Ultima Ratio

Just an anecdote, but I believe the strike zone has been bigger this year -- maybe in an attempt to shorter games, but this also means worse offensive production.

From ESPN: Baker acknowledged having Latos throw inside to Lowe, but said it didn't involve any personal issue between the two of them. Rather, it was retaliation for Lowe hitting Joey Votto in the back during a game in 2009 at Great American Ball Park, when Lowe was with Atlanta. Players from both teams were hit during that series. I've never been a fan of purposely hitting batters except under rare circumstances, but holding onto, and acting on a 3-year-old grudge? That's insane. You either hit someone the next time you play them, or you leave it be. I find this silly, petty, and embarrassing. Thoughts?

Don't play along Yoshii. The content of the example quote should tell you how credible and honorable this 'contest' is.

Diamond: "Hard Carbon" "Blood Diamond" or just "The Cutter"

Funny, I was writing my response, got up for few minutes, came back and finished, and here you've beat me to it.

My view is that you should root for whomever you like. Same goes for the team you like -- route for them. If there is a circumstance where routing for the player you like comes at the expense of the team you like, you must choose to either root for that player or the team as the success of one is mutually exclusive of the success of the other. It's a contradiction. My view is that fans cheering for both the team and this player are ignorant of that contradiction. It's not personal nor meant to be offensive. But I fight relativism, especially ethical relativism every chance I get.

Well, I'll be at all three game when the Twins come to Pittsburgh next week. I'll be cheering loud and giving a standing O to any Twins home runs and doubt any Bucs fans join in. This has to be just an exhibition of MN nice or fan ignorance. Let's take the series tomorrow!

I think everyone agrees with this. One can only be responsible for what one can control. One can't control the pitches Thome gets nor the resulting big fly. So, it wouldn't make sense to blame or be upset with Thome. Yet, one can control their reaction this event. Sure, get upset with the pitcher or at least the unfortunate result. But also, do not give a standing ovation (unless some historical milestone occurred). There was no milestone reached. The homer came at expense of our team. So why the standing O? I don't get it.

I agree with what you say, and yes, no two player situations are the same. Like I said, if it were a milestone homer then opposing fans with knowledge of the game and the history should applaud it, but this was not such feet -- just a really great, really nice player pounding the hell out of our team. Funny, I have mixed feelings about AJ, love his competitiveness and grit, but just despise the rest of him.

Gray escapes another make or break (DFA) appearance.

Does anyone cheer AJ Pierzinski? He contributed way more to the Twins than Thome has. Is it appropriate to cheer him hitting a homer against the Twins (so long is it's not a milestone homer)? I don't think so.

Thome has 4 RBI tonight. We are down one run now. Bet our players -- while respecting and admiring Thome -- do feel a little undercut by the cheers for Thome's homer. Thome himself said this week that while he remains friends with those guys [the Twins], all that is out the window and he wants to beat them... bad. Thrylos' words and tone may be ill temperate and rough, but the spirit of what he said is right on.

Keep chipping away at that lead. One or two run an inning and we'll have a shot in the end.

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OB SLG OPS [TABLE=class: sortable stats_table row_summable, width: 1] [TR=class: stat_total hl, bgcolor: #DADCDE] [TD=align: right]162[/TD] [TD=align: right]655[/TD] [TD=align: right]566[/TD] [TD=align: right]91[/TD] [TD=align: right]134[/TD] [TD=align: right]28[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]35[/TD] [TD=align: right]96[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]77[/TD] [TD=align: right]216[/TD] [TD=align: right].237[/TD] [TD=align: right].332[/TD] [TD=align: right].478[/TD] [TD=align: right].811[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: sortable stats_table row_summable, width: 1] [TR=class: stat_total hl, bgcolor: #DADCDE] [TD=align: right]162[/TD] [TD=align: right]577[/TD] [TD=align: right]519[/TD] [TD=align: right]84[/TD] [TD=align: right]118[/TD] [TD=align: right]29[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]23[/TD] [TD=align: right]64[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]45[/TD] [TD=align: right]127[/TD] [TD=align: right].228[/TD] [TD=align: right].293[/TD] [TD=align: right].419[/TD] [TD=align: right].711 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: sortable stats_table row_summable, width: 1] [TR=class: stat_total hl, bgcolor: #DADCDE] [TD=align: right]162[/TD] [TD=align: right]647[/TD] [TD=align: right]557[/TD] [TD=align: right]85[/TD] [TD=align: right]153[/TD] [TD=align: right]37[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]20[/TD] [TD=align: right]83[/TD] [TD=align: right]12[/TD] [TD=align: right]6[/TD] [TD=align: right]75[/TD] [TD=align: right]130[/TD] [TD=align: right].275[/TD] [TD=align: right].367[/TD] [TD=align: right].458[/TD] [TD=align: right].825[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Mark Reynolds Trevor Plouffe Corey Koskie (just to throw in the recent Twins 3B paragon) Analysis: Small sample size to project real 162 numbers, but Plouffe's career 162 projects to mirror the power number of Koskie (HR, RBI, SLG), while only projecting a BA and OB% like Mark Reynolds or Rob Deer. Not so good. Koskie was, well, good.... and we miss his production and defense dearly.

That's impossible, unless we've been mathematically eliminated already. IMO we have a 10% shot at this point.

I should think no. I think the Target field aura got into Kubel's head and became psycho-somatic (I think this goes for other current players as well), so it doesn't surprise me that new guys who haven't been inundated with the aura of 'vast expanses' of TF don't let it affect them. Regardless, I will opine that unless you are a pull-hitting power lefty, the park is easier on righties.

Besides the Duensing aberration, the bullpen shuts the door once again. Great to see the lineup click top to bottom. Plouffe's swing reminds me of Cuddy's, anyone else?

All three of Carroll's hits were 2-out hits. Very nice! While Willingham has been a joy to watch, he follows up home runs -- too often and weirdly so -- by striking out LOOKING. What gives?

Perhaps it's time to send Dozier back down to make some adjustments, eh?

I agree with this team-building philosophy. It must begin with Starting pitching, then relief pitching, quality defense, then good hitting, then good base running, then good pitching in AAA, then power hitting. Best evidence besides some former Twins teams to support this method/philosophy: the Pittsburgh Pirates the last few years and especially this year. They are leading the NL Central with the least # of runs scored in all of baseball, 191; and have a -17 run differential. That's great pitching and horrible offense greeting close games and a winning record -- a winning formula for us to follow.

I've really enjoyed their coverage, presentation and calling of games as well. But maybe I'm just overjoyed watching a game on tv rather than computer or not at all.

Make it a sweep! Go new leaf Twins! If Liriano goes 6 IP with 4 or less ER, I'll be ok with it. I think we may have a tough day at the plate.

I believe the Pirates are the hottest team in baseball, actually! Routing for them too, of course!