Amen, Batgirl. Thanks for picking me up.

Yes, there is always next season.

And remember, next season you'll have the joy of watching the Twins with the tiny Bat-fan :-)

The last four months have given me hope for next season...and those to come. But just once, it'd be nice for "next season" to be this one.

Put the series under their belt, and hold onto what they learned in the last week or so. Most of the guys on the roster this postseason will be on the roster for years to come, so if it takes one bad postseason to teach them how to play well enough for the next one...I suppose I can take it.

And seriously, Bradke. For all the crap I've laid on him in the last few seasons. I still respect what he went out there and did this year.

"Never forget this season, never forget what we saw this year, never forget MVP candidate Morneau, Torii's 30 homers, the Chairman's batting championship, the F-Bomb, Sideshow Pat, Cuddy's 100 RBIs, Santana's second Cy, and most of all, never forget Brad Radke. Do not let this fiasco tinge the beauty of the improbable words: Minnesota Twins, 2006 Division Champions." (BG)

Thanks BG. I needed that sweetie. Best to all.

We looked way too tight. And not the good kind of "tight."

I think the packed Dome has worked to our disadvantage these last few postseasons. Our guys seems to get all geeked up like they are playing kick-off coverage in football.

Thanks, BG, for this excellent site. It's great to ramble on about Twins baseball.

Who'da thunkit in May that we would be worried about playoff baseball?

So long, Rondell.
Adios, Denny Reyes.
Happy fishing, Bradke.
. . . stick around, Torii?

Well, SHIT! I guess.

Mid-summer I commented to a friend that we were a Chili Davis away from the post season. Turns out I was mostly wrong, but we certainly were missing someone Gardy could point to and they would come to bat and get a pinch hit. Randy Bush comes to mind.

It's sad, but we have a great team yet for next year. And the bat-team is making a major aquistion and I'm sure will be better than ever!

Adios Denny Reyes?? The Grand Slam (aka The Big Sweat) is locked up!

I like to call him moon over hammy.

Thanks for the season Twins. Thanks for the sass Bat Girl. Thanks for a lifetime of memories Bradke. You kicked ass!
Sad for me... sad for the fans... but, pleased that Bradke (my first and only true boyfriend) got to the post season and that he will have many more with his (too fabulous wife) and beautiful boys, sad that there are so many good-byes in years and life (#34 and my Dad)...
See you all at TwinsFest! Hope springs eternal.

Ha, steve, that is so funny!
Thanks, BG, you made me cry with your beautiful summary of the season, etc. I turn to you to get the most important points of the game - have a great off-season and see you next year!
Oh - and GO TWINS! forever

Thanks for another great season of creative, entertaining and fun blogging, Bat Girl.

If you ever come to Philadelphia for a book signing, this Tiger fan will do his best to be there for the autograph opportunity.

Thanks for that lovely benediction batgirl. It was as gentle and soothing as the harvest moon that has risen over Tampa Bay tonight. We will not forget the great moments of this summer.

Thanks to the 2006 Minnesota Twins.
Thanks BG, We'll keep in touch.
*sniff*

-TX Ken

It was a good season with a disapointing end. But at least we got some bonus baseball, even if it was crappy bonus baseball. It's more than the Sox got. As I was watching the last couple outs, I couldn't help think how we need Torii back. I admit I haven't always been his biggest fan, but it just wouldn't seem right without him. And it won't seem right without Brad.

I guess all that's left to say is thanks, Twins for a great season.

As I clicked on this page, I thought, "How in the hell is BG going to cheer me up today?" But, of course, you did, by focusing on the miracle that was this season rather than on -- well, on pretty much 27 innings of agony (and the fact that Torii was robbed, robbed, robbed at home plate).

So I'm just gonna mentally delete the past three games and think endlessly about Sunday until spring. Thanks once again for guiding me to that special zen baseball place, and for being the game's most amazing Greek chorus.

BG how do you do it? how do you manage to put a smile on our faces when you, yourself, are probably weeping inside?
Truly a great season though. What was your fav 2006 Twins moment? I think mine was probably Torii's 30/Morneau's 34 homer playoff clinching night. It's slightly better than the jason kubel grand slam night.

My favorite two 2006 moment was Morneau's two-run game winner in Detroit off Zumaya and Mauer's solo in the ninth to tie KC. I'll think of the often during the winter.

Weeping inside? This is baseball! There's no crying in baseball!

That said - thanks, BG, for all you do. Thanks to The Twins for one of the best seasons ever.

What a team. What a season.

there's SOME crying in baseball... Radke looked pretty teary sitting on the dugout at the end of the game today that got me all choked up as well.

Well, for the first time this century after a playoff series loss I don't look at the team and think "we needed x and y and z kind of players to make it happen." They had what they needed, the A's just played a better series.

I keep reminding myself that there are 22 teams and their fans, whose season ended on Sunday, without a divisional crown. This team gave us a great FUN season. Cuddy finally showing the rest of the world what I have known for the past few years--he is a great hitter and team leader (ever notice whenever a teammate does something great that Cuddy, Little Nicky, and Redmond were the first out of the dugout to greet them?) was simply icing on a team inspired "Little Engine that Could" second half of the season.

After meeting the end of the baseball season so abruptly, yes I felt hollow. But then as we tried to cheer up the 11 year old, we started to remember the good times, get back our optimism that defines Twins' fans going back all the way to 1961. There will be more winning seasons, more losing seasons, more championships and more disappointments. This is baseball, and this is why we are fans of the best TEAM in baseball. These are our boys of summer, spring and yes, this year Fall. Hang another flag on the flagpole outside the dome next year (get another flag pole), and remember this season of the comeback kids, who believed until the final out today, that "it isn't over, until it's over".

A most enjoyable season despite the past 3 games. I really thought we had a great chance to reel off 3 in a row which in no small part was due to the kind of season we had. Though it still hurts, I know deep down that it's better to be swept in the ALDS than not even getting there which, by all rights, is what should happen to teams behind by double digits at the break.

Can't help but look forward to next season. I think everyone can see that the AL Central will be even more competitive next year but with one more year of MLB experience, Joe and Justin should get better (can you even imagine?) and hopefully F-bomb gets healthy and pitches a full season with Johan (can you even imagine?). I, for one, hope that a long term deal can be worked out with Torii. That's more sentiment than logic but hey, I'm sentimental about my Twins.

I'm going to miss the daily banter on this board. How many more days until pitchers and catchers report?

A good season, though I admit it will be easier to look back in spring then now. Bradke is my honorary BOD. One story the national media has covered fairly well.

On Wednesday, as I joined the mass of humanity all shuffling slowly out of the Dome, I found myself next to a young boy who was looking down dejectedly at the program in his hands, and as I glanced over, I saw his father reach down and tousle the top of the boy's head, and the father said, "Yeah, but you still had fun, right?"

Yeah. We did.

I Bradke has shoulder surgery next week and then comes back to pitch for us next season. that would be really cool.

"I can tell you my love for you will still be strong - After the boys of summer have gone"
D.Henley
I couldn't say it any better, thanks for a great season TWINS.

Although I am a lifelong Tigers fan, I wanted you to know that I greatly enjoy reading your musings throughout the season.

Thank you for the good wishes and congrats on a great season and a Division title.

I look forward to a great race in the AL central next season.

Well said as always Batgirl. After my mother passed away in June the Twins were my light of Earendil. For that I will always be thankful.

BG--Your entry leaves me with a lump in my throat and an ever grateful heart that I was able to enjoy this fabulous Twins 2006 season with you and the Batlings.

And, of course, a huge shout of gratitude and thanks to everyone in the Twins organization who made this season one to remember!

I look forward to more sass and Legovision in 2007!

I think there should be a new assistant pitching coach position for next year: give the new guy #22 and a lifetime supply of fish glue!

Since my Vegas bet on the Twins to win it all didn't come to pass this year, does that make me still eligible to get into the Hall of Fame?

All the best during the offseason to you, BG, Jeb and BabyBoof come spring training!

Mike

I've never had more fun watching a baseball team this summer than I have watching the Twins. I sorely needed a pick me up this summer, a series of mishaps and stress left me a little sad. The Twins were there with their handshakes, inside jokes, amazing plays and even more amazing players.

Not to mention being apart of the Twins community. Being there in the Dome with everyone on that Sunday, you know THAT Sunday when they clinched was a memory I'll never forget.

Yes we brought the ass bats to the playoffs instead of the boom boom sticks, and it was heartbreaking to watch them struggle. I maintain hope that when they come back next year they'll be more experienced, have more weapons, old and new characters and a new found determination to win that World Series.

And hopefully, I'll see all of you next year cheering them on.

Till then, GO TIGERS!

Hey, the good thing about all this is - if they did this grandly this year, in the year that began with ass-battery the likes of which we have never seen before, what will next year be like with the F-bomb and the pirahnas ready to go at the start of the season and the knowledge that they did it this year in their hearts?

Myself, I'm counting the days...

Thanks to Batgirl and all the fine folks here.

And, of course, to the Minnesota Twins.

Oh, Bert! A disappointing end to a truly fantastic season. Hold your heads high, Minny.

In the meantime, Go Tigers!

ps--Really enjoyed this site and sharing the excitement with all of you commentators. See ya next spring.

Lurker alert here :) (O's fan who has fallen head over heels for the beauty that is Johan Santana) I've been enjoying reading your posts (especially the Johan-related ones ;)) and will be waiting for fresh installments during the offseason and next season. Go Johan! :)

maybe this can help put things in perspective: we are alwaystold we should appreciate things, people, as they happen - let then know how we feel about them. we a have all been so touched this season - well, for many of us, these several seasons - by these Twins. well, Buck O'Neil just died at the age of 94. when he went into the hospital i was hoping that he would com eout & make it at least one more year, becuase i felt sure that he would be admitted into the HOF next year. well, now for sure it will be - but it should have been this year. most of the recent entries from the Negro Leagues are there in part beacuse of Buck - & that is not to take away from any of their achievements - they should have been honored long before. but so should have Buck - it is an absolute crime that he is not. let us take this as a sign to honor what we have as we have it. & i for one feel that as soon as it is possible, Radke's 22 should be retired.

the offseason sucks.

ahh becky, johan is a beauty isn't he? we like hom too :-)

The Twins have dropped some disappointing playoffs series before (two ALDS's to the Yanks, and that ALCS fiasco against Anaheim) but for some reason this has been the bitterest pill to swallow. If you've ever been punched or kicked in the stomach you know how I feel right now.

I guess after such a crazy, up and down, come-from-behind, never-say-die type season I just didn't think the Twins would go this flatly. This team was 4x better than that 2002-2004 squad but managed fewer postseason wins. Go figure.

So I shall do the only thing I know to do and that's watch my video tape copy of Scott Erickson's 4/28/94 no-hitter that for some reason a 12 year old me thought to record.

Marko Scutaro ain't got nothing on Rich Becker!

BG once again your words have that magical calming effect. I look forward to seeing most of this rotation next year:

Santana
Boof
Liri
Silva (yes, I think the fact he is Johan's friend saves his job)
Garza

I really would love to see Radke back, but I think he wants to avoid the knife and that means hanging it up. Thank you #22 and sorry you never got that chance to pitch in the World Series.

On the offensive side-I think the Doc will end the 40 homer futility, the Chairman will repeat as the batting champ, Cuddy will be a 30 homer guy along with the returning Torii, who I think in his mind will want to do even better. The Piranhas will be circling in the water...and hopefully the RISP assbats get torched so they can circle the bases as well.

Once again, hats off to one hell of a 2006 regular season. Hopefully in the 20th year since the Twins first World Series title the Twins will take that next 2 steps and bring the title home again.

Oh ass is right. I could have gone my whole life without seeing the tragic picture of Radke in the dugout on Aaron Gleeman's blog. Wowee wow wow. I was doing all right but now I'm pretty upset. Part of me says suck it up and part of me says it's okay to be passionate. There may be no crying in baseball, but there's crying in my house.

COULD WE PLEASE HAVE JOHAN'S NAKED TORSO????

Isn't that the best way to cheer up?

One more time.

[[DEAR TWINS FANS, I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. IT'S TIMES LIKE THIS WHEN WE REALLY ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS BASEBALL FANS AND WONDER AT THE BEAUTY OF THE SPORT. THE TWINS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO MAY YEARS OF DIVISION DOMINANCE AND EVEN AS I LOOK UP AT THEM IN THE STANDINGS, AT LEAST I'LL KNOW YOU GUYS ARE HAPPY. FURTHERMORE, AS A SOPHISTICATED AND ERUDITE FAN, I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF THE BAT-GIRL BLOG, AND THAT BASEBALL IS JUST A GAME AND I DO NOT TAKE IT, THE BLOG, OR MYSELF TOO SERIOUSLY. GO TWINS!!!!.]]

EDITED, SLIGHTLY, BY BG

I don't think we need to be too modest here... I mean this is a twins website isn't it? I wouldn't go over to (insert whitesox blog here) and talk about how great the twins are over there... It's not the place. We're Twin fans. We're going to love them over here. I'm sorry you don't have your own BG writing for you...

Only 1 out of 30 teams has a good end to the season, I suppose, and I take some relief in knowing that the Twins lost to a team that's been good all year and great the last few days. Oakland's a fine franchise and deserves to make a run at the big boys, although I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Detroit or St. Louis take home the crown either. San Diego, too, I guess.

It's been a fun and surprising run this year. Next up is the offseason, and there's no reason to believe that - should the proper moves be made - this team can't be even better next year. Of course, in the AL Central, they'll have to be.

On a lighter note, what will Brad Radke's last comment to the Twins be before he disappears through the clubhouse door for the last time?

"So long, and thanks for all the fish glue."

I don't think the Twins lost because of Batgirl's moxie. They lost because the A's outplayed them.

ESPN and all of baseball really underestimated the A's. I didn't. I knew they weren't going to be an easy team to face. I was excited that the twins won the division not because the twins would play the A's instead of the yankees, but because the twins would have home field. Well, it didn't help and as sad as I am for the twins, the A's played really well this series and deserve to move on. We just gotta come back stronger next year.

Yes, our guys totally tanked in the playoffs. That sucks but hey... they MADE the playoffs. They WON the division... and the BitchSox didn't. That, alone, made it a helluva season!

The best talent the Twins have is still very young. A bit of tweaking by TR in the off season and you have to believe there's a good chance the core of this team WILL return to the playoffs... perhaps quite often. This year provided experience and next time the assgloves and assbats will be less likely to end the season prematurely.

Thanks to all the Twins for a terrific effort all year, and thanks particularly to Brad Radke for a terrific career.

Thanks to BG, Jeb, and the other regular contributors to this site... you make the season even more fun... and remember pitchers and catchers report in bit over 4 months!

JC

OH... and one more thing... I agree that the A's and Tigers are both demonstrating that they are VERY worth rooting for throughout the remainder of the playoffs! My congrats to those two teams already on their efforts and best wishes to them both (and their fans) from here on out.

I think whats lost in this "we should have beat the A's" thing, and the momentum thing, is that the Twins entered the playoffs ass first. The fact that the Tigers fell apart more than us masked that. The A's were consistent all season (all millennium, really) and more power to them. However, some of our key players, like Liriano, Boof, Baker, Garza, Mauer, Morneau, Bartlett, Cuddyer and on and on are all in the infancy of their careers. How can you not be optimistic that such a young team amde it to the post season? They are that talented and the game is that sound that this group did it when they are collectively in their 20s. And now they have experience. This wasn't the Twins year, though it may have felt as such, but now we can look forward to an extremely talented roster for a couple years to come.

One positive aspect of Radke's retirement? Perhaps it means we have more money to throw at our core players. Or maybe we have a new assistant pitching coach specializing in pitchers with joints made of Velcro.

The 2006 Twins kept me from going crazy at my summer job. I'm so glad I watched/listened to almost every game. Just know that these last three games can't detract from our beautiful piranha season. We earned that division title. Bitchsox fans can't take that away from us... no matter how much they heckle us.

I couldn't help but tear up when Bradke was out after the 5th. I didn't make it better when he looked upset sitting in the dugout. Here's hoping he has enough fish glue left over so that when he's fishing with his boys in Florida his arm doesn't go flying into the water when he casts his line.

Thanks BG for the blogging. Thanks Twinkies for a fun season. Thanks Bradke for a wonderful career in Minnesota. Thanks fellow batlings for being you... Twins fans no matter what.

I'm sorry...maybe I'll get over this...but this just is not enough. This team seemed destined for better. The season we had almost demanded it. To go out with such a whimper like this...sucks. What a crappy ending.

Thanks Bat Girl! You made it even better, if you can imagine that.

I guess the thing worth remembering is that no matter how much it hurts for us, imagine how tough it is for those guys who play the game.

Kudos to every single one of them, and you as well, BG.

There are 30 teams and 29 of their seasons end in defeat, but this was a great ride, and, for a limey red-sox fan, great to hitch along with once in a while.
Thanks to BG and everyone who comes to this site for making it the more humanly decent place on the internet where people behave as if they might actually be pleasent people with loads in common with other people even though they disagree about baseball. hard to find in this day and age.
The four words to keep us going, Pitcher and Cathers report... (and batbabies too)
hopefully there's still some great baseball to watch and someone who's not the Yankees wins :-)
Keep out of trouble you crazy kids

D

Thanks, Bat-girl. After racing down to my office every day for the last fortnight gleeful with the outcome of each game, it was rather harsh to see the final three losses of the season stack up so quickly. But the measure of a team isn't just three games in October, it's 162 soul searching, head pounding, T-fat/Ass-bat riddled, days and nights. This was a helluva team, and I'm proud to be a fan.

There's an not-so-Wonderful-Life reality in which the Twins keep losing in June, hold a fire sale in July, build the team around T-Fat and spend 2007-2009 doling out excuses why Uncle Carl can't spend any money until the stadium bucks come in. Think about that for a minute... better yet, think about it for the next few years. This team is way ahead of itself trajectory-wise, and thanks to the most important summer run in franchise history, they'll likely be super-awesome for at least the next half-decade.

Here's a quick recap of what happened this week.

"Dudes, let us through? We haven't won one of these postseason series things since back when 'Cop Rock' was on."
"Sure, whatever. ::pout::"

The press is and will be brutally ridiculous about this. Now that the A's have broken through, they'll yammer on about how the Twins are missing That Thing that keeps teams from advancing in today's postseason, the Joe Morgan-approved whateveritis that costs millions of dollars and/or comes in the form of aging stars. They'll bust Our Leader for being a "September" manager instead of an "October" one, which is pure make-believe horseshit.

I mean, I love that Gardy trusts his players to make the right decisions and almost always has their back (isn't that the kind of manager you'd want?), but maybe getting rolled like this will help the returning nucleus to evolve into a school of *real* pirhanas. This team hasn't had a killer instinct since the fallout from ALCS 2002 Game 5, and we'll likely look back at this and laugh. At Chicago and Detroit.

Yes, we've only just begun to live. White lace and promises, a kiss for luck and we're on our way, and yes... we've just begun. Enjoy hockey season.

Thanks Batgirl, for everything this year.

And to my fellow Batlings, it's so good to see that so many people appreciate this team and the wonderful things they accomplished this season.

I'll hold in my heart memories of a lot of things:

...the first time I went to the Dome before the season started, to add my own tribute to the flowers, photos and other memories of Kirby, and the second time, for Kirby's memorial service.

...The 7th inning stretch memorial to him during every single home game this year.

...Seeing his number 34 on the sleeves of our players and on the Dome field for every game,
everyday.

...the playoff spot clinching game and Torii's 30th homerun, all in one night.

...the division winning game & seeing the Chairman win the batting title.

...And the last time I had tickets to a regular season game, which was the night Radke came back. Even though there were only 25,000 in the Dome that night, we made that place rock just for him, and he showed us the meaning of heart.

Thanks Brad. We'll never forget you.

And thanks Kirby. We'll never forget you either.

Even though we had hoped you would be our angel in the outfield during the playoffs, now we know what happened.

You were busy getting things ready for Buck O'Neill.

Rest in peace Buck.

About 3 months ago I wrote that no matter what happen this season I would be satisfied, I am. Would I have like to see the season continue? YES! But alas it was not meant to be. So if it ok with you BG I would like to write an open letter to the Twins:
Dear Twins
Thank you for the most wonderful season. It was a roller coaster ride of thrills and for that we will always be grateful.
Sincerly
Spamsmom, the little Spams & the Big Guy

HEAR, HEAR.

Right after game 7 of the 91 series CBS went into the video highlights of the playoffs and it started out with Jack Buck(?) reading a poem by Bart Giamati that began,

Baseball breaks your heart,
It was meant to break your heart......

Hear hear, Batgirl. Thanks for saying exactly what needed to be said.

Go Twins in 2007! The magic will be back.

Bubblemint - I agree. I will miss the 7th inning montages of Kirby highlights. Is there any reason that shouldn't continue next year and all those after? And why not keep "34" on all the uniform sleeves?

I hate this. I just hate the end of the season. I feel like I have to say goodbye to a close friend for the next six months. And because of how amazing this season was, I felt closer to this friend than most. I love these guys. I loved watching them play.

Let's all root for the Tigers because they're playing the Yankees. Let's all root for the A's because they're a small market team. Then, let's hunker down for a winter of Vikings discontent until Twins can make another glorious summer.

Donnalove: OH HELL FREAKING YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT JOHAN'S NAKED TORSO AND WE WANT IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve Holt: oh yes :)

Ted...here's the full quote. It's my siggie in the Cave.

~~ It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone...~~

A. Bartlett Giamatti -- on Baseball

Just remember, folks -- on Opening Day 2007, on the banner hanging above left field, it will say, "AL 2006 Central Division Champions."

Nothing can take that away from us.

Have a good rest, boys. We'll miss you desperately, Bradke.

And the best of luck to the Tigers, and/or whoever faces the Yankees.

Knights of Columbus that hurt. 27 innings without a lead, 20 of the 27 innings played in which the Twins were trailing, 1 for 19 with RISP, 4.50 bullpen ERA, 5 errors in 3 games, the Chairman's .182 batting average . . . thanks to BatGirl for helping purge the nightmare that was the past 4 days. Good times were had in Twins Territory in 2006 and as many individuals note in earlier posts, plenty of things to be optimistic for in 2007. Here's hoping the Chairman's Dad is correct and Joe does get better in 2007, Francisco comes back as his dominant, healthy, superhero self, Juan gets his 8th inning groove back, and Punto and the Piranha's continue their magic.

BG - your blog rocks, keep up the good work. One year closer to outdoor baseball! Go Tigers -

Dear Batgirl:

I don't know how you do it, but you always know the perfect thing to say--in both good times and not-so-good. Thank you for that.

This season has been the craziest, blasting good time that I can remember. And this team has the most heart of any I can remember. And this site made it all the better.

I will miss Brad tremendously. He's been my boyfriend since 97. I have so much to say -- too much to put here. I wish him much joy in his future persuits.

Thanks for everything everyone!

k-bro

It was painful, yes.

I had a weird feeling at the beginning of the postseason. I called back in April when the Twins were absolutely sucking it up that they'd win the World Series, or get close. I just had that strange sentiment sitting in my belly throughout the year, I remember watching the games and peering at the leaderboard as the boys crawled slowly back from 12 and a half games. When they won the division Sunday, the feeling just started to fade away. Like that was it, that was the World Series.

The past week mostly what I've been feeling is cheated. Not because of the ass-bats or the losing and all that, but because I went to 15 games this season, stayed til the end, and managed to either watch/listen to the rest. Every single one. But with the playoffs and the noon starts, besides not having the money to shell out $15 a piece for the cheap seats, I couldn't even stay in contact with the games because I had to be in class. The innings I could sneak in between classes just felt weird, maybe it was because they were on ESPN, or the announcers were obnoxious, or the combination of all three. It felt like once Sunday ended, they stopped being the team we've been watching all this time. It seems they stopped playing like it too.

I'll always remember this year though, not because of the fact that they made an absolutely fabulous comeback with a nearly comical assemble, but because in a way, even when they lost, they made me believe in myself, in ways I have never managed to before. So I'm getting my homer hanky and signed Jason Bartlett photo framed to be put above the table in the kitchen, where I will see it everyday, so it will help me remember.

(Besides, I turn 21 in March and I'd really want the World Series when I could legally get charged with drunk and disorderly conduct (: )

Go Twins.

Thanks, BG, for your hearfelt wrap-up for the season. It seems that the exhiliration of winning the division was just too much for our boys. Remember that they did not play all that well coming into the playoffs. The boys got the division crown through their own long climb from the bottom of the pit, but finally through a combination of Royals hotness and Tigers mediocrity.

Let's hope that the 6-0 win by the Tigers in Game 3 and their 2-1 lead over NY can translate into a Yankees-free Championship Series. As much as I'm a Twins fan, I am also one who stands in jaw-gaping amazement at those who idolize the Yankees. I can never understand anyone finding joy in a Yankees win. When they lose, baseball wins, defeating the flash of cash with the flash of leather and true love of the game.

Next up, TwinsFest and auditioning for singing the National Anthem. This vocalessence member will be there, and, I'm betting, singing the NA at a game next year. (I've done it many years ago and at Canturbury, so hopefully, the audition will be a formality. I'm certainly no American Idol, but I can belt out a song.)

If I'm right, I'll let you know the game.

Thanks, Twins on a great year.

Go Tigers!

For starters, Twins fans are my favorite visiting fans. They tend to act like guests, have a good sense of humor and join us for beers at the post-game, parking lot, tailgate, reguardless of the games outcome (BoSux fans take note).
Second, Twins fans have a great forum here. Sometimes I think we could learn a lot from your sense of humor.
Finally, the drummers have never wanted a manager to bring an opposing pitcher back out for a "send off", until yesterday. We stood for what we knew was his final batter and actually talked about how nice it would be to give him just one more. To say the very least, we were blown away by the sheer will of Brad Radke. Any player that risks his post-baseball well being to help his team get one more win gets our respect. I suspect the message he sent to the rest of your pitching staff will carry them for some time. The ghost of Radke may be a powerful motivator next year. Does BG have a Lego ghost?

Congratulations on a great season Twins fans,
Duke

Hey folks, it's been a great season hangin' with you all here. Thanks BG and the Batcrew. I miss my Punto, already.

Let's go Mets.

ok, I'm SOOO not quite ready for the off-season yet. BG seems to know exactly how I feel, for which I'm extremely grateful.

Honestly, the Twins did not play their best baseball in this series and that's just how it went. The A's played GREAT ball and deserved to win.

That being said, I think I'm cheering for the Tig's to do their thing this postseason and I would love to see them turn their slide around when it really counts. Afterall, this HAS been the season for miracles right? All season I've said how much I really respected what they've done and I still do.

GO AL CENTRAL!!! *wink*

Thanks Batgirl for another great season. I'll miss the daily recaps during the playoffs--I was certain that a Tigers/Twins ALCS was coming, but it wasn't meant to be.

I'll miss the recaps and humor--please continue commenting on the playoffs!

It's heartwarming to see so many Twins fans back the Tigers against the Yankees! Let's hope that the AL Central shows ESPN that there's baseball west of New York and Boston!

GO TIGERS!

now what am i going to do?.... these twins were a bigger part of my life than I even realized... :( what a great ride..... thanks to all who i have come to meet through this wonderful year and wonderful site..... win twins,
and go vikes(ugh)... thank you b.g.

I thought about going to some of the playoff games, but opted not to. Figured I was at that final Sunday game and nothing was gonna top that. Thank you, Twins. (Thank you, too, Royals.) Thank you, BG. :)

Now, GO TIGERS!!!!!

Congratulations, Twins, on a stirring 2006! I'm very much looking forward to next year's AL Central race: from this vantage point, four teams could be in the hunt!

Here's a link to an absolutely heartbreaking picture from yesterday's game.

http://www.startribune.com/media/2006/10/06/21/3001862.standalone.jpg

Click on my name for a direct link.

I love this team, wow, I hope (basically) it all stays in Minnesota.. I'll miss ya Bradke!

I'll still run out onto the streets and hug strangers just for the excellent baseball year, if someone wants to organize it.

What an improbable season! You couldn't write this script and send it to Disney because they would say it was too unbelievable.

Who would believe that a team could be so far behind, have so many injuries to key players and have to climb over Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit?

Nobody!

Wait till next year! See ya at TwinsFest in January and I'll be at Spring Training in March!

GO TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BatGirl: As others have said--I didnt know what today's post would be but I knew it would be the right thing and it was. Thanx to you for providing a great website to share this beautiful summer season--one of the three best for me in 50 years as a fan. I dont think I can ever forget the great matchup between Schilling and Santana that was decided by Kubel's grand slam and Mauer's homerun vs the Royals and Cuddy's 100 RBIs and Morneau's 34 blasts.

Next year will be better with this year's experience. This assumes T Ryan picks up Torii's option and finds a good experienced pitcher like a Derrick Lowe or Jeff Suppan to fill the number 3 or 4 spot. (Even if we have to trade a bullpen guy to get him.)

Last thanx Bradke--I dont think I have ever seen more heart and guts displayed on a baseball field than you did yesterday and last week--its obvious you gave everything you had in your arm. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

DAM

I rushed home from work yesterday and got to see Brad Radke pitch to his final MLB batter -- a tidy fly-ball out -- and I am satisfied. He was a monster of a pitcher, winning on teams where it seemed like no one else won, carrying the load of "ace" so that Johan didn't have to shoulder it immediately. (Not that Johan seems too wigged out by anything, but still. He was young.) But he was such a quiet class act that it seemed like no one outside Twins Territory noticed. Until now. The press finally got it. What they missed was that winning twenty games on a 68-win team must have felt, sometimes, as hard as pitching one's arm off, and taken as much determination and competitive spirit. The shoulder fracture showed the rest of the world what we already knew.

The whole season was a remarkable run. I loved it. Loved it.

And Batgirl, you make me feel like the luckiest of fans. Not only did I have a terrific team to watch, I had the best baseball writing to look forward to after every game. Brava.

Good luck with your off-season project. Help the new Batbaby pick a worthy boyfriend.

Thanks everyone for being the best-spirited fans.

And thanks to the Twins, for bringing us all along.

how come no one has picked johan as a boyfriend?

johan is my special boyfriend
jason bartlett is my everyday boyfriend
and i'm a mother of 3 - my kids are kind of confused

SH--Perhaps, in the words of Wayne and Garth, they feel they are not worthy?

Mags just went yard!

Det 1
NYY 0 2nd

Go Tigers! (Go AL!)

Well....
I'm sad that our season is over and now I have time to think of things I don't really want to think about........

But I can also look back at a most fabulous season one that my dear sister would have loved to have seen- she would have loved this team - never give up she would always say and they didn't and her fav DJ Cuddles had a career year and that would have made her very happy! And that makes me smile.

Thank you BG for the fun year again and thanks to my boys for making it exciting - let's celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the 1987 World Series in style next year ok???

I tip my cap once again to Capt. Fish Glue,Brad it's been so much fun to see you in a Twins uniform all these years - you're a rare one - I can only hope you have one more year in you but if you don't I understand - we all do.

Sweetcheeks - I'd like you back out in center - think about it ok??

Congrats to all the winners and the non-winners.
Time to root for the Redbirds - you all know how much I love Albert Pujols.

Buck O'Neill rest in peace - you were grand human being.

And Joe - I'm older then all of you =)
"When he came out, everyone realized that this might be the last one," Joe Nathan said. "There definitely were some emotions that came out in people. With Brad, he's been such a great person and such a great teacher to so many people, so many players and coaches and everybody. A lot of people are going to miss him and hope that he changes his mind and doesn't want to retire -- in particular, me, because I'm the oldest pitcher if he leaves."

Much Love
Wonder Woman

"Pudge is the first cool guy to pledge the loser fraternity"
ha ha did they really say that?

Thanks Batgirl, for helping me through a great season.

Also, thanks to all the folks who contribute to this site.

All we need for next year is one more, tiny Batfan, and we will have that.

Now maybe we should send out thoughts towards a long term contract for Sweetcheeks?

What a season!..what a dissapointing finish.
Nick Punto, my kinda ball player.

No one has claimed Johan as a boyfriend because he is MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-P

well, ok, MAYBE I'll share :-P hee hee ;)

I know some people would call this blasphemy, but I wonder how well A-Rod would play in the relaxed atmosphere of the Twins clubhouse? Seems to me he is being driven into the ground in NY by expectations and pressure. Also, if I remember correctly, he was pretty darn good in Seattle as a young'un and in Texas, both smaller-type markets.

I know, I'm just thinking out loud, but still...

i think AROD is a great player and his numbers from 2006 are good enough for me. But he would never want to play in MN. I can see him going to the angels next year if he's not with the yankees.

congrats KenK, and your tigers.
Man Bonderman was ON tonight. Good luck to you guys in the rest of the playoffs.

I have a question, KenK. I don't watch many tigers games, and usually not until the end if they are winning, but has "celebration" always been their song when they win? That's the same as the A's song.

I don't care how this series ended up, I still love these guys and I know that what we've seen these last few months is just a taste of what's to come in the coming seasons. Who cares that they didn't make it out of the first round? They made one of the greatest comebacks in baseball and that itself is something to be proud of.

Bat Girl, I love you, but seriously. What the HELL are you talking about?

That was the WORST baseball I have seen the Twins play since, well... since it actually mattered that the Twins played terribly. (say six years or so).

You can't let them off that easy, no matter how great the regular season was. I would have rather seen the White Sox get into the post season if I had the power to see into the future two months ago and witness the embarrassing play we saw the past week.

Those were not Twins... those were some Double A guys who abducted our amazing baseballers and showed up in damn fine disguises.

It was disgusting, and to put a smiley face on it is equally disgusting.

That said, I love you. In more ways than you'll ever know.

Take care, JasonC

Wow. Tigers 8-3.

Bye bye Yankees.

JasonC, for a team that seemed destined to finish at barely .500, to come back and win the division is an achievement every Twins fan should be proud of. Yeah, they played three bad games after that. But stuff happens, and you can't trash an entire season on the basis of three bad games.

Well, you can... but you'd be wrong.

Baseball is a sport in which even the best baseball players fail to get a hit 2 out of three times. It's a sport where only ONE team out of the entire major league will win, with a combination of ability, athleticism, luck, and inches.
Only the team that can package all those things together will win it all.
This has been a SPECTACULAR year for the youngsters who should only get better with a little maturity. Hopefully with the salaries of some of our valued veterans off the books we'll sign our nucleus of players to long term contracts and skid into the new revenue stream in 2010 to keep this team in contention for years.
In baseball there's multitudes of successes and failures.That's why we speak of averages. The playoffs are like a slower version of sudden death where failures count for a whole lot more it seems.
So..
Please people, don't let the team's ending spoil your view of the Twins team as a whole. As for terrible and sigusting things, try being a construction worker with an injured knee the size of a small cantaloupe who still has to go in to make a living for his family.
Baseball is a sport.. a pastime... but still only a diversion to real life's problems...
though, of course, that said...
Spring training starts when?? :)

Twins fans....

As an A's fan...I offer you nothing but love
you are we, us, or whatevever........

Twinsfan...from an Oaktown perspective, sans two vodka martinis....CLASS

From one small market to another to another, dont you wish it was a bit more....ahem...equal????

Twins......I love Torii all class, no excuse, and god knows, the A's have Many

...no more Bat Store?

Or did I miss something?

I think the picture that was on the STRIB website of Mauer hugging radke in the dugout pretty much says it all. Funny how a simple picture like that can sum everything up perfectly. very touching shot.

I havn't been active much lately, but I have to say that no matter what else happens, this year will stick out in my mind. There were so many times this year where we were supposed to be dead in the water, but we never gave up. ANd I think we can all look forward to another great baseball season next year. Some final thoughts from me:

RIP 34 I know you were looking out for us

Bradke, I can't explain how much I'll miss you next year. There was just somthing comforting all these years knowing that you were going to take the hill. I wish we could've given you a ring, but I think a new retired number might work, too. Have fun with your boys, God knows you've earend it.

Torii? I'm praying you come back next year. Don't leave us on a sad note.

Rondell, Rondell, Rondell... You're a class act all the way. I wish things could've been different this year for you. And I take back all the bashing I did about you in May ;)

Lriano and Garza? Thanks for giving us some hope when it looked like we didn't have any.

And Finally, Tigers and A's. Classy teams all the way, let's have a good round.

Extra finally, to all the fans, and Batgirl. Thanks for making this season so damn fun.

I'm so glad I know about this site and the people here. I still can't look at the papers, it's too much, because this is NOT the way it was supposed to go.

But what a year. What a wonderful year. I have a hundred memories of joy for every one of sorrow, and that's not a bad ratio, now is it?

Thank you, boys, a thousand times over. I am proud you are my team, and I always will be. Next year is going to freakin' rock, and you bet your asses we'll all be there with you.

All best to the Tigers, who have also had a season for the ages.

Hey, yeah, heraldguy . . . what happened to the BatStore? I was going to ask if I could get a reduction on price if I order a mass quantity of the "The Offseason Sucks." sweatshirts.

Batgirl--

Sincere thanks to you and Team Batgirl for yet another MVP season...best Twins coverage anywhere. Phht.

Oh!

Oh Cmon, the Twins play fluke baseball all year and what happens in the playoffs? They're finished after the first round as usual. I think the Twins need to take a page from the White Sox to see how it's done in October. Wasted playoff spot.

Excuse me.......
What constitutes 'fluke' baseball?
Lets make an equation: Major League batting champion + 2nd (or 3rd) in the league rbi leader + 2 gold glovers + 2 30 home run hitters + an elite closer + Cy Young winner + LIRIANO for quite a stretch + maybe the leagues top manager + the pirahntas playing small ball and top flight defense + ETCETERA.
A fluke happens in winning a game.. not 2/3's of a season.....
.just an opinionated observer....

What a fantastic season. Seriously. I have never personally watched a team make such a turnaround and finish so well. I mean, hello, Division Champions? There's little more that you could ask for, especially concerning where we were back in the Sucking Time of Early Ought-Six.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I've never cared about a team quite as much as this one. This particular grouping of players exhibits something truly special in the world of professional sports, which is honest-to-goodness teamwork. I love how these guys work together, how they play together, and how that chemistry from the dugout somehow finds a way to extend to the fans. It was an amazing season in so many ways. Many, many heartfelt thanks to the Twins for what they did this year. As always, thanks to BG, too, for the one-of-a-kind perspective on the season. What a sad world it would be without a little BG humor to come home to after a game. ;)

*dons her Offseason Sucks sweatshirt.* Sigh. Have truer words ever graced a shirt?

Also, anybody else see LNP on the Twins Sports Wrap last night on Ch. 5? Hee. I heart you, Tiny Superhero.

Oh, thank goodness for Lynch - he gives us all a very strong reminder of why we all despise the Bitches (that's the third-place Bitches, mind you) so very much. If we were a wasted playoff spot, Lynch, I suppose you guys were a wasted franchise for the 87 years prior to 2005, right? Right.

To y'all, it's been an incredible year, one filled with anguish and amazement and hopelessness and heartbreak and thrills and improbable comebacks and dazzling individual achievements. It's been a year to celebrate the majesty that is Brad Radke, to mourn the loss of the Greatest Twin, and to prepare the way for the dynasty that may be just around the corner. Yes, this was a disappointing way to end 2006, but the joy this season brought mustn't be forgotten. Thank you, 2006 Minnesota Twins - see you in the spring. God bless.

Several have asked....does anyone know the answer? When do pitchers and catchers report?

I've been looking too, Kate...I know it's in February, but I don't think the dates have been released.

I DO know that we get to open at home this year, on April 2, vs. the Orioles. The 2005 season is not even over yet and I'm counting the days. Bring it, Birds.

Lynch:
"I think the Twins need to take a page from the White Sox to see how it's done in October. Wasted playoff spot."
I don't know, as badly as the Twins played in that series, maybe they did take a payoff to lose it.

Has anyone else noticed that every time the Twins have gone to the postseason wearing TC caps, they've choked? They're 0 for 7 in postseason play wearing TC caps.

Conversely, each and every time the Twins have gone to the postseason wearing only M caps, they've won it all. They're 2 for 2, winning World Series championships both times they played wearing exclusively M caps.

So can we please switch back to the beautiful M caps full time now? I like the TC and all, but I like winning world championships even more.

Has anyone else noticed how the Twins only win the World Series in odd-numbered years? Why did we even bother playing this season??? 2006, wearing "TC" caps, what chance did we have? Next year, though, in 2007, if we only wear the "M" caps...

I'm waiting for someone to blame all this on the vests, personally.

Well, yeah, we sucked in the pixie vests. I can't believe Garza picked 'em twice! ;)

Sometimes making a fashion statement is more important than trivial things like wins and losses. Garzilla wanted to make those vests his personal look, I think. (Or management said, "We've got seventeen crates of those things in the bowels of the 'Dome; we gotta move 'em now! Rookie, you're wearing them today!!!")

Hee, I was wondering if he was conscious of the fact that they were new and were hardly ever worn. Being the sensitive young dude that he is, perhaps he felt sorry for the vests and resolved to choose them half the time? What a guy. Too bad they suck all the goodness out of the team. Damn vests.

"I think the Twins need to take a page from the White Sox to see how it's done in October."

You mean, spend four out of five of them watching the playoffs on tv?