Riverbrian

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

Does Forbes have anything on Seth Stohs?

Break time is over… back to work everyone because we got to make the donuts and these donuts won’t make themselves. The Twins will all meet up in Houston to take on the mighty Astros for a 3-game series and that can be a bit of a challenge when you consider that the Astros win almost every game they play. What do we hope for in the 2nd half of the season? Myself personally… I want donuts. I want the pitching staff and defense to hang as many donuts on the scoreboard as possible. Just regular cake donuts each inning is what I’m talking about. An occasional Long John is tolerable but not too many. There are no two- or three- or four-shaped donuts that I’m aware of… I’m good with the donuts thing. Here are some things to think about: Break time is over… back to work everyone because we got to make the donuts and these donuts won’t make themselves. The Twins will all meet up in Houston to take on the mighty Astros for a 3-game series and that can be a bit of a challenge when you consider that the Astros win almost every game they play. What do we hope for in the 2nd half of the season? Myself personally… I want donuts. I want the pitching staff and defense to hang as many donuts on the scoreboard as possible. Just regular cake donuts each inning is what I’m talking about. An occasional Long John is tolerable but not too many. There are no two- or three- or four-shaped donuts that I’m aware of… I’m good with the donuts thing. Here are some things to think about: 1. Houston – When you combine nearby oil and a good port, a connoisseur will probably notice and spit it back into the glass. Every sommelier will also tell that the combination also creates a boomtown and this boomtown is still booming. Demographers have said that Houston will surpass Chicago shortly and become the 3rd largest city in the United States and maybe then… Houston will finally get a hockey team. Houston city planners are obviously zoned out because the city doesn’t have any zoning laws and this means a Dunkin Donuts can be built right next to your house or you a factory next to a church or train tracks above a left field wall or a hill with a flag pole next to center. 2. Our Twins – All-Star Break Math for You. The left hand column is bigger than the right hand column with a record of 45-43. The Twins are in 2nd place in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind the Indians and currently just one game out of the Wild Card behind the Yankees and Rays. The Twins are 18th in runs scored and 28th in runs allowed. As it stands… the Twins will draft 20th next year while the Cubs draft 18th. Jim Pohlad is worth $3.6 billion and Seth Stohs is worth a little less than that. Alright… obviously… I can’t verify the previous sentence with complete certainty. 3. The Astros – How good have the Astros been this year? Here comes the perspective… last year the Cubs won 103 games with a .640 winning percentage. The Astros right now have a .674 winning percentage so they have been better. Yeah… I know… stats can be twisted into anything. OK… how 'bout this… last year the Twins won 59 games and the Astros have already won 60 this year. However… as good as the Astros have been… they do not have the best record in MLB, because that distinction belongs to the Dodgers who have been buoyed by getting rid of Jose DeLeon. It is rough getting the Astros when you are fighting for a playoff spot in July but it could be worse. Just imagine, hypothetically, if we had to face the Dodgers in July as well… Uff Da. Sometimes hypothetical situations can be quite scary with an active imagination. We should probably do without hypothetical situations to keep things calm so I’ll just imagine a world with no hypothetical situations. 4. Today’s Joe M Conversation: McCarthy: So, the Cubs picked up Quintana from the White Sox. How do you feel about that, Joe? Maddon: I am head over heels happy about it. Montana: Umm… everybody’s head is over their heels. That is normal human… umm… stuff. Maddon: OK… I’m just happy then. McCarthy: Congratulations, Joe… we should go celebrate. Let’s try that new Italian place. Mauer: No, no, no… I’m not paying again. I always pay when we go someplace. Montana: We’ll go Dutch. Maddon: That’ll work. Mauer: No, no, no… I’m not wearing those uncomfortable wooden shoes again. McCarthy: If you don’t wear the shoes… we can’t go Dutch. Mauer: All right… damn it… I’ll pay. 5. Exception to the rule – I really don’t know what to do with this new information I just read about. Scientists in New Mexico have discovered that there is an exception to the rule that states that there are exceptions to every rule. ____________________ Lineups: TWINS Brian Dozier 2B Zack Granite LF Miguel Sano 3B Max Kepler RF Robbie Grossman DH Kennys Vargas 1B Jorge Polanco SS Jason Castro C Byron Buxton CF Jose Berrios P ASTROS George Springer CF Jose Altuve 2B Josh Reddick RF Carlos Correa SS Brian McCann C Carlos Beltran DH Yulieski Gurriel 1B Marwin Gonzalez LF Alex Bregman 3B Charlie Morton P Weather: 89 deg F with 72% humidity = a heat index of 97. Yuck. But that's better than the current 100 with 73% humidity = a heat index of 119. Double yuck. Partly cloudy with a breeze at 8mph from the SSE. Play ball and keep hydrated!! Go Twins! View full article

Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes were the same year 13-14 Off Season. Santana was the following year. The other thing to consider... If the Twins need to find 3 MLB Quality arms in one off season. Almost every team in the majors will be looking for one or two as well. Supply and Demand is going to be prohibitive. Because of this... I just don't see the Twins trading Santana and rolling out the kids out and I think it increases the possibility that Gibson will be brought back. I'd non-tender Gibby at the end of the year but the best solution in Falvine's eyes may be to bring him back and ... FIX HIM!!!!

Sano just showed us how the Twins can reach the World Series this year. Win a non eventful matchup against a Moustakas type team in round one. Face and beat a Sanchez type team like that just upset the mighty Stanton(Astros) type team. And... And... Sano did it without decent pitching. See Everyone... Anything is possible in Baseball!!!

If in contention. Kintzler is the only player I would move.

Oddly... this puts me in the position of having to defend Gibson. I don't want to do that Anyway... 7 out of his last 9 starts have given the team a chance to win. I don't disagree that Gibson could be sent down. I'm just not ready to go untested unless necessary while in contention.

My Answer is: I've seen enough. The Twins need to get very serious about moving below average performance off the roster because that's how you fix it. Gibson has been given enough time to be at least average and hasn't gotten it done. I'd move on. However... I know there is a strong contingent of TD'ers who feel that we should just bring the kids up. I understand that sentiment but I am not part of that crowd. I'm probably not going to cut Gibson until they are out of contention or a pitcher shows that he is an improvement over Gibson. I'll roll with Gibson's 6.00 until you know for sure you have a pitcher that will throw a 5.00... I'm not cutting Gibson just to throw Gonsalves out there in case Gonsalves looks like Berrios did last year and puts up an 9.00 If I had to choose between Gibson and Jorge... As long as we are in contention... It's Gibson right now. In the off-season... it should get real interesting. Will the Twins offer arbitration to Gibby? Berrios and Mejia will be locks for 2018 if healthy. Santiago I'm assuming will leave via Free Agency May is doing the Tommy John dance... You can't assume he will be back by opening day. Santana... Is possible trade bait. If the Twins don't sign Gibson or Santiago... (I don't think they should) and if they trade Santana. They will have to find 3 quality major league arms that will match up with the improving offense and defense. I know that some will immediately look to minor league options but you need them for depth. Romero, Jorge and Haley will be 40 man depth and I assume the Twins will have to add some starters to the 40 man. Gonsalves? Stewart? That's about right for depth... You'll need around 10 arms to get through a season and keep the Nic Turley's away. Does anyone think the Twins can go out and bring in 3 quality Major League Arms in a single off-season? I haven't seen them do anything like that before? This makes me think that either Santana is going nowhere or Gibson will be offered Arb and given another chance.

Oddly... I don't get as upset when the blown call benefits us.

I agree... however... there are some players who... well... you can see it and when that happens I don't feel like waiting for the metrics to roll in. Normally... I ask for patience with a prospect because they look silly in the first AB's. Right now... I'm seeing patience and asking for the prospect.

Way too early But that doesn't stop me.

It's always a consideration especially when you can acquire pitching with it. However, regardless... I have never been nor will ever be a starting lineup guy. Give me 25 guys who can play and have a manager who can figure it out so nobody collects dust on the bench. With the DH position and Kepler having the ability to play 1B as well. Keeping Granite will give you 7 guys who can produce for 5 positions. Rotate the players around with playing time augmented for the hot hands and you can make it work. The question is who do you pull off the 25 man to make room when Mauer comes back. That would be the guy that Molitor doesn't play. Adrianaza.

I've seen enough Granite needs to stay

Sincerely, Hosken Bombo Disco

Like I mentioned earlier. It's a small sample size with just two at bats. But... It was his very first two at bats. That's usually when nerves make you do something stupid. He calmly took some strikes to get a look at what he was working with. He looked awfully professional. I'm voting to keep him right now.