Thegrin

I'm not sure a "scream" shot would prove much. My screen shows that the sound is muted on the offending ad.

WAR What is it good for ? Absolutely nothing.

I don't think the "haters" really hate Mauer. Since 2011 the Twins have not played well, and as the Twins best player, Joe gets the brunt of the criticism. People look for an excuse, and they see his injuries. They blame his injuries for Joe's lack of production and the Twins poor record. After his 2009 MVP season, who can blame people for wanting more seasons of excellence, expecting more of the same, despite the Twins move to Target Field from the Metrodome. What do we all want ? For Joe Mauer to play every day and play like Joe Mauer. The problem is, fans have a different idea of what Joe Mauer should play like.

Here u can check our minor league scores. http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?cid=&lid=&org=142&sc=&sid=milb&t=affiliate&ymd=20140816

If we really do come back I don't know if I could handle it.

Now is the time to scream and tear your hair out!

Do we dare hope Nolasco pitches well ?

I send an email to Brock, but I don't know if its the right thing to do.

Here is a link to the twins affiliates games today. http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?cid=&lid=&org=142&sc=&sid=milb&t=affiliate&ymd=20140815

I liked Pino. He gave the Twins a chance to win in half his games. I think he would be outstanding in long relief. I hope we will see him again soon.

Mat Batts looks like a pitcher for the future. http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=t492&player_id=656217#/career/R/pitching/2014/ALL

Rosario seems to be playing the corner outfield. He played RF last night and LF when Buxton started at CF, until the injury and he went back to CF. Looking back a week, Rosario has played a different position (including 2B) each night. There seems to be no more chance for Rosario to play 2B, since the Twins moved Levi Michael to New Britain.

Ron Gardenhire - 13 years 1052 Wins, 1012 Losses .510 Win % 6 division titles. If he could only win us 3 World Series, he'd have it made

I despair of Josmil Pinto ever getting regular at bats with the Twins. Fryer seems to be doing all that can be asked of a backup catcher and reportedly he has major league catching and game calling skills. Perhaps if TR trades him, then Pinto would be the only option left. I have been keeping track of Pinto since the AAA All-Star break and Pinto has only sat out one game. He DH's 40% of the games and hits well when he is the DH. He does not seem to greatly affect the W-L record of the pitchers he catches for. Writing this, it occurs to me that a closer analysis of how the pitchers are doing when compared to being caught by Pinto, might be enlightening. If the Twins were to replace Fryer with Pinto and let him catch 40% of the games, he could also DH when Vargas replaces Joe at 1B. This would be the only reason I would give Mauer time in the OF, because I think he may be faster than Vargas and Pinto. I'd like to see that foot race

"The most obvious thing is that Joe Mauer has really hurt this team since moving to 1B. It's hard to overstate this enough. He accounts for 27% of the payroll and the team is trailing the league average 1B by 17 wRC+. Hopefully this will change, and he's been hot recently since returning from the DL but these numbers look back, not forward." I think you are being immensely short-sighted when it comes to Mauer. This year 1B has been Mauer + replacement players. We all know that his wRC+ would be higher if Mauer had been healthy all season. Also, it makes no difference which position produces the runs. You might think of adding the runs that Dozier produces at 2nd base and adding them to the runs that 1B produced (+24-17=+7) and say that the Twins are doing very well in the power department at those positions.

He is an interesting player to watch. Amaurys Minier Stats: http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=620441#/career/R/hitting/2014/ALL GCL Twins: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=474

In today's baseball, the Quality Start (QS) is the most telling start. Hughes, Gibson & Correia all had 13 QS in 23 starts. These QS give the Twins a chance to win, and their improving hitting is getting to the point where they do win when getting the opportunity.

I think Ryan should be on some of the Twins top 50 lists. He is looking as if he could pitch in Ft Myers now.

There is still 6 weeks to play this season. If the Twins were to go on a prolonged winning streak the Twins could finish at or near .500 for 2014. Pitching is the key. Gibson and Hughes have been 2/3 of the Twins dependable starters in 2014. Now that Kevin Correia has been traded the rotation has 3 spots to fill. Tommy Milone is a proven Major League starter and left handed. He should be a younger upgrade on Correia. Ricky Nolasco is a well established major league starter and has a 4 year contract with the Twins. It is hoped that he can regain his old form after a long stay on the disabled list Johan Pino has made 10 starts for the Twins. In half of them he has held the opponents to 3 runs or less. The rest of this season will tell us if he should be part of the 2015 rotation That is 5 starters.. How will they pitch for 2014? How will they work together in 2015? Trevor May has shown us nothing so far (like Gibson in 2013), but there is still 6 weeks to go in the season. Alex Meyer has pitched well in AAA although he was slowed down by an injury. He is not on the 40 man roster and is not likely to be one of the September call-ups. Mike Pelfrey showed promise to return from Tommy John surgery in July-August 2013. He is said to be a positive influence in the dugout, however he has been in rehab for virtually all of 2014. He has one year of his contract remaining. Perhaps he could emerge as the 5th starter in 2015, or perhaps he will be a trade chip. Any of the 3 of them could be in the 2015 rotation along with Logan Darnell or Kris Johnson or some other pitcher acquired in trades or promoted from the minors At the end of 2011,2012 & 2013 we finished the season with NO starting pitchers that the Twins could count on. 2014 is playing much better and the "Quietly Solid" starters: Phil Hughes & Kyle Gibson are showing the way.

to advance in the post season a team needs 3 starts who routinely make quality starts (Hughes, Gibson, Nolasco?) and + a bullpen that can Hold and Save games. The Twins hitters will be a year older and (hopefully) a year wiser. We can expect them to improve.

My optimism about Parmalee is not stats based. He reminds me of other hitters when they are on the verge of breaking out. He has the potential to be a hitter with a high OPS and would give us another power hitter to go with Vargas, Arcia, Dozier & Plouffe, I am hoping that Gardy will give him the AB to prove it. We've seen enough of Schafer, haven't we ? and no more Nunez in the outfield please

and when Santana is struggling at the plate, he drops down a nifty bunt. Who does that remind you of ? they keep saying that with his speed, Santana could probably bunt .300

That was a pleasure (unlike yesterday) I guess I will watch for the Gardy quote today.

prayer is prayer. God knows when you are praying

Perkins. Please make it quick and clean. (*pray)