Batgirl's esteemed colleague Twins Geek has decided to hang up his keyboard. This is a tremendous loss to Twins fans. When I asked the Geek why he did what he did, he spoke of not only a passion for baseball but of a frustration with local sports coverage; he saw that the local papers didn't allow the space for their reporters to really analyze some of the issues affecting the team. So, in his modest, affable way, he set out to provide that kind of coverage. Want to know who might be a good midseason pick-up for the Twins? Look to the Geek. Want to know how Jacque Jones rates among prospective free agents? Look to the Geek. Want to know how much payroll the Twins will have available next year? Look to the Geek.
In addition, in my interactions with the Geek over the last two years he's proven to be, quite simply, one the classiest people I've ever met. In the faceless, anonymous world of the internet, it's easy to succumb to ugliness, but the Geek has never lost his humanity. He has my endless admiration and respect for how he conducts himself in the world; the Geek has been a force for good, not just as a blogger, but as a person. And on a personal note, he's made this girl-in-a-guys-world feel nothing but welcome, and I can't express how much I've appreciated it.
Please go over there and tell him thanks for all he's done.
Posted by Batgirl at October 5, 2005 09:15 AMI was amazed and delighted to find Twins Geek a couple of years back at the time when you truly had to be a Twins fans to endure what passed for major league baseball. Revolutionary may be too strong a word but he was willing to criticize and debunk conventional thinking. It was thru Twins Geek that I found Aarongleeman.com and also Bat Girl.
From now until eternity whenever I hear the phrase "the voice of reason" I will smile and think of John Bonnes. Thank you sir!
Posted by: Tony Boliva at October 5, 2005 09:43 AM=( Sadness!
Oh where oh where will get our stats now??
Long live the 'GEEK'
much love
Wonder Woman
Twins Geek has been a staple for me in my following of the Minnesota sports world. It was him who originally led me to Batgirl! :)
Always a great source of wisdom and fun, his "Baseball Town" article from 2004 opening day hangs proudly on my wall among other Twins articles and quotes. Thank you Twins Geek - you will be missed.
We'll still be able to get our stats, WW.
It just won't be the *same*.
Posted by: mk at October 5, 2005 11:41 AMA sad note, thouugh understanbable.
Though he doesn't know it, John was my blogging godfather. Twins Geek was the first baseball fans blog I ever saw, after Rob Neyer mentioned. I saw what John was doing then, and it motivated me to try to do something similar for the Mariners.
I fully understand John's farewell. I went through the exact same process when I shut down.
Posted by: Mr. Steve at October 5, 2005 12:04 PMOh for sad.
TwinsGeek and Batgirl are the two blogs that I read.
*Sigh*
I hope you never leave, BG.
Posted by: NY-Brian at October 5, 2005 12:05 PMIt was because of the Geek that I discovered BatGirl. I found the two complimented each other very well. Stats and analysis...sass and frivolity. Luckilly the TwinsTerritory blog is a community effort and there are a couple of torch-bearers that might just be able to uphold some of the rich legacy the Geek created.
Posted by: double-a at October 5, 2005 12:24 PMIt sure was a great site. :(
Posted by: Stacy at October 5, 2005 12:52 PMI considered TG to be the top of the food chain of Twins Blogs. (No offense BG, you're at the top of the hilarious blog food chain with or w/o legos) Through Geek, I found SBG, Seth Strohs, Sundappledwood, Aaron Gleeman's site and so many other great baseball sites from around the country.
He'll be sorely missed.
Posted by: Brundlefly at October 5, 2005 01:37 PMI need thank the Geek for introducing me to BatGirl.
Posted by: Say Rah! at October 5, 2005 02:11 PMI too stopped by here for the first time because TG had a link.
Don't ever quit, BG....
Posted by: BD at October 5, 2005 03:11 PMI'm another one who came here because of a link from the Geek, and it's been bliss ever since. I shall miss him greatly, but stop to remember how fortunate I am to have had the opportunity to read his site in the first place. *applauds*
Posted by: Just Beth at October 5, 2005 03:34 PMI also found my way to the Bat cave via Twins Geek and agree that it was perfect reading one blog after the other.
Loving this team as much as I do is hard when you live so far from MN and both your sites helped. Before I found these sites all I had was the Star Trib and Press to read online and I knew it wasn't the whole story. Losing TG is really sad.
BG I hope you have many more yrs of sass in you to share with us. I know we will be able to find stats somewhere else but it won't be the same.
I also first found Batgirl through the link on Twins Geek's blog last year.
The blogosphere won't be the same without him!
Posted by: TwinsGoddess at October 5, 2005 05:43 PMOh hell. I have tears in my eyes after reading all of the above. I sure will miss you, John. Strange to feel so deeply about a man I've never met. The power of words.
Posted by: sloveniatom at October 6, 2005 02:31 AMI, too, found BatGirl through a link from TwinsGeek early last season. He provided a great service and I'm sorry to see him go.
FL
Posted by: Florida at October 6, 2005 12:14 PMAdd me to the list who found BatGirl via the Geek. Over the past couple of years, both sites have provided a combination of intelligence and wit that is rare these days (in writing OR in a relationship for that matter).
While I used to read the Geek and then click over to BG from there, most recently Ive begun coming to BG first for a smile and then moving to TG from here.
Thus, for what unfortunately was not the first time in my life, I've once again found out Ive been "broken up with" a few days after it actually happened AND found out about it first from a third party. It's always nice to be reminded of such things.
I will certainly miss the Geek but I'm thankful for the effort he put in to his site and for introducing me to a multitude of wonderful (if someone odd) Twins fans.
JC
Posted by: JimCrikket at October 6, 2005 03:44 PMBob, the husband, found the Geek and read him daily. One day, he called to me, "you have to see this site that Twins'Geek mentions" Yes, I too came to Bat Girl as I am not about the stats, but the sass and that was the beauty of the two blogs working together to rid the internet of mundane baseball blather.
Many a blog entry was read aloud from Twins' Geek, and although I wasn't a daily fan, I was still a fan.