WSJ had an article on how the Twins have constructed the most powerful lineup in baseball, yesterday. Even then, while giving praise to the Twins, it was still written in a "The Twins, I know, I'm as surprised as you are" tone but at least they are taking notice!
Like Twins fans thought they would be running away with the division and the race would essentially be over in May?
.....
Not saying that Twins fans were. Although I did have a belief they would be competitive this year, and it had more to do with the players coming back (surprisingly), and the additions have been a very welcome surprise. Only reason I brought it up is because this is not the first time a minnesota sports team having success is painted in this light for articles. The fact that seemingly any time (recently) a Minnesota sports team is the midst of success there is compliments, but only in the vein of "wow, would you look at that" or "its cute Minnesota is having the success", which I understand from people who don't see the twins daily, but as a national sports journalist it becomes stale and overused. To that point, however, I'm never expecting a journalist from the coast to give the Twins love without some of their point of view coming through.Like Twins fans thought they would be running away with the division and the race would essentially be over in May?
It is, objectively, the biggest surprise in baseball this year. Every field player they signed came up gold (the signings for last year came up snake eyes) and every young starting pitcher is pitching to or above expectations. Not saying this is a fluke by any means, they are real as real can be at this point, but ain't nobody was predicting this.
I am not saying they are wrong for doing what they did/have done/wrote. I was just stating my annoyance in their inability to not do it when writing about them haha. It's just very non-original. I'll put it that way.Objectively I think a lot of it has to do with the Twins only advancing in postseason once since their World Series win in 1991. You can't expect everyone to jump on the bandwagon. They are 6-22 in post season play this century and are on a 13 straight game losing streak. Fans can play the "get no respect card" but that's a pretty dismal record and one good 1/2 season isn't going to just erase that immediately. Quite a few of those Twins teams weren't that good and got postseason because the division sucked. This team is different and better and would earn post season regardless of division and can maybe change the perception by doing something in the postseason.
And, don't confuse talking heads on ESPN or Fox with real sports journalists. They aren't.
I am subscribed, and love The Athletic. Their journalism is on a whole 'nother level
only beer vendor I know now is wally the beer man who parks up at sneaky petes and sells beer out of a bin for $4 a can hahaBecause I've lived here for over 40 years?
Speaking of 40 years ago, I kinda miss the old Met Stadium and just being able to park in that big parking lot, tailgate a little and walk up and buy box seat tickets down the 3rd baseline. And buying beer from Maceo Breedlove, the last great beer vendor. He'd played in the old Negro Leagues and was already an old man by the late 1970's. He was a cool dude.
