Around the horn with Twinkie Town

Twinkie Town just changed managing editors, and myjah has stepped in at a time while the Twins are heading in the right direction overall. TCB sat down with her to talk about the Twins:

Astros fans are at DEFCON One right now with the expectations and the team's current record. What were you and Twins fans expecting this season? Are you worried about the start?

Well, I don't think Twins fans were expecting the team to be quite /this/ bad in 2016. I think my "expectations" (I don't really like calling them that, since they are really more just predictions) were probably higher than most before the season began, since this is largely the same team as the Twins had last year, and last year they defied expectations by posting a winning record and coming in second in the AL central. I thought the Twins would be around there this year too. But after this start? Yeah.... no.

Maybe I live in a bubble, but Twins fans don't seem to be that worried about the poor start this year. There are angry fans, sure, but I also think we've become kind of used to losing. Also, everyone knows we have exceptional young talent, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel. We know things are just going to get better. I think most fans were not expecting the team to be true contenders until next year anyway.

Byron Buxton could have easily been the Astros' first overall pick in 2012 instead of Carlos Correa. What are your thoughts on Buxton thus far in the Twins organization? Are you surprised he's still in the minors?

It's really, really, really fun to watch Byron Buxton run. I think he might be the fastest baseball player I've ever seen.
But Byron is also more than just fast. He really does have all the tools to be a superstar one day. He is very mature and has a great attitude when it comes to learning and making adjustments. Am I surprised he was sent back down to the minors? Not really. He started the season with the Twins but was just horrendous at the plate. I do think the pressure of being this #1 overall prospect got to him a little and he was trying to do too much at times. But he is most definitely not a bust. The talent is clearly there, he just needs a little more time to develop. I mean, he's only 22--a bit early for anyone to is freaking out.

Wouldn't really mind being stuck with Carlos Correa either, though...

What has been the biggest surprise to start the season?

Besides, the team being so bad? Byung Ho Park. I have been very pleasantly surprised with Byung Ho Park. He surpassed everyone's expectations in spring training and has been continuing to do so into the season. I listened to a ten-minute interview MLBN did with former Twins manager and current special instructor Tom Kelly during spring training, and when they asked him about Park TK just lit up (which is a big deal if you know anything about TK).

No one was sure if Park's monster power would translate to MLB, but it has. He just hits these absolute monster home runs that are really fun to watch. He hit a home run 466 feet (according to ESPN's true distance home run tracker) at Target Field, the longest anyone has ever hit a ball. Longer than even any of Jim Thome's home runs. Park's been one of the few bright spots for the Twins so far this season.

How awesome is Target Field? Or am I just crazy for thinking it's one of the best stadiums in baseball?

I've only been to seven MLB parks (three of which don't even exist anymore), and I'm a bit bias, but yeah--Target Field is awesome. Having been born and raised in Minneapolis, it's been especially fun to see. Target Field has changed the entire nature of downtown Minneapolis, especially nightlife. It's a transit hub and community center. There's an amphitheater outside the stadium with another giant video screen for public viewing events--I watched Purple Rain down there with a couple thousand other people recently. The stadium itself is extremely detailed and personalized for Minnesota, and the Twins continue to make upgrades every year. There aren't any bad seats I can think of. And, of course, it's outside!

That said, Kaufman Stadium is my favorite I've ever been to. (Don't tell the Twins.)

Side note: My Dad is an architect, and sometime in the '90s he gave me a drawing of a potential new Twins stadium design he got in some meeting. Whenever I see Minute Maid Park I just think of how much it looks like the stadium in that picture. Sort of odd.