 and WHIP of 1.06, he more than proved his skill on the mound.
Congratulations, Felix! You deserve it!
Nov 10

All Hail the Golden Glove, Part 1

Today kicked off the beginning of the awards season with the AL Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. In true baseball fan fashion, I broke down the winners, their respective positions, and number of Gold Gloves into tidy statistics for you.

By team: White Sox – 1 player (Mark Buehrie), Twins – 1 player (Joe Mauer), Rays – 2 players (Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria), Mariners – 2 players (Ichiro Suzuki, Franklin Gutierrez), Yankees – 3 players (Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira).
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By Gold Glove #: 1st – 3 players, 2nd, 2 players, 3rd – 1 player, 4th – 1 player, 5th – 1 player, 10th – 1 player.
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By position: Catcher – 1 player, 1st baseman – 1 player, 2nd baseman – 1 player, 3rd baseman – 1 player, pitcher – 1 player, shortstop – 1 player, outfielder – 3 players.
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All stats aside, congratulations to the 9 winners! It’s a pretty incredible feat to be named one of the most skilled fielders in the American League, especially when coming off a rough season (go Mariners!). This is Ichiro’s 10th consecutive Gold Glove–he’s won one for each year he’s been in MLB. Considering Seattle’s lack of success on the road to the playoffs, that’s quite an accomplishment. I’m also proud of Franklin Gutierrez, our star outfielder and a newbie to the Gold Glove Awards.
Congrats guys!! Stay tuned for the NL awards tomorrow!
Nov 5

Dear John Letter: Seattle Mariners

On one of Yahoo’s sports blogs, Big League Stew, MLB fans have been writing to their beloved teams at the end of the season. There are disappointed letters from Rangers and Phillies fans, stern letters from Yankees and Red Sox fans, and one very enthusiastic letter from a Giants fan. While browsing through the articles, I noticed that one team was conspicuously absent: my Seattle Mariners. This shouldn’t be too surprising, as the M’s tend to get overlooked (even by me, I’m ashamed to say) and weathered a particularly nasty year. Still, I can’t bear having my team left out, so I want to conclude this 2010 season with a letter of my own.

Dear Mariners,
This letter is difficult to write. See, you and I both know that this has been the hardest year of your life. You went 61-101 in a single season, with losses that didn’t just slip away, but ran right out the door. Remember July 27th, when the White Sox pummeled you 11-0 and you responded by sending my favorite pitcher to the minors? Or Toronto’s victory on May 19th? The 6-3 fall to the Twins on August 27th? I took those last two defeats personally because I fought rush hour traffic watch you play, so excited to see you that I braved a downpour for an hour before the gates opened.
Mariners, you were so bad this year that no one wanted to talk about you. You had Cliff Lee, but traded him to Texas midseason so the Rangers could intimidate the Yankees in the ALCS. You have Ichiro, one of the best hitters in the majors, who can’t let his skills shine when the rest of the team isn’t coming through. You have Felix Hernandez, “King Felix,” who might not nab a Cy Young Award this year (despite his obvious talent) because of your outlandish record. And do I even need to mention the drama of settling on a manager? This situation stinks, it really does.
Yet it wouldn’t be fair to pin all the blame on you. I haven’t held up my part of this relationship, either. My heart was obviously with the San Francisco Giants, a summer romance that blossomed during the autumn months as they climbed their way to the top. Don’t worry, though–that is fated to be a long-distance affair. After all, I can’t drive to AT&T Park every week for garlic fries and afternoon baseball. No, I fully enjoy our occasional nights at the field, where the Wave just won’t die and fans yell louder for the animated boat races during the seventh inning stretch than for a home run.
So when 2011 rolls around, I’ll be waiting for you, Seattle. Through your rare ups and constant downs, I will be sitting in Safeco Field cheering you on. To be honest, I’ll actually be sitting on my couch as King Felix takes the mound and Ichiro swings his bat. But you will always have my undying support, because I know that no matter what we go through, we’ll always have a fresh season waiting for us next year.
Until we meet again,
Ashley