Riverbrian

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: 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.) View full article

That's true I'll rewind it 490 more times. I should follow procedure.

Thank You Finally the confirmation I was looking for.

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.

LOL... I'm gonna give him the benefit the doubt. It was in a light bank or something or it blended into a shirt in the stands or something. But... it landed at his feet and he barely moved. It's unfortunate because no runs score if he catches that ball. You can't give extra outs to a team like the Astros and a pitcher like Gibson.

ADRIANAZA

I've looked at it 10 times now. Grossman SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT BALL

Seriously... Couldn't Grossman have caught that ball!!!!!!! Two two out hits later and a run is on the board. Seriously... Couldn't Grossman have caught that ball. Someone rewind the broadcast and tell me if I'm crazy. I've looked at it 4 times now. I think Grossman should have caught that ball fairly easy.

Grossman couldn't catch that ball hit by Bregman? Sure looked like a line drive right at him with maybe a couple steps forward. Instead he backs up a couple of steps to catch it on a hop.

I believe that Molitor has given Vargas plenty of chances this year and Vargas hasn't taken advantage. Last year... I was upset with Molitor taking chances away from Vargas when Vargas was swinging well in July. I can't say that this year. Considering everything... I still believe Vargas can be a value to us or someone else and I remain in his corner. He has great plate coverage (that ball was outer half) and he can hit the ball a long way (that ball was outer half and he pulled it deep) and he isn't horrible in the field. All I can do is sit here and pray that he figures out the plate discipline side of things because when he does... I think he will be the perfect guy to protect Sano.

I did In my opinion... The Twins could have matched that offer with very little pain suffered. Of course... that's easy to say from my living room couch.

VARGAS

Jorge reminds me of Kolten Wong. He puts the ball in play. Might be good enough to start... might be a back up. It's up to Jorge. However... It goes to show that thinking he could slide to 2B so we can comfortably trade Dozier from a position of strength was maybe a little premature. (That was not a comment that we shouldn't trade Dozier... because we still need pitching) I think Escobar should play more at this moment but I don't think Polanco should collect dust on the bench either. Tomorrow is another day.

Well Struck Line Drive into the LF Corner.

When a lot of folks were talking with great concern about his defense before the season started. It was my opinion that it was his bat that would make or break him. I still feel that way. The error against Houston was a bad one but tomorrow is another day. He's not Elite at the position but he is capable of doing a decent job. However... it remains his bat that will keep him in the majors or out of the majors. And to that... I say he is still young... let's see what happens.

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