That one on Tuesday night had to sting the White Sox. It's one thing to get beat 7-0, but to blow a 4-0 lead the next night? Perkins was anything but solid, but he meandered through the mine field and Nathan looked a little shaky, too, and not just because of the home run that he allowed. Some balls were hit hard. That doesn't bother me -- he has that happen every once in a while (he's human). But, the M&M boys are the real deal. And, if there is such a thing as momentum in baseball, the Twins have it after last night. Then again, as TK used to say, momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher.
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Cup of Coffee: July 30, 2008 This entry was posted by SBG
on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 6:50 am and is filed under Cup of Coffee. It is one of 3088 entries by the author.
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Cup of Coffee A colleague of mine who is a big sports guy (primarily college) read Top Jimmy's column and told me that the Twins should trade Joe Mauer. What do I take from that? Joe's demands are large enough that some of the more casual fans are starting to get turned off by him. Citizens Online25 Users Online WGOM Engagement AreaLog InRetired WGOM Jokes
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Race to the Bottom: Highest Loss Totals in T-Wolves History67: 1991-92 Recent Letters to the EditorIn Response to Cup of Coffee: March 12, 2010, hungry joe wrote: "Sometimes I think you have to be careful what you say," Guillen said. socaltwinsfan wrote: Read somewhere that the Twins think they might sell out every game before Opening Day. Get your tickets now! Of course, this could be a PR strategy to cause people to panic and buy season… freealonzo wrote: The Pmac-Reusse baseball conversations might be worth listening to. I agree with lack of KFAN baseball knowledge. Pmac will be missed. Btw Milt, I think I'm going to go the perv route and root for… Milt on Tilt wrote: I'm intrigued. The only competent baseball mind on KFAN, Phil Mackey, is switching over to 1500 to … I might have to tune in from time to time to hear them butt heads… Algonad wrote: I really want a Frito Lay rep to issue a press release saying they're offending by Guillen's comments. Milt on Tilt wrote: It sounds as if you're not tapping x once the pitch meter reaches the white line? Or at least not very well. freealonzo wrote: Hey MLB10 The Show Players I need help. I picked up the game and played it for the first time. As a newbie of course I am horrible but I'm really having a… rob wrote: I think the biggest thing is that Joe made such a big deal about how he wanted to make sure the Twins had a commitment to winning. If he doesn't sign, it makes it… In Response to Music Day, UncleWalt wrote: I haven't gotten around to setting up the stereo system since we moved back here from Chicago ... nearly three years ago. Flume, Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago Brainy, The National, Boxer I Saw the Light, Spoon,… UncleWalt wrote: Pacing and playing Wagon Wheel from OCMS on a loop was the only way I could get my son to fall asleep for the first two years of his life. Nice list. FirstTimeLongTime wrote: New computer next week, until then, Pandora … Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band "Big Black Nothing" Outer South The Strokes "Last Night" Is This It? George Jones "Wrong Is What I Do Best" The George… brianS wrote: Lucky Old Sun is a great little song. I especially enjoy Ray Charles' version. I'll have to find the Johnny Cash version for a listen. brianS wrote: 1. The Beatles, "Eleanor Rigby," 1962-1966 2. Living Children, "Now It's Over," Garage Beat '66 Vol. 3: Feeling Zero... 3. Simon & Garfinkel, "Mrs. Robinson," Bookends 4. Gary Lewis & The Playboys, "All Day and All of the… AMR wrote: Week 2 of listening to my entire iPod from A to 9. I'm only 56% of the way through. 1. Ministry "N.W.O." … The Knife "N.Y. Hotel" The Knife 3.… Big Mak wrote: * We Insist – Zoe Keating - Natoma * The Mountain – Heartless Bastards - The Mountain * Dancing Through Sunday – AFI – Sing the Sorrow … hungry joe wrote: i like the dichotomy of "8 full hours of sleep" and "no sleep till brooklyn". rob wrote: I have an old 3 CD changer, 4-speaker setup that I recently installed in the basement. It's great for listening to Twins games and CD's and okay for movies/games. I predominantly use the… In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 11, 2010, AMR wrote: You mean Aaron, Tim, Paige, and Katie? Milt on Tilt wrote: It was criminally wrong. This is easily the worst season ever. I think I'm gonna tune out and just come back for the final 4 AMR wrote: Well, that was bollocksed up. Todrick, Alex, Katelyn, and Lily. I think we can both agree that was very wrong. At least those four won't have to tour. In Response to Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim -- Girl From Ipanema, brianS wrote: You want to be careful where you say such things. Johnny Fontane Mr. Sinatra has friends. corybante wrote: Mr. Sinatra continues to leave me cold, at least it was short. In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 10, 2010, AMR wrote: Huh, he changed the article. Instead of Robert Fick, it used to say Mike Jacobs. In Response to Happy Birthday--March 12, CarterHayes wrote: . I love the look of those old Visalia jerseys. In Response to Happy Birthday--March 11, Popular Recent Posts
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For whoever's interested, I'll be gone for a week or so. I leave this afternoon for the School for Congregational Development in Orlando. I'll be back next Thursday.
Orlando? Don't they know that trips to Orlando are not to be made in July/August?
I suspect the church got a better rate by doing it now. Also, we've had highs in the low 90s with humidity at the same level here in North Sioux, so I can't think it's going to be a lot worse there.
hey, I think our pastor will also be there (Bob Farr). If you see him, say hi, and give him your sympathies for his KC Royals.
have fun on your trip!
I note an item this morning that some British scientists claim to have developed a drug that halts the progress of Alzheimer's. I know we hear stuff like this all the time, but I really hope this time it's true. I have seen so many people affected by that disease. It would be wonderful if something could be done about it.
With regards to the poll, I think I have to go with the ChiSox. I hate the Yankees' management/ownership and I hate the Red Sox's fans. I hate the media drooling all over those two, but for the team I love to beat more than the rest, it's Chicago.
Is that because beating the ChiSox actually happens?
If and when the Twins actually beat the Yankees, I feel a lot of relief. Those postseason games really have affected my psyche. I fear that no lead is safe and Joe Nathan will be pitching his third inning of relief. And the only reliever left will be a green Jesse Crain that Gardy just doesn't trust and then there's a homerun.
I actually like the ChiSox... I enjoy beating them, but if they make the postseason over the Twins, they'll be my horse.
If the following game doesn't affect the Twins situation, here's who I root for:
CWS vs NYY: CWS
CWS vs BOS: CWS
BOS vs NYY: Varies by Mood. Lately I'm loathing the Yanks, but Typically I root for 18 innings with multiple injuries and position players pitching.
I'm apparently in the minority as my hatred for all things Red Sox is extreme. I also would put the LAAAAAAoaAAAAAAoAAAAA on the list because of their announcers. And their style of play. And their closer. And Adam Kennedy.
I'm with will on this one. Although, my hatred should really go towards ESPN more than the teams.
I really would have like to watch the Brewers-Cubs game Monday night than ANOTHER Red Sox game. ESPN has no clue that people in the Midwest would have more interest in that game. Completely clueless about their audience.
The Midwest. What's that?
What's really frustrating is ESPN (at least Baseball Tonight) is treating the Cubs-Brewers properly (leading off Monday's show, coming in second to the near no-hitter Tuesday), but Twins-White Sox, another battle for first place with teams that are actually bitter rivals, gets relegated way back in the second half of the show. It's very frustrating, but I guess I should be used to it by now.
I preemptively hate Cubs fans for becoming insufferable when they do eventually win a WS. Also, while I can find some amount of sympathy for their fans, I have no sympathy for their front office, who is sitting on a revenue goldmine and ought to be contenders every year. Since 2004, they've had a payroll of at least $87M every year and have a payroll of $118M this year.
Poll question: Where the heck is "all of the above"?
Asking us to pick just one is like asking us to pick which of these ladies you would choose to be married to. a) Rosanne Barr b) Rosie O Donnell or c) Cindy Brucato
This is a pretty tough question. I hate the ChiSox because of the division rivalry but here in NY there are waaaaay too many loud mouth Yankees and BoSox fans. Yankees fans are actually starting to get a little bit better given the fact that they aren't peeling off championships at the clip that they once were.
I think I dislike the ChiSox team the most but NY and BoSox fans are the worst.
I'll take the ChiSox over NYY or Bos any time. At least they don't think they're God's gift to baseball in Chicago, only that they're a d@mn fine team.
Fair enough- you don't have to deal with too many ChiSox fans outside of Chicago. BoSox and Yankees are everywhere and the really like to tell you about it.
I also hate the way that BoSox and Yankees fans think that it is "cute" when you like a team like the Twins or the A's. That drives me batty. They treat you like you are some naive baseball fan who doesn't know any better.
Still, the division rival thing takes the cake for me.
I went with NYY for three reasons: they're the f#%$ing Yankees, recent f$#%ing playoff history, and that f$#%ing Gimabi GS game that I stayed up forever watching. Hate, hate, HATE the Yankees.
I remember that game, too. F'ing Mike Trombley.
I was watching that game at Howie G's in Plymouth, and was surprised to see it still going when I got back to my friend's place. That sucked donkey.
I will also be rooting for the White Sox if they make it instead of us, but not because I like the White Sox. I just would like to see Thome get a ring.
Well I finally saw the Dark Knight (in NYC, natch). I thought it was darkly and disturbingly brilliant. Kicked the crap out of Batman Begins. Heath Ledger was great of course and I thought the movie fit the mood perfectly of a country that is just plain tired of the Bush years. The theme of good and evil being both sides of the same coin can also be mined for some good drama.
I saw it last night as well (not in NYC). I thought it was very good as well, the thing that I think draws it to me, is the duality, no longer with the All-Good/All-Evil Guys... but with the struggles everybody makes of doing the right thing (or failing to).
Solid film, although I felt the story lost a step once Ledger was removed from the picture about 2/3 of the way through.
One too many climaxes for my taste, but the acting was out of this world. I pretty much loathe fairy tale good vs. evil stories (i.e. most everything by Disney) and it's fun to see complex human decisions explored, even in a comic book world.
Judd Zulgad: Vikes chance of getting Favre greater than zero.
For those of you wondering why I care: it's all about Favre wearing that purple jersey in Green Bay, WI. I want to see the Packer faithful booing their god.
It could be twice as good because the Vikings would find a way to f-it-up. In a perfect world, I would then hope the Packers would make the Playoffs over the Vikings anyway - even with Favre, sending the Purple Rubes straight into a suicide watch. Color me already tired of Jared Allen.
I've had this very same conversation. Yep, the Vikings get Favre... and he sucks. That would be pretty good, too. And I'm with you on Jared Allen.
I agree. I'm extraordinarily apathetic towards the Vikings, but I would probably be enticed to purchase a purple Brett Favre jersey just to wear it whenever I visit the wasteland to Minnesota's east.
Oh yeah, if Favre comes to town, I'm buying a purple #4, no doubt about it. And I don't buy many jerseys. In fact, I have only one with someone's name/number on it. But, a purple Favre jersey? I'm getting that.
I think that's worth buying, whether he comes to town or not.
I typically don't pay attention to the NFL until October, but I do have some optimism for the Vikings this year. As long as AP stays healthy, I'll be watching. But don't hold your breath over Favre or your face will end up a deeper shade of purple than a Viking's jersey.
Agreed...there is not enough poetic justice in the universe for such a thing to occur.
I have stop paying close attention to the Vikes for about 2 years now. I watch every one of thier games (preseason included) but to follow it closely through the newspapers and tv and blog like I do baseball drove me a bit batty. There is only 20 games (plus postseason) to get into, there is only so much disection that can go on.
Baseball and blogging were made for each other
I have a small confession to make: Last year, in an attempt to glean some schadenfruede from the White Sox having a worse season than the Twins, I began reading their blogs to see how deliciously miserable they were. The downside is that, in some tiny way, I began to empathize with them. The mass inferiority complex of White Sox fans is indeed hilarious, but it is also quite sad. I began to hate them less and less, and started seeing the Indians as the division rival I hated the most. Don't get me wrong, I still love beating the White Sox, but my vitriol is nowhere near as strong as it was from 2004-2006.
But I hate the Yankees and Red Sox (and the Cubs for that matter) on every level, and a few other levels that haven't been discovered yet. I think that rooting for any of these teams is a serious character flaw.
My daughter's godfather is a ChiSox fan, and he is very good about not gloating when they're dong well (and I try to reciprocate). We both agree that it's the duty of the AL Central team(s) to pwn the rest of the league, no matter who.
The White Sox aren't the rivalry I even want to have. I want to slug it out with the Oakland A's. That's the team I want to be rivals with. The ChiSox don't do it for me. I like Ozzie Guillen. I think that's the biggest thing. I like that goof ball.
I'm the same way. Ozzie might be one of my favorite people. He does such a great job with his act (and believe me, he is playing his character about as well as Sasha Baron Cohen pulls off Borat and Dan Whitney pulls off Larry the Cable Guy) and it's so humorous to see how he can people so worked up about nothing. Plus, it takes all of the pressure off his players by making him the center of the circus.
I've always liked Oakland and I'm pretty sure it always stems back to their white shoes. They're just so badass. However, I've also always liked beating Oakland because the 2 teams usually match up for some really intense games/series.
Exactly on the act. Just about every time they go in the tank, Ozzie does something outrageous and everybody falls for it. He's stupid like a fox.
See I kind of like the A's. I have a hard time rooting against any team with a payroll less that $70 million
My hatred for the A's has been tempered in the post-Giambi era, but it is deep-seated. As a Twins fan in the early 1970s, I put up with a lot of abuse from front runners who pulled for the Reggie-Fingers-Hunter et al. Charley Finley A's. In different circumstances, I might have liked that team (might). But, then, there was the Canseco Crew. Hated them dudes. It was a thrilling rivalry, though.
The A's Wikipedia page actually talks about their rivalry with the Twins which I found to be interesting....
I find it hard to hate the A's. I mean, they were the Royals before the Royals!
I don't think I hate the ChiSox as much as I did before Ozzie took over. Probably because of his man-crush of the Twins. It's really funny when his own fans and media criticize him for it. From 2002-2004, I couldn't stand the ChiSox because they would always tell everyone how much better they were than the Twins no matter how much better the Twins' record was.
Reasons to not hate the ChiSox: Ozzie, Thome. Reasons to hate the Sox: Kenny Williams, Pierzynski, Buerhle, Swisher.
The Bash Brothers A's were a great team to hate, but there's not much there to get worked up about now, especially with Swisher gone.
yeah, my dislike of the Sox goes back to the early part of the decade, when they would run thier mouth in the press about how great thier team was, even though the Twins always beat them on the field.
but Ozzie had tempered that dislike somewhat. I dont think he is the best manager out there (his bullpen management most days is puzzling) but his Goofball act has charmed me. And Hawk Harrelson's undying man-crush on the Twins, and it gets underneath the skins of Wox Sox fans...yeah thats entertaining too.
The Bash Brothers and the ever smirking Dave Henderson. And the impossibly arrogant Dennis Eckersley. And Tony LaRussa. And Rickey, before I figured out that he is just being Rickey. And Carney Lansford, who I hated. And Walt Weiss, who was guilty by association. And Dave Stewart, ditto. Man, I wonder why his voice didn't change when he hit puberty.
I was at possibly the greatest game in that rivalry (non-postseason) from a Twins perspective. Canseco had two home runs early, but the Twins scored two in the ninth off Eckersley to tie the game and win it in the 12th on an infield single by Hrbek. Good stuff.
Sorry, but I think the best Twins-A's game of that rivalry was played in Oakland. (WPA had the Twins with a 1% chance of winning after 7 innings as compared to a 9% chance at the worst moment of the game you attended).
I remember listening to the comeback in the car on the way back home from the Como Zoo. Boy, do I remember some ridiculously stupid stuff.
I was at that game, too, but I'm in agreement with Will. I was driving to see my brother, who was living in Aberdeen, SD at the time. When Harper hit that home run, I honked the horn for about a minute straight as I drove through the countryside. That night, my brother and I "decided" that the Twins were going to win the World Series.
That game has to be on the short list of greatest regular season Twins games, ever. Maybe this game in Milwaukee in 1987 when Kirby went 6-6 with 2HRs and 2 doubles and robbed Robin Yount of a grand slam (two runs scored on the play) was better. It also marked the last time the Twins weren't alone in first place that year. But, the Twins won handily as opposed to the give up 6HRs and win with a 7 run rally in the eighth game in 1991. I think smirking Dave Henderson hit three in that game.
wow, 50,000+ in attendence at that game.
That game in Oakland was great, but somehow rallying from two runs down in the ninth inning off Eckersley seems more dramatic than rallying from five down in the eighth off Joe Slusarski, Joe Klink, and Kevin Campbell. I guess this means we can blame LaRussa for Gardy's usage of Nathan.
I guess this means we can blame LaRussa for Gardy's usage of Nathan.
This is 100% correct.
It's not just rallying from 5 down. It's winning a game in which you allowed SIX homeruns. Check out that Hrbek walk in the 8th. He coaxed an 11-pitch walk after fouling off a bunt attempt early in the plate appearance.
And it was on the road in front of a packed house.
From the reasons to dislike the ChiSox, I really like AJ. I think teams really need to have a grade-A prick around sometimes to keep everyone focused. No one really has that edge with the Twins anymore and sometimes they can get a little intimidated (look at their record in the Bronx, the playoffs post-AJ, etc.). Also, I like Swisher from his time with the A's. There's something about seeing Jack Black playing baseball that always makes me enjoy it.
On the other hand, don't get me started on Burley.
Hey Stick, don't forget Eric Fox! I also despised Carney Lansford's mustache. Oh, and Bob Welch's undeserved Cy Young (count the winzzzz!!!!one!!!!eleventy11!!!!1!!).
I agree that you need someone to stir the pot now and then. The '87 Twins had Gladden and Blyleven. The '91 Twins had Gladden and Morris. Funny that all three are Twins "color" commentators. They certainly were colorful characters in their playing days.
You know you can email him at ozzieguillen13@hotmail.com he reads them... and sometimes he replies...
I have to say that there is not hatred toward the Chi-Sox as much as towards the Yankees. Especially after moving to Chicago, and seeing how even when they won the WS in 05 they were still the second team in town.
BTW, if you think that the White Sox fans have a complex, you don't know much about Cleveland sports. Their teams either (a) have no shot or (b) come tantalizingly close, but then rip their fans' hearts out. I had lunch with a Cleveland native yesterday who was talking about His Indians. Not a pretty picture.
As opposed to Buffalo?
No as opposed to Chicago. Call it the curse of Lake Erie. I think things are worse in Cleveland though. Buffalo may have lost for 4 SBs, but the Browns have never been there. And they lost two AFC Championships in just about the worst ways possible. Then, the team leaves town and wins a SB in Baltimore. The Cavs had their franchise destroyed by Michael Jordan. Yep, Bron-Bron has made them something now (they gave the C's their best run), but there's a lot of nervousness about a potential bolt to NY in two years. The Indians haven't won the WS since 1948. They had a record number of wins in 1954 but were swept in the World Series. They gave the Braves their only World Series title of the 90s (after the Indians went 100-44 in a strike shortened season. 100 wins in 144 games and they didn't finish!). They lost another World Series when Jose Mesa blew a save in the ninth inning of game seven. They were up 3-1 against the Red Sox before collapsing last year. Plus, they had about 30 years of general non-competitiveness in there between the 50s and the 90s.
Yes, but the Indians did have that one magical year when the owner was trying to get out of the lease, but the team said "screw that" and made the playoffs anyway. Rickie "Wild Thing" Vaughn was amazing as was Willie Mays Hayes. .... Oh, wait a minute ... never mind.
Even that sucks. The movie was filmed in Milwaukee.
Filmed in Milwaukee? There goes another piece of my childhood.
As a lifelong Browns fan I have to agree with you, SBG. There's a real masochistic dynamic to being a Cleveland fan. My hatred of John Elway is roughly equal to The Dread Pirate's hatred of the Red Sox, and right on par with my hatred of Art Modell. Even a mere mention of 'The Drive' is enough to raise my blood pressure to dangerous levels. And don't even talk about the 1980 Vikings game and Rashad's Hail Mary one-handed-behind-the back catch. I lost 80 buck on that game. Prevent defense, my ass. It sure as hell prevented me from eating a decent meal the rest of that week.
Where's Ernest Byner on your list?
The ultimate has to be Modell holding the trophy in Baltimore. I would not have been able to take that.
EB broke my heart, but eventually it became more a matter of feeling bad for him than feeling angry at him. And he did score two 2nd half TD's in that game and had close to 200 total yards. Without him (and Kosar) the Browns aren't even in that game at the end. And it's not like he just dropped the ball, it was stripped away. Plus, there was still more than a minute in the game, and if the Browns score they would have just gone to the prevent defense and it would have set up The Drive, Part II. It's too bad when a guy has a great career but his legacy comes down to one mistake. Just ask Bill Buckner.
I really wish today was a day game. I have nothing to do at work.
JoePos definitely agrees.
One of my clients made the STRIB today: Link
Whoops.
Wanted for questioning:
I wonder if this had anything to do with the flooding? I'm not much of a train man, but it seems possible that the bridge had been weakened during the flooding.
Bridges don't really "weaken" as such. Chances are, the rail and/or ties near the bridge was the culprit, due to shifted ballast (flood related, maybe) or other issues near the bridge abutment.
other issues near the bridge abutment
I was going more for lots of heavy crap getting washed up against the pilings line of thought.
I can think of one bridge about a mile or so from where I'm sitting that weakened about a year ago.
That's why I said, "Bridges don't really "weaknen" as such."
In general, RR bridges are much better maintained (or inspected, at least) than road bridges. They are owned by the RR, and inspections are required on a regular basis based on traffic and tonnage handled. Road bridges are a safety issue; RR bridges are a safety and commerce issue. That said, not all inspectors are created equal.
I think I should demand equal time for trunking & barge accidents
something like this, mebbe?
that's not a barge, that's a freighter. But right idea.
I wonder what the conductor was Smokin' in the Boy's Room at the Brownsville Station.
+nothing. Smoking ain't allowed in school.
Did any one notice thatMatt Garza pitched a CGSHO last night
I caught that last night on BBTN. He was throwing the nasty. But I have never in my life seen a baseball player spit as much as Garza. Even guys that chew don't spit that much.
Using four more pitches with one more strikeout and one fewer hit than Slowey.
FYI VORP Stats for new Twins and 07 Twins on other teams. Its pretty amazing that they've gone from a below .500 team to a 12 games over .500 team given the additions/subtractions from last year. Some really big step ups happening from guys within the organization (Baker, Slowey, Blackburn, Perkins, Casilla, Span, Kubel, Morneau, Mauer)
old guys
Santana 37.2
Hunter 25.8
Garza 22.4
Castillo 7.0
Bartlett -.5
Silva -9.7
Total: 82.2
new guys
Delmon 7.4
Breslow 6.9
Harris 2.8
Monroe -2.2
Everett -3.4
Gomez -3.5
Livan -3.8
Lamb -12.4
Total: -8.2
Not exactly a glowing review for Bill Smith's first year. Obviously letting Silva go looks smart, but not much else looks good. Yes, I realize, he didn't trade Castillo for spare parts, that was his predecessor.
Some of that old guy VORP is pretty pricey, but the Garza for DellMON swap looks less than optimal.
My half-full glass still says Delmon is 22. And my glass is filled with brandy.
yeah, Torii and Johan make a pretty penny, but Bill Smith is spending around $20 million for negative VORP this year on the 8 guys he brought in. That and he's also about $20 million under "supposed budget based on 2007 attendance". I in no way endorse the contract that the Angels give Hunter and I firmly believe they will be regretting it the last few years of its life (although with their payroll its just a drop in the bucket) but I still felt we needed to find away to lock Johan up long term.
Other random thoughts
1. I liked the Delmon/Garza deal at the time, not necessarily because what we received, but because the organization finally went out and traded one of its precious arms (of which we had a surplus) for a decent bat (of which, we were lacking) I just wish it would have been a position of need (3B, SS, CF-Josh Hamilton was probably available for Garza?) rather than a position we all ready had decent production at (corner OF-Cuddyer, Kubel)
2. I'm not giving up on Bill Smith yet, he just has had a bad year. It happens. It took Terry Ryan a few years to get rolling as well. And I do like locking up Morneau and Nathan long term. It gives the franchise some nice stability and both players have had outstanding 2008s
3. As I sit and look at the decent attendance numbers the last few series I don't have the optimism that I had in the past of "well, if we continue to draw well, that means next year's payroll will be high". Has Smith or the Twins ever come out and said why they paid so much attention to budget in 2007 (dumping Castillo and Cerillo for crap just to save 2-3 million) not caring about how it effected both team and fan morale while not caring at all that they are $20M under budget here in 2008?
4. When all is said and done, I can't help but wonder what this season/future would be like with Johan in the rotation (instead of Livan) in a contract year for 13.5 million and us getting 2 high picks in the next draft when we lose him as a free agent compared on the haul from the Mets (its obviously way too early to pass judgement, but the 4 guys have definitely not wowed us with their productivity this year).
Oh well, Tice is telling me to just ENJOY THE SEASON!!!
Twins GMs (and Gardy) have to get over their aging, marginally useful veteran fetish. Lamb, Livan, Everett, Monroe, and that's just this year. Before that it was Rondell, Batista, Boone, Sierra, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Learn to trust the young, home grown talent or pony up the cash/players and get a veteran with legit talent. Used merchandise that you find in the bargain bin is seldom a bargain.
We can't find room in the rotation for Liriano, so I don't see how trading Garza hurt us all that much. We might not have signed Livan, but somehow I think the Twins' fear of a totally youthful rotation would have still gotten the best of them.
Apparently Sheenie is having lunch at the table next to Jermaine Dye.
I just got my new laptop over lunch. I ran home real quick to get it from the office at my apartment because there's a 50/50 chance they're closed when I get home. I can't wait to get off work and go play with it.
Did you get a Dell, mon?
Nyet. I got a Sager. They are the company I got my last laptop with almost 5 years ago. The same laptop that is still working just fine. They seem to make a good product, though you have to consider the SSS.
Woe to be a Mariners' fan
Jayson Stark rumor mongering:
What's wrong with Boof? I thought it was a good idea for him to go to the bullpen for awhile. I actually thought he could be effective there. And now he's a mop-up guy?
It's too bad the Twins can't send him down to AAA. They really can't afford to have him work through his troubles during a pennant race.
I think Boof will eventually bounce back.
The fact that you (and others) think he will bounce back means that he has some trade value. There's nothing wrong with trade value, and nothing wrong with Boof.
Will the Giants even talk to the Twins? That last big trade has to still leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth there.
more importantly, what bat do the Giants have that we would want?
Aurilia is hitting 278/333/422 in 300 PA, 294/375/518 in 96 PA against lefties.
Ok, that looks pretty nice against lefties. It's a bit better than his 281/340/493 career split against lefties, so one might expect that split to come back down some. And he has hit only 234/269/375 in July.
and he's 36 and coming off a season in which he played only 99 games. Used in a platoon at 3b with Buscher, he could be useful (can he still defend adequately at 3b? he's played 2/3 of his innings at 1b this year).
another thought is 36-year old Scott McClain, hitting 306/390/563 with 22 HRs at Fresno. It's not as though anyone is blocking him on the big club, so I don't know why they haven't brought him up for one last swing at the bigs. Surely he could be had for cheap? Maybe he could be our very own right-handed Jack Cust for a couple months?
Aurilia sucks. I wouldn't trade a warm bucket of spit for him--the opportunity cost of him clogging up a roster spot makes it a losing proposition to have him on at any cost.
Used in a platoon at 3b with Buscher, he could be useful (can he still defend adequately at 3b? he's played 2/3 of his innings at 1b this year).
Just put Everett in at SS and move Harris into the platoon with Buscher--3B platoon/utility IF is where Harris belongs anyway. Harris can move to SS if you need to pinch hit for Everett in a key spot.
If Rich Aurilia is the right answer, you are asking the wrong question.
well, I can get behind moving Harris to 3b, but where's the evidence on Aurilia sucking? I mean, I'm amenable -- that was my expectation when I went to look at his numbers. But his offensive numbers against lefties are pretty good, both this year and for his career.
I'm not advocating, mind you. Just responding to the rumor.
Projected splits according to PECOTA:
.279/.346/.444 -- Aurilia vs. LHP
.278/.343/.426 -- Harris vs. LHP
So, saying that Aurilia sucks might be an overstatement, but I have often said that Harris has the same value as Punto, and we all know the consensus opinion on Punto.
Aurilia? What for? So Morneau can DH more often? So we can make Lamb a full-time bullpen catcher?
If the season ended today would Morneau be able to upset Hamilton for the 2nd time in a month and get the MVP? Sure heroinboy has that imposing RBI number, but Morneau is 3rd in WARP2 (Hamilton 18th) and Morneau has a better OPS+ as well (149-139) and is playing for a better team. And Hamilton has 2 other MVP candidates on his own team who would possibly steal votes. It looks to me like a 7 horse race going down the stretch (Hamitlon, Morneau, Arod, Kinsler, Bradley, Dye, Sizemore)
Morneau'd be in better standing if he was MVP of a playoff-bound team and not a 2nd place team in the AL Central and Wild Card race.
Give it a couple days.
In looking at WPA, which may or may not be a good measure of how "valuable" a player has been, Morneau is #2 at 3.95, behind Manny Ramirez (!) at 3.99. Since Manny's slacker reputation will most likely preclude him from winning, that seems to point in Justin's favor. Rest of the top 5:
3. Hamilton (3.76)
4. Quentin (2.85) - I think you left him off the list, since a player leading the league in HR would get some strong consideration for a possible division champ.
5. Joe Mauer (2.84) - He will be behind Morneau as well.
I think Bradley is probably off your list, but Quentin is probably on. And if nobody looks really strong, someone like K-Rod or Rivera might get some support.
And with regards to pitchers, Cliff Lee leads all pitchers, with Joe Nathan 2nd in WPA (followed by Rivera, K-Rod, and Halladay). Joe Nathan is quite good at baseball.
I'm on board the 'Morneau for MVP' bandwagon
Call me crazy, but I think Joe Mauer has been the MVP of the 2008 Twins. Of course, I also thought he was the MVP of the 2006 Twins.
I think that was a lot easier argument to make in 2006. Frankly I don't see it this year. Joe's been awesome, but Justin's been better.
I agree with both points.
(with Nate Tubbs)
Except that Joe's racked up over 32 VORP at a position where no one else in the AL has more than 15.2. Just like 2006, Justin's production looks better when you just compare them against each other, but when you take position into account, there's little question in my mind that Joe Mauer was the team's MVP in 2006 and he's been the team's MVP in 2008.
Try selling that to a member of the BBWAA.
Yeah, I know. I thought Justin was really only the third-most-valuable-player on his own team in 2006, but that kind of nuanced thinking escapes most of the guys who actually decide on that stuff.
Murray Chass is buying that now that he's a blogger, but who else?
Maybe they could be Co-MVPs. Justin has all the great power numbers for a team even more devoid of power than 2006, but Joe has been hitting great against lefties and righties and is a great defensive catcher as well as he is handling a very young and surprisingly effective pitching staff. Justin also seems to come up with the big hits at the biggest times. I still can't believe the Indians pitched to him in the ninth inning Sunday.
I'm with you, Will. Morneau has the second-worst RZR at 1B in the AL this year. He has no range on batted balls, even if he does make the scoops at first (which basically everyone else does anyway.) Morneau has a less than 10-run advantage on Mauer in VORP, but the defensive gap is bigger.
At any rate, neither of those guys is the AL MVP so far. That would be Grady Sizemore. Plus glove at a premium defensive position, and he leads the AL in VORP.
No way in Hell Sizemore wins, though. His team is in (or near) last place! No way that flies.
yea, it's not like he plays in Wrigley.
Tigers trade Pudge to Yanks for Farnsworth. Discuss.
Does Pudge have anything left in the tank?
Forget the Tigers and the Yanks -- how does this trade affect The Dugout?
I can see the point from each side, but I think it could easily backfire. Inge probably can replace Pudge behind the place ok, but they lose their depth by taking away his versatility at other positions. And the Yankees bullpen has been rock solid but many of their players appear to be pitching over their heads (admittedly, I don't know a lot about many of them).
Is anyone else having Server issues this afternoon?
From Mensa member Evan on the STRIB Blogs upon hearing Casilla is done for the season:
Evan says:
July 30th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Bill Smith continues to sit on his fat ass and do nothing.
Pathetic.
I was reading through the comments just a few minutes ago (hey, I'm bored and it's a self-esteem booster). For some reason the trade deadline seems to really raise the angst and lower the collective IQ of many fans. Maybe it's magnified some this year because we're right on the heels of the Sox and in the middle of a key series with them. I've been keeping a close eye on trades and rumors this week, and the bottom line is there's not much out there left in terms of impact. There are still opportunities for marginal improvement and adding a littled depth, but you can do that with waiver claims just as easily and usually more economically.
I don't believe that a trade deadline IQ effect exists
/jeremy-iad
Button pusher.
If momentum is tonight's starting pitcher, then the Twins are in good shape.
p = m x v,
and there's a lot of m on those bones of Livan.
But, not much velocity.
Playing College Fantasy Football sounds creepy, but the Supreme Court says you can use real names instead of generic names while playing Fantasy Football
I wonder if this will effect the college football games for the XBOX, PS2, ect
I'm not sure, but I think the lack of player names in NCAA video games has less to do with the public domain question that the SC refused to consider in that case, and something more to do with licensing the player names themselves...I'll have to look into it a little more.
OK, I think I understand this a little more. When sports video games get their licenses to represent whatever sport, league, etc. they also have to get a license from the players' association of that sport, to be able to represent the actual players names. This means they pay a compensation fee to the association for the license. Since there is no player's association in NCAA sports, and the rules (technically) prohibit players receiving any compensation (yeah, I know...), they can't license their names. This is different from the status of player names and statistics themselves being part of the public domain and able to be used in fantasy sports, since there would be no licensing fee paid in that case.
This, by the way, is also why there are no MLB video games that have actual representations of Kevin Millar, Rick Reed, Damian Miller, Brendan Donnelly, Ron Mahay, Cory Lidle, Brian Daubach, and so on, because the 1995 scabs are not allowed in the MLB player's union, and therefore can't license their names. Barry Bonds isn't in any games either because he doesn't allow his likeness to be licensed. Most games create "fake" versions of these guys and then allow you to edit their names in, just like the college games do.
ahhh, yes I forgot about that
I knew about the MLB dude. Barry Bonds = Jon Dowd on MVP 05
thanks for clarifing
Technically, Bonds does allow his name to be licensed, but just not through the players' association.
Please tell me this leads to a suspension or fine for Giambi.
Of course, I understand his anger. How dare they try to position their fielders to limit the possibility he gets a hit!
That ol' Yankee mystique. Giambi is bush league.
hahaha
I think thats pretty funny
Stay classy, Jason.
I think he was just demonstrating how big his mustache is.
or how little his...thong is.
but I'm with dw, I thought it was pretty funny.
You'll note that when I was talking about the A's and my diminished hate for them, I was talking about the post-Giambi A's.
late nite reading: LEN3 with some juicy trade tidbits
It would be awesome for the Rays to take Monroe
My UCLA prof/Dogger fan buddy points out: the Angels and A's (and TB Rays and Yanquis) are tied or within a game of each other in first-order Pythagorean expectations (59-48 or 58-49, in the case of the Rays). But in the real standings, not so much. The A's are under .500, Angels (well) over .600.
The Twins should be trailing Detroit for 2nd in the division by Pythagoras. What does he know?!