BASEBALL
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On this day in 1965, the outer Astrodome ceiling was painted because the sun’s glare made fielding fly balls hazardous. The cost of painting it was $20,000. Painting the roof caused the real grass turf to die and spurred the introduction of artificial turf. So far this season, most of the Minnesota Twins home games… Read more
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As we move into mid-April here in the North Country, sunshine and warmer weather have finally returned. During the month of April, we gain somewhere between 60–80 minutes of daylight. Against all expectations, my Local Nine, the Minnesota Twins, have the best record in the American League. The combination of more light, warmer weather, and… Read more
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On April 12th, 1980, Cecil Cooper and Don Money each hit grand slams in the second inning of Milwaukee’s 18-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. We have all had bad days at the office. Let’s just hope we never have one as bad as Red Sox pitchers Mike Torrez and Chuck Rainey had 46 years ago today.… Read more
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During the month of March, I have been on an H.G. Wells kick. I re-read The War of the Worlds and then The Invisible Man. I am currently working through The Island of Dr. Moreau. After my annual reading of Treasure Island in April, I may need to re-read The Time Machine. I began yesterday to work back through my collection of… Read more
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It is Sunday morning, and after a 70-degree day yesterday, today we are looking at highs in the high 30s. It is spring in the North Country. Spring, of course, means baseball. On Thursday, my local nine, the Minnesota Twins, will be opening the 2026 season at Camden Yards when they play the Baltimore Orioles.… Read more
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Here in the North Country, we finally have temperatures above 40 degrees after a brutal, arctic January. Meanwhile, in Fort Myers, Florida—where the Minnesota Twins hold camp—the temps are in the high 70s and low 80s. It is perfect weather for America’s pastime. Knowing that baseball is being played somewhere where the sun is shining… Read more
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Yesterday was TwinsFest here in the Twin Cities. It’s an annual event hosted by my local nine, the Minnesota Twins, to help fans kick off the coming baseball season. Though pitchers and catchers do not officially report for Spring Training until February 11th, Twins alumni, current players, and coaches are at Target Field this weekend for meet-and-greets, interviews, photo opportunities,… Read more
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Cal Raleigh finished the season with 60 Home Runs. He managed to do this while he caught the third most innings of any catcher in the Major Leagues in 2025. In spite of all of that, the AL MVP award this year went to Yankees’ oaf, Aaron Judge. Modern baseball metrics are powerful tools, but they are not neutral.… Read more
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Now that a month has passed and the regular season dust has fully settled, it is time to look at a few of the 2025 Regular Season numbers that contributed to a poor season for my Local 9, the Minnesota Twins. Let’s start with one of my favorite plays in baseball, the Sacrifice Bunt. Last… Read more
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Last September here, I wrote a post about my attempt to understand and appreciate the “new” baseball stat of WAR, or Wins Above Replacement. Here is a link to that article. Now, after a year more of struggling to understand it and why it has become so widely accepted, here is how I am thinking… Read more
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