Riverbrian

I don't have a list of people that I shouldn't pay attention to... but if I did... I would start by populating the list with people who had a list of people that I shouldn't pay attention to.

I hope nobody takes this the wrong way. But... this is whole thing reminds me of this. http://www.dvdizzy.com/images/a/anchorman-02.jpg

I agree I'd like to know what Vavra was thinking in the 9th. I'm not going to claim that Vavra or whoever was wrong... but I'd like to know the thought process because I'm having a hard time with benefit of the doubt. Disclaimer: I don't believe that I spend a ton of time criticizing the manager for in-game decisions. I usually can live with whatever batting order or however the bullpen is used because I'm ok with a Manager thinking for themselves and not for me. I think I expressed criticism or deep confusion back in late May when Rucinski and Wheeler were called up before a series with the Astros because the bullpen was really really really spent and Molitor did not throw either of them with an 8-2 lead and the really really really spent bullpen coughed up like 30 runs in 8th and became extra really really really spent in the process of losing game one of the series which then forced Molitor to debut Wheeler the next day in a much closer situation. I only mention that game for the context that I don't criticize the manager often. WIth that said... What was going on with Gimenez in the 9th? It says in the Trib "I did it on my own" quoting Gimenez when asked about the bunt attempt. He popped it up and got away with it but then Vavra is quoted as saying "we decided it wasn’t the right play". 1. Why isn't Vavra managing the game with both hands on the wheel in the 9th inning and a one run deficit, nobody out and a runner on 2nd? Gimenez saying "I did it on my own" in a clear bunting situation makes it sound like Vavra expected Gimenez to hit away. 2. Why did Vavra decide "it wasn't the right play". Gimenez is hitting .198, he strikes out 27.6% of the time. He is a veteran career back up catcher with a .214 career batting average. I have to assume that he has been asked to bunt before. 3. If it wasn't the right play because of Gimenez's bunting ability. Castro was available to catch with Garver all used up and Adrianaza was available to pinch hit or pinch bunt. Adrianaza at least has been one of our best contact hitters with a 13.1 K%. No idea what the thought process was... runner on 2nd... 9th inning... down by 1 run. The manager's job was to get that tying run to third and that was a big uncomfortable ugly looking fail. If the strategy was to let the guy hitting .198 swing away... I question that strategy. If the Vet catcher hitting .198 can't move the runner to third in that situation with a playoff spot on the line in September. I question his value. I hate over reacting to one at-bat but... the game died right there. Either Gimenez or Vavra or both screwed up.

The Twins will spend their Labor Day in Florida and they will spend it indoors working. Not everyone gets Labor Day off, and major league baseball players are excellent examples of those who must work. Nearly every place else, workers get the day off to recharge those batteries. It works out because criminals get the day off so the police force can rest as well. You’ll find them hanging out together at backyard barbecues. Pilots and Air Traffic Control have today off so all airline travel is 100% computerized for an exciting day of chaos in the sky. (I flew once on Labor Day; you couldn’t even get a Cinnabon because they were closed.) There is nobody to tell when and in what order to board the plane; you get to carry your luggage on board with you, regardless if it fit in the overhead compartment. You simply get on the plane and that Garmin lady voice comes over the speakers and says, "Welcom to flight 597, non-stop to Paducah." No attendents or pilots as the flight is completely computerized. So sit back and enjoy the flight and nothing will go wrong go wrong go wrong go wrong go wrong. Here are some things to think about: 1. Tampa Bay – First off, it’s not a city. Tampa is a city, St. Petersburg is a city. Tampa Bay is a body of water filled with elderly shut-ins and bus people who ran out of money. It is one of the places where you have to drive north to be in the south. While in Florida, watch out for alligators. You should always wear a noise producing device like little bells, in order to alert but not startle, alligators; also carry pepper spray in case of an unexpected encounter. One way to determine if an alligator is nearby is too look for alligator droppings. Alligator droppings are recognizable because they contain undigested bones, little bells and smell like pepper spray. 2. Our Twins – It was a tough series to lose. Nearly coming back on Friday and being done in by a bad check swing call yesterday, surrounding a win by 17 on Saturday. Despite losing the series, it still feels like they are rolling. So let it roll… down the highway or whatever BTO song about highways is your favorite. 3. The Rays – I’m not really sure why these guys are struggling. They have pretty good starting pitching, the bullpen isn’t terrible and they have quite a few guys who can hit the ball a long way. I’m not really sure what they are missing besides that “support you” attitude from the fans and ownership. Tropicana Field is perhaps the only stadium where the players can hear conversations taking place in the 30th row and it’s usually the owner and GM talking about coupons. 4. Today’s Joe M Conversation: Mauer: A trip to the lake on Labor Day was a great idea. Montana: I agree, but I’m just letting you all know right now… I’m catching the biggest fish. Morgan: You should slow down a little… I’m not really feeling safe with your driving. Maddon: The speed limit on I-94 is 70 miles per hour… if you look at my speedometer it’s say 70 miles per hour. McCarthy: Maddon is driving fine, Joe… just relax a little and enjoy the ride. Mauer: Why do I have to sit on the hump in the middle? Montana: Because you are the youngest… that’s the law. Mauer: Yeah but it’s my car… shouldn't I be driving? Morgan: Shh… everyone quiet down… what did it just say on the radio? McCarthy: It’s a news report… it’s saying that there is a car going the wrong way on I-94 near Alexandria. Montana: Be on the lookout, Joe… we are near Alexandria. Maddon: Only one car? Looks to me like there are hundreds of them. 5. Exercise – I was busy yesterday and wasn’t able to go to the gym. That makes 10 years in a row now. ____________________ Lineups: TWINS Brian Dozier 2B Joe Mauer 1B Jorge Polanco DH Eddie Rosario LF Byron Buxton CF Max Kepler RF Eduardo Escobar 3B Mitch Garver C Ehire Adrianza SS Jose Berrios P RAYS Kevin Kiermaier CF Lucas Duda DH Evan Longoria 3B Logan Morrison 1B Steven Souza RF Corey Dickerson LF Wilson Ramos C Brad Miller 2B Adeiny Hechavarria SS Alex Cobb P Weather: inside, who cares Play ball! Go Twins! Click here to view the article

Every game is huge right now. You'll get no argument from me. However... IF... If the Twins get swept by the Royals. The worst they would be on Sep. 4 is a half game out with 26 games to play. That's a little quick to turn out the lights.

Cain in pain

Who Won?

http://www.thegregbradyproject.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bb_tiki1.jpg Too much risk

That joke isn't as complex as it seems.

They might but If I'm KC... I'd want a conclusion immediately with the lead. None of this playing more innings with nothing to gain and everything to lose.

C'mon Rosie... Settle down a little... Put bat on ball.

I'm glad we got some game left

http://blog.iese.edu/doing-business/files/2015/09/Casablanca.jpg

If you keep running to the where you want the package delivered. It will get there faster.

I want two more teams. And I'd like one of the teams to be gifted to me by a crazy rich uncle that I don't know exists. Seriously though... I'd like two more teams and 4 4 team divisions in each league and 6 playoff teams in each league.

Only in Hockey are levels different and they are way different.

I loved the Sioux nickname and I was always respectful in my support and I also have no problem with the new nickname. In 75 Years nobody will care anymore. Might as well just get rid of the drama and change the name and move on. The nickname decision was never life or death for me but to some it sure seemed to be. Go Fighting Hawks!!! Life goes on

I believe the Nickel Trophy is in our possession and has been in our possession since 2003 when the two teams were still NCC conference members. I've heard it has been hidden by UND and I've heard that the state legislature was trying pass some sort of decree that it be housed in Bismarck. All I know for sure is that the two teams have only played once since 2003 that was in 2015 and that game was not designated a nickel trophy game by UND I believe. I have no idea what is happening inside the walls of the decision makers but from the outside it looks like both schools are playing some serious hardball with each other and it has prevented the teams from playing each other since they each moved up a level and into separate conferences. I can understand scheduling difficulties on occasion but for 15 YEARS!!! You can't schedule a yearly game that the entire state got jacked up for and the public claim is scheduling. It would be fairly simple... Hold the 1st Saturday in September and rotate home field every year. There is something going on between the two schools that probably includes some unprofessional language toward each other. It's a shame because all of the 500 plus residents of North Dakota are the ones to suffer.

Game opens are hard enough without the additional pressure of accuracy.

And here it is… September. It’s not just a song by Earth, Wind and Fire this year. This September we might remember. The Twins enter the month with a 1.5 game lead over the Angels for that final playoff spot and just a game behind the Yankees for that first wild card spot. Up in these parts… people start closing up the cabins and lake homes Labor Day weekend. NOT THIS YEAR… the Twins are extending summer for us all. “Ba-De-Ya - Never was a cloudy day”. Enjoy!!! Here are some things to think about: 1. Fargo – With an estimated population of 125,000, Fargo is the largest city in North Dakota. However, since I have been a 28 year resident of Grand Forks, with Fargo being a rival in most everything, I must do whatever I can to diminish that 'largest city' accomplishment. So… congratulations, Fargo, on being the largest city in North Dakota. I offer this congratulations with the same level of sincerity that I displayed while congratulating International Falls for being warmer than Warroad last January. The rivalry has developed from UND vs. NDSU. You’ll notice I put UND first… that was intentional and subliminal for those who don’t have a dog in the fight. Over the years, North Dakotans have gotten used to life’s disappointments and this familiarity is why so many of them moved to Fargo. 2. Our Twins – After the sweep of the White Sox, the Twins wrap up a fine month of August with a 17-10 record. I’m not going to question it. I’m not going to try to explain it, I’m not going to ask for an explanation, I’m just going to enjoy this. It’s the same attitude I have when I come home from work and there is a cheesecake on the counter that wasn’t there when I left. 3. The Royals – Remember at the end of July and the Royals had won something like 500 games in a row? The Royals got aggressive at the Trade Deadline picking up 4 players, or something like that, for the stretch run. Remember at the end of July, the Twins had fallen back in the pack, and had quickly traded off a couple of vets? It’s clear that neither franchise understands what is supposed to happen after these moves are made. 4. Today’s Joe M Conversation: Maddon: Take a look at these two… don’t they look great? McCarthy: Why on Earth are you dressed like a chicken? Maddon: He looks great. Mauer: And… you are dressed like a… is that an egg? Montana: Yep… I’m an egg McCarthy: What is going on? Maddon: I dressed them this way. Morgan: It was his suggestion… tt’s the only reason I’d dress like a Chicken. McCarthy: Again… I got to ask why they are dressed this way. Maddon: They are going to race so we can decide it once and for all. 5. Odd Jobs – My wife gave me a list of 8 odd-jobs to do. I did as she requested and completed jobs one, three, five and seven. My wife was disappointed with me but she needs to choose her words more carefully. ____________________ Lineups: ROYALS Whit Merrifield 2B Lorenzo Cain CF Melky Cabrera LF Eric Hosmer 1B Salvador Perez C Mike Moustakas 3B Jorge Bonifacio RF Brandon Moss DH Alcides Escobar SS Jason Hammels P TWINS Brian Dozier 2B Joe Mauer 1B Jorge Polanco SS Eddie Rosario LF Eduardo Escobar 3B Max Kepler RF Mitch Garver C Kennys Vargas DH Zack Granite CF Dillon Gee P Weather: 70 deg F, mostly cloudy, winds at 11mph from the SSE, with a 15% chance of rain. If there is any rain between now and tomorrow, hopefully it falls well between games. Go Twins! Play ball! Click here to view the article

I don't know what that meant... but... Yeah. I'll go with that.