the_brute_squad

That was a fun walk down memory lane. I completely forgot about Jay Canizaro and I'll probably forget about him again tomorrow.

I don't see how it's any more political than your post but it is subjective, isn't it. You obviously have handled the criticism much better than one of your cohorts and kudos to you for doing so. If you look back, my criticism of Cuomo is that you only referenced one media source which is left wing. Adding another source lends credibility. It's not absurd if you're coming from someone else's perspective. Chris Cuomo is not looked at positively by many people so to think that his viewpoint wouldn't be considered political could also be called absurd. But I won't say that, I don't want to insult the reader. Be well.

I didn't watch the videos. I was looking for you to respond with your own words. If look back you'll see I told you I'd watch the videos after you did. You didn't indicate your response was in those videos because I wasn't aware that their were videos out that specifically addressed each of Larry Elders points. Which point was asinine? Why was it asinine. You're very good about blanket statements without any facts to back them up. You're apparently too emotionally revved up to have cordial dialogue so I'm going to call it good. It's too bad because you had a chance to sway people opinions but instead acted hostile to the people to provide you income.

Nick Nelson quoted one person - Chris Cuomo. Because he quoted him that was useful? OK. What's the magic # of people I should get because there are plenty. I used one very educated man as a reference and his points are what matters. Not how many people make points. If you don't want to address the points he makes that is fine. I understand because his arguments cannot be dismantled. So either you refused to watch the videos which means you refuse to get rid of your bias or you watched the videos and you know that every argument he makes is true.

The human race needs to improve. https://twitter.com/NFrechen/status/1267968108314099714?s=20

"Because you don't understand technology". Not sure why there's a jab but OK. I'm not as well versed on technology as you. Whaddya gonna do. I can take you on a pool table or in foosball. Outside of that. My request was... Which of his points are incorrect? I'll gladly go back and forth with videos and pick them apart if you'd like. I'd just like you to go first. "Stop living with your bias". You unfortunately don't have authorization to tell me to get rid of anything, nor I you. You have your own bias and instead of using a condescending tone of arrogance I'm challenging you by giving you alternate views and maybe you'll pick up a different way of thinking about an issue. Listen to what community? There are a lot of communities in MN. There are a lot of smaller communities within those communities. In 1972 a reporter couldn't understand how Richard Nixon won in a landslide. That reporter said, "I don't know anyone who voted for him." You are in your own community. If you've noticed the comments on Nick's article you'll find not everyone agrees with your community. I came into this with no hostility and the sole intention of hearing and sharing different viewpoints. The choice is yours.

My thoughts on this column. http://twinsdaily.com/blog/1288/entry-11925-whats-wrong-with-nicks-column/

There are many things in Nick's article that are incorrect, and some that I agree with. This isn't meant to attack but to show a different viewpoint that he might not see. "Our community is broken. Our country is broken." We live in the greatest country on earth. Our community/country is not broken. You are stating your opinion as fact. A tragic death lead to a protest which lead to planned riots and anarchists coming to Mpls and many large cities throughout the nation. There are problems with bad police. There are problems with bad media that spreads divide. There are problems with bad plumbers, electricians, bankers, etc... that believe the divide and buy into the hate and anger. Go to most communities and you'll see blacks, whites, brown, you name the color, all get along.People that live in the same community or neighborhood will defend those they associate with regardless of color because of their shared interests or shared sense of community. "To shy away from this conversation is to contribute to the widespread apathy and complacency that has brought us to this tragic state." "Unaware of what the mask meant." Why does he need to get involved in the conversation? There isn't one person I've seen in social media whether they be on the left or right that has condoned the former cops horrible actions. He's been condemned in every corner. Believe it or not he doesn't have to post his every thought on social issues. He already got harassed by wearing a blue lives matter face mask. (To those people that shamed him, shame on you. Those officers protect your freedoms and risk their lives every day. A cop in Waseca is learning to walk again because he was shot by meth dealer/addict). There's nothing wrong with supporting the police because 99% of them are good and want to uphold the law. What does the mask mean? It means that police lives matter, too. By saying that police lives don't matter you create the divide that was mentioned earlier. "Racism has no place in our world and I do not in any way support the actions that we all witnessed that led to George Floyd’s passing.” Max denounced racism. He denounced the murder. He doesn't need to part of a demonstration to make a change. He can do that by backing his friends in his own private way. Because you don't see him out on the streets carrying a sign or screaming at the police doesn't make his statements any less important. "Not into politics [peace sign]." This is the attitude that has gotten our society to this point: comfortable white people choosing to excuse themselves from the conversation, because it doesn't affect them personally." Do you actually believe we have a more civil society with the combination of social media and politics? He doesn't need to be into politics...at least no publicly. He can have Walter Mondale buttons or Barry Goldwater signs in his garage for all we know. This murder is not political and murder never should be. "comfortable white" people? Seriously??? If a person isn't interested in politics it doesn't make them a comfortable white person. Would you say the same about someone that's black and not involved in political discourse? You are making a group think statement that everyone must think and act as you. "Kepler's comments come as a slap in the face to a grieving and enraged community where he's supposed to be a leader." I've spent a lot of time on social media lately and I haven't seen one person clamoring to hear Max Keplers take on the protests/riots. As a matter of fact I haven't seen anyone wondering what any of the MN Twins, Vikings, or any other professional organization is saying. It's not a slap in the face to the community at all. The community doesn't need Max Kepler to say anything. Who appointed him as a leader and what is he a leader of? Most people that I know don't look to baseball players as leaders. They look to him to make plays on the field. I personally don't care what Chris Cuomo says. I had to get that in only because your news source quote pegs you as left of center. If you had quoted people on both sides of the aisle it adds credibility. That's more of a journalism critique than anything else. "precisely what perpetuates a lack of change that is destroying us." Kepler on the sidelines isn't the problem. What's the underlying problem? Is it the people in the city or the people running it. If it's the people in the city then the problem was there long before Max got here. If it's the people running the city you have to look at who has been running the city for decades. The problem isn't new so you're going to have to go back. If people won't vote for a change then the problem will continue. "Kepler and the Twins aren't playing baseball due to a global health crisis that has sadly been framed as "political" by some". It is sad that a health crisis is political. 80% of the deaths in MN have been in Long term care facilities. A new study out of Max's home country shows that a majority of the people would have eventually died this year regardless. When all the info doesn't come out and people are left in the dark it's going to become political. "our site's audience is predominately white, and relatively affluent. We are the voices needed most in this fight." Soft bigotry at it's finest. Our voices our no more important than the poorest minority in the poorest area of Minneapolis/St Paul. I can't speak to their plight, any injustice (real or perceived), or relate to what it's like to get pulled over because of color. I can only advocate for justice for every human being that walks the earth. "a meaningless platitude, copping out with a "not into politics" comment is not an option...."We need to confront these issues seriously," It's meaningless to you if you view it that way. To me it means he wants peace and you see, not into politics is an option. I believe what bothers you is he's not into your politics and you want him to be. Politics is a touchy issue. The blue lives matter mask proved it. He plays for 100% of Minnesotans, not just the ones who want him to be politically active. Everyone - at least caring, logical people, want injustice to end. What really needs to happen right now is justice for George Floyd.

Agreed. If Mauer were the most intelligent player on the field he would have known to adapt his game from oppo field slap hitter. It takes intelligence to know when it's time to adjust your swing. If I'm going with intelligence I'm going with Jim Kaat. His insight in broadcasting is second to none.

Olyphant is great. I say you'll know if you want to watch the show after the first five minutes.

I'm sure he won't be there to start the season but Buxton needs to bat leadoff. Having the fastest player in baseball at the top of the lineup makes absolute sense. You put Arraez in the #2 hole and Buxton will have over 50 SB's on the season. Not to mention it's going to give Arraez or whoever hits #2 in the lineup nothing but fastballs to choose from. Keeping him @ #9 in the lineup will take away 75-100 at-bats during the season, that's way to many for a potential team MVP.

I don't think Garver's risk of decreasing production is any worse than it is for anyone else on the roster. Assuming they don't use last years juiced baseball we can probably expect a 5-10% decrease in power numbers. If MLB is using the same ball there's no reason to suspect any decrease as every batter in this lineup has protection behind them. There's no reason to think another HR record isn't in reach.

What should be identified with the new relievers (and current) is their effectiveness against rh/lh hitters. With the new three batter rule many of the stats compiled are rh pitcher v rh batter. It would be good to see how they line up against players on the opposite side of the batters box.

Service time will also need to be a consideration. Odo has a one year deal and if he's as good as last year he'll get a larger contract that will be outside the Twins pay scale. If he isn't good then they won't re-sign him, either. I don't think the Twins see Pineda as long term so I suspect this will be his last year as well. If I'm correct then that puts Chacin in the #5 spot for the first couple of months.