spinowner

For a long time MLB has allowed the tail to wag the dog by giving TV the authority to set start times and the length of between-inning breaks. I have to accept that this will never change since all teams generate necessary income that way but I wish we could have 60-second between-inning breaks like in the olden days. That alone would cut about 20 minutes from every game, more in the postseason. Regarding pace of play I don't support anything that would fundamentally change the way the game is played or managed. While the pitch clock has some proponents I would accept it only when the bases are empty and only if there's a similar clock for a batter to step into the batter's box. I think it could give an unfair advantage to a baserunner to use it with runners on base. I still say the only acceptable changes that could speed games up are to raise the upper boundary of the strike zone and to lower the height of the mound. A larger zone means fewer balls and more swings sooner in the count. A lower mound prevents a concomitant increase in strikeouts. Fewer walks, no increase in strikeouts, shorter at-bats, more balls put in play, faster pace of play. By the way, there's no guarantee that this would shorten game times but my guess is that it would. As for challenges I think they are here to stay. One way to eliminate the pause while a manager decides whether to challenge a call would be to allow teams to wait until after the following at-bat to make a challenge. However, if a challenge overturns a call it means an at-bat would have to be repeated. It would require some study to see which way uses more time, and it probably wouldn't make more than a couple minutes difference in a game anyway.

After an adjustment period Buxton has excelled every time he's moved up a level in the minors. There's no reason to expect that he won't do the same in the majors. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results, but for him to be where he is at age 22 is certainly reason for optimism. There are a lot of baseball players who would trade places with him in a heartbeat.

Well, we have to see what we have in Boshears, ya know.

Rollie and Phyllis say hi!

Hey! Visiting the in-laws in Ames, IA and my father-in-law found the game on his cable system just in time for Buxton!

I'll always remember the time in 2005 when the Twins beat the Sox and Freddy Garcia 1-0. The only hit he allowed was a dinger to Jacque Jones in the 8th. Santana got the win.

Mmmm, Audra! (Although I haven't seen Aggies7 here for a while, so it may not do any good to bait him.)

You going to any of the games this weekend?

A couple creative names people have given their Wifi systems: FBI Surveillance van 2. It's this one mom.

A single by the big man and a dinger by the big man.

Dang pickoff.

You can't explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they take everything literally.

Urrkk.

A walk. Close enough.

Buxton goes deep this inning.

It wasn't until about 20 minutes ago that it occurred to me that the Twins were playing. And now in spite of how things stand with my favorite team I've got the game on. Small glimmer of significance: if the Twins win this game it knocks the Royals out of the postseason.

My guess is that the kids will be attending Catholic or other private schools so it's probably not as big of a difference whether here or there as it would be for public schools.

I think all veterans get some benefit of doubt, and that's usually deserved. If Mauer is healthy in the spring I think it's reasonable to keep him at first base unless and until Vargas (or maybe Park or Kepler) force the changing of the guard. He probably never will be the offensive player of previous years but surprises can happen, like Suzuki achieving an OPS over .700 for example. And Mauer is solid at first base. Decision-making isn't as important for a first baseman as it is for other positions but he makes no mental mistakes defensively.

Vin Scully is the only announcer in the history of baseball who was better than Herb Carneal.

Since the last six games are covered I'd like to say thanks to those who have volunteered to start the game threads this season.

Just have to say that to me there are two seasons: baseball season and waiting for baseball season.

Elmer Fudd would say wabbit season.

7 wins to go!

Let it rain!