I'll apologize to the entire community in advance for the radical view, but I don't find Twins baseball to be particularly ruined. They're just in a down cycle. It's happened before, and it will happen again. I liked Hudson Hawk, too.
Swarzak and Duensing as well. I expect one of the three option-less starters to find a spot in the pen. I'd be sad if they really do go to a 13 man staff in April to stash two of them there.
I don't believe we need to file "human interest" in the same bin as "Reality TV." Sometimes humans can be pretty interesting. At least that's what the rumors say.
You reminded me; if ever I meet any of you folks in person (again, for some) to relate the story about how my wife brought Mickey Mantle in for show and tell to her elementary school.
If he's here most of the season, Willingham. Otherwise Arcia should mash a few too. I also think Mauer will surprise, and that Sano will do well in SLG percent when he's up, but won't be up long enough this season. How's that for equivocating?
I do indeed remember. That was the first season I started following baseball. I mostly recall Yaz and Lonborg vs. Brock and Gibson. And the arrival of one Rod Carew.
This is a pivotal year for Mauer; the position change will give him an opportunity to put up Carew type numbers. If he does this, or even close, there shouldn't be any question again. I hope to still be around in a decade to hear who Buxton and Sano are compared to.
This story just screams "Tommy Herr" and makes me cringe. I still hold out crazy hope that we see Dozier take another go at short later in the season, and Rosario come up in September at second.
1) Here in the land of E Pluribus Unum, maybe we can think up a middle path. 2) Maybe all beer is over-rated, they need to open up a mead shop. 3) How about polkas for the 7th inning stretch?
If these guys can throw enough innings to make the 13-man pitching staff a distant memory, life is good. If they can go deep enough to make a 12-man staff unnecessary, life is like free beer.