Nine of twelve

I think everyone should read Rod Carew's full statement. I lifted this from the Pioneer Press web site. Rod Carew’s full statement: “I understand and respect the Minnesota Twins’ decision to remove the Calvin Griffith statue outside Target Field. While I’ve always supported the Twins’ decision to honor Calvin with a statue, I also remember how inappropriate and hurtful his comments were on that fateful day in Waseca. The Twins did what they felt they needed to do for the organization and for our community. “While we cannot change history, perhaps we can learn from it. “I first met Calvin Griffith in 1964 when he traveled to New York City to watch me work out at Yankee Stadium. Calvin and longtime Minnesota Twins scout Herb Stein must have liked what they saw as they signed me to a professional contract shortly thereafter. I can tell you when I got to the major leagues with the Twins in 1967, Calvin was my most ardent supporter. He told manager Sam Mele that I was the Twins’ everyday second baseman. I saw no signs of racism whatsoever. “In 1977, my MVP year, I made $170,000. When the season was over, Calvin called me into his office, thanked me for a great season, told me that I had made the team a lot of money and handed me a check for $100,000. You could have knocked me over. A racist wouldn’t have done that. “There is no way I can apologize for what Calvin said in Waseca in 1978. His comments were irresponsible, wrong and hurtful. I recall my response at the time reflected my anger and disappointment. “Now that more than four decades have passed, I look back on Calvin’s comments and our personal relationship with additional context and perspective. In my view, Calvin made a horrible mistake while giving that speech in 1978. I have no idea what happened that day, but who among us has not made a mistake? I know Calvin paid a heavy price for those comments and I believe his thoughts on race evolved over time. “When he traded me prior to the 1979 season, Calvin told me he wanted me to be paid what I was worth. Later that year the Angels made me the highest paid player in baseball. A racist wouldn’t have done that. “In 1991, the first person I called after I was told I had been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame was Calvin. “I have long forgiven Cal for his insensitive comments and do not believe he was a racist. That was NOT my personal experience with Calvin Griffith — prior to or following that day in 1978.”

This doesn't matter one bit. We would have gotten a team here by 1969 at the very latest whether Calvin brought it here or whether someone else did. It wouldn't have been the same team but I reckon each of us here would be just a big of a fan of that team as we are of the Twins.

I don't condone vigilante justice.

This comment makes me feel very uneasy.

In 1994 MLB went to three divisions in each league with one wild card team. The 1987 Twins would not have qualified for the postseason in that alignment. Moreover, in 1987 the postseason home field advantage still rotated instead of being awarded to the team with the better record. We lucked into that in both the ALCS and the WS. We did beat the Tigers even though 3 of the 5 games were played in Detroit, but would we have beaten the Cardinals?

Our leaders who are truly fearless do wear masks. It's the leaders who don't wear masks because they are fearful of what their supporters would think that have me worried.

Discretion is admirable when it's all just speculation on our part. A very recognizable name came to my mind right away but I'm keeping it to myself.

You pick your battles. If intervening in a situation would be worse than observing the situation the wise choice is to observe, try to make sure everyone is physically safe, and let people blow off steam. A statue is just a hunk of metal. So what if it falls.

The best bluffs are never confirmed because the best bluffers never EVER confirm whether a bluff was a bluff.

That's because it's so pervasive that people often don't notice it, even when it's obvious.

Nor would he have sustained one of the more horrific sports-related injuries ever captured on camera.

Sometimes a team (or a person or any entity of any kind) has to hit rock bottom before meaningful change can take place. In the long view this season may have been the best thing that could have happened to our favorite team because it led to a complete remaking of the organization, which I think has us moving in a very positive direction. I can only hope that some of the events of the recent past in the real world also turn out to be stimuli for meaningful positive change.

Look at the AL standings that year. It was an unusual season. There were 2 very good teams (Hou and Cle), 2 good teams (Bos and NYY), 2 bad teams (CWS and Det), and 9 mediocre teams. Any of those 9 teams could have been the second Wild Card depending on how the flukes of a long season happened to occur. Of those 9 teams the Twins just happened to be the one that had the least bad luck on their side.

Going out in pubic is against the law. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) After a two-month furlough I returned to working full time beginning May 18, in a job in which it is necessary for me to be within 2 feet of people. These people are screened before I encounter them and are turned away if they are symptomatic or have been exposed. Everyone, both fellow employees and the people we serve, is required to be masked, no exceptions. I have had little to no trouble staying 6-10 feet away from people in parks, stores, and getting food. If you are consistently closer than that in those situations it seems to me you are making little to no effort to avoid that. I don't particularly like wearing a mask but I have found it's an inconvenience at worst and it has not been difficult getting used to wearing one. It's not dissimilar to when I chose to get used to wearing a seat belt in the early '80's. I feel that wearing a mask is the least one can do out of common courtesy to show consideration for one's fellow human beings, even while sitting in the sun for 3 plus hours. This is especially true in places where people are not screened for symptoms or possible exposure. I don't understand why anyone should angry about wearing one. (To be clear, I'm not saying you are angry but I am asking if you are. And, honest question, if so, why?)

The Rosario and Dozier home runs made that whole season worthwhile.

You can if you have adequate reserves (which I'm sure the owners do) and if you'll come out ahead long term. The same applies to the players, although I'm sure there are players who have little to nothing in terms of reserves. I'm not advocating for owners or players here, but this is about more than just this season. For both sides.

Me too. But I have to use the disclaimer that to me responsibly means that I'd never be within 10 feet of anyone other than my immediate family. And it also means disinfecting wipes galore and everyone wears a mask.

Regarding the proposed Hughes bonus, he would have had to pitch a few more innings to get it. It's against major league rules for teams to pay players beyond what is stipulated in their contracts and for good reason. Otherwise players could be paid off for unsavory dealings such as fixing games and the like.

I'd say Hrbek was in the best physical condition of his life at that time.

This was my favorite moment of this season. Mauer had just worked Chapman for 10 pitches to hit a double and then Willingham came up. I find it amazing that anyone can do this to a 100+ MPH fastball but good major league batters are a rare and special breed.

And by the way thanks to Phil for contributing and to TD ownership for facilitating that.

If you were a high-level free agent, would you? Of course not. Any dollar amount that the Twins would have offered could not have made up for the abject misery of playing for that team.

I didn't say that I wasn't thinking about the rest of the world, and I didn't say I wasn't going to read the comments. I was just making the observation that one moderator recommended this conversation to take place in another forum while another posted essentially the same conversation here. This seems inconsistent. And I object to your insult, but I accept your apology.

On another similar thread there was a moderator's note stating that there exists another forum for discussion of non-baseball-related topics. I humbly suggest that this thread should be moved to that forum.

I've heard many people say that having a reliable and consistent closer makes it easier for the entire bullpen to succeed because relievers pitch in similar situations each time, learn what works for them in those situations, and exploit that. This makes sense to me. However, for that to succeed probably four good relievers are required, one to close and three to set up. For a team that has that luxury it would be best for the closer to be right-handed (as Cody alluded to in the OP) or, more accurately, to do as well against right-handed batters as against lefties. That said, nothing should be carved in stone. A good manager using that system will sometimes bypass the closer or bring the closer in early if indications point that way during a given game.