Cup of Coffee

May 28, 2014: Twists

61 Comments

The Milkmaid's MN job search is reaching dead ends in previously promising areas and new life in previously dormant ones. It seems this is going to be a longer trek than we thought.

61 thoughts on “May 28, 2014: Twists”

  1. It was travel day today, so I didn't watch the basketball game last night. So, a few days ago, I was pronouncing SAS the next NBA champions. Now, I don't know if they'll come out of the West. I still think they do, but I'm nearly as sure about that as I was.

    1. the home cooking and the large women along the Riverwalk will make a big difference.

      1. Let's put it this way. If I was sure that SAS was going to close out this series, I probably wouldn't watch because I've got a lot of things I could be doing. But, I will be watching now.

    1. Project avoid Pepper, day 3: continued success!
      I was there around 8:15 again. Still bearded, still black backpack. The black backpack has my company name embroidered on the back.
      I'll watch exactly what time tomorrow.

            1. Not at the same time - Pepper made her exit before AMR made an appearance.

  3. RIP Maya Angelou. I was at a benefit in NYC back in about 2002 and she was one of the guests of honor. I don't remember exactly what she said, but after her speech a group of young girls sang "I Hope You Dance." Ms. Angelou, who was already up there in years and not as mobile as she'd once been, stood up and danced and had the most beautiful smile on her face. That woman knew how to live.

    1. You are the sum total of everything you've ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it's all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.

      -Maya Angelou

      1. because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.

        Don't read The Road. Trust me on this one.

        Gravity's Rainbow was dark in places, but it wasn't soul sucking.

  4. Using a handheld burr grinder to grind one's morning cup of joe sure wakes a fella up, I tell you what.

    1. I read this in Hank Hill's voice, and I haven't watched King of the Hill for years.

    1. “‘You’re gonna learn to command your two-seamer.’ That was something that I had been steered away from when I was in Minnesota. I started throwing almost exclusively four-seamers there. It’s one of those things where you kind of shake your head at now, like, ‘What was I doing?’ But I was just listening to the instruction I was getting."
      -Kyle Lohse

        1. The Twins can't be the only organization with a half-dozen former players that said they received bad instruction and are now successful. Can they?

          2. In Seattle, Mariners fans are continually whining and complaining that all of their players are better after they leave. (This claim turns out to not be true--unsurprisingly, players who are good after they leave are more likely to be remembered than players whose careers fizzle out.)

            The Twins got about $24M in surplus value out of Lohse over 5+ years. Since he's left the organization, he's had about $71M of value (according to fWAR) but gotten paid about $69M. (I did the math in my head, but I think those figures are pretty close.)

            It also seems worth mentioning that Lohse's career high fWAR (3.4) has been reached twice--once in 2012 with the Cardinals, and once in 2003 with the Twins. Hmmmm.

      3. That seems like a very odd comment, since I feel like Rick Anderson is generally a fan of the two-seamer, since it tends to induce more ground balls. I would have expected it to be the other way around--the Twins encouraging him to ditch the 4-seamer.

        1. Yeah, the only way that makes sense is if he wasn't throwing strikes with it, which is what the Twins prefer above all else. The Twins did have a very fly ball heavy staff for a while, but have seemed to be purposefully bringing in sinkerballers (or at least perceived sinkerballers) the last couple years other than Hughes. Because of Hughes' success, they might go looking more for RH starters with fly ball tendencies that have struggled in HR happy parks.

      4. It wasn't like Lohse didn't have success with the Twins. He had two seasons above average in ERA, one right at average and two below before he had one bad season that led to him being traded to the Reds. He then was a little better for the rest of his career after being traded at age 27, which is the beginning of your prime years. And I know of exactly 2 players that have complained about Twins instruction (Ortiz being the other) and I called BS on Ortiz a long time ago because he complained they wanted him to hit to left field and he became the hitter he is today when he started banging balls off of and over the Green Monster. He also left just before his prime years began. Meanwhile, Liriano is back to being like he was with the Twins. After one great year, he's off to a bad start, in fact he has the worst ERA+ of his career right now. Hughes and Pavano certainly seem to like it here, as does Casey Fien and Jared Burton. Dennys Reyes was nobody until he got to the Twins and then had his best years before going directly to St. Louis and not doing quite as well. Different teams and coaches have different philosophies. What works for some or even most might not work for others. Doesn't necessarily make them right or wrong. Lohse also went to two other teams before he got to St. Louis, so it wasn't like it was obvious to all others how to fix him. Dave Duncan has a reputation as one of the best pitching coaches so him being able to give "fix" someone shouldn't be construed as an insult to a coaching staff.

    2. Not the point but...: the Phillies get a hard rap for fandom because of the city they are in(read football); Having been to multiple TWins games there it was probably my best road team experience. Seriously, if you have a chance go to that park (grab a cheese steak beforehand) it was super fun.

      Along the actual comment: I'm happy for Revere and have watched the reply several times. The reaction of the bench was great. NBD.

      1. I second the experience. Pregame, hit Tony Lukes a couple miles from the park instead of the option in the park.

        And Yankee Stadium sucks. May be my least favorite ballpark.

        1. And Yankee Stadium sucks. May be my least favorite ballpark.

          Well, it's shaped like a toilet, so it's quite fitting.

      2. I'll also echo this sentiment. It wasn't my favorite park (nothing wrong with it, just not my favorite), but the fans seemed to have a lot of fun - and so did I.

  8. Co worker has seeded his pandora with the theme song to Indiana jones. Again. If I ever hear that song again it'll be too soon.

          1. my brother played it in high school band, and everyone in the family learned to hate it pretty quickly

      1. Just so you know, Boss.

        The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center has stated that Schulz watched the movie Citizen Kane forty times. The character Lucy van Pelt also expresses a fondness for the film, and in one strip cruelly spoils the ending for her younger brother.

      2. Those stupid plastic sculptures sure did. Talk about eyesores.

        I propose Charles Foster Kane statues be erected all over the Metro.

        Class the joint up a bit.

  10. Fargo is a crazy damned place. It seems like just yesterday, there was snow on the ground. Now, it's about 90 degrees.

    1. But lebron with his fifth foul early in the third. Suddenly some hope for the Pacers.

      1. All I heard was "refs mysteriously got involved to make NBA more interesting, money."

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