128 thoughts on “October 1, 2012: Changes”

  2. The Lynx played horrible offensively, couldn't shut the door during regulation, had a few key defensive miscues and still managed to take Seattle to 2 OT before losing 86-79. In other news, Love bought 500 tickets for Lynx fans...that's cool.

  3. Paul Douglas says MN highs in the 50s by Thursday, after Saturday high of 82 and yesterday 78. Freeze on Friday night likely, Saturday night moreso.
    We've already had a decent frost, but a hard freeze followed by a temp rebound would be nice.

    1. Going to be chilly for the TC Marathon. My brothers, some friends and I are planning on dressing up as Mario characters (reusing costumes we created for our Pedal Pub/Mario Kart ride around town) and cheer on the runners at Harriet Ave and Minnehaha Parkway with decorations and music if anyone wants to join us (preferably in a costume!).

        1. My sister-in-law took a bike helmet and covered it with polka dots. It worked pretty well.

  4. This weekend was Rocket Day. Its an event my mom and step-dad started up about 6-7 years ago that's gotten pretty big. I've never actually been to it until this year, and I haven't built or launched a model rocket in something like 16-17 years. So this year, we made it a point to go and we were given a rocket kit for Christmas. I'm pleased to say that "Olive 1" made two succesfful flights (although it got stuck in a tree on flight #2, but was recovered).

    Not all rockets were quite as successful, though.

    The only downside is that the Trinket wasn't fairing all that well with the noise of the larger rockets.

      1. It was. And even better, one of my brother's friends showed up with a 12-pack of this, and said there was no way he was going to be able to drink it all and that I should help. So I helped him with that and he helped me with my black IPA.

        1. Is it good? I'm wary of anything from New Belgium, as they've made some good beers (1554) and some that are just a bummer to drink (Fat Tire, 2 Below).

          1. I had it when I was out there in August and it was delicious on tap. At the brewry. On a beautiful day. After drinking at Odells all afternoon.

            So maybe that's not the most reliable review.

          2. I've had it twice now (bottle and tap) and I thought it was delicious. Its got a nice hoppiness to it without being overwhelming. For the most part, I find that Fat Tire is more a popular abberation (haven't had the 2 Below.) and that NB is still churning out quality stuff. (Ranget FTW)

            1. speaking of mamby-pamby flagship beers, the moms brought a 6 pack new glarus sampler when she passed through town recently. the spotted cow was still... okay. everything else great, of course (hadn't had their blonde before).

              1. Indeed, and I'm perfectly ok with Spotted Cow's "meh"-ness. We don't call it "Cash Cow" for nothin. I always really like when they do pilsners. They used to have a great year round pils, but for whatever reason, discontinued it. They've brought back one that is pretty similar in Two Women, and its very good and great after mowing.

    4. I'm hoping for the O's the win the division and the A's to beat the Yankees in the playoff.

    5. How about low cost additions to the pitching staff that work out as well as Doumit and Willingham? That's what I'm going to root for.

      1. Me too. I'm basically expecting them to bring back Baker on an incentive laden deal and sign a Terry Ryan special (probably Pavano). I hope I'm wrong.

        1. I still don't understand why Baker would even want to sign a deal like that, so I'm less expecting that to happen.

          1. I'm thinking they'll still give him a decent amount of money ($4-5 mil guaranteed?) with incentives of another $3-4 million. That waym, if he is able to pitch all year he could make close to what his 2013 option would have been worth.

            But yeah, this seems too logical.

            1. My thinking is more along the lines of why Baker would ever re-sign with the Twins for any amount of money. From the horrible training staff to the way they seemed intent on wrecking his image (Bert, mostly), I don't see why he wouldn't rather sign a make good deal with someone else.

              1. He doesn't agree or is very good at BSing:

                "I mean, I know there's other great organizations out there, but this is all I know," Baker said. "I've been here, and I've enjoyed my time here. My family likes it here. There haven't been any talks yet, but I've let them know that I'm definitely open to hearing what they have to say."

                    1. Bert actually likes Baker lots and they're good friends, but when your script says "heel", you do what you're hired to do.

                  2. What would you expect him to say? He's gonna be a free agent coming off of major surgery on his throwing arm. Dude needs a contract.

                    1. I would have expected him to say less of the "my family likes it here, its all I know" type of stuff and more of the generic "Enjoyed playing here, we'll see what happens" sort of stuff.

      2. I can't wait to see how they spend the extra money from Nishi, Pavano, Liriano, Marquis, Baker, and Capps.

        I keep hearing that Mauer's contract is what has kept them from spending more on pitching. Under this logic, the Pohlads must be planning to spend all this money on player payroll, right?

        1. By resigning Pavano, Baker, Capps, and whomever the 2013 equivalent of Marquis is, with decent raises.
          Plus, a bunch of lefty relievers who've had success against the Twins in the past!

            1. Will Ohman! Phil Coke! Darren Oliver!
              Jonathan Sanchez! Jeremy Guthrie! Luke Hochevar!
              Wandy Rodriguez! Joe Blanton! David Aardsma!

              Those names spell excitement!

                1. I couldn't remember who he was.
                  Also: I have no idea who's under contract for next year except Hochevar. But Hoche could be released! Could! So there's hope*!
                  Also, they'll all sign minor-league contracts but expect to be on the opening-day roster because Bill Smith said they would be.

                  *For Royals fans.

        2. As a GM, I wouldn't really want to be in a position to have that much payroll free up all at once. You can find a good value like Willingham every now and then, but it's tough to spend that much money all at once without being a little indiscriminate. You have to get creative to spend that money well in one offseason, and without doing a lot more thinking about it, I'm not sure it's really even possible. Even in a trade where you take on salary, that player is usually only available because he's pretty flawed. TR was able to do it with Luis Castillo, but that was a Marlins fire sale special. Who's holding the fire sales this year?

            1. I know they're slashing payroll but I'm not sure they will still have a fire sale. If they do, though, go bring Josh Johnson back to Minnesota, Terry.

            1. I think we can make it work year round. Once spring training starts, you rosterbate about trade proposals (BEN REVEER FOR STEPHEN STRASSBERG GET IT DONE TERRI!!). After the trade deadline passes, if you're still in, you can argue about the playoff roster. If not, start on next season's roster! If you make the playoffs, discuss next season's roster after the playoffs. See, you're never too early (or late)!

  7. First Monday Book Day should make its appearance this evening, god willin' and the creek don't rise.

  9. Oh Darko, never change.

    I'm really glad Boston is the team thet gets to deal with this now. (ok, LA would have been better.) I also think the second half of that article is pretty much identical to what every Minnesotan was thinking when he came here in the first place.

    1. Regardless of whether he plays a prominent role off the bench or is limited to spot duty, Mililic should benefit from the time he spends playing with and practicing against Kevin Garnett.

      "That's going to be good," Milicic said. "It's good when you have somebody pushing you to your limit.

      So, having Pek kick his butt in practice wasn't sufficient?

      1. I'll bet the money stuffed in his mattress that this all ends hilariously. (for us, not for Boston.)

      2. We're all on the same wavelength.

        One more thing: remember when Kurt Rambis had the offense revolve around dumping the ball into Darko and see what happens? Good. Times.

    2. Heh.

      Regardless of whether he plays a prominent role off the bench or is limited to spot duty, Mililic should benefit from the time he spends playing with and practicing against Kevin Garnett.

      "That's going to be good," Milicic said. "It's good when you have somebody pushing you to your limit. Those guys have experience playing in the finals, going deep into the playoffs. That's what they have in mind. They don't think about losing; they think about winning a championship, especially this year. All these guys are getting old now. They're looking forward to winning one or two more championships. I'm here now to help them, whatever it takes."

      My only question is this: when KG kills him, will it affect how we view Garnett's basketball career?

  11. Via Zgoda on the Twitters:

    Adelman on Pekovic's presence: "It's crucial. He's slimmed down but he's stronger. Guys in the scrimmages just want out of there."

    I. Cannot. Wait.

            1. Ah, okay. I hadn't seen it before- I better go glance through his tumblr before I get my foot any further down my throat.

    2. I don't normally get new soports games if I have a relatively recent version. But I'm totally getting NBA2K13.

  12. It turns out I live 400 ft. from an ice rink. This is fantastic news. I'll have to make sure I get my skates from my parents over Thanksgiving.

  13. More Goodness from Jerry Z.

    Pek on prospect of Dwight Howard in L.A. and the West: "I ready for everything."

    Is Pek your favorite Minnesota athlete ever? He is, isn't he?

  15. apropos to nothing, I have a question for the nation. Who drinks regular Coca-Cola and regular Pepsi? I have maybe one or two of those in an entire year. I know virtually nobody who drinks either. Diet Coke or Coke Zero quite a bit, but not regular. Everyone I know, including myself, who drinks soda, drinks Mountain Dew, Mello Yellow, root beer, fresca, dr pepper, sunkist, basically anything but the two most popular drinks in the world.

    Is it demographics or what?

    1. I drink regular Coke. I basically get either Mountain Dew or regular Coke (or maybe Barq's from time to time) depending on which is on sale at the store.

    2. If I'm drinking soda-pop, it's typically for caffeine.
      I don't drink diet unless there's no other choice.
      1. Vanilla Coke (rarely available)
      2. Dr.Pepper
      3. Barq's (to mix things up, I'll sometime pick this over Dr. Pepper)
      4. Coke

      Mountain Dew used to be my staple, but it tastes like soap.

      1. 1. Vanilla Coke (rarely available)

        My hometown grocer (Sunshine Foods, in Lennox, SD) carries Vanilla Coke all the time, which is great because I buy a couple-three twelve-packs a month. Sometimes it's really nice to live in or by a small town.

        1. I can get it in the local Cub in 12 packs, but my regular soda-drinking involves restaurants and company events and gas stations and parties and you can't find Vanilla Coke in those places very often.

          1. Very true. I have found a couple restaurants that will add vanilla to regular Coke, which is kinda awesome. I have found other restaurants/bars that look at me like I'm nuts if I ask if they can do that.

            1. I'd do that in my restaurant if someone asked me to, but no one has ever asked me to. Usually I get the, "Do you have Cherry Coke?" Me: "Yes." "Do you have real Cherry Coke or do you just make it with syrup." Me: "We can do either..." while thinking, Pretty sure that's how the "real" Cherry Coke is made.

              1. I used to get cherry cokes at a store in Spamtown when I was a kid. They also made chocolate cokes, as well as several other flavors. Waaaay better than the bottled stuff they sell today.

    3. I drink a fair amount of soda. My favorites by rank:

      1. Cherry Coke
      2. Mountain Dew
      3. Pepsi
      4. Mello Yellow
      5. root beer

      Regular coke is nowhere to be seen, nor should it be.

        1. Deny. However, I do believe that Diet Mt Dew tastes the way rainwater collected at the bottom of a rat-infested dumpster full of diapers would taste if I was forced to drink it.

            1. Wow, my brain totally saw the asterisk at the end of the second sentence, instead of after "nibs".

            2. Yeah, I know this. My in laws are absolutely insane about cilantro. They put copious amounts of it in everything. A little bit is fine, but if there's more than just a vague taste of it, I really don't like it.

        3. I checked out of this conversation at some point yesterday (the point at which I needed to wrack my brain for a story for NibsKelly could flippantly dismiss), but I deny. I think you haven't been consuming enough soap if that's how you think Mountain Dew tastes.

    4. I drink pop almost solely at restaurants, so my choices are usually limited.

      1. Sprite.
      2. Sierra Mist. I prefer this over Sprite, but most places are Coke-only. It's pretty much a tie though.

    5. I like Coke and Pepsi when they're made with cane sugar instead of HFCS a whole lot. Given that's not often an option, I rarely drank them. I think the flavored colas are better anyway. Vanilla Coke and Cherry Pepsi are far, far better than plain Coke/Pepsi.

      I only drink diet sodas now. The biggest problem with diet soda is that the options when you go out to eat are super limited. You'll have Diet Pepsi and Diet Mountain Dew (if you're lucky) at restaurants with Pepsi, and Diet Coke and mayyyyyyyyyyybe Coke Zero at restaurants with Coke. Diet Pepsi is good in small doses, I loathe Diet Coke, Coke Zero from a fountain is not that great, and Diet Mountain Dew probably doesn't taste good until you've drank a lot of diet soda (I drank it regularly for two or three years before liking it). It's a poor impression. Here's my favorite diets, in order:

      1. Pibb Zero
      2. Diet Mountain Dew Code Red
      3. Diet Barq's
      4. Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi
      5. Diet A&W Root Beer
      6. Diet Mountain Dew
      7. Diet Sunkist
      8. Sprite Zero
      9. Mello Yello Zero
      10. Cherry Diet Dr. Pepper

      As you can see, I spend too much time thinking about diet sodas. I'm also a bit of a root beer snob, but I'm a bit sad that all my favorite root beers don't really have a diet. That means my opportunities to drink them will be few(er) and far between.

    6. Are we talking only large scale soda? I almost never drink it, but when I do get in the mood, I grab a four or six pack of craft soda. (Sprecher's, the Jamaican stuff for when I want a Moscow Mule (damn you ch), various root beers/sasparillas, etc.)

      That said, I did have a Dr. Pepper this weekend.

    7. Regular Coke is my favorite drink, but I drink mostly root beer now now because my dentist told me my teeth were showing signs of being worn away by foods/drinks with acid. Root beer is one of the very few sodas that does not have citric acid (along with most sugar free soft drinks, like Kool-Aid). I used to drink Mt. Dew all the time in high school and college, but it no longer tastes the same to me, but I think I remember going back to Minnesota and having some and it tasted like I remembered it, so maybe it is a regional thing. Anyways, I haven't had a Mt. Dew in probably 10 years or more.

    8. I can't drink non-diet pop anymore, and I really try to avoid caffeine. I usually drink caffeine-free diet Coke/Pepsi/Dr. Pepper and mix in cherry flavoring when available. Lime Diet Coke is a favorite.

    9. i have many vices, but carbonated soft drinks of any kind are not one of them. however, i do chug sparkling water as if it were, well, water.

      1. We have access to a free soda machine at my main job. I began drinking La Croix because the office tap water tastes like crap. Now, I too "chug sparkling water as if it were water."

    10. real coke. preferably Mexican coke (with cane sugar instead of corn sweeteners).

      at fast food establishments, I rotate through Coke, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew. I will drink Pepsi if none of the others are available and I'm not in an orange pop mood.

      I deeply dislike diet sodas of all types.

      For the most part, I've dropped pop from my regular routine. When I was a kid, pop was a treat -- my parents let me and brotherS each have a pint bottle of Coke while watching the Vikings on sunday afternoons. Other than that, we never drank soda at home. I think that is a really good practice -- to make it a rare "treat" rather than a substitute for water or milk.

    11. I really only drink Diet Dr. Pepper on a regular basis, unless I need something to mix with cheap whiskey, in which case I'll go with Coke, 7-UP, or ginger ale. I do like a diet root beer or creme soda like Stewart's once in a while, though, just get out of the rut.

      1. oh, yea. I love a good creme soda.

        Life's too short for cheap whiskey (or whisky) or beer, however. Unless you are at someone else's house 🙂

      1. I'm with Spooky on coke. I do like the way it tastes. My biggest reason for avoiding commercial sodas is both beer, and more CO2 than my body knows what to do with. I always feel frickin terrible after drinking one.

  16. A discussion with a co-worker about Pitcher wins by lefties led me to most pitcher wins by a pitcher who pitched with both arms:
    Tony Mullane, 284
    "Mullane is also known for his racism. His catcher in 1884 was sometimes Fleet Walker."
    I needed to know about these two.

    1. In a game in July 1882, he pitched with both hands, though not at the same time.

      To do it at the same time, wouldn't he need two baseballs?

      1. You've never attempted a granny shot when bowling? (I imagine it'd be tougher to do with a smaller ball, though.)

      2. Yeah, I didn't get the meaning of that, either. Like, not during the same half-inning, or not during the same plate appearance (which is part of the rules that I think they agreed upon for any coming switch-pitchers).

    2. Good Grief. You would think someone would be able to update the year on the template so that wouldn't happen.

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