Why Minnesota Sports Fans Suck

Last Sunday I attended my eighth Twins game of the year, a beautiful Sunday in Minnesota where the weather ranged from 80-85 depending on when the sun popped out.  This was a very important game for both the Twins and the White Sox as the Sox had a 2.5 game lead on the Twins and a win or loss for both teams could propel them down the stretch.

The Twins jumped out to a 3-0 lead when Delmon Young stroked a 2-run jack in the second inning and aground out plated the third run.  Nick Blackburn pitched well until he ran into major issues in the 6th when he was relieved by Brian Duensing who poured some gas on the fire.  When the inning was over, the home team was down 6-3 and depression spread across the fans.  And when I speak of depression, it was like everyone stopped cheering and just sat on their asses and pumped themselves full of whatever object they had purchased the inning before.  There was a little hope in the 8th inning but JJ Putz was able to get Span to ground out to short to end the 8th.

This is where my hatred with Minnesota fans begin.  It is Sunday afternoon, the kids don’t have school the next day, it is beautiful out and 10,000 or more fans decide to leave the park.  What purpose is there for leaving the park early at 4 PM on Sunday?  Do you need to beat the traffic home to start the grill?  Was it too hot for you?

So Duensing wiggled out of another jam in the top of the 9th getting Pierre to roll into a double play allowing Bobby Jenks to enter the game with a three run lead and a save situation.  As you see, if the Sox would have plated another runner, the Twins more than likely would have never faced Jenks and this story may have not been written.  Orlando Hudson stepped into the box and had an unbelievable at-bat seeing 10 pitches, fouling off four straight and eventually walking on a ball that was maybe two inches outside.  Mauer also walked on four pitchs where Jenks wasn’t even close, recessitating a crowd that had been waiting for 5 innings for something to scream about.  Jason Kubel, who before this AB had two hits already, lined a two strike single past SS Ramirez that plated Hudson, breathing even more life into the crowd and causing everyone in the park to come to their feet.  Jason Repko, who replaced Jim Thome in the 8th after Thome led of the inning with a single, came to the plate in an enormous situation, especially for a player who hasn’t seen a lot of regular at-bats in the last month.  Repko worked a walk after laying off a few close pitches which forced the bases loaded.  Cuddyer walked to the plate and I looked at my friend.  We both raised our eyebrows in hopes Cuddy would lash one in the stands.  Another great at-bat led to a laser to right center scoring two and the Twins had runners on first and third with no outs with Delmon Young coming to the plate.  Young has arguably been the Twins top clutch performer all season and he didn’t let the Twins fans down.  He lined a looping fly ball to right center field which could have been caught by Rios who hesitated and allowed the ball to drop.  With Cuddyer rounding third, Rios threw the ball into the middle of the diamond, no mans land, causing the ball to roll all the way to the White Sox dugout and plating Cuddyer.  The REAL Twins fans rejoiced.  This was the best game I’ve been to so far this year and that includes opening day, sitting behind home watching David Price blow cheddar and Twins coming out victorious, Kubel’s two home run performance and Scott Baker’s 12k’s. 

As for those who left the park early, I am glad you did because next time you’ll be keeping your asses in the seats and hoping you saw what the rest of witnessed on a Sunday afternoon.  And thanks for leaving early because there was no traffic on the way home and getting out of parking lot B was a breeze.  And those of you who had kids and forced them to leave a game they would remember for the rest of their lives, you should be ashamed that you had to leave early to sit in a car when you couldn’t have the patience to watch another 30 minutes or great baseball.

Ramblings…

I have been quiet lately on the sports front but it isn’t because my life has been boring.  The month of March brought a trip to Orlando to see my grandparent’s and ice fishing on Lake Winnebigosh, both of which were very fun!

So let’s start with the Twins.  I’ve already taken a tour of Target Field (see images) and can’t wait for April 12th.  For a man who has played baseball for 29 straight summers, I could barely stand going inside to watch the Twins play, especially in the Metrodome where there were zero amenities.  So Target Field has everything I could wish for and then some.  My best friend and I purchased 1/2 season package and our tickets are on the first level in section 104, which is between 1st and RF.  We are really excited about where are seats are and where the season could lead us, let’s hope deep in the playoffs.

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As for the Vikings are concerned, just waiting for Favre to tell us he is returning and getting informed on the 2010 NFL draft.  There are a few positions I see where the team needs to improve and that would be interior OL, interior DL, Safety and depth at cornerback.  And with all of that said, I have a sneaking suspicion the Vikings with draft a QB.  I hope they draft either an interior OL or DL as our OL line last year was beat up and leaky and Pat Williams is on his last leg.  Can Jimmy Kennedy really replace a Pro-Bowl caliber DT?

Playoff Weekend

The Vikes host the Dallas Cowboys this weekend in what should turn out to be an excellent game.  Both teams have weapons on either side of the ball and who makes the least amount of mistakes should win this contest.  I give the Vikings a slight advantage because of home field advantage, but if the Cowboys come out and take the crowd out of the game, they will be tough to beat.  On the other hand, if the Vikes come out with a bang, they are very hard to defeat with a raucous crowd behind them.  The defense feeds off of the crowd noise and Romo could find himself on the turn often.  The keys of the game will be which team can block the defensive end’s will win.  I am not making any predictions as last year I was burnt on several occasions, especially in the playoffs.  But a home win would be sweet.

Big Game in Carolina

After the bounce back performance Sunday vs. Bengals, the Vikings can clinch the NFC North Division with a win in Carolina and possibly the the 2nd seed and first round bye.  With a win and a Philadelphia loss, the Vikes are guaranteed the 2nd seed and if New Orleans falters the last few weeks, the playoffs could possibly run through the Metrodome.  Either way, the Vikings have clinched a spot in the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

Vikes Handle Bears

There were moments in this game where the Vikings were unstoppable.  Favre threw for a season high 392 yards with 3 TDs but AP was held again to under 100.  The Bears were taking the line taking away AP but now we have Favre, Rice, Percy, Berrian, and Shaincoe to take advantage of 8 man fronts.  I am also a little worried about AP putting the ball on the ground and too many penalties but then again, we did win by 26.  Just a few things to clean up.

Next week should be a good game as the Vikes travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals.  The Vikes and TJack and handled the Cardinals last year but the Cardinals pose a difficult challenge with their passing attack.  Hopefully we get Winfield on the field because there will be a need for premier DBs against Fitz, Bolden, ect.

Phew

Well, the Vikes luckily found their way into the winners circle on Monday as the field goal slid left of the goal giving them a 33-31 victory.  The offense has really found their stride as Favre has been spreading the rock around to all of his weapons and Sidney and Visanthe have really stepped up their game.  Yesterday’s tailgate was fantastic as the weather turned from chilly to beautiful and the ribs and shrimp was superb!

Next week the Vikes travel to defending Super Bowl champs where they will have their stiffest challenge of the season.  Should be a fun game to watch, lets hope AP, Winfield, Sapp and Percy heal up!

What a weekend in MPLS

I knew this weekend was going to be a lot of fun with the Badgers in town to take on the Gophs on Saturday for the first Big Ten game at the Bank, the final Twins series at the Metrodome, the Twin Cities Marathon, the Vikings-Packer Monday night game and the Wild’s home opener.  I could have never imagined a what took place Tuesday between the Twins and Tigers, a playoff game to determine the Central Division championship.  I could have never imagined the game having more intensity and excitement than Monday nights war between two football teams that hate each other.  But I was wrong.  That was a top five baseball game I have ever seen and is close to Puckett’s game winning HR is game 6 of the ‘91 World Series or Jack Morris’s gem in the same series, game 7.  The Twins advance to take on the Yankees, the hated Yankees, which isn’t a good matchup for them as they were swept in the season series this year.  But after this finish to the season where the Twins finished winning 17 of their last 21 games, you never know.

Packer Week

Well, this is the week most of us having been waiting for since Brett signed with the Vikings.  Not only is Brett playing against his former team for the first time, this game is for first place in the division and could eventually springboard either team to a conference title.  Enough about Favre.  There are two main concerns I have about this game and they are:

1. Can Adrian get loose?  The Vikings have been facing a lot of blitz packages and I am certain the Packers will do the same.  Blitzing the Vikings worked for the 49ers as they were able to get into the backfield before AP could get momentum.  The offensive line needs to do a better job picking up blitzes and if they do, AP could be in a for a monster game.

2. Vikings Defensive Line. They have been underwhelming so far as Detroit and San Francisco have been able to run on them.  Offensive coordinators have also been calling a lot of 3 to 5 step drops with quick passes to try and eliminate their pass rush.  The Packers’ offensive line is banged up and quite frankly hasn’t been very good this year.  The front four should be licking their chops as the crowd should present them with an opportunity to punish Mr. Rodgers.

I predict the Vikings to win 27-24 on a late field goal by Longwell.

49ers vs. Vikings

Sunday will bring me happiness as the 49ers roll to town for the Vikes season opener.  There are few days better than the home opener as the smell of charcoal and beer fill the air.  Both teams are 2-0 and this looks to be a very physical game as Mike Singletary has his team playing a brand of football very similar to the Vikings.  Both teams present dynamic running backs, great running attacks and hard nosed defenses.  The possibility of playing without EJ Henderson (shoulder)  and Percy Harvin (illness) scare me some as both players are uber important as to what the Minnesota likes to do.  Henderson is a dominant middle backer who is fearless against the, the defenses MO!  Harvin presents the West Coast offense with the perfect play making ability by what we in the business call YAC, or yards after catch.  Hopefully both will play.

My prediction is Vikings 24, 49ers 13.