On a Phillies/Twins high...

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The home openers for my two favorite teams (Phillies and Twins, just in case you're new around here) were both yesterday.  Since both these teams have an off day today, I'm having a little baseball withdrawal.  I mean, there are games I can watch tonight (after Lost, of course--once May 23 hits, baseball takes top priority yet again, though!), but...they're not with Phillies or Twins.  Or anyone attractive, really.  Actually, I might watch a bit of the Rays/Orioles game tonight--that's definitely the most attractive matchup out there (Longoria, Bartlett, Balfour, Markakis).  Not that it has much to compete with in terms of BILFiness...I mean, Mets/Rox?  Oh, PLEASE--I'm not watching that until Street's back from the DL.  Reds/Marlins?  No, thank you.

But I digress.  I'm thrilled my two favorite teams both won their home openers (Phillies--7-4 over the Nats; Twins beat the Sawx 5-2).  Not so pleased that Hamels was slightly sucktacular, and also not thrilled that Werth and Rollins are now injured.  Totally happy that the Phillies have a 6-1 record, tied for best record in the National League (tied with the Giants, believe it or not...who'da thunk it?).  Also thrilled with Jon Rauch, the Twins' closer (since Nathan's out for at least the entire season)--he's netted me 5 saves so far for each of my fantasy teams.  (On a related note?  Tattoos are sexy.  Moving on...)

In related but completely unsurprising news, I really need to get my ass to Target Field at some point.  I have no interest in the walleye-on-a-stick, but watching Mauer hit a home run while I snack on some good ol' midwestern cheese curds sounds like an absolutely grand time to me!  And speaking of Mauer, I watched his Homecoming episode on ESPN last night and absolutely loved it.  Mauer seems so sweet and charming!  I've also heard that he answers all his fan mail himself, so I'm going to have to come up with something clever to write to him.  (No, it won't be "Marry me, Mauer"--that's so overdone.)  Take a little peek at Mauer's Homecoming episode by clicking here.  If you aren't totally charmed by him...well, you're probably just not human!


Yeah, so he's pretty much a saint in my (only somewhat biased) eyes...

As much as I love the hot sideburns, gorgeous eyes, pretty lips, and flawless backside of Joe Mauer, I think the reason I REALLY adore him is because he is, from all accounts I have EVER read, an incredibly nice guy.  This article just further proves my point.  Going out of his way to make an old friend/new teammate feel comfortable is really commendable--I mean, it's spring training, there's a little thing called a contract for Mauer to think about, and he's still taking the time to help Hardy 9also kind of a BILF!) adjust to his new team and new area.  He may be the most good-hearted, as well as good-looking, BILF ever!

Twins news and notes

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Double the Morneau...double the fun!

Adorable photo lovingly swiped from www.justinmorneau.com

Oh, hi!  I've been kinda bad about writing lately, but that's because I've been obsessing over things like Muse and Lost as opposed to Phillies and Twins.  (Oh, and I've been sick.  And had a birthday.  And, you know, holidays.  And work is perpetually crazy.  Etc.)

But anyway, here I am with some Twins news...and some hopefully-it'll-be-Twins-news news.  ;)  First, the confirmed news: Justin Morneau will be running with the Olympic torch in his native Canada on 2/11.  Awesome!  And he's also busy preparing himself for spring training and the 2010 baseball season.  Now that he's all healthy again, I expect to see good things out of this guy in just a few months when the 2010 season finally starts up!

The other really exciting Twins-related stuff going on is that I keep hearing rumors of a 10-year extension between Mauer and the Twins.  Oh, how I hope this is--or becomes--true!  I'd love to see Mauer stay with his hometown team instead of, like, running off to join the Yankees.  (If he did, I'd be really sad.  Oh, and I'd also be moving to the Bronx.)

Speaking of Mauer--I adore this article about him.  And, of course, I adore Mauer.  *swoon*


You know you miss baseball when...

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...you hallucinate and *think* you see Joe Mauer everywhere.

Yeah, this kinda happened to me.  I thought I saw him twice at 30th Street Station and then once at Penn Station on Sunday.  Clearly, none of these men were actually Joe Mauer.  They probably didn't even look all that much like Joe Mauer at all.  But I miss baseball and BILFs, and so I'm seeing Joe Mauer's face on every tall, dark-haired guy who is in my vicinity.

On a related note, I also thought I saw Jayson Werth driving in the car behind me when I was going to the bank today.  (He had Werth-like hair, but he was not Jayson Werth.  How can I be so sure of this?  No ridiculous sunglasses.)

BILF news and notes, 11/13/09

Two of the BILFiest BILFs were awarded Silver Sluggers today...Chase Utley and Joe Mauer!  It's Mauer's third Silver Slugger, and Utley's fourth.  Hot and talented...I love it!

In other news, Brad Lidge underwent successful surgery for his flexor pronator tendon and the loose body in his elbow.  Here's hoping he also undergoes surgery on that godawful playoff beard/scruff he was sporting...'cause there's just no excuse for that.

Congrats to the AL Gold Glove winners...

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The American League Gold Glove winners were announced today.  Buehrle, Teixeira (for whom I have a rather intense and inexplicable hatred), Polanco, Longoria, Jeter, Jones, Ichiro, Hunter, and one of my favorite BILFs, the Twins' Joe Mauer. Congrats to all, and a special congrats to the really hot ones (Mauer and Longoria, I'm lookin' at you...but not you, Jeter, because you've got an oddly-shaped head and I still have no idea why you're considered attractive).

The picture above is from one of my very favorite Mauer plays this season...where he blocked the Yankees' Brett Gardner at the plate after faking a throw to first.  Smart guy, that Mauer.  Gotta love his defensive skills (and his hot sideburns...and his ass...OK, I'll shut up now).

A few thoughts on the last two NLCS games...

So Friday night, I was incredibly angry, as I'm sure most other Philly fans were.  I called my mother right after the game--I didn't even bother saying hello, and just started in with "Fuck our bullpen!  Fuck Chase Utley!"  (And no, I did not mean in the good/fun way, either.)  But what I was really thinking--and forgot to say--was "Fuck our entire offense, too."  (Also not in the good way.)

Yeah, the bullpen was screwy in the eighth inning of Friday's NLCS game against the Dodgers.  And yeah, Utley should have not made that screwy throw (anyone else wondering if this is a sign that Chuttles is hurt?).  But neither one of those things would have mattered so much if we'd had more than a 1-run lead against LA.  Hello, offense?  Were you guys napping?  (Not you, Ryan Howard.  You're awesome.)

I was in quite a crappy mood on Friday evening.  But luckily the Phillies' offense redeemed themselves in Game 3 of the NLCS with an 11-0 blowout, along with the fabulous (phabulous!) Cliff Lee.  10 strikeouts, no walks, 3 hits...and he got a hit himself?  And managed to look really good while doing all of this?  I'm in love.  Or lust.  Or something.  (I noticed he looked cold; I wish MLB would offer a job where you could apply to be the official hand-blower for pretty pitchers during the playoffs.  Cliff Lee had to keep blowing on his hands because it was so damn cold; why waste the pitcher's energy doing that when there are girls like me willing to help him out with that?  Haha.)

Tonight it's Game 4 of the NLCS.  My parents are there (soooooo jealous, Mom and Dad!).  Hopefully the offense will show up again, too.  No need for an 11-0 trouncing tonight (although hey, if they've got it in 'em, then why the hell not?)--just a win will suffice.  :)

Also: Saw Chad Billingsley (whom I call Chad BILFingsley) pitch last night...he pitched better than most of the other Dodger pitchers (for a while, anyway), but what is up with that playoff goatee he's got goin' on there?  Ugh!

And finally, if you've not already done so, the BILFalicious Joe Mauer (swoon!) is up for the Clutch Performer of the Year Award.  Click here to vote for him!