SkyBlueWaters

I looked it up: Arizona has an extreme DUI law for 0.15+, and a super extreme for 0.20+. LaRussa this most recent time was .09, right? Not excusing drunk driving--far from it. But Arizona is rightfully pretty hard-core: "Arizona is a no-tolerance state for driving under the influence, or DUI, meaning you can be arrested with a blood-alcohol content of less than the legal limit of 0.08 percent." Just curious: What evidence do you have of his "long history of advocating" for far right causes? Outside of baseball activity, I've only heard of stuff like his being vegetarian and founding the animal rescue organization: https://www.arflife.org/ Other than that, he set up the A's players dancing the Nutcracker with the Oakland ballet for charity. This from the SF Chronicle: "Tony La Russa was just getting started as the A’s manager when he persuaded some of his players to dance in the Oakland Ballet’s “Nutcracker” holiday performance in 1986 to benefit the arts organization, and photos recently found in The Chronicle’s archive show ace Dave Stewart, slugger Mark McGwire and others getting into the Christmas spirit." https://www.sfchronicle.com/thetake/article/When-the-Oakland-A-s-of-the-Bash-Brothers-era-12431192.php I'm not saying he isn't a boogaloo bois or some such, I'd just never heard anything like it. I knew he was old school in his approach to baseball, and his pathetic comments on Kapernick (which he has backed off on). BTW, I never rooted for him. Quite the contrary, always rooted against his teams. But as baseball seems less colorful in recent years, I'd thought he'd add some spice now to the Twins/Chisox rivalry. But what do I know ...

Bringing fans back in attendance is a fascinating question. Ran a quick search, and found this: https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/sports-canceled-covid-nba-nhl-nfl-ncaa-nascar-soccer-league-season-tournament/ Decisions were made this spring and summer while leaders were still figuring out the virus. We all saw the (understandable) waffling and 2nd guessing. By spring training we'll have 12 months of information, not weeks (think back to March 2020, the uncertainty at the abrupt end of spring training). We'll have more info on outdoor attendance, and expert opinion on the virus, too. Still, it's like leaders trying to get kids back in schools. You can't blame parents who put safety first. Don't know what the answers are. Maybe prorated contracts, based on whatever the new normalcy becomes, will be the compromise.

Anyone who has been paying attention to what Tony LaRussa has been saying after he signed on with the Chisox has heard a version of this. A bit surprising to hear a manager say, “It’s actually easier to win now than ever if you’re allowed to use your powers of observation and experience. It really is.” He claims this because of the recent changes in the game that started with what was once called SABRmetrics. (I know, outmoded.) LaRussa says he is not against analytics, he is all for getting as much pertinent information as he can. But after that he makes the point that if your opponent is giving you so much open field, use it. He is all for advancing runners rather than relying on the long ball, when the situation dictates. I've never rooted for any of his teams (to the contrary), but 2021 could be a very interesting season, particularly in the ALC. How many days to spring training? Wait, what? It's only November ... which?

I can't recall ever seeing a worse kicking game by a pro or college football team. I get that it was covid-caused, but still. I suppose I should be grateful they made the extra points and a 29 yard field goal. They had kickoffs and punts that didn't go that far. Michigan played a good game. we'll see if they don't rise in the rankings over the course of the season--at least until they get to Ohio State. If we get our players back, the Gophs may do better in their next couple of games, and maybe they'll be ready for Iowa.

OMG. I can't get the image of Buxton swinging at those Astros curveballs in the dirt out my mind's eye. Did it just get colder all of a sudden?

Good question. I was stunned recently to read of the number of people, since 2008, who have moved from California to Texas. I'd have thought 100K to 200K a lot but believable. The article stated that it's 700,000! I won't stray off topic too far except to include its speculation that Texas might be shading from red to purple. Back to the point, that's a lot of people in Texas who might still follow the Dodgers. Further, my understanding is that part of the success of the BigTen channel was the number of alums who enjoy watching their alma mater now living far away, in other cities or states. A lot of Americans now have connections to more than one place. MLB probably realizes a pretty penny on those tickets, during this weird * of a year.

every time I hear the fans in Texas doing their tomahawk chop chant for the Braves, or the LA fans cheering let’s go Dodgers, I recall this string. Given how the pandemic has played out, it wasn’t that far fetched to see MLB letting fans back in the stands.

Last year was the most fun I've had as a Gophers football fan in ... years. Right now, I'm hoping the Gophs can wash the bad taste of the baseball playoffs out of my mouth. Be sweet to start off the weird season by bringing the Little Brown Jug home. Did anyone notice how the national telecasters last year kept referring to the 2019 Gophers as the winningest Minnesota team since 1904? Mildly annoying. How about the Gophers' teams that won three national championships in the mid 1930s, and from 1933 through the first four games of 1936 they went 24-0-4? That's right, 28 games without a defeat. How does that stretch stack up against the 1904 squad, which played high school teams in compiling those 13 wins? I get that they were going for the prior team with the most wins in a single season. But as often as the national sportscasters spoke of 1904, you'd think one of them might have done the research and noticed the last team to win three consecutive national titles.

Not weird at all. Baseball has a number of analysts now who can articulate complex thoughts. John Smoltz is great. I hear Mike Krukow frequently, and enjoy the way he breaks down the game, even to the point of analyzing different umpires' strike zones. Harrelson, conversely, repeated the same stupid phrases throughout games over and over. After a strikeout, "he gone." For any pop-up to the OF, "can of corn." Middle school children are capable of more thoughtful analysis. Armed with crayons, providing more color, too.

From https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/mlb-postseason-bubble-playoffs.html " ... It also appears that there’s been some discussion of allowing fans in a limited capacity, as commissioner Rob Manfred suggested last night in an online event with Hofstra University’s business school (link via Evan Drellich of The Athletic). Whether that possibility is woven into the agreement is not yet clear." That some people would pay good money to fly to Texas or California to see their team in the playoffs in such a peculiar time, and be part of a select few allowed in, socially distanced, wouldn't surprise me. I mean, I have little interest in a motorcycle rally in Sturgis SD. But to see the Twins in the ALCS or World Series?

One additional possibility: I'm not sure MLB has yet given up on the possibility of some fans in attendance. Local laws apply. Texas, I've heard, is so far a bit more lax in terms of permitting attendance. Not saying it's a good reason, just saying it's a possibility. About the elimination of off days during the ALDS and ALCS, teams deep in starters should also benefit from this. If a rotation is top heavy with two or three dominant pitchers (as Washington was last year), they can use those off days to rest their horses. I'd like to say Berrios or Maeda have dominant track records, but if you look at their whole careers, they haven't put up the numbers of a Verlander or a Cole (Houston, '17). But with no off days, our collection of very, very good no. 2 - 3 starters gives us depth. I'd still like to see someone like MadBum in his prime pitching for us, but this has a chance to help us, should we get past the first round.

"Seven of the eight teams in the AL playoff spots are basically guaranteed to make it. Keep an eye of the Yankees/Orioles series to determine who will have a shot to make it." Probably true, but note that Toronto has 7 games with the Yankees, 3 with the Mets and 4 with the Phillies, before finishing with the surprising Orioles. Unlikely for the Orioles or Tigers to get hot and take that 8th spot--but this year has been nothing but strange. (I am kind of pulling for Gardy in Detroit.)

Baseball has been so incredibly welcome. Something sane in the world. Liking the runner on 2nd more than expected. Good tension, which is what extra innings should have. Agreed about the umps' bad calls, would like to have seen MLB try robo-umps. The expanded playoffs is awful; really prefer a regular season with tense races, but so little has been regular in baseball or life this season. Still worry about a bad C-19 outbreak. Want to see these guys make it to the playoff bubbles. Mostly: I am so glad to have baseball.

I agree with many of the comments above, especially re the peculiarities of this season and wanting more of a sustained track record of excellence before we deal away emerging talent--at a time when MLB places a premium on prospects. That said, I don't think many of us are content with the Twins simply making the playoffs. From 1968 to 1980 the Vikings won 11 division titles yet lost their final game each season. Everyone who is happy with that record raise their hands. Me neither. Further, as much fun as the Twins have been in '19 and so far '20, I have one key metric in mind: Yankee Stadium in October. We don't have to win the pennant there, but if we lose it there ... our record this century with NYY begins to feel like the Bud Grant Vikings. Some HOF players to celebrate, but that last game ... I believe in Berrios (we have to), he's better than his start. Odorizzi, past his back issues, could be part of a trio of aces. I like Maeda. Maybe not the top playoffs gun, but quality rotation depth. Dobnak's reliance on the sinker concerns me in the playoffs, against MLB's best lineups. Trying to be upbeat, maybe he's a quality 4th starter or invaluable relief strength. Maybe Hill, Pineda, or Bailey will emerge as consistent quality. But it's four series, possibly as many as 22 games to go the distance, and only one team is going to win 13 playoff games and get to go snorkeling in champagne at the end. If the Twins could add a real horse, hopefully under team control for a few years as we look to contending now, someone who slots in at the top of the rotation, ready to go deep into games against baseball's best, I could see making a deal. Classic recent example: Houston adding Verlander. We have pitching depth, to deal away a back of the rotation starter to fill in for some innings the trade partner loses. We have prospects. As it might take more than one, we have once high prospects who've had issues (maybe Gordon?) who might sweeten a deal. I get that teams might be reluctant to deal this year. So maybe no dice. But I've also been to Yankee stadium. An unpleasant place, with spoiled fans bragging about buying away other teams' talent. I don't like watching their players snorkeling in champagne at the end of a season, either.

The Cardinals are trying to play 21 games in the last 17 days of the month, 55 games by the end of September. This is unprecedented in our lifetimes, and I find it fascinating. Anyone who likes Ernie "let's play two" Banks should be all over this. So much divisiveness and bad news in the world; thank god for baseball. I'm loving the experimentation going on! Hate to see what has brought baseball to this point, but glad to see the resiliency.

First, I really hope you are right. I hope the full 60 games are played for everyone, and we have no further postponements. What concerns me is how one Marlin (the commissioner says they know who he is, but obviously are respecting privacy) introduced the virus which rippled through the schedules of several teams. How is it the NCAA can host multiple teams for the college world series but MLB, which is experimenting so much already--extra innings starting with runners in scoring position, 7 inning doubleheaders, etc., couldn't take similar quarantine measures? Is there some need for larger stadia that I'm missing? Again, I really hope they play all the games. I'm just concerned about another outbreak. The point wouldn't be to stop all travel, but to further what MLB has already done, minimizing travel, keeping people safe. I get that the regional networks want evening games. I don't think that would be so hard. I'm glad they're playing. So much bleak news of late. It's a joy to see the game again. A friend who initially disliked the cardboard cutouts now has grown used to them and compares it to the Sgt. Pepper album cover. Fun to see.

Good defense is a winner in all sports, and Bieber showed that last night. Poor Berrios made few mistakes, but we still lost. Last night's game showed us what we need to acquire if we are to advance in the post-season. And about that 3.2, the SkyBlueWaters household takes beer seriously. We're all for crafty veteran pitching, and craft-brewed beer over 3.2 beer any day.

I totally agree. Why other nations are so on top of this and we can't figure it out is not just baffling, it's deadly.

During the early days of the pandemic, MLB talked about keeping all of the teams in host cities, like other sports have since done. Phoenix and cities in Florida were mentioned. I get that this changed, especially when Forida and Arizona got hit hard by COVID 19. But it was still so very much the right idea on what to do. It was also my sense that the players themselves disliked the idea, preferring to be able to see their families. I get that it is a sacrifice. But with a little hindsight, it now sure seems like the right thing to have done ... or to still do. If MLB is serious about having a 2020 season, including those playoffs the owners are so eager for, they've got to put these athletes and staff in bubbles.

Buxton's injury and Sano's issues were both ... a concern. But ultimately we have so many good hitters and neither appear to be major setbacks, so it isn't too disconcerting (yet). But I think you can never have too much quality pitching. Especially guys capable of fronting a rotation. And if we are deep in premiere hitters, I don't see the same depth in our starting pitching. Last year the Indians were below league average offensively, but their staff ERA was 4th best in all of baseball (including the league that played without the DH!), which was huge for winning 93 games. Good pitching can keep you in every game. We have a lot of starters, particularly a large number who would benefit from showing durability, giving us good starts day in, day out. I love a no-no, 1-hitter, or shutout as much as the next guy, but I'd forego that flash for a rotation of durable guys who keep us in most games. What's happened with Hill and Odo is far and away the biggest concern in the short season so far.

Agreed. That article ranked the Dodgers the best lineup in MLB. They added Betts this off season. With players like Bellinger, Pederson, Muncy, Seager & Turner there's a lot of talent, and Smith is emerging as a catcher with some pop. They didn't see great numbers yet from 2B Lux in LA, but he sure tore it up in AAA last year (.392/.478/.719 in 232 PA). We'll see if Taylor continues developing in the outfield. Pollock is projected as the DH, which ain't too scary. The Twins will need to play at the top of their game to put up better numbers than that blend of veteran and developing talent. If we make it deep into the playoffs, it would be sweet to beat them in the world series with two pitchers who played in LA last year, Hill & Maeda.

Good notes about Mize & Manning.

IF Buxton stays healthy, and IF Kepler doesn’t have to move to center for us, and IF our prospects can hit MLB pitching like they hit MiLB pitching, THEN we might have a glut of outfielders. But we’ve seen good hitting prospects peak at double or triple A before. if they do play let’s make a deal, I sure hope it’s for a front-end starter. Someone able to shut up Yankee fans in October.

Agreed. Remember, too, that after 36 games, Michael Pineda comes back. That's a ways off, of course, but if we assume some form of a 5-day rotation, with Berrios, Odo & Hill always involved in its front end, we'd go through that rotation seven times before Berrios's 8th start, with Pineda theoretically eligible the 37th game of season. Point being, the 5th starter spot or combo would be about seven games. All the more important in a short season, certainly, but I'd bet we see some variety in those 7 starts before Pineda gets a chance.

Randballs Stu wrote: “They’re paid to do two things: play a game, stand for the anthem, and shut up.” Long ago, on a planet not so far away, a DJ influential in starting underground FM radio named Tom Donahue said, "There are only two constants in the SF hippie scene. Music, grass and LSD."