Twins 2022

buckybadger wrote:

Simultaneously, the postseason viewership is trending downward each of the last 21 seasons. The average fans don’t have 4 hours to sit on their behinds to watch from the first pitch and national anthem until the final strikeout. There is more down time in today’s game than there has ever been.

Its not just the issues on TV either. Have you noticed how empty the stadium is after opening day? The Twins just played arguably the best team in the league (Dodgers) and there couldn’t have been more than 10,000 fans present, if that.

I haven’t been to a game in person at Target Field since before the pandemic. The last time I went, there was WAY more people not paying attention to the actual game on the field than there was. People socialize, drink beer, and check their phones instead. I can do all of that at home just fine. I guess I don’t quite understand the point of spending 3-4 hours at a game in person if you intend to just talk to the person next to you and check your phone instead of paying attention to the reason you actually went.

I haven’t been to many sporting events the last few years in person so I can’t comment if the majority of fans actually watch a pro hockey, basketball, soccer, or football game when they attend it in person. The crowd at baseball games just seems so disinterested in the product on the field compared to other live sports.

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
Simultaneously, the postseason viewership is trending downward each of the last 21 seasons. The average fans don’t have 4 hours to sit on their behinds to watch from the first pitch and national anthem until the final strikeout. There is more down time in today’s game than there has ever been.

Its not just the issues on TV either. Have you noticed how empty the stadium is after opening day? The Twins just played arguably the best team in the league (Dodgers) and there couldn’t have been more than 10,000 fans present, if that.

I haven’t been to a game in person at Target Field since before the pandemic. The last time I went, there was WAY more people not paying attention to the actual game on the field than there was. People socialize, drink beer, and check their phones instead. I can do all of that at home just fine. I guess I don’t quite understand the point of spending 3-4 hours at a game in person if you intend to just talk to the person next to you and check your phone instead of paying attention to the reason you actually went.

I haven’t been to many sporting events the last few years in person so I can’t comment if the majority of fans actually watch a pro hockey, basketball, soccer, or football game when they attend it in person. The crowd at baseball games just seems so disinterested in the product on the field compared to other live sports.

It’s definitely not just the Twins. I’ve been to MLB, NHL, NBA, and NFL games all in the past 4 years seeing a decent number of venues and fan bases(Packers, Vikings, Twins, Bucks, Wild, Timberwolves, Bears, Cubs, Seahawks, Brewers). There’s clearly one outlier for number of empty seats, lack of atmosphere, and downtime during the game…and it’s the MLB as a whole by a landslide. I’m not bashing people who like the MLB as baseball was a big part of my life and I still enjoy the game. Even if you enjoy the games, it’s hard to deny that it’s losing traction with many fans in today’s world.

Personal Changes I’d Like to See as a Fan Losing Interest:

-Salary Cap (a big part of the league won’t ever contend and has no incentive to)
-Cut down roster sizes/number of pitchers active on rosters (would go a long ways to picking up the pace and minimizing pitching changes)
-Faster Play, More Action, Less Downtime (implement rules that get the game finished in well under 3 hours)
-Shorten the season (120 games would be plenty and lessen injuries to stars, minimize competition with football during the fall)

buckybadger wrote:

It’s definitely not just the Twins.

Exactly. People being on their phones is just the times we are living in right now. Not to mention the weather was awful for both series. I think being able to socialize and not HAVE to pay attention to every pitch of the game was part of the charm of going to a baseball game. It was being outside on a beautiful night watching good baseball and just relaxing.

People don’t have time to relax anymore which is the main reason baseball is suffering. Then comes time of play and analytics making the game unwatchable. I completely agree with Bucky’s take on the game not resembling anything of what we grew up playing even from just ten years ago. And that is a direct result of analytics.

mahtofire14 wrote:

I completely agree with Bucky’s take on the game not resembling anything of what we grew up playing even from just ten years ago.

I actually played baseball too when I was younger. That was many years ago. It was fun and I was good at it. I just never really got into watching it as a fan though, in person or on TV. Golf was the always the same way. I enjoyed playing it and I was good at it (like really good) for a period of time, but I always found watching it to be ungodly boring, whether that was in person or at a live event.

buckybadger wrote:

it’s tough to care anymore. The MLB is going the wrong way. The product just isn’t as appealing as it once was.

Totally agree Bucky. You, Mahto and I are in the same demographic I think, and as I’ve posted previously if MLB loses us and our kids it’s just a matter of time until they are done. It could be fixed fairly easily by some of what you posted, and what we were taught as kids. Players should hustle in and out, batters should keep a foot in the box to take signs, step all the way out and let the ump call a strike, encourage pitchers to work quickly and let umps call balls if they are too slow, and we need a new Billy Beane type that goes outside the analytics and puts a team together of well rounded hitters that hit em where the shift ain’t and pitchers that throw strikes and work quickly. I went to a lot of top amateur and HS games last year, and guess what? They do all those things and games are around 2 hours long and most importantly my 3 year old stayed entertained.

eyeguy507 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FryDog62 wrote:</div>
Anyone happen to hear which exact ligament Kirillof re-injured in his wrist? I’ve had 3 repaired surgically and the prognosis for them can be drastically different depending on which one.

I read somewhere he is getting a second opinion from another specialist so that don’t sound good. I have a feeling he is going to miss an extensive amount of time?

If its his SL (Scapholunate) ligament that he tore he may be screwed. There are many surgeries to attempt to correct this, because none of them really work effectively. In my case (done by the top wrist surgeon in the country at Mayo), they just waved the white flag and cleaned up the two frayed ends that used to be one ligament and severed the nerves in the area to lessen the pain long term.

If this is Kirillof’s issue, the injury is not conducive to swinging a bat. Might need to pick up another sport. For his sake, let’s hope its a different ligament ~

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
it’s tough to care anymore. The MLB is going the wrong way. The product just isn’t as appealing as it once was.

Totally agree Bucky. You, Mahto and I are in the same demographic I think, and as I’ve posted previously if MLB loses us and our kids it’s just a matter of time until they are done. It could be fixed fairly easily by some of what you posted, and what we were taught as kids. Players should hustle in and out, batters should keep a foot in the box to take signs, step all the way out and let the ump call a strike, encourage pitchers to work quickly and let umps call balls if they are too slow, and we need a new Billy Beane type that goes outside the analytics and puts a team together of well rounded hitters that hit em where the shift ain’t and pitchers that throw strikes and work quickly. I went to a lot of top amateur and HS games last year, and guess what? They do all those things and games are around 2 hours long and most importantly my 3 year old stayed entertained.

The way the game is being played, there are two scenarios during the game. Strikeout or HR. That is not enough to keep fans entertained. Especially with the stale environment that MLB promotes at games. Have Mike Veeck run fan interaction at Twins games. Sure works for the Saints. Would make it a lot more fun even if the games aren’t.

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
it’s tough to care anymore. The MLB is going the wrong way. The product just isn’t as appealing as it once was.

Totally agree Bucky. You, Mahto and I are in the same demographic I think, and as I’ve posted previously if MLB loses us and our kids it’s just a matter of time until they are done. It could be fixed fairly easily by some of what you posted, and what we were taught as kids. Players should hustle in and out, batters should keep a foot in the box to take signs, step all the way out and let the ump call a strike, encourage pitchers to work quickly and let umps call balls if they are too slow, and we need a new Billy Beane type that goes outside the analytics and puts a team together of well rounded hitters that hit em where the shift ain’t and pitchers that throw strikes and work quickly. I went to a lot of top amateur and HS games last year, and guess what? They do all those things and games are around 2 hours long and most importantly my 3 year old stayed entertained.

In that demographic and they basically lost me already. My 5 year old plays and we catch more HS amateur and Saints games than Twins games. MLB game is boring as all get out and not worth sitting for 4 hours no matter how nice it is and how many beers I can drink.

Ripjiggen wrote:

In that demographic and they basically lost me already. My 5 year old plays and we catch more HS amateur and Saints games than Twins games. MLB game is boring as all get out and not worth sitting for 4 hours no matter how nice it is and how many beers I can drink.

I will be at more Saints games this year than Twins games. Just like last season. It’s cheap and it’s a great little ballpark. Not to mention the Saints could be pretty good this season.

Buxton leaves game with knee injury.

Unbelievable.

Dude is made of sawdust.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Dude is made of sawdust.

Buxton still sucks

i think i found my mancrush and its Duran. watching the Boston feed and the announcers are just in awe they cannot believe he has a 98 mph splitter or splinker whatever it is

eyeguy507 wrote:

i think i found my mancrush and its Duran. watching the Boston feed and the announcers are just in awe they cannot believe he has a 98 mph splitter or splinker whatever it is

I’m guessing this post was before the three runs he gave up today?

Greenhorn wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eyeguy507 wrote:</div>
i think i found my mancrush and its Duran. watching the Boston feed and the announcers are just in awe they cannot believe he has a 98 mph splitter or splinker whatever it is

I’m guessing this post was before the three runs he gave up today?

2 came on a pop up homer that the wind pushed off the top of the wall in right…..still struck out 4. he is going to be special as long as he stays healthy

^^^And the twins keep him…

Buxton is fine. He clearly felt something and it looked bad but you don’t pop up as fast as he did and walk off the field if it’s anything serious. Twins have said it’s knee soreness. Let’s just hope it’s not bilateral soreness. HA!

I agree on Duran. The kid is a freak. Doesn’t even look like he’s trying and he throws 101. If anything can save this bullpen it’s him. Also that Pagan looks pretty darn good too. I actually think the pitching has been much better than I was expecting. The offense has been the issue.

The end is near…….

Sonny Gray hammy pull….

Hunter Greene sure would look good in a Twins uniform.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Hunter Greene sure would look good in a Twins uniform.

His elbow will blow up by July. Starters that throw that hard dont last full seasons.

At least he’s a starter in the majors.

Ripjiggen wrote:

At least he’s a starter in the majors.

Yep. And I hope it doesn’t happen but history has not been kind to his type.

Bullpen is pathetic….looks like they are throwing batting practice.

Sure, but the Twins’ dynamic offense has a team batting average of .187

I made bets with 2 guys after game 2. $100 each. After 26 games how many wins will the Twins have. The over/under was set at 16. They both picked over. Anything is possible, but right now I feel like a robber.

Pailofperch wrote:

I made bets with 2 guys after game 2. $100 each. After 26 games how many wins will the Twins have. The over/under was set at 16. They both picked over. Anything is possible, but right now I feel like a robber.

I made 2 season total over/under wagers similar in nature. I made my wagers before they signed Correa. I’m on the under 76 wins. After Correa was signed, the official over/under moved up to 81.5 wins.

So two friends bet you 17-9 or better record to start. You hang out with crack heads?
Be lucky to have more than 2 teams in all of baseball with a 653+ win percentage at 26 games.

I think they will be better than last year but with this pitching staff you have to be realistic. I’m not too worried about the offense. It should get going. The bullpen scares the hell out of me though.

Ripjiggen wrote:

So two friends bet you 17-9 or better record to start. You hang out with crack heads?
Be lucky to have more than 2 teams in all of baseball with a 653+ win percentage at 26 games.

I even gave them 16-10. These dudes are full on Twins World Series Championship parade Grand Marshalls…..

Anyone know why the game is so early today? Just Curious. Fired up the ol interweb and they’re in the 5th inning already at 11:25!