jacku641

Several years ago I tried to figure out if there was a way to "balance" the schedule. There was the usual chatter about "why can't the be more balanced like it used to be?" So I looked at what it would take and the math was to difficult with 30 teams where you have X games in division, Y games in interdivision, and Z games interleague. The basic concept could easily yield values such that X+Y+Z=162 (or 154 or 156 or whatever). The problem is that those values are totals and to get to the totals requires a system of equations where X is composed of values in each of 5 equations, Y has 11 equations and Z 6 or 7 equations if you keep the current interleague scheduling concepts. I realized early on that the reason the current MLB schedule is like it is probably comes from the fact it's what works. That said, I'd like to see this format somewhere just to see if could work. My only concern about 2 leagues with four 4 team divisions is it starts to look like the NFL and I can live without that.

One thing to remember is that just like a trade needs two sides to complete, so does the job search. The Twins may have been in contact with some of the people from other organizations that have been mentioned but they may have been politely turned down. Some of these guys may feel they are in line with their current organizations and would rather stay put.

Here's a scenario that keeps Gardenhire with the Twins next season. Next year is also the last year of Mike Redmond's current contract in Miami. If Miami decides that he's not the right fit there he would become available and be an interesting option.

Many years ago (at least 20) Jim Kaat offered the following suggestion: Create a rotation of 9 pitchers. Each pitcher pitches 3 innings every 3 days. Which 3 inning section they pitch would change as well. Since the MLB rules are such that the starter would never qualify for the win in this scenario. If the team carries a lead going into the 7th inning then the third pitcher would be eligable for a save. You'd have to consider what to do for extra innings, possibly moving to the next days pitchers. If you keep a couple of extra guys around to do the extra inning work and to move in if someone has a really bad day your still at 11 pitchers and 14 position players.

I thought I heard Gardy or one of the FO talkers mention that they were looking for a way to get Kubel some days off. The inexact quote was along the lines of "We didn't bring him in here to play everyday. I think if we can get back to that he will be fine."

First off they can't bring him back for the playoffs unless there is a change in the ruling. It includes 162 games plus any 2014 post season games. (That's from last weekends wall-to-wall coverage by MLB Network.) Also my understanding is that the MLBPA is not happy with the ruling but is talking nice about it because it doesn't stem from the Drug program. (A-Rod has never failed a test.) It was imposed under the "Best interest of the game" power of the Commissioner's office. As such the duration is whatever Bud wants it to be. I think what the arbitrators did was look at the intent of the original suspension and determined that it was to include the remainder of 2013 and all of 2014. Since 2013 is over they changed the suspension to be the 162 game 2014 regular season and any post season games his team would qualify for. I would suspect that Rodriguez will not name the Yankees in his lawsuit. Doing so would open him to a potential counter suit by the Yankees to vacate the remaining years of his contract. (I'm no lawyer but that seems a likely probability.)

Historically the model of consistent leadership was the Dodgers. They had 2 managers from 1953 to 1996. Since then they've been a bit more "fluid". The question I would ask those who feel Gardenhire should be let go is "Who do you replace him with?"

Since the talk here is about beer, I want to make a quick plug for the next Social Science event on at the Science Museum of Minnesota. It's the second annual Fermentational Informational. It's on Thursday April 11 (The Twins are off that day so there's no reason not to!) Follow the link for more information and stop down at the Activity Station on Level 3 if you come and say "Hi!"

Here's my take on the players that used or are suspected of using PEDs. The voters for the HOF will make sure they stay on the ballot until at least one "clean" player is elected. For pitchers that happens next year when Maddox and possibly Glavine get in. For hitters, it will happen after Ken Griffey Jr. is elected. (And possibly Jim Thome if he decides 2012 was his last year.) I think this is how the BBWAA makes its stand.

Here's another scenario that says they don't trade him. What if Morneau tells the Twins that this is it. On advice of doctors and at the request of his wife he's going to retire after this season and would like to finish where he started. I have no reason to believe that this is true, but I'm just saying...

Of course until the late 1960s most teams used a four man rotation. I remember several years ago Jim Kaat proposed a unique alternative to the current pitching formula. He proposed that each team use 3 squads of 3 pitchers in a rotation for each game. Each pitcher would pitch three innings and which three innings he pitched would be rotated as well. This was to allow all the pitchers to get wins under the current rules. I don't remember if he ever discussed what you would do about extra inning games. Think about it, if you went this way and your squads did their job you might be able go with 10 or 11 pitchers instead of 12 or 13.