Author Archives: Eric Pleiss

Episode 57: The Hot Stove, and Other Wives Tales

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Episode 57 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

hotstove

This week Eric and Paul are joined by Jay Corn (@jay__corn, that’s right, two underscores!) to talk Twins baseball. This will be our fist dive into the post-season hot stove, and this week we talked about available starting pitching and which pitchers we thought, if any, made sense in Minnesota. Pedro Hernandez was removed from the 40-man roster and signed a AAA deal, Terry Ryan is putting the band back together, so to speak, and the AFL continues down in the “Valley of the Sun.” All that and more on this week’s Talk to Contact podcast.

Thanks for listening!

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) and read his writing at PuckettsPond.com!

If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes. Ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which helps Paul Molitor use the infield shift in 2014.

-ERolf

Talk to Contact Episode 56: Ushererererererer

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Episode 56 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

usher1

This week we are joined by a couple of special guests including our new producter/media relations guro, Jay Corn (@Jay__Corn) to talk about the pros and cons of being a season ticket holder for 2014. We are also joined by the famous/infamous Andrew Bryz-Gornia of Twinkie Town (@BryzTwinkieTown) to talk all sorts of things Twins (Platoon splits, off-season acquisitions, Ushering). Paul, Eric, Cody, Jay, and Bryz are essentially porno for your ears, but for baseball. We discuss Paul Molitor’s new job with the Twins, minor league acquisitions and the Diamond award winners, among other things (namely Beer, pie and WS predictions). It’s 103 minutes of pure ear awesome. The off-season is fun, you guys.

Thanks for listening!

 

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) and read his writing at PuckettsPond.com!

If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers).

Talk to Contact Episode 55: Canadian Meat Sticks and Infield Woes

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Episode 55 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

Sep 3, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Doug Bernier (17) sprints home against the Houston Astros during the twelfth inning at Minute Maid Park. The Twins won 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Doug Bernier (17) sprints home against the Houston Astros during the twelfth inning at Minute Maid Park. The Twins won 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

We’re essentially geniuses, that’s the only conclusion I could come to after recording and listening to this week’s episode. Pure baseball genius. We talk about some issues surrounding the infield this off-season (The return of Justin Morneau? What Miguel Sano means to Trevor Plouffe and if anyone can or should challenge Pedro Florimon at SS), talk a little bit about the farm system and some possible trades that might develop. We also talk about beer. Eric was fired for drinking water, then immediately hired back, because he’s my brother. We also made a wager of 100 beers while debating if Doug Bernier will ever post an OBP over .330 again in his career.

Thanks for listening!

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) and read his writing at PuckettsPond.com!

If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers).

Talk to Contact Episode 54: The Offseason Primer

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Episode 54 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

Glendale Desert Dogs
Glendale Desert Dogs

This week we keep things relatively brief (only 50 minutes of audio gold) and check in on Ron Gardenhire, the 40-man roster, and the Arizona Fall League. We talk a little bit about May and Meyer pitching FAST, and Buxton, Rosario and Kepler making their AFL debuts.

We spend some time discussing Wisconsin beer and Ginger Whiskey before we do a quick dive through the MLB postseason.

Thanks for listening!

 

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) and read his writing at PuckettsPond.com!

If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers).

Talk to Contact Episode 53 – End of the Year Awards, but better

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Episode 53 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

1996-91
The 1st Annual Talk to Contact Awards Banquet!

This week the boys discuss Ron Gardenhire’s tenure in Minnesota and talk about what his new contact means. Everyone will hear plenty of talk about the regular season awards, ROY, MVP, Cy Young etc, but the Talk to Contact crew has invented a whole slew of awards you’ll hear no where else, including: Best season by a former Twin, Most entertaining player, Best Broadcast moment and much much more.

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) and read his writing at PuckettsPond.com!

If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers).

Talk to Contact – Episode 52 – The Ryan Doumit Lovefest

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Episode 52 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

Ryan Doumit Pumpkin

Eric spends most of this episode belittling Ryan Doumit and then trying to convince me that Doumit should play more often than I think is reasonable. We talk about Twins prospect Tyler Jones and wonder aloud what the roles will be for players like Doumit, Josh Willingham, Trevor Plouffe and Chris Parmelee. Summer is officially over and pumpkin beers have arrived across America. Tune in to find out about Paul’s favorite pumpkin beer and a bunch of Twins talk.


 

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) and read his writing at PuckettsPond.com!

If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers).

.

Talk to Contact Episode 51

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Episode 51 of the Twins baseball podcast,  Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here.

Twins-Farm-System-logo-300x252

 

The Minor League season has ended for all of the Twins MiLB affiliates except for the Rochester Red Wings.  We take a look at some standout seasons and team reviews around the Twins system.  We also spend a good deal of time discussing Aaron Hicks’ role in 2014 and the possible leadership void left in the wake of Justin Morneau’s trade to Pittsburgh.

84 minutes of cantankerous babble.

 

You can follow Cody on Twitter (@NoDakTwinsFan) or read his writing at NoDakTwinsFan, and you can find Paul on Twitter (@BaseballPirate) and read his writing at PuckettsPond.com!

If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes(ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers).

GameChat – Twins @ Astros #2, 7:10pm

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Vote for Pedro!  Pedro Hernandez takes the hill for the Twins tonight opposite Jarred Parker.  If three people show up and join us in the GameChat tonight there might be more people in the GameChat than people at Minute Maid Park.

Not a ton of Twins news to report today, but there was a brief journalist spat on Twitter regarding the story of Mark Hamburger signing with the Twins earlier this weekend.  So there’s that.

Go Twins!

Minnesota

@

 Houston
Presley, CF Grossman, DH
Mastroianni, LF Altuve, 2B
Dozier, 2B Crowe, LF
Willingham, DH Carter, 1B
Plouffe, 3B Wallace, 3B
Colabello, 1B Hoes, RF
Arcia, RF Barnes, B, CF
Pinto, C Villar, SS
Florimon, SS Clark, C, C
  Hernandez, P, P   Cosart, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Minnesota 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 9 16 1
Houston 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 6 10 1

 

That win took longer than it should have. It’s not often that Perk blows a 3 run lead in the 9th inning.

In the end, a win is a win, no matter how long it takes.

Trevor Plouffe had a home run and four hits. Josmil Pinto had four hits, too, including a key double in the 12th inning.

But I’m going to award the BOD to Darin Mastroianni, who’s double, also in the 12th inning, drove in two runs. – JC

Darin Mastroianni (Photo: CapitalBabs)
Darin Mastroianni (Photo: CapitalBabs)

GameChat – Twins @ Rangers #3, 2:05pm

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The Twins called up Josmil Pinto (catcher of the future?!) to take Justin Morneau’s roster spot yesterday, and today one of the players Morneau was traded for, Alex Presley, will make his Twins debut.  That move will give the Twins 26 players on the active roster.

With rosters expanding today, the Twins could add some additional players, but with AAA Rochester fighting for a Wild Card berth, don’t expect the Twins to make too many moves until later this week.

Last night was another frustrating game from the Twins, as for the 2nd time in the span of a week Minnesota failed to capitalize on a strong performance from their starting pitcher.  Correia, who is 0-2 in his last three starts despite a 2.57 ERA, takes the hill against Travis Blackley, a 30 year-old journeyman who’s bounced around between the bullpen and starting rotation.  Blackley is making just his third appearance (all starts) of the season, he’s pitched a total of 10.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA.

If you don’t laugh when you look at today’s Twins lineup, you’re not human.  Ugly, ugly, ugly Sunday lineup.

Go Twins!

 Minnesota

@

 Texas
 Presley, CF  Martin, L, CF
 Mastroianni, RF  Profar, SS
 Dozier, 2B  Kinsler, 2B
 Willingham, DH  Beltre, A, DH
 Plouffe, 3B  Rios, RF
 Colabello, 1B  Adduci, LF
 Thomas, C, LF  Baker, Je, 3B
 Pinto, C  Moreland, 1B
 Bernier, SS  Soto, G, C
 _Correia, P  _Blackley, P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minnesota 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 4 12 0
Texas 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 1

So, the Twins with a lineup that consisted primarily of guys who weren’t on the roster at the beginning of the season beat the Texas Rangers today.

Baseball is a funny game.

It sounds to me like BOD honors come down to one of the new guys, either catcher Josmil Pinto or outfielder Alex Presley. Perusing at the GameChat log, there seemed to be support for Presley, so let’s go that way. Welcome to the Twins, Alex, and keep up the good work. – JC

Alex Presley
Alex Presley

GameChat Twins @ Rangers #2, 7:05pm

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The big news today is that the Twins traded Justin Morneau to the Pittsburgh Pirates in return for Alex Presley, a 28 year-old outfielder who is a fringy Major Leaguer, and a player to be named later, or cash.  The PTBNL could be interesting as Pittsburgh is likely attempting to pass another player from their 40-man roster through waivers, so the deal could look much different in a couple of days.  For now, while the return is underwhelming, it is a move the Twins had to make, and Morneau has a chance to play on a team with a real opportunity to win a World Series title.

Justin Morneau
Justin Morneau

Babs is down in Dallas, JC is on the road covering the Kernels, and I’m out for a bike ride with the Twins Bicycle Gang (not a real thing), so no line ups to post this afternoon, but we still have the chat open for anyone that wants to hang out and talk about their favorite memory of #33.

Go Twins!

Minnesota 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0
Texas 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 0

So close.

Mike Pelfrey went seven innings, striking out seven and giving up just six hits, but it wasn’t enough as the Twins fell on a walk-off bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth.

We did find out who the PTBNL was in the Morneau trade this evening. The Twins will be getting Duke Welker, a 27 year old,  6′ 7″ AAA pitcher. The Twins sure do like those big guys on the hill. – JC

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