57 thoughts on “September 27, 2013: Upside of the Downside”

  1. Curious to know where others stand on this:

    Craig Calcaterra and I have been having a back-and-forth on Twitter regarding contraction. Calcaterra contends that it was financially impossible and a merely a case of Selig using pressure tactics, while I assume that Selig would have actually pulled the plug on the Twins and Expos had the court not intervened.

    1. That is an excellent question, one we will never know for sure because Selig et.al. would probably never admit that they were serious about going through with contraction.

      I for one just can't believe that when it was nut cutting time, that MLB would have actually gone through with contraction. The outrage, the shaming, the political pressure that would have been brought on MLB would have been too great, even if they were serious.

      1. I agree. I remember thinking at the time that Selig was probably just applying pressure and letting fans of the Twins and Expos twist in the wind as he used them as pawns.

        The proof, for me, was when the Twins schedule for the next season came out, and Selig said the existence of the Twins schedule wasn't proof that there would be a next season. It was a pretty hollow threat. It's not like you could pull the Twins schedule and not effect everyone else's. The Twins were going to be around, and he knew it.

    2. I would put it the Twins chance at 5%, and that is being generous. Dont know about the Expos, but it was probably a higher chance.

      1. Well, they couldn't contract solely the Expos.
        So if
        C(Twins) < C(Expos),
        then there is
        X = SUM[C(x)] for all teams x not Twins or Expos,
        such that
        C(Expos) = C(Twins) + X
        and
        X > 0.

        For which other team(s) x was C(x) > 0?

          1. I thought it was dumb that they'd eliminate an AL and an NL club.
            Wasn't the plan to move the D♦backs to the AL?

              1. But they had just moved the the NL!
                Which league do you want your daughter's team in, Selig?
                [Selig Shrug.jpg]

    3. I don't think the intent was ever to contract (much like the Vikings never truly intended to move to LA). But had their bluff been called there was at least a chance.

      1. That's what I really wonder. Say the Metropolitan Sports Commission had accepted a buyout of the last year of the Metrodome agreement with the Twins. Presumably the MLBPA would have challenged the elimination of those roster spots, but how far would it have gone? Would the players have threatened to strike? Or would the problem have been hashed out somehow - say, 30 man rosters or something? Then what?

        I guess what I'm saying is, if Bud thought he could get away with it, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to eliminate a couple franchises.

      1. If you saw the video of the trinket chasing one of those (grasshopper as in the image) down the sidewalk with a piece of foxtail grass it might change your mind.

    1. Speaking of the Wolves, I added their schedule to the sidebar. I included the preseason games since it was in the overall list. If anyone has a better title to use, I will gladly use it.

        1. Yup. Good times, good times. Hopefully Adleman has already told Corey: "Corey, on offense, go stand in that corner and DON'T MOVE!"

  5. I talked with an old friend of mine who is a Minnesotan that grew up in the Cleveland area. He attended the Vikings game on Sunday and said it was the most entertaining game he's ever seen. He's also on to something that I was Tweeting about in game 2. The Vikings are a perfect fit for Mr. Tebow.

    1. Can't have too many fullbacks!

      But, seriously, I'd take him at this point. I would have taken him at this point last year, too.

    2. I'm both a Vikings and Browns fan, so the outcome was going to be a win/lose proposition for me either way. It was not unusual to see an opponent pick apart the Viking secondary, but the fact that it was a third string QB doing it was a nice element of surprise. It was novel to see both a fake FG and a fake punt that worked out. Turnovers can be pretty exciting plays and there was no shortage of those. So yeah, I'd have to say it was a pretty entertaining football game. As for Tebow and the Vikings, sure. He's a good fit for any team that doesn't have a prayer.

  6. The fates have aligned and I am going with some friends to see Felix Hernandez pitch tonight. Looks like crappy weather, but whatever. What would be awesome is if they used their giant video board to update the fans on games around the league, but unfortunately what will happen is that they will play a lot of crappy music very loudly between innings and show fans "dancing" to the music. I don't even think I am being very GOML about this--they are just underutilizing their assets.

    But whatever, I get to see Felix tonight. Hopefully they are still doing their King's Corner promo.

    1. I would love video updates on the scoreboard, but if people watch the videoboard between innings, how are they going to go to the concourse to buy more food?

    2. I remember watching King Felix face Liriano in one of Liriano's first starts of his career. Mauer took King Felix deep and I watched a few innings with Gleeman and his mom.

    1. Outstanding! So, how come MCA and Elektra/Asylum haven't threatened Kid Rock with a lawsuit to take down his All Summer Long music video?

      2. MCA died like a year ago.
        Not sure what claim he'd have on the video, but I'm not gonna watch it to find out.

  9. The apartment is getting pretty empty. In the last 24 hours, I've sold a bike and 3 small end tables and given away the couch. Tomorrow the kitchen table and chairs will be gone. Then all that's left is to get my clothes and remaining bike in the car.

  10. So: awesome week in Sicily last week. I tried to continue the vac'n by experimenting with various Siciliano recipes this week. Here's two.
    I promise I will post the sardines later...

    Calamari fritti
    (Fried squid rings)

    Ingredients (serves 4)
    600g fresh squid, cleaned and chopped by your fishmonger
    8 tbsp durum wheat flour (this means whatever flour you have in your house)
    1 tsp salt
    Vegetable oil for frying
    2 lemons

    Procedure
    There's no need to make a batter in this light Sicilian version of calamari fruity! Simply sieve the flour, add some salt and mix. Then toss the squid rings and tentacles in the flour. Heat up the oil in a deep saucepan (fill about a third of the pan) and when really hot, add your squid a little at a time, shaking off any excess flour first. When golden brown, take out the squid with a spoon with holes in (draining any excess oil) and place on some kitchen towel. Sprinkle immediately with sea salt and serve while hot with a good squeeze of lemon.

    Ruota di Pesce Spada
    (Wheel of swordfish)

    Ingredients (serves 4)
    1 wheel of swordfish about 5-6cm high (about 600-700gr)
    2 tbsp capers
    10 cherry tomatoes
    1 bunch of fresh mint
    ½ an onion finely chopped
    Extra virgin olive oil
    1 lemon
    Salt and pepper

    Procedure
    Take a large piece of aluminium foil (at least twice as big as the wheel of swordfish) and place half of it in the bottom of a large baking tray. Dribble with a little olive oil, and add a little salt and pepper. Put the wheel of swordfish on top and then oil and season the upper side. Sprinkle with capers, the cherry tomatoes halved, the finely chopped onion and add a squeeze of lemon. Cover the top with the remaining part of the sheet of foil and close the sides, crimping so that the swordfish is sealed inside. Then place in a medium-hot oven for about 40-45 minutes. After that time, take out and gently check that it is cooked all the way through. If it isn’t, reseal the foil package and put back in the oven for 5 minutes.

    To make it authentic, serve with Nero D'Avola Sicilian red. Not bad.

      1. Agreed.

        I made a chicken salad* tonight washed down with this. Both more than lived up to the billing.

        *substituted diced green peppers for the grapes and fresh basil, rosemary and thyme for the dill.

Comments are closed.