Riverbrian

Unfortunately... I can still watch it.

That ball was hung

Yeah Not even a page yet. Correction - Exactly a page

Four games against the Rangers, right into 4 games against the Brewers. It doesn’t count as a 4-game series because it’s a home and home so that means that it’s a two two-game series against the same team back to back. Two starting tonight in Minneapolis followed by two in Milwaukee. I know that it is indeed a two two-game series and not a 4-game series because I write each game thread series opener and I’ll have to write something on Wednesday, therefore, I know. Here are some things to think about: 1. Superior – There isn’t a single place in Minnesota that has more Brewers fans than Twins fans. However, there are places in Wisconsin that have more Twins fans than Brewer fans, and Superior is one of those places. Welcome to Twins Territory in the state of Wisconsin. Superior along with Duluth are the twin ports and are connected by two bridges, the Bong and the Blatnik. I don’t have a joke but I’m imagining someone on their cell phone explaining that he or she is on the Bong and should be home soon. According to the dictionary, to be 'superior' you must be higher in rank, status or quality. I researched this by checking every single city ranking ever put out in the history of published rankings and Superior is not in the top spot in any of them. The closest they came was a 3rd place ranking in cities with the most people who smell funny per capita. Still, the ladies come to Superior in large numbers looking for a Superior Man. They are looking in the wrong place because I live elsewhere. 2. Our Twins – The Twins hit 3 home runs yesterday and even after careful consideration of that power outburst, I can’t help but say… call up Kennys Vargas immediately! Or Byung Ho Park! Or Daniel Palka! Or Mitch Garver, if he is that guy? Or trade for Aaron Judge! Or bring Dave Kingman out of retirement. With Sano out of the lineup on Saturday we had Chris Gimenez batting cleanup and Adrianaza playing 1B, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that being reduced to a single power threat at the very top of the lineup isn’t enough, especially in this day and age. The 1985 Royals didn’t have a ton of power and won a title, however, they had Steve Balboni to join George Brett and Frank White. We got Balboni in the minors, Brett injured and this leaves Frank White batting leadoff for the 2017 Twins. That isn’t enough power to electrocute a small rodent. 3. The Brewers – Hats off to the Brewers! They are young and they are exciting and I don’t think it’s fair to discount them because nobody predicted them before the season began. They've got speed, power, defense and they are getting some pitching, so let’s give them the respect they deserve. I listen to MLB radio frequently and I heard Casey Stern declare the Brewers “a legit contender” to begin July; and I heard the same Casey Stern say that the Brewers were never legit after the Cubs reeled off a winning streak to pass the Brewers toward the end of July. The Brewers are currently a half game back. I don’t know what to think about that, so I’ll have to tune into Casey Stern so I can find out today’s opinion on the Brewers. 4. Today’s Joe M Conversation: Maddon: I’m going to the freezer to get some ice cream… anybody want some? Montana: None for me… I usually eat it too fast and I don’t like the headaches. Mauer: My wife won’t let me have any. I’ll pass. McCarthy: None for me either. Morgan: I’ll take some. I’d like Vanilla… do you need to write that down? Maddon: No… I got it… vanilla ice cream. Easy enough. Morgan: And strawberries… can you put some strawberries on top? Maddon: Ok… we got strawberries… I can do that. Morgan: Do you need to write that down? Can I get you a notepad? Maddon: No… I got it… vanilla ice cream with strawberries on top. Morgan: And whipped cream! Maddon: OK… I can do that. Morgan: Will you remember? Maddon: I got it… I got it… I got it… vanilla, strawberries and whipped cream… I got it... now will you let me go get it? I’ll be right back. (Time goes by and Maddon returns with a plate of bacon and eggs.) Maddon: Here ya go Morgan: You forgot the toast. 5. Keep an open mind – I have always considered new ideas. I told my wife that I have always been very open minded and she agreed with me. She also thinks it a plausible explanation for how my brain fell out. _____________________ Lineups: BREWERS Domingo Santana RF Ryan Braun LF Travis Shaw 3B Jesus Aguilar DH Eric Thames 1B Hernan Perez 2B Orlando Arcia SS Keon Broxton CF Andrew Susac C Brent Suter P TWINS Brian Dozier 2B Joe Mauer 1B Robbie Grossman RF Eduardo Escobar DH Eddie Rosario LF Byron Buxton CF Ehire Adrianza 3B Jason Castro C Jorge Polanco SS Ervin Santan Weather: Looks like nice night for baseball! Click here to view the article

I shouldn't have used the word bunt in front of coverage. 1st base should never be uncovered.

I know its hard to tell with me. If you look closer. You'll notice that all those sights are real and... and... on your route.

Please do I'm a sucker for the worlds largest ball of twine type stuff. I've always said... Someone took the time to build it. Now that they have built it... they have put it out for people to come see it. Their efforts should be validated by a visit.

I don't know what play was called but either Mauer should have stayed home or Dozier shouldn't have been shifted because he has to cover. I'm thinking it's on Dozier because he was headed toward first like... oops I should have been over there. To my knowledge... there is no bunt coverage that leaves first uncovered.

I'm not going to watch bad baseball. These are professionals. Supposed to be.

Charles City Iowa... You can see the World First Tractor.... this isn't the 2nd... it's the first. Waverly, Iowa... You can see a Big Red Cocoa Mug... I don't believe their is any cocoa or coffee in the mug. Brandon, Iowa... You can see a large frying pan... It weighs half a ton and can hold 44 dozen eggs. Marion, Iowa... You can see a Corn Sculpture in a Corn Field... Need I say more. New London Missouri... You can see a Giant Mark Twain.... which is much bigger than a regular sized Mark Twain. Foristell Missouri... You can see a Giant Muffler Man... I'm not sure what a Muffler Man is... but this one is Giant.

I have only been to St. Louis once and I think we ate at Buffalo Wild Wings so i can't help there. However... if you tell me where you are starting... I kind find cool stuff to stop at along the way.

Not only that but get to the ball like there is a possibility that the runner may try to score from 2nd. He came in on the ball casual and wasn't in position to field the ball and throw. He just happened to notice that Deshields was going for home and then tried to throw it awkwardly. Buxton was wrong on many levels.

The funny part was that I was being funny since I was assuming it had to be the Minnesota Zoo because you didn't mention where. Now that it turns out to be random city somewhere across the fruited plain. Your Post becomes the early leader for post of the night.

Gonna have to narrow it down a little. Let's start with What Zoo?

Everybody is unique and therefore not unique since everybody is.

College helped me a lot with my punctuation.

Ambiguity -- The Doctors Pool Table

Both if I have the time.

I still think you are a rebel

Ft. Myers is at the very top of my "still need to visit" list. I'd like to plan a trip toward the end of spring training when both Miami and Tampa Bay open the season at home so I can knock those two stadiums off my list. I also want to squeeze in some time visiting the Florida Keys. The drunk cousin trip was a success. The bad road trips that I plan usually involved my Kids saying... "Dad... Do we have to see the world's largest cow". My answer is always... "yes... you have to. It's only 25 miles out of the way".

Already programmed in my GPS.

Our Twins return home for a 4-banger with the Rangers starting tonight. It’ll be good to be back home because it was a bad road trip - 2 wins and 6 losses over 8 games in the state of California. Bad road trips happen and bad road trips are never the original plan. I was having dinner with my family at HuHot last night and during the course of conversation, I believe we were talking about N. Korea testing missiles in the Sea of Japan which naturally led to me mentioning that it was the final Vikings training camp in Mankato after 52 years of being in Mankato. My son asked if I had ever been there, I have never been to the Sea of Japan, and he said I should go before it’s gone and my wife agreed. Just like that, a bad road trip was planned. I have some things to take care of Saturday morning, so I’ll leave around noon, make a 5.5 hour drive to watch a couple hours of Vikings practice, find a hotel, then take in a Twins game on Sunday so I can get a TC Bear bobble head, then back home after the game. Let it be known that I am the King of bad road trips. Here are some things to think about: 1. Mankato – This city of 41,000 was born at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers in the 1850’s. The rivers were important to development because steamboats were the fastest form of travel back then; hundreds of passengers could travel from Minneapolis to Mankato by getting off the boat and dragging the boat down the frozen river in January. Steamboats served the city well until an unfortunate string of boat accidents spilled millions of gallons of steam into the fragile surroundings, causing mirrors to fog up across the region. The origin of the town name is interesting. Mankato is Swedish for 'male hornet assistant.' 2. Our Twins – Where did the POWER GO? I know we didn’t have a ton of power to begin with, however, during the month of July… the Twins hit 18 homers total. If you consider that Odor had 10 home runs in July, while Napoli bombed 8. The conclusion is that 8% of the Rangers 25 man roster hit as many homeruns as 100% of the Minnesota roster. 3. The Rangers – Currently the Twins are 1 game in front of the Rangers in the race for absolutely nothing. Both teams have won 51 games but the Rangers have two more losses in the bad column. This 4-game series is critical in its lack of influence of tee times that have been reserved in October. 4. Today’s Joe M Conversation: Maddon: Joe… congratulations! I understand that you tied Tony O for 3rd on the Twins all-time hit list. Montana: It takes real talent to last that long. Mauer: Aww, shucks… I don’t know that it’s anything special. McCarthy: You are just being modest, Joe. Mauer: I’m proud of my modesty… I tell everyone about it. 5. Short Toddlers – I was at the Supermarket with my wife. We noticed a toddler and a young mother who was talking on a cell phone. The mother wasn’t paying total attention as the toddler was reaching as high as he could, trying to grab a T-Bone wrapped in its package on the rack. The Toddler was trying really hard, his fingers just barely scraping the edge of the package, but he kept trying and the mother kept talking on the phone. I found myself cheering for the baby. Eventually, in obvious frustration, the toddler let out a short blast of a cry, the mother looked down and said “What’s the matter?" My wife replied, “The Steaks are too high for him.” My wife didn’t realize what she just said because she was thinking literally and the young mother didn’t really realize that the toddler was reaching for steaks so she thought my wife was being metaphorical. Both thought they understood each other, neither did, and I was the only person on the planet who had the whole story. ____________________ Lineups: RANGERS Delino DeShields Jr. LF Elvis Andrus SS Nomar Mazara RF Adrian Beltre 3B Mike Napoli DH Rougned Odor 2B Carlos Gomez CF Joey Gallo 1B Robinson Chirinos C A.J. Griffin P TWINS Brian Dozier 2B Max Kepler RF Miguel Sano 3B Joe Mauer 1B Eduardo Escobar SS Eddie Rosario LF Robbie Grossman DH Jason Castro C Byron Buxton CF Adalberto Mejia Weather: Hmmm ... overcast, chilly (for August) at 57 deg F, 25% chance of rain, winds at 18mph (but dying down) from the NNW. Bring your warm fleece jackets if heading to the game in person tonight! Click here to view the article

It has to be a forced double play. The Runner on 2nd was not forced to advance to third.