Riverbrian

You can probably trade him and sign him as an FA. So unless Zuke is needed for a 2016 playoff run or the development of Berrios?

And so the 2nd half begins… Actually… it’s not exactly the 2nd half… the final 45 percent of 2016 begins tonight. For the players it’s a return from vacation and as most of you know… vacations can be refreshing and exactly what is needed to re-charge those batteries. This has to be a Twins advantage because only one Twins player was forced to work the All-Star game, and every other team in the American League had 12 players participating and unable to refresh themselves. Here are some things to think about: And so the 2nd half begins… Actually… it’s not exactly the 2nd half… the final 45 percent of 2016 begins tonight. For the players it’s a return from vacation and as most of you know… vacations can be refreshing and exactly what is needed to re-charge those batteries. This has to be a Twins advantage because only one Twins player was forced to work the All-Star game, and every other team in the American League had 12 players participating and unable to refresh themselves. Here are some things to think about: 1. Hawaii – Perhaps the top vacation destination in the world, Hawaii is actually hundreds of islands all connected by water. The most populated island is Oahu and it was named after the noise that people make when they are in mid-air while jumping into a pool, or a similar noise that people make in mid-air while jumping into a giant vat of creamed corn. It is a 10-hour flight from Minneapolis to Honolulu and a 15 year walk. 2. Wisconsin Dells – Perhaps the 2nd most popular vacation destination in the world is located in south-central-ish Wisconsin. Tourists come to ride the ducks and enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way. The Ducks of the Dells and actual ducks are hard to tell apart but there are a couple ways that you can differentiate them. The Dell Ducks have tires… actual ducks don’t. Actual ducks will eat snails, worms, grass and weeds and the Dell Ducks have tires. The Dell Ducks can float in water and actual ducks eat snails, worms, grass and leaves. Typically, actual ducks don’t allow people to ride them but this isn’t always the case so you really can’t use that as a method to tell them apart. 3. Elbow Lake – Perhaps the 3rd most popular vacation destination in the world is one of the many 10,000 (really 20,000) lakes located within our Minnesota borders. This lake is unique because it is made entirely of elbows. A couple years ago tourism was threatened because of a severe outbreak of psoriasis, and the crisis was managed effectively with a clever use of long sleeves. 4. Belarus – Perhaps the 4th most popular vacation destination in the world is this little land locked gem located in Eastern Europe. Tourists started arriving in droves to sample the national dish, Draniki, which is a potato pancake that is impossible to make anywhere else because of a shortage of pans. While visiting… tourists are entertained by watching live corruption performances from politicians who openly engage in bribery, extortion, embezzlement and gombeenism in front of sold out audiences. 5. Chief’s House – Nobody knows why but the sudden interest in vacationing at Chief’s House in Arizona has caught the attention of Conde Nast and Wal-Mart Travel. Tourists come to raise dehydration levels, practice roadrunner catching and participate in cactus puncture wound contests; and when worn out by these activities, take turns sitting in Chief's Ekornes lounger at which point he completes the experience by running out of his house yelling 'GET OFF MY LAWN!' The economy in the area is booming from this influx of tourism and also from workers moving to the area looking for employment in advance of the soon-to-be-constructed massive wall promised by Trump. _____________________ Lineups: INDIANS Carlos Santana (S) DH Jason Kipnis (L) 2B Francisco Lindor (S) SS Mike Napoli [R) 1B Jose Ramirez (S) 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L) RF Yan Gomes [R) C Tyler Naquin (L) CF Rajai Davis [R) LF Carlos Carrasco (R] P TWINS Eduardo Nunez [R) SS Joe Mauer (L) 1B Miguel Sano [R) 3B Brian Dozier [R) 2B Max Kepler (L) RF Kennys Vargas (S) DH Robbie Grossman (S) LF Kurt Suzuki [R) C Byron Buxton [R) CF Ervin Santana (R] P Game-time forecast: 74 deg F, partly cloudy, 23% chance of rain, winds at 4mph from the WSW. Play ball! Go Twins! View full article

If I truly went back in time. Jepsen wouldn't have been my target. With or without hindsight. In all honestly... When I say that if I could go back in time... knowing what Jepsen would pitch like in 2016 and still make that trade. I'm saying it from the standpoint of specifically Jepsen because that was the player acquired and the standpoint of needing bullpen help badly in June and July while the team was leading everybody else in the wild card chase. If I could truly go back in time to June and July 2015.. I would have been hell bent on acquiring two better relievers and getting it done long before the deadline to help the team as soon as possible. It was very difficult to watch July go by with nothing being done. Once the Jepsen trade was made... I was happy something... anything got done but that happiness was mixed with a dose of being underwhelmed and pretty large dose of disappointment that it took so long to be underwhelmed. I was pleasantly surprised by his performance in 2015 but still knew in my heart of hearts that the overall ball was dropped. Then came the off-season... The same mistake again. Another chance to take a team that almost made the playoffs and support them with guys who can protect leads and another chance not taken.

I love it!!! Rod Carew was my baseball hero growing up. I'm honored that he is being honored. So much so... that I almost feel like I'm a part of it. #29 meant that much to me. Rod Carew is probably the main reason that I have become baseball obsessed. Although... I still blame him for ruining my age 13 baseball year because I was trying to copy his batting stance and it didn't really work out. I hit much better when I changed to John Castino style instead.

Nick's point in the article is very interesting and something I hadn't thought about before. If you won't sign a reliever to a multi-year deal. Why indeed would you trade for it instead? You end up paying the money and giving up the talent. I'm not going to be able to wrap my arms around it now that I'm aware of it. As for the trade itself... If I could go back in time... And I knew how Jepsen would perform this year... I would still go back and make that trade. I don't care if the Twins were not supposed to be in contention last year... They were in contention... and when a team is in contention... Don't question it or even doubt it... Support it... Go for it... For a GM to not try in that context... is like an infielder not moving his feet to pick up a grounder with a two run lead in the 8th. We needed at least two solid bullpen arms when July started... waiting until July was almost over to acquire just one is not moving your feet. The GM did not have the back of his players when they needed it most last year. The month of July was when I started to doubt my prior support of Terry Ryan. This off-season was when that doubt started to harden and what has happened this year was all I needed to feel strongly that we need someone else making these decisions. The infielder who doesn't move his feet can be benched... the GM... not so much apparently.

I'm in complete lockstep with String. I liked his work in the bullpen and I felt it was necessary for him to remain in the bullpen since the bullpen wasn't significantly addressed. That thinking was based on the Twins possibly contending. With them out of contention... Stretch May Out and see if he can be part of the SP solution in 2017.

In my opinion. If he has improved... it's on pure skill. He's still vulnerable to anything on the outside. He still knocks the majority of batted balls into the air. Next time he bats... Watch the Swing... It's a consistent upper cut. The upper cut will explain the K Rate. He needs to keep his bat in the zone longer. The Tale of Two Buxton's. In my mind... It's the Buxton that he could be and the Buxton that he isn't yet. The Epoch of Belief and the Epoch of Incredulity... The Spring of Hope and the Summer of Despair... We have everything before us in Buxton and we have nothing before us in Buxton.

Yeah... Minnesota always waits for me

That's like travelling across the Atlantic and turning around a mile from the Spanish Coast.

Most people need a big old burley catcher to threaten them... no matter what job needs to be done.

I'll take my accolades when I get back

yeah... You can't have everything.

I'm gonna watch Vargas do some damage and then I'll take a quick walk and get back for the final couple innings.

SANO

How Bout? Random People poking their heads out of the fur

LOL I love BARK ART!!!

When The I.T. Guy would stop my office and tell me he had to update something. I'd look at him... Put my finger over my lips and go Shhhhh I.T. And he go quiet and wait until I said... Ok... go ahead. He didn't get it until the 4th time I did that. And then he started laughing.

"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" is my favorite. These young girls won't let me be

Amen Let's eat In my house Amen... was always followed with "Let's Eat"

So far... in the past two days. C.J. Cron of the Angels is 0-5 at the Plate with 4 RBI's. Not a big deal but it's kind of an interesting stat line.

Add a Water Bowl and have Kyle Gibson... Paul Molitor and Some Minions in the water.

The Hair is perfect