Twins-Orioles: People need to learn how to drive
Posted on March 11th, 2009 – 9:18 AMBy La Velle
There are two things that send me to the brink of road rage. One is when drivers don’t use their turn signals. The other is when drivers jump in front of me in the passing lane and force me to slow down.
The latter happened about eight times this morning as I drove across Alligator Alley. I had the cruise control set, had, `Mike and Mike in the Morning,’ on the radio and was minding my own business. Then a guy in an Escalade, a blonde in a Highlander and another guy in a Cherokee appear on the road. For over 30 miles, someone from the group would pass me but eventually slow down and force me to go around them. Eventually, they would accelerate and pass me again, and the process repeated itself over and over.
I got mad, accelerated to a high rate of speed and left them. But I came up on some other cars, and the whole jump-in-the-passing-lane bit began. So the two guys and the blonde eventually caught up. What a mess!
We weren’t in heavy traffic. Why can’t people maintain their rate of speed on a relatively open highway? I was pretty wound up by the time I got to ballpark.
Joe C. is back in Fort Myers, monitoring the Joe Mauer news. The sneaky guy was able to have his MR arthrogram yesterday to speed up the process, so I’m sure we’ll have an update today.
Justin Morneau and Jesse Crain were in the clubhouse this morning after Team Canada was booted from the World Baseball Classic. Bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek was all over Morneau for getting kicked out of the tournament before Nick Punto.
I like the group of pitchers the Twins have here today.
Twins: 1. Span, LF. 2. Casilla, 2B. 3. Crede, 3B. 4. Kubel, DH. 5. Cuddy, RF. 6. Buscher, 1B. 7. Mike Redmond, C. 8. Harris, SS. 9. Gomez, CF. Pitching: Perkins, with Blackburn, Nathan, Dickey, Gosling, Delaney, Swarzak and Julianel on the trip.
Orioles: 1. Roberts, 2B. 2. Jones, CF. 3. Wigginton, 3B. 4. Huff, 1B. 5. Matt Wieters, the greatest catching prospect since Joe Mauer, C. 6. Scott, LF. 7. Freel, RF. 8. Zaun, C. 9. Cabrera, SS. Pitching: Pauley, with George Sherrill, Jim Johnson and friends.
54 Responses to "Twins-Orioles: People need to learn how to drive"
Enduring bad drivers while traveling to watch outdoor baseball seems like a small price to pay when the homeland is blanketed by snow and below zero temperatures.
Totally feel your pain La Velle, I frequently make the open highway drive from the cities up to Duluth and by far my biggest pet peeve is people passing me and then slowing down. Although, on the whole I’d say Minnesota driver’s are pretty good because I typically don’t have to deal with that scenario too often.
Well said JayTEE. However, I was in FLA this time last year, and I can attest to the bad drivers. People don’t know how to use blinkers and cruise control (yes, even worse than in MN). Or, it’s amazing how many of them *seem* to not work.
I had to endure the same thing this morning….except on BLACK ICE!!! Calm down and enjoy the sunshine. What is the temp today in Florida?
Drivers like that send me to the brink as well. I tend to keep a nice distance between myself and the car in front of me so I can adjust in case of sudden stops, ext. Of course most people see that as a chance to jump in my lane right in front of me. That annoys me too!
I feel like some drivers feel the need to control other drivers by forcing them to drive at the speed limit or under the speed limit in the left lane.
However, I have to agree with JayTEE on this one La Velle,
“Enduring bad drivers while traveling to watch outdoor baseball seems like a small price to pay when the homeland is blanketed by snow and below zero temperatures.”
I can’t wait for the Home Opener!
La Velle,
Completely agreed about the roads. That is what cruise control is for!! I hate when drivers play tag with you when you are driving at a steady rate of speed. Very frustrating.
You see this LaVelle, it’s the smallest violin in the world, and it’s playing just for you…
I’m so tired of reading about how difficult your job is in Florida during spring training.
Here’s a reality check: thousands of Minnesota residents have lost their jobs in the last few months. They are in jeopardy of or have lost their homes. Many can’t afford food or heat. That doesn’t even take into account that everybody here in Minnesota woke up to below zero temperatures.
You have a job and you get to spend a month in a tropical climate. Be grateful and stick to baseball.
I agree with you LaVelle, I drive some quiet roads on cruise. then watch the jockeying for position as people speed up and slow down with no rhyme or reason. Alligator Alley must be a boring drive, pretty desolate.
Then a guy in an Escalade, a blonde in a Highlander and another guy in a Cherokee appear on the road.
I suspect that you were driving a rental sedan. They wouldn’t have cut in front of you if you were driving a sizable vehicle semi-aggressively 
At least you didn’t stuck behind the Buick and Caddy driving blue-haired crowd doing 45 on both lanes…
LEN III-
You had the chance to listen to Lex and Terry, and chose to listen to man-girl and meatball instead? Curious decision, my friend!
Just kidding. Keep up the great work!
ES,
everyone is living day to day in their own situation. You can tone down the rhetoric just a tad.
Tell us more about the blonde!
ES16,
Dude get over yourself. Millions of people are starving all over the freaking world everyday and I bet you complain about stuff. You act like this recession is the worst thing happening in the world.
I am sure ES16 never complains about things that are less important.
I’m surprised at how many starters made the trip to Ft. Lauderdale. Are they just all breathless to see the beautiful stadium there one last time?
ES16:
Quit crying about how cold it is in Minnesota. Are we supposed to feel sorry for you? Who asked you to live in Minnesota? Is it wrong for La Velle to expect people to be courteous to one another? Yes the country is going through tough times, but is acting like jerks on the roadways helping things out at all? Maybe if people weren’t so selfish, we wouldn’t be in the present state we’re in. Lay off La Velle you sanctimonious cretin!
“when drivers jump in front of me in the passing lane and force me to slow down.”
Lavelle, I am completely sympathetic and share your pet peve. I affectionately refer to these people as LLP’s (left lane pluggers).
Whew — all the %^!@ flying around, it feels like I wandered into a hockey game! Baseball, folks, baseball!
LLP’s…thats great!
Try driving from Vegas to LA sometime, Lavelle. That’s more fun, because you have to avoid the semi-drunk a$$hats going 90, along with the typical no signal/cruise control drivers.
The best part is that now you get to enjoy the wonderful spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles. When are they moving?
Crede made the ride, or did they fly him over?
Did Denny’s distribute free mean pills this morning?
FYI Wobble,
75/Alligator Alley is like that 365 days a year. Day or night, I am not sure what the phenomenon is, but it has happened to me countless times driving across the alley until you get to 595 in Lauderdale.
Now just make sure you enjoy the smallest, creakiest, dated Press Box in the Grapefruit League. Soon the Orioles will be in Sarasota (taking over Ed Smith) or at City of Palms in a couple years.
Lastly, how many Gators did you see sun bathing on the way over? Don’t forget to get off at Exit 101 and stop at Michelbob’s on the way home!!!!
Nice to see Harris getting some time at SS, and Crede in a road game (on the field no less) is a positive.
Hopefully Morneau gets back soon so they can start piecing the lineup together around him.
how difficult your job is in Florida during spring training.
The grass is always greener at some other place… It is very difficult and draining to be away from home for a month plus doing business (even if that place is Florida in the middle of the winter). It is fine for a week or so, but as the time passes you feel like you are working 24/7 (because you really are) and live in a large cell-sized hotel room (which becomes more and more of a cell as time passes) and the only way to communicate with friends and family is by phone or email… Not an easy job to do, regardless of the location. Might look nice and glamorous and relaxing in someone’s dreams, but, lemme tell you, it ain’t…
ES16
Time to take a chill pill. This is spring training and I’m happy that LaVelle gives us the dish on what’s going on down there - including his pet peeves. Eventho it’s pretty dang cold today we know that it will be in the 40’s by the weekend so just keep an eye on the box score for todays game and you’ll feel much better. Go Twins.
I have a friend who is an investigator for the DMV in Fullerton California. He had told me that they found out that there have been many cases where someone else posed as the person taking there drivers test and took the test for that person. They caught one guy and he confessed to having took the test for at least 100 different people. In states such as Florida, New York, and California with so many legal and illegal immigrants living there it is no wonder that people don’t know how to drive. Especially if they can’t read or understand our highway laws anyway!
Hopefully Morneau gets back soon
Morneau and Crain are back in the complex today. They just did not make the trip
I find it amusing you describe three people as a “guy” a “blonde” and a “guy.” I assume the “blonde” is not a “guy.”
Do you think Kubel will bat 3 if Mauer starts the year on the dl?
LEN III: You must hate driving in MN then. MN drivers are terrible about camping in the passing lane. They just sit there and don’t move out of the way for faster cars. Here in MN, when you’re trying to pass someone camped in the left lane the camper gives you the finger. When I lived in CT it was the opposite - the camper got the finger for slowing down everyone behind him/her. I never noticed the camping problem until I moved away from MN and someone pointed out how bad it was in MN. This drives me nuts!
WJ,
“Lay off La Velle you sanctimonious cretin!”
On my next foray into name-calling, (could happen at any time) I want your permission to use “sanctimonious cretin!”
That is much classier than any of my previous choices.
For one I like stories like this out of Spring Training. Gives a bit levity (is that the right word?) for me at least.
Not to mention all this ST talk is REALLY pumping me up for a few televised games this weekend. I’ve got a pair of Opening Day tickets somewhere too…
That is much classier than any of my previous choices.
I prefer the less classy choices. Mostly because I’m a terible spellor.
totally know the other guy in the Cherokee.
So Crede still hasn’t had a hit this spring - Cause for concern? - What is your impression to this point?
What bugs me is when one car on cruise control tries to pass another car on cruise control and it takes ten minutes because their speeds are almost the same.
[…] Twins Insider – […]
sane,
I used “cretin” in homage to Joe Mauer’s alma mater.
I feel like I’ve stumbled into a bar at midnight and there is a giant brawl going on. As I notice it, a large, angry, bald guy steps between me and the door and I can’t help but get involved! So, LEN, it’s cold out, the roads are icy and I’m not feelin’ your pain. Let us know when you find out about Mauer though!
Hope Span and Crede can get a couple of knocks. LEN3: I’m heading out to shovel!! Have a nice drive home on Alligator Alley. Don’t run the AC too much! haha
WJ,
I think “cretin” would be better suited to someone makes a comment that if people drove better we wouldn’t be in this economic crisis.
“What bugs me is when one car on cruise control tries to pass another car on cruise control and it takes ten minutes because their speeds are almost the same.”
WJ, right there with you on this one! They also qualify as LLP’s to me.
ES16 you are all about the economic crisis aren’t you? Don’t you think there are some people who come here to I don’t know, escape that realm for 3-4 hours playing GM or doctor with 60+ major league ready players (and then some)? I understand that is a major issue but is there a different blog you can go and lay your gloom and doom on? Let it remain somewhat sunny here until we hear back on Mauer
Lav III,
I am available for hire to chauffeur you around Florida if need be. I work cheap, the Strib only needs to pay for the airline ticket,the rental car and a hotel room. I will pick up the rest.
I’m reminded of something I believe was observed by the late, great George Carlin:
Everybody driving faster than me is freakin’ idiot, and everybody driving slower than me is a G.D. moron.
Here is the gameday link:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_11_minmlb_balmlb_1
Best thing you can do is lay on the horn, pray they have insurance and just run them off the road. No commuting judge in the land would convict you.
LaVelle,
Apparently, some here want you to discuss ONLY one of the following:
1) Twins
2) The horrible economic crisis
3) The war in Iraq
4) The war in Afganistan
5) Crime in the streets (and government)
6) The realization that someday we will all suffer and then die a horrible death
and;
7) That no one has ever returned from #6 with a promising Advance Scouting Report.
Apparently, some here want you to discuss ONLY one of the following:
Or discuss them on consective weeks as part of a pre-taped call-in show:
youtube.com/watch?v=HrlS9_n8GX4
People have trouble maintaining their speed because they’re too busy messing with their GPS, iPods, and cellphones.
PUNTO IS 2-22 IN THE SPRING!~!
That’s Florida for you buddy! Worst drivers in the nation….
“That’s Florida for you buddy! Worst drivers in the nation….”
Quit picking on the elderly!
It is true. There are more “Antiques” from Minnesota in Naples than anywhere else…..
ES16
What gives on your pshycotic words of wisdom. Give yourself a break and relax. Lavelle never said it was worse then any of the things you listed and to claim he even thought that is idiotic at best. I do hope you find innerpeace within yourself.
