29 thoughts on “January 7, 2015: Sick or Not?”

1. You've definitely had some rough times. You and all the family are in our prayers.

2. Sorry to hear that. Junior's bout of scarlet fever was much easier on him. I just remember a low-grade fever and a rash. The doctor made him stay home from school because he was contagious. Hopefully, the meds will kick in soon and help her feel better.

3. Interesting blog from Ed Thoma on Randy Johnson.

   And, supposedly, when he was with the Mariners. Lou Pinella sought to avoid pitching Johnson at the Metrodome. The story was that Johnson's father was buried in Duluth and the pitcher, when the team came to Minnesota, would make the trip north to visit the grave, and Pinella thought that made Johnson emotionally unprepared to pitch.

   1. In his 11 games started at the Metrodome, he was 4-5 with a 4.11 ERA. He made starts in 1989, '90, '91, '93, '94, '95, and 2008. He did terrible in 1989-91, great in 1993-95, and terrible in 2008. His rWAR for those years: -0.6, 2.2, 3.0, 6.8, 5.5, 8.6, 3.2.

      1. Johnson's father died in December 1992. Piniella became the manager in 1993, and Unit started a game in both series at the Dome that year. So, uh, weird.

         from an LA Times story in May 1995:

         The trips to Minnesota are never easy for Randy Johnson, even when he's pitching well against the Twins.

         Johnson's father, Bud, died on Christmas Day in 1992 and was buried in Duluth, Minn. Johnson went to the grave site Saturday, and that visit inspired him to a strong performance Sunday in the Seattle Mariners' 5-2 victory over the Twins in Minneapolis.

         Johnson (4-0) struck out 10 without walking a batter in eight innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He leads the majors in ERA (1.21) and strikeouts (49).

         In May 1994, Johnson also visited the Duluth grave site and came back to shut out Minnesota with a two-hitter, 12-0.

         "I pitched with a lot of emotion and a lot of heart today," he said. "It's hard coming to Minnesota since my dad died."

   2. I see now that the argument is about 1996-98.

      In 1996, the Mariners visited the Dome June 10-12 and Sept. 13-15. Johnson missed most of the season with a back injury.
      In 1997, the Mariners visited the Dome May 26-27 and Sept. 4-7. Johnson pitched on May 23 at KC and again on May 28 at home vs Texas. That's a normal, five-game rotation. He pitched Aug. 20 at home vs Cleveland then not again until Sept. 13 at home vs Toronto, missing 5 starts.

      Doesn't look like anything in those two seasons is attributable to Lou trying to save the Unit's feelers.

      1. What about previous starts in 1997? That is, what if Pinella rejiggered the rotation earlier to make it so he skipped the Dome starts?

         His second start had five days of rest, due to an off day. Same thing for his fifth start. Start seven had five days off, but there were two off days so someone else was skipped in the rotation. That covers up to the first visit to the Dome. Even if no one was skipped, he would have started the 24th, still in KC. Dubious any manipulation happened for this visit.

         He missed five starts the second time, but I don't see anything about injuries. Presumably he was on the DL but no idea why yet. Ah hah, found something.

         Randy Johnson, who didn't make his scheduled start against Boston on [August 25, 1997], will miss a second start because of tendinitis in the middle finger on his left hand.

4. I just learned from the NYT that the hot new foodie trend is...broth. Ooookay then. Grandmothers, Unite!

   1. The only time I consummé broth is when I'm prepping for a colonoscopy.

      1. *rimshot gif*

5. Twins sign RH reliever Blaine Boyer to minor league deal.

   1. More importantly, we're gonna need a new Spoonto banner. He's gonna get more opportunities to watch him work live!

      1. Oakland cut Punto despite owing him $2.75 million for 2015, which was odd considering he had a pretty typical season in 2014 and the A’s deemed him worthy of a two-year deal last offseason.

         Billy Beane, Genius.

         1. *hands glass house owner more stones*

   2. I was hoping it was Travis Bowyer.

6. This makes me laugh:

   13 NBA teams have benches better than the entire Knicks squad: http://t.co/Fyz0ysSJJA

   — FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) January 7, 2015

7. Having the ESPN D-list announcing squad for this Wolves-Suns game makes me appreciate Jim Peterson even more.

   1. What's with the late start? I am almost disappointed that I'm tuning in with a lot of game left.

      1. back half of a ESPN double header.

   2. The first thing I heard when I turned it on was then getting speechless in the corniest way possible over the Kobe Bryant wrote from the other week.

   3. Huh? Jon Barry is really good.

8. ANTHONY BENNETT WITH A DUNK!

   I dont believe what I just saw

   1. The badly missed long two just before it should remind you of reality. Also, all the bad Lavibe passes.

9. Woofs trying to give it all back.

   1. It only took halfway through the 3rd for that to happen. Usually its halfway through the 1st.

10. Gerald Green "is a box of chocolates."

11. Bud is looking like Bud tonight.

12. Did the Wolves win?

    no

    =(

13. R. I. P. former Dallas Cowboys star Jethro Pugh, at age seventy.

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