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MLB
Jan 9, 2021 16:29:42 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 9, 2021 16:29:42 GMT
When a player is traded or let go, it still stings if he was a good guy, a pillar of the community, AND if he had a unique personality. True, but how many markets relate to how many players in that way? I think it's pretty rare.
In my life in Minnesota, I can count these: - Kirby Puckett, MN Twins
- Kevin Garnett, MN Timberwolves
- Lindsay Whalen, MN Gophers, Lynx, head coach Gophers
Of those, Whalen gets extra points by being from Minnesota. I'd say Joe Mauer is close behind (though his career ended up somewhat disappointing as he got hurt a lot, and he was so highly paid that people held it against him), but is bolstered by the same local angle.
Then you have people who were great pillars in the community (Kyle Rudolph, Vikings TE, comes to mind) or other local guys who had good careers here and are well-regarded (Matt Birk, Vikings OL; Kent Hrbek, Twins) but not seen at that kind of level.
But really, if it's just three people in all sports combined over my nearly 45 years? That's not a lot.
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MLB
Jan 9, 2021 16:47:43 GMT
via mobile
Post by kds on Jan 9, 2021 16:47:43 GMT
For me, the two big ones are Cal Ripken and Ray Lewis.
Its been nearly 20 years since Cal's last game and, pre COVID, you'd probably see more #8 sherzees at the ballpark than any current player.
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MLB
Jan 9, 2021 21:01:51 GMT
Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jan 9, 2021 21:01:51 GMT
It's getting even rarer for stars to stay on one team their whole careers, especially small market clubs. We just saw the Indians trade away one of the best players in baseball because they're essentially trying to tank. The Reds just had their first ever Cy Young award winner in Trevor Bauer and there's a 99% chance he won't be on the team next year because he wants $30+ million per year.
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MLB
Jan 19, 2021 17:36:30 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 19, 2021 17:36:30 GMT
Talk about committing career suicide:
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MLB
Jan 19, 2021 17:46:17 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 19, 2021 17:46:17 GMT
Talk about committing career suicide:
Usually I am quick to claim Minnesota natives, but I'd like to conveniently forget that Porter is from Wayzata (an inner-ring western suburb of Minneapolis probably best known for being name-checked [and mispronounced] in the pilot of Beverly Hills 90210 as being the place the Walsh family left for California).
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MLB
Jan 20, 2021 13:25:31 GMT
Post by kds on Jan 20, 2021 13:25:31 GMT
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MLB
Jan 22, 2021 16:28:53 GMT
kds likes this
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 22, 2021 16:28:53 GMT
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MLB
Jan 22, 2021 21:45:14 GMT
kds likes this
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 22, 2021 21:45:14 GMT
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MLB
Jan 23, 2021 12:28:41 GMT
via mobile
Post by kds on Jan 23, 2021 12:28:41 GMT
He's the true HR King in my book.
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MLB
Jan 27, 2021 13:37:52 GMT
Post by kds on Jan 27, 2021 13:37:52 GMT
The holier than thou BBWAA has struck again, opting to not vote anybody into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021.
I know people have strong opinions about guys from the Steroids Era of the late 1990s / early 2000s. I do think those stats are somewhat tainted. But, MLB also turned a blind eye to it until Jose Canseco released his book in 2005. MLB was more that willing to reap the benefits of players putting up video game numbers. So, I say, put them in.
It's too bad Curt Schilling didn't spend the last four years having temper tantrums every time Donald Trump spoke or threatened violence against Trump supporters, or he's be in the Hall.
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MLB
Feb 22, 2021 15:08:38 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Feb 22, 2021 15:08:38 GMT
The Twins became the first major pro team in Minnesota (as far as I have seen, anyway) to request that the governor allow substantial numbers of fans to attend games live.
The team asked that 10,000 fans--roughly 25% of Target Field's capacity--be allowed to attend games this season, and that more fans be allowed as the season progresses and more people are vaccinated. The stadium being an open-air building is expected to help the team's cause (and probably also those of the soccer team, the Loons, and the minor-league baseball team the Saints).
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Post by kds on Feb 23, 2021 14:16:57 GMT
The positivity rate in Maryland is now below 4%, and more vaccination clinics are popping up. So, I hope that means that people will be able to attend Orioles games this summer. Orioles fans have been practicing social distancing at the ballpark for the better part of the last 20 years. Bazinga.
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MLB
Feb 23, 2021 14:50:44 GMT
Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Feb 23, 2021 14:50:44 GMT
Ohio is going to allow 30%, which works out to a little under 13,000 fans for the Reds. Can't wait to visit the ballpark in April.
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MLB
Feb 23, 2021 15:26:10 GMT
Post by kds on Feb 23, 2021 15:26:10 GMT
Ohio is going to allow 30%, which works out to a little under 13,000 fans for the Reds. Can't wait to visit the ballpark in April. You guys had fans at NFL games this year, right? Baltimore did for one game in late October, but then the COVID cases started to rise, but they shut that down.
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MLB
Feb 24, 2021 1:48:10 GMT
Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Feb 24, 2021 1:48:10 GMT
Ohio is going to allow 30%, which works out to a little under 13,000 fans for the Reds. Can't wait to visit the ballpark in April. You guys had fans at NFL games this year, right? Baltimore did for one game in late October, but then the COVID cases started to rise, but they shut that down. 6k were allowed starting with the second or third game and it was raised to 12k at some point during the season. Once Burrow went out though, there were always plenty of tickets available. Opening Day is a big holiday in Cincinnati. I had tickets to go last year, but will probably skip this year. Not interested in paying the elevated prices without all of the pomp and circumstance.
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