big dog

I don't think Dozier will hold the title for K's as long as Darwin did, though. Sano might have it by August 1 next year. It's amazing to me that the all-time single-season record for the Twins is only 145 K's. Harmon had 145 walks in a season. There have been almost 300 instances of a hitter striking out more than 145 times in a year, none (so far) by a Twin.

Buxton got millions a few years ago and will be making millions again in a few more. I don't think paying him minor-league money for 10 days is something to be upset about, personally. I know at least 3 people with bigger financial problems, along with almost every other player in the minor leagues throughout baseball.

Congrats to Kennys. Let's hope he tears up Rochester and gets back to Target Field. Where he'll play...somewhere.

Good-news prediction: Achter will get an out next time he takes the mound, and his ERA will plummet below 40. Optimistic prediction: he'll show enough stuff to be in the mix for next year's pen.

Arcia, 0-4 with 3 strikeouts. His head must be really messed up. I hope he can pull something together out of this season. I also hope he eventually quits swinging so hard he hurts himself.

And please note, nowhere in my post did I advocate intentionally hitting someone, because I don't. It's not about me deciding what makes someone a jerk, and it's not about what's inside my head, it's about social mores. It used to be that bullies weren't jerks, they were just part of life. Maybe baseball should be less sensitive, that's up to them to decide. But you can't just say that baseball culture doesn't matter, or is stupid, because it's a culture. Maybe it should change. That's up to them. When Jeffrey Leonard did his famous "one flap down" slow trots following home runs in the mid-80s, the baseball world went nuts. Now that's nothing compared to some of the other mini-celebrations. Cultures change. The point about walk-off wins is a good one. I bet 25 years ago there were no celebrations like that. Now there are, and they seem like the equivalent of winning a division- seems over the top to me, but it's not my culture. At least that celebrates a team accomplishment that ends a game, rather than a good swing of the bat (or a terrible pitch) in the third inning. I think those are different things that merit different degrees of satisfaction.

You don't have to hit them on purpose, but you have to make them respect the inside part of the plate. You have to make them move their feet once in a while. The Twins were just throwing batting practice the whole series, looking scared and nibbling. Bust 'em inside. If they get hit, it's because they didn't respect you. And there's a difference between "having fun" and "acting like a jerk". Having fun might be a bat flip, pumping a fist, pointing into your own dugout, watching it as it leaves (and while you are trotting), etc. Acting like a jerk involves making hand motions all the freaking way around the bases, Tulo's full-body high five with the third-base coach, standing and admiring, etc. I don't get the argument that says if you don't like it, don't let them hit home runs. Everyone hits home runs. Not everyone has to be a jerk about it. There are varying degrees of celebration that are possible. Suppose I want to celebrate by pantsing the first baseman as I trot past him, because it's fun. Do I get to choose how I have fun?

That said, replacing one of them with Arcia doesn't exactly help that problem. There are some serious holes here, and having everyone slumping at once is a hard problem to solve with one roster move.

I want May to start as soon as possible, but it's also time to see what Duffey can bring to the team this year and hopefully in the future. Good luck to Mr. Duffey- welcome to The Show.

and the Jays are 0-4. I like their chances of turning it around better than ours, unfortunately.

I'm liking the new version of Aaron Hicks!

I've really had enough of Pelfrey. Seriously. Let's package him with Duensing and get a beer vendor.

Wow, that's close. - he looks out on the other replay, doesn't he

Tough play there. Mauer would catch that ball flat-footed, but Dozier was covering.

Pelf is setting up the triple play.

True, but he did have some success, and he's not quite 25. I am surprised to hear him described as a likely washout so soon.

Wow- where did you see that? That's a wild call. I wonder what's going on with him (KV, I mean).

Wow, I wish I hadn't sprung for that Scott Atchison jersey...

Well, it was 33% better when it was 3 runs.

Why is Suzuki at bat here? edit: and so of course he gets a hit. That was not intended to be a reverse jinx but I will take all credit.

That's a pretty darn good outing by Pelfrey, though. Three runs in 7 2/3 against a team that's been clubbing the ball recently.

OK, Pelfrey- next time just plunk Kinsler. It will save a lot of trouble.

But your feet show it. Because they're Long Fellows.

Wow, Hicks just suckered Krause- he WANTED him to try and score so he could throw him out. That's why he didn't catch it. Yeah, that's it. Great throw, anyway. Would have been an excellent catch.

Your children, however...well, therapy often works.