I don’t like this place.

Why would you say this? I can understand the sentiment, but keep it to yourself. The only thing you accomplish by spouting this to the press, is to come accross as a jerk...

He probably said it in a tone of voice that made it clear that it was a throwaway line, and referred only to the Twins having lost the first two games of the series, rather than anything about the city or its people. That was the way I read it, anyway. He probably still shouldn't have said it, though.

Why would you say this? I can understand the sentiment, but keep it to yourself. The only thing you accomplish by spouting this to the press, is to come accross as a jerk...

Because the Twins were about 5 pitches away from being 6-0 in Safeco this season, but instead barely escaped 2-4. It has nothing to do with Seattle, per se, but everything to do with the fact that no matter what the Twins did against Seattle, the Mariners would fight right back (2 of Nathan's 4 blown saves are there, for example).

As a fan, I'm sure glad that the team doesn't have to play Seattle anymore this season either even knowing that they are the worst team in the AL.

It's interesting because the Mariners offensive "strategy" actually lines up perfectly to take advantage of the Twins pitching strategy. The Twins pitch to contact more than any other team and just pound the strikezone. Against many teams, this will let them get ahead in the count because they're too obsessed with working the count constantly. The Mariners, OTOH, will swing at anything, so they just mash these strikes all over the place (coupled with the Twins execrable team defense this season) and just keep getting hits. While other teams can usually get the M's to chase crap out of the zone, the Twins are so trained to just keep throwing strikes that they cannot adjust and then get mashed. It's maddening to watch but also interesting when you take a step back from the individual batter-pitcher matchups and observe how the whole series plays out.

It has nothing to do with Seattle, per se, but everything to do with the fact that no matter what the Twins did against Seattle,

I understand that. As I said, I understand the sentiment. I'm really complaining about the lack of media skills here. It's just a really dumb thing to say to the press, even if it's not actually meant to be offensive...

Maybe he did some chatting on media relations with Ichiro while he was there...

“If I ever saw myself saying I’m excited going to Cleveland, I’d punch myself in the face, because I’m lying.”-Ichiro

I understand that. As I said, I understand the sentiment. I'm really complaining about the lack of media skills here. It's just a really dumb thing to say to the press, even if it's not actually meant to be offensive...

I think you need some more legitimate things to be concerned about. Not understanding how he meant it only reflects poorly on the person potentially getting upset. And nobody's even upset yet.

Everybody complains about the bland ballplayer until he says something remotely interesting. Then they complain about that.

I'm all for more player honesty in the media. There needs to be more naked sincerity and less media pandering. Otherwise it just becomes white noise.

It kind of grosses me out the way players become the ##### of the media. The sporting press is constantly reminding ballplayers that they're the ones with all the power. That's one of the reasons I always liked Barry Bonds--he hated the media and how they demanded submissiveness and he let them know it. And they ruined him for it.

I am pretty sure it was a complete indictment of the city of Seattle, its population, their way of life and their values. Getting you head handed to you by such a lousy team gives any player the right to question such things.