Tag: mlb

MLB is back in business

Play Ball!

Late yesterday I heard the news that MLB and the players had agreed on a new agreement and that Spring Training would begin on Sunday March 13. That is such great news to hear after all this time. Although it has no direct impact on me personally other than me being a long-time baseball fan, it is as if a big load was taken off my shoulders. It instantly put me in a better mood.

I understand that all 162 games will be played and the first two series that were originally cancelled will be made up somewhere at the tail-end of the season. The regular season opens on April 7 and a number of rule changes will take place. Both leagues will now use the designated hitter, 7-inning double-headers are history as is the extra-inning ghost runner at second base, the number of play-off teams increases from 10 to 12 and the Amateur Free Agent draft has a lottery system. Players can no longer be optioned to the minors no more than five times in a season. This is a few of the rules changes that have surfaced so far. I have also read somewhere that unvaccinated players will not be allowed to play in Canada and that they will not be paid or accrue service time. Another thing I read someplace that I find extremely interesting was when the MLBPA voted that all eight player representatives that was actually participating in the negotiations voted to reject this latest proposal but the other teams out voted them while the owners voted 30-0 to accept. Very Interesting!

So now the action shifts to the front offices that have been shut down from communicating with the other teams front offices as they battle to sign free agents and make trades to fill holes on their rosters. It should be a hectic time between now and and when the season begins to be sure.

Teams need to start selling tickets. I see that the Twins will start selling single game tickets on March 17 and that they will not charge fees for two days. Only two frickin fee free days after a 99 day lockdown? If the Twins and MLB had any smarts they would waive all ticket fees for 99 days and show their fans some respect for a change. Come on MLB, how about it?

In the mean time let’s get it on, Play Ball.

Are Twins games and baseball games really too long?

How about some fun facts about the length of Twins games?

  • During the Met Stadium era (1961-1981) Twins home and away games averaged 2 hours and 36 minutes.
  • During the Metrodome era (1982-2009) Twins home and away games averaged 2 hours and 49 minutes.
  • During the Target Field era (2010-current) Twins home and away games average 3 hours and 3 minutes.

For additional information on the length of Twins games year by year and how the Minnesota Twins compare to the the AL, NL and MLB in general you need to stop by our Length of games including longest Twins games page. There you will also find the longest games played by the Minnesota Twins in terms of time and innings.

Continue reading Are Twins games and baseball games really too long?

Hudson Boyd suspended for 50 games

Hudson Boyd, on tilt?
Hudson Boyd, on tilt?

MLB announced yesterday that four minor league players (three pitchers and an outfielder) have been suspended following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

One of those four players was Minnesota Twins Minor League right-handed pitcher Hudson Boyd. Boyd has received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Program. The suspension of Boyd, who is currently on the roster of the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League, will be effective at the start of the 2015 Midwest League season.

Last spring Boyd did not hide the fact that he did not think he should have to go back and repeat Cedar Rapids but that is exactly where the Twins organization sent him. Not only did the Twins send him to Cedar Rapids, they decided to turn him into a relief pitcher versus a starter. Boyd has also battled weight issues since he has been with the Minnesota Twins. This is not the first time that the word “suspended” and Hudson Boyd have been used in the same sentence. The now 22 year-old Boyd was also suspended by the Twins organization this past July for an unknown number of games for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Boyd a Ft. Myers native was drafted by the Twins out of Bishop Verot High School as a first round supplemental pick (for the loss of free agent Jesse Crain) and 55th overall in 2011. Boyd’s signing bonus was reported to be $1 million.

It appears that Hudson Boyd’s baseball career is quickly spiraling out of control, hopefully for him and the Minnesota Twins he can get back on track in the near future but now “his row to hoe” has become that much tougher.