¡VIVA RIVAS!

Here are a few Twins items I've been saving up. Some I've had for quite a few weeks, so it's possible you've read about a few of these already:

Pags Sighting
One half of the 3B platoon for the 1991 World Series champions Twins has surfaced. Mike Pagliarulo was interviewed for this Washington Post story about D-Mat -- or as my rabid Red Sox friend calls him, "The Gun from the Rising Sun" -- and the gyroball:

"There is no gyroball. I don't know who came up with that," said former major leaguer Mike Pagliarulo, who owns a scouting company that provides reports on Japanese players for major league teams. Matsuzaka, according to Pagliarulo, "doesn't throw anything that's any different from what anyone else throws. Oh, and he also doesn't wear a cape, and doesn't fly."

An M & M break-up

From Sid: "Twins stars Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau will no longer be the odd couple living together in Mauer's St. Paul townhouse. Morneau announced he has bought his own home."

Well, waddya know, the Big Canadian wins an MVP and he moves out and buys a new house. What's next, good doctor, a date with the 2005 Miss USA? "Ever since I won the MVP, I don't know, it just seems like Joe and I don't have anything in common. I have all these new friends, and I'm really busy going to parties and stuff." It's OK Joe, don't cry. Justin says he would really like to be friends because, you know, you've been such a big part of his life and he can't imagine it without you. Do you want me to tell him anything for you? There, there, take a big bite out of that Jimmy John's and forget all about the man who broke your heart.

Some Busta' Love
If you have ESPN Insider, check out Buster Olney's blog today. He praises the Twins as an organization, offering Ryan's speech at Radke's press conference, which took several minutes, as an example of how great the team treats everyone. (It can be seen in its entirety on startribune.com) Here's an excerpt:

"If you didn't know better, if you didn't know that Radke was an All-Star who won 148 games and averaged more than 200 innings a year and made more than $60 million in salary during his career, you'd think you were watching a company picnic. The press conference for a Major League Baseball team somehow had all the intimacy of a farewell picnic for a 40-year employee at the local hardware store."

OZZIE SPEAKS

"When you hear that, I don't know what people are drinking," said Guillen, who admired the Twins' scrappy play so much this year, he gave their lineup a nickname. "I don't think Barry fits good with the piranhas. Barry is a shark. He's not a piranha. I don't see Barry there." -- from the Pioneer Press

UN-DELL
He just re-upped with the Twins for a very reasonable $2.5 million, but when it was still in question, Rondell made a self-deprecating comment that offered a glimpse into why everyone loves Rondell the human being.

"If they have me back, they'll get the real Rondell, not the 'Undell,' " White said from his home in Gray, Ga. -- Pioneer Press

Super Saver MVPs
Jeter may have been a favorite MVP candidate for some prominent national writers, but there's no arguing that this year's MVPs, Morneau and Howard, offered their teams a much better value.

You can mix n' match the salary combinations 100 different ways -- per home run, per hit, per RBI, etc. -- but I'm going to stick with a per game comparison:

In 2006, Derek Jeter ($20.6 million) made as much money in three gamesas Justin Morneau ($385,000) earned all year. Jeter made as much money as Ryan Howard ($355,000) made in all of 2006 in a little under three games. That means, of course, that the Yankees paid Derek Jeter in five games what BOTH the AL and NL MVPs made all of last year.

For the record, last year Howard and Morneau combined for 92 HR and 279 RBIs. Jeter? 14 HR and 93 RBIs. (For all you critical thinkers: Yes, I should include other statistics for a fair comparison, but this is all about some cheap-shot Yankees bashing -- not being fair and balanced.)

"I'm just here to say 'Where in the hell is Sid Hartman? Probably with the Vikings. That's typical. We're gonna miss you Brad...if you wanna come and throw some batting practice, wide open, I'll let you have my spot anytime." -- Gardy at Radke's retirement press conference.

"T.K. being my first manager...scared me to death. In a good way! In a good way, of course." -- Radke reminiscing on his career at his retirement press conference.

Well, Brad Radke's hanging 'em up and calling it career. While we all know he won't make it into Cooperstown, a more pertinent question is, "Will Radke be a Twins hall of famer?" (Actually called the Twins ring of honor -- ring honoree?) Here are the facts and stats as we try to come to a decision:

Why he will be a Twins Hall of Famer:

Career Twin. Radke spent all 12 years of his career as a Twin. No Twins Hall of Fame pitcher can claim that.

Durablility. Radke started at least 21 games each year. He also pitched his last year with a torn labrum. I know someone who has that same injury. He said that it hurts just to flex his shoulder. He has no idea how Radke could throw a baseball 80+ mph.

20-Game Winner. As every network announcer likes to mention (because they know nothing of the Twins), Radke won 20-games in 1997.

Why he won't:

Stats. His career numbers: 148-139 with a 4.22 ERA. Those numbers are above average at best. Of course, the crappy teams of the mid and late 90s probably cost him dozens of wins.

Pseudo-Ace. He was the Twins' #1 starter until Johan came along, but he was never a true, dominant ace. He was never a clear-cut choice to pitch that one-game playoff, though he was clutch during the 2002 playoffs.

Doesn't really fit in. If you look at the Twins Hall of Fame, Radke doesn't really fit in. Players like Puckett, Killebrew, or Hrbek are in a different echelon. Plus, his stats aren't as good as Kaat, Blyleven, or Viola.

Final Analysis:

WAKKYJ If some kid asks about a player in ring of honor, I can give a good reason why they each player is enshrined, whether it's for outstanding statistics, exceptional longevity, or both. But 20 years from now, if some kid asks about Radke, the highest praise I could give is that he was a good pitcher. He was never a dominant,must-see-type player like Johan or what Mauer and Morneau are quickly becoming. Radke has been one hell of a team player, but in the end, I don't think he belongs in the Twins Hall of Fame.

VivaRivas I'll admit, my gut reaction was to say 'No' to Radke as a Twins Ring Honoree. Even so, it was more of a case of my brain saying 'no' and ignoring my heart, which cried, "For love of Rivas, show Radke some man-love!" Radke has always been a favorite of mine, and I know I'm not alone. He had the 3 C's -- calm, cool, collected -- and he was a quality pitcher, which we've learned this off-season is an extremely valuable thing. (See Gil Meche, Vicente Padilla, Adam Eaton) You can't help but admire a man with the heart of a lion (he pitched with a torn labrum for two years) who got by with intelligence and moxie instead of overpowering stuff. Plus, he's a family guy who would rather be fishing or spending time with his family. Minnesotans dig fishermen.

Yet when it came to the Twins Ring of Honor, my brain told me his career numbers just weren't that spectacular. His numbers never popped out at you, yet he seemed like he was good for a quality start more often than not, year in and year out.(And how many times did Radke suffer a loss or no-decision after pitching brilliantly?)
Then I came across some numbers accompanying the Star Tribune's story on Radke's retirement that appealed to my brain -- his career Twins numbers. Have a look:

Wins 148, 3rd. Leader: Jim Kaat (189)

Losses 139, 2nd. Leader: Jim Kaat (152)

Starts 377 2nd. Leader: Jim Kaat (422)

Innings 2,451 3rd. Leader: Jim Kaat (2,959 1/3)

Strikeouts 1,467, 3rd. Leader: Bert Blyleven (2,035)

Home runs 326, 1st. Leader: Radke

More than anything, the stats reveal the rarity of a player staying with one team as long as Radke. It also points out his weaknesses -- 326 HR, good for first; and his notorious bad luck -- second in career losses. Yet his career numbers also show he was remarkably consistent, and consistently above average -- he finished third in wins, innings and strike-outs.

In the end, it was Radke who carried the Twins' God-awful 1990s karma through and out of the dark ages,(NERD ALERT!)climbed to the top of Mt. Doom, and cast the Twins' losing ways into the flames -- with the help of loyal friend and fishing buddy, Eric Milton -- just in time for a new millenium of Twins baseball . For that, Radke deserves a spot in the Twins Ring of Honor.

(special thanks to W.J. for the Milton=Samwise connection)

Just because I don't think owners should be given hundereds of millions of dollars in free money to build stadiums doesn't mean I can't get excited about our team releasing new details on the stadium. Here's an excerpt from details released Tuesday:

FIELD DIMENSIONS

For the baseball fan, here are the numbers, although tentative, that matter: 339 feet down the left field line, 377 feet in the left field gap, 404 feet to center field, 370 feet in the right field gap and 328 feet down the right field line. The outfield fence, in left field and center field, generally will be 8 feet high, rising to 14 feet in right field.

That compares to these dimensions at the Metrodome, where the Twins have played for 24 years: 343 feet left field, 385 feet left field gap, 408 feet center field, 367 feet right field gap, 327 feet right field.

It's interesting that the dimension haven't changed much. In fact, in almost every instance, it appears the fence will be a few feet closer. Current fence heights are: 7 ft. in center, 7 ft. in left, 23 ft. in right.

The good news is that we'll be able to leave those trusty Metrodome binoculars at home, because as the architect said, "This will be the most compact ballpark built in America." So small, in fact, that they shrunk seating down to 40,000 from an originally estimated 42K.

--"The concourses will be twice as wide." Not new news, but nonetheless worthy of a hearty HUZZAH!

Torii Re-upping???

--Jerry Bell on fence heights from MLB.com, "Most of the wall is about eight feet high, and the reason for that is we want to see Torii Hunter jump up and catch a home run over the wall," said Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports, Inc. "It can't be so low that it's easy, but it can't be so high that it's impossible."

Now Jerry was probably just going for a good quote, but I'm going to ask the tough questions because, well, someone has to. So Jerry, WHOA (Tom) KELLY! Did you just guarantee that Torii will be around when the new stadium opens in 2010? I think you just did. Oopsies. If so, this is a serious tactical error in negotiations, what with Juan Pierre, Garry Matthews Jr and Carlos Lee all signing deals like OF are going the way of veteran Twins starters (extinction). Rule #1: Don't tell the press that you're planning on signing a player no matter what. You'll see your leverage disappear quicker than a doughnut in Tony Batista's locker. (apologies all around for the cheap shot)