scottz

I don't think it's good science to compare the height of the total world population's men to MLB players. Professional athletes are different than the general population of the world. If you're going to make a height argument about baseball players (specifically in this case, pitchers), you need to look only at the sub-population of baseball players when determining if height matters among baseball players. Regardless, we're not doing full-blown scientific analysis here. It's just a discussion. The stats you threw out do not indicate that pitchers shorter than 6'2" are significantly under-represented in the results of ERA+ compared to the total population of pitchers who qualified (in this one year sample data).

56 (72%) were 6'2 or taller. 22 (28%) were less than 6'2 20% of the top 10 were "short". Seems like just about the right mix of tall and short finished in the top 10 based on the total population.

I think my guess at the beginning of the year was 77 wins. Getting to 78 was bonus baseball. Getting to 81 and a guaranteed .500 or better record is great. Still having a 7% chance (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/odds/) at a playoff spot at with 6 games remaining? That's real, real fun. Go Twins!

Given how often it comes up and how many people seem to participate, I thought I was the only one that thought. The Wave quit being cool around the same time Krazy George had a full head of hair. I f*#$ing hate it. I hate everything about it. I hate that morons sitting behind me become DickBert for The Wave ("The upper deck is going too fast. Slow down." "Oh, there we go - here it comes! Here it comes!"), so I have to not only deal with The Wave, but also with the inane chatter that goes with it. I hate that I have to try to look through the mass of idiot participants to see whether or not strike three was called. I hate that stupid freaking "wooooooooo" scream - that's not even the noise you would make in a real wave. Try to make a drowning noise. Better yet, actually drown. I hate it. And Twins fans seem like the absolute worst offenders year after year. Go back to the early 80s, Wave. And die.

Berrios: the kid just wants it. August 31 call-up, so as to be playoff eligible if they make it.

A 23-year old who made AAA in 2012 (as a 20 year old) caught my attention. Looking up his minor league stats, I see he played only 3 games (4 ABs) at AAA in 2012, and otherwise appears to be a light-hitting player A-ball level player. My attention has now been released.

I was listening to the pre-game today when they were discussing Hicks' elbow injury and something about it struck me as odd. I don't even know now what in particular was said to make me think that, but your statement that they seemed surprised is close to what I would have said too. My thought after hearing about Buxton getting called up was that Aaron Hicks has played his last game as a Minnesota Twin. Who knows if that is right, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is traded once "healthy".

I don't know what they will do, but I believe they would go to a 6 man rotation and carry 13 pitchers before demoting May. I also don't believe they will trade Graham, as I think they believe they have a Rule 5 that will stick and contribute. Molitor has relied on Thompson too many times for me to think they would demote him either. Obviously just my thoughts. Edit: Ah, I see - you said trade FOR Graham and then option him...that is a more likely possibility, but I think he simply stays on the roster.

I'll go with Murphy.

Asterisks are just another long-haired liberal-wackadoodle way of suppressing my right to say whatever the h-e-double-hockeysticks I want to say!!! And that's a FACT. So I'm going to turn this into politics if I WANT to turn this into politics! I just don't want to. Take that, you bunch of conformist sheeple. Also, go Twins.

Atlases are very underrated. This has been my Circus Boy Opinion Update.

Could I get Greg Peavey?

Hicks didn't seize the opportunity, and Rosario will be given some time at AAA. I wish CF were different, but Schafer was OK for us last year. Given all that AND that both Arcia and Hunter are feared to be terrible defenders, it makes sense to me to have Robinson as the 4th OF. Assuming Arcia and Hunter are 3-4 spots apart in the batting order, one of them should almost always be in a spot to be pinch ran for around the 7th-9th inning, getting perhaps 1-3 innings of improved defense for our (questionable) bullpen, depending on game situations. If Hicks or Rosario lights the world on fire in AAA for a month and Schafer struggles, then one of them comes up and Robinson goes down, and Schafer takes over Robinson's role. A question I would like to have answered is whether the position players have also been throwing their Neil Allen change-ups more often, in preparation for mop-up duty if the starter has an off day and the bullpen has to start pitching in the 5th.

That was a very enjoyable read. Thank you!

Catchers (2): Kurt Suzuki, Josmil Pinto (AGREE) Infielders (7): Kennys Vargas, Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier, Trevor Plouffe, Danny Santana, Eduardo Escobar, Eduardo Nunez (AGREE, and I have no problem with Nunez. There are no better options, and what you want on the bench is a late game improvement in skill over at least one starter position in as many of these areas as you can - Defense, Speed, Power. Nunez will bring a speed improvement. The fact that he can play a few positions makes him useful. If only he also offered power and defense, too.) Outfielders (4): Oswaldo Arcia, Torii Hunter, Jordan Schafer, Aaron Hicks (MOSTLY AGREE). I think if Rosario plays out of his mind this spring and Hicks struggles, Rosario pulls a Hicks (circa 2013) and goes north as the starter. Longshot, but a possibility. If Hicks plays nearly equal to Rosario or Hicks has a good spring, Hicks goes north as the starter. If both Hicks and Rosario flop in the spring, Schafer goes north as the starter and somebody like Robinson plays 4th OF.) Starting Pitchers (5): Phil Hughes, Ervin Santana, Ricky Nolasco, Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone (AGREE 1-4, DISAGREE 5. I think Milone would have to be perfect in spring training to go north. In my (meaningless) opinion, it is May's job to lose. He could lose it, certainly, but I think it's his. I think they are willing to cut Pelfrey loose unless he shows them perfection in spring, too. Meyers goes to AAA and is the first one called up when needed, assuming he shows his stuff.) Bullpen (7): Glen Perkins, Casey Fien, Brian Duensing, Tim Stauffer, Caleb Thielbar, Mike Pelfrey, JR Graham. (1-4 AGREE, 5-7 DISAGREE. I don't think Thielbar is a lock, no Pelfrey in the pen, and Graham will be offered back or a trade will be worked out. If Thielbar is a lock, 2 of Pressley, Tonkin, and Oliveros)

We should trade 2 or 3 of our average/bad players for 1 or 2 good players. If we have to trade 3 or 4 of our average/bad players, then we should do that, especially if they are former prospects who have shown to not be very good in the opportunities they have been given so far. Add in Deunsing if they want more, but that's it. Then, good players will be ours.

I don't think it is illogical to be concerned that Dozier is hitting .230 and to want him to hit .250 instead. Yes, the OBP is just fine at .350-ish, but an increased BA would increase the OBP assuming the rest of positives of his game (e.g., the walks) stayed the same. In any case, and responding to the wider thread, I don't think Dozier is going anywhere any time soon. In addition to being productive compared to his positional-peers at the plate and with the glove, he also shows the intangible leadership quality that the Twins appear to like (as do I).

Pitcher of the Day is pretty easy for me: Chih-Wei Hu! 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 10 K - that gets me fired up. Keep it up, kid!

While I get the analogy and agree that the timing couldn't really have been worse, I can't go so far as to say this is in any way equivalent to the Maritime Law of leaving those in your charge in harm's way. There are many professions in the world, and for those of us who have a job that allows us leave for family time, it is a perk that is greatly appreciated. I believe that MLB instituting bereavement and paternity-type allowances, and individual ballclubs allowing their coaches and players to take time away for family matters is nothing but a good thing. I hope Gardy is able to enjoy the ceremony and give his daughter a big hug and tell her how proud he is of her, and I hope his attendance gives her a memory that lasts her entire lifetime. I think it is time for the Twins to move on front current field staff, but Gardy going to his daughter's graduation has no place in that discussion. Respectfully, scottz