Monkeypaws

If anyone is recording the game, that little shot of Florimon smiling at the camera would make an awesome gif.

It would be interesting to see how his approach worked at the major league level.

Bold prediction: After the trade deadline expires and Morneau remains a Twin, he goes on a tear. I see it plain as day.

What's inigma? No I didn't.

I am glad to see him leave the White Sox - and at last, the White Sox are free of ex-Twins.

Yes! As long as we're slumming, let's do it up right! Just kidding, but only in part - I want the Twins to win every game, but to me a close loss where they play well is almost as good at this point. Since i started this thread, the Twins have played some good ball, and still sit at #5 in the draft order. More of the same please! I agree with Dman, this is probably our last chance to grab a consensus top guy at the draft for a number of years (hopefully). If you are playing good ball, knowing you are in a rebuild , all is well and good, kind of 2013 in a nutshell for me. Better than 2012 by a mile.

Our middle infield has been the pleasant surprise of 2013, especially Florimon. That he was plucked off waivers from the Orioles eases the sting of Hardy a certain degree as well.

Too bad - he was my dark-horse candidate to be the best pickup off the dust heap this off-season. And he's Canadian.

I agree with the crux of your article - it was the reports of insubordination I found most disturbing - not that I'm a "respect authority" type, but it just doesn't bode well for the long-term future of a player in this organization if they can't get with the program. If Sano fails as a prospect for the Twins, I want it to be on the field performance that determines it, not off-field drama. Garza didn't want to do it the Twins way, he was shipped away, and has been missed ever since.

The guy was hitting .232 on July 21, the day he went 2-4 vs. Cleveland. He has extended his hitting streak now to 7 games, and his average has DROPPED to .231. With a low average, it seems hardly possible to lose BA points during a hitting streak, but as Gardy would say, he is getting after it. Weird.

There was an article in our Winona paper (which is a thinly disguised LaCrosse paper), about how Braun lied to his buddy Aaron Rodgers, you know, the quarterback dude, bald faced lies, and how stunned the latter was. I'm pretty sure Plouffe is surprised as anybody who associated with this sleaze.

I was kind of pumped thinking the Twins had locked up a top 5 draft pick before the All-Star break. Now they are playing great defense, getting some clutch hits, some quality starts, and look like a ball club again. At the end of the day, I'll take a Twins win over a loss, but given the quality you find at the top of the draft, I do regret that we will probably move up the standings a bit. Better to be really good or really bad, that is the question? It seems mediocrity breeds mediocrity.

Well, neither was Dickey when the Twins cut him loose. The guy had never had an ERA under 5 until his season with the Twins. He goes to the Mets and boom, 3 great seasons culminating in a Cy Young. Pelfrey throwing mid 90s with sink on a rebuilt arm sounds like a chance for success to me, especially considering he is only 29.

Look at Puckett - on the field, he was a Hall of Fame player, and he was beloved by teammates and opponents alike. If these reports are true, what Sano is doing is being a punk. You can't control peoples' personalities, but you can sure as hell enforce rules that keep a dink in check on the field. I'm very disappointed by what I am reading here. Buxton has the modesty and temperament to be a true stud, Sano, maybe not so much.

This guy has been a present. BTW, I checked out his minor league numbers today: 9 seasons. 45-45 4.14 ERA Here's where it gets fun: 797 innings pitched 673 hits allowed 852 Ks. Those are the ratios that always interest me. The 451 BB's, not so much. Point is, this guy has never been easy to hit, and with a modest reduction in walks, he can be something useful, if not special. What a find.

Check the other thread - it appears he's getting a rather large noodle, lippin off to coaches and even Ryan. Manny II

I cringe to think that this year will be a re-launch of his career ... for another team. Like Dickey.

I remember my wife being home within 48 hours for both our kids. Most insurance companies don't want to pay for any more hospital time than that.

I think the Twins brass put him there for a reason - the old chestnut of Twins moving players too slowly has been burst by our top guys moving up regularly.

Being competitive and confident in your abilities doesn't give you license to play the superstar. Would Harmon Killebrew do that?

That's showing up the other team - unnecessary. It's one thing to clap and look happy running around the bases; to stand like a god and admire your homerun is a no-no, and an invitation for a little chin music next time up. I don't have any problem benching players for this kind of behavior. Stamp it out before it becomes epidemic.

Well, he did hit 15 homers in 51 games the previous season in Rochester. Not like it came out of nowhere.

It beats putting all your hopes on Bob Gorinski.

He certainly is the most entertaining Twins pitcher to watch these last few seasons, and not for opposing teams' fans.

Or Underdog and his "super energy pill."