Riverbrian

We do the gift exchange thing with our family. Complete with the stealing of gifts for the added drama. Been doing that for years and we enjoy it. This year my gift will be a charging tower but I'm still a little under budget so I'm going to throw in a Can of Kidney Beans and a hair brush.

For those who have an off-season game thread Jones, we are going to pin this up and let it roll until baseball actually returns. For those of you who are actually named Jones… the reference has nothing to do with you and I bet you think this song is bout you… don’t you… don’t you. I have no idea why Carly Simon just jumped into my head but she probably weighs less than the Counting Crows so I’m grateful. When it comes to the Twins off-season… we got a couple of new leaders who can hopefully help us believe… believe in anything… ‘cause I want to be someone who believes. OK… the Counting Crows were in my head, too. Turns out… I have room for them all in there. All game threads are meant to be fun… no offense should be given or taken. The spirit of all responses is to enjoy yourself. It’s easy… just don’t take yourself seriously and you will fit right in. All are welcome and encouraged to participate… serious thoughts and goofy thoughts and anything in between. The game thread analogy is a bunch of people sitting in the left field bleachers having a good time talking about anything. The one and only rule: No Bad Moods… don’t feel bad or make others feel bad. Have Fun! Here are some things to think about: For those who have an off-season game thread Jones, we are going to pin this up and let it roll until baseball actually returns. For those of you who are actually named Jones… the reference has nothing to do with you and I bet you think this song is bout you… don’t you… don’t you. I have no idea why Carly Simon just jumped into my head but she probably weighs less than the Counting Crows so I’m grateful. When it comes to the Twins off-season… we got a couple of new leaders who can hopefully help us believe… believe in anything… ‘cause I want to be someone who believes. OK… the Counting Crows were in my head, too. Turns out… I have room for them all in there. All game threads are meant to be fun… no offense should be given or taken. The spirit of all responses is to enjoy yourself. It’s easy… just don’t take yourself seriously and you will fit right in. All are welcome and encouraged to participate… serious thoughts and goofy thoughts and anything in between. The game thread analogy is a bunch of people sitting in the left field bleachers having a good time talking about anything. The one and only rule: No Bad Moods… don’t feel bad or make others feel bad. Have Fun! Here are some things to think about: 1. Snow – In Minnesota… snow is a seasonal reality, but truth be told, the cold in Minnesota trumps the snow we get. For example… Buffalo, New York averages 93 inches annually while Buffalo, Minnesota averages 46 inches. I guess the point is… it could be worse. Now last week… none of that mattered as a system just sat over my house and kept dropping snow. It snowed for so long… I just left the snow blower running for 3 days straight. The snow amount was perplexing but I figured it out. We had simply become trapped in a snow globe sitting on the desk of a space giant. 2. Agents – The off-season is when our thoughts turn to the Twins front office but very rarely do we think about the other side of it. The off-season is when the agents also go to work striking the best deal for their clients. It’s a tough job… A good friend of mine is a sports agent and I was having lunch with him one day. He looked out the window and he noticed one of his clients walking across the street and this pained look of disgust came across his face and he said… “Do you see that guy walking across the street… that jerk takes 90% of my money.” 3. The Winter Solstice – Wednesday, December 21st is the day of the 2016 Winter Solstice. It will be the longest night of the year. Actually… the second longest night of the year. I’m pretty sure the night I innocently told my wife that I thought her sister was kinda hot was the longest night of the year. 4. Halloween – Maybe it’s my advancing age but Halloween just doesn’t scare me anymore. People in costumes, haunted houses, piped-in ghost sounds… none of it frightens me anymore. However… the first Tuesday after Halloween… completely scares me to the bone. 5. Ice Cream – I have just one more thought for all of you... to Hell with winter. Yes, that was me walking out of the Cold Stone Creamery eating and enjoying the Banana Caramel Crunch with the temp at -3 F. I can’t be stopped. View full article

I just read through this thread and I found the KFAN commentary/opinions interesting. Personal opinion is still worth it's weight in gold because in the end... it's all that matters... however I have to ask this question and then follow it with an answer. Q: If you looked at the ratings for every single rated radio market (around 300 total)... Do you know how many markets have a Sports Talk Radio format #1 in the 6 plus demo? (6 Plus is everyone 6 years and older, Male and Female). A: 1 KFAN is #1 with a 8.9 share n October and a 8.5 share in the month of November. To put this in deserved perspective... The crew at KFAN have managed to take what is widely considered to be a niche format with narrow audience appeal and grow the audience to critical mass. Sports Formats are rarely in the top 5 in male demos even if you narrow them down to say 25-54 Male... let alone the persons demo that include female because most people are simply not sports nuts like we are. The job done by Gregg Swedberg... Chad Abbott and the entire air staff (present and past) is without question unprecedented and extraordinary. These facts don't make any of your opinions less or more valid since personal opinion is always king... but I hope everyone reads this post because not many have access to these ratings and are therefore unaware of the accomplishments of this special radio station.

I don't buy the defensive metrics they use determining a mod's value.

Thanks... I'll edit it to remove all evidence

I'll add Sano to the list but I'll draw the line at Mauer. In my opinion... Performing league average or a little bit above isn't justification for playing every day. Mauer and Polanco doing alright doesn't change our OF situation though... where nobody... other than Grossman.... performed above league average offensively.

The Twins had 3 players in 2016 who hit well enough to play everyday. Dozier (Obviously) Vargas (Who Was Benched by Molitor) Grossman (Who everybody writes off) Everybody else performed like "Other Outfielders"

Very Shocking and Very Sad News. I hurt for his loved ones

Ok... The Rays. Colome and Forsythe

Thanks... Fixed the extra S If i'm the Dodgers. I take that package the the Twins are pondering for Dozier and I offer it to the Rays and White Sox and see if that kills two birds... Closer Plus. And then I get more serious about closing the gap with the Rays and White Sox because of the two birds. The Twins go on the back burner.

I think Lavelle is a solid reporter. But I am finding Berardino to better socially and therefore more useful.

With no inside information at all. My own brain made this up. I am concerned the Twins and Dodgers trade becomes less possible if Kenley doesn't sign with the Dodgers. Consider: If Kenley signs with the Marlins: 1. That would mean that the Nats and Dodgers are without closer and I assume that neither of those teams will want to start the season with a Kintzler type on the back end because there is way too much invested... I also believe that Signing Holland and calling it good is also risky. Holland is someone you sign when you have an insurance policy in place. The Dodgers and Nats don't have that insurance policy... Closer has to be addressed. 2. This puts David Robertson front and center as soon as Jansen signs. (Unless the Yankees are willing to trade Bettences)... (which they might). 3. Robertson can be packaged with Frazier and that package could be more important than Dozier alone to the Dodgers. 4. The Rays would also be able to offer a package of Colome and Forsythe or Colome and Longoria and that package could be more important than Dozier alone. 5. Next fall back option at closer is Feliz. It would irresponsible for the Nats and Dodgers to not sign a closer with talent and a track record. The game of closer musical chairs is running out of chairs. The Nats and Dodgers will have to pay a higher price for Robertson. I believe the Dodgers will be forced to push a Dozier deal back to concentrate on a closer and if the Dodgers have to look at closer... and they do. The price tag will probably include the players the Twins covet. SO If Jansen signs with the Nats or Marlins. Dozier won't be traded to LA

Joe Mauer occasionally

And... And... the accuracy of both shoes is fairly impressive. According to my source. He's the 4th piece coming over to the Twins in the soon to be announced Dozier Deal!!!

North Atlantic Cod that can do long division accurately

Our finest manager in franchise history

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/3401898489.gif

Hold on... That's an "Ick" Don't change the rules on me.

Even fans who understand them.,, Don't understand them.

I get the Eaton value. I think the Nationals got a good player but for that price... I'm surprised that the Nationals couldn't have gotten Robertson along with Eaton in the deal. The Nats need some back end of the bullpen work.

What if the White Sox would take the same package for Frazier and Robertson that the Twins would take for Dozier. Now what would you do? Now the Dodgers don't have to spend FA sized dollars for Chapman and Turner. Seems cheaper to me.

I think we are going to find out

The Twins better make a deal soon. Because... it's plausible in my mind that the White Sox are going to be offering the Dodgers Frazier and Robertson. If the Dodgers like that package and I'd imagine they would. The White Sox could pick off the guys the Twins want.

Rumors being floated that 4 or 5 teams are in on Brian Dozier. Rumors being floated that the Dodgers are looking at Solarte for 2nd Base. Both Rumors probably floated by the Twins and the Dodgers to get each other's attention... So... I assume the Dodgers are still the front runner. It's my logic and it holds no value.