IndianaTwin

Mea culpa! Given that I dropped a "team with the best record in major league baseball" into a totally unrelated departmental video conference today, I should definitely have gotten that right! Of course, the original comment was written during said video conference, so perhaps I can use my mistake to convince my boss that I was paying at least a little attention to what was happening.

I don't think of it as a ploy as much as preventative maintenance in responding to the early signs of an overuse injury (which can be knee as much as arm). But it's also okay to be strategic and say that the schedule makes it make sense to take the rest now compared to trying to force one more outing. I also get the sense that Rocco (and others in management) have the kind of demeanor that would even allow him to go to Pineda (and his agent) and say, "Mike, you're coming back from TJS and the knee issues at the end of last year. Guys in that situation have a tough time getting through the season without missing a start. Sometimes guys try to force it and they end up with a more significant injury. Let's brainstorm together about the most strategic time to take a well-planned rest, and it will benefit us both. You will stay healthier, which makes us a better team, and being able to pitch through the season will help your chances of getting that multi-year contract you're striving for. And by the way, when we get to August and you've indeed demonstrated to us that you're going to be healthy for the long haul, we've demonstrated to you that we are indeed concerned about your long-term health, and we're both lining ourselves up for the playoffs, let's sit down and talk about an extension."

Optimistically, I'm thinking it's a great strategic move that... Buys a skipping of the rotation one time on Pineda, who, as Spycake notes above, is on pace for an innings total that approaches career highs, which is particularly significant when bouncing back from injury. It does the skip when, on the way back from injury, he may building up a backlog of fatigue that could be addressed well with the skip.Picks up an "off day" in the schedule for Perez, Berrios, Odo, Gibson, when there haven't been many off days over the past six-seven weeks.Rewards Smeltzer for the great work he's done in the minors and gives him a taste of MLB.Happens at a time when the bullpen is relatively rested and headed Pessimistically... Wait, at 35-18, I don't do pessimistically.

Name idea -- seems like it ought to include the "weekly" time frame. Perhaps something like "The Twins Daily Weekly Report" or "The Weekly Twins Daily."

I'm late to the Game Thread after cleaning up from my first attempt at a Swineapple. Hollowed out a pineapple, stuffed it with pork, wrapped it in a bacon weave* and smoked it. Had a little problem with the smoker, so I had to finish it off in the oven to get it done in time for guests, but it wasn't bad for a first try. Learned a few things, but will try it again. *And seriously, if the recipe refers to a "bacon weave," how can you not try it, right?

And later, watching the replay, “Was he trying to be more aerodynamic? Did he yell ‘squirrel’?” But all in all, the Sox announcers have been VERY complimentary in all three games.

Did you catch the line earlier in the game? Something to the gist of... “If you think you can take a break to make a quick phone call, don’t do it when Astudillo is up, because you won’t even get the number dialed before he swings.”

May be good then. As I said, I found them very comfortable, probably as comfortable as any running shoe I’ve tried.

Der Schlagger: 18.33 percent of all HRs by a player born in Germany, moving within two of Glenn Hubbard for second.

Yesterday when Astudillo lost his helmet running to second, the Sox announcer said “The Turtle lost his shell.”

Tried them on and they were really comfortable. But I’m heavier than I ought to be and they seemed more designed for speed, so I was afraid the cushioning wouldn’t hold up for this Clydesdale.

During May, the Twins have only had one game in which the starter didn’t go at least five innings, and that was the game when Berrios had a big lead and got pulled an out short.

In the 24 games in May, we are averaging 6.95 and allowing 3.33.

I'm following the Sox broadcast on the DVR, so I'm a little behind. Which would you rather have this season? Player A Player B 203 PA 209 .297 Avg. .288 17 HR 11 41 RBI 28 .379 OBP .459 .674 SLG .577 Player A = Twins catchers Player B = Mike Trout

As in, a home run plays well in any spot?

That's probably the best description Wrigley I've heard. The thought of going to Wrigley always sounds good. And then I think a little more and decide to pass.

Der Schlagger update: 18.10 percent of all homers hit by players born in Germany. And with career No. 67, now within three of Glenn Hubbard for No. 2 on the all-time list.

Benetti (after Rosario just misses a fly ball and scrapes himself): Just rub a little walleye on it. Benetti: We've seen all kinds of moves to first by Berrios. That was the delay and then fire. Stone: If you get anyone with that one, they are either reading a newspaper or checking their smart phone.

Benetti (with Jimenez up): It's nice to the Eloy jersey her in Minnesota. It takes some doing to be a Sox fan and travel, but to already have the the Eloy Jimenez jersey and have scheduled a trip, that's sincere fandom. Stone: And for Sox fans, this is a great place travel. First of all, the downtown is beautiful and the ballpark is outstanding. It's close. A lot of nice places to visit. And walleye. Benetti: You really do love walleye. Your Twitter key to the game was all about walleye, you're talking about walleye in the third inning, I think you might be at obsession-level with that fish. Stone: It's a quality fish. Benetti: As Vin Scully once said when he was talking about a player on the Rockies, (in Scully imitation) "A mullet is both a hairdo and a fish."

Watching from the DVR, but here's the Benetti report: Top of the 1st 1. Where have the Twins been so far? Away from us, and that's good news because they're 33-16. 2. Tip of the cap to umpire Larry Vanover doing his 3,000th game. 3. Target Field is a lovely place to watch a baseball game. 4. A breaking ball with a mind of its own hits Tilson. 5. Notes that Moncada's bunt may have been seeking a hit, but Berrios is too good an athlete. 6. Berrios has one of the sharpest curve balls in major league baseball. Bottom of the 1st 1. Kepler made contact with the wall yesterday in Anaheim. He ended up with a calf that looked like it had been through a car wash. 2. You watch tape of these guys and pitches that leak out over the plate end up a long ways from home. 3. That pitch nearly dots Polanco. 4. Twins are slugging at .516, which is .025 better than the best team in baseball history, the 2003 Red Sox. Not only are they on an epic base, but well beyond the best team in history. 5. Gonzalez had a bumpy ride in March and April, but recently has started to what the Twins hoped for. 6. Rosario takes a soft strike one (it was a marginal call). 7. (After Castillo called time when Kepler had a big lead.) Kepler was going to run into Welington Castillo and see if the tag counted. 8. (Stone after wild pitch): Castillo looking at the baseball to see why it took that bizarre path. 9. Moncado throws a dagger to first base (on Cron). Twins had a run they thought they were going to score, but YoYo holds the line! Top of 2nd 1. Polanco comes from down under and throws it way too high. 2. Berrios' performance last year against the Sox in April was the disappearing baseball, one of the best performances we saw all year. 3. Rare rainout in Anaheim -- they didn't plan to use the tarp. 4. (Berrios lobs pickoff throw) Throw to first, with everything in slow motion. That was like a dream sequence. (Follow up throw). That was the more sped-up version. 5. Berrios to first where Sanchez has 1 stolen base, but Berrios may have misread the stolen base column to see 11 or 21. 6. And a flinch to first base... the drama. 7. (Stone:) It's tough to get hit twice in two innings, but Charlie (Tilson) was able to do it. 8. (Showing a kid with dad wearing a Sox shirt and Mom a Twins shirt). That's a confused kid trying to keep everybody happy with the Twins cap and the Sox shirt. 9. They refer to Berrios as La Machina, the Machine, but somebody spilled water on the Machine this inning. Bottom of the 2nd 1. (Stone: The ball's going out to all fields). It goes out to the 600-level! 2. (After a foul ball). That was off a chair back and worried the people nearby. (After discussing the location of the press box.) Look, we're always under assault back here. Stone: Don't worry, I'll protect you. Benetti: That is the biggest lie I've heard tonight, in the words of Lewis Black, sort of. 3. (Next ball is hit off the top of the screen.) If that had a couple more inches, it was coming right for my aorta area. Stone: I'm here for you. It appears that I'm diving under the counter, but I had that one all the way. Benetti; It was very clear that you thought it was coming, because your headset nearly came off. That sound you heard was Steve resetting. 4. (Schoop HBP) We have substantial plunkings. That is the third hit by pitch. 5. (Discussing replay options). Could say that we have it under the microscope, but that would be a pun that is below us, but we can't do that on a Friday. We save the bad ones for the weekend. 6. (Shares that a tweet came in from a woman who said she said, "uh, huh" after someone lied at work today.) Apparently I have a penchant for saying "uh, huh," when you (Stone) lie. I'm glad that's catching on. I wanted to share that with you, so you can take that to your work place. 7. (Stone: When he learns to use right and right center, he's going to be dangerous.) You mean the 18 doubles isn't enough for you? 8. (Stone: This is a single for almost everybody in the league except for Buxton.) 9. (After sac fly.) The cash register continues to have drawer open in terms of runs in this game. 10. (After discussing the Twins sweeping the Sox at the end of the year). It's nice symmetry for us, with Joe Mauer's farewell and then his first bobblehead in our last trip this year/first trip this year, if you enjoy symmetry. The crowd is loud right now, but not as loud as when Joe Mauer was on the field last year.

The way I summarize the stadium is to note that the sponsor's logo is an arrow pointing down.

A kid from church has his high school grad party tonight. If I get a chance after I get home, I'll offer some of Benetti's gems in the GT.

I've lived in northern Indiana for 30 years and know of what I speak. Hawk was the single reason that put the Sox on my most-disliked list. Which makes it really painful to watch Sox games now. I so want to dislike them, but it's become much harder with Jason Benetti on the mic. I truly enjoy listening to him, and he's got a great, quirky sense of humor. If he had free time, he would fit in well on TD. Perhaps my favorite line so far: Benetti: [You can watch these games] on all your supported devices. Steve Stone:* Are there any devices that aren't supported? Benetti: Well, you can't get them on your toaster. *In addition, Steve Stone is so much better when paired with Benetti. He can be entertaining in his own right, and Benetti does a good job of truly drawing out good insights from a knowledgeable ex-pitcher, whereas Hawk just wanted to talk about how Yaz used to do things. So, yes, if you get a chance, watch the Sox guys. But no, I still rank the Sox No. 30 behind: No. 1: Twins Nos. 2-29 (tied): everyone else. After all, they still play in the Monument to Cement. But that's another diatribe. (You may have also heard Benetti do some football or basketball, particularly on Big Ten games. He's good there, but not as good as in baseball, where the pauses give him time to expound.)

It goes without saying, but nobody's said it yet, so I will. This is a whole lot more fun conversation than, "Who can we get for Dozier?"

Unless he loses the vote to Buxton. Or Garver. Or Schoop.