Squirrel

Okay, okay ... so I was being slightly reactionary.

Eeek ... but Parmelee in CF will be yet another 'interesting' experiment.

It was only a matter of time. and yes, his time was short, but I didn't really think he wouldn't start at last once. I don't think a day or two or three was too much to let him acclimate just a bit.

Game-time forecast: Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from right field at 15-20 m.p.h. Temperature near 90. (I had to double check that as that's pretty close to the forecast here in Chicago, except that it's raining now.) TWINS: SP, Gibson Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Parmelee CF Willingham LF Morales DH Arcia RF Escobar 3B Fryer C Polanco SS RANGERS: SP, Lewis Choo DH Andrus SS Pena 1B Beltre 3B Rios RF Martin CF Chirinos C Choice LF Odor 2B ----------------------------- Things to think about ... in Brian's absence, we've had some 'guest' input ... feel free to add your own following this. 1. Kyle Gibson. Kyle went to high school in Greenfield, Indiana. Kyle had to sit out his sophomore season after Indiana high school officials learned the signing bonus he received from Greenfield Central to transfer from a small catholic school exceeded state HS guidelines. Kyle is tall...he stands six foot six, just like the famous who saved all those miners from that worthless pit. You would think being tall and from Indiana, Kyle would have been a college basketball player, but he chose to play baseball instead at the University of Missouri, probably after watching the basketball team play a pickup game at lunch. Kyle later helped pitch the US to the gold medal at something called the World University Games, where the team received a bye into the final round and were then awarded the championship when offivcials were shocked to learn no universities from other nations feature intercollegiate baseball. He was then drafted in the first round of the 2009 major league rule 4 amateur draft, and, having learned his lesson about signing bonuses, took only the recommended $1.8m to sign. Kyle is also a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame according to a wiki entry by noted baseball historian "VodkaDave." (Chief) 2. Colby Lewis. Lewis is 34 years old and hales from Bakersfield, CA. Bakersfield is a small community in southern CA nestled between Buttonwillow and Caliente. It's said to have been founded by a bunch of bakers who realized that it was hot enough there to make their products without the use of ovens. Now it's more of a farming community and the worlds largest exporter of Colby Jack cheese, which is where Lewis gets his first name. Lewis is having one of his worst professional seasons sporting an ERA just south of 6 with a WHIP of 1.84. He's the type of pitcher the Twins tend to covet with a FB averaging 88.66 MPH. He compliments that with a slider that he can throw for 83. (diehard) 3. Hits: We need some. The offense has been in a slumber, even if the occasional ninth-inning rally has made the final scores look closer than the games really were. It's often said that hitting a round ball with a round bat is the hardest thing to do in sports. I don't know if that's really true; it's also kind of hard for a 190 lb quarterback to stand there when a 270 lb linebacker is in the vicinity and accelerating. But maybe the Twins can grab a hand plane from the groundskeepers' storeroom and flatten one side of their bats, or maybe TC Bear can hijack the bag of game-day balls and stomp on them a bit to flatten them (just the ones the other team will have to throw, of course). Anything, just get some more hits, guys. (Ash) 4. Arlington, little known fact, Arlington is the home if the international Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum. The Centre was previously located in St. Louis and was housed in the same building as the Cardinals up until 2008. It reopened in Arlington in 2010 and is considered the single biggest motivator for the Cards beating the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, providing closure for thousands of Missouri bowling aficionados. (north) 5. The community. Sharing the games with others. Whether you are at the game with a group of friends, or there by yourselves high-fiving the stranger sitting next to you over that homerun, or watching at the local watering spot with your neighbors discussing what move Gardy should have made, or here, online, spouting off here and there as if sitting out in the bleachers, beer in hand, with a thousand of your nearest and dearest online friends; no matter what your situation, it's a community we share. I come here online because I don't live close enough to Twins Territory to be there in person or to have a local watering spot to go to filled with other Twins fans. It's nice being around other Twins fans to celebrate or commiserate moments of the game. No matter if the Twins win or lose, I can always count on Brian and Ash to yuck it up some way; Chief to add some kind of 'curmudgeony' comment that sums it up or sets me straight in 10 words or less (when he's not napping); JB sharing the latest Berardino tweet; jokin summarizing the most logical outcome based on all the stats he can find, certain he's educating all of us on the right way of things; snepp flitting in and out with some post that lightens the mood; and everyone (feel free to add your own) contributing the little bits and pieces that create the community we share making it unique and unparalleled anywhere. I'm glad to have this place. But mostly I'm glad Willihammer changed his avatar to something other than Dozier's head on top of that Kool-Aid man, even if the new one is wearing pink lipstick. (chi) With that said ... go Twins! Play ball!

heh ... my mom was able to get the game going on the computer, but couldn't figure out how to find FS1 on the TV ... but given she's 84, I give her props. But it's much more comfortable for them to be sitting in their Ekornes loungers watching on a larger screen.

I found it on comcast's website. Then called my mom and told her what the channel number it was.

okay ... lol ... anyone in Ft Myers know which channel FS1 is? Trying to talk to my mom over the phone how to find the game ... she's VERY remote clueless.

Thank you. For all of this. For considering other possibilities. For the hand shake. This is a very find example for all of us.

heh ... sometimes I even have trouble with that!

okay ... JB ... you are just too smart for me ... and thank you ... having too many troubles lately with my internet to even try and watch it online.

But if it's on Fox, it shouldn't be on mlb.tv, too, right?

So ... why is this game on mlb.tv but not on Extra Innings?

Sigh. I think we all are. Unfortunately, the decision isn't ours to make. Now I'll have to decide ... to listen, or not to listen.

Game-time forecast: Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from right field at 15-20 m.p.h. Temperature around 90. Twins: SP, Hughes Fuld CF Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Morales DH Arcia RF Suzuki C Parmelee LF Escobar 3B Florimon SS Rangers: SP, Darvish Choo LF Andrus SS Pena 1B Beltre 3B Murphy DH Martin CF Gimenez C Choice RF Odor 2B ----------------------------- Okay, Brian ... give us something ... anything ... it will be appreciated! ---------------------------------------------- Here' something... In Alaska a 180 pound Bear crashed through a skylight and ate the cupcakes they had out of their child's birthday party. It actually happened... I just read it in the paper. I'm wondering how they knew the Bear was 180 pounds? Did the bear weigh itself on the bathroom scale after eating the cupcakes? If so... It was probably a female bear. Things to think about: 1. Uncle -- I didn't see the game last night and I won't get to watch today either. I wish I could comment about what I'm not seeing but I can't comment on what I'm not seeing because I didn't see it. I just know... the team has to start stringing some W's together and they kinda gotta start NOW!!! 2. Yu Darvish -- It's disappointing to be shut out for 7 plus by Nick Tepesch when the Twins need to start winning some games... And now the Twins are looking at you... I mean... Yu. These are team moments in the course of a season. Yu play them one at a time and Yu take them as they come. But... With You on deck... Yu kinda need to take it to someone named Tepesch when tomorrow is all about You. Things haven't been fantastic for you. You has been touched for 4 runs in 3 out of the past 4 starts. Is You vulnerable? I hope so... Because as a team Yu have put yourself in position that you will have to be vulnerable because Yu need the win... Both Yu and You are in a tough spot. In the end... it comes down to U. 3. Pedro Florimon -- When Pedro was merely hitting .219 and .221... I was never that worried about it. I knew .219 and .221 meant that were times when Pedro Florimon would help the team win a game. However... when you start talking about .093 batting average over 75 at bats... Then you are talking about rare air. I realize that the infield sky came crashing down on your head but .093 makes Butera look like Mel Ott. I'm not sure why I typed Mel Ott... His name just jumped out of my fingers but you all get the point. I will defend Pedro and his defense at .219. Nobody can defend .093. I totally get it that Polanco is here as much needed insurance. He's on the 40 man so nobody has to be kicked out to call up a non 40 man guy. I understand that he's going back as soon as Plouffe is ready... I get it and I support it... But my goodness... 75 at bats and a .093 batting average. Let's be clear... we are talking about history for a non-pitcher. I think it's Ok to play your 3 day insurance policy instead. 4. Phil Hughes -- Is starting today... About the worst thing that could happen is for Phil to spit the bit today. It's Yu vs. Hughes!!! Hughes is Yu plural!!! 5. Class Reunion -- I had a good time catching up with old classmates last night and look forward to doing so again tonight. My wife couldn't make it but she asked... How was it? I thought I'd come up with something funny to say... I said... "It was 50 shades of Grey"... Then she started wondering exactly what the hell went on.

Finally on vacay. And it'll be a staycay this time. I think I will sleep for most of it. Finish painting the bathroom ... which I started 3 years ago ... and finally order some new tile for the kitchen floor and back splash. Anyone know a good tiler in the Chicago area?

Certainly makes things interesting ... if not heartbreaking every other week.

If he had longer hair and a beard ...

That one was in the first link you sent me. He goes on my list ... as far as the look and the outfit goes.

So, if I find a lucky penny on the street, pick it up and put it in my pocket, then forget about it and it goes through the wash ... is all the luck washed off of it? Just wondering ...

Awesome stuff, JB!

My favs ... and in no particular order ... hmmm ... so many! Dozier Arcia Parms

This is not a discussion of the manager leaving and who the next will be. Please stay on topic and start a new thread if that is the discussion you wish to have. Off-topic posts have been deleted. Thank you and I apologize for the interruption of the discussion.

Well, I think that would follow my 'rule' then. As it directly concerns the ML team, then the majors forum. Polanco's status, at least for this weekend is on the ML team, so, ML forum. You made the right call ... well, you made the same call I would, anyway.

I was sort of wondering, and not really believing they would, because that would be a little bit too much, if they were gonna put him in the lineup since it was so late to be posted. I wonder if they did think about it and how many different lineup configurations they went through (or maybe none) before settling on what we have. How's that for saying nothing?

My rule is ... if it concerns, directly, the major league team and roster, on the majors. If not, minors. Unless it's more just general baseball, then the More Baseball forum. And yes, it does get confusing and head scratching, especially for those of us who are responsible for moving and merging topics around. And we each have our own rules and ideas about it. That said ... I'll post a link here just in case. More discussion here.