Teflon

Half of the Saints 142 game schedule will be played against just two teams - Iowa and Omaha (36 games each).

Will making better contact and trying to exploit the areas defensive shifts leave untended become a thing?

Makes sense that the first team stating they will admit fans is the only one playing in a sealed enclosure.

Agreed. This was undoubtedly the Twins' worst move ever. This catastrophe of a trade was not only bad on the field but it crushed that team's soul. Brunansky's removal was like a death among brothers who had all struggled and fought and laughed together since '82. And it wasn't just the loss of Bruno. The Twins chemistry was further damaged with the lobotomy-like change of its most raucous leader following the acutely impressionable Gaetti's born-again conversion and buy-in to the same rapture crap Herr had been proclaiming. Hrbek said it was like Gaetti had passed away.

Also - Gale Sayers, the Kansas Comet, starred for the Jayhawks before his NFL HOF career with the Bears.

Maybe they could catch up with former Twin Jeff Holly.

Given the discussion around the Wizard of Oz theme, a compromise occurred to me, The "Wichita Gales" -a gale being a big wind, such as the tornado that relocated Dorothy's house from Kansas to Oz, and also, conveniently, Dorothy's last name. Here are a couple of mock-up logos I made on PlaceIt.

Brad Hand is five times better than Rollie Fingers.

I think that is an acknowledgment of Cessna being headquartered in Wichita plus the nearby McConnell Air Force base.

While I don't wish that name for the baseball team, I can't argue about the song. One of the best marriages of a melody to the sentiment of the lyrics - especially the line "And I need you more than want you - and I want you for all time" - always gives me chills.

I liked this idea but unfortunately White Castle abandoned Wichita and the state of Kansas.

Not signing Cruz just means Miguel Sano moves to his destined position one season earlier.

Feel free to offer your suggestions for a better team name than the Wichita Wind Surge. The Twins new AA franchise in Wichita was supposed to begin play in 2020 as a AAA team of the Marlins in the Pacific Coast League. They had relocated from New Orleans and just built a new ballpark. Folks in Wichita were excited - until they revealed their new branding - the Wind Surge! What does Wind Surge mean? This wasn't chosen via a fan contest. It was just put out there from the team. Take it or leave it. From what I can tell, it is a coastal weather phenomenon that causes increases in ocean waves. How does that apply to Wichita? Well, it doesn't. They inserted a winged horse in their logo which made Wichitans scratch their heads even more. I'm thinking maybe the same people who decorated the Denver airport had something to do with this. In looking back in Wichita minor league baseball history, their last representation in AA was by a team called the Wranglers - not a super great name, but still much much better than the Wind Surge. Any chance the Twins can buy up any existing Wind Surge products and then rebrand them again?

After the Twins won the World Series in '91 we had a friggen' blizzard. It's just Minnesota, man. Try not to read anything into it.

A truer comparison of worth to the Twins would be game-by-game outcomes. How often was each each successful at their intended jobs?

I think they made this deal because they still had a surplus of "Vargas" jerseys sitting around because the old clubhouse guy saw "Kennys" and thought there were two of them. Sure, they'll have to take them in a bit...

Unfortunately sports are a de facto religion for a lot of folks. Even though it's an innocuous change, mess with their holy icons and see how fervently they will respond. I personally like the change and would probably reminisce on teammates Harmon and Rod or Herbie and Puck or Joe and Torii when I look at it. PS - Minnie and Paul are NOT practicing safe distancing.

How are things being managed with the Saints' return to town?

It could be worse. The Twins could could be running ads in-between the pitches for 1-8-7-7 Kars for Kids or Gotta Make a Stop at the Futon Shop.

A genetic replica of Taylor Rogers is pitching for the Giants. (And surrendered 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning last night. Ouch!)

Yeah, the MLB Channel was showing it again last night.

in addition... former Twins and staff coaching, managing or working in the front offices for other MLB clubs: Ron Gardenhire - managing Detroit Derek Shelton - managing Pittsburgh Don Cooper - pitching coach for Chi Sox Mark Salas - bullpen catcher for Chi Sox (apparently the same Mark Salas from the 80's Twins.) Carl Willis - pitching coach for Cleveland Joe Vavra - hitting coach for Detroit Rick Anderson - pitching coach for Detroit Chris Speier - coaching staff of Astros Rusty Kuntz - first base coach for Kansas City Paul Sorrento - coaching staff for Los Angeles Angels Marcus Jensen - bullpen coach for Oakland Dave McKay - first base coach for Arizona Ron Washington - third base coach for Atlanta Mike Redmond - bench coach for Colorado James Rowson - bench coach for Miami Chili Davis - hitting coach for Mets Chip Hale - 3rd base coach for Washington Randy Bush - assistant GM for Chicago Cubs