June 29, 2003
Al: Is he the best defensive 1B you've ever seen?
Aaron: Absolutely.
Aaron: The only thing he isn't awesome at is making throws, but he picks everything, he has great range and he's very nimble around the bag.
Al: Keith Hernandez was outstanding as well, but I'd take Doug M.
Aaron: Yeah, I didn't get a chance to see Hernandez obviously, but I'd like to see how they compare
Al: Am I that old?
Aaron: Am I that young!
Aaron: Actually, I was 7 when Keith retired, but by that time he had been done for a couple years already.
Al: The thing about Keith, on a SAC bunt, he'd field a ball bunted down the 3B line and make the play. He was literally 10 feet away from the batter when contact was made.
[TOP OF THE THIRD]
Aaron: Bremer just said they are renaming "Kirby Puckett Place" "Memory Lane."
Al: Really?
Aaron: Gotta be because of Kirby's "problems"
Al: Too bad, who didn't love Kirby?
Aaron: Yeah, Kirby's situation broke a lot of hearts here.
[BROOKS KIESCHNICK FLIES OUT TO THE WARNING TRACK IN CENTER]
Al: Too bad Kieschnick doesn't swing hard.
Al: Our idiot announcers just said, "Hunter is one of the better OFs defensively in the game." Ya think?
Aaron: He's definitely top 5, but if I could take one guy right now, it'd be Mike Cameron.
Al: I never saw Mays play, but I'll put Hunter against anyone, ever. I can't believe how often he takes away HRs.
Aaron: I was at a game this year when he took a homer away from Carlos Lee. Best catch I have ever seen.
Al: He stole a couple in games I attended at the Dome as well.
[YOUNG LINES A SINGLE OFF OF LOHSE'S ARM]
Aaron: I hope Lohse is okay.
Al: I'm sure he'll be OK, unless it stiffens up later.
Aaron: If he's injured, our rotation becomes a complete disaster.
Aaron: Although....(FREE JOHAN!)...nevermind.
Al: Hey, just so you have Johan pitching "important" innings in the bullpen, you'll be fine. 🙂
[SCOTT PODSEDNIK HITS A DOUBLE INTO THE GAP IN RIGHT-CF, 2-0 MILWAUKEE]
Al: He smoked that one.
Aaron: He's really been great this year - .312/.391/.428 before that double - and completely out of nowhere.
Al: I still feel he'll "correct" but I agree. Heckuva year thus far.
Aaron: I'm still mad I didn't grab him as a free agent in my Diamond-Mind league at the start of the year.
Al: Career .338 OBP in AAA.
Aaron: Yeah, that's why I didn't grab him up.
Al: Butch Wynegar, our hitting guy, has seemed to have a good influence on Pods and Helms. Both take a ton of pitches compared to early in the season.
Aaron: I didn't know Wynegar (former Twin) is the hitting coach.
Al: Yep. Yost actually did interviews and such, rather than hiring his buddies.
Aaron: What do you think of Yost?
Al: I question Yost's use of the bullpen, and his fascination with Royce Clayton, but overall, I'd give him a "B-."
