Vanimal46

If you don't mind venturing off to Netflix movies for a hot minute... If "Bright" with Will Smith pops up on your list, do yourself a favor and skip it. We had to turn it off after 30 minutes it was that bad.

Good to know about the Greatest Showman. My family's going to the movies this weekend and we're deciding between that and Three Billboards.

That too. But him tipping his pitches was a real thing. It's easier to hit a breaking pitch that missed the spot when you know it's coming... https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mlb.com/245190368-yu-darvish-finds-pitch-tipping-flaw-on-video.amp.html https://deadspin.com/report-yu-darvish-tipped-his-pitches-in-the-world-seri-1821216289

Also, rumor has it Darvish was tipping his pitches in the world series that the Astros picked up on. I value his overall numbers over the recency bias of his last 2 starts.

Who's our community version of Brian Duensing to sweeten the deal?

Overall I think there's a lot of talent in this community. Collaboration would help make this place even better IMO. Game threads for example I've partnered with Barks Lounge who is one of the best photoshop users I've seen. I've also asked Brock if he had illustrations I could use for game thread themes, and Pardon My Dinger for collaborating on parody songs. Unfortunately we weren't able to figure out how to make the music portion work... What software to use that would work on this website. I also remember Pardon My Dinger did a live game thread where you could listen to his rants and comments throughout the game that I think is very creative. I've envisioned game threads and other threads with video, pictures, and other creative methods. Long story short, we could make this place great using each of our different talents together.

Well, mildly successful...

True, that's something to think about. It still goes back to forums in Minnesota Twins Talk getting more traffic and comments compared to the blog section... As you know my comedy bits thrive on others going along with it.

I don't know if this is the right forum to bring this up... But one thing that's kind of frustrating is locking threads when someone "breaks" Twins news then a formal article is written an hour or 2 later about the topic. I don't really want to repeat myself if I commented on a forum breaking the news. And sometimes there's good conversations happening that get locked because one of Seth, Tom, or whoever writes an article about it. So maybe find a way to merge the forums together? I know there's been some frustrations in the past. Because like reporters, we all take pride in finding the scoop first.

I'm with you being skeptical about the off-season so far. The difference I'm seeing for now is the new regime being more public about who they're "targeting" and interested in. The past regime was a steel trap, and us fans didn't know if they were ever in on free agents until they signed. I guess it's not a bad thing to know who the Twins are trying to sign or trade for. But they'll learn quickly that fans will get sick of it too if the results are the same (not signing them).

Tom and others hit the nail on the head. The forums get way more traffic and response than the blog section. It also appears that blogs are more thoughly researched topics... Which doesn't really fit me. I'm quite happy writing comedy bits like Twins' 12 Days of Christmas, Whine Line, and silly game thread topics.

Yep I'm right there with you. It makes a ton of sense to sign an OF that can take some of Kepler's ABs vs. tough lefties. Mauer and Grossman both do well against LH.

He'll probably take Vargas' spot on the 25 man. I'm not a believer in Vargas so I don't really care if that's the case. I'd very much prefer signing someone who can help next year. Napoli probably isn't that person.

On the 10th day of Christmas Falvine gave to me Zach Duke for the bullpen, Gerrit Cole trade rumors, Napoli rumors (again?), Fake Ohtani Twins buzz, 41 year old Rodney INTERNATIONAL BONUS MONEY!! Burdi to the Pirates, drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting.

All of those veteran mentors are gone. I guess they need new veteran mentors.

It's a good thing I have a healthy heart. I don't think I can take much more excitement from FA signings.

On the 1st day of Christmas Falvine gave to me Nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 2nd day of Christmas Falvine gave to me Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40 and nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 3rd day of Christmas Falvine gave to me A drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 4th day of Christmas Falvine gave to me Burdi to the Pirates, a drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 5th day of Christmas Falvine gave to me INTERNATIONAL BONUS MONEY!! Burdi to the Pirates, drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 6th day of Christmas Falvine gave to me 41 year old Rodney, INTERNATIONAL BONUS MONEY!! Burdi to the Pirates, drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 7th day of Christmas Falvine gave to me Fake Ohtani Twins buzz, 41 year old Rodney, INTERNATIONAL BONUS MONEY!! Burdi to the Pirates, drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 8th day of Christmas Falvine gave to me Napoli rumors (again?), Fake Ohtani Twins buzz, 41 year old Rodney INTERNATIONAL BONUS MONEY!! Burdi to the Pirates, drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting. On the 9th day of Christmas Falvine gave to me Gerrit Cole trade rumors, Napoli rumors (again?), Fake Ohtani Twins buzz, 41 year old Rodney INTERNATIONAL BONUS MONEY!! Burdi to the Pirates, drafted Tyler Kinney, Thorpe and Gonsalves on the 40, and nothing so I had to keep waiting. Help me finish the last 3 days!

I could only watch the first quarter before heading to a Christmas party.... It looked like a slip and slide course out there. Did Zimmer play backups in the 2nd half?

Completely agree. Archer's situation is exactly what a cheap, small market team dreams of. It's insane for the Rays to trade him away. Thus it will take an insane return for the Rays to actually do it. Not worth the time or energy thinking about acquiring him.

#NotAll Boras clients explore free agency. Stephen Strasburg 7/175 extension forgoing FA. Adrian Beltre keeps reupping for years with the Rangers.

It is legal for Minnesota to offer him an extension after 2 years... Just saying.

I can't argue with those examples being an overpay. A vast majority of middle relievers in FA are being offered 2 year contracts. Even if they're bad for a year, it's short term. The price isn't enough to hinder the Twins' ability to acquire other players. I'm not comfortable handing MLB jobs to prospects with the concerns each of them have. Keep them as org depth until they force the issue or injury. Sure, I'd like to see money spent anywhere that helps the 2018 pitching staff. A good rotation can mask an okay bullpen, or vice versa. It all depends if you want to spend cash, or prospects in July.

So.... the same story we as fans have read and heard for the last 3 seasons. Just wait for the internal options. There isn't a single team in baseball that has a home grown bullpen. Eventually, if they want to be better, they have to pay market rates for relief help.

For those that listened to Fleck on the radio today... "(Insert recruit name here) is a connector." "You're going to fall in love with his smile."

Ah, you are correct! Then it's not so bad... A homecoming for his final season.