| ||||||||||||||||||
|
THROWING YOU A CURVE
HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY My wife Gayle and I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July and that we all remember the service men and women that keep our country safe. Our military is the strongest in the world and we personally want to thank all the men and women who have served our military over the years that have protected our freedom and this great country. Now let’s talk a little baseball, the American pastime. Like firecrackers exploding, the Chicago White Sox have been as hot has the flame that sets them off. Their flame has been lit all season long, but the Twins and the rest of the teams in the Central Division hope that flame flickers a little bit to allow them to get back into the race. Everyone is wondering what the Twins need to do to get back into the race? We have heard that the Twins need to go out and get a power hitter. Sportswriter Tom Powers, of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, recently suggested that the Twins aren’t aggressive enough and need to start forgetting about playing "teeny weenie ball" and start hitting for the fences. What Tom is basically saying is to heck with getting the runner over to third base from second base with nobody out. Play for yourself and to heck with the team concept. Boy, do I disagree with his article and his way of thinking. What is amazing is that this was never mentioned the last three seasons when the Twins were winning their division easily and getting into the postseason. But, now that the Twins are behind the White Sox by nine games in the standings, the team concept that has allowed the Twins over the years to win should be thrown out the window. He uses David Ortiz, of the Boston Red Sox, as an example of how he changed his way of thinking after he was traded to the Red Sox. Ortiz is a power hitter Tom, and the Twins are not the Boston Red Sox. The Twins over the years have relied on good pitching, good defense, and timely hitting and used "little ball," not "teeny weenie ball" for their success. Now they should change their thinking? NO WAY! The Twins win/lost record is ahead of last year's pace when they won their division and won 92 games. Why is this year different? As mentioned above, the Chicago White Sox have the best record in baseball, that’s why. What do the Twins need to do to get back into the race? Start winning the one-run games. As of July 1st, the White Sox are 22-8 in one-run games. The Twins are 14-13. How do you win the one-run games? By doing the "little things" that create runs throughout the game. Like moving the runner over from second base with no outs. Then after moving that runner over to third, making sure that the runner at third scores! This does put added pressure on the next two hitters to drive in that run but that is the Twins' way and that is the right way to play the game of baseball. The Twins can not rely on a three-run homerun every game like some of the stronger teams in baseball can, like the Boston Red Sox! The Twins are built this way throughout their organization. This is why so many other teams are envious of the Twins and appreciate the way the Twins play the game. You have to play the game of baseball with the talent you are given. If you have a bunch of power hitters in the lineup, like the Texas Rangers, you go for the fences on every swing. If you have a lineup like the Twins, you play for a run at a time and hope that a three-run homerun comes once in a while. Little things are nice in life, like telling the ones close to you that you love them and respect them. Try and make that your goal every single day. Respect others and what they are doing in their lives and you will feel better about yourself. Be careful in life but have fun. Thank you for reading this column, and if you want to express your feelings to me please e-mail your thoughts to my e-mail address at bert@bertblyleven.com. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
You are "Hereby Circled"
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
