Empty the Bench

Writing about Pat Neshek all afternoon inspired me to visit his website again, where I was greeted with some wonderful Midwestern sentiment (”I really have no purpose for this page. I figured hey, why not start a webpage about my life . . . “). He’s really an amazing guy, you have to check out all the auctions and other efforts he does for charity. He also wasn’t too proud to post fan videos about himself campaigning for Neshek to win MLB’s Final Vote contest to secure that last All-Star roster spot. Hey, the guy deserved it. Unfortunately, he lost out to another player mentioned in the fantasy pitchers article below, Hideki Okajima.

That does nothing to diminish the efforts:

But man I need you guys to vote, vote and vote [ . . . ] it’s unlimited voting…tell everyone you know and come together and get creative we have like 5 days or something! We need everyone, all Minnesotan’s, all graphers , fans of baseball and yes everyone in Yankee Nation ( and we know why!) I seriously would like to promise everyone All Star balls or jerseys for voting but it might be a stretch…I will promise this [ . . . ] multiple updates each day letting everyone know what the heck goes on behind closed doors, I will always inscribe anything with All Star 07…dont even have to ask.

The Minnesota attitude and accents (below) really bring me back. Fargo was hyperbole, but it really wasn’t that far off. We are good people and we do sound like that. Joel and Ethan Coen are from St. Louis Park, MN after all.

If you need anything signed or want to trade signed hockey/baseball cards for my cards send items with SASE to:

Pat Neshek C/O Minnesota Twins
Metrodome
34 Kirby Puckett Place
Minneapolis, MN 55415

You have to appreciate a player who’s an emerging star and still just seems like a regular guy who happens to play baseball. For a while he even kept track of every letter fans sent him and posted their names on his site.

Enjoy the no-budget goodness: