84 thoughts on “November 13, 2012: Broken”

    1. With the increase in interleague play coming (at least, I think it'll end up being a net increase with a 15/15 split), I think they should switch to a position player ROY and a pitcher ROY, both MLB-wide.

    1. I enjoyed the analysis of the identification & classification process:

      "Apply this standard to mammals and dogs and cats would be lumped together."

      1. Reminds me of another one we invented in Differential Equations for the Wronskian:

        Happy People Dance While Climbing In Applies.

        H - homogeneous
        P - partial derivative
        D - derivative
        W - Wronskian
        C - constants
        I - integrate
        A - constants (A, B, C)

        This was a while ago, so forgive if I have butchered the maths.

  1. the off season is not off to a good start

    Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson
    Cubs press release: they sign Scott Baker. #mntwins

    1. I loved seeing this and that Air Bud will be out for 3 months after surgery back to back when I refreshed my Tweeters.

      $5.5 million base salary plus $1.5 million in incentives on a one year deal. I guess I'd probably go up to $7-8 million after incentives if I were running the team, but I'd probably want a lower base and an option for 2014. I wonder what happened here, I assume the Twins just weren't in the same ballpark with money. He's going to a team way less likely to make any noise next year in a more hitter friendly park. Frown. Go get McCarthy and Marcum and someone else, Terry.

      1. From Joe C:

        Two weeks ago, Baker said the sides were making progress toward a new deal. But, according to the person familiar with his new contract, the Twins insisted on the deal including an option for 2014. Baker, 31, wanted a deal that would let him re-establish his value and then test the market again next fall.

        1. Considering that next season itself doesn't mean a whole lot for the Twins, I can see why they'd hold out for an option.

    2. Now who will we hassle about keeping the ball down? In all seriousness, I hope he bounces back. Despite my sometimes pejorative descriptions of his hangdog expression after a rough batter/inning/outing and the occasional use of "Moon Shot Scott", I thought he was a good pitcher and teammate and a seemed to be a likeable guy.

      1. I know I ragged on you for it before, but "Moon Shot Scott" is about the worst nickname available for a guy who normally wasn't near the "top" of his team for home run rate.

        1. I am guessing Baker is perceived to give up a lot of homers because homers was about the only way Baker would get hit. Same with Blyleven and Schilling. If you weren't hitting homers off of them you probably weren't doing much.

          1. It's amusing, though understandable, that Blyleven has the home run reputation. I will have to look up the original rWAR page, but for his entire career except for two years (guess which two!), he was better than league average in home runs given up. Those two years alone were so bad they made him below average for his career (barely) and stuck him with that moniker.

            1. it doesnt help his reputation that he refers to his HR giving up prowess about 7 times every game he telecasts

              1. Baker is 42 innings short of appearing on the active leaderboards. For his career, he has given up 123*9/958 = 1.1555 HR/9, which would rank him 70th on the active list, between Aaron Harang and Gavin Floyd. FWIW.

    3. That's depressing. He was never an "ace", but he was a solid major league pitcher, and the Twins don't have very many of those.

      1. True, but how well is he going to come back next year? As we saw with Liriano, coming back full strength after elbow surgery is not a given, especially in the first year back.

        1. A legitimate concern, of course. I just don't know that the Twins have five or six better options.

          1. It might be a better use of playing time to sort through younger pitchers with potential who might contribute beyond 2013, even if those pitchers are worse than Baker in 2013.

            1. That would be a good plan, if (other than Gibson for some of the year, and I guess we still hope Hendriks) the Twins had any of those kind of pitchers.

  2. The Torii Tour (tm) makes its way through Detroit today. I'm sure they'll be pleased to hear how much he wants to play there.

    1. Just you wait for your Oyster to arrive. Speaking of, send me an e-mail with a place to send this delicious beer.

    1. That's bad, but if the Wolves can somehow limit the injuries and get a few guys back, he'll be back in time for the last six weeks of the season and the playoffs.

  3. So, it turns out that a colleague of mine went to high school (and actually knew) Mr. Patraeus's paramour.

    1. It boggles my mind...I still can't believe that people, especially really bright people, actually think that these sorts of things won't blow up in their face.

    2. Petraeus had real potential as a former general turned politico talk-show host on a right-leaning newsreel shill from the Rand Corp. Plug for a greener Arab world Swiffer promoter, in the bigger sense. Army veteran.

    1. I was listening to the Celtics radio team the other day and the color guy was lamenting how the C's have a habit of playing really well the first five minutes and then going completely flat. The pbp guy asked him who came out after five minutes.
      "Kevin Garnett."
      "There you go."

    2. I always get a sad when I think of KG and the Twolves. Just surround the guy with 2 other competent players and a decent coach and start collecting hardware. The fact they could only do it one time out of a 12-year stint at Minnesota is practically criminal.

  4. hey, west coasters: jane's in san diego and offered to pick up some beer to bring back. what should she be grabbing that i can't find back here?

        1. oy, yes. AleSmith is da Bomb. Also, respect for Green Flash.

          Also, once upon a time I may or may not have frequented this place with regularity. They used to have 10-cent wing night, plus excellent beer brewed on premises. The cheap wings are gone and the beer is brewed elsewhere, but the reviews suggest that it is still a decent tap room/sports bar sort of place in Mira Mesa.

      1. I want to point out that hj can probably get Port brews where he is. I picked up a bomber of Santas Little Helper on Friday in South Beloit (and you are tight, excellent).

  5. Wow.

    Jon Morosi Jon MorosiVerified ‏@jonmorosi

    One source told me Johnson, Buehrle, Reyes, Buck and Bonifacio are all going to #BlueJays. I am working to confirm this. @MLBONFOX

    Johnson would be Josh Johnson. The Marlins know how to blow things up, don't they?

    1. So, Jeffrey Loria is a giant scumbag huh? "Build us a stadium so we can spend money!"

      And then trade everyone the next year. Wow.

        1. Loria should be forced to sell the team.

          People will make jokes about there are no Marlins fans to be upset but the political issues alone should be enough to make the people of Southern Florida be irate.

          This is unbelievable for too many reasons to count.

    2. As frustrating as it can be to be a Twins fan, think how much more frustrating it must be to be a Miami Marlins fan.


      1. So it's back to the old unis and Stadium, too? Blue Jays got everything!

    1. Jealous. Have fun.

      Speaking of concerts I'd love to see, Jeff Magnum tickets go on sale Thursday. I'm gonna be so upset if I don't get to go.

      1. Once they are one year removed from high school they are eligible for the draft.

        They can play in Europe, go to school, or as the article suggests, just take a year off. I think the writer makes a great point and I can see the last of those options happening more often in the future.

          1. Negative. I am not sure of the exact age but I think you have to be 5 years removed from high school to just be signed, I think that is the case for international players as well.

    1. if the NBA would invest more into a true minor league system instead of the half-hearted NBADL, it would give a chance for these kids who dont want to go to college a chance to maybe learn some basketball skills from pro coaches and improve draft position (if needed)

      1. I can't imagine the players would be D League eligible if they are not NBA eligible.

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