SBG September 30, 2008, at 5:30 pm 326 LTEs - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired)Must Win
As JeffA said this morning: this is a must-win. It's a must-win if the Twins want to avoid elimination and advance to the playoffs. In terms of whether this is a successful season, though, this is not a must-win. The Twins have been successful this year. They were a 79-83 team last year and lost Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, and (thankfully) Carlos Silva in the off season. They traded away Luis Castillo at the deadline last year. This looked like a rebuilding year. Just imagine if you would have heard on Opening Day that Michael Cuddyer would miss pretty much the whole year and the same would be true for Pat Neshek. Imagine, too, that you knew that Mike Lamb would be a total flop and the Twins would end up eating his 2009 deal. Throw in that Adam Everett would be hurt pretty much all year and sucktastic when he played. Factor in that Delmon Young would play left field in roller skates and that he'd hit like a girl for the entire first half of the season. Factor in that Nick Punto would be the team's best answer (at least this year) at shortstop. Factor in that Liriano would be atrocious out of the gate and spend a large part of the season in the minors. How many wins do you think that this club would get? 70? 65? My answer would have been lower than the 75 that I figured on Opening Day.
Amazingly, this club found answers in Alexi Casilla and Denard Span. Mauer and Morneau had terrific seasons (Mauer is, in my opinion, the league MVP). The starting staff held together. The Twins seemed to bunt and run and get hits just at the right time. Meanwhile, the two favorites in the Division started slow and pretty much never recovered (although I'm wondering if Cleveland is regretting that CC deal just a little bit). And here we are. Win one more and we make the playoffs. Damn it, this club is one of my all-time favorite Twins clubs. They aren't quite in the Pantheon with the 1991, 1987, and 2006 clubs, but they are in the next cut of clubs. And who knows? Maybe they'll do something crazy like win the Pennant. Or the World Series. Or maybe the season ends tonight. However it goes down, it's been a great ride.
I'm hoping for a win to extract some revenge from Mr. Danks. I watched the Twins kill him in the first week of the season and it inspired me to put him on the Hacking Mass team. He promptly killed my team. Bastard. I'd like a repeat of that April game tonight. And also a little smoke and mirrors from Mr. Blackburn. A batting title for Mauer, an RBI title for Morneau, a Division title for the Twins. Is that too much to ask? Didn't think so.
Tonight, I ask one thing of you. If things don't go well, remember that this has been a great year before you start ragging on the guys. If they win, let's go crazy. But, if they lose, don't go crazy. This has been too good of a year.
I took the second bus instead of the first one, allowing me to sleep until 5:30. On the way to the bus station, I heard Corey Cove on KFAN state that he wanted the White Sox to win because of the drama. Everyone is entitled to their opinion (even that dumbass), but I'm all for another day off before riding into Tampa Bay to face the Twins South in game one of the ALDS.
I don't find the Tigers club to be especially likable. Miguel Cabrera seems to be somewhat of a malingerer, but he did lead the AL in homeruns and Gary Sheffield is flat out crazy, but he's also sitting on 499 career HRs. Mags has the double hex of playing for the ChiSox and the Tigs, be he had another solid season. There's some talent on this club, they are just too good to be in last place. But, if they lose today, that's where they end up.
Chicago has all the advantages. They are hungry, playing at home, and they aren't trotting out some guy who's been hurt pretty much all year. The game has to be played though. Let's hope for the best -- a Detroit win and an AL Central Title for the Hometown Nine.
I hate the term "must-win game." It is effectively synonymous with "important game" and sometimes with "game with good team playing bad team." Every year, championship teams lose plenty of games in August and even September that are billed as "must-win" games. When you do become a championship team, fans tend to remember the important wins and selectively forget about the bad losses along the way--the ones that seemed to portend certain doom at the time.
So you can imagine that I've shaken my head a number of times when the Twins have reportedly gone into "must-win" games, when even today, on the last day of the season, they don't need to win to make the playoffs. Obviously, winning today's game is a better outcome than losing today's game, but even if that happens, the Twins can't be eliminated until tomorrow at the earliest.
The Twins have played 161 games so far, and the 162nd game isn't going to drastically change my opinion of their talent. For that matter, the last two months of games hasn't drastically changed my opinion of the team. They've shown that they can win more often than they can lose, and that sort of team has at least a puncher's chance at a WS title if they can make the playoffs (see, for example: Cardinals, 2006.)
So at this point, I'm not here to judge the team--I'm here for the thrill ride. I just finished reading Joe Posnanski's The Soul Of Baseball (purchased for just $5.99 at Amazon), which I absolutely loved, and Buck O'Neil said one thing in particular that really stood out to me:
Funny.
That's what I remember most,
Stories.
Don't remember the games much.
Don't remember names much.
Don't remember the bad times.
I forget who won and lost most of the time.
Stories.
Silly stories.
I remember those.
I think this is true of me as a fan, too. I can't tell you whether or not the Twins won the first game I ever went to see at the Metrodome. I can't even tell you how young I was. But I can tell you that Kirby Puckett hit a triple that day, which was about the most exciting thing I could imagine at the time. I don't remember what the score from Game 2 of the 2002 ALDS, but I can tell you the story of how the drunken asshole next to me was thrown out of the game not once, but twice. I was at one of the games for Cal Ripken, Jr.'s last series at the Metrodome. I remember that he hit a HR, but mainly I remember the awkward silence between me and my friend during the Kiss Cam and the fat-ass security guards taking forever to get a streaker off the field.
So I'm hoping for a win today, but ultimately I'm here because something incredible might happen. Maybe Carlos Gomez will steal home in the bottom of the 9th to win the game. Maybe Mauer will go 8-for-8 with 3 HR as the Twins win 12-11 in extra innings. Maybe Tony Pena, Jr. will hit a grand slam off of Joe Nathan with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Royals a one-run lead, and the Twins will see their playoff chances dwindle. It's not often that the last game of the season matters, but it matters today, and I can't pass up an opportunity like that.
As for today's matchup--the Royals have been hitting a little better in the second half than the first half, but still worse than league average. And the Royals have been pitching about the same in the second half as in the first half. According to BP's current adjusted standings, the Royals are about a 76-win team and the Twins are about an 81-win team. According to the actual standings, the Royals are a 75-win team and the Twins are an 86-win team. Either way, I can't tell you that there's a huge difference between a team that wins 47% of the time and a team that wins 53% of the time. As Doug Mientkiewicz once said after a loss to the then-pathetic Detroit Tigers, this isn't college football. The underdog actually wins quite often.
The Royals are a worthy foe and although Baker's a better pitcher than Duckworth, over a single game, the difference in average performance between the two (~1.5 runs per 9 innings) is completely swamped by the variance in game-to-game performance. The Twins have the edge, but we could see pretty much anything happen.
SBG September 27, 2008, at 2:00 pm 336 LTEs - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired)
Just as I feared, the Twins were not ready to get back on the wagon after hard three game set of partying over the White Sox. I suppose it's pretty hard to stay up all the time, especially given the extreme high that was Thursday night. So one run and the bats largely silent (Mauer with two hits, though, OF COURSE). I get that. But, Liriano coming out and laying an egg? It's hard not to be disappointed with that.
Fortunately, the White Sox were reeling, too, losing a shootout against the Indians. So, the Twins are actually in a little better shape than they were a day ago. They now have a half game lead with two to play, instead of three. So, it could have been worse.
Today, though, the Twins are going with a much lesser arm than Liriano. Glen Perkins (146 IP, 5.10 xFIP) has been the Twins worst starting pitcher this year. He's facing Gil Meche (204.2 IP, 4.13 xFIP), who seemed like a disaster waiting to happen when the Royals signed him to a massive contract before last season. Instead, he's been a pretty good pitcher for the Royals. Seattle would have been much more well advised to break the bank for him than, say, Carlos Silva. And, actually, Silva's 4.79 xFIP, while not particularly pretty, is better than Perkins's.
This is all well and good, but we are well into S3T (small sample size theater). We don't need Perkins to pitch well for six months. We need him to pitch well today. A few hits from number 33 wouldn't hurt, either. C'mon boys, don't spit out the bit now.
I'm going to crib the pitching matchup directly from the Hardball Times article about the upcoming weekend in the AL Central.
Since returning from Triple-A, Liriano has been dominant, with a 2.05 ERA while limiting the opposition to a line of .211/.270/.352. With a strikeout rate of 8.1 K/9, he’s not the same power pitcher he was before his surgery. According to PITCHf/x data, his average fastball has lost about 4 mph this season.
Davies averages about 93 pitches per start, and a walk rate of 3.5 BB/9 means he rarely goes deep into games. He’s pitched into the seventh inning just four times all year and averages just over five innings per start. That puts the Royals bullpen into play. After a horrible August, the Kansas City bullpen is finishing strong with a 3.67 ERA over the last 68 innings.
The best possible result is to have the Twins tee off on Davies, and have Liriano pitch about seven or eight innings, giving the better relievers a night off. It has been a tough couple of nights on the bullpen and they need a rest.
Oh Boy. This game feels like breakfast at Dennys on a Saturday morning after a huge bender the night before. I would have to believe that the Twins are spent after that Chicago series, but they cannot afford a let down. My advice? How about a little hair of the dog. Any good party animal knows that Saturday Morning at Dennys is just an interlude before the best part of the weekend. Don't stop boys, the party's just begun.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is the biggest game to date in the 2008 Minnesota Twins season. On the one hand, it's pretty exciting for fans to have a showdown against the archrivals with the division lead on the line with fewer games left on the schedule than I have fingers on my left (or right, for that matter) hand. This game isn't the decider -- each team has another series (at least) left. But, this is big, Big, BIG, and our club has done what it had to do so far in this set -- win the first two. I think they need to win tonight, too, but hey, I thought this club was dead a week ago, so what do I know about it? On the other hand, if not for a craptastic month, the Twins'd have been popping champagne last night and nursing hangovers today (or at least the champagne would be on ice right now).
This season has been a lot different than 2006 for me, even if the result is starting to look eerily familiar. I don't get to participate as much as I'd like in the game logs and I don't even get to see as much of the games as I'd like. BabySBG's bedtime is 8:00, preceded by some time reading her favorite tomes. I put her to bed, which means at 8:00, I'm up in her bedroom, preparing her for her night's sleep. Luckily, she's evolved into a tremendous sleeper, so my work now takes about five minutes. I rock her, sing her a song and put her in her crib. She's not afraid to fall asleep on her own, but it wasn't always that way during the season. So, I'm catching more of the games now -- that is, when the wife doesn't object. If the Twins can win this thing, it would be the most satisfying division crown in the decade, save for that brilliant, crazy, wonderful season of two years ago. Oh, and no way does Hunter get that ball in the ninth inning last night. Gomez can't hit for shit, but man is he fast.
There's not a lot left to say except this: I asked ubelmann if he'd write the Sunday game log if the Twins are still in it then. He's agreed to do so, so here's to an ubelmann sighting on Sunday.
Mississippi Meltdown, Part Deux. In which Don Guillote tries to rally his monkey to save the day.
First pitch: 7:10 pm Central Time. That means that come about 7:00, it's time to strap on a pair of these bad boys and get busy wif it.
for the Pale Hose: Mark Huehrle Buehrle (4.10 xFIP, 116 tRA+, 1.32 WHIP, .426 SLGA, 131:47 K:BB)
for the home side: Nick Blackburn (4.51 xFIP, 98 tRA+, 1.35 WHIP, .440 SLGA, 91:34 K:BB)
Lefty Buehrle (Will Young's favorite pitcher) has put up yet another solid season. Hate him all you want, he's a damned fine pitcher and has been since coming up as a 21-year old in 2000. That's right. It's hard to believe, but he's been a thorn in our sides since he was barely legal. For his career, he's 10-6 with a 4.16 ERA, 10 HRs, 74:27 K:BB and 290/335/437 in 110+ innings in the Metrodome.
Continuing last night's theme, however, he's been eminently hittable on the road this year (326/356/500 with a ridiculous .353 BABIP, vs. a tidy 234/287/356 and .265 BABIP at home). He was terrible in August (5.86 ERA in 6 starts) but recovered to a very thrifty September (2.13 ERA in 4 starts).
Nick the Pirate King has been solidly above average at home this year (260/303/420, .275 BABIP), as opposed to something of a punching bag on the road (318/349/456, .335 BABIP), so we got that going for us. On the other hand, he could use a little pick-me-up, as he's really struggled in the second half (5.09 ERA, colored by an awful 7.58 in his last 4 starts, compared to 3.65 in the first half).
So, despite my bravado, this game skeers me. Buehrle is tough, albeit more vulnerable on the road. And he's a lefty, which puts the pressure on the M&M Boys and last night's hero, The Dude. Prolly we see Cuddyer somewhere in the lineup [update: no, according to LENIII; save him for that critical PH opportunity]. I'd sure, sure, sure like to see Cuddy justify my love tonight. Or maybe _elmon could croon some Young Americans for us. Whatever. Smash some, boys. Keep hope alive.
And despite all indications to the contrary above, I'm not going North of the Border. I'm recommending dinner at the Happy Gnome tonight, as they will be featuring actual, quality beer from upstate New York (Ommegang). Of course, you won't be there, because you'll be listening to/watching the game with us, so instead pull out an Ommegang Witte to celebrate the boys of summer and to pray for FTLT's beer-drinking soul.
And for the 7th inning stretch, break out the Rally Cap.
I'll be thinking pissy good thoughts, as I (a) pick up the Girl from hebrew school and (b) take the Boy to a freakin' college fair (uh, he's a freshman in high school Mrs. S!). So I won't actually be around to needle FTLT about his potables tonight.
SBG September 23, 2008, at 5:37 pm 417 LTEs - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired)
The only way that Chicago clinches the division in Metrodome is to sweep the series. That, of course, is just about the last in a series of goals that Twins fans have. The number one goal is to sweep the series and send Chicago away wondering if they'll fold their tent yet again. It all starts with tonight's game.
SBG September 21, 2008, at 11:02 am 98 LTEs - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired)Tampa Bay Rays
Mercifully, this is the last road game of the season. After this, the Twins have six at home against AL Central opponents Chicago and Kansas City. As bad as the Twins have been over the last month (9-18 since August 20), the Twins still have at least a fighter's chance to make the playoffs. Let's face it, Chicago isn't very good, either, or they'd have run away and hid over the last month.
But, good God, the Twins kind of have to win today, don't they? Worst case, the Twins end up 3 1/2 games out of this race after today, and absolutely need to sweep the White Sox. Best case, the Twins end up 1 1/2 games out and could maybe afford to lose one to the White Sox. Regardless, I think the Twins need three of the next four. There's no time like the present. Considering that several of the Rays might have hangovers after celebrating their first post season appearance ever (they clinched yesterday), they might send one of those curious lineups today. Then again, the Rays are battling to avoid facing the Angels in the first round, so they'd be well advised to keep the nose to the wheel.
Today, the Twins send out Fransisco Liriano, who got bombed last time out for his first bad outing since being recalled. Prior to that, he'd been pretty darned good. So, maybe today the F-Bomb can get back on course. Tampa Bay sends out Andy Sonnanstine. Let's get a win.
The roller coaster ride continues. After Thursday nights exhilarating victory the Twins put up a total stinker last night. As per the season it seems.
As of this morning the Twins pitching staff has already given up 33 home runs this month. To put that in perspective, the only month that the Twins gave up more than 30 home runs was in June when Minnesota gave up 35 dingers. Today's date is September 20th. With two games remaining against the Rays along with 3 against the White Sox, and 3 against the Royals, I think it safe to assume that we will pass June's home run record sometime either today or tomorrow.
The good news is that the Twins team is scoring some runs (Last night excluded, naturally). The Twins are now 4th in the majors in runs scored which is pretty interesting considering they are 16th in team OPS so far this season. Even more startling is that the Twins are 22nd in extra base hits , which, considering our record is crazy. Granted, we all know that it has something to do with that crazy RISP AVG but from what I have gathered "regressing to the mean" has become a four letter word of sorts in these parts so I am going to try to avoid going into further detail about the said four letter word.
All in all it seems the more runs we score, the more runs we give up, which, all things considered, is not Twins baseball.
I know that there is still some baseball left in this season. As a fan it is all that we have; hope, staying positive, and each other.
My best friend's father passed away this week and it has gotten me to thinking about this Twins season and how, without each other, some of us might not even be watching games anymore. On Sunday, when the news came in that my friend's father had passed my friends are I were all crushed. This man was a great father and a friend to every single of his son's friends. This is a lot, considering he had five of them. We felt terrible for the whole family: the brothers, the sisters, the cousins, most importantly my friend's mother.
Then the wake happened and we all began talking to each other, telling stories about the man who had such a strong influence on all of our lives. Remembering how he used to sneak us beers when we were 18. About how he would drive us, as kids, to whichever Shopping Mall a Buffalo Bills players was signing autographs that day. Telling stories about how every Friday night he would buy pizza and wings for all of his son's friends. No matter how old they got or how many friends they had. By then end, I will tell you what, he had to be ordering like $400 worth of pizza every Friday night.
After the wake we headed to a favorite bar of his. We talked, we drank, we reminisced as the night drew to a close any grief or sorrow over our lost was replaced by feelings of good will and strong memories of the man with whom many of us had enjoyed our first beer. Remembering the man for how he had changed not only his son's lives for the better but each of ours as well.
Which brings me to my point, this is my first season here as a citizen and I am so appreciative of everyone here. Regardless of this season plays out, I have people to enjoy the highs with and, as of late, I have people to complain a bout the lows with as well. I mean, if I start rattling on about the Twins in Buffalo, well, most people just seem to politely walk away.
I don't mean to come off as crass by comparing death to baseball. Quite obviously there are differences, rather important ones, no doubt. I just wanted to point out that how as citizens, if the Twins totally shit the bed and lose every single one of their games the rest of the season that we have a place to talk it over with people. A place to commiserate about what could have been, and a place to remember the good times, too
And that is what we cannot forget; this Twins team has exceeded expatiations and included itself in a pennant race. No one though that this team was going to be where it is right now in April. So lets appreciate what we have right now, enjoy every second of it because who knows.... next year the AL Central is not going to be any easier.
SBG September 19, 2008, at 5:00 pm 193 LTEs - (Sorry, but the time to add LTEs has expired)
It's not too often that I'm actively wishing to be proved wrong, but let's be honest. I've thought this club was dead in the water for the last couple of weeks and I've said as much repeatedly. Then, along comes last night -- and improbable win coupled with a shelling of the also struggling White Sox and suddenly, a few more glimmers of hope are evident. I would love to be wrong about the Twins. Love it. I would welcome a whole host of "I told you sos". My consolation would be post-season baseball. I can live with that.
So, tonight the Twins face Tampa Bay in the second of a four game set. One game does not a trend make, neither does two (remember about an eternity ago when the Twins started with two straight wins over LAAA on their 14 game trek?). But, hey, another win tonight, coupled with a loss by Chicago to suddenly hot Kansas City and maybe, just maybe, things could get interesting.
Well, here we are, with ten games to play in the Twins season and they've already won seven more games than I've said was enough to satisfy me and I feel oddly unsatisfied. I mean, a break here and a break there, and the Twins can still make the playoffs. Hell, it's not impossible that six weeks from now, we'll be celebrating the club's third World Championship. Not impossible, but from where I'm sitting, highly improbable. But, there are games to be played and maybe the Twins can pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. Hey if it was Fluketober in Denver last fall, I'd be all for a little luck coming our way starting now, if not sooner.
There's nothing fluky, however, about what's happening in St. Petersburg, FL. The Tampa Bay Rays have 90 wins so far (after never winning more than 70, ever). That's pretty much exactly what BP thinks they should have (90.1). They've gotten there by not allowing runs (only the Blue Jays in the AL have allowed fewer runs -- or fewer adjusted equivalent runs) and by scoring a little above average. That sounds like the formula for success that the Twins have followed for years. They have pummeled the Red Sox at home (8-1, including 2-1 this week) and have opened up a two game lead, having fended off a recent Red Sox charge. The Rays are young (they have given only 20 at bats to anyone this year who has seen his 31st birthday and ZERO STARTS TO ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN HIS 27TH BIRTHDAY -- imagine the Twins not bringing in some washed up vet and just going with the kids), they still have depth in their system, and they look like a team that can contend in the future, in addition to this year. If this isn't a team that we can get behind once our club has pulled out their golf clubs (assuming, of course, that we don't make the post season), then I am at a loss to figure out when we can cheer for someone else.
Tonight, the Rays send James Shields (31st Start, 200.7 IP, 4.06 xFIP, born 12/20/1981) to the mound against Glen Perkins (25th start, 145.3 IP, 5.03 xFIP, born 3/2/1983).
If the Twins don't win tonight, take this consolation. With a win tonight, the Rays eliminate the Yankees from contention for the AL East title. If we can't win, that's something to celebrate, for sure.
Here I am, trying to buck the recent trend of Game Log previews. Enough of the Donald Judd/Carl Andre/Richard Serra stuff already!
First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 Central, 4:05 Left Coast.
Probables:
Scottie Baker (4.28 xFIP, 115 tRA+, 1.20 WHIP, .389 SLGA, 123:39 K:BB in 153.67 innings) vs.
Cliff "Cy Young" Lee (3.64 xFIP, 165 tRA+, 1.06 WHIP, .335 SLGA, 157:28 K:BB in 210 innings).
Can everyone just STFU about K-Rod and the MVP? He's not the best pitcher in the AL, or even the best closer in the AL.
Cliff Lee is the runaway favorite for the Cy Young this year and he deserves it. He has been outstanding. A big part of his (rather unexpected) success this year can be attributed to his newfound appreciation for the ground ball. He's at a career-high 44.8 pct, up from a string of five consecutive seasons between 33 pct and 36 pct of batted balls. All of the gain has been at the expense of fly balls (28.1 pct, compared to 37.3 pct last season; he's never been below 33.8 pct FB before). Additionally, fewer of the balls-in-air are landing over the fence (2.9 pct, compared to 8 pct last year).
I don't know what he's done to conjure up these shifts in outcomes, but I hope he forgets all about his new attitude tonight.
Scottie, on the other hand, is who we thought he was. His GB pct is in the low/mid 30s, as it has been every year, his FB rate in the mid-30s, his ball pct right around 30. All in line with every year of his ML career. One thing is up slightly: his K rate is at 19.5 pct, compared to the 16s in '07 and '06; and one thing is down slightly (for the better): his BABIP of .286 is well below his .325 last season and .348 in '06. I suppose that could just be luck.
So, I'm hoping for a pitcher's duel tonight. Let's keep the tinder in the bullpen tonight, shall we, Scottie?
To accompany tonight's game I'm recommending the Resurrection Ale from The Brewer's Art. Not that I've had it. But we could use a little intervention, you know?? Jeff A, you got any pull??
After getting rained out on Friday night, I again made the trip from DC to Baltimore to see the Twins play in person on Sunday. Although they lost, it was a fun game to watch. Being at Camden Yards always gets me excited for outdoor baseball in Minnesota. I've posted some pictures I took during the game over here.
The Twins try to gain some ground in the division race tonight against the Indians. Overall the Twins played well this weekend, but they'll probably need two wins against Cleveland to stay in the race. Go Twins! Oh and Cuddy's back and starting at DH today. Hopefully he's swinging a hot bat, because the Twins will face three lefties in Cleveland.
First Pitch: 6:05 CST (7:05 EST) at Jacobs Field Whatever the Indians are calling their field these days.
Pale Hose Watch: The ChiSox start their four game series at Yankee Stadium tonight. Word on the street is that Joe Crede is done for the White Sox, and that his locker has even been cleaned out.
Wolves give up 79 points in the first half on Tuesday night (a club record), but they tightened the screws in the second half and only gave up 73. I expect another Korean recipe over at Canis Hoopus.
sean wrote: Baseball Analysts and Hardball Talk, especially Craig's writings on the later. Nick & Nick's Twins Blog is good, though he posts less frequently there, just everywhere else instead. I like the authors on Twinke Town,…
twayn wrote: It's roughly the same as the percentage of teenagers who get pregnant the first time they have sex.
twayn wrote: I can't wait to see Joe Morgan's head explode when the sequel comes out.
E-6 wrote: Rambis said he wanted the team to embrace adversity. No, seriously.
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: Do you?
Is it fair to give credit to a drunk driver who, after having a breathalyzer test, says they are drunk? Or what about a robber who in the midst of stealing…
Neil wrote: I swear, the % of people that get busted the first time they do something is astronomical!
Moss wrote: You've got to give the guy some credit for coming clean and taking accountability, though. Everyone slips up...he at least manned up about it.
E-6 wrote: I played this one as much for the WTF factor as anything. (I love Jackie, too, but this number ain't exactly in his wheelhouse, so to speak.) Roy Orbison does a pretty reading that you…
Klawitter wrote: I love soul music and Jackie Wilson is great. That said, Danny Boy is one of those songs that benefits from understated, simple arrangements to undercut the sentimentality (and I think it's a great…
E-6 wrote: Erin Go Braugh? More like Error Go Wow!
CarterHayes wrote: I'm also a fan of crockpotting the beef, though I have been known to use beer instead of apple juice. I might have to switch things up next year.
twayn wrote: To quote Michaleen Flynn in The Quiet Man: "Homeric."
meat wrote: Synedoche, New York.
I loved that movie. I haven't seen it in quite some time but as I recall phil Hoffman was excellent, as was his female co-star(I can't look it up from my phone). The…
Milt on Tilt wrote: On my lunch break I saw two individuals dressed up like Na'vi. Their sign said 'Avatars for Peace' so I'm not sure they've seen the movie.
brianS wrote: Glad you enjoyed it. Are you going to follow the thread through Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow's Puppets and Shadow of the Giant??
Milt on Tilt wrote: I guess I just don't get it. So in the alternate reality, Ben and Artz are doctors forced to work as teachers at the school Alex happens to go to (why? I thought her…
punmanbowler wrote: Re: Lost
I've enjoyed this season in a very different way. Everyone says the Flash-sideways are … but what I get out of them are the questions that are raised simply by the differences between…
Rhubarb_Runner wrote: Just thought to mention, bS, that I enjoyed reading Ender's Shadow during our FL vacation.
twayn wrote: Pam picked up The Hurt Locker and we watched that over the weekend. I thought it was pretty intense drama, a compelling character study, and it kept me pretty much on the edge of my…
September 30, 2008, at 5:30 pm 
these bad boys and get busy wif it. 
Recent Letters to the Editor
In Response to Cup of Coffee: March 17, 2010,
sean wrote: Baseball Analysts and Hardball Talk, especially Craig's writings on the later. Nick & Nick's Twins Blog is good, though he posts less frequently there, just everywhere else instead. I like the authors on Twinke Town,…
twayn wrote: It's roughly the same as the percentage of teenagers who get pregnant the first time they have sex.
twayn wrote: I can't wait to see Joe Morgan's head explode when the sequel comes out.
E-6 wrote: Rambis said he wanted the team to embrace adversity. No, seriously.
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: Do you? Is it fair to give credit to a drunk driver who, after having a breathalyzer test, says they are drunk? Or what about a robber who in the midst of stealing…
Neil wrote: I swear, the % of people that get busted the first time they do something is astronomical!
Moss wrote: You've got to give the guy some credit for coming clean and taking accountability, though. Everyone slips up...he at least manned up about it.
Moss wrote: You mean Billy Beane, right?
AMR wrote: And then the player will have a career-ending injury. (The Clips have a curse of their own.)
FirstTimeLongTime wrote: Nothing shows the kids how un-cool cocaine is quite like a 57 year old doing it.
In Response to Jackie Wilson - Danny Boy,
E-6 wrote: I played this one as much for the WTF factor as anything. (I love Jackie, too, but this number ain't exactly in his wheelhouse, so to speak.) Roy Orbison does a pretty reading that you…
Klawitter wrote: I love soul music and Jackie Wilson is great. That said, Danny Boy is one of those songs that benefits from understated, simple arrangements to undercut the sentimentality (and I think it's a great…
E-6 wrote: Erin Go Braugh? More like Error Go Wow!
CarterHayes wrote: I'm also a fan of crockpotting the beef, though I have been known to use beer instead of apple juice. I might have to switch things up next year.
twayn wrote: To quote Michaleen Flynn in The Quiet Man: "Homeric."
In Response to Brought Along, Kicking and Screaming, Into the 21st Century,
meat wrote: Synedoche, New York. I loved that movie. I haven't seen it in quite some time but as I recall phil Hoffman was excellent, as was his female co-star(I can't look it up from my phone). The…
Rhubarb_Runner wrote: probably, but no plans to for the time being
Milt on Tilt wrote: On my lunch break I saw two individuals dressed up like Na'vi. Their sign said 'Avatars for Peace' so I'm not sure they've seen the movie.
brianS wrote: Glad you enjoyed it. Are you going to follow the thread through Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow's Puppets and Shadow of the Giant??
AMR wrote: I haven't seen Avatar.
Milt on Tilt wrote: I guess I just don't get it. So in the alternate reality, Ben and Artz are doctors forced to work as teachers at the school Alex happens to go to (why? I thought her…
punmanbowler wrote: Re: Lost I've enjoyed this season in a very different way. Everyone says the Flash-sideways are … but what I get out of them are the questions that are raised simply by the differences between…
Rhubarb_Runner wrote: Just thought to mention, bS, that I enjoyed reading Ender's Shadow during our FL vacation.
twayn wrote: Pam picked up The Hurt Locker and we watched that over the weekend. I thought it was pretty intense drama, a compelling character study, and it kept me pretty much on the edge of my…
Beau wrote: I remember that!