Cup of Coffee

March 13, 2014: The Drive

62 Comments

Yesterday we came back from LA, and my daughters, who apparently have walnut-sized bladders, made us stop about ten or twelve times in what would have been a five-hour trip.

62 thoughts on “March 13, 2014: The Drive”

  1. It's currently 5 AM and I've already been in line for the Hold Steady for 15 minutes

      1. Two acoustic songs was all. I enjoyed myself, but I was spoiled by the show in Buffalo. I wanted to rock the eff out.

      1. Same time as the Ha Ha Tonka show. And the flyer says nothing of free beer, so I'll probably pass

  4. The Sully Buttes Chargers, a school which includes two of the three towns in my parish (Onida and Agar), play this afternoon in the first round of the state Class B girls basketball tournament. Go Chargers!

  6. Couple of Twins notes from the Strib:
    Sano's TJ surgery was a success. Surprise, surprise, it ended up repairing a fully torn UCL. Of note,

    Sano’s surgery was performed by Dr. David Altchek, the Mets’ medical director.

    On Where'sOswaldo, Gene Glynn think Arcia's gonna be a good one:

    “No, when I say, ‘Good hitter,’ I mean a really good hitter … a guy who is not only dangerous every time he comes to the plate but a tough out,” Glynn said.

    He can start by taking advice from Tony-O.

    “He had a few home runs [14] last year, and when he hit one, he would try to hit one farther the next at-bat,” Tony said. “I tell him, ‘420 feet is long enough. You don’t have to hit it 450. They count the same.’ ”

    And finally, Gardy being Gardy on Aaron Hicks' first at-bat in more than a week:

    “Stepped right out there, right back from Disneyland, and hit a homer,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

    ...Hicks was out with a sore right elbow... #playyousissies!

    1. I wonder if JI

      JIM THOME would agree with Tony-O about the flight distance of a mashed tater.

      1. He probably does. JI

        JIM THOME doesn't try to hit the ball 450 feet. That's just what happens.

  8. Kevin Pelton figures ($) that Tom Thibodeau's contribution to the Bulls is worth between $5-$10 million.

    If Thibodeau were a player, given the cost of $1.6 million per win in free agency, his production would be worth about $5 million at the low end and easily more than $10 million at the high end. That makes his salary -- a reported $4.4 million per year, with bonuses up to $5 million, per Spotrac -- a bargain, especially since an elite coach doesn't count against the salary cap (or the luxury tax) like an elite player.

    What I find interesting is that a win is worth only $1.6 million in basketball. That's because of the NBA's salary cap and maximum salaries, which leaves its best players vastly underpaid. That article is from 2013 and it indicates that of all the NBA max salaried players, only one(!) is overpaid. (EDIT: this isn't right. As with everything in the NBA salary structure, what constitutes a max value is complicated. What this article says is that of the players worth more than $16 million, which is the max for a lot (but not all) players, only one is overpaid.)

    'Spoiler' SelectShow

    The NBA has really gotten themselves in a favorable position vs its elite players. The perverse thing, though, is that the players that they do overpay are the low performing veterans primarily through the mid-level exemption which can just kill teams.

      1. That's what killed them at the end of the McHale era. Khan cleared that flotsam out, but then he replaced those guys with the likes of Flynnsanity.

    2. Old Junkballers don't retire, they just...
      Oh I guess they do retire. Livan's another of my favorites. Glad I got to see him on the Twins for a while.

        1. You mean?

          The Twins have to decide whether Pinto -- who looks Major League-ready at the plate but still needs to refine his skills defensively -- is better served getting regular playing time in the big leagues by learning on the go with Suzuki as the backup in the big leagues.

    2. Also, this statement is contradicted by Gardy's actions most of the past, what, 2...maybe 3 seasons?

      "I'm not looking for a DH candidate in a catcher, I've already been [on] that route," Gardenhire said. "I need two catchers. If I have that, then I'm going to need three catchers, and I don't want to do that."

  11. who is responsible for today's coffee art? It's very nice.

    My only critique would be that the WGOM logo got pasted on flat. I bet there's a tool for perspective-ifying it to look more like it is wrapped around the mug.

  14. Watching Yanquis-Bird pre-season replay whilst reading G.R.…up to pg. 79.

    Just commenting to NBBW on the acute black triangles under the arms on the unis on both teams, not sure about that.

    'Wow, that O is kinda full-figured.' (Delmon Young). Har.

    1. 'Wow, that O is kinda full-figured.' (Delmon Young)

      I think we have an early leader for the Quote of the Year.

  15. Dont know how many of you have been tuned into the H.S. Boy Basketball game, but because Minnesota does not have a shot clock Hopkins, yes HOPKINS, have played stall ball in 3 of the 4 overtimes. 5 points each have been scored in 4 OTs.

    1. OH MY GAWD. I typed that too soon as Hopkins hit a buzzer beater from about 60 feet. WOW

      1. That was insane. Also bS' Austin High School up against De La Salle in Class 3 finals on Saturday. Only thing between De and a three-peat.

        2. Again?
          Last year, the Packers stank against DeLasalle, and never came out of their zone. Much smaller team this year. Guard-oriented.

    4. L'chaim, fat ass!
      httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA3oiNQK7aY

      'Spoiler' SelectShow

      1. The latest scuttle I've been hearing is that PHX could start tanking to let the Wolves pass them, which would put the Wolves 14th, which would give PHX their pick.

        It never ends with this club.

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