The Twins don’t have to worry about facing C.C. Sabathia four or five times a year anymore now that he’s been shipped to the Brewers for prospects. It does mean that he could throw his 290-pound body in the middle of Twins-Brewers interleague battles if he sticks around.

Reporter’s note: But that’s just wishful thinking. As Dave pointed out at 3:00, C.C. turned down offers from Cleveland and is likely headed for free agency unless he falls in love with Milwaukee. I got a little ahead of myself there, sorry.

I wrote on Sunday about how Sabathia has been a Twins nemesis through the years. I looked up a few stories for background and entertained myself with the memories. I wanted to include highlights but didn’t have the space. But here’s a few:

Sept. 24, 2003: Sabathia, trying to stop the Twins’ run the AL Central title that year: “”Anybody but them,” he said. “I’ve got friends over there, but I love to beat them.”

Apr. 18, 2005: After hearing that Sabathia hates the Twins, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire refuses to talk about him. “I don’t talk about him because he hates us,” Gardenhire said.  “I’m serious. If he hates us, I don’t want to talk about him.” 

Sabathia then backed off his earlier comments.  “I’ve stopped using the word `hate,’-” he said. “It’s more like jealousy to see them playing in October and it should be us. They are the team to beat, and that’s the spot we want.”

 June 1, 2005: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire gets ejected in a loss to the Indians. Sabathia spent the game buzzing Twins batters, yelling at them when they squared to bunt and staring into the Twins dugout during the game.

“It was a frustrating game in that we lost to that big lefthander over there,” Gardenhire said. “I don’t like losing to him.”

May 15, 2007: Gardenhire, on bunting on Sabathia: “We always try to irri, I mean, bunt on him. We’ve tried dropping bunts on him. It irritates the crap out of him. He gets mad. His hat goes farther to the side.”

July 16, 2006: Sabathia: “This is Minnesota. They hate me here. But I don’t really care.”

May 16, 2007: Sabathia, after beating the Twins, tries to downplay the feud. “Everybody thinks about there being a lot of hate between Cleveland and Minnesota. But A.J. Pierzynski is with the White Sox now, so that stuff is long gone.”

Other notes: After looking at my microphone for a couple weeks but not doing anything about it, I’ve finally submitted a fresh podcast that should be up sometime this afternoon.

And it’s just been confirmed that I will fill in for Dan, `The Common Man,’  Cole from Noon-3 p.m. next Monday on KFAN. So we’ll make that an All-Star break special.

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