As the Twins travel to Chicago again to take on the hated White Sox, it’s the bullpen that is on most minds. It has been stunningly bad of late and in some serious need of immediate improvement. Without a good bullpen… the bulls get loose and that leads to innocent people getting gored and crushed. The Twins need a better bullpen for containment. Perhaps they should look to the farm. That’s where the best bullpens are built out of necessity.

It was Pamplona at Target Field. The carnage was extensive.

Here are some things to think about:

 

1. Chicago – I have written about Chicago time and time again over the years, and I’m running out of ideas… but the Twins are back… so… I’ll give it another shot and write something else about Chicago. Here are some strange facts about Chicago: Many don’t know this but Chicago actually sprung out of DePaul University. Here is something else, to become famous worldwide, Chicago had to go to Los Angeles. Chicago began politically charged, experimental and edgy, eventually transforming into soft and laid back which made Chicago both worse and bigger at the same time. Chicago has a fascination with naming things numerically and there are a lot of horns in Chicago… If you compare Chicago to Boston and Kansas… Chicago is hornier.

2. Our Twins – There isn’t much to say when you have given up 28 runs in just two games. What you would like to say is, “Thank God that’s over”… but is it? All it took was a Teufel on Saturday and a Redfern on Sunday and we are staring at a Blyleven over two games. I used to like 11, 17 and 28.

3. The White Sox – The color of the Sox have changed from Red to White. Ladies and gentlemen… Welcome back to Target Field… Mike PEL-FREY!!! Mike could be exactly what we need and here’s why. K% is perhaps the biggest problem our hitters have. Our guys are pretty good but they would be even better if they could somehow lower that lofty K Rate. Here comes a pitcher… Mike Pelfrey who does not strike out anyone… He has 4 K’s total. What happens when you practically guarantee Sano and Buxton and Vargas contact? It’s going to be like throwing a truck load of Eucalyptus leaves into the Koala Cage.

4. Today’s Joe M Conversation

McCarthy: Hey Guys… look at this… Watermelons were on sale… I bought 30 of them and they are big ones.

Mauer: Awesome… I love Watermelon… I’ll get the baseball bat and open up some of them.

Maddon: 30 Watermelons? Why would you buy 30 watermelons?

McCarthy: They were a buck a piece.

Montana: You won’t fit them all in the fridge.

Mauer: OK… I got my bat… Let’s go to WORK… Put one down. (Pause) Ok put another one down.

Maddon: Why? What was wrong with the first one?

Mauer: I never swing at the first watermelon.

5. That’s why – Here’s a conversation that my Son and I had last night: “Dad… Why are you always living in the past?” Reply… “The housing was cheaper.”
____________________

Lineups:

TWINS
Joe Mauer 1B
Jorge Polanco SS
Max Kepler RF
Kennys Vargas DH
Eddie Rosario LF
Eduardo Escobar 3B
Jason Castro C
Ehire Adrianza 2B
Byron Buxton CF

Hector Santiago P

WHITE SOX
Tyler Saladino 2B
Melky Cabrera LF
Jose Abreu 1B
Avisail Garcia RF
Todd Frazier 3B
Matt Davidson DH
Tim Anderson SS
Geovany Soto C
Willy Garcia CF

Mike Pelfrey P

Weather: Crappy. Damp and chilly 40s, with a breeze from the ENE that will make that feel even worse because that will come from the lake. So not just a crappy, but a yuck, too.

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http://www.arcade-museum.com/images/118/118124211079.jpg

 

Our new cleanup hitter.  Really takes a hack at those watermelons.

Over the years I have written about Chicago time and time again and I’m running out of ideas

 

You could do a feature on Mrs Ash, who was raised in Chicago. Raised the right way, I mean to say: her dad would call the kids in sick for school on Opening Day, and take her and her brother to Wrigley. One year her brother actually was sick enough to be in the hospital, and she and her dad still went to Opening Day. She also was president of the Cal Koonce Fan Club, unless I am mixing up which player is which.

 

I knew there was a good reason I married into that fine upstanding family.

Another piece of Chicago trivia: due to its financial markets background, it is NOT a coincidence that two of their teams are named the Bears and the Bulls.

The name Chicago is derived from the local Indian word chicagoua for the native garlic plant Allium tricoccum.

 

This garlic grew in abundance on the south end of Lake Michigan on the wooded banks of the extensive river system which bore the same name, chicagoua.

 

 

Source: http://www.earlychicago.com/essays.php?essay=1

 

"Mauer: I never swing at the first watermelon."

 

Thanks Riverbain, I needed a good chuckle to start out my day!!

The name Chicago is derived from the local Indian word chicagoua for the native garlic plant Allium tricoccum.

 

This garlic grew in abundance on the south end of Lake Michigan on the wooded banks of the extensive river system which bore the same name, chicagoua.

 

 

Source: http://www.earlychicago.com/essays.php?essay=1

I am not worthy!

 

I just thought we would be there forever if it were "Chicastop"

 

I am not worthy!

I just thought we would be there forever if it were "Chicastop"

Badda bing! Badda boom!

I think we are nearly all tired of Chicago, Clev., Detroit and KC. I'd like to see the number of games in division reduced so we could have more games against other teams. It would probably be easier on Brian not playing the same teams so much.

Of course ESPN needs all those Yankee-Red Sox games to show.

Ahhh, Chicago memories...

 

Sept. 1, 1997.  Living in Chi, about 4 blocks from Wrigley.  

 

My late pal Moose (the guy who got me started playing rugby) and lovely wife came down from St Paul for the series, the first year of interleague play.  A great, great, time--

 

2nd photo- Sammy Sosa at bat, Terry Steinbach behind the plate.  Sammy hit a tater that day, but Mighty Pat Meares had a 3 run bomb, and the Twinkies took 'em, 7-6.

 

Oh, wait, we're playing that other team....

 

This team, right?

 

 

 

Chicago ... I live here, in the near heart of it, actually ... what do you want to know?

 

 

Chicago ... I live here, in the near heart of it, actually ... what do you want to know?

 

Do locals do all the touristy stuff, or just tourists?

 

Chicago ... I live here, in the near heart of it, actually ... what do you want to know?

 

Where can I find the most interesting meal/experience for food?

 

Chicago ... I live here, in the near heart of it, actually ... what do you want to know?

 

I really enjoyed the champagne bar downtown, do you like it?

 

Do locals do all the touristy stuff, or just tourists?

Yes

 

Chicago ... I live here, in the near heart of it, actually ... what do you want to know?

We want  to know: Why?

 

 

Where can I find the most interesting meal/experience for food?

Depends on what you like ... I'm not sure of 'most' as that would really depend on the eater.

 

 

I really enjoyed the champagne bar downtown, do you like it?

I've been a few times. Yes. Especially with the right company.

 

Edit: I'm assuming you mean Pops? Is there another?

 

 

We want  to know: Why?

Why what? Why not? Because.

 

I've been a few times. Yes. Especially with the right company.

 

Edit: I'm assuming you mean Pops? Is there another?

 

I think it was Pops, yes. Was surprised how much I liked it.

 

Chicago ... I live here, in the near heart of it, actually ... what do you want to know?

 

Have you been to Alenia? Regret I never made it there (yet).

 

Where can I find the most interesting meal/experience for food?

Au Cheval is the best burger you will ever eat.

It's usually a 2-3 hour wait, but there are plenty of bars near by to get a few pre meal drinks.

Hey, I just noticed, the bullpen hasn't melted down yet. Another advantage of an early game thread.

Au Cheval is the best burger you will ever eat.

I am unwilling to risk horsemeat anywhere but Europe.

 

Have you been to Alenia? Regret I never made it there (yet).

Um ... do you mean Alinia? If so, no ... I'm not really 'into' the 'ultra-fine dining' experience. Although I would like to go to Acadia, as it's in my neighborhood. And it's only 2-star rated, not 3 ... so it's only 'super fine' vs 'ultra fine'

 

Um ... do you mean Alinia? If so, no ... I'm not really 'into' the 'ultra-fine dining' experience. Although I would like to go to Acadia, as it's in my neighborhood. And it's only 2-star rated, not 3 ... so it's only 'super fine' vs 'ultra fine'

 

Oops, sure, that's why I should have looked up the name!

I've only been to Chicago once.  I found it really gray and drab.  Went for a run every morning to the Navy pier.  Road the L, visited my cousin, road it back at 10pm and didn't exactly feel safe (understatement).  Went to the top of the John Hancock building to kill some time.  Ate a great pizza, can't remember the place, but it was a really popular and really good deep dish pizza.

 

Outside of that, I'd say one of the more interesting things I've read about Chicago is a guy by the name of Horatio Spafford.  Won't go into details, but google it sometime.

 

I've only been to Chicago once.  I found it really gray and drab.  Went for a run every morning to the Navy pier.  Road the L, visited my cousin, road it back at 10pm and didn't exactly feel safe (understatement).  Went to the top of the John Hancock building to kill some time.  Ate a great pizza, can't remember the place, but it was a really popular and really good deep dish pizza.

 

Outside of that, I'd say one of the more interesting things I've read about Chicago is a guy by the name of Horatio Spafford.  Won't go into details, but google it sometime.

Uh oh ... I sense a side track of discussing Chicago pizza ... no, just NO. I mean to the discussion and the pizza!

 

Uh oh ... I sense a side track of discussing Chicago pizza ... no, just NO. I mean to the discussion and the pizza!

Sorry, that's what happens when I post around lunch time.