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Cup of Coffee: July 2, 2009

An off day? Boo!

This entry was posted by SBG on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 am and is filed under Cup of Coffee. It is one of 3086 entries by the author. We are no longer accepting Letters to the Editor on this post.

67 comments to Cup of Coffee: July 2, 2009

  • SBG
    July 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 am

    Marian Gaborik signs with the New York Rangers.

    • cheaptoy
      July 2nd, 2009 at 6:26 am

      They must have a groin specialist on staff.

    • Beau
      July 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 am

      I'll miss watching him blaze past defenders, grab a drop pass, and skip it through the five-hole. I won't miss him being injured 75% of the time

    • DK
      July 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm

      I see you guys talked about Gabby this morning but didn't mention who the Wild did sign. I think he's at least as good an all-around player as Gaborik, with about the same amount of injury risk.

      • davidwatts
        July 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 pm

        sounds like the Wild are going after Saku Koivu too

        • DK
          July 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 pm

          Russo's reports don't make signing Saku sound likely, though. Saku's the best center still on the market by a fair stretch, and reading between the lines it sounds like the Wild's deals to both Havlat and the d-man Zanon were both lower than offers those guys had from other teams. That, to me, makes it sound like Saku's got a better offer(s) from somebody else too, and so it remains to be seen if playing with his brother is worth making less money and/or getting fewer years.

      • SBG
        July 3rd, 2009 at 6:58 am

        I'm no hockey guy and have never heard of Havlat. But, that's what I've heard. I felt it was important enough to mention, though, that the first draft pick of the organization and the last original member of the Wild was now gone. If you put yesterday as the end of his career with the Wild, he outlasted the original owners, GM, and coach.

        He was easily the best player this club has had. And yet, Marian Gaborik was half a loaf. Yes, he was a brilliant skater and he could score, but all the injuries and the sniping with the front office/LeMaire took a lot of sheen off of his star here. If Havlat is all that, Gaborik will be Earl Battey'd, and quickly.

  • Jeff A
    July 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 am

    Thursday's birthdays:

    Grover Hartley (1888)
    Hal Wagner (1915)
    Chuck Stobbs (1929)
    Jim Hughes (1951)
    Tony Armas (1953)
    Jose Canseco (1964)
    Sean Casey (1974)

  • Jeff A
    July 2nd, 2009 at 7:08 am

    R.I.P. John Henry Moss, founder and former president of the South Atlantic League. Link.

  • yickit
    July 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 am

    Hahaha. LVN Smacks down sid. From LVN3's latest:

    sid says:

    July 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 am

    Bill Brasky,
    “If I asked for the day off every time I went to work not feeling 100% I wouldn’t have a job.”

    It’s harder to play professional baseball when feeling less than 100%, than it is to do your job.

    A troop of chimpanzees at less than 100% are over-qualified to do your job.

    La Velle says:

    July 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 am

    Easy Sid!

    sid says:

    July 2nd, 2009 at 12:42 am

    Sorry, LaVelle.

    The personal shot was regrettably my mistake;
    BUT
    Citizens who compare the physical demands of their jobs to the physical demands of pro sports are naive beyond belief.

    Oh and the Twins wanted E. Hinske from Pitt for Ayala. Hinske+the dude on the same team=end of time.

    • Jobu
      July 2nd, 2009 at 8:50 am

      i wasn't in the log yesterday, so i don't know if this was discussed, but i agree with LEN3 in that that was a dirty ass slide. i'm surprised a bigger deal wasn't made about that.

    • SBG
      July 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am

      How cool is it to be so and so, the third? My cousin is a Jr., named after my uncle. If he ever has a son, he NEEDS to name him MAH III. I only know one guy who is a "III". That's just cool. (By the way, his son is IV and I knew all four of them.)

  • meat
    July 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 am

    I'm a man of means by no means

    My first day without a job in 10 years, crazy. I slept like a baby.

    • spookymilk
      July 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 am

      A lot of the barnstorming teams then were just gimmicked to give the perception of something, in place of actually being the thing. I wonder if the KKK team was really the KKK at all. But even if not, what a weird choice.

      I think the most disarming thing is the casual way the writer talks about the upcoming game. "Both teams are fine ballclubs" takes the place of "Don't go to this game; there is a decent chance there will be bloodshed."

    • Moss
      July 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 pm

      There was some info at the Negro Leagues Museum on a matchup between the KKK and some Negro Leagues all-stars or barnstormers. The pregame writeup even went so far as to nominate umpires so that a "fair" contest would be ensured.

      The Negro Leagues Museum was worth a visit, if anyone is making a trip to K.C. anytime. It's easy to find and only takes 1-2 hours.

  • Moss
    July 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 am

    Intrepid reporter Moss here. Moss and family scored some near press-level seats to the getaway game in K.C. yesterday (face value: only $34!) and got an exclusive injury update on Morneau from the Skip himself.

    This happened right after Buscher went to the field in place of Morneau. This would have been breaking news, exclusive to the WGOM, but of course Moss couldn't get it uploaded that fast. Now the news is everywhere.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go-9Ob7aqBs

    At first, it seems Gardy is telling Moss to "suck it," but he then audibly verifies that he is pointing to his groin, indicating a groin injury to Morneau.

    Man, outdoor baseball is great!! Kaufmann was a wonderful place for an afternoon game. Moss has some pictures to post, if Moss can ever figure out how to do such things. Also, the home plate ump was kind enough to toss Moss a couple game-used balls during the inning breaks. One is for Moss Jr., the other Moss gave to a young KC fan...didn't want to be greedy.

    A good time was had by all! Were any other Citizens down there??

  • greenmachine
    July 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 am

    Top Jimmy admits fault ???!?!?!

    http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/49651492.html?page=2&c=y

    "Remember a few years ago, when Torii Hunter, a few Twins coaches and some jerk of a local columnist questioned the durability of Mauer and Morneau? Now the M&M Boys seem to be competing with each other for innings played."

    • SBG
      July 2nd, 2009 at 10:32 am

      So, in other words, Souhan is an idiot who can't think for himself, Torii is loud mouth and not much of a team leader who should have just kept quiet, and Rick Stelmaszek's characterization of Mauer as being "coddled" was so far out of line that he should have been given a month off to think about whether it's a good idea to criticize The Franchise publicly.

      If only I had said as much back then.

  • freealonzo
    July 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am

    Not sure if this was discussed yesterday but Twins were close to having both Hinske and Kubel! From LENIII:

    The Twins have released reliever Luis Ayala after failing to work out a deal. There was legitimate interest from Pittsburgh, and there are indications that Eric Hinske’s name came up in the discussions. But once Hinskie was dealt to the Yankees, trade talks with the Pirates were dead.

  • SBG
    July 2nd, 2009 at 12:30 pm

    It's Venus v. Serena for the Wimbledon title. I think Venus will win it.

  • SBG
    July 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Back in my previous life, I would borrow a buck or two from a friend of mine at work if I didn't have change for a can of pop. I'd write him an IOU so that I wouldn't forget to repay. He thought that was hilarious and kept them on his desk for his own amusement. It seems that the Golden State is gonna use my old trick.

    • brianS
      July 2nd, 2009 at 1:59 pm

      I look forward to paying my mortgage and buying groceries with state scrip.

      • twayn
        July 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm

        I don't know what's worse, having employment in a government job that doesn't pay you or not having a job and getting paid unemployment by the government.

        • brianS
          July 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm

          definitely the latter. I still get benefits, after all.

          and to be clear, I'm just whining. Things are tough all over California these days. Unemployment is way up, housing values have plummeted (which is partly responsible for the huge drop in state revenues). Lots of people in the private sector are way, way, worse off than are state workers. And lots of people in local government are way, way, worse off. My county is expecting to furlough its workers for 80-96 hours per month.

          • brianS
            July 2nd, 2009 at 3:11 pm

            but that doesn't mean I'm gonna vote for Meg Whitman.

            the comment section here is a treasure trove as well:

            elkieonly wrote on 07/02/2009 09:37:06 AM:

            Hello Meg!! quit protectin your big pay buddies. cut 17,000 jobs from top management and leave the little guy alone. Get rid of the college Deans that are making $1M plus, and their secretaries and assistants that are making over $100K. The waste is the top management that does nothing but sit on their butts and figure out how to spend more money.

            I and nearly every academic I know would LOVE to have one of those "$1M plus" dean jobs. What schools are those at again?

  • SBG
    July 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Shooter: Rubio to stay in Spain for two more years.

    I think this means we'll see him sign with the Wolves any day now.

    • ubelmann
      July 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 pm

      I thought that the take at Canis Hoopus the other day that the Wolves have more leverage in that situation was pretty accurate. Ultimately if Rubio (and his agent) want to get paid, they will want to get his NBA career started as soon as possible. That's where the endorsements are and (provided that he is as good as he thinks he is) he can't make close to as much in Europe as he can with an NBA free agent deal.

      • Moss
        July 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm

        And it's not like he can make up time/$$ "on the back end." He's got to strike while the iron is hot, and get his career underway.

        • SBG
          July 2nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm

          It's a sticky deal with that club. They are in financial straits and would love to get that buyout. If he plays his contract out, they don't get squat. So, they don't have much leverage over Rickey. And the Wolves have said, "Hey, we'll be patient!" So Rubio doesn't have much leverage over the Wolves. I think the Wolves are in a strong position. My long Wolves nightmare appears to be coming to an end.

          • Moss
            July 2nd, 2009 at 3:43 pm

            Until Ty Lawson becomes a phenom...

            • SBG
              July 2nd, 2009 at 3:46 pm

              Oh yeah, there's that. I'm already on record since that trade as saying he's a future NBA All-Star.

              • Moss
                July 2nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm

                All signs point to "yes"

              • ubelmann
                July 2nd, 2009 at 7:05 pm

                Why did Lawson drop so far? I'm not saying that all the clubs who passed on him have smart execs, but I'm not sure what people were worried about with him. With Brandon Roy, for instance, I feel like people were worried that he didn't do any one particular thing very well, that he was "just" good and well-rounded and that allowed him to drop to the Wolves/Blazers.

  • seels58
    July 2nd, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    Today in Pitt Garret Jones 2B 3B HR plus two really bad throws from LF

  • Jeff A
    July 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    An article on Twins' prospect Aaron Hicks.

    • davidwatts
      July 2nd, 2009 at 7:11 pm

      “I wanted to get up here right away and get going,” Aaron Hicks said. “I’ve had nothing but good relationships with the Twins organization. They make you want to develop, make you better, push you. They always tell me there’s room for improvement.”

      sounds like he has the 'Twins Way' tm down pat

      • socaltwinsfan
        July 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 am

        Well, a smart agent will be in his ear reminding him that's the fastest way to the big leagues in this organization. That and working on defense and putting the ball in play. Oh, and bunt, bunt, bunt!