Monthly Archive
CITY PAGES BLOGS
News/Politics
Music
Film
Photography
Culture/Lit
Sports
LOCAL SPORTS PAGES
NATIONAL SPORTS PAGES
SPORTS BLOGS
OFFICIAL SITES
« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »
Nick Blackburn was able to save face for the boys in Seattle today to cap a morbid series. However, there are Twins fans for whom the "saving" is less important than the "face." Take my girlfriend. She is a big fan of Nick. And more so of catcher Joe Mauer. She calls the battery “Blackburn & Sideburn.” Not that she’s really all that interested in stats, outcomes or strategy -- she just likes how these dudes look. She’s not alone.
All journalistic integrity is set aside for the day as I’ve been waiting for a depressing hiccup (this Seattle swing qualifies) to post this Tiger Beat edition of Minnesota Twins baseball, special order for the fairer-sex readers of this space. It seems like every conversation into which I endeavor with a woman about Twins baseball leads, in short time, to the physical attributes of whichever Twin the respective lady finds most attractive. The conversational shift occurs whether it be in my own home, a local watering hole, or in my mom’s kitchen, where she is wont to refer to Justin Morneau as “a Greek God.” (Also note that she hasn’t stopped talking about Brett Favre’s arms since 1992).
Putting said proclivities to a stern, national test, back in June I randomly chose 20 Twins from our 40-man roster, and put their mugs up on the popular, shallow, but ultimately entertaining face/bod-grading site, Hot or Not, whereby participants are graded on a highly intellectual scale that offers polar ratings of 1 (“Not”)- to-10 (“Hot”), and all grading in-between. It is with a “staunch record of heterosexuality” (Seinfeld) that I offer the results. Like, fer sure!
1. Blackburn- 9.8
![]()
4. Kubel- 9.3
5. Buscher- 9.2
6. Nathan - 9
![]()
7. (tie) Baker- 8.8
7. Neshek- 8.8
9. (tie) Liriano- 8.7
9. Punto- 8.7
9. Mauer- 8.7
![]()
![]()
12. (tie) Cuddyer- 8.4
12. Monroe- 8.4
12. Redmond- 8.4
Posted by Judd Spicer at August 6, 2008 4:04 PM
« Twins Management: Rocket Scientists, by ESPN's Jonah Keri | Main | Roger Huerta vs. Dana White »
Didn't a former center fielder (fcm) for the Twins take a swing at the “Greek God” during a frustrating point of a season? I also recall that the fcm later said one reason he acted out against this "God" was due to his lack of maturity/respect for the fraternal code of the clubhouse. The fcm cited an incident when then rookie "God" ate his lunch in the locker room without wearing a shirt. I recall the quote from the fcm, "You just don't do that."
Maybe the fcm was just jealous that Morneau would have outscored him on Hot or Not. After all, Morneau didn't have to get braces as an adult.
Posted by: Andrew at August 6, 2008 9:41 PM
yes...for the mid-westerner persona...the twin's have young fetching talent, but putting flattey aside..Manager "Gardie" (b/c every twins player has to have that "ie" added to their last name) said that our club needs to win on the road if we are actually going to consider being contenders...so with that said, how do you see our club the rest of the season on the road as a winning percentage base..(.500) belove or above (.600)...your in impression's please Mr. Spicer????....nice photo's of hot or not!
Posted by: efe at August 6, 2008 10:39 PM
If there was an award for the "Best Hair in the Twin Cities" Cuddyer would win it, hands down!
Posted by: The Captain at August 7, 2008 6:16 AM
Crain, really? Dude looks like a bouncer at Brothers.
Posted by: cyberspaceman at August 7, 2008 9:19 AM
Seriously. The Twins are in a dogfight for the division and this?
Fluff.
Posted by: Johhny Bench at August 7, 2008 10:03 AM
This is what I’ve been waiting for. So~ the twins play great ball, but from a ladies prospective more importantly they look great doing it! We have an attractive team all around but
Blackburn and Sideburn have my vote all the way. Brett Farv’s arms are alright but
Joe Mauer practically on his knee’s all game long is something to look at. Nice!
Posted by: Sugar Pop at August 7, 2008 10:55 AM
Andrew- Boxing aside, I'm not really one for the brute stuff, but I would have paid to watch that showdown. Seriously- if there were two Twins in the new millennium that you would watch tussle, Morneau/Hunter would be the choice match-up. In addition (and if that's true), any dude eating anything sans shirt probably deserves a sock in the nose.
Efe- Great point, and one that I'll be addressing in an ensuing column. Yeah, at 24-30, the Twins surely need to improve in the road, although said epidemic has inflicted most teams in '08. From Aug. 21-Sept 4th, the Twins are gone, due in large part to the RNC. Mercifully, the Angels- the 1st team we play in that swing- are the only club more than 2 games over .500.
Captain- The hair? It's magic gel ...
Cyber- Don't mess with the Crain, dude. It's a little-known fact that Jesse Crain is the former Jesse Elfin. He changed his name ... well, insert your own delivery herein I suppose.
Posted by: Judd at August 7, 2008 11:06 AM
Pretty clever Mr. Spicer. I can’t say I have ever read a sports blog in my life let alone one that was worth a read. My boyfriend passed this along to me and not only was it a totally fun to read it’s worthy of a this quick note. Thanks for appealing to the ladies this go round. I might just tune back in here and there if you pitch to the fairer sex another day
Posted by: Nessa at August 7, 2008 11:06 AM
Oh and Jeff- the link's for you, big guy.
Posted by: Judd at August 7, 2008 11:11 AM
Couldn't you have found a less creepy picture of Crain? ...it looks like it is from a home video that was leaked on the web...
Posted by: Twins Fan at August 7, 2008 11:30 AM
Does this mean that they hit home runs in the bedroom? They sure as hell can't hit 'em on the ball field...
Posted by: Malone at August 7, 2008 11:39 AM
I'm curious what the writer scored?
Posted by: pat at August 8, 2008 10:52 AM
Morneau is a "greek God" but has got to leave the baseball hat on. Gorgeous body and bone structure! But the hair definitely needs work.
Blackburn doesn't compare! In general, I'd say the team is not a gorgeous bunch. Now Brett Favre.....
Posted by: Lynn at August 8, 2008 1:57 PM
I am unable to stop rating people on this site.
Posted by: daz at August 9, 2008 1:16 AM
Yummy posting....The numbers refer to inches, right?
Posted by: Balls Fan at August 12, 2008 8:41 AM