Squirrel

Heh, if this were for real, there'd be a line up change and Pinto would be playing.

The New York announcers were in love with that throw, too. Replayed it a couple times.

It's Plouffe time!

Hey, what do you have against Doritos?

btw, fellow Windy City-ite? You live in Chicago?

It's hammer time!

Well, at least they got out of that inning only giving up one.

Well, I thundered typing those out. Moving Mauer to the 3-spot isn't exactly what I had in mind with changes. But whatever ...

Deduno.

Oh, you misunderstood ... Florida in the winter and spring ... Minnesota late spring and summer into the fall

This is how I plan to spend my retirement!

Sorry guys ... lineups now posted ... imagine getting lost in one's work and forgetting about baseball for 2 seconds!

What is the most likely to improve? I can't say Mauer, because I am at a point with that, as Brock suggests, that something more serious is going on, so I don't see that changing. I'd like it to improve, and we need it to, but I just wonder if a number of issues are at play here, most specifically, concussion recovery. Look how long it took Morneau? So far this season he seems to be doing great; and most of last year many used the phrase 'a shell of his former self' in regards to him. So I wonder if the more serious the concussion, the longer the effects and recovery. And on top of that ... back issues? Maybe a psychological issue? Don't know, but I don't necessarily think Mauer will be the 'most likely obstacle' to improve. At least not this year.

Crap crap crap crap. Damn it.

I just don't like Burton on the mound.

You just killed my like of runny-yolked eggs. That was ickish.

Brian!

I like over easy, cooked whites, runny yolk.

I hate not scoring when bases are loaded.

I've edited the lineup above. Santana takes Hicks' place. Hicks was scratched due to a stiff lower back.

Game-time forecast: Clear. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Temperature around 75. (Have to say ... that sounds about perfect for a game.) Rangers: SP, Saunders Choo LF Andrus SS Moreland 1B Beltre 3B Ríos DH Choice RF Martin CF Chirinos C Sardiñas 2B Twins: SP, Gibson Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Plouffe DH Arcia RF Willingham LF Suzuki C Núñez 3B Escobar SS Santana CF (Hicks scratched with a stiff lower back) -------------------------------- Brian is up next ... stay tuned. --------------------------------------- Things to Think About: 1. Josmil Pinto -- Might as well start right off with the thought that nearly everyone is thinking. The disappearance of Josmil Pinto from the starting lineup. With Josmil Pinto not starting tonight... he is now out of the starting lineup for 47 games in a row!!! Josmil Pinto has 7 Homers in 112 at-bats... That's a home run every 16 at bats and that percentage leads the team. So... On paper and maybe reality... that's your top power hitter collecting dust. Gardy I'm sure feels that there are plenty of power options available if Ben Revere can go deep for Philly. 2. Lineupology -- If I was personal advisor to Ron Gardenhire here's who I would have started tonight. Because they haven't played since December: Pinto Because they came through with big plays last night: Arcia, Nunez, Hicks. Because they are hitting hotter than others: Escobar, Mauer, Plouffe Because he needs some swings back from injury: Willingham Because you need a 2B: Dozier As you can see... Gardy was close... Just play Pinto and the lineup would have been perfect. I don't know why Gardy doesn't call me or at least call Jokin. 3. Kurt Suzuki -- None of this is knock against Kurt Suzuki... He's been great and I think he is a dark horse candidate for a spot on the all star team if he keeps going. At the very least... he is a candidate for the all motor name team... Along with Lew Ford and Disco Dan Ford. 4. Joe Saunders -- The Rangers toss 32 year old left hander Joe Saunders at us tonight. Joe was born in Virginia and played college ball at Virginia Tech. He has played for 37 of the 30 major league baseball teams and he's just going to sink everything. His fastball sinks... His bathroom sink sinks. His sinkhole sinks. If he finds himself up in the zone... he will find himself in trouble. He sinks so much that when he started pitching he was 6-6 in height... He's now 6-3. 5. Alphabet Soup -- I had some for lunch today. As I looked into the bowl and saw the letters... I thought to myself... It's pretty cool that I can read... Otherwise all those shapes would be pretty strange.

pfft

I don't disagree with any of this ... but I still think it's too soon to call him out or to call on him to 'step up.' Really? One day after he comes off the DL? Seriously ... give him a little room. If after a week or two, and he seems like he's progressing, okay. But a day after coming off the DL is just, imo, a little bit, well, jumping the gun a bit out of our own impatience for a faltering team that isn't his responsibility at this point.

He just came off the DL for a wrist injury, one he also dealt with last season. While I agree with the sentiment ... that he could be that much needed 'dangerous' power in the lineup ... I personally feel it's too soon to start clamoring for him to 'step up.' Yes, he is young, but for me, I'd just like to see him get through the next month showing progress and showing his wrist will stay healthy. In fact, I'm kind of 'holding my breath' with that, as it was worrisome for me that he had the same wrist injury a year ago. Hopefully that was a fluke and he can now go forth and become the player we all hope he is. But my personal sentiment is to wait a month to see what he does before writing declarative statements about needing to 'step up.'

I genuinely feel bad for Hicks in all of this. Who knows where he'd be now and what kind of player he'd be if only. Yeah, I don't know, no one can, but he was put in an impossible situation both last year and this. And while his play has been questionable at times, I don't blame him. Yeah, he's playing in the majors and we should be able to expect better from players at this level, but I just can't blame him. It wasn't his choice to be forced to play as he has been. I only hope he can come through the better for it, but he and this whole situation have been handled very irresponsibly, IMHO. Those in charge often make decisions I don't understand but then I don't have the knowledge and experience they do and I usually give them the benefit of the doubt because I'm just a fan. But this situation, we all deserve better, especially Hicks.