"Don't Call Them Twinkies," A New Twins Fight Song For You! By Craig Finn And The Baseball Project

Here's the new ditty By The Baseball Project & Craig Finn.

Song author and lead vocalist Craig Finn of The Hold Steady

could pass of a long-lost brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Bruce Sutter.

 With thanks for photo and accompanying info

 courtesy of  MPR: The Current.

Not sure I'm sold on it.  A couple more listenings, and I might be seen running down Sunrise Avenue, Homer Hanky a-wavin,' screaming "Glory Hallelujah!!" Doubltess, Missus Twins Twinkler would endorse that.

The band — which also features Steve "The Toy Cannon" Wynn of Dream Syndicate, R.E.M.’s Peter "John" Buck and Scott "Mr." McCaughey, Zuzu's Petals drummer Linda "Miss Jane" Pitmon — deliver a working-class hardrockin'-jangly-I-tore-my-pants-on-a-barn stud of a song to go with other between-inning hits like John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” or “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Finn drops some nostalgic lyrics about legendary outfielder Kirby Puckett:

"In the fall of '87, I was pretty much in heaven / I got my licence and a girlfriend, and the Twins had won the pennant," he quivers on the cut.  Finn is tentatively scheduled to appear on the Minneapolis/St. Paul 1500 am radio postgame segment on Sunday, Oct. 3 to discuss the song. But as we well know, rockers are notoriously unreliable and footloose and fancyfree, so that's subject to change...

BTY: I know you've been dying to know: personally, I've never liked the "Twinkies" tag.  That's because I know it originated (at least in my recollection) during the '80s, before the Championship season, as a slightly derisive moniker for team when it, well, sucked.

Of course, I've always been kind of partial towards the original 1961 "Win! Twins!" song by Ray Charles (not THAT one) and Dick ("Don't Call Me Richie") Wilson.  It is available in the sidebar for your eternal happiness.

AND AS IF you haven't heard it, here's a video with the song mentioned above, played as background ambience: it was played during the Twins Legends game a few weeks ago as the portly and disheveled former Twins players took to the field!




May Your Taters Fly Far!
Twinkler Out

Not To Sound Critical, But, Geez, Kent Hrbek Sure Is Lookin' Puffy...

This video feature from Fox North from last weekend festivities at Target Field sure had some neat moments from the Twins Legends Game, as part of the 50th Anniversary Weekend celebration.

 And to be sure, that game was also memorable for the freakish spectacle caused by our favorite little Bloomington Kennedy alum, Kent Hrbek. While chasing a Gene Larkin foul, gentleman Kent bored a collie-sized divot in foul territory.  Behold:

Rumors that Kent is being contacted by organizers of the coming ice age to

gouge out new river beds and landforms in Minnesota are completely untrue.

Here's to Kent embracing the idea that being a sportsman can also include activity that burns megacalories, and not just arcing a flycast rod over the waters of Itasca. Love ya, ya big lug!

May your taters fly far,

Twinkler Out

Bizarre Game Ending Play at 3rd Base Gives Twins 6-5 Win!

Despite the resulting argument by Ranger's Manager (and
former Twin Ron Washington, middle, in cool shades) the
Rangers were the unfortunate victims of the baseball rule book!

With the Texas Rangers driving to tie the game, the unexpected happened: on a Vlad Guerrero basehit (click to see video!) base hit up the middle, one run scored to push the score against the Twins and reliever Matt Capps to 6-5. Unfortunately, trailing runner Michael Young, seasoned veteran, overran third, his momentum carrying him close and into contact with third base coach Dave Anderson.

Under baseball rule 7.09, "It is interference by a batter or runner when, in the judgement of the umpire the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base."

Third base umpire Alfonso Marquez immediately called runner Young out, even though it appears to be incidental contact.  Does that constitute "assisting" the baserunner? Doubtful, but it amounts to a nice, early Christmas gift to all of us in Twins Territory...I think therefore it's a GREAT RULE (of course, there may be other opinions as to its application, in this instance). Thus, the ruling held, giving the Twins a three game sweep of the Western Division leading Rangers!  Great timing as the Twins' nearest rival, the Chicago Stinking White Sox, won their 6th consecutive road game out of a ten game swing.  The Twins currently hold a 3.5 game lead in the American League's Central Division.

Great day and weekend, as the Twins celebrated their 50th Anniversary in the American League, culminating in the hilarious Twins "Legends" game that preceded the contest. Videos and photos of the same will folow!

May Your Taters Fly Far!
Twinkler Out