Squirrel

reminds me that I need to get a pedicure.

It was a good day today. Sunny and warm, I had the top down on the convertible for the first time this year; I walked home from work and didn't need a jacket; I have the windows open enjoying some fresh evening air; and the Twins are doing well so far this evening.

Yes, that's what I meant.

Don't go there, Bri. Don't look back, just forward.

So far I'm liking this game.

​I'll be cheering in the Blackhawks. Go Blackhawks.

Colabellsie!

Nope. But I can't say it on. But it was in 'Barfly' with Mickey Rourke; was a movie about Charles Bukowski.

If Gardy goes, it'll be just after TR does. Personally, I don't see either happening before the season is over, if at all, but I still think TR should be first out the door if anyone is out the door.

Moderator note: Let's leave out the back and forth chiding of one another. It serves no purpose other than to get tempers flared. Keep the discussion on track, please, and leave the personal stuff out.

I'm coming around to the idea of Mauer leading off, followed by Dozier.

Okay, hmm, typing that lineup out above, well, hmm. Sigh.

And this is what I pointed out much earlier in the thread. The entertainer vs athlete conundrum. Those who want him to be the entertainer aren't getting their money's worth. Those who think that being just the athlete is fine, think he's living up to the money. There will never be agreement in this other than to agree to disagree. While it'd be nice to hear Joe step up to the mic and be the 'vocal leader' of the team, I don't expect it. To me it's not what he's paid to do.

The responsibility it comes with is doing his job, on the field, which is being a great baseball player, which I think he is. But his talent isn't being a 'people person' in the manner of Puckett or Hunter. Just because you are one of the most talented ball players out there does not mean you have to have the skills to be the vocal leader. It'd be nice, but I don't think it's a requirement. If in his contract there is language that spells out that these are also his responsibilities, then yes, there is a problem. But assigning him arbitrary responsibilities outside of being a player on the field, then judging him by that, well, I guess I don't think that's right. My opinion.

Gametime forecast: Sunny. Winds blowing out to center field at 15-25 m.p.h. Temperature around 55. Athletics: SP, Straily Fuld CF Lowrie SS Donaldson 3B Moss RF Cespedes LF Callaspo DH Norris C Barton 1B Punto 2B Twins: SP, Pelfrey Mastroianni RF Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Colabello DH Kubel LF Plouffe 3B Pinto C Hicks CF Escobar SS ----------------------------------- Brian's turn. Watch this spot for further developments. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank You ChiTown!!! That's what I do at home... I watch a spot and finally my wife says... "Well... Don't just look at it... Clean it Up!!! Things to Think About: 1. Jason Kubel -- He sure had a nice game yesterday. Who knows what the rest of the season holds for Jason but right now it does appear that dirt on his grave was a little premature. 2. Glen Perkins -- Glen said something to Josh Donaldson yesterday and the dugouts emptied. I have no idea what Glen said to Josh... It may have been something uncivilized and I really don't care. In my mind it's necessary and I love it!!! I assume whatever was said... it was a simple statement to the A's and more importantly to his Minnesota teammates. A statement that says we are going to go toe to toe and start kicking some tail. If the entire Minnesota dugout takes this same attitude. I believe we will win quite a few more games than we would have and do so... without adding a single player. 3. Burton vs. Norris -- It's too bad that Burton didn't rise to the challenge that Perkins threw down. 3 run homers happen but the timing sure sucked. It was Norris who made the final statement while Perkins was in the dugout watching. 4. One bad inning -- When it comes to good inning percentage... Phil Hughes is doing real well... He has hung a lot of zero's... Two bad innings total have destroyed his current ERA thus far. Keep hanging those zero's we need them. 5. Tattoo's -- I don't have any tattoo's... I can see getting married and having a couple of kids... But a Tattoo? that's so permanent.

Okay, okay ... moderator note here ... before this gets completely derailed, let's take a breath. If you think things are getting personal, report and walk away, don't add to it. Otherwise keep the debate civil. Thanks.

Sometimes I wonder if this Mauer debate is entertainment vs sport. Maybe to some he's not worth the $23mil/year because he's not 'entertaining' enough (no fire, boring personality) and I'd buy into that. But I think he's worth it as a baseball athlete and what he brings to the sport. Not sure if that relates or not, but it's kind of how I think of it.

****. That is all I have to say.

Can't wait to see a few Miracle games this summer. Unfortunately none will be at home when I'm there in May and they won't be playing in a convenient location to travel to.

Gametime forecast: 56°F • Partly Cloudy • 0% PoP A's: SP, Chavez Fuld CF Lowrie SS Donaldson 3B Moss 1B Cespedes LF Callaspo DH Jaso CF Reddick RF Sogard 2B Twins: SP, Hughes lineup tba --------------------------------- Check this space later, Brian's thinking: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks ChiTown... Umm... Where are my Clothes and La-Z-Boy? Things to Think About: 1. Phil Hughes -- 5 Innings in his last start... He was sharp until he fell apart... Hopefully today he can be sharp... without the falling apart part. Let's get 100 decent pitches out of him... If we can't get 100 decent pitches out of him... I hope that he contributes to charity or something because he's making some pretty good money. 2. Yeonis Cespedes -- Watching him swing this year... He seems rejuvenated... He will make me nervous each time he comes to the plate... There is some talent on that Island called Cuba. 3. SS -- It sounds like... Eduardo Nunez is just going to spend a little time in Rochester to get warmed up and will be called up fairly shortly. Once that happens... who is the casualty? Bartlett? Florimon? Escobar? I'm a Florimon supporter because of his defense. I can tolerate .220 but when you start talking about .180... I do start to lose interest. I don't think Nunez is the defensive nightmare that Yankee fans paint him as... But I do believe that he is nowhere near what Florimon brings with the glove and this pitching staff needs glove help to be decent. Florimon is pretty spectacular but if he doesn't find a way to punch a couple past the defense with the bat... The Twins are correct to look elsewhere. I'm not sure what role Escobar plays with the club. The acquisition of Nunez seems to suggest that the Twins don't have a lot of confidence in Escobar... And I'm still unclear who backs up in CF. It seems to be Escobar or Bartlett and the thought of that still makes me shake my head. It seems to me that we could use two middle infield types... Pick Two and then try to bring in an OF with CF ability. In the end... I'm glad they acquired Nunez but I'm not sure what happens when he is called up. It probably won't be what I would do. 4. Herrmann -- He gets the start in RF... Welcome to the Show!!! He probably likes the Twins Cities more than he likes Rochester. I'm just guessing because the Mall of America is a big draw. 5. Ames Iowa -- Last night a crowd of Iowa State college students turned violent... Overturning cars and ripping down light poles. It all occurred during an annual celebration called Veishea Week. I assume they must have run out of Maid-Rites and the crowd lost it. The question must be asked... Is this Heaven? Or is this Iowa?

Well, mine was on those lines, once I got it to work: Chitsy I mean, considering how you say ChiTown, it sounds a little close to ...

I remember those years in the 80s too. Hopefully we'll recapture that magic soon! Thanks for posting!

Go Man U!!!!!

That's an easy one.

Heh ... I tried this and it went on thinking for about 5 minutes with no answer. I guess the 'Gardyizer' couldn't come up with anything for my last name.