Statistical oddity of the day, Caleb Thielbar's ERA is the same as his whip at 0.68. Let's see him keep that up for the rest of the season.
Career.
Now that's just asking for a Glenn Williams situation.
or a Dennis Eckersley situation!
Can't say I know that situation.
I'm going to remind you of this if his ERA and WHIP are both at 4 at some point.
I would be completely fine with this. It wouldn't be winning baseball, but if you can keep your ERA around 4 while putting 4 guys on per inning- that's entertainment.
Recipe for heartburn for Gardy, too.
the miracle of inherited batters.
I'm sure folks here aren't happy about that sweep, but the Royals are now 3 games over .500 and only 4.5 behind the second wild card! In August! Having played more than 100 games! These are real, actual facts.
The bad news: Twins now 3 whole games behind the Angels. But this can be made up!
Pretty soon, stopping at second and setting up a sacrifice bunt will be second nature to him. Gotta get those runners moving.
Yeah, for satire it feels pretty realistic.
Clint Dempsey to Everton rumors starting to percolate. That would be fantabulous!
Not as fantabulous as the Clint Dempsey to Seattle rumors.
Addendum: I don't really think Dempsey is going to transfer to Seattle, but it would still work out great for me if he did. It's one of those rumors where there's just enough going for it that you could sort of convince yourself that it might be a possibility:
- The Sounders opened up a DP slot by extending Shalrie Joseph's contract.
- Dempsey was recently in Seattle with the USMNT, saw SEA vs. Vancouver and participated in the WCQ victory over Panama.
- '14 is a World Cup year
- Jurgen Klinsmann likes his players to get regular playing time for their club
- Dempsey's current club situation is unsettled
- Sigi Schmidt is friends with Jurgen Klinsmann
- Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey are friends from their time together at Fulham
- Dempsey flew to the west coast yesterday--verified in San Francisco, unclear where he flew from there
All that said, I have no idea what Everton's roster looks like, so he could well see plenty of playing time there, and he didn't seem to leave MLS on the greatest of terms. There's also allocation order complications with Portland holding the #1 allocation order slot and Seattle at #2, which would probably mean Seattle would have to trade Portland something to sign Dempsey, but the MLS roster rules are inspired by Calvinball, so who knows.
Dempsey could fit in well with Everton. He could play behind the Kone and allow Fellaini to drop back to holding midfield (which he prefers). He could also push out to wing (but that means either Miralles or Pinnear is sitting - I would sit Pinnear in that situation). If Everton allows Jelavic to leave for the Bundesliga, it makes it an even better fit.
From a USMNT standpoint, I'd definitely be happier with Dempsey getting regular time with decent service in the EPL.
I disagree, but that's because I love the Toffees.
I think we're on the same page. If he goes to Seattle I could see him play in person 17+ times a year.
Latest wrinkle: if Dempsey returns to MLS would probably prefer to be closer to home than Seattle. Dallas is currently in Seattle for tomorrow's game. Everton's in LA currently, but I haven't heard much to verify that he went south from SF, though most of my sources are biased.
Actually, speaking of soccer, I'm not sure if earlier this week the news that MLS plans to expand to 24 by 2020 got any play in the CoC. NYC2 is the 20th team, but we didn't know they were planning on 4 more in that time frame. My best guess at the 4 expansion teams is Miami, Orlando, Minnesota, and ??? A lot of folks are in on San Antonio as an option, since they have a good following for lower division soccer, but I wonder if they don't find another town closer to Florida. At any rate, with the new Vikings stadium coming on line before 2020, in an easily accessible location, I think Minnesota's more likely than not to get an MLS expansion team.
is there any worries among MLS fans that the League is expanding too fast?
Well the last couple of expansion teams have the BEST fan support in the league (Chivas excepted). If they do it right like they did up in the Northwest, it shouldn't be a problem.
Yeah, there are always worries about that since they had some really rough years in the early '00s, contracting Miami and TB, and only having something like 3 owners in the entire league.
I think personally they are on a pretty good pace for expansion right now. Most if not all of the recent expansion teams have done really well, and since the level of competition isn't the very best in the world, there is plenty of MLS-level talent to be had if you go looking for it, so I don't think that talent dilution is a problem for them. Also, new teams now have to establish academy systems, which I think in the end will produce pro soccer players where there were none before, so it's not really a zero-sum game. If anything, the league overall needs more scouts to cover more of the country because the league doesn't have great geographic coverage.
I would worry more if some of the recent expansion franchises were falling on their face, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm sure it's also hard for the league to walk away from some of these expansion fees--NYCFC paid something like $100M for their expansion team.
depends on whether the expansion includes Sacramento or not. If it doesn't, then I might have issues. 😉
The Seattle Sounders and Tottenham Hotspur are finalizing the transfer of U.S. national team star Clint Dempsey, who is expected to be introduced as the newest Sounder as early as Saturday, multiple sources told ESPNFC.com.
As far as I can tell, the Everton connection only came from a Taylor Twellman tweet.
One of the strangest parts of this is that since Seattle's DP slot opened up there have essentially been no other rumors of who would come to Seattle, and there are usually rumors coming from overseas agents even when Seattle hasn't had a DP slot open and a player would obviously require a DP slot.
I agree with way too much of that column. I have hopes that Willingham can contribute next year, and that the Twins could use the Morneau money to help out in some way. I expect Hicks '14 to be better than Hicks '13. (And I'm kind of partial to the theory that he and Diamond were sent to Rochester to participate in a pennant race.) Parmalee should be able to at least replicate Morneau's production if he takes Morneau's playing time. But overall, it's really not a pretty picture.
The Twins need a starting rotation in the worst possible way and they have to assemble it nearly from scratch. And the problem with assembling a rotation from scratch is that you really need to bring in 8-9 pitchers (prospects or veterans) to fill it out because half of them are going to get injured in the next 2-3 years.
The Twins need a starting rotation in the worst possible way
I thought that was they way they were using now.
this is why your flock loves you, Jeff A.
This flock, too.
I'm so glad he wasn't traded for a preacher to be named later.
Top Jimmy using abomination correctly is an aberration.
Editors!
Yo! Cheaps, you got mail!
are you going to wisconsin!?
In a sense, yes, but not in the way you're thinking. Beer talk.
Responded.
Hey zack. I got NMH tix but I had to get them for the all ages show. The Tuesday over 18 was sold out. My guess is that not a lot if teeny bloopers anyway. Hope you got tix.
I was able to get them for the Tuesday show, miraculously. Since they were will call only, I hesitated on getting extras in case something comes up and I couldn't make it down to get tickets to you (or whomever else). J & I have been to shows at the Fine Line, Triple Rock, and Turf Club but she's never got to go to First Ave. I'm excited to take her.
If it's on your radar I realize you've already seen it, but: Breaking Bad season 5 is now on Netflix streaming.
Up all night with a toothache and made an emergency visit to the dentist today, turns out I have an abscessed molar. So ten days of antibiotics and no alcohol, and a root canal next Tuesday. Sometimes life throws you a curveball, and sometimes it just beans you in the balls.
That sounds pretty bad. Fortunately for us, it gave you an opportunity to turn a phrase, which you have always been quite good at.
Wait, have you been reading Fortunately/Unfortunately entries over at the Casa? Fortunately, I just did. Unfortunately, I now want to put everything into this construction.
Twayn, sorry about your legitimately unfortunate news. But 'twas an excellent turn of phrase.
At least you decided to stick with the COBRA.
I said the same thing when my appendix blew up.
What with they MI, I completely forgot about the appendix.
Regarding the A-Rod business that I missed earlier in the week, the linked article makes me most disappointed in baseball the following way: from the way things are stated, it sounds like MLB would essentially allow A-Rod to buy out his lifetime suspension by giving them the $100M he's still owed on his contract. On the one hand, $100M is a lot of money and it's hard to be principled when you stand to lose $100M, but on the other hand, it seems like a sunk cost, so just give him the lifetime suspension if you think his actions were that bad.
Frankly, I don't have many negative feelings about A-Rod (similarly not many positive feelings), and I don't really care that much about PEDs, but if he was referring other players to Biogenesis, and MLB has proof of that, I wouldn't complain too loudly about a lifetime ban.
I see that he's on 2,901 career hits. If his career ended today, would he have the best career (say, highest JAWS) with fewer than 3,000 hits? *checks JAWS* Actually, not even close. I didn't realize Barry Lamar ended up 65 hits shy of 3,000, and his 117.6 JAWS crushes A-Rod's 89.0 JAWS.
George Herman Ruth had fewer than 3,000 hits, too.
Who?
Good to see you next to me on the bandwagon finally, Boss. 🙂
Sure, but obviously I meant the players who didn't inject themselves with sheep testicle extract...
Statistical oddity of the day, Caleb Thielbar's ERA is the same as his whip at 0.68. Let's see him keep that up for the rest of the season.
Career.
Now that's just asking for a Glenn Williams situation.
or a Dennis Eckersley situation!
Can't say I know that situation.
I'm going to remind you of this if his ERA and WHIP are both at 4 at some point.
I would be completely fine with this. It wouldn't be winning baseball, but if you can keep your ERA around 4 while putting 4 guys on per inning- that's entertainment.
Recipe for heartburn for Gardy, too.
the miracle of inherited batters.
I'm sure folks here aren't happy about that sweep, but the Royals are now 3 games over .500 and only 4.5 behind the second wild card! In August! Having played more than 100 games! These are real, actual facts.
The bad news: Twins now 3 whole games behind the Angels. But this can be made up!
Randball: Starting to Feel Sorry for Joe Mauer
I think this conclusion was reached in a Game Log here back in May.
At least Joe has made several playoff rosters. Ernie Banks...now that's someone to feel sorry for.
Twins Warn Buxton: Triples Are "Showing Off"
😀
Fantastic
Hilarious:
Hilarious... but then maybe a little depressing:
Yeah, for satire it feels pretty realistic.
Clint Dempsey to Everton rumors starting to percolate. That would be fantabulous!
Not as fantabulous as the Clint Dempsey to Seattle rumors.
Addendum: I don't really think Dempsey is going to transfer to Seattle, but it would still work out great for me if he did. It's one of those rumors where there's just enough going for it that you could sort of convince yourself that it might be a possibility:
- The Sounders opened up a DP slot by extending Shalrie Joseph's contract.
- Dempsey was recently in Seattle with the USMNT, saw SEA vs. Vancouver and participated in the WCQ victory over Panama.
- '14 is a World Cup year
- Jurgen Klinsmann likes his players to get regular playing time for their club
- Dempsey's current club situation is unsettled
- Sigi Schmidt is friends with Jurgen Klinsmann
- Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey are friends from their time together at Fulham
- Dempsey flew to the west coast yesterday--verified in San Francisco, unclear where he flew from there
All that said, I have no idea what Everton's roster looks like, so he could well see plenty of playing time there, and he didn't seem to leave MLS on the greatest of terms. There's also allocation order complications with Portland holding the #1 allocation order slot and Seattle at #2, which would probably mean Seattle would have to trade Portland something to sign Dempsey, but the MLS roster rules are inspired by Calvinball, so who knows.
Dempsey could fit in well with Everton. He could play behind the Kone and allow Fellaini to drop back to holding midfield (which he prefers). He could also push out to wing (but that means either Miralles or Pinnear is sitting - I would sit Pinnear in that situation). If Everton allows Jelavic to leave for the Bundesliga, it makes it an even better fit.
From a USMNT standpoint, I'd definitely be happier with Dempsey getting regular time with decent service in the EPL.
I disagree, but that's because I love the Toffees.
I think we're on the same page. If he goes to Seattle I could see him play in person 17+ times a year.
Latest wrinkle: if Dempsey returns to MLS would probably prefer to be closer to home than Seattle. Dallas is currently in Seattle for tomorrow's game. Everton's in LA currently, but I haven't heard much to verify that he went south from SF, though most of my sources are biased.
Actually, speaking of soccer, I'm not sure if earlier this week the news that MLS plans to expand to 24 by 2020 got any play in the CoC. NYC2 is the 20th team, but we didn't know they were planning on 4 more in that time frame. My best guess at the 4 expansion teams is Miami, Orlando, Minnesota, and ??? A lot of folks are in on San Antonio as an option, since they have a good following for lower division soccer, but I wonder if they don't find another town closer to Florida. At any rate, with the new Vikings stadium coming on line before 2020, in an easily accessible location, I think Minnesota's more likely than not to get an MLS expansion team.
is there any worries among MLS fans that the League is expanding too fast?
Well the last couple of expansion teams have the BEST fan support in the league (Chivas excepted). If they do it right like they did up in the Northwest, it shouldn't be a problem.
Yeah, there are always worries about that since they had some really rough years in the early '00s, contracting Miami and TB, and only having something like 3 owners in the entire league.
I think personally they are on a pretty good pace for expansion right now. Most if not all of the recent expansion teams have done really well, and since the level of competition isn't the very best in the world, there is plenty of MLS-level talent to be had if you go looking for it, so I don't think that talent dilution is a problem for them. Also, new teams now have to establish academy systems, which I think in the end will produce pro soccer players where there were none before, so it's not really a zero-sum game. If anything, the league overall needs more scouts to cover more of the country because the league doesn't have great geographic coverage.
I would worry more if some of the recent expansion franchises were falling on their face, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm sure it's also hard for the league to walk away from some of these expansion fees--NYCFC paid something like $100M for their expansion team.
depends on whether the expansion includes Sacramento or not. If it doesn't, then I might have issues. 😉
Latest:
As far as I can tell, the Everton connection only came from a Taylor Twellman tweet.
One of the strangest parts of this is that since Seattle's DP slot opened up there have essentially been no other rumors of who would come to Seattle, and there are usually rumors coming from overseas agents even when Seattle hasn't had a DP slot open and a player would obviously require a DP slot.
Git er done, Billy Smith!
There's that word again, but this time used correctly:
I agree with way too much of that column. I have hopes that Willingham can contribute next year, and that the Twins could use the Morneau money to help out in some way. I expect Hicks '14 to be better than Hicks '13. (And I'm kind of partial to the theory that he and Diamond were sent to Rochester to participate in a pennant race.) Parmalee should be able to at least replicate Morneau's production if he takes Morneau's playing time. But overall, it's really not a pretty picture.
The Twins need a starting rotation in the worst possible way and they have to assemble it nearly from scratch. And the problem with assembling a rotation from scratch is that you really need to bring in 8-9 pitchers (prospects or veterans) to fill it out because half of them are going to get injured in the next 2-3 years.
I thought that was they way they were using now.
this is why your flock loves you, Jeff A.
This flock, too.
I'm so glad he wasn't traded for a preacher to be named later.
Top Jimmy using abomination correctly is an aberration.
Editors!
Yo! Cheaps, you got mail!
are you going to wisconsin!?
In a sense, yes, but not in the way you're thinking. Beer talk.
Responded.
Hey zack. I got NMH tix but I had to get them for the all ages show. The Tuesday over 18 was sold out. My guess is that not a lot if teeny bloopers anyway. Hope you got tix.
I was able to get them for the Tuesday show, miraculously. Since they were will call only, I hesitated on getting extras in case something comes up and I couldn't make it down to get tickets to you (or whomever else). J & I have been to shows at the Fine Line, Triple Rock, and Turf Club but she's never got to go to First Ave. I'm excited to take her.
If it's on your radar I realize you've already seen it, but: Breaking Bad season 5 is now on Netflix streaming.
I just got an email about it. I'm very excited.
sweet. i've been waiting for that.
And my weekend is pretty much ruined.
Demotions of Diamond and Hicks were overdue.
Up all night with a toothache and made an emergency visit to the dentist today, turns out I have an abscessed molar. So ten days of antibiotics and no alcohol, and a root canal next Tuesday. Sometimes life throws you a curveball, and sometimes it just beans you in the balls.
That sounds pretty bad. Fortunately for us, it gave you an opportunity to turn a phrase, which you have always been quite good at.
Wait, have you been reading Fortunately/Unfortunately entries over at the Casa? Fortunately, I just did. Unfortunately, I now want to put everything into this construction.
Twayn, sorry about your legitimately unfortunate news. But 'twas an excellent turn of phrase.
At least you decided to stick with the COBRA.
I said the same thing when my appendix blew up.
What with they MI, I completely forgot about the appendix.
Regarding the A-Rod business that I missed earlier in the week, the linked article makes me most disappointed in baseball the following way: from the way things are stated, it sounds like MLB would essentially allow A-Rod to buy out his lifetime suspension by giving them the $100M he's still owed on his contract. On the one hand, $100M is a lot of money and it's hard to be principled when you stand to lose $100M, but on the other hand, it seems like a sunk cost, so just give him the lifetime suspension if you think his actions were that bad.
Frankly, I don't have many negative feelings about A-Rod (similarly not many positive feelings), and I don't really care that much about PEDs, but if he was referring other players to Biogenesis, and MLB has proof of that, I wouldn't complain too loudly about a lifetime ban.
I see that he's on 2,901 career hits. If his career ended today, would he have the best career (say, highest JAWS) with fewer than 3,000 hits? *checks JAWS* Actually, not even close. I didn't realize Barry Lamar ended up 65 hits shy of 3,000, and his 117.6 JAWS crushes A-Rod's 89.0 JAWS.
George Herman Ruth had fewer than 3,000 hits, too.
Who?
Good to see you next to me on the bandwagon finally, Boss. 🙂
Sure, but obviously I meant the players who didn't inject themselves with sheep testicle extract...
Welcome to the Terrordome.