David HK

You know, this is the typical story. Yes, you're overpaying. Yes, you may not even get a year 4 out of the guy, maybe not even a year 3. But, you're not overpaying a guy like Ryu because you need him 4 years down the line. You're doing that overpaying because you need him NOW. THIS year. When does this team ever just bite the effing bullet? You know, the way a real contender does.

Well, there are in-house options, but still years away. The point is, the window is here right now, and no guarantee that it will be open at any point in the future- WSox, Cleve, all getting set and reloading, too. You gotta throw those dice now. Get the 'aciest' guy you can, bite the bullet, and get rolling.

Dammit. I need to adjust my tinfoil. Somebody is peering into my mind.

I don't mind it. I've always hated team names that are uncountable nouns. "Wild," you're next.

I'm fine as long as we don't sign the guy with the Satanic ERA....

Yes, most definitely. That thumb injury really did his season in. He soldiered on, but was not the same player for sure. His D was a welcome surprise, and those lazers that he hit in the 1st half of the season, wow. He's under team control next year anyway, and I'd love to see Sano get worked into 1B slowly, while Cron mans it on a regular basis. Then, the following year, (or next yr. 2nd half if it happens), when one or another of those young sluggers forces his way onto the roster, there'll be Cron's spot to be taken.

I would agree with your premise, that you can't paint a whole organization with the brush of one idiot, if not for the Astros coming out with that lame, lying, non-apology covering for that amped-up person, which was easily debunked by those who were there, and then the perp's own non-apology after that. (The same old, lame old, "sorry if I was misinterpreted, blah blah blah...) How could an organization who walks what they talk do something like that in the first place? That guy's actions, according to those who were there, went way beyond 'exuberance;' it was intentional, targeted bullying of a group of reporters who happened to be standing together, who also happened to be women. Most if not all of us have been in places where our exuberance at some victory leads us to carry it over the line at times. But there's a difference between shouting and acting the fool, and targeting people with taunts about violent behavior. The fact that he did so not once, but repeated his taunts a half-dozen times is beyond 'exuberance.' Then, for him and his team to come out with such despicable statements in the aftermath- well, it's like Watergate; the cover-up becomes worse than the crime. The Astros rolled the dice, and got damaged goods (albeit a lights-out talented player) at a bargain price, thinking they could manage the backlash if or when it came. There probably would have been mention of it during the broadcasts, but thanks to Brandon Taubman, Osuna himself is now under a big spotlight, and so is his team. Thanks a lot, Brandon. Sidebar- if ever there was a guy who needed a knuckle sandwich, right there on the spot, it's this guy, in spades.

Royce has been spending some time at 3B in the AFL... I'm good with Sano (and his bat) at that corner. I grew up watching Harmon go back and forth between 3rd and 1st. He gets more experienced over there all the time, and as mentioned above, his positioning and his weight are issues that can be worked on. I'm also fine keeping Cron over there- and next year... move Sano over, and let Royce take the hot corner. But......... I'm NOT fine not holding on to Jake, and perhaps Mike, and getting at least 2 quality starters to add to the mix!!

Gray is the only intriguing one on this list for me. Maybe Ray, too, and we have some history of dealing with AZ. I still want them to keep Jake and Mike, and make a run at MadBum, Ryu or Wheeler tho. I think Cole is out of our reasonable range.

Just tuned in to the Nats-Cards game 1. Wow, some guy named Anibal Sanchez is baffling the Cardinals, barely reaching 90 on the radar gun. No hits through 7 efficient innings- less than 90 pitches. Jeepers, that's about 4 innings worth of Berrios and Odorizzi. And, he's doing it with a different catcher than Kurt Suzuki behind the dish. Why can't we get a guy like that? Oh, wait....

I'm not opposed to keeping Cron around, either. He did OK, and hit some clutch dingers when healthy, but he really dragged in the 2nd half with that injury. I kind of see him as a Schoop-style stopgap, until one of those young sluggers (can Kiriloff-Larnach-Rooker play 1B?) forces his way onto the squad.

Well, I kind of have to like Gibson's section beginning with the words, "Moving on..."

Heh... FTFY.

Well, sure is illuminating to see Tampa employing a BP game ON THEIR HOME FIELD, with their season on the line. Including Minnesota's own, the sublime Nick Anderson (he of the 17Ks/9 innings) shutting Houston down for 2+ innings. Gee, wish we had a guy like that to come in and put out fires. Oh, wait....

But wait, we've had, ummm... let's see.... Tyler Jay! Kohl Stewart! Luke Bard! Alex Wimmers! Etc.....

Welp. We had a fun run, and I'm glad it happened. Too bad we stumbled over that first hurdle. Again. Good job on the season, Twins. Don't hang the heads. And to my TD family- you guys and gals have helped give me an eye of calm in the storm over here. Sharing the highs and lows and everything in between, with wit and pathos- I'm so grateful for all of you.

Hey! 23-7! The same as the Vikes got toasted by KC back in the Super Bowl IV!

Tell you what, 1st game against the Yanks next season, 1st AB, Torres wears one.

Rocco and the gang are privy to how the injured guys are doing, but I seriously think we'd have gotten more out of Wade this series than Kep, sad to say.

Joining up late today. Tear gas near our school last night, most subway stops, including ours, closed. Traffic at a standstill all around the city. Primary section cancelled, lots of extra duties today. Our base-ball club are not on the plus side, (yet), but by golly it's good to still be in the game in the 7th. Go Twins.

I agree, he could use more seasoning. Really impressed with how he's handled himself up here so far, though. But I really really really hope they stretch him out as a starter going forward.

Whether it was #1 or 2, no question he should have gotten the ball in NYC. He's the guy with the most experience pitching in that place, by far. (OK, well, other than Pineda, but that's kind of different. God, we could have used him in this series.) Then we could have a BP game at home, where those guys are more comfortable and confident.

I'm just sick of it. And I'm old. '65 World Series is my first baseball memory. I grew up with those power-hitting and power-pitching Twins of the mid-60's, suffered through the 70's and especially early 80's, before our brief moments in the sun. Then, those 2000's, where we bent over for the Yanks and others every dang first round, save once. This season took me, and lots of others, pleasantly by surprise. What a wonderful ride, even through the tight days of late Aug- early September. But just playing meaningful games that late in the year was such a gas! And now, we're one step away from tarnishing that whole year. Having it rendered meaningless. I'm also a massive rugby fan, and still and active player. Right now, the Rugby World Cup is going on, and the USA is once again a 'guest.' Cup after Cup, the US has been involved, but on the receiving end of horrid beatings that would make the Yanks' dominance seem mild. This year, I thought, they've been coming on since the last Cup, have a pro league now in the US, and tons of players overseas in prestigious leagues- this year, maybe we won't be beaten like a drum by everyone. Nope. Blasted away by England, torched by France, about to be smacked down by Argentina, then Tonga, probably, because we get them on a short turnaround. Just like the Twins, a long road of bright play and good results all thrown away under the hot lights. It's like all that progress over the past years didn't even happen. When the time comes to show what you can do, too many guys show what they can't do. Yes, this season will be a good memory. But unless we make a massive sucking-up and come out on a mission from God, it's just another remake of the same crappy movie.

Welp.... You'd think this year, the script would change, or at least turn a page. Nope. Yet another round of pathetic roll-over-for-the-mighty-Yanks. I can't think of a more appropriate adjective. This is just pathetic. I'm not going to go on a litany, those aspects of mis-management and guys taking a giant step back under the hot lights have already been well-discussed. But count me as one more long-time fan whose head is exploding at Rocco's head-scratching decisions. I'll only go this far: for Dog's sake, Jake O pitched for Tampa. He's been in tight division games in The Stadium countless times. Instead, we get a good story about the Uber-pitcher, and horrid results. Then, of course, to the rescue rides the same guy who struggled to put guys away THE DAY BEFORE. Wha.....?!?!? And we act as though it's a meaningless early-season warm-up series. I gotta say, my impression of Dobnak's outing: