CDog

Ahhh, thank you. As expected, his comments were about hitting and not about playing the outfield. Appreciate the link (or the link to the link!).

Any source for that? I am fairly certain he was someone who mentioned safety when it came to picking up the ball at the plate, but don't recall anyone ever making a comment about playing the outfield. I don't even see how they could have cast shadows onto the field, really. Were they backlit somehow and I don't remember that? Agreed that there are a number of improvements that could be made to the restrooms. I typically don't use them, but they're not nearly on par with the rest of the place from an aesthetic or functionality standpoint.

We tried it once fairly early in the 2010 season and it was packed by the first commuter lot after the airport. Folks who had been on since the MOA said there were no seats and limited standing room even BEFORE they got to the airport.

Stolen from tonight's game broadcast, but thought it was worth sharing here in case folks missed it: Since the end of July last year (I think the 29th was the date they gave), the Willinghammer leads the league in home runs with 45.

Joe C at StarTrib said in his lineup write up that Gardenhire said even during the last series (or over the weekend) that Mauer would get a day off on the road trip. Shouldn't be cause for alarm. (Oh please, oh please, oh please...with apologies to Gary Larson for using his material.)

Yeah, checking their attendance numbers is on my to-do list, but that won't help with the other things like the "last game of season" effect and the "Sunday of Labor Day weekend" effect. Thanks for the input. I think we'll probably just go on the fly.

It's w-r-i-t-e, you idiot!!!!! Is that the kind of thing we're looking for? Hehehe.

Thanks for the info. I was hopeful when we were planning the trip that maybe Sano or others would be up, but as the year's gotten later, it seemed less and less likely. A barely-related question that I'll ask here rather than start another thread...Anyone been to Port Charlotte for a game? Would I be wise to get tickets ahead of time, with the caveat that we'll be starting the day in Miami and it's possible we won't make across for the game (not the end of the world if we do since they aren't super expensive, but if we can get them easily at game time, we'd do that)?

I actually never assumed that, nor ever stated that. I've provided what was actually said. For the millionth time (number provided is an estimate), you've decided what I think despite no evidence and decided to try and pick a fight over it. Do you need something to complain about THAT badly that you have to invent them? As for the second part there, that cute little bit of fiction is pretty awesome. You've imagined a scenario and decided that it's fact. Is there some chance they (Gardy/Ryan) were ASKED about the situation somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 times by various reporters? Maybe 100 times? 10? Or that they ran right over to find the nearest reporter that they could bitch to?

You mean like providing the actual quotes? I promise this, when someone comes along and claims Ryan or Gardenhire said something like, "Baker is the toughest guy on our team and we're happy with him throwing 85 mph" that I'll be first in line to point out that it's garbage. I'll probably even provide the actual quotes.

Yes, speaking only about actual quotes (and providing them) and keeping my opinion about them to myself until directly asked is very, very delusional.

I don't have my finger on the pulse of the minor leagues nearly to the extent as some folks, so I thought I'd ask those that are more expert. I'm going to Florida in early September and seeing games in Miami and Tampa. In between, I hope to see the Miracle's final regular season game in Port Charlotte. My GUESS is that at some point teams are rather set and there isn't all that much in the way of promotions and demotions during the final few weeks of the season. I don't know why I assume that, but for some reason it came to mind. Am I right? Should I expect many changes to the Miracle roster from now (or is there some point in the future where I could expect movement to slow or stop)? Mostly just curious. Wondering if I should hope/expect any of the Beloit top players to be there by the time the season ends or not. Anyone have some insight?

Not going to re-hash the reasons they're different situations. They are obvious, many, and I already did it once so I don't see the point in doing it again. No, I'm not. I read what was reported, took it for what it was, have my own opinions on it. I've not once tried to claim they said something they didn't, nor denied things they did. I don't get why you keep claiming that I have. It's one thing to be obstinate, it's another to invent things to complain about that haven't even taken place. I believe it's what you like to refer to as trolling. And I fixed your final paragraph in the quote above.

Except I haven't assumed what Gardy and Ryan were intending to say. I have read what they actually said. Which has really been my whole point. I don't get why you want to keep picking this same scab and trying to claim things that just aren't true. It makes no sense. And as for picking scabs, the Pavano thing is a different situation and has been discussed elsewhere so there's no point in beating our heads into the wall there.

The first sentence is just not true. I take issue every time someone tries to exaggerate, lie, or misrepresent what the situation was or how it was handled. I've articulated very clearly in other topics on this subject and in other threads and conversations where it's more directly on topic that if you (general you) look at facts, quotes, situations and come to a conclusion that something was done poorly or mishandled then that's your opinion and that is all it is. If you make up BS, add your own "facts" to the situation, or misrepresent what happened to try and pass off your opinion...well that's garbage and makes you (general you) a (br)ass (b)owl. The boiled down version of what happened (again, because I "have to" I guess): Baker kept going out and throwing around 10 mph slower than he's normally been capable. He kept saying he was fine over and over (we later found he was not) and that he wasn't remotely concerned about his velocity returning. Gardnhire and Ryan eventually got fed up and said if he's fine, then he needs to show it. That's my "position." I don't know if I've ever stated an opinion on it, to be honest. I'm not sure it matters. If you'd like it, here it is: Baker overestimated himself and probably believed he would get healthy. Athletes are often ridiculously self-delusional in that way. And because of that he didn't really think he was "lying" to the trainers, etc, but he was. Gardenhire and Ryan probably should have expressed their thoughts to the media more carefully. Frustration leads to things coming out wrong or seeming like they're said with different intent than they are. The end.

That's good to know. In fact, that post alone will likely lead me to do more (which isn't a difficult goal since my next one will double my output!). It's good to know they're being seen so it doesn't feel like I may as well write something up in a Word document and leave it on my own computer for nobody else to see like it's a diary.

I would be willing to bet that you couldn't say what position I hold on this, because you've repeatedly misrepresented it, put your own spin on it, and jumped to conclusions that aren't supported by what I've actually said on it. HEY...that's just like the original situation in question! That's kinda interesting.

I would agree with the other comments that 2/week feels like a lot, especially when many of the people you're looking to get involved are currently at a number much closer to 0/week. I do think that being part of a group and commiting to it is half the battle. I can only speak for myself, but I think fairly regularly that I should do more but then end up simply commenting on Forum Threads, etc and the time never gets devoted. I also have the impression that things that go in the Blog section here don't get read as much, so there's a bit of a feeling that there's "no point." I don't know if that's true or if others share that feeling...just an impression I have.

Nope, sorry. That lie isn't going to fly. I read every word about it on 4 different sites at the time it was happening. I read and quoted most of it all over again two or three different times as it's come up on here.

No Baker on there (6.5) nor 2/3 of Liriano (3.7). Without the several "N/A" which are almost/all minimums on that list (but there are nine of them on the major league team now...not all have been there all year, but then Parmalee and some others aren't on there now), those two included get over $91M. Marquis gets it over $94M. I guess you could make the case Baker and Marquis don't belong on there, but Liriano almost certainly does. Some others that may "count" to some folks I think, too, that aren't on that list like Zumaya. Muddled point I know, but the shorter more concise version is "there's stuff not included in that $85 that should be."

I've had that thought in some form or another a lot over the last couple of weeks, but never that succinctly. Well said.

Could you show your work there? I suppose I could look some stuff up, but I don't think I've seen anyone use that number even though there is a little bit of variation based on "who counts."

In at least two other threads there are mountains of quotes and evidence--much of it even supplied from the people who were trying to blame Gardenhire and Ryan--that Baker withheld information and repeatedly and publicly said he was fine. That his velocity would come. That he wasn't the least bit worried about it. That it was tendonitis and that he dealt with it every spring. That he would be able to make his home opener start (one could even take that he implied he was upset that the manager and general manager etc may not let him). So there's that. Again.

I'm actually willing to already call it a success!

Good post by mike. Especially the early-going. HA!