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knothole61

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Everything posted by knothole61

  1. knothole61
    Another tough loss; but the hope I take from this one is that Varland looked good for two innings before the inevitable implosion. For whatever reasons, he really can't be trusted in the long run, but for an inning or maybe two, I think the Twins have found a shiny new bullpen piece--a sixth or seventh inning Mr. Clean?
  2. knothole61
    Ex...I pretty much agree with this sentiment. I believe that because of Rocco's traumatic injury history in MLB he uses an overabundance of caution with his players. At times it is maddening. My instincts (admittedly imperfect) tell me, for example, that Buxton could have been in the lineup a week or so ago--and who knows when he is likely to appear at this point? The case with Correa, however, seems a bit more complicated. Plantar fasciitis is a very tricky and painful thing. And, as we all know, Correa's problems with it kept two teams from signing him in free agency. In my experience, it felt like someone was driving a nail up into my heel with every stride or step. So, I think they will keep him on the shelf for now and try to get him back at short by playoff time.
  3. knothole61
    A sad and seemingly uninspired loss tonight in Tampa. I've been confident until now, but I'm about ready to concede the Division to Cleveland. I thought that the Guardians would sputter against KC but they are back to their winning ways based on solid pitching, some power, and pesky small-ball at times. Poor KC has been in a death spiral since losing a very good ball player in Vinnie Pasquantino. You simply can't go down to Tampa and lay an egg against an out-of-contention team before a sparse crowd when you are in the midst of a genuine pennant race. Rocco, play a hunch man--take a chance and throw caution to the wind just once. For the rest of September make a bonfire of your charts and graphs. Lose your "modest stillness and humility" and instead "imitate the action of the tiger." Oh, and let Buxton back even if he's only 99% healed. I believe that the Twins will play in October but the path to the World Series is much less fraught for a division winner than a wild card.
  4. knothole61
    Funny...you just sent me to YouTube to listen to "the Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
  5. knothole61
    J, first you'll need to admit that you can never be cured. Thereafter, with true diligence, hopefully you can learn to manage it.
  6. knothole61
    Crazy season...the Twins have been pretty awful for the past 10 days or so, while losing games in the most gut wrench of fashions. And yet...and yet, they find themselves just two losses behind the co-leaders of the A.L. Central! It's kind of a miracle really. I admit that this may be pollyannaish to some degree, but I like the position that we are in. Even with a win tomorrow and a three game set with Pittsburgh coming up, I don't think that Cleveland can stop their slide--after all they will soon have to play six in a row on the road against KC and the Dodgers. In addition, the recent home stand debacle against the Royals, and their losing ways in general of late, must have fostered some serious doubts within the Guardians' organization and fan base. I think that KC will be the target for the Twins going forward (they look very solid right now) and not only do the Twins seem to have their number on the diamond this year, but they have only to end up tied with KC after 162 to take the Division. Win a tough one against Sale tomorrow and then take the next two series against Toronto and Tampa Bay and we'll roll into KC on September 6 in a strong position and with our destiny in our own hands. Despite the disappointments of the last several days, we have nothing to lose but our chains and a world to win-or something like that!
  7. knothole61
    I've watched or listened to some 10,000 MLB games in my life and I've never witness a player being interviewed on the field during play, and I'm horrified. Apple has gone too far! I've put up with the endless stream of probable outcomes, banal and distracting dugout interviews, and too-hip announcing combos, but I draw the line at putting a mic and earpiece on a player and having him field questions when his complete concentration should be placed on fielding the ball Did that really happen? Really? I throw up my hands and leave those of you who crave this kind of intrusive experience (what I consider sacrilege) to your Brave New World, while gladly I bid Apple adieu.
  8. knothole61
    Too many weak links in the pen...it's really painful to watch. From the beginning this seemed like a trap series to me. Coming off what should have been a four-game sweep of the reigning world champions (and on the road at that!) I sensed a good bit of confidence afoot that the Twins might take 2 of 3 in San Diego. But I knew that the Padres are a good team and, judging from my experiences in Petco Park, the young, well-lubricated, and vocal fan base (truly Wrigley-esque) can create an intense, playoff like, environment even on a pleasant Tuesday evening in August. Baseball is very streaky and it’s too soon to give up, even on a Division pennant, but this "54 hours" of bullpen implosions has been hard to take.
  9. knothole61
    They are scrappy, have a good pen and some power, and they are tough to beat at home...and, yeah, there's some luck thrown in for good measure. The Yanks should have beaten them tonight, for example, but the Guardians just kept hanging in there, as is their wont. We still may catch them but not without a supreme effort and a little luck of our own.
  10. knothole61
    Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in Minnie—mighty Lewis grounded out.
  11. knothole61
    Sad loss...they say "it's just one game" but this one feels bigger to me somehow. As long as these games are played by humans and not androids, forces such as momentum, confidence, spirit, and will must be reckoned with. We had a real chance to get a leg up on all of them this weekend and we let it slip away. I fervently hope that the 2024 Twins have not, (in the immortal words of that great baseball fan William Shakespeare) missed that "...tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries." That could be the case--and yet, we're still only 3 games back in the loss column with the Guardians soon to face Milwaukee and the Yankees on the road in back-to-back series. There's a bad taste tonight but still a reason to believe..
  12. knothole61
    Great DH sweep! It makes suffering through the AppleTV+ experience somewhat worthwhile, although I now have an 83% probability of needing psychological analysis. How about that shot by Wallner? Shades of the Killer in his prime...
  13. knothole61
    Let me preface this by saying: God bless the Diamondbacks! Charlie, I wholeheartedly agree about Richards’ performance tonight and criticize Baldelli for leaving him in so long. You’d almost think that yesterday at Wrigley was a split-squad spring training game wherein the staff was getting a long look at a new pitcher! When I'm about to besmirch him a bit I always give Baldelli his due: Rocco does some things well and he’ll likely finish his managerial career in the neighborhood of .550. Having said that, I also believe that his lineup wizardry is often inexplicably flawed; that he and his medical staff are very, very cautious; and that his misuse of his relief staff (I know he didn’t pick them, but still) is astounding at times. I’m not a medical doctor and even though I’m a member of the “rub some dirt on it and keep playing” generation, I do understand the need to exercise a degree of caution with injuries and to insure proper rest for all players during a grueling 162 game season. However, Twins’ players tend to hit the IL and then disappear like dissidents to Gulags under Stalin. I believe that Baldelli is almost fanatically determined to err on the side of caution (way on the side of caution?), and I think this propensity stems from the frustration he must still feel at having had a very promising MLB career cut short due to serious injuries, and certainly he was a very talented athlete. Tonight, for example, I have a suspicion that Buxton could have played (I think we’ll see him in fine fettle in center on Friday night) and I believe that he also erred in keeping young Lewis out of the lineup with an off day pending. Finally, regarding what I allege to be Rocco’s astounding misuse of the relief staff on occasion: while I might be convinced of the wisdom of tossing Richards into the breech under the duress of an injury to Ryan, leaving him in for an absolutely atrocious 40+ pitch, five walk, two wild pitch performance just boggles the mind. It boggles the mind…
  14. knothole61
    Nice energy Doc...like Brother Love's Travelin' Salvation show on this hot August night! Yeah, I'm a believer...but Cleveland has some serious mojo working this year, and I can't deny it. The Guardians are playing .700 ball at home (.700!) with a potent offense and solid pitching, all assembled with a $105 million payroll. Only three A.L. teams are paying less this season. They have some tough road games coming up (at Twins, Brewers, Yankees, and Dodgers) and we may catch them, but at this point they are "such stuff as dreams are made on" and I tip my cap.
  15. knothole61
    Impressive win tonight...the kind that displays true character. Please pardon this brief off-topic thought, if it violates our strictures I hope to be forgiven. Like some of you, I'm sure, I spent much of the game checking in with news channels trying to get a handle on the shocking events in Pennsylvania today. All I know is that we, of all political persuasions, must learn to stop hating and try to find some common ground--we must be better than this.
  16. knothole61
    This is so funny! I thought it was just me, but I agree that Lee does give off a bit of a Williams' vibe. Not necessarily a .406 vive of course, but there's a slight physical resemblance, including dark hair, similar height and weight, a kind of, for lack of a better phrase, old school bagginess to his uniform and in the way he carries himself, and an undisguised love of the game radiating from his face...the same look Williams had until the Boston press turned him sullen and resentful in his last few seasons.
  17. knothole61
    Yes, game #2 was an important win. The psychological baggage of being swept in a double header by a .284 team, before a sparse crowd might have stayed with the Twins during the series in SF and into the long All-Star Game break: perhaps not, but I'm happy that we'll never have to find out. Duran, by the way, was a monster!
  18. knothole61
    No...please don't change anything!
  19. knothole61
    Such an exciting team right now...Miranda and Lee are a joy to watch and can you imagine the lineup with Lewis in there as well? Still, tonight was a very painful defeat. I can't recall ever (and that's a lot of "ever") watching the Twins put up 7 in the last of the 9th and still lose...it's otherworldly! We can't blame Rocco for every loss, of course, but I do blame him for sending Winder (he of the 13.50 ERA) out for 2.0 hideous innings tonight. Rocco does some things well, but on the whole he is a disappointment to me. In my considered, albeit unprofessional estimation, Rocco appears clueless at times in his use of the pitching staff...utterly clueless. Hats off to Miranda...10 and counting?
  20. knothole61
    Yeah, Max truly is the embodiment of Churchill’s phase: “A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” Based strictly on my eye test, he has spent about 75% of his over 4,000 plate appearances these past ten seasons popping balls up, and clopping grounders to second, and waving at balls out of the zone for strike three. But his hot streaks can be amazing and his magical, mystery, home run tour off Trevor Bauer is an MLB classic! I’m too old to be this naïve, but I must admit that despite the likelihood that Keppler’s at bats will end in futility, whenever he steps into the box I’m filled with “that hope which springs eternal.” He’s a big, strong, square-jawed guy with a very majestic swing, a true Casey at the bat who, unfortunately, most often fails as well.
  21. knothole61
    Aggies, during my decade of TD lurking I'm certain that I had about a 95% agreement rate with your comments--but I have to draw the line with tonight's Serpentine offering. Many years ago now my son had a onsie that was very reminiscent of them--in fact, while watching the Arizona pitcher I half expect to see a rubber-bottomed footie rather than baseball cleats.
  22. knothole61
    Yes, I'm glad it's not just me. I'm experiencing a strong gag response so far, and not primarily from Ryan's pitching.
  23. knothole61
    Having lived so long in the "limited stats" era of baseball I find it difficult to arrive at anything approaching an organic understanding of the bevy of modern statistical categories--especially anything that incorporates a + sign! Apparently Fangraphs lists 121 baseball stats and Baseball Prospectus adds a dozen more. Is that right? At any rate, admitting that most of this is lost on me, I do find WPA rather intriguing. DJL, if tweaks were made, such as adding a defensive component, would you be willing to take WPA out of the garbage bin? I'm also wondering if WPA is essentially a "clutchness" index, or am I way off base?
  24. knothole61
    I agree! Back in the day I had a "Bring Billy Back" sticker on the bumper of my car. For all his flaws and, for lack of a better word, tempestuousness, I loved Billy Martin's passion and intolerance of ineptitude. It seems to me that Baldelli is as close to the polar opposite of Martin as possible in a manager. He's cold blooded and calculating--a man of the ledger sheet who might have fared better as a tax accountant. Admittedly he does have his strengths, but of all the essential traits he is lacking, chief among them I believe is common sense.
  25. knothole61
    Hang in there! Clearly, these were three disgusting performances on so many levels, and I'm still shaking my head at Baldelli's use of Jackson on Thursday--but my rule of thumb is that a team needs to play each month 3 games over .500 to have a good season (that's 90 wins). Now, if we can take care of Oakland and Arizona (win 2 of 3 from each) then we will arrive, if my math is true, in Seattle on an upswing and a full 9 games above .500, or right about were we need to be. Keep the faith...
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