IdahoPilgrim

If he had shone signs of being tired the last inning, then absolutely I would pull him. But in this case, I'm surprised he didn't go back out.

I agree, but I also think there would be a big emotional boost in the clubhouse to win this game, so I don't think they'll gamble too much. You want to go into the all-star break on a high, and what could be better than winning a series against the best team in the AL, in their park, and having a 4-3 road trip.

Well, I wonder how much slack they'll give DeVries in the 7th. With the all-star break, there's no worries about using up the bullpen. A close 1-0 game may cause them to move quickly if trouble develops.

At last! There's the first run - RBI for Morneau.

Well, not only is DeVries back out there, but he's picking up right where he left off - 5 solid innings.

Tim Laudner just made what I thought was an insightful comment in the studio. DeVries is using all his pitches effectively, mixing them up well. He made the point that Deduno didn't do that yesterday, relying too much on the breaking ball, and Texas figured it out. I remember earlier this season DeVries had the same problem - too many breaking balls. Perhaps DeVries has learned how to pitch smarter in order to have success at the major league level. If so, he might stick around a while.

Boy, if this delay lasts any time, it could screw up a heck-of-a-good start from DeVries - 3 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3K, and excellent control.

Wow! I didn't even know there was a storm there. Sudden flash of lightning, out of nowhere, and the players scattered like they'd heard a gunshot. That was right near the park!

I'd settle for two average, dependable starters, and maybe another middle infielder with a better track record at the plate. I just don't want to chase Greinke or Hamels - we already have two contracts that have hampered our roster flexibility; I don't want to add a third. I'm OK with spending $9-10M a year for a good pitcher. I don't want to spend $15M for one person.

Actually, I think they can do both - be respectable next year and restock the minor leagues. The last month has shown that the lineup is basically solid - some room for improvement, but then there always is. One or two decent starters acquired in FA, a return to form of one or two injured/slumping starters we have now, and we could challenge for the division next year, and still focus on acquiring younger talent.

There may not be an official salary cap, but there is an unofficial one - salaries will always be capped by available revenue minus other expenses and a profit. Baseball is a business, and owners are there to make money, not lose money. The idea that just because the owners have money there is a moral obligation to let a business be an ongoing loss-maker is wishful thinking at best. New York and Los Angeles will always be able to spend more on salaries, because they will always have more revenue available to them, especially from local TV contracts. That being said, I think this whole idea that money would solve the problem is also off-track. Having a high payroll does not guarantee success (Cubs, Twins last year), and having a low payroll is no guarantee of being a celler-dweller (Tampa Bay being the most notable example, but there are others). A good GM can field a competitive team, capable of winning the series, with a payroll of $95-100M, which is right about where the Twins payroll is, so I don't buy the argument that they are being held back by cheapskate owners. Personally, I don't want to see Greinke or Hamels recruited by the Twins. Sure, I'd love to see them in a Twins uniform, but I think the money required to sign one Greinke or Hamels could be better spent on 2-3 other players, all of whom collectively could have a larger impact on the team than a marquis pitcher who plays once every 5 days. Do we use that money to fill one hole, or to fill several? I agree there need to be some offseason moves, and acquiring some starting pitching is a major necessity, but I'd rather see a plethora of moves that fill multiple needs. That would say to me more clearly that the Twins are serious about improving than signing one big-name player.

You mean, like Dozier? Seriously, I can understand why the Twins did it in May - at that point they weren't ready to write off the season. If somebody stumbles out of the gate, you do what you have to to get back in the race before it's over. I can see the argument that perhaps they pulled the plug too quickly after the second stint - he wasn't quite as bad as that first run, and by then we knew the season was well and truly over.

My take - football is a much more intense sport; it attracts a more intense personality (of all racial backgrounds). That carries over into off-field behavior as well.

Is there a chance we could let Liriano go and, next year, when he has his head together, makes us look foolish? Yes - that is a real risk. There is also a real risk that, if we give him an extension, he ends up going back into a funk, and people are griping next year about how foolish it was for Ryan not to move him when he had some/any value. I guess it all comes down to which risk you think is greater. For myself, I have to look at his track record, and I'm more worried about the second choice than the first.

I agree, but I also wonder if some of it is mental - he may be more tense when in the majors, knowing he has to be more careful and more precise in his pitching. He knows he can pitch in AAA; he may feel less pressure there and be able to pitch more relaxed.

Man, Twins have gotta be pulling their hair out about Hendriks - pitched 7 scoreless innings for Rochester tonight, gave up 5 hits, got the win. Why can't he do that when he's up here?

Well, it hasn't been pretty with Deduno, but facing a tough Texas lineup, you have to say he has done alright.

Yes! Nice play at the plate! That's still two wild pitches in the inning, though. Hope Deduno can settle down.

You're probably correct, so we can split the responsibility for the mental error, but I'm still going to blame Dozier more. At this level players should be past mental mistakes that large. Heck, I play church-league softball, and I always know how many outs there are regardless if a coach tells me.

Dozier forgot how many outs there were, was running on a fly ball with one out, got doubled off first.

That's not on the coaching staff - high school players are supposed to know how many outs there are, and run the bases accordingly.

What the??!!?!! Dozier, you're killing me - just killing me!

Just got the scoop from TV - 1994 was the first year of the Rangers ballpark, so they're wearing 1994 jerseys, and the Twins did as well.

It's a "turn back the clock" night, to 1994 jerseys. Have no clue why.

I don't think there will be a large backlash by the average fan if no major moves are made before the season ends. The casual fan is just not attuned to the whole trade deadline thing. I do think there will be some backlash if there are not some moves in the offseason that send a clear signal that the club is serious about improving. By "backlash" here I don't necessarily mean a public outcry (although you will get some of that in the press and the media), but a drop in ticket sales, both season and single game, and general fan interest. You've already seen that this season, and I expect it to accelerate if nothing is done over the off-season. And, by "send a clear signal" I don't necessarily mean they have to sign a big-name FA (Greinke or Hamels), but there had better be some moves that the average fan can identify with as progress. I think a handful (3-5?) of mid-level signings would be as effective at that as one big-name signing.