IndianaTwin

"...Could Gibson be the Game 4 starter, or will they use him out of the bullpen, in a long-relief role...." Yes.

The Twins making the series would provide us with either a rematch of one of their three WS appearances or a matchup against one of their predecessor’s successor.

They would also get the home field advantage after the Wild Card winner knocks off the Astros. Of course, that's not affected by their record.

Hope Dobnak’s registered for candlesticks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diX4myfR6vU

The junior high boy in me wanted to click “like.” So I did. And when I shared the article with my son, he told me that after he got C.Diff. last spring after an international study class and antibiotics were not doing the job, the doctor was very close to recommending that either my wife, other son, or me provide a sample for such a transplant. Apparently the procedure is not uncommon at all. Wow, the things one learns when reading TD.

I agree with you on the first sentence and a half, but unfortunately I'm not so sure about your last 11 words. I've been struck that over the last few weeks there have been a lot more comments on TD that have come across to me as mean-spirited. Perhaps it's because the stakes have increased with their place in the standings and the potential for a playoff spot, but it feels like there are fewer "Gibson (or Perez, or Baldelli, or Schoop, or whoever) is struggling tonight" comments and more "Gibson (or Perez, or Baldelli...) sucks/is scum/should never be heard from again" comments. That's why the tone of some of the comments leaves me unconvinced that all of us actually do hope for the best for him. I'm not calling out anyone in particular on this thread, because that spirit has felt pervasive on a lot of threads. But I'm with you tarheeltwinsfan. I too wish him the very best. The fact is that when we make these pronouncements, none of us have access to any of the medical reports or to the conversations he's had or hasn't had with management, including in the future. I liken it to last year's TD comments about Joe Mauer, which also often took a mean-spirited turn. As the season was coming to an end and there was speculation on what would happen, the main feeling that kept coming back to me was empathy for what he was going through, and even sympathy for him for having to go through it on such a public front. The vast majority of us have never had to deal with that kind of public challenge. We couldn't have any idea how the concussions were affecting him, but I always hoped that Mauer would be able to make the decision for what was right on his own terms. And if he chose to play, that he and the Twins would have been able to have an open and honest discussion on the role he might play on the team going forward. And selfishly, if he still had the health and drive to play, that he'd be able to do that as a Twin. But if not, I'll get over it. Gibson has had nowhere the same effect on the franchise as Mauer did, but he still has carried himself with class and dignity. My first hope for him is also that he'll be able to make decisions on his own terms, both now and in the future. If that includes him shutting himself down, so be it. If not, I hope that the Twins are able to have open and honest conversations with him about his role going forward the rest of the season. I hope they are doing everything they can to get him back to health. And if the answer is, "Kyle, your health situation is different from someone having a broken leg, but we've come to the decision that your injury needs to keep you off the active roster for the playoffs," then so be it. And similarly in the off season. On the surface, it seems hard to imagine that they'll be able to get him back to good enough health to offer him a qualifying offer. That seems a foregone conclusion given the timing. However, as I've said in an earlier thread, I would love it if the message to him is, "Kyle, when you're on, you can legitimately help us as a No. 3/4/5 starter. We can't give you a QO given your health status, but we want to give you the opportunity to make QO money. Demonstrate to us and our doctors that you are ready to start the season, and we'll guarantee the $8.125 MM we gave you in 2019. And here's the incentive plan (based on innings) that can get you to the $18MM you would have gotten with a QO. If you can give us 175 innings at the level you pitched from mid-2017 to mid-2019, combined with the leadership you provide to our young pitchers, you'll be worth it. And we believe in you." Descending from soap box...

Which is preceded by preantepenultimate. (White Sox series) Which is preceded by propreantepenultimate. (Cleveland series)

I suspect that the "Gibson" tonight and the "TBD" for tomorrow night are very related. Given his health, I'd feel great about a 4-inning, 65-70 pitch night.

Their CF made a great play, both in tracking down the bounce and with the throw. But I also concur — if he’s running from the box, it’s a standup triple. The Sox announcers have generally gushed about the Twins the last two nights, but Rosario has been the exception. Steve Stone has called him out a couple times and let him have it pretty good on this particular play.

And don't forget The Doof -- now at 22 appearances without a run.

Around the year 2000, I was at the Twins Pro Shop, pining over the thought of getting a jersey, but not feeling like I could justify the purchase given that we didn't have gobs of money and had two young kids. I've also always been reluctant to get named stuff, since there's such a good likelihood of guys getting traded. As I flipped through the rack, however, I came across one with my name on it. I'd forgotten that I share a surname with a relatively unknown relief pitcher of the era. I went ahead and bought it, and still have it hanging in my office. People assume I had it custom-made.

Barbecue chicken, at least on Saturday. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwji5KGPsdXkAhUQbawKHW0lB9IQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.delish.com%2Fcooking%2Frecipe-ideas%2Fa25847047%2Fbbq-chicken-pizza-recipe%2F&psig=AOvVaw2EReVZZF9S0Ax5kKNgs5sI&ust=1568724705643263

The 1973 Braves had Darrell Evans, Davey Johnson, and Hank Aaron each hit 40+.

That’s exactly where I was going. With Buxton’s injury, he had to switch positions and didn’t slow down offensively.

Big Dolly Parton win.

Also get ready to celebrate on... 02-11-20 02-22-20 12-11-21 12-22-21 But after that, it will be a while, and I probably won't be around to see it. Ted Williams will, perhaps, if they can work out that freeze and thaw thing.

Unrelated to the Twins, but going into tonight, Bruce Bochy, whose managerial career has lasted from 1995-2019, has a career record of 1995-2019.

ClevelanDaily probably has similar posts on Civale.

I'm not a native, so I try not to use that kind of language here. I’m afraid they’ll try to wash my mouth out with soap.

I like antepenultimate. Or even better, preantepenultimate. But my favorite is propreantepenultimate. As in, this is the propreantepenultimate series of the regular season.

In skipping him, they'd have to go by bullpen two nights in a row, since the other three starters aren't available tonight. Berrios going tonight allows him to go next Tuesday against and then on the second Sunday against Cleveland. At this point, this weekend shapes up as Pineda, Odo, Bullpen. With the off day on Monday, next week shapes up as Berrios and Perez on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Nationals. Staying on schedule would mean Pineda on Thursday against Washington, but Gibson would also be eligible to return by then. I'd use Gibson or the bullpen on Thursday to give Pineda, Odo and Berrios against Cleveland. All that to say that staying on schedule gives the opportunity for Cleveland to get Pineda and Odo twice, Berrios once, and the bullpen once. Recently, Pineda and Odo have been the two most effective, so that seems about as good as we can get with Gibson on the IL. Pulling contortions to get Berrios, Odo, and Pineda twice against Cleveland requires throwing everyone off schedule and also likely requires more bullpenning. What I DO hope is that the offense scores enough against Rodriguez tonight to feel good about pulling Berrios after a spiffy 82 pitches through six. (And I won't be at all surprised to see Berrios skipped once during the Chi/KC/Det/KC conclusion to the season, particularly if they can wrap up early. Or at the least that they throw in a bullpen game or two in lining up the playoff rotation.)

And yet, in the all important Eliminate-the-White-Sox portion of the pennant race, with last night's win, the Twins have clinched finishing ahead of Chicago. They are 25 up with 24 to play. This is the first goal in any season. Then we can move on to loftier goals such as the Wild Card, Division championship, etc.

I was an optimist. I had them at 88. I think they can do it!

My full answer is above. I'm just saying I don't want to spend the money on Cole that it's going to take, especially if it's the $35+ million described in the scenario. If I'm going to spend $36 million, I'd rather do it on Pineda and Odo for one year and have than lock into Cole for several at that price per year.

Odo, Pineda, and Thorpe for $36.5M.