Florida Spring Break Trip 2008 140, originally uploaded by Yickit pics.

Because the Twins won their 2008 Home Opener against the LA Angels 3-2 Tonight. The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN2 (unless you live in Des Moines, Iowa where cable doesn’t carry FSN North, and the game is blacked out on ESPN2 because Iowa is in the Twins’ market area . . . go figure, you can’t even watch a nationally televised baseball game in Iowa.)

The Twins had strong performances from Livian Hernandez, who pitched seven innings allowing only two runs, and Carlos Gomez, who went 2 for 3 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Also, Torii Hunter’s home-coming was bittersweet. He received loud cheers from Minnesota Fans when was announced and when he first came up to bat. But he also went 0 for 4, and most notably struck out against Joe Nathan in the top of the 9th inning with the game on the line. I suppose he deserved exactly what he got: A warm welcome, and then vengeful beating. Talk about Minnesota nice . . .

My favorite moment of the game came on a 2-2 pitch from Pat Neshek that basically grazed Vlad Guerrero’s face. Neshek preceded to strike him out on the next pitch. Check out the video of the at-bat if you can. Vlad was pissed. (I would be too if I had had near death experience, and then preceded to strike out on a pitch three feet out of the strike zone.) Neshek had three K’s in the 8th inning, and of course Joe Nathan came in to get the save in the ninth. Man am I glad we locked him up until 2011.

Up next the Twins continue their four game series with the Angels. I believe Boof Bonser will pitch for the Twins, and John Garland will pitch for the Angels. Hopefully Morneau, Mauer, and Co. can get it going against the righty Garland to continue their perfect season.

(Photo from 2008 Spring Training in Bradenton, Florida)

I’ve been a Minnesota Twins fan for as long as I can remember (which really isn’t all that long since I’m only 23), but never in my experience have I felt as dumbstruck as the last couple of days. I feel like I’m in a daze; I can’t sleep; and I certainly can’t think about the opening day starter. When I refreshed my Google Reader page (for probably the millionth time since the end of the season) and saw “Santana Traded to the Mets” it was as though I was hit by a bus. I simply cannot believe that my favorite player, from my favorite team is leaving. Don’t get me wrong, just like everyone else, I knew that Santana was going to be traded. But for some reason that acceptance didn’t deaden the blow. Being a Twins fan I should be pretty used to trades like this by now. (note: like, not exactly like) Just from memory here are the “big” players the twins have let go either by trade or release recently:

• Mark Redman
• Matt Lawton
• David Ortiz
• Bobby Kielty
• AJ Pierzynski (Good riddance especially for Liriano, Nathan, and Boof)
• Cristian Guzman
• Joe Mays
• JC Romero
• Luis Castillo

Also here are the “economy signings” from the last couple of years:

• Tony Batista
• Rondell White
• Ruben Sierra
• Sidney Ponson
• Ramon Ortiz
• (Maybe I should put Josh Fogg here…give it a few days)

The Twins always have a couple of really talented players, but they have a retention problem, and more often than not choose to let rising stars go instead of paying them more money. (But perhaps the Cuddy and Morneau deals show a new philosophy under Bill Smith…lets hope so) Each time one of these trades occurred, the prospects were seen as the future stars:players that would eventually be better than those who were traded away. And so those trades didn’t hurt. I didn’t lose any sleep over A.J. becoming a Giant. (If anything I slept better) But the Santana trade is not that type of trade. Instead of improved players, the Twins goal was to get something for a 2008 Free agent. Any prospects better than two draft picks would be considered. I think that is why this trade hurts so much. Fans didn’t get fair return value on their player. And although in the long run, some of those prospects value might increase, as of now there is a large difference in the talent difference.

Before the Santana trade I never had a problem with this way of building a team. I wasn’t really all that attached to any of the players above, and when they were traded I knew the team was heading in the right direction. I may have lost that confidence; at least my confidence in Terry Ryan. Santana was not a usual player; he is a once in a lifetime player. Ryan should have signed him to an extension last year when Santana told him he was willing. But now, we have to say goodbye to the greatest pitcher ever to be a Minnesota Twin. Nice exit TR. Don’t get me wrong. The four prospects the Twins will get from the Mets are talented and will make the bigs (and are much better than 2 draft picks) but they are not Johan Santana. Not now, not ever. Twins fans are right to be upset that they won’t ever see Santana ever pitch for their team again. Forget Twins Territory, Minnesota sports slogans seem to ringing: “Not now…But Soon” or “In it for the Long Haul”. I hope this trade will make the Twins a better team for the long run, but the long run is a very hard path for fans to accept.