Riverbrian

My wife made Randy move out a few years ago.

Usually when I read... it'll be Twinsdaily or my wife's mood.

As soon as you mention that you have "secret powers"... the adjective vanishes and they immediately become "powers".

Not often do you get a chance to type “Pigmeat Markham” in correct context so when opportunity presents itself… do not… ever... pass it... by. As 'Pigmeat' Markham once said, "Here comes da Judge… here comes da Judge… here comes da Judge… here comes da Judge." The Yankees are in town for a 3-game series and Aaron Judge has been incredible. He has a .319 Batting Average and 30 Home Runs; those are incredible numbers… clearly frontrunner MVP type numbers. Every year, in late March, I participate in a fantasy baseball draft for a 12-team keeper league. The draft is 30 rounds and I had Aaron Judge on my list of fall back options. I decided before the draft began that I would try and get Hunter Renfroe as my 5th OF selection in the 23rd round and if he wasn’t available I would grab Judge. Renfroe was available and I was happy. As we reached the final round… Aaron Judge was still available. I needed a 2B and I needed some power so that final pick was between Ryan Schimpf and Judge. I had Brandon Drury already and he was going to be 2B eligible in about 10 games so I could grab an OF despite the need for a 2B. I had 1:30 on the clock to make my selection, and I used up almost all of the available time to think about it. It was a long Saturday afternoon and most people were ready to wrap it up and go home, someone shouted at me, “IT’S THE 30TH PICK!!! It’s not like you are deciding the fate of the FREE WORLD HERE”. So I picked Schimpf and 2 picks later… the guy who shouted at me grabbed Judge. Since this is a keeper league, he will have Judge next year and the year after that. Moral of the Story – A run of Padres isn’t great draft strategy and… and… SHUT UP WHEN I’M DRAFTING… and… and… it’s one of those drafts that I will be Judged on. Here are some things to think about: 1. New York Mills – With a population of 1,225 people, New York Mills is pretty close to the middle of Twins Territory, located about 78 miles east of Fargo and 1,255 Miles from Plattsburgh, NY. The town got its name because the area sawmills were owned by a New York Compan - those Yankees decided on the name of the town and Minnesotans didn’t argue. It could have been called Minnesota Mills or Mills Fleet Farm instead. Back in the late 1800’s, sawmills sprung up in order to increase the amount of sawing that could be done. There isn’t much to see but people wanted to saw it anyway. I have driven through New York Mills, I saw it. The town was primarily settled by the Finnish, but when I saw it, it didn’t look totally Finnished, there were still improvements that could be made. One thing they could do… is take those perfectly fine and totally usable fishing boats off the top of the 'Welcome to New York Mills' city signs. As you enter the city limits there are actual fishing boats up in the air and visible to all. I don’t know how they got up there, perhaps a huge flood or something but it’s pretty lazy to not take them down after all this time. Lund Boats are manufactured in New York Mills at the same factory that produced high school basketball legend Janet Karvonen. She Finnished her high school career as the leading scorer in Minnesota History. 2. Our Twins – OK… three games with the Houston Astros after the all-star break, one win with two losses and ground was actually gained because the Indians got swept by the mighty A’s. This thing ain’t over yet. Byron Buxton has been swinging pretty well lately but he has been placed on the DL because that is what happens when you finally start playing well with the Twins. 3. The Yankees – Not only are the Twins trying to catch the Indians. They are also trying to catch the Yankees and they are both equal distance away. The Yankees used to be a bunch of old talent but they quickly transformed to a bunch of young talent. A-Rod, Jeter, and Roger Maris are gone, replaced by Judge, Sanchez and Hicks. Yankee fans travel well and tend to show up at road parks around the country. This is because you can buy a Twins ticket, flight, rental car, hotel, food and a My Pillow for less than a cost of a Yankees ticket. 4. Today’s Joe M Conversation: McCarthy: These ribs are delicious… my compliments, Joe Maddon: Thank you… Carolina-style barbecue. Vinegar, mustard base, with applewood chips in the smoker. Mauer: Joe… I gotta ask you… how do you know so much about food? Maddon: I don’t know… it just kinda happened… I’ve always been a bit of a foodie. Montana: Foodie? Maddon: Yeah, foodie… I actually coined that phrase. Mauer: You coined that phrase? Maddon: Yep… I called myself a foodie once and the rest is history. McCarthy: That’s nothing… I coined the phrase… “Coined a phrase”. 5. Projects - I was asked to oversee a project at work that I didn’t have time for. I decided to overlook it, things will be fine as long as nobody understands the difference. ____________________ Lineups: YANKEES Jacoby Ellsbury CF Clint Frazier LF Aaron Judge RF Matt Holliday DH Starlin Castro 2B Didi Gregorius SS Chase Headley 3B Garrett Cooper 1B Austin Romine C Brian Mitchell P TWINS Brian Dozier 2B Zack Granite CF Joe Mauer 1B Miguel Sano 3B Max Kepler RF Kennys Vargas DH Eddie Rosario LF Ehire Adrianza SS Jason Castro C Adalberto Mejia P Weather: Woo! Looks like a hot one in the TC today! (Yes, Chief, we know that it's twice as hot where you are ... yes, I'm leaving that comment open to interpretation.) Wunderground says that at game time it will be 89 deg (with a heat index of 96), getting cloudier throughout the evening as the rain is coming, but hopefully after the game is complete, with the winds from the S at 15mph. (Currently it's sunny, 94 deg with the heat index at 106 ... and it's a lovely upper 70s and sunny here in ChiTown ... perfect topless driving weather.) Click here to view the article

I'm impressed by Granite and willing to give him a few more at-bats. Good discipline at the plate. He's closer to ready than most prospects I've seen arrive... He just needs to see a few more MLB Talent pitches to adjust to.

Well Struck Line Drive into the LF Corner.

It was very entertaining. It looked like solid contact off the bat from the CF camera and I was thinking a double in the gap but it turned out to be a duck snort that barely alluded a leaping tiny Jose Altuve... who then threw his glove down on the ground in disgust. Because the ball was hit so softly. Granite was able to reach second on a bloopish double to CF.

Just for clarification... I do recognize that Berrios played a role. The Astros played a role. Hughes played a role. Top of the rotation starters find a way to survive the errors behind them. I get it... I truly do. I always have. However... I also recognize that it was an 8 run error. Also for clarification... I'm not calling for Polanco's head. I'd put him in the lineup again at SS but it was an 8 run error. Don't take this the wrong way but it's kind of insulting to assume that I don't know better. Peace All.

What was that Altuve?

It's not often you see an 8 run error. I'm going to mark down where I was.

For those of you scoring at home. So far the Polanco boot cost us 5 runs... Could be more It also cost Jose Berrios 31 extra pitches. That won't be more because he has been pulled. Later it will probably cost us a rested bullpen and maybe Granite or Vargas a Major league spot when they need to call up another pitcher. Ouch

Polanco is like our personal Bartman this inning.

Bummer

That's was a big one. We would have been out of the inning.

I'll see if I can write that song... Here goes Veteran Players... I've come to praise you. It took awhile just to raise you. You know the in's and you know the out's you get the benefit of the doubt. That's what I got so far. I'll have to keep working on it.

Uff Da. Berrios is gonna be pissed at you. He will probably give you a call after the game. I'd pretend you are not home.

ChiTown is Fantastic. With her help... the comprehension goes from 10% to 19%.

Back in high school I broke my index finger on my right hand playing baseball. In order to keep playing I taped my index finger to my middle finger. I was the catcher and I called for fastball and I got a curve and the ball hit the umpire. I told the ump "Sorry... we were crossed up". Went to the mound and told the pitcher that my fingers are taped together so It's only counts as a one. I told him I would make a fist when I wanted a curve. Went back... needed a curve and called for it with my fist. My fingers were still taped together so those two fingers still stuck out. Got a Fastball and the ball hit the ump.

I'm starting to think that the catcher McCann has a finger injury or something that causes him to put down two fingers all the time. Lots of curves from Morton.

Nothing like staring at blank page with no plan whatsoever.

DOZIER

I agree completely

The way are bullpen has been at times. They have to