Don Walcott

Senor Positividad?

I would never do that job in a million years.

I could do that job!!

Nice AB, Kennys.

f***ing Gardner!

Wonder if his name was Lou Sever, before he arrived in New York.

Okay, that home run wasn't a cheapie.

280-foot home run?

My Rosario prediction doesn't look so good right now.

If money can't be good or bad, why am I worrying about throwing bad money after good?

Don't know what the Hicks 105 is. But Juicy Lucy sounds good . . . with a side of defibrillator.

GOOD MORNING, TWINS FANS!!* What a great day for meaningful September baseball!! I know it doesn't look good for the Twins in Gotham this week. We just lost two tough games, with Santana and Berrios starting, and we failed to beat Garcia and Sabathia. Now, Twins nation turns our lonely eyes to Big Sexy. And now, the Yankees look to pour salt on our wounds by moving up Severino to start today. Severino has not only been the Yankees' best pitcher this year, he's been particularly dominant lately. And if we manage to make a wild card game, we'll likely have to face him again. But that's good news, right? We get a preview of Severino? We should always look on the bright side of life. . . . We're walking on sunshine. . . . Don't worry, be happy . . . since we're blessed with a bucket of lucky mobility? (I apologize. I quit drinking caffeinated coffee three years ago and it's still hard to get myself going in the morning. I tend to resort to psyche up music.) Boldish prediction: I'm hoping this will be a statement game for Eddie Rosario -- 3 hits, one HR, 3 RBI. Feel free to predict something good for the Twins today (even if the best you can do is predict how the Tribe will batter los Angeles). Weather: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Ba de ya - say do you remember? Ba de ya - dancing in September? Ba de ya - never was a cloudy daaaaaayyyyyyyyy!** Pitching matchup: MIN: Bartolo Colon ® (6-13, 6.39) NYY: Luis Severino ® (13-6, 2.93) Lineups: Twins 1. Brian Dozier ® 2B 2. Joe Mauer (L) DH 3. Jorge Polanco (S) SS 4. Eddie Rosario (L) LF 5. Byron Buxton ® CF 6. Max Kepler (L) RF 7. Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B 8. Kennys Vargas (S) 1B 9. Jason Castro (L) C Yankees 1. Brett Gardner (L) LF 2. Aaron Judge ® RF 3. Gary Sanchez ® C 4. Didi Gregorius (L) SS 5. Starlin Castro ® 2B 6. Matt Holliday ® DH 7. Jacoby Ellsbury (L) CF 8. Todd Frazier ® 3B 9. Greg Bird (L) 1B That's it for me starting Game Threads this year. Hope I can end the season 1-1 and come back strong next season! P.S. Shanah Tovah!! *Sorry about all the yelling this morning. ** Obviously, we should all keep Puerto Rico in our thoughts today, and hope Maria shows mercy.

I blinked. What happened?

They aren't "literally" measuring different things, they are rating systems that purport to measure the same thing -- wins above replacement. They not only don't match or track proportionately, they don't even agree on who is having a better year. So it's important to understand what data and assumptions are being used and determine whether you agree or disagree with those assumptions and the use of that data.

They are not statistics, they are rating systems, based on different assumptions and data, which is why they don't even track consistently as comparisons between players. Similar to a QB rating -- which also is not a statistic..

The results are so divergent, it almost makes you want to rely on actual statistics and historical facts, rather than someone else's rating system. . . . But then, the rating system is easier.

I don't think Sano bunts well enough to hit 3rd for Mollie. Surprised Polanco lasted this long . . . .

At least Slegers didn't let Donaldson beat us.

They do impressions? How about Wade Davis?

!!SNIWT OG

I agree. They could just say "you're the player of the game, congratulations!" And have the player say, "thank you to these great fans!" And be done with it. The questions are awkward, the players want to go celebrate, and can't really concentrate on long, boring questions. Either make it really quick or stop with the interviews.

Do we know that Molly called for the bunt? It looked like Rosario doing it on his own to get a hit. Bad decision either way. Houston took care of business, and were now up 3!

Rosario. All he does is get hits.

Craig Kusick. Possibly the worst-hitting non-fielding 1B/DH in history. Truly a testament to how bad the Twins were during the disco era. Should be up there among the worst Twins of all time, partly because he stuck around so long to do as much damage to the team as possible. For context, in 1979, when his time with the Twins was done, he lasted 24 games with the Toronto Blue Jays. Who were 53-109. That ended his career. Apparently wasn't good enough to make the 1980 Blue Jays, who won 67. . . . And he was from Milwaukee.

The other good news is that at least for the next week or so, the Astros and Indians will be trying to secure the top seed in the playoffs. I suspect the Indians will wrap that up by next weekend, but not before beating up on the Angels next week.