Max Kepler's Game For The Ages

"Gute Hitter"

Move over, David Hassellhoff. Those Germans & Amerikaners just LOVE Max Kepler.

In the first of a four game series against the Cleveland Indians, German-born Max Kepler established his place in team history by hitting his third homerun of the night, a perfect illustration of gluttonous bashing as he hit line drive shots in the first, third, and sixth innings. Each was a two-run shot, if you like disgustingly repetitive and symmetrical homerun videos. Not to mention the disgustingly repetitive German cliches and stereotypes that sports bloggers just can't help themselves from repeating ad infinitum! I'm sure glad I steer clear of that goofy business.

 "Heben sie ein stein!! 
Wunderbar, Maximilian!!"

In doing so, the Berliner (who somehow speaks better English than me) joined some interesting company (see chart below, including Washington Senators), and had a chance to hit a fourth in the eighth (grounded out 3-1 against new Indian relief ace Andrew Miller), and again with the game in the ninth inning, the score 12-5 for Minnesota. He singled [SIGH]. Greed and avarice do, indeed, have their boundaries..

THREE HOME RUN TWINS GAMES - 

Rk	Player	Date	Tm	Opp	Rslt	PA	AB	H	HR	RBI
1	Max Kepler	2016-08-01	MIN	CLE	W 12-5	6	6	4	3	6
2	Justin Morneau	2007-07-06 (2)	MIN	CHW	W 12-0	5	5	3	3	6
3	Tony Oliva	1973-07-03	MIN	KCR	L 6-7	5	5	3	3	3
4	Harmon Killebrew	1963-09-21 (1)	MIN	BOS	W 13-4	5	5	3	3	5
5	Bob Allison	1963-05-17	MIN	CLE	W 11-4	5	5	3	3	6
6	Jim Lemon	1956-08-31	WSH	NYY	L 4-6	4	4	3	3	4
7	Goose Goslin	1925-06-19	WSH	CLE	W 7-5	6	5	3	3	4

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 8/3/2016.

Kepler looked to be in way too big of a hurry to exit the
postgame interview with FSN North's Audra Martin, IMHO.

One other thing I missed the other night, but was remarked upon by others in the media...a telling insight into Kepler's makeup and confidence as a young player was his response to FSN's Audra Martin she asked, to paraphrase, "What does a game like this do to your confidence level, Max, is it at an all-time high?

Max, not wanting to seem immodest, looked down, smiled, and merely responded "It's maintaining...I don't want to get too high or too low." 

POSTSCRIPT: In this same game, Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco hit two triples, and had a chance to tie the Twins / Senators mark. That hill was too high for him to crest, however. 

Rk	Player	Date	Tm	Opp	Rslt	PA	AB	H	3B	RBI
1	Denard Span	2010-06-29	MIN	DET	W 11-4	5	4	4	3	5
2	Ken Landreaux	1980-07-03	MIN	TEX	W 10-3	5	5	3	3	1
3	Joe Kuhel	1937-05-13	WSH	CHW	W 10-2	5	5	4	3	3
4	Joe Judge	1921-08-09	WSH	SLB	L 6-8	9	7	3	3	2

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used

Generated 8/1/2016.

As it is, this post could become a separate "Game Of The Week" posting on its own merit, with emphasis on the contest as being a window into the Twins future. That just may happen. But for now...

"So Long, everybody" - Herb Carneal

The frauleins dig the long ball. But don't expect this every night!

Twins Jerseys On The Red Carpet: A Pictorial Time Capsule

2 above photos: Billy Gardner models prototype 1/17/61
He was the first player ever seen in the uniform of the Minnesota Twins.
This model was scrapped in favor of a modified script before spring 
training (see press photo with Don Lee, below).

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING (POWDER) BLUE!

Clean, economical, and razor-sharp detail grace the Twins 1960's throwback home jersey and new road 2010 version.  Our fine, young diamond gladiators Denard Span and Scott "Joe Don" Baker did the new duds proud on Nov. 9, 2009, at the Mall Of America in Bloomington. One complaint...would it kill ya to show just a bit of old school stirrup?? This aint bedtime, fellas.

Starsky and Hutch, revisited. Kent Hrbek and Tom Brunansky were the "Men about town" one fine, spring day in '87. The jog to the top of a Minneapolis apartment building, capturing the lovely vistas of Minneapolis' skyline and HHH Muffindome , looks as if it's turned Kent (aka: "Shamu") a mite dewy with perspiration. Bruno's apparently gone misty in memory over his victorious '85 Homerun Derby. Perhaps a Butch and Sundance comparison would have been more fitting!

Of course, it's easy to forget we Twins fans first spied young Kirby Puckett in the powder blue road uni, in a televised game at "The Big A" in Anaheim (as it was called then) versus the Angels on May 8, 1984. Actually, some of us preferred to have the image of those threads erased from our memory, to be honest. There is also this nice, candid of him sporting the home batting practice jersey, in about that same year.


Cesar Tovar (right, below)looks downright apprehensive in the 1972 road uni. Maybe he's not relishing a batting duel against knuckleballin' Wilbur Wood of the Chicago Stinking White Sox, as this photo was shot at old Comiskey Park (photo link). The Topps '72 card of Harmon in handsome pinstripes, the last of him in that model, captures him in a typical threatening-but-strangely-benign pose. That was just before Topps' photographers descended on spring training camp in Orlando to capture the Twins new prisoners of polyester. Perhaps Cesar just felt clownish, especially with that ridiculously large Minnie & Paul sleeve patch!

     Lotsa stirrups and shoe polish! Harmon Killebrew in 

polyester double knits was never as imposing OR 

    stately as he was in the 1960's original retro jersey. 

     Lithe and lean Tony Oliva cut a dashing cover model

when the Twins ditched  the pinstripes in ''72.

Justin Morneau models the 1980's throwback with joyous aplomb in

November, 2008. It was to be worn during various home dates during 

the Metrodome's final season in '09.The original had an expandable

waistband, and was a pullover jersey (well, beginning in '73 anyhow). 

  102 losses in '82? You'd be bummed being associated in any way with that too.

And now for some actual, Paleozoic Twins history: before the first season in '61, new Twins pitcher Don Lee has just been given the very first world-release sneak peak at the Twins road jersey on Feb. 18, 1961(for the "Minneapolis Twins," (as described in the photo caption-see link "Naming Of The Twins"). Team owner Calvin Griffith: "Repeat after me...it's a $2 laundering fee!" Go to this Google Docs link to see another similar photo, with a group of Twins admiring the new togs.

Go to link at Google Docs to up size for below:

 

As Herb Carneal concluded every Twins broadcast: "So long everybody!" - TT

Ben Revere: Making a Pitch To Be Future Centerfielder

I've already posted this video of Ben Revere's catch from the August 17, 2011 game against Delmon Young to another site, but think it deserves a place at Classic Minnesota Twins also!

Revere just seems to have that special factor that you don't see every day! He has filled in remarkably for Denard Span, since early June, when the veteran went down with a concussion on a play at home against the Royals. My favorite story regarding Revere is the day earlier this season when Denard was praising Revere for his quick first step in tracking flyballs, rating him over and above everyone else in that aspect - including himself. "And don't any of you people tell him I said that!," said Span, who, of course, turned to see Revere beaming with pleasure a few feet away, taking it all in. "Dont listen to any of that," Span protested in mock dismay.

Watch for the expression from young Mr.Revere after his webgem ride!

It gives pain to see Denard go through such a prolonged period of uncertainty and recoup post concussion. Speaking for all Twins fans, we'd like nothing better to see him doing his thing again, but soon.  That said, I think we're going to see this guy Ben in centerfield for the Twins for a long, long time. Because , you know: Nothing runs like Revere!

When a guy is making fielding plays reminiscent of Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series, it warrants a second look.

As our old buddy at the mic, Mr. Herb Carneal would say:

"...and the count rides along." - TT

Everlasting Impressions in Gif, July 2011

Today's post is a Twins smorgasbord of gif images, one of my newest photographic fixations. Each of the scenes below easily rank among the most famous in the short history of Target Field. They were moments of incredible joy in this season of angst, poor play, and suspect front office / on-field managerial decisions.

That aside, witness Ben Revere's stumbling, bumbling, but ultimately successful jaunt to third during the Friday, July 15th game against the Royals. He would eventually score the Twins only run in that game.  We sat in perfect view of Ben rounding second from our perch in the Legends Club section. See the smiling visage of third base coach Steve Liddle as the modern day Dick Van Dyke pulls in to station. See the full video at MLB.com, with Kris Attebury's play-by-play.

Goofiness aside, this is a perfect illustration of Revere's penchant to
overslide the base; you'd swear he never heard of a popup slide.

That same weekend, in the Sunday, July 17th contest Jim Thome gave us his own take on "The Natural." His mammoth shot (career number 596) into the upper deck in right field produced this gaping reaction from Delmon Young...Jim's resolute, Bunyan-esque expression...the fans' reaction behind the Twins dugout...this is just an all-time Twins classic moment! See Dick Bremer's call at MLB.Com.

I count myself fortunate to have witnessed the above two plays in person, with old friends!
They were originally presented at Twinkietown, by Jesse Lund

Now, flash back nearly one calendar year...

One of the more humorous sights for me is the spectacle of grown, macho men whole-heartedly laying hands on one another in moments of sheer joy. It is summer, the season has moved into its middle portion, and the moon is high. Inhibitions have disappeared, and the need to punch your friend in the ass reigns unchecked. A bottle of red wine, a soft jazz cd playing in the...er, I digress...this spectacle features Carl Pavano unleashing his famous right sucker punch (pitch?) on Orlando Hudson's derriere. The You Tube video gives some idea of the hysteria, if not much visual of the errant throw from Alex Rios from rightfield that allowed O-Dawg  to score the the winning run.

No word on whether the Stash Man had recently rented the Malcolm McDowell classic, "Caligula."

 

This transpired immediately following the Twins first Target Field walk-off hit (by Delmon Young), on July 18, 2010. Denard Span (#2) appears oblivious to the mayhem, while Nick Punto's (#8) expression seems to turn from exhilaration to "NO...STOP IT!!!"

It is in the revisiting of happy, inventoried memories that feelings of depression are conquered.

As good, old Herb Carneal would say "...and the count rides along." - TT

Denard And The Twins Clinch Am. League Central!!!



 

No, he's not auditioning for a role in "Cheech n' Chong UP in Smoke Part IV."

Heckuva game for Denard and the boys last night! Rally in 8th, coupled with

White Sox LOSS in Oakland assured them of a spot in the ALDS!

Due to late time of the Chicago loss in Oakland last night, Twins players didn't have long to celebrate due to the early wake up time for today's game.  A much different scenario may have taken place had there been a happy hour (or two) for the players to make mischief. To quote Star Tribune Twins beat writer LaVelle E. Neil: "With no game on Thursday things might have reached The Hangover level, complete with tigers, chickens and nude men locked inside trunks of cars."



Here's hoping it wasn't too late a night for our boys, celebrating

their win! 12:10 start to today's tilt against Cleveland. Whatever,
it probably made it difficult for the Spanner to make morning
church services today!

May Your Taters Fly Far!

Twinkler Out