187 thoughts on “March 31, 2014: Opening Day”

      1. yickit with an early April Fools perhaps. Guessing he edited the date to put it at the top and also edited the user name.

          1. That might have been the biggest gap in terms of talent between a guess and the actual signature since we've been doing this.

        1. 'Hat-tip to Rhu_Ru' SelectShow

  3. My apologies, Wild Playoff Watchers, I didn't fully understand the new NHL Playoff setup. After realignment, divisions apparently now mean something. To wit, the top three teams in each division qualify. The Wild's division looks like so.

    1. STL - 107 pts (Wild cannot catch)
    2. COL - 100 pts (Wild elimination number - 1)
    3. CHI - 99 pts (Wild elimination number - 3)
    4. MIN - 87 pts

    Also, if a team doesn't finish in the top 3 of their division they can qualify as a wild card if they have one of the two best point totals of the remaining teams in the conference. These wild card teams face one of the division winners in the first round.

    WC1. MIN - 87 pts
    WC2. PHX - 84 pts (WMN = 12)
    ------------------
    DAL - 83 pts (WMN = 13)
    VAN - 79 pts (WMN = 5)
    NSH - 77 pts (WMN = 3)
    WIN - 75 pts (WMN = 3)

    Catching Chicago or Colorado seems unlikely enough that we can just focus on the newly minted Wild Card race from here on out. Which is similar to what I was doing, but I didn't want anyone to get the idea that the NHL was doing standings in anything other than the most convoluted way possible.

    GAMES TONIGHT:

    Minnesota @ LA -- So, even though LA is the team closest to the Wild in points in the West, the Wild aren't chasing them. A 3-point game is fine as long as the Wild get 2.
    Winnipeg @ Anaheim -- A Winnipeg loss and a Wild win would mean there is one less team that can catch the Wild.

    2. I think catching LA is all but lost, so it's all about finishing 7th and who wins the Pacific. Thus, a Jets loss would also give the Ducks a little breathing room out west.

      The most convoluted aspect of the new system is, if the Wild beats the Ducks, the Wild stay out west and face the winner of Kings/Sharks. Hello, 9:00 pm game starts again.

      1. Start times aside, I'm pulling for 7th if only to avoid the Blues...that was some butt-ugly hockey last Thursday and I don't think they sniff the 2nd round if they see St. Louis to open.

        DG - thanks for doing this. I've been otherwise occupied most of the season during free time and wasn't able to do much NHL-related content in here.

      2. That's just the Western Conference though. No matter what system you choose, someone's got to fly out to California and play the Ducks/Kings/Sharks. Even the winner of the Central with the best record in the conference might end up going to Vancouver or Phoenix in round 1.

        It's an interesting system, and I like parts of it, but this is one of those things that doesn't have the benefit of "it's always been this way", and doesn't seem to be perfectly logical.

        1. Oh, sure. The NHL is trying to develop division rivalries, while also trying to avoid bad teams making the playoffs in a bad division.

  5. Well, I guess I'd better not say I never received any benefit from our athletic department. Since the hoops team made the Final Four we're allowed to wear university attire with jeans all week instead of the usual business casual.

    This also constitutes my only comment on the NCAA basketball tournament. Bring on baseball!

  7. Your 2014 Twins Schedule is up.

    I don't remember ever seeing this many day games bunched together in one month. This team doesn't have a night game until the 11th! Looks like I'll be catching a lot of these early ones from work.

    1. I think I got all the right times and TV schedule.

      If anyone has a better title, I'll take it.

        1. BR has the schedule in CSV form, so it's just a matter of waiting until it gets released, fix the dates to ISO8601, rearrange columns, and check the TV schedule. Now I'm curious where your schedule was put.

          1. Sounds easy enough.*

            It was right above the Wolves one. It was showing up on my computer and everything. Once you put yours up with the "Twins" designation, maybe it eliminated mine...?

            * - for Sean-types

  8. Re: NCAA BB Bracket. From my cursory look, it appears that if Florida loses on Saturday then Bret wins the bracket. If Florida wins on Saturday then Neil wins.

    1. Huh. I assumed my shot at winning was dead after Friday's games. The carnage in my bracket was terrible- I still have nightmares.

    2. Slow and steady...

      I don't remember a year with so many o-fers when picking the Final Four. I had Louisville winning, but decided to zig assuming others were zagging.

  10. Foxsports North asks on the BookFace "Do you feel like Minnesota's starting pitching will live up to expectations this season?"

    Me: Yes. 🙁

      1. the SacBee's preseason review rated the Twins the worst (non-Astros division) in the AL in every category -- starting pitching, bullpen pitching, defense, offense.

          1. to be fair, "worst" was in the sense that they rated them 2 of 5 points in each category, and no other AL team (Astros excepted) had lower than a 2 in any category. So only tied for worst!

    3. Wife and I were out with friends for my birthday meal* on Saturday and someone at the back of the restaurant proposed: whole place filled with cheers and utensils clinking glasses. All at the table thought a public proposal - no matter the setting - seemed ill-conceived.**
      Relayed to them this proposal (can't recall if I was at that game or just heard about it...believe I was actually there).
      httpv://youtu.be/LH9K74IFX80

      *Concept behind the restaurant is very cool but the execution was a bit lacking. The food and drinks were very tasty, once they arrived. Neither my first nor my second entrée selection were available, unbeknownst to the server (though it was only 7pm) who took both orders to the kitchen, only to return with, "I'm sorry, we're out of the salmon." and then, "I hate to tell you this, but we're out of the linguine with clams as well."
      **Tangentially, I said that I thought no matter the setting, it's best to 'know' the answer to that question before asking it.

      1. I really want the "Behind the Music" treatment for that one. I'm not saying that public proposals are without risk, but how did he manage to get slapped? I feel like a more common failure mode would be for the woman to agree publicly and then turn him down later. Or to get really embarrassed and leave, but without slapping the dude.

        2. Whoa. Even after reading the comments here, that's jarring, the looks on the faces of the people nearby as well.

          1. That did look awkward. I wonder how much it costs to propose on the big screen with video and audio?

      2. I agree. When people say 'No' in that public setting, it's either because the guy didn't know and was hoping the public pressure would help, or because the girl is just upset about the setting.

        I find it cruel, putting someone on the spot to make the biggest decision of their lives with that many people watching. Imagine being asked, without warning, to sign for a house.

        Of course, I'm fully aware I proposed to my wife at Casa de Leche. I'd like to think it was okay because if my wife had said no, I could have acted oblivious that my story was actually a proposal since I didn't use her name.

        1. Not a public proposal, but a college friend of ours was on a "meet her parents" visit, where he was seriously planning to propose. Instead, she came out to him as a lesbian and ended the relationship.

            1. Better than his parents' house. I've never been in that situation, but I could think of reasons why you might want to do that at home rather than at school.

      3. I've eaten there a few times and agree with your assessment. The service always seems a little off somehow and slower than it should be. I spilled a drink once and the waiter hardly helped to clean it up and didn't offer to bring a replacement. (The clumsiness was my fault, but still.)

        1. This was the assessment of close friends who've been in the hospitality business for 10+ years.

          EDIT: Seeing you reminds me, my wife came through with one of these for my birthday. No peel needed*, but it's designed for the bbq and the oven! Hopefully it works as well as the "standard" stone you all have recommended.

          *Construct the pie on the stone and place in oven. Then, remove the whole works when done...we'll see.
          Uncanny, but for you Survivors, notice the name of the manufacturer...heh.

          1. Interesting. This should be a Tools post, Corn.

            I don't think I would favor either a glazed stone or assembling the pizza on the stone. (a) a non-glazed stone will draw moisture from the dough to help crisp the bottom of the crust and (b) pre-heating! It's a flat bread! cook it fast!

            But YMMV, and I'd like to hear comments from your experiences.

            1. I have no frame of reference for the non-glazed stone, but I will certainly be putting this thing to use ASAP - too many good recipes around here not to!

          2. You're so pugnacious! 😉

            I always thought preheating the stone was key, but please do report back on how it works for you.

            1. That seemed logical to me too, but I'll definitely report back with pics and comments...perhaps even a pint-sized review to accompany.

        2. I agree with your assessment on the service. Also, during the second of my two visits, a staff person knocked over half a glass of red wine while bussing the entree dishes, and while it was eventually replaced, that second glass showed up on our bill. It was removed when we pointed it out, but I thought that to be in bad form.

          FWIW, the food itself for our table of six that evening ranged from tasty to meh. My medium rare steak was closer to medium well. Despite what my dining companions suggested, I didn't send it back.

          (I do like the room, though.)

          1. Sigh, that's similar to my wife's medium well* steak showing up well+ (though not burnt) and my after dinner drink, ordered in place of dessert but at the same time, was delivered by the bartender well after everyone else had finished theirs and we were looking for the bill.

            I also thought the room was very cool. I really enjoyed the use of the space.

            *women in a certain condition being encouraged to avoid undercooked meat and all that. 🙂

      4. Sorry your experience wasn't good, but I've enjoyed Red Stag both times I've been.

        1. No worries, I'll certainly give it another try if only to support the locally sourced/responsible dining concept.

          1. Since Bootsy is around, it's time for me to brag that Sheenie and I managed to convince Papa Young (who has zero foodie interests or instincts at all) to try Tilia for dinner for his birthday this week. Anything for an excuse to go to Tilia.

            1. I'm embarrassed to admit I haven't eaten at Tilia, yet. Especially considering that Steven Brown has personally cooked a couple of the greatest meals I've ever eaten in my life--once at Auriga, once at Rock Star. My longtime studio partner is good friends with Steve, and was present on both of those occasions. The Auriga meal was about 8 courses, most of them not on the menu, with wines hand picked by the chef himself. Good lord, that man has skills.

              1. I eat at Tilia at least once a month, and I'm a big enough man to admit that I will frequently order the hot dogs (of all things) because, my gosh, he makes these absurdly delicious gourmet hot dogs.

      5. I have to confess that my proposal, while not public, did rely on a lot of people's involvement. I mean... there were, among other things, violinists.

        And I was pretty sure I knew the answer, but it wasn't 100% a done deal. There was risk involved.

        1. I can appreciate that. Mine was in public - water front park in Norfolk - though not 'public' but I was still nervous as get-all. I'd had to chase the ring up and down the eastern seaboard (well, it chased me and the ship I was on) and I was forced to pick it up at a mall jewelry store, with her in tow, but without her knowing what was up - all during a layover in VA. I suggested a movie...at noon on a Tuesday... and "had to use the restroom" during previews. Then, she even managed to nearly sprain her ankle during our walk to the point, slipping off the sidewalk and twisting it painfully. Things came through swimmingly in the end, but yeah, there was risk involved there.

            1. Mine too. We just got matching bands that doubled as engagement rings. I used it when I proposed, but no diamond was a huge relief. Plus I got to pick 'em out based on what I liked.

          2. There were very few people (ok, no other people) at Lake Harriet during the evening of January 20. Little did I expect we would buy a house a mile away since I was still living in DC at the time.

      6. It looked to me like the girl was smiling at first and then she realized where she was and got upset. I think she wanted to say yes but didn't like the setting. You better know the answer and if she would like it to be in public before you try something like that. I almost proposed at the top of the Space Needle, but decided against it with too many people around. Ended up doing it at Gasworks Park in Seattle (same date) with nobody in earshot.

      8. Re: linguini with clams

        Love the Linguini alla Frutti di Mare, evoo, some garlic. A plug for Pazzaluna restaurant in St. Paul. It wasn't even on the menu, and they whipped it up fabulously when I asked for it.

        1. Re: Pazzaluna - been past it a dozen times but never inside. That should change and Dido on the Frutti - believe you me, I was sorely disappointed when informed none were forthcoming.

      1. With the theme changing, the location to put them moved too. I don't see any new images since Feb 10.

          1. Fixed permissions so you can put them in the right spot. Hint: the theme directory is 'wgom-twentyfourteen'.

              1. The banner page is not up to date. It's an irritating undertaking so I update it every couple of months or more. With a season starting I hope to get to it soon, although my entire life has been spreadsheets and tedium for the last couple of months.

            1. As a rule, 160px is the standard height for banners. With the new theme, we can play with that a bit, but unless there's a compelling reason to, 160px is still the sweet spot. For example, the only times I go over 160px is if the image on the banner is so narrow it would be near unreadable if the standard height was used.

  13. I'm listening to the Cubs broadcast. I was curious about how Pat Hughes would introduce Ron Coomer. Ron Santo was always "Cubs Legend Ron Santo". Keith Moreland was always "Former Cubs Great Keith Moreland". It turns out the Coom-Dog is "Former All-star Ron Coomer".

    1. Funny, Twins fans also used the line "former All Star Ron Coomer"
      Probably said in a different tone on the radio. haha

    2. Also, like Cubs Legend Ron Santo but unlike Former Cubs Great Keith Moreland, it appears that Former All-star Ron Coomer will not be doing any play-by-play.

      1. You think that's bad - I stumbled across was slapped in the face with this when making my predictions for 2014. Popularity contests/player reputation v. actual performance aside, the number of former Twins is depressing.
        I know, I know...hindsight, moves don't happen in a vacuum, etc., etc. ... I just can't help torturing myself I guess.

        Gold Glove:
        Hardy, Dickey, Gomez
        Silver Slugger:
        Hardy, Hunter, Ortiz, Gomez, Cuddyer
        Comeback Player:
        Liriano
        All Stars (not already mentioned above):
        Crain, Nathan

        1. I never saw a 2014 predictions thread (caveat - I didn't look too hard). Is it too late to make them?

      1. He ended up staying in the game. If he'd come into second safely, I assume he gets pulled there. He was laid out for a good couple of minutes.

      2. Shallow Thots:
        The thing about that sequence is that no matter how long you let it play, it always comes out the same… mesmerizing.

  19. Dylan Gee's nice game is blown up by the bullpen, who take over and throw eight straight balls, and have walked in the tying run. Oh, Mets.

      1. Struck out a flailing Zimmerman on what would have been ball four...sigh. Of course, he yips and whoos and dances his way off the mound.

    2. Phillies just took a 9-7 lead in Texas in the 5th. I think Cliff Lee was still pitching despite blowing a 6-0 lead. We'll see if he gets another inning. Revere just hit a ball harder than he ever has in his career and was robbed by Alex Rios of an RBI triple.

      1. And Lee ends up with a win after lasting 5 innings and giving up 5 earned runs. WHIP of 2.40. Yup, that's one of my fantasy keepers.

  20. So, state holiday today (Cesar Chavez Day, state employees have day off, but not public schools). I am working at home, natch. Because Deadlines.

    As will happen on work-at-home-days (you hear me, Rhu?), the mind sometimes wanders. So, I'm contemplating one of the great mysteries of life: why are butter sticks short and fat on the West Coast but butter dishes are all designed for the long-and-skinnier sticks of the rest of the country???

    1. Tired of having butter-dish lids that slide off and move butter everywhere, or having butter that melts when we're skimping on A/C costs, or is left unlidded only to have so many things fall into it, or to have the lid fall off and break, or that messes up bread because it's too cold from sitting in the fridge all day, I started using a half-pint jar with just the lid sitting on top of it years ago.
      I think I started when we used it (with the screw-on collar) for a butter-from-cream "experiment".

      I can one whole stick in if I'm willing to push or the butter's been softened. I think your west-coast sticks would still be a problem. Maybe if you cut a few "pats" off the top and shove them on the side, then have the rest of the stick facing up.

          1. I learned about them from my wife. We don't currently have one because she is looking for just the right color to match other things in the kitchen. We may have different priorities where this is concerned.

            1. Yeah...you may have. 🙂
              I can relate. My wife's been shopping for replacement "daily use" dishes for about 3 years...

              1. Oy. My wife is now on the march toward replacing perfectly good living room furniture. Apparently the colors (which she picked out ~10 years ago) are "dated". But honey, we never sit in the living room!

                BTDT on the "daily use" dishes too. I didn't see anything wrong with the every day dishes we got when we got married. But I got overruled. Choose your battles.

                2. choose your battles

                  Knowledge is power. And yet, 10 years in I still, occasionally, end up in battles not worth fighting.

        2. We have one of those and I think it's awesome, but my wife doesn't for some unknown reason (as in: Why not? No reason given.)

    2. Ever since we came back from N. Ireland I've been buying Kerry Gold Irish butter (salted). Non-std shape, but flavorful, and I like for cooking w/ vegetables.

  21. Natinals guys are saying they've never seen a CF who could get to as many balls as Span. I love Span as much as I ever did, but c'mon. "Never?"

      1. I almost had the first error of the season. Set the time right, forgot to hit Publish.

  23. I love how the Pirates game ended on a walk-off in extra innings on Opening Day. Trifecta!

  24. I won't link to the source story, Because Forbidden Zoney, but I figured that certain Citizens might find this snippet amusing/outraging:

    Is there any chance it's a true story? Not unless there was a sailor in the class to tell the Marine how to tally up the 15 minutes after he ran out of fingers to count on.

  25. The MH370 families are going to be quite pissed with the news of 'Good night, Malaysian three seven zero'. Very sad.

  26. Ok, this is pretty cool. The gold medal winning vaults in women's gymnastics in 1956 and 2012, side-by-side:

    2. I don't mean to be flippant, but in my gymnastics career I did much harder vaults as a 10 year old (c. 1995 ish)

      1. And yes, I know "flippant" could be a pun, but y'all know I wouldn't do that on purpose.

  27. The Wolves draft wasn't as bad as it first appeared. Gorgui can play and Bazz might be able to play too.

    1. All in all, it looks to have been a pretty piss-poor draft year for the league. Only one of the top six picks averaged more than 17 minutes per game (Oladipo).

      Trey Burke would look awfully nice as a backup to Ricky, but it is hard to blame the Wolves too much. Burke looks like he will be a decent starting PG in the league, but not much more.

      Michael Carter-Williams and Steven Adams were taken between Burke and Shabazz. Both look like players. Adams has a real mean streak. Carter-Williams shot about as well as Ricky from the field, which is not an endorsement.

      You don't get Gorgui without trading Trey, obviously. Gorgui looks like he might have a higher ceiling than Mason Plumlee (the next pick at 21). Maybe for the Wolves a better pick would have been a swing player who can both penetrate and stretch the defense, or be an elite defender, which describes the next two picks (Solomon Hill, deep on Indy's bench; and Tim Hardaway Jr., who got some quality minutes for the Knicks). But Shabazz was supposed to be that guy.

    2. Gorgui has been a pleasant surprise, but I'm sold on Bazz yet. He has shown a lot more hustle and effort than I expected, but he has such a strange skill set for a SG/SF tweener- I don't know if he's ever going to be a solid starter.

      1. The thing I like about Bazz is what you pointed out. The kid appears to really work hard. I think he's got a pretty good mindset. If he has NBA talent (even if unorthodox), I think he'll stick.

    3. Gorgui still needs some work, but he looks to be rotation level at minimum. Although more offensive Cs like Al Jefferson and Andray Blatche have schooled him.

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