Riverbrian

This Israel guy has (I assume) never experienced anything like the media crush he got hit with and he dropped the ball. I think we can all assume that the investigation is still in progress and for him to make such statements as "sick to my stomach" has to be extremely premature and certainly isn't typical of press conferences from law enforcement leaders who are usually very careful of what information they release while an investigation is still in progress. Even if he knew without a doubt that Peterson was indeed a coward... You typically don't see supervisors throw employees under the bus like that. It certainly lacks a basic understanding of what happens next because he turned him into human chum in that environment. I can say that I would personally hate to work for a guy like that and I would have to imagine that his employees have seen him now... when the **** hits the fan. I thought that Peterson was going to become the primary target of the far right to change the debate. Turns out it's going to be Israel with 74 Florida House Republicans already calling for his suspension. Nobody is going to wait until the investigation is complete because everyone is running on emotion and a big time offense forces immediate defense, and nobody has the time because those kids have been incredible. This has been very interesting to watch because the NRA has never been punched like this.

I'm for improving this team in any way possible. I'm for gathering assets any way possible. I'm happy with the signing because LoMo can help us win games. Many people forget that LoMo has also played 254 career games in the outfield. I have always wanted 25 guys who can play and roster flexibility so everyone can actually play by moving some people around from time to time to accommodate. I assume he isn't Byron Buxton in the OF but I also assume that he can play some OF so Sano can DH and Escobar can play 3B on occasion or if necessary. LoMo playing some OF doesn't mean that Kepler gets splinters if the manager gets it. A creative manager can rotate players around. We need power insurance because we don't know what is going to happen to Sano this year. I'm hoping LoMo can hit 40 dingers. I also don't believe it is necessary to cut Vargas to make room although that will probably happen. Because he can play a little OF... You could in theory cut Adrianaza or Grossman to make room although that probably won't happen.

Attacking the money is always going to get my applause. I'm a single issue guy and that single issue is campaign finance reform (actual effective campaign finance reform without truck sized loopholes). I realize it probably won't happen in my lifetime but I will remain in the middle, on the sidelines and I won't get very serious about politics until I know the money is out. The NRA campaign donations are certainly something that bugs me and they help get people elected and the money does influence our lives. However, the true strength of the NRA is the single mindedness of the membership and the ability to mobilize this membership. The NRA has adopted this no compromise attitude and the members get the newsletters, refuse to compromise and they back this up by actually voting. The NRA has ended the careers of politicians who have opposed them. If you want to beat them... Yep... Make it harder for them to fund raise and this may be starting to happen because this new movement actually has potential if they can sustain it. However... more importantly... The NRA survives and flourishes despite being on the minority side of opinion because they can mobilize while the other side just kind of... bitches about it... at best. But here come the kids. If they can get the kids engaged and I think they can because the kids are rarely given the time of day politically. By taking them seriously... you are building engagement that will last until they are actually able to show that engagement at the ballot box. To beat the NRA... You have to grow an equal sized base of similar uncompromising individuals on the other side who are prepared to yield their votes like NRA Membership does and the gun safety side simply hasn't had the single-mindedness on the issue to compete. Like I said... I'm anti political but I do watch from the sidelines and this is the first time that I have ever felt that the opposition has a legitimate chance of a fair fight with the NRA Giant. Those kids can change it all. Let the kids speak and support them. They will get more teens and they will pull from the majority middle... let the adults build the infrastructure to inform and mobilize this new unified base that the kids will bring in and let the adults find the corporate sponsors, and strategically target the elected officials who do not act in their best interest just like the NRA does. My campaign finance reform issue isn't going to be solved soon so the best I can do is hope for balance and that means heavyweights on both sides of all issues. I give my full-throated support to those kids for this reason.

It isn’t acceptable and whenever this type of thing happens. I imagine it is handled and he would be handled in the usual way. However... this one has the additional punishment of an audience size that will crush him. If he froze... he probably wasn’t the first officer to freeze in the line of duty. I leave it up to law enforcement to determine if they need a Leavenworth to house the terrible cops. If forced to offer an opinion... I’d say we have too many people in prison as it is but I’ve never had to discipline people with life or death responsibility. I do believe this tho... If the debate shifts from the kids to the cop. The NRA will win.

Right now he has resigned and been suspended without pay. He had been publicly called out by his commander and called a coward by the President of the USA. He probably has a scarlet letter that he is wearing around town. He is also about to become the very center of a debate about arming teachers as the left and right wing throw him around like a rag doll. Does he deserve more liability? Fines? Jail? Public Service?

Yep If the NRA is going to bleed you gotta keep the wound open because when the middle goes back to the middle... the NRA will go back to getting people elected.

I never accused you of accusing him. Ok... it seems that a few of us have placed a lesser importance on this guy and we end up talking past each other so let’s go where you want. This guy was very disappointing. On this we agree. It can’t be argued. He was the wrong officer at the wrong time. What should we do with him?

I get your point. He may have saved a life or two. It is quite possible he wasn’t good at his job. He is about to get raked over the coals as the masses look for someone to throw misguided angst at. He is Bartman. He shouldn’t be in law enforcement but he didn’t wake up that morning intending to be evil.

Maybe he didn’t follow his training. Maybe... he was shaking like a quivering mass of disappointing goo and basically worthless. However he didn’t kill anyone. Anger at him is a distraction. In my opinion.

I wonder if they had movie theaters in Russia when Charlie Wilson’s War came out?

Yep... Follow the money. If something doesn’t make sense politically. You just ask yourself. How is it paid for and the reason becomes clear. No sense getting angry about it. If we can’t recognize it and band together to force effective campaign finance reform that actually works... we will deserve it.

That is how the game is played. The republicans introduce it and force the democrats to come down on the unpopular side. I’ll bet money that individual Republicans could give a crap themselves but they know it influences the sheep.

I think what Chief was saying... Well.. Ok what I'm saying. If you find yourself thinking... We don't need Darvish because Enlow will be here in 3 years. I'd rather you wait for the actual hatching and go ahead and sign Darvish. If it is January and you find yourself thinking... We don't need Lance Lynn... Gonsalves can get the job done even though Gonsalves has never ever gotten the job done before. I'd say that was unnecessarily risky. I think Chief understands the importance of building your organization with development. Well... OK... I think I do anyway.

Hats off to the Grand Forks Natives The Lamoureux Twins.

Exhibit A Actually Exhibit ZZZ This is why I never count those minor league chickens before they hatch.

With sincere apology to you Nick. After Darvish rumors all winter. I've opted not to read this article and the responses. I'm hoping this way the Twins can surprise me. BTW... This photo looks nothing like me.

Maybe they know other teams will also try to sneak players through waivers and they'd like to have a spot to pounce on one they like.

Post of the Day!!! You are ready for the game threads.

The decline of the Panda could also be explained by the fact that he swung at everything and he got exploited more efficiently. I'm not saying anything definite. I'm just saying.

I personally do not know his work out habits... routines... diet... genetics or attitude. I personally will try to be a little careful making any assumptions about his work out habits... routines... diet... genetics or attitude.

Exactly The Twins didn't have a gun to their head. The only gun to their head was in the hand of the owner dictating that payroll has to be reduced. I think it is reasonable to assume that the Twins were not the only team that called the Rays about Odorizzi. They considered all the discussions and traded for the guy that their scouting department liked the best. That's how trades are supposed to work. No one got fleeced yet.

I'm with ya on this. However... it's a strange place for me to be. Before the off-season started I never dreamed the Twins would be in the hunt for a top end starter so I was hoping for complete focus on the bullpen and creativity with the rotation such as moving someone out of a bullpen role into the rotation like Minor. Now that Darvish was supposedly in play... My mindset has changed and now I can't shake the desire for a top end guy that will push the others down a notch. However... If they don't grab that top end guy... I will remained heartened by one thing. The Twins have quality depth and that hasn't been the case for quite a few years. We shouldn't have to throw a Cole DeVries or Scott Diamond type pitcher for 20 plus starts just to get through the season. I think this could be huge.

Welcome to Twinsdaily

Is it possible to absolutely love a trade while at the same time being underwhelmed by the level of improvement it brings your team? If so... that might be where I am.

What I remember when watching Odorizzi... Very quiet delivery... doesn't even look like he's trying. He was always more effective at the top of the zone. He'd throw some high cheese around 90 at the letters and batters couldn't seem to catch up with it. He's also got a nice little change that has a little drop at the end of it. Don't remember seeing many breaking pitches but I'll get a chance to watch him more. He's a good average MLB Pitcher that we didn't pay a ton for. Hat tipped to the front office. I still wanted Darvish tho