Nick Punto News Archives

Nick Punto is a complete Joke. He hit a blistering .256 after the all star break.

The New York Yankees might look rock solid, but the concrete at their new stadium is drawing extra scrutiny amid a probe of construction companies.

Lost in the Twins' late-season turnaround , dramatic Game 163 victory and quick playoff exit is that they made a significant international signing , handing a $3.15 million bonus to a 16-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic named Miguel Angel Sano .

Note: This is the fourth installment in a ten-part series analyzing the Twins' 2009 season.

The baseball playoffs have been very good to TBS -- ratings are up 11 percent -- but reviews for lead announcer Chip Caray haven't been so kind.

Our Twins bowed in three games to the Evil Empire. There were many opportunities in two of the three games for our heroes to win, but they didna t. Ita s no use to dwell on their losses, but you know you are a true fan, , when you replay what might have been before you drop off to sleep.

There was nothing mediocre about them. It was one of the most impressive runs EVER.

In round one, the Yankees received length from their starters and from baseballs hit by Alex Rodriguez, but not from their lineup.

Last update: October 12, 2009 - 2:49 PM There were plenty of defining moments in the Twins/Yankees series.

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 11 -- On Sunday night, after the Twins lost for the final time in a baseball stadium never quite designed to be a baseball stadium, the Metrodome didn't go cold right away. Even after the Twins fell to the Yankees, 4-1, sending New York to the American League Championship Series and 54,735 Minnesotans into the 37-degree outdoors, the Metrodome still had the fever of its last memories, of its final innings.

Even after the place emptied, nothing but a few scattered hankies left in the aisles, the Metrodome still had the shape of a quasi-ballyard, not yet reconverted for Brett Favre or monster trucks. The mound still had its bump, and the infield still had its pawprint of dirt, and a baggy outfield wall still curled like a soft L, tall and billowing in right, more inviting in center and left, and you could still see where everything happened.

Reggie Jackson didn't give himself his most famous nickname; it actually came from a teammate.

With a slow grounder to to short, it was all over. The joy of game 163, the September magic, the 2009 season, baseball in the H.H.H. Metrodome, all of it.

Monday, October 12, 2009 Nick Punto -- Worth $4.2MM? Despite putting on an unbelievable hitting display in the ALDS, Nick Punto STILL managed to eff up the Twins season by the most boneheaded baserunning play I have ever seen.

The Minnesota Twins ran themselves right out of the Metrodome. Nick Punto's baserunning blunder cost the Twins a chance to tie the game in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees eliminated Minnesota with a 4-1 victory in their division series that shut the doors for good on professional baseball in the raucous, quirky ballpark.

It was against the Twins , when Rivera came in with runners on first and third and gave up a game-tying home run to Delmon Young.

Last update: October 8, 2009 - 3:47 PM Hey, it's time to disagree with someone again .

Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Mark Teixeira hit a laser shot in the 11th to lift the Yankees to a 4-3 win over the Twins in Game 2 of their American League Division Series.

Yes, that's the unquestionable star of tonight's play-in game. And he's already got a copy of tomorrow's newspaper .

Coming off the best game of their lives, the Twins had a difficult time with the encore at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, as many expected.

Brandon Inge insists that a pitch grazed his jersey with the bases loaded in the 12th inning against Minnesota on Tuesday night, which would have scored the go-ahead run in this back-and-forth tiebreaker.

Twins second baseman Nick Punto made a key defensive play in the 12th inning, throwing home to force out Miguel Cabrera at the plate.

MINNEAPOLIS a ' The Minnesota Twins seem to think that 162 regular-season games aren't enough.

Hope was diminishing for the Minnesota Twins when the Kansas City Royals rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth inning.

With one more game to go, Ron Gardenhire has chosen to go with experience. Though rookie Brian Duensing was scheduled to pitch today's regular-season finale against Kansas City, Gardenhire will start Carl Pavano on short rest.

The Twins have been finding different heroes and different ways to win each night as they've captured victories in 10 of their past 11 contests to remain in the American League Central race.

The rejuvenated starter had enjoyed success against Detroit, but couldn't reach back for more in a big-game assignment for the Twins.