Puckett's Pond 3 hours ago
Minnesota Twins: Comparing the 2000s Twins against the 2010s Twins
With the 2010s decade closed off after this season, we compare the 2000s Minnesota Twins vs. the 2010s Minnesota Twins to see which decade was best! With a couple of weeks before the “hot stove” season starts, baseball fans enter a lull after their team finishes up their season. To pass some of that time, I […] Minnesota Twins: Comparing the 2000s Twins against the 2010s Twins - Pucketts Pond - Pucketts Pond - A Minnesota Twins Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Twinkie Town 4 hours ago
Time for some positivity
Photo by Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via It’s not all doom-and-gloom in Twins Territory In some ways, 2020—especially its ending—was not the greatest season to be a Minnesota Twins fan. Public access to Target Field was denied for the duration, the entire team (save for Nelson Cruz & Kenta Maeda) seemed to underachieve based on 2019 levels, and the playoff losing streak reached new—and more depressing—heights. Having the Trash-stros be the team to end the Twins’ season? The final knife twist. Yet, there are two primary ways in which the ‘20 squad could—and should—be seen...
Twinkie Town 6 hours ago
Former Twins in the World Series
Photo by Tom Pennington/ Which former Twins could soon be World Champions? The World Series has finally arrived. With baseball’s grandest stage in full swing, which former Minnesota Twins find themselves competing for the Commissioner’s Trophy? Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays feature three former Twins, all relief pitchers. Nick Anderson- Nick Anderson was a former Twins prospect who never got his chance with the big-league squad. He was traded away for next to nothing, and has since become one of baseball’s best relievers. He had a 0.55 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 16.1 innings...
Puckett's Pond 17 hours ago
Minnesota Twins: Handing out Grades for the Outfield and DH
The 2020 Minnesota Twins season is now complete, so it’s time to pass out grades to an outfield that was banged up for most of the year. Right after midseason, I passed out grades to the Minnesota Twins, starting with their rotation and going through every single position group, finishing up with the outfield. After another crushing […] Minnesota Twins: Handing out Grades for the Outfield and DH - Pucketts Pond - Pucketts Pond - A Minnesota Twins Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Puckett's Pond Oct 20, 2020
Minnesota Twins: 3 Things Twins Fans can root for in the 2020 Fall Classic
Although the Minnesota Twins won’t be competing in the 2020 World Series, there is still a lot for Twins fans to root for in this year’s Fall Classic. The 2020 MLB Postseason seemed hopeful for many Minnesota Twins fans, as their team was going into a newly introduced playoff format where they wouldn’t have to […] Minnesota Twins: 3 Things Twins Fans can root for in the 2020 Fall Classic - Pucketts Pond - Pucketts Pond - A Minnesota Twins Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Oct 20, 2020
Five things the Twins could learn from the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays
The 2020 postseason ended for the Twins in familiarly frustrating fashion — with a sweep (this time at the hands of the Astros) that was as meek as it was disappointing. But the 2020 postseason continues for two teams Tuesday with the start of the World Series. And one of those teams in particular, Tampa Bay, should give Twins fans at least a little glimmer of hope for the future. Simply put: If the Rays can make it this far, a lot of teams can. That's obviously not to say it's easy. It is to say that there are things the Twins can learn from Tampa Bay as they attempt to shore up some of...
Twinkie Town Oct 20, 2020
“Mental Toughness” and the Twins’ playoff streak
An exploration into what folks think mental toughness is and how to end the worst streak in sports history A lot of theories can arise when a sports team loses eighteen straight playoff games. It could be the fault of a bad GM, or a bad coach. Perhaps a mercurial closer if we’re focusing on baseball, or even a modern day curse. Except the Twins now hold the record for playoff futility across all of American sports, so there is no longer precedent. What Twins fans want to know is why this has happened and if there is a way out. I like to get “Mad Dog” Chris Russo’s take on baseball,...
Twinkie Town Oct 20, 2020
Grading the 2020 Twins: Miguel Sano
Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/ Another incomplete, but lets put a letter on it anyway As we did last offseason, Twinkie Town writers are grading player who appeared in a game for the 2020 Minnesota Twins. (Last year’s grades can be found here, this year’s here.) Players will be graded individually on an A-F scale based on their hitting, fielding, and whatever else the author wants to consider. This one is going to be another controversial Twin. The Twins signed Josh Donaldson last winter, pushing Miguel Sano across the diamond to first base. Fans expected growing pains as...
Twinkie Town Oct 19, 2020
I’m tired and I’m not going to take it anymore
Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/ I mean, I actually will, but I’m tired. There have already been several post-mortems on the Twins 2020 season. Most, of course, reflect the very mixed reality that was the shortened season. There was the good (Nelson Cruz, Kenta Maeda, Tyler Duffey, Trevor May), there was the bad (Polanco, Kepler, Rogers), and there was the ugly (another 0-for in the playoffs). As the philosopher, Sheryl Crow said: “A change would do us good.” Mostly, from my point of view, there was stunning mediocrity. Perhaps that mediocrity was best exemplified by...
Twinkie Town Oct 19, 2020
Twinkie Town staff submits their votes for Twins MVP. Who is your choice?
Photo by Hannah Foslien/ A trio of candidates stand out from the rest of the roster. Although the Minnesota Twins did not make it as far as fans hoped in the playoffs, some players turned in outstanding seasons. As Major League Baseball has wrapped up the Championship Series and look ahead to the World Series, Most Valuable Player awards were handed out. So why not do the same for the Twins? Twinkie Town writers submitted their selection for the Twins’ 2020 MVP and their argument as to why that player is deserving of the award. Below are their decisions; their choice is in bold. TJ...
Twinkie Town Oct 19, 2020
Monday Morning Minnesota: Still waiting for the offseason edition
Photo by Hannah Foslien/ And remembering Sid Hartman. Previously on Twinkie Town: Brandon checked in on the rest of the AL Central to see what they’ve been up to since also very quickly losing in the playoffs. Nothing unites the midwest like not winning at sports! Matt graded Taylor Roger’s 2020 and it isn’t pretty. I haven’t seen grades this bad since I took high school Algebra. Gamble and the rest of us have gone and gabbed about who the Twins should bring back in 2020. Who is the most desired non-Nelson? The answer MAY surprise you! (It’s Trevor May, that was a pun. If...
Twinkie Town Oct 18, 2020
Legendary sports columnist Sid Hartman passes away at 100
Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/ The long-time Star Tribune sports reporter’s last column was published today. As if 2020 couldn’t get any worse, it takes another life - this time in the Minnesota sports realm. Sid Hartman, long-time sports columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, has passed away according to his son. He celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year. According to the Star Tribune, Hartman started selling papers in 1928 as an eight-year-old boy. His first piece in the newspaper was in fall of 1945 and he wrote multiple columns a week for the paper ever...
Twinkie Town Oct 18, 2020
Grading the 2020 Twins: Taylor Rogers
Closer, closed. | Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/ In which more goes wrong for the 2020 Twins. As we did last offseason, Twinkie Town writers are grading player who appeared in a game for the 2020 Minnesota Twins. (Last year’s grades can be found here, this year’s here.) Players will be graded individually on an A-F scale based on their hitting, fielding, and whatever else the author wants to consider. I’ll continue the series today with a key 2019 contributor whose 2020 was... well, let’s carry on. After a rock-solid 2019 clamping down the ninth inning, Taylor Rogers...
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Oct 16, 2020
Putting these three in the Twins Hall of Fame would satisfy this birthday boy more than platinum
All this longtime Twin Cities columnist would like on his big day is for the Twins to recognize an important trio from their first decade on the prairie.
Twinkie Town Oct 16, 2020
Gabbing w/ Gamble: Who should the Twins bring back?
Photo by Hannah Foslien/ Non-Nelson Cruz Division Hello and welcome to another Friday! As yet another week draws to a close, here’s what I have to occupy your mind today: If the Twins could only retain one of their pending free agents, who would you pick? There’s a catch, though: you can’t pick Nelson Cruz. I get the feeling that he would be the runaway favorite, and for good reason (although there may be some validity to argue they shouldn’t). So that leaves us with these choices: Trevor May, Tyler Clippard, Alex Avila, Marwin Gonzalez, Jake Odorizzi, Rich Hill, Homer Bailey,...
