JustIncredible's healthy attitude is hot.

In fact this whole team's attitude is hot. HOT.

I can honestly say that I didn't expect to read a plot summary of Total Recall tonight. It was the spiritual predecessor to Memento!

Wow. Twats and dicks, and kicks to the nads and two bit whores. Oh, yeah, and a sweep of the Bitches. This is waaaaay more fun than the beginning of the season.

Yes, B.G. I would have been very happy, indeed, with just winning this series. Sweeping is like being 21 again and having to go home with the Justin and Joe to celebrate,ya that's it. With grip and go in the cooler. That HOT.

Whew.

Go go Twins and see you Friday at the dome,

kal

Dear Bat-girl

Your team is kinda hot. Hey could you guys use a new 3rd baseman ? We'll take the Kid and Jason Kubel for him

p.e.m.

I forgot to add this on the Neshak Legovision thread, but doesn't it look like the Bitch Sock is *smirking*?

Bat Girl you know me so well. You know my disappointment the year Rod Carew didn't quite hit .400 and then he went to California and pretty soon Gene Mauch was going, too. You know how hard it was all those years to finish fourth in the American League West (when there was just an east and a west) and how spring is so sweet because as any good farmer -- or anyone who grew up in a small town knows -- it really is the season of hope. You know how I tried to remain optimistic in 1987 and 1991 because, well sometimes things just don't seem to work out like they do. You might even know how my heart still swells everytime I see that video of Kent Hrbek, his arm pumped in the air, as he rounds the bases to keep the World Series dream alive.

But I didn't think you could know how I consoled myself with the thought this afternoon that, yeah, we won the series and I should be happy with that as I ate chicken wings and drank beer at a sports bar rather than working. (It felt kind of like those days I skipped out of work back in '87 and '91 to watch the away games on television.)

This season has been a blast and the last few weeks have been glorious. I e-mailed a White Sucks Fan I know today and reminded him that at the All-Star Break we were nine games behind the Southside Butt-Pirates and now we were even.

I just discovered your blog. I grew up on the Iowa-Minnesota border listening to Twins games on a transistor radio under my covers, cheering for the likes of Larry Hisle, Lymon Bostock, Roy Smalley and Rod C. Those were tough years. The last ten have been so much more fun. And reading your blog long distance from Des Moines (where I am lucky to find the game on the radio, except when I have the car with XM Radio) your writing has made it so much better.

Thanks.

God, I remember last year so much that I couldn't help laugh -- OUT LOUD in my otherwise empty house -- when Ozzie Guillen had Michael Cuddyer walked intentionally to face Justin Morneau. Oh, Ozzie, why don't you drop some more slurs instead of choosing to face Dr. Neau?

You sure are a funny guy, Mike. Thanks for the chuckle.

I’ve been a lurker here for awhile now, but in light of “recent events,” it is impossible to remain silent any longer.

I LOVE THIS TEAM!

I suppose it’s fortunate that I was out of the country last summer and fall. It’s hard to be an ocean away from Twins Territory and know that if you want to follow the games online, you’ve got to be willing to live on only three or four hours of sleep a night; but if it means separating one’s conscious mind from the 2005 season by an ocean, then I suppose it’s not so bad. I’ll be leaving again in mid September, though, so I’ll gladly soak up a sweep like this one with the same relish as I would a wild card or—dare I dream?—a division title while I’m still near sympathetic souls (I imagine many long, lonely nights spent in the faint glow of MLB.tv, cheering silently while the rest of Ireland sleeps).

But three cheers for Batgirl, not to mention her lovely followers who comment here on a daily basis, for reminding folks like me that Twins fandom isn’t just an amusement park ride that you can jump on or get off whenever—or wherever—you want. It’s love, and it’s for life. And even though love sometimes tests you, it also rewards your patience and dedication in a big way. After all, victory is sweet, but even sweeter when it vanquishes the scars of defeat.

. . . and most especially when it strides up nonchalantly to the teams ahead of you, taps them on the shoulder, and says with a wink, “Didn’t see that coming, now, did you?”

Oh Stacey, when it comes time to watch those MLB.tv games in the middle of the night, just remember i'll be watching with you, just one time zone away, also getting almost no sleep on a weeknight, just to see the Twins play. Just like I did last tuesday when The President sat some bitches down. Boy, was that time well spend on not sleeping..;)

Although, come to think of it, in mid-september i'll be in the US...mmmm...ok, i'll have to wait for the play-offs then to see them play in the middle of the night...:)

batgirl has a potty mouth!

In the BOD comments I may have mentioned something about going 6-6 on the road... but Batgirl's attempt to drudge up old memories of '05 made me remember the second game of the Cleveland series *shudder*. Turns out I'm using that mind-erasing procedure more often than I thought. Either that or I wasn't able to watch that game because I was out trying to have a life outside of the life-sucking whore of my summer job at 3M.

I truly never thought I would fall in love again. I came to MN, and it was 2002, and I was inititated into fandom with non-DH, outdoor baseball. But, despite myself, I fell in love with those 2002 Twins. Then they started slipping away. I stayed, but the thrill was less, and by early 2006, I wondered "where is the love."

But this is even better than the first time. WOW.

iced coffee + nasal passages = ouch

Ah, well, at least the computer I'm wiping coffee snot off of is the property of Monolithic Corporation #542 (my employer) and not my own personal machine. :)

--infield

Like I'd miss this series! Already locked in to go Friday, and I'm not ruling out the possibility of Saturday and Sunday, too.

"squa' in the nads"

Oh my dear LORD that made me laugh

Today's postings have definitely brought out the sentimental.
Iowa to Ireland, and a new friend since 2002. The trail from ND to Shanghai is long; but Twins fandom is a constant. At least, now I normally get a good nights sleep before the opening pitch on MLB.tv
Afternoon games, only Gameday and the BG recap to inform me. Something tells me I ought to plan a midnight alarm next Monday. El Presidente v Bonderman, probably be able to get a few more hours after what ought to be a pretty quick game.

Wish I was there with you all this weekend.

Time to figure out how to have a business trip or holiday back to the HHH in Oct.

"Tomorrow is for poets and you are a two bit whore." Best line ever written.

I have tickets for Saturday night but wanted to check out availability for Sunday, but the website says they can't process my request because there is too much traffic. I'm thinkin' sell-outs all weekend, so get there early!

This is, undoubtedly, a lot of fun, although it's keeping me from getting my work done. And two nights ago, as I was loudly imploring the Nathanest of Joes to "make them sit down!" my 13 year-old looked at me and said, "Mom, you are out of control. Bat-girl has taken over your brain." Well, yeah, sorta. There are worse things, though, right?

So old Orel Hersheyhizer or whatever it is says on ESPN today that he thinks the White Sox will still win the wild card, and that the Twins "can't keep this streak going". You know what, Orel? First, as Gardy said so succinctly, winning 34 out of 43 games is not a streak - that's just really, really good baseball. And second, unless the Bitches and the Yankees suddenly start playing .800 ball, we don't have to keep this pace up. All we have to do is keep winning series after series, and the rest will take care of itself.

Oh, and ESPN has the Twins TENTH in their power rankings this week. TENTH. With a down arrow (we were eighth last week). Below the Angels, the Blue Jays, and (I think) the Cardinals. Good to see the respect from the Worldwide Leader is at its usual level.

I have a LNP jersey that I haven't washed in 18 games and I have tickets to this weekend's series. If everyone else could show up smelling just as bad as me, that would be awesome.

The shirt is gonna walk home by itself when it gets to 21 days unwashed, isn't it? :-D

And to addidasman...as far as I'm concerned, the longer ESPN remains addicted to their big marketes, the better off we'll be. No respect is good for the boys (see Dr. Morneau responding to no respect from Ozzie).

Last week's rankings had us 6th, and the new ones will come out today, I assume:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking?week=17

I just picked up a couple tix to see the Twins take on the Evil Empire in the Bronx on 9/1. I've never been to Yankees Stadium, and I am dying with excitement. I'd like to buy other regular season tix to the Dome, but I'll wait to spend my $$ to watch us in the playoffs...

I also heard Orel Hersheyhizer says something about the Bitch Sox winning, but I thought he said the DIVISION, not the just the wild card. I might have had trouble understanding him, seeing as I was drinking coffee at the time and had just done a spit take on the dog -- he was not too happy with me (sorry to break the kittie theme!).

:sighs happily:

I think we won more games on the road in this series than we did the first half of the year. It seems like it, anyway. Watching quality baseball from our boys is a thing of beauty.

I'll be there Friday and Saturday. Go get 'em, boys!

Welp that seems to be ESPN's mantra since Kruk said virtually the same thing yesterday.

---

Larry Hisle? Did someone mention Larry Hisle? Hee. I have his autograph! And my Dad and I sprinted across the old Met parking lot to get it. This was shortly after an All Star snub and of course that day Larry had a bajillion-diggety hits & a couple HR's. The score board kept flashing...

Larry Hisle? Not an All Star? Who says?

Good times.

You people realize that your now shopping on my memory? ;-)

---

Yeah. I love this team too. Over and over again.

Because I'm in a chatty mood, I don't have a better place to ask this: What do we do when the "other" outfielders come back? I mean, is it nasty to mess with a team that's winning or do we "obviously" put Hunter and Ford back out there?

I'd say Hunter, yes; although give him a rest now and again.

Unfortunately, as much as we all love Lew, it rhymes with Who?

I know what you mean, Kelly - there's such chemistry with this team right now! Do we want to mess with that? As much as I love Lew, I would like to see Tyner/White out in left. We can put Torii back in center, because you KNOW they won't keep him out of the lineup. I mean, it's Torii.

This may be bias towards my Rookie Boyfriend, but I've been liking Tyner more than Torii in center - Tyner makes great catches, too, and it feels like his bat has been more consistent. (I'm the furthest thing from being a stats person, so if someone can prove this is untrue, I'll eat my words. I have a poor memory sometimes, and it is honestly difficult for me to remember how Torii was doing before his stint on the DL. Last I remember, though, he was in a big slump.)

*ducks and prepares for onslaught of thrown objects*

Dear Kelly,

Regarding your smelly LNP jersey -- you might appreciate this from the Twins website...

Third baseman Nick Punto certainly tried to prove that on Tuesday night when he took a headfirst dive into the stands down the left-field line while trying to catch a high popup. Punto appeared to just miss the ball, but it was his all-out play that garnered some attention.

"I thought I had a shot of making the catch," Punto said. "Unfortunately, I was just a row short."

The Minnesota bench didn't get much of a chance to heckle Punto about missing the play, with such a tight game going on, but Punto said he certainly heard some musings from the crowd and got a little gift as well.

"One little kid about 7 years old told me I stunk," Punto said with a laugh. "And a guy spilled a beer on me, too."

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060726&content_id=1576252&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

k-bro

I don't understand why we would play Lew Ford anytime soon. He's batting .232. Until Tyner cools off, he needs to be out there. His defense has been studly, and he has put together some great ABs. With Torii coming back, I think we should try to deal Rondell-although I don't know what to try to get-maybe another BP lefty? Utility infielder?

Torii gets CF back, Tyner mostly in LF, with some Kubel in LF but mostly DH. Tyner can spell Cuddles against dominant righties (I'm thinking like Schilling) that would K him 3 times anyway. I suppose on those days Lew can try to earn a spot on the field again playing LF. Right now I see Tyner as keeping him out of the linup unless/until he falls off. Poor Rabe will be the odd man out, heading back to AAA ball until September.

I think we don't have much choice but to put Torii back in when he comes back, even though he's had a bit of a lackluster season so far. Personally, I'd like to see Torii NOT play, in favor of our other guys who have really been producing during this midseason turnaround. Lew, on the other hand - I don't think we can play right away. Sorry Lew. Let him pinch hit to get himself back into the swing of things (oops, pun!) - god forbid another injury strikes our outfield at a moment's notice.

Speaking of injuries, does anyone know the status of Shannon Stewart? Of all of our injuries, he's the guy I'd like to see back in the lineup the most.

I also agree with Rabe being the odd man out. I like him getting some experience with the club while we're making a push right now though - it's a good way to get him in the proper MLB state of mind. I'd like to see him much more next year though - I think our glut of quality OFs won't be around forever :(

Dear readers,

Aaron Gleeman has an excellent post up today about the performance of some players during this hot streak. (http://www.aarongleeman.com) Torii's numbers are very good. I bet when he comes back Tyner/White/Kubel will platoon in LF/DH. Stewie is supposed to be done for the season.

Helpfully,
BG

I thought I read a couple weeks ago that Stewie didn't expect to be back this year...

Torii is a big moment player, somebody I want in the lineup vs teams like the Yankees & Tigers. The dude desperately wants to win. He's gotta be chomping at the bit watching this. We want him in CF. Not for $12 million, when he's surrounded by 22-yr old talent. But right now, we want him in CF, and his power in the lineup. It's just going to a lot less cringe-worthy watching him plow into walls after he comes back, knowing who's there to back him up.

Follow up:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2522309

i concur that its probably best to not put lew back in right away. but i miss him anyway......maybe thats just because my niece bears an uncanny resemblance to him, and smiles almost as much. i guess i'll just have to settle for pinch hits and pinch running experiences. and we all know that even just doing that lew will still look like a kid having too much fun playing a game.

and we are in for some ugly games this weekend. even if we shut them out, it will still be some ugly games. just look at first base for detroit. im not gonna name names, but you know who i mean.

Hey k-bro, thanks for the story. That's awesome.

Agreed on Hunter in Center and moving Tyner to left for the time being and platoon. Thanks for the thoughts. I just hate shaking up team chemistry in the name of "playing stars."

And, um, can we just give props real quick to the gun that is Cuddles' right arm? I swear my second favorite play in baseball is him throwing ANYONE out. (First play: Nathan recording out 3 in inning 9.)

BG, this was a truly lovely way to describe the game and the series. brilliant. and thanks to the rest of y'all for your discussion as well. 'tis a good time to be a Twins fan...

Ok, this may be like cursing in church, but why not try to trade Torii or Lew before the deadline? The team did very well without them, and although I understand the sentimental reasons not to do it, you do need to look further then this year. And you won't shake up the chemistry..;)

you're right. that is like cursing in church. and i know from personal experience, cursing (aka dropping that f bomb) in church is a bad idea.

"but why not try to trade Torii?"

Because he's still the best defensive CF in the game. Because he's batting .269 with 14 bombs and 49 RBI, which was pretty much on par with Cuddyer when he went down. But, mostly, because he levelled Jamie Burke 2 years ago. Jamie Burke was the Sox catcher he ruined, a perfect Bitch slap that destroyed their morale. Because he makes plays that aren't in the stats. He's a leader, and a winner.

For me, it has nothing to do with sentiment, and everything to do with winning games. Even though I'm not opposed, Lew ain't exactly trade bait. A healthy Rondell White might be movable, though.

this series was just SO MUCH FUN! I think this series against Detroit will really show us what the team is made of, though. the Bitches and Cleveland have been on a slide, and it was the NL before that. we had trouble with KC and Texas, who have been playing well. so I think this weekend's series will really show everyone what we've got. :-D

dear clay jr,

I and two other Batlings will also be at the September 1 game at Crankee Stadium. :-) we plan to go Sep 2 and 3, also, if we can. Twins fans unite!

love,
kafumbly

Regarding some concern on tickets for the weekend...

Supposedly, the website is down due to high walk-up and telephone traffic and the resulting inability for the site to update itself quickly enough. That is according to the sales rep working the ticket office outside the dome.

I just walked over there on my lunch to get tickets for tomorrow night's series opener. They still have some decent seats left. I got row 20 in HR porch (because $17 is in my budget, and free hot dog and soda out there on Fridays!). There were also decent left in lower and upper reserved.

But I imagine there will be over 40,000 there tomorrow to see Liriano. There was 37,000 a Friday night when Liriano threw against the Cubbies.

It should be an exciting weekend!!!

kafumbly:

Do you know where you're sitting? I actually had an Ebayer back out on me this morning, so I'm currently deciding between section 282 (3rd base) and section M17 (1st base side). Any feedback? Any difference in the level of hostility I'll be facing? Anyone? Bueller?

I know Lew is popular with everybody, but the fact is, he's had one good year, and 1.5 bad years since. Tyner is the same type of player as Lew, but better. I don't see any reason to bring Lew back.

Meanwhile, don't forget that it's about time for us to drop down to 11 pitchers - that means that when Torii comes back, we can send down Eyre and keep Rabe around for awhile.

Also, if Rondell keeps playing the way he has since he came off the DL (i.e. the way he was always supposed to play), then we don't need to send anybody good away to get Carlos Lee or whoever.

Is anybody else bummed that the Twins don't get to beat anybody today?

clayfly---

I am sitting in the outfield bleachers with the 'bleacher creatures' on Fri and Sat. I've heard it's supposed to be worst there.
I have row 1 in M-19 for Sunday.

clay jr,

as long as you don't yell "siddown bitch!" when Johan sits bitches down, you should be fine. :-) I got pelted with popcorn last year. it was a blast!!! the next day I was well-behaved, though, and aside from some friendly teasing, people pretty much left me alone. the Wednesday game that we won, though, several people actually came up and congraluted me on "my team." it was cool.

I'll find out where our seats are this year... stand by.

The other reason not to trade Torii, and I love him more than anyone, I wear his t-shirt to EVERY Yankees game I go to and endure the heckles, is the fact that he's suffered injuries the last two years that have seen him miss a lot of time. There are questions about his durability right now, and that would REALLY affect what we could get for him in a trade.

By the way...If god forbid Sweet Cheeks is wearing pinstripes next year, or any year, I will burn my Hunter shirt immediately and never speak his name again.

Congrats to the Twins on their recent success. However, I think we've seen this movie before the past two years called, "The Cleveland Indians". Teams with superior talent tend to end up on top. Either way, it's gonna be a fun Central/Wild Card race.

clay jr,

I and my friends are in box 205 for the Sep 1 game.

tim's right, ya know:

ROY-Liriano
Cy Young: Liriano/Santana
MVP: Morneau (top 3 candidate)
Batting Champ: Mauer

Plus Bartlett looks awesome at SS, Torii coming back in center, Nathan is no worse than the 2nd best (Rivera's in the mix) closer in the game. Yeah, I like our talent.

kafumbly-
I won't yell "sit down, bitch!" but it'll be close. I'm loud. I have got some good-natured popcorn tosses at an Angels game, but nothing worse. Angels fans are pretty cool-they like our style of baseball there. I was at Liriano's 1(no)-hitter up there, and the worst I got was some booing when I was playing 3rd base coach waving in all the insurance runs in the late innings.

Tim, that's funny, because I thought when the Twins won the division for three years in a row, the Sox were always saying that THEY had superior talent.

Ah yes, that's how they got the name Bitch Sox in the first place.

Shannon has always been my 9-year-old son's favorite player - i think its cause he started really watching baseball the year that Shannon joined the Twins. he was heart-broken to hear that he may not be able to play again - at least not for the Twins. would anyone know where or how we could send something to him? we would just like to thank him for all he has done for the Twins - for setting an example of professionalism, for his quiet strength, steadfastness, & determination.

I'm a Cubs fan -- will that mind-erasure thing work for us next year the same way it seems to be working for the Twins? (In fact, can it work in advance -- the rest of this year on the North Side won't be worth remembering, either.)

Although I do root for the Sox as well, great blog!

Kelly, if the tiny super hero jersey smells bad now, just wait until he's in the 50s threatening DiMag's record!

Re: roster moves when the injured return, here's my take:

Rabe and Eyre are sent down to Rochester. Hunter and Ford are re-activated (assuming Ford has a decent rehab assignment, otherwise he may just stay on the DL or even the dreaded "designated for assignment".)

Tiffee could return to Rochester as well so Gardy can get Heintz up as his cherished 3rd catcher.

Of course, if there's a trade that brings in someone like Lee from Milwaukee, Tiffee could get sent down WITHOUT recalling Heintz (assuming none of the current roster are traded away).

Hunter returns to CF with Tyner perhaps playing there more on artificial turf to keep TH healthy. White becomes strictly a pinch hitter and part time DH. Tyner and Kubel rotate the LF and DH spots when Hunter's in CF.

I still expect to see someone on the current roster traded, probably a pitcher (could be Lohse, Eyre, Baker, even possibly Silva in the right deal) but wouldn't be shocked to see Tiffee involved as well. A few teams seem to have needs at 3B and he's probably out of chances with the Twins.

GO HAWKEYES! Drew Tate for Heisman.

I'm booked for Box 207, Kafumbly. I'll be wearing the St Patrick's Day Torii jersey. I'll be holding at least one beer.
Damn, that was expensive, by the way. But it's for my 30th, and likely will be my one & only visit to that place, so what the hell.

Those Sox teams lived and died with superious OFFENSIVE talent, only. That's why they never won the division. Clearly, this Sox team is different. And yes, they would piss and moan about it not until finally figuring out that they needed to do some things differently. When they made the changes the results followed. Same thing happened to the Indians the past two years with a whole bunch of offense. They also thought they were the most talented team the past two years. They probably even thought that this year. The Twins may continue to get this production from some very unlikely sources, but you can't bank it, especially during crunch time. Their winning pace will drop off but it may still be enough for them to win the Wild Card. I don't see how the Tigers are going to give away this division, but with unbalanced scheduling, anything is possible.

clay, does this mean youre going to Yankee stadium that weekend and NOT opening day of the 2006 Hawkeye football season at the new-and-improved Kinnick Stadium on Sept 2?

Very disappointed in you, young man.

JC

BG: A great post--one of your best--but that could be said almost every day...I really missed this site when I was computerless and out of the country for a few weeks...

The moment of the sweep for me was when Ozzie had Cuddles intentionally walked to face Morneau. How much has Cuddles improved this year!! But still it was not the brightest of moves and shows the downslide of the Bitch Sox along with Konerko running home on the grounder to third when he had no business doing so.

As to trade/roster move comments--Stewart appears to be done for the year. I think Torii should play every game but some at DH--rotate Torii/Tyner/White at CF,LF and DH. I agree send Tiffee down and bring up Heinz and if Baker doesnt do it soon...put Kyle on designated for assignment and give Garza a shot...

Enough rambling
DAM

Well, I'm leaving NYC after the game that night to start driving (my girl will drive after the game, don't worry) cross-country back to San Diego. The 80 runs through Coralville. But, ahem, Montana? That's gonna be what, 72-3?

My Hawkeye travel budget will likely be all reserved for bowl game travel, same as last year. Yes, I was at that travesty of "officiating" that passed itself off as the Outback Bowl.

DFB -

Send mail to Twins players care of
Minnesota Twins
34 Kirby Puckett Place
Minneapolis, MN 55415

We'll never see Shannon Stewart in a Twins uniform again; Gardy all but said it after yesterday's game. I still think Torii is gone after this year unless he gets real and agrees to an extension that is reasonable; they may exercise his option and then trade him in 2007, but he won't be with the team long term unless he wants a lot less than $12 million per. Come on, now - if it comes down to keeping Torii in lieu of keeping the Doctor and/or the Chairman and/or 'Cisco and at least one or two Jasons, does that make any sense? Nope. I also think good ol' Lew has done nothing but regress, and Tyner or Kubel both bring more to the table than he does - and I do agree with JimCrikket that Tiffee seems played out as well. Best to let him move on and become the next Casey Blake.

Oh, and while we're at it, let's sweep the Tigers this weekend, OK? I'll be in US Smellular on August 27 to see our boys thump the Sux again, and I'd love for that game to be rife with meaning.

dfb, I agree about the character Stewart has shown over the years, not to mention the on-field contributions. I've always felt he was a class act.

With all the young OF talent coming up, there's really limited opportunities for him in Minnesota and I think he realizes that. Every Twin fan should thank him for what he's given and wish him the best of luck (preferably somewhere in the National League).

adidasman, don't you find it just a little bit ironic that over the past 8 weeks, the situation with Hunter has gone from him saying, "I don't want to stick around here through a rebuilding project", to "wow, this team could win it all real soon... but I wonder if there's a place for me any more." Not to be the too hard on him, but right now he's talking all about how he can't wait to get back and play. I can't help but wonder what we'd be seeing and hearing from him if the club was still 10 games out of playoff contention.

For all of you living in the Mankato area, LNP will be at the Moondogs game tonight throwing out the first pitch and signing autographs

LNP one day and the Vikings opening camp the next... can Mankato handle all of that?

Don't forget, JC, Torii changed his free agent tune quite a bit after they voted in the new stadium. Ever since then he's been much more optimistic about his future with the Twins.

My two cents, I hope Torii and the management work something out this offseason. Hopefully Torii concedes to lower his price a bit to keep some young'ns.

And, you know what, Neil, I think he might.

It's one thing to agree to take less $ in what's probably your final contract negotiation in order to play for a small market team that is entering a rebuilding cycle and may not be competitive for 2-3 years. It's quite another to consider doing so when you see that the team is "reloading" instead and should be considered one of the favorites throughout the term of that new contract. If he wants to have a great shot at being in the playoffs every year, it has to look (now anyway) like he'll have as good a shot in Minn as anywhere west of Yankee Stadium.

I'm working on the 'burns - I shaved my head for a performance a couple weeks ago, so I'm hair farming from scratch.

Well, another great recap BG! Your blogging skills are amazing!

My thoughts on the outfield situation are in agreement with adidasman. Shannon Stewart has been classy, and a nice hitter- but he has the wimpiest throwing arm for a major league outfielder-- it's bad.
Torii is a good outfielder no doubt, but messing with the chemistry we have going right now so he can play seems a little risky.
Lew, I luv ya, but you should go. You haven't done hardly anything and this injury may be the best way for you to exit.
Keep Tyner out there for sure, he is a stud- out in the field and at the plate.
I wouldn't cry if we got rid of Rondell, but if we keep him that is fine too.

I think I'm the last one posting, and no one will read this- but just had to put in my two cents worth.
WIN TWINS!!

Don't forget Hunter's arm, he can throw. I say play him.

Dear kafumbly

Let me know if you are goint to the game on either 2nd or 3rd..... I think it would be cool to meet a batling

p.e.m.

Wow -- two lines from a story about El Presidente just posted on the Strib on-line: "If you have your hands on him three, four times before his next turn in the rotation ..." (from a trainer), and "He generally gets up and starts gyrating in a back room of the clubhouse" (the day of a start).

Whew. Um, yeah, I'm good.

Oh heavens, there are pictures, too. Eighteen of them. Gulp.