Don't Feed the Greed Guy

Back at you, KC? Best BBQ in KC? Oklahoma Joes, Gates, Woodyard? What's your pick?

The key question is the size of your group. Another key clue is your arrival date: August 16th. From the early looks of things, there should be plenty of seats available, and well below face value. So, you may want to wait a few months in case the market drops--which seems likely. If you want the tickets "in hand" before driving up, then use StubHub or Ticket King--Ticket King is more local and I prefer working with them, although they may not have the same options. Scalpers are fine, if you have time before the game, and your group isn't too large. They would prefer to sell in sets of 2,4, 6, etc.., not odd numbers. The other option, though rare is to buy early and swap tickets with scalpers before the game if you want to upgrade. Finally, it wasn't that many years ago that my Dad & I watched meaningful Twins games in August at Kauffman Stadium. The Royal fans were dumping their tickets and we got great seats for a song. Looks like it's your turn. I hope the Royals are in contention in August. Sounds like a fun time.

Rosario, Sano, and now this. The Curse of the Trees has infected the minors. Boys & girls, the hits just keep coming.

I was watching that game/pre-game! Hilarious. It was the funniest Twins media moment that I can remember until Sid Hartman interviewed Vikings QB Matt Cassell on the Sid & Dave Show a few weeks ago. Hartman asks Cassel, "Not having Joe Mauer as a catcher, how is that going to affect things?" You have to hear what happens next. I laughed until I cried. Cassel gave a great, quick answer. Here's the audio, at the 21:55 minute/sec mark: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2Fd0%2Fd1%2Fd4%2FdV%2FdZ%2FdM%2F14VZM_3.MP3%3Fauthtok%3D5562374259103313944_zIRwcbOWHWZ3eIAMXSIyz7mOpVk&podcast_name=3-16+-+Sports+Huddle+with+Sid+and+Dave+-+10+AM&podcast_artist=WCCO+Radio&station_id=82&tag=pages&dcid=CBS.MINN

Nothing in this thread is "off the rails" IMHO. Remember that the Twins Front Office scouted, evaluated, and signed Nolasco, Hughes, and Pelfery to multi-year contracts during the offseason. Powers--and the posters here--are not limiting their analysis to three pitchers. I, for one, am frustrated by three seasons of futility, and disappointed (not surprised) that the $83 million, multi-year investment in these three pitchers hasn't resulted in a better early return.

Tom Powers cuts to the point in this assessment of the Twins' starting pitching from the "Pioneer Press" :http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_25539884/tom-powers-thanks-being-accountable-but-next-time?source=pkg Under a general heading of workplace accountability, Powers puts his fingers on the pitching staff's weak, thready pulse. Nolasco, Hughes, and Pelfrey needed to show up to work this season, as soon as the morning whistle blew. So Powers writes: "Who gets to walk into the office and tell the boss they'll need until 11 o'clock to get after it?" This is the quote that really caught my attention. "Right now, this very moment, is when (Nolasco, Hughes, and Pelfery) are needed. No one will care if they find their groove later in the summer when the Twins are 25 games back and nobody is paying attention anymore." Thoughts?

There is something merciful in a change--for health, for healing, and recovery. The Twins organization is not healthy, and one of the most debilitating ways to prolong illness is to feign health/recovery. Letting go of the need to manufacture a fix can actually benefit everyone. For that reason it may be time for Terry Ryan to focus on his own personal health, while opening the door for systemic change within the Twins organization. On the other hand, if there's still fire in the 'ol belly, love of the game, and passion in the pursuit of a better organization, go for it. Just so, would you quit before the June draft? The trade deadline? The end of the season? What makes the most sense? Issues of personal health transcend the key operative dates on an organization's calendar. In a nutshell: I think change will come sooner, rather than later, for everyone's wellbeing.

The Twins roster has built-in flexibility here. I like the versatility of having Tonkin, Pressly, Guerrier, and even Ibarra in the bullpen down in Rochester. Over the course of the month we may see a starter stretch a hammy, or some other minor/major injury. Enter Deduno into the rotation, methinks, if he's stretched out enough. I would also expect to see 13 pitchers on the roster when the schedule tightens and days off become more rare. For example, there are 13 games over 13 days coming up at the end of the month (4/29 to 5/11). If weather postponements stack up into doubleheaders, we could see another arm on the roster sooner rather than later.

So when Disney comes to town, who gets to play the Italian version of Colabello? First, our subject: And some options: 1. Affleck 2. Chachi 3. Balboa... does that rhyme with Colabella? 4. Papale & Colabello don't rhyme. Other???

It is a big jump--or a flying leap--from the Florida State League to the Eastern League—from Single A ball to Double A. Taylor Rogers learned that hard lesson Saturday as the Flying Squirrels of Richmond munched on the lefthander’s offerings. Rogers lasted four innings against the flying rodents, as Richmond cracked nine hits, scoring nine runs—seven earned. Rogers threw 80 pitches, 54for strikes, and managed to hit the 9th squirrel in Richmond’sbatting order, Skyler Stromsmoe. He left the mound in the top of the fifth witha 15.75 ERA. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_04_05_ricaax_nbraax_1&t=g_box&sid=milb Matt Straub, Sports Writer for the Bristol Press, covered the game: “Things got off to a bad start for New Britain (1-2) in the first inning. Richmond scored in the top of the first for the third day in a row, this time getting some help from the Rock Cats. Tyler Graham singled to start the game and eventually scored on an error by New Britain shortstop Aderling Mejia. Richmond’s offense did its own work in the third, putting the game away with four runs against New Britain starter Taylor Rogers. The highlight of the inning was a long home run to right field by Richmond’s Jarrett Parker which plated three. Rogers gave up three hits in a row to start theframe and never recovered. Three more came in the fourth, and another shot by AngelVillalona to start the fifth ended Rogers’ day after seven earned runs and nine overall. “He’s going to be fine,” Smith said of Rogers. “This isn’t the first time it’s happened where a young starter has come up here and givenup some runs. Next time he’ll be much better for it.’” http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2014/04/06/sports/doc5340c670a8d83760495001.txt Rogers’ next scheduled turn in the rotation should arrive onThursday, April 10th, as the Rock Cats face the Portland Sea Dogs as they open their 20th season at Hadlock Field, famous for the “Maine Monster” a 37’ high wall that mirrors the height of a certain wall in the Sea Dog’s parental home—Fenway Park. Here’s to hoping that Mr. Rogers can someday visit theFenway-Kenmore Neighborhood in a Twins uniform. He has some work ahead of him.The season is young, the kid is a talent, and those pesky squirrels are in the rearview mirror.

Pinto should have had that one. Again, good to pay that tuition bill with a five-run cushion.

Nice double play, and Gibby gets to finish it. Good momentum.

And our fair student passes his first test of 2014.

Sort of looks like Peter O'Toole in "Lawrence of Arabia." Hopefully not as unstoppable.

C'mon Gibby. Graduate class is in session. Tuition due.

Also, touring the Harriet Beacher Stowe and Mark Twain homes/museums in Hartford are great ways to fill out the rest of your day(s) before the ballgame. If you take in either tours, stop by "The Half Door" a great Irish Pub in the area. Ranked #10 out of over 400 restaurants in the area. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33804-d824213-Reviews-The_Half_Door-Hartford_Connecticut.html

I think I've seen that right fielder before... On our Beer League Softball team.

Oh, you know Gladden. He's that typical shy, retiring type:D

Suzuki Tractor, Pulling the Plow...

Gotta let Mauer hit in that situation...

Salazar or Guinness? Guinness or Salazar?

FYI: Box score from Salazar's 2013 start at Target Field: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN201308120.shtml 4 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 2 HR (Plouffe & Dozier), 71 pitches-46 strikes.

Nice at bats!

1. I echo this. There's been a lot of steam about not wanting to yield this spot in the draft as a compensatory penalty for picking up a free agent. So it will be interesting to hear speculation on who might fall down to #45. 2. It's always interesting to hear about homegrown talent--Gophers who might get drafted, how they are doing, and when they might get picked. Also top HS players too.

Our family road trip to New Britain occurred while the Rock Cats hosted the Eastern League All-Star game in 2013. We got smokin' cheap lodging at the Radisson Hotel, Hartford.