Random Thoughts

Hey look a cute dog!


I try to write something every week for this stupid thing, but I don't have much to say on one particular topic this week. So let's get random with some thoughts that are dancing through my mind.


-Halloween is becoming my favorite holiday. I love horror movies, and this month gives me an excuse to watch as many as I can. Also, with my son at the age of being able to walk around and enjoy being outside, I'm excited to go trick-or-treating with him for the years to come.


-Speaking of horror movies, there are some underrated ones you should check out. 1974 Black Christmas, Goodnight Mommy, The Descent, Creep, Frailty, Better Watch Out are all worth your time.    


-I will never not laugh at kids making fart noises with their mouths.


-I recently watched some old school Rugrats episodes, and those parents are super neglectful. Those kids are gone for hours before the parents even realize they left the playpen. I think a call to DSS is in order.


-I think Hedgehogs are cool animals.


-To sports, it looks like Rocco Baldelli is going to be the next Twins manager. He's a young guy who should relate to the players, and he comes from a smart organization. I think it's a slam dunk hire, but I'm sure I'm wrong and the team will win 14 games next year.


-I'm not breaking any news, but I don't think the Timberwolves are going to be any good. KAT looks like he doesn't want to be there, and if he's not contributing, this team will struggle big time. I'm guessing they win somewhere between 37-42 games and miss out on the playoffs.


-The Wild aren't going to be much better. They are SOOOOO hard to watch.


-The Gopher Football Team is really, really bad, but I'm not off the PJ Fleck Train yet. The team is super young, and I would give him until 2020 until you start thinking about a new coach.


-I almost never use semicolons when I write. Commas all day son.


-Political ads are worthless. They say nothing and they are EVERYWHERE. I can't even watch stupid videos on YouTube without watching some crazy claims that my State Senator used to work for Hitler or a candidate for Governor murders puppies. If you want to learn about who to vote for, listen to debates and look at their respective voting records.


-I'm not a science expert, but why doesn't glue stick to the bottle? Is it because it hasn't dried yet?


Well, this was a giant waste of time. Have a great day.

The Best in the Biz

This Timberwolves season is probably going to be terrible, but there is a silver lining. The Wolves have arguably the best announcing duo in the NBA.

Excited for the start of the @Timberwolves season because I get to listen to @JimPeteHoops and @tweetdavebenz kill it on commentary. #bestinthebiz

— Leland Steva (@lsteva3) October 17, 2018

That got me thinking about the power rankings of the best announcers and sports writers who work in this market. For the most part, they have some pretty terrible on-field products to write and talk about, but they do a great job. There's a lot of talent, including a lot of people who sadly won't make my list, but here are my top 10 sports personalities in this area.


Honorable Mention: Mike Berardino


Mike just left the Pioneer Press to go cover Norte Dame. While he was here, he was a Twins beat reporter who wasn't afraid to ask tough questions and make fun of dumb people on Twitter. He would have made the list if he wasn't such a traitor.


10. Paul Allen

Paul Allen is a little too much of a homer for my taste, but you can't argue with the enthusiasm that he has when he calls a game. He loves football, and you can feel the energy every Sunday. The "Minneapolis Miracle" call was amazing, and it still gives me chills.


9. Derek Wetmore


Derek Wetmore is a very good writer who uses statistics to shape his work. His coverage of the Twins is great, and he does an amazing job of interacting with his readers on social media. His Friday Facebook Q&A sessions have gotten me through plenty of boring afternoons at the office. He has a dry sense of humor, which I greatly appreciate as well.


8. Alan Horton


Poor Alan Horton, he's been calling Timberwolves basketball on the radio for more than a decade. Not just that, but he does it by himself. Still, he does a great job of painting the picture of what's going on the court, and he's interviews with players are usually entertaining as well. He definitely does the best job with the least amount to work with in this market.   


7. Aaron Gleeman


Aaron Gleeman started as a self-made blogger covering the Twins, and has rose to an editor-in-chief of one of the biggest baseball sites in the country. Still, he finds time to write about the Twins, and his statistics he uses on Twitter are always fascinating. His latest piece on Joe Mauer was fantastic and worth the read. Plus, his "Gleeman and the Geek" podcast with John Bonnes is the only way I get through Mondays.


6. Jon Krawczynski 


Jon Krawczynski is such an amazing writer, even though he has the cover the Wolves. He's been working on the beat just about as long as the organization has been irrelevant, but he still finds way to write stories that are interesting and engaging. There's no better example that his work with KG about the Jimmy Butler fiasco. His writing alone is worth a subscription to The Athletic.


5. Dave Benz 


Dave Benz is the Wolves play-by-play announcer for FSN. He uses the perfect amount of statistics and calling the action to make every game feel fresh. He also has an infectious personality that shines in high-pressure games. Plus, his videos on his Twitter page are pretty funny.


4. Michael Russo


Russo, much like Jonny K, is worth the price of a subscription. If I'm watching a Wild game, I have to have Michael Russo's Twitter timeline up, because the knowledge he has for the game is unbelievable. He crafts amazing stories, and it seems like he never takes a day off. Follow him on Twitter, trust me it's worth it.


3. Marney Gellner


Marney Gellner is a Minnesota legend. What can't she do? She does sideline reporting, play-by-play, and covers every sport in the market with amazing skill. A perfect example of how she can handled any situation, just check out this interview with a clearly hammered Josh Duhamel.

God Bless Vodka, and God Bless Marney Gellner.


2. Cory Provus


Whether it's Twins Baseball or Big 10 Basketball, Cory Provus just knows how to call a game. My favorite thing about Provus is his ability to let it breathe and not talk over the natural sounds of the game, which can be difficult as a radio announcer. When he does open his mouth, he usually has an amazing call to take the action on the field to the next level. I feel like he doesn't get the love in this market that he deserves.


1. Jim Petersen


It's hard to put into words just how great Jim Petersen is at what he does. In an era where color commentators spend the majority of a broadcast talking down to new age information, Jim Pete thrives with it. He talks about statistics, but he also talks about what is happening on the floor. He can inform an audience without talking down to them. He's also one of the nicest people on the planet and he talks with people on Twitter during a game, which is so awesome. Petersen is on another level, and I'm so glad he's one of us and he's in this market.

Thank You

It's not the craziest amount of traffic, but it still means a lot to me. This week Heartbreak Heroes got over 1,000 page views! I never imagined I would have that many eyes on this silly little blog, but I appreciate all the support.

This is just a fun thing to do, but hopefully others are enjoying the ride as well. Thanks again and here's to another thousand views!

Grab Your Popcorn

Sports and movies are probably my two favorite hobbies in this crazy world, so let's pair them together. Sports itself can provide more unscripted excitement then a movie ever can, but there are some that get the feeling right. I recently published my top 10 favorite movies over at Bat Flip Sports, so go check that out. However, I got more sports movies to talk about. Here are some movies that just missed my list.

THE SANDLOT

The Sandlot just missed my top 10 list, but I love this movie so much. It's super dependent on nostalgia, but I think it does a great captures the feeling of playing baseball with your friends. Also, you can't argue with the characters and the memorable lines.

HOOSIERS

Hoosiers is about a small-town basketball team and their quest to a state championship. Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper are worth the watch alone, but the inspirational story will stick with you as well. It's a perfect example of how sports can bring communities together.

WARRIOR



If you haven't watched this movie, holy hell are you missing out. This is the most underrated sports movie ever. I don't want to give away much because not a lot of people have watched it, but I will say the action is crisp, the characters are deep and thought out, and it's a great glimpse into the world of MMA. Seriously, watch it.

Now there's a lot of good movies, but man there's some terrible sports movies out there as well. Here are 3 to stay away from.

THE BLIND SIDE

Don't tell my wife because she loves this movie, but this is an overrated pile of garbage. The movie is melodramatic, Sandra Bullock's character is one-note, and it handled the legitimate racial issues so poorly. Even Michael Oher, the NFL player the movie is based on, has issues with the film.

SPACE JAM

My 8-year-old self is going to be pissed, but have you watched Space Jam lately? It's really bad. The movie, which has the whole collection of Looney Tunes at its disposal, gives most of the screen time to pro athletes and their terrible acting skills. That soundtrack is still dope though. 





ROCKY V

As far as I'm concerned, this isn't a Rocky movie. This movie takes the character of Rocky Balboa to a place he didn't need to go, and the drama of the movie just comes off as silly. Don't watch it under any circumstance. There are plenty of much better Rocky options for you. 



Thank You Joe

This shirsey symbolizes my heart today. I got this Mauer memorabilia years ago, and now, its worn down and past its prime. However, I still wear it and it gets the job done, much like Joe Mauer did for the final few years of his career. It's looking like Mauer could be done playing (he hasn't announced it, but with that event at Target Field yesterday it sure looks like it) it's time to get retrospective up in here.

What. A. Moment. 😭😭😭#JM7 #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/8IWw2TEPLq

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 30, 2018

Now that I've dried my tears from an amazing final game for the 2018 Twins, I want to look back at Mauer's career. He will always have a special place in my heart because he was the first superstar I ever watched for the Twins who started and ended his career in front of me. You should check out  other writers who can lay out their thoughts on Mauer better than I ever could (Aaron Gleeman, Derek Wetmore, and Dan Hayes are a good place to start, but there are many others) but to me, his career goes two separate ways. Let's take a look at some of the ways I will remember Joe Mauer.


1. Best In The Business

Joe Mauer is really, really good at baseball. He went into the 2001 draft as a Minnesota kid who could do it all athletically, including famously striking out just once in High School. Still, there was a large collection of fans who wanted the Twins to use the 1st overall pick on USC pitcher Mark Prior. The Twins made the right choice, as Prior had a great start to his career before it derailed because of injuries. Mauer currently has the 4th highest WAR ever for a 1st overall pick, behind generational talents Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr, and Chipper Jones.


Even after his decreased numbers at 1st base, he currently has a career slash line of .306/.388/.439, and an OPS+ of 124. His OBP of .388 is the 5th highest among active players, behind Superstars Joey Votto, Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, and Miguel Cabrera. His .306 career batting average is behind Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Ichiro (who is still listed as a current player), Votto and Trout on the active list. That's some really impressive company. He also did this while playing the majority of his game at the most grueling defensive position.


Mauer had one of the most memorable seasons for me when he won the 2009 MVP, hitting .365/.444/.587 with 28 homeruns. He did that while playing just 138 games, because he missed the first month or so of the season because of injuries.


Mauer is the only catcher ever in the American League to win a batting title, and he did it 3 times. In games played at catcher, Mauer collected an OPS of .890. That's the 3rd highest for the position all-time. Add in the fact that he was a really good defender (3 time Gold Glove winner) and Mauer was one of the best players in the MLB for a decade. Then you add 5 average to above-average seasons at a more offensive-oriented position, and that makes for one spectacular career.


2. Criticism

Even though he was a great player, it wasn't enough for a collection of the Twins' fan base. Mauer did some things that have never been done before on a MLB diamond, but he will be remember by some for the things he couldn't do.


Getting on base was and will always be Mauer's most valuable skill set, but for years he's been criticize by his lack of homerun power. Aside from his pop-up year in 2009 when he hit 28 bombs, Mauer's highest total was 13 in 2006. In his 15 years in the majors, he hit single digit homeruns in 9 of them. He's also penalized for his lack of RBI production, never breaking the 100 mark in a single season, despite hitting .334 for his career with runners in scoring position.


Mauer is one of us, so he is a quiet kid who doesn't like to put the attention on himself. That led him to be criticized for not being the vocal leader who would yell and rally the troops. However, there's a lot of articles out there about how Mauer was a great teammate. Just look at how all the players are talking about Sunday's game and you can see what type of impact Number 7 had on the organization.


Media members also took Mauer to task because of his lack of "toughness" and not willing to stay on the field. There was also the bilateral leg weakness fiasco from the Twins' front office that added to the fire that Mauer wasn't always willing to "rub some dirt on it" and get out there and play. Plus, there was and still is a notion that Mauer should never have gotten out from behind the plate. However, Mauer suffered a very serious brain injury that clearly affected his on field production (career OPS of .873 before the concussion and a .746 OPS after) and he decided to move out to 1st base to protect his overall well being after his playing days were over.


Last but certainly not least, Joe Mauer's contract. After years of winning battling titles while making a below-average salary, he signed an eight year contract where he made 23 million dollars a year. While he didn't produce as well as he did in his earlier years, that's pretty common for long-term deals in baseball. The idea that Mauer's contract was a hindrance on the team never made sense to me. The league doesn't have a salary, so the team's payroll can technically be as high as the ownership would want. Also, the team handed out bad contracts to starting pitchers that weren't that much less than what Mauer was making, so that had a bigger reasons for the teams struggles in my mind.


I'm rambling here. Joe Mauer is an amazing baseball player that didn't deserve all the hate that he got from this fan base. From what I've read and heard, he is a class act on and off the baseball field, which is more than we can say for other players who are put on a higher pedestal in this market. I hope Mauer finds himself in the Hall of Fame (which Jay Jaffe's JAW Measurement shows he has a good shot) but if he doesn't I will continue to wear my beaten-down shirsey with pride.