fittdogg

I saw that the game was blacked out yesterday, so I said I'll just watch it with my MLB.tv subscription. Nope, blacked out because I'm within the local broadcast area. Blacked out from what? Dead air? I don't understand why I wasn't able to watch Oakland's feed. The game wasn't broadcast locally in Minneapolis and there was no national television broadcast as well. I'm sure it was an MLB.tv issue, not the Twins, but it sure was annoying. At least I don't live in Iowa and have blackouts by 6 different teams.

Tell him to quit saying "He Gone" when an opponent strikes out. It's annoying and unoriginal.

ESPN posted a 10 question quiz on baseball rules. This was tougher than I thought. It just shows how crazy the rules of baseball are. Baseball Quiz

Which starting pitcher under Rick Anderson's tutelage has actually improved since coming up from the minor leagues? I'm having trouble coming up with any names.

Well, it's almost a certainty that he'll get demoted to the bullpen again when he posts a 6.50 ERA. I was really hoping Terry Ryan and the Twins would be done with crap signings like this. Cole De Vries or Sam Deduno excite me much more than Correia.

3 years $36 million or even 4 years $48 million. When you put up ERA numbers like that in the American League, he's worth it.

I thought this was a done deal?

Will this be an electronic or hard copy?

The Twins are 1-6 in those playoff series. The only team that you can say that the Twins were favored was in 2006 against Oakland. The rest was a dream to think we could beat the Yankees when you compare the starting pitching staffs. There's no way you can suggest that Pavano and Blackburn are better than the likes of Sabathia and Pettitte. If the Twins would have shopped a prospect or two for a front of the rotation starting pitcher, who knows, maybe we would have had better success in the playoffs. If you look at top prospects in the last 10 years, only Mauer has made the All Star team. Again, I'm not saying trade every prospect. Just a change in the thought process when it comes to prospects and free agency would be welcomed. But I the impression that I get is that any potential changes will be minuscule.

Those teams are not perennial playoff teams with the exception of Atlanta, who does spend a fair amount on payroll. There is also having success in the playoffs, not just winning a weak division and losing out in the first round each year. I'm not saying you need to spend like the Yankees or Red Sox. My point is that trading a high level prospect or going after a high level free agent should not be ruled out year after year.

Any predictions? Here's what will happen. Terry Ryan will say that the organization is very disappointed at how the season went. Part of it has to do with injuries and part of it has to do with young players not being ready for the Major League level. As for any staff changes, Steve Liddle will be retiring and they will replace him with someone from within the organization. No other changes will be made to the coaching staff. As for next season, they hope to acquire some more pitching. They won't go after any high level pitching, but hope to strike it rich by gambling on past their prime veterans or pitchers who consistently put up 4.50 ERA numbers in the National League. The also won't trade any of their prized prospects because they don't want to jeopardize the future. All of this is blah, blah, blah to me and this is why I will not renew my Season Tickets. I've heard the same song so long that I'm sick of it. "Can't jeopardize the future." This really gets me. The Twins must think that each high level prospect will amount to an All Star. "Can't go after high priced free agents." Why not? Money talks. You can't assume every high priced free agent will go to a major market team. I just don't have any faith that any major changes in philosophy will be made anytime soon.

Bob Wells, J.D. Durbin, Michael Restovich, Todd Sears, Dan Perkins, Mike Trombley

Rick Anderson needed to go long ago. Can anyone name 1 Twins starting pitcher that has improved since being called up from the minors?

Reusse wrote an article back in January about the subject. I think he nailed it. http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/137359463.html

Does it matter if it's Hendriks or Diamond? Both will give up 6 runs a start.