Squirrel

Yeah, I have difficulties sitting and watching a full game, especially with all the commercials and pitching changes. I usually have it on and unless it's a really good game, it's background listening while doing other things.

I stand by my opinion as you stand by yours.

Concur. But as you said, can't really argue it, either. I couldn't really argue any choice in this category of the main contenders. It all depends on how you weight everything. And while no one category is more important than the other, imo, I still put a higher weight on defense, and this year I'd still say Buxton or Mauer were more valuable overall.

Did you time and count all the commercial breaks? While those aren't likely to go away, I think that's the most egregious addition of time to a ballgame. I'd hate to alter the game over that. And yeah enforce the pitch clock and don't let batters take so much time out.

Good for him. I was 37 when I landed my dream job near the top of the ladder. Looking forward to see what he brings and does before judging his capabilities based on age.

The MinnCentric team used to have a site for the Vikings but it went defunct. The person who ran that site (Funkytown) had her own before and merged with them, but is now back with her own site again. I don't think they have the same format, and I'm not sure they have content writers doing articles, but there is plenty of forum talk, specifically Vikings talk. Here's the website: http://purplepain.proboards.com If I were into the Vikings and football, it's where I'd go.

Mod note: a reminder to everyone, whether or not you agree with these changes, whether you are celebratory or disdainful, please be respectful of one another and those who have been let go, in this case, Neil Allen. While it might be easy to go the route of Allen's personal life and life issues, that is not the topic of this thread nor should it be ... the Twins and what their pitchers need is.

Not completely Allen's fault, but yes, he does get some of the blame and this is very unsurprising and the right move.

Now that the Molitor news is official, please continue the after-the-fact conversation here: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/27763-article-its-official-twinsmolitor-agree-to-three-year-deal/ Thanks.

No, it's not an 'aw shucks' moment, but neither is it an unforgivable mistake.

It's posted in the minor league forum, and with the absence of major leaguers on the list, I guess I made that assumption. But you are correct that nothing explicitly says so ... except the title which I've now just changed.

Last I checked Sano isn't a minor leaguer. Neither is May. Probably why neither were on this list.

People aren't perfect and in the heat of the moment do and say stupid things from time to time.

I don't disagree with that one iota. Women's health issues have always been about power and control. Don't allow birth control, don't allow abortions, yet pay for Viagara for men ... right. And if women take the care of their own bodies into their own hands, punish them for it for daring to be so disobedient. You can deny it and say that I'm distracting the issue, but that is the issue and denying health care for women is the vehicle. It's not just about removing choice from us, it's about removing the right to make decisions for ourselves and imposing a man's will on us. We are capable of making decisions for our own bodies.

Thank you, Heezy! It's really nice having you contribute like this. I know you yourself can only speculate on Sano specifically, but the medical expertise you bring to us regular fans helps a great deal with giving us better perspective.

Pikler is the outfield instructor. How much of an influence he's had on this specifically, don't know.

Well, that was a nice finish ... Cleveland wins in the bottom of the 13th.

Cleveland and the Yankees are in the 13th inning.

I'd be happy with either Cleveland or the 'Stros from the AL. I'd like the Nats to win the NL. And I think those three teams are set up the best, but we'll see. And I'd love for the Dodgers to go down in this first round. The D'Backs played them well this year so it could happen. We'll see. And being from Chicago, I couldn't care less about the Cubs. The majority of their fans know nothing of the team, or baseball in general for that matter. But locally, I bet more people watch the Bears game on Monday night than watch the Cubs. Chicago will always be a football first town.

Exactly. I read her name and went, 'Wait, what?'

I'm not a Molitor fan but I'd have been okay one way or the othe, but the entire coaching staff? Really? Hmmm.

If there are other avenues to try first you do them first. Period. And we don't even know yet if this is what is going to happen.

Okay, I'm asking you to speculate, but what kind of surgery would be done for this?

Again ... you are mixing the two issues and it's been proven unconstitutional to restrict those with mental health issues from gun access. I mean, who would you restrict and how would you determine their level of healthiness to own or not own a gun? How do you know if these persons don't already own a gun? What about their family members who own a gun; family members that aren't even in the same household. This is just the wrong way about it. Champion health care and access to that care for everyone. And then, separately, work on the issues of gun violence. I'm not disagreeing with you on suicide and gun deaths, but I still think these are two issues, related yes, but two issues that require addressing from two sides. So work on health access to those in need and then work on gun accessibility. There are a number of ways we could try to limit access that we don't even attempt to address, because, well, any conversation we have immediately turns into, thank you NRA, 'YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY MY GUNS! DON'T TAKE AWAY MY GUNS!' Craig had a good suggestion ... taxation. You want guns, you pay for it. Same with the taxation on cigarettes or gas, in some states, or a number of things. Work toward licensing, not unlike car licensing and registration. Require licensing to include usage and safety classes and tests. And have yearly registration for every, single, gun you own. Have laws be national laws. Yes, I'm trampling on states rights with this one but this is a NATIONAL issue. Chicago, as you know, has high instances of gun violence. It wasn't too long ago that a study was released that showed a very high percentage of guns involved in Chicago crime came from other states. Chicago itself has fairly good laws, but I can drive 20 minutes and buy a gun in Indiana without much restriction. Background checks and waiting periods. Maybe limit the numbers and types of guns people have ... but then, this gets into the zone where people get crazy. Or limit the amount of ammunition one can have. This is an area I don't know enough about to make a proper suggestion, just throwing out ideas. None of these ideas would hinder anyone's 'right' to own a gun, but yes, access would be a bit more difficult. But none of this gets even discussed because, well, 'YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE MY GUNS! YOU CAN'T TAKE MY GUNS!'

I also think brining the mental health issue into a conversation about gun violence prevention, and vice versa, is a distraction to both issues.