And lots of it. And close games. This crap has been fairly watchable.
44 thoughts on “March 21, 2016: Overtime”
Wild Playoff Watch
Both Colorado and Minnesota won two games over the weekend. Minnesota won against Carolina and Chicago in shootouts, allowing them to keep pace with the Avalanche.
8 - Colorado 80 points, 9 games remaining
-------------------
9 - Minnesota 79 points, 9 games remaining
Minnesota plays Tuesday and Thursday this week at home against LA and Calgary, while Colorado is off until Thursday when they host Philly.
10 years is a long time. I hope he finds a more Twins-focused site.
Maybe a job with Simmons at The Ringer? They could argue about Papi weekly.
I would not be leaving a job without another lined up. Makes me wonder if "parting ways' is a nice way of saying his contract was not renewed.
I wouldn't, either, but some people do, so who knows?
My thoughts were somewhere along these lines. Not sure why'd you'd leave a pretty cherry gig (where else is he going to get that audience?) without something else lined up.
I doubt his pay was great, and having been there for so long, he could have been fed up with the terms they were offering. Yeah, he got exposure, but where has that gotten him? With there being other contributors at HardballTalk, I'm sure their editors figure they can bring in someone else if they need to. He's not a Nate Silver, who has national name recognition and actually runs unique statistical analyses to bring additional data to the discussion.
At this point, there are a lot of people who can look at the moderately advanced stats, interpret them reasonably, and write about it. That wasn't necessarily the case when Aaron was getting his start.
The gig itself also doesn't lend itself to promoting the authors' talents. One of his recent articles was about Bronson Arroyo scratching out of a spring training start. I think it'd be extremely hard to really generate a unique take on that story.
FW's work environment is terrible for her, but she's afraid to quit without a new job lined up. I'm afraid for her to keep working there much longer, regardless.
I had a friend that had a terrible work situation. 70+ hours per week and his boss was connected with everyone in town in his industry. He eventually just had to quit because it wasn't possible to find a new job while working that one. Not ideal, but I don't think he had a choice.
She sure doesn't feel like she has a choice but to keep working.
I was working in such a toxic environment that I was seriously depressed, and was totally miserable. I was on the verge of quitting, but was always sucked back in because i needed a job. Things worked out pretty okay. I've got some job security I didn't have before, the environment is 1000% better, but the toll that environment took was pretty steep. I sometimes think I would have been better off quitting when the shit started hitting the fan. Just food for thought.
Without question, one of my biggest regrets is the day I didn't walk out of my awful job. I was this --><-- close one day... Dealt with it for roughly 2 years longer than that, and am still kicking myself so much for that wasted time.
Reminds me of the Louis C.K. bit about how you never get divorced on time.
I see milennials doing this quite often, even when the environment isn't toxic but they just kinda sorta don't like something. I don't know how much of it is they live with their parents still, or are willing to take labor jobs (e.g. waitressing, customer service) in the interim. I was in toxic jobs my whole career until I turned 30. Part of that was because I didn't know how good it could be in the right environment, and part of it was I was terrified of my resume having gaps or short stints.
I stress out about money as it is, so there is no way I could just up and quit without having something else lined up. Fortunately, all my jobs since college have been of the "we don't really care when you are in, just get the work done" which makes it easier to get out and interview.
I don't want to speak for too many people, but when I switch from being a janitor at an ice rink to selling dog food because I can't find something in my field, I end up having "Eh, what the fuck does it matter how I make $8.50/hr" feeling. I've more or less given up on fulfilling employment. Just sorta running out the clock for the next 40 years until I can retire for a few years, then die.
It's good you have a plan!
If you're serious about that, it strikes me as very sad. You can do better than that, and you're far too young to give up. I didn't find really fulfilling employment until I was forty-seven, so there's still plenty of time for it to happen for you.
Maybe try staying in one place for more than a year. 😉
Truth is, I wasn't ready to be released into the world at 16. I went to college without a real plan, and it's bitten me in the ass ever since. I've had fits and starts trying to rectify that, but I've just never managed. Somedays are more hopeful than others. At least now, as hj points out, I have a reason to stay in one place for awhile.
I am woth Jeff A. No reason you can't make a change. You live in a city with a lot of opportunities.
I think it's really hard to be clear-headed in the moment about what's worth putting up with and what isn't. I went through some rough times during my first job out of college (almost 3 years), but the experience I gained was a huge help in getting my next, better job.
And there are always ups and downs--last year basically sucked at my job, but I was able to get a raise and came out of it in a good place and I'm really happy about what I'm doing now. (Not to say that there aren't things that are annoying or tedious or frustrating, but I just take that as a given in any job.)
But I know there are times when leaving really is for the best.
I've done it before, though I'd give the same advice you are giving.
He can spell nerve-racking correctly, so he does have that going for him.
I just learned the proper spelling for that one within the last year or two.
From NBC
Buxton missed six days last week with an illness, and he's hitting a modest .192/.267/.308 in 26 at-bats for the spring. It's quite possible that Buxton is going to need some more Triple-A time before he's ready to succeed in the majors, though with Aaron Hicks gone, the Twins lack a great alternative to him in center field. Most likely, Buxton will open the season as the starter there and the regular No. 9 hitter. However, if Buxton struggles over the rest of the spring, the Twins could decide to put Eddie Rosario in center and go with Oswaldo Arcia and Carlos Quentin in left.
That outfield alignment makes my eyes bleed.
I would hate to see that outfield used for a Phil Hughes start.
You now, Sano in right really only works for me if Buxton is in center.
It might work if they get to play Sano, Rosario, Arcia, and Quentin all at the same time.
a rover? I see where you're going with this
Carlos Quentin is presumptively making the team, eh? Not sure how to react to that.
Could be the writer is assuming Quentin taking Buxton's roster spot. Quentin is batting .308/.387/.615 this spring. Don't know if that includes today's game. He's a very good hitter when healthy with an .833 career OPS. Arcia has not hit at all, so I don't see that happening at this point. I think the Twins won't make any decision like that until the last couple days since Buxton is clearly the best defender and has a history of being a slow starter. What would be more interesting is if Quentin keeps hitting and Park goes on a strikeout binge the last couple weeks as the competition gets better. Twins might want to consider starting with Quentin at DH and letting Park get his feet wet in AAA.
Quentin is pretty interesting as spring invite guys go. Roughly .204 BABIP last year in a relatively small sample (93 balls in play) compared to .258 BABIP career. It's a skill for hitters, so maybe he just is declining, but it can still be pretty highly variable.
He's been injured and hasn't played more than 80-some games the last three years and I don't know how much of the time he did play was when he was still hurting. If he's truly healthy now, he could be a real good pickup for a minor-league signing.
I heard on the game broadcast the other day that Arcia is out of options. Time to deal him for a new nut cup or whatever they can get for him at this point.
I think they should platoon him at DH with Park.
Speaking of people leaving, I just had a staff member give notice. I have now succeeded in getting rid of almost all of the deadwood in my agency. The other half of the job, unfortunately, involves filling vacancies with not-deadwood. That is proving to be challenging.
#grimreaper
When you're done clearing the brush from your department can you come by with a weedwhacker and remove some useless plants from my institution?
Wild Playoff Watch
Both Colorado and Minnesota won two games over the weekend. Minnesota won against Carolina and Chicago in shootouts, allowing them to keep pace with the Avalanche.
8 - Colorado 80 points, 9 games remaining
-------------------
9 - Minnesota 79 points, 9 games remaining
Minnesota plays Tuesday and Thursday this week at home against LA and Calgary, while Colorado is off until Thursday when they host Philly.
Saturday is the head-to-head matchup in Denver.
10 years is a long time. I hope he finds a more Twins-focused site.
Maybe a job with Simmons at The Ringer? They could argue about Papi weekly.
I would not be leaving a job without another lined up. Makes me wonder if "parting ways' is a nice way of saying his contract was not renewed.
I wouldn't, either, but some people do, so who knows?
My thoughts were somewhere along these lines. Not sure why'd you'd leave a pretty cherry gig (where else is he going to get that audience?) without something else lined up.
I doubt his pay was great, and having been there for so long, he could have been fed up with the terms they were offering. Yeah, he got exposure, but where has that gotten him? With there being other contributors at HardballTalk, I'm sure their editors figure they can bring in someone else if they need to. He's not a Nate Silver, who has national name recognition and actually runs unique statistical analyses to bring additional data to the discussion.
At this point, there are a lot of people who can look at the moderately advanced stats, interpret them reasonably, and write about it. That wasn't necessarily the case when Aaron was getting his start.
The gig itself also doesn't lend itself to promoting the authors' talents. One of his recent articles was about Bronson Arroyo scratching out of a spring training start. I think it'd be extremely hard to really generate a unique take on that story.
FW's work environment is terrible for her, but she's afraid to quit without a new job lined up. I'm afraid for her to keep working there much longer, regardless.
I had a friend that had a terrible work situation. 70+ hours per week and his boss was connected with everyone in town in his industry. He eventually just had to quit because it wasn't possible to find a new job while working that one. Not ideal, but I don't think he had a choice.
She sure doesn't feel like she has a choice but to keep working.
I was working in such a toxic environment that I was seriously depressed, and was totally miserable. I was on the verge of quitting, but was always sucked back in because i needed a job. Things worked out pretty okay. I've got some job security I didn't have before, the environment is 1000% better, but the toll that environment took was pretty steep. I sometimes think I would have been better off quitting when the shit started hitting the fan. Just food for thought.
Without question, one of my biggest regrets is the day I didn't walk out of my awful job. I was this --><-- close one day... Dealt with it for roughly 2 years longer than that, and am still kicking myself so much for that wasted time.
Reminds me of the Louis C.K. bit about how you never get divorced on time.
I see milennials doing this quite often, even when the environment isn't toxic but they just kinda sorta don't like something. I don't know how much of it is they live with their parents still, or are willing to take labor jobs (e.g. waitressing, customer service) in the interim. I was in toxic jobs my whole career until I turned 30. Part of that was because I didn't know how good it could be in the right environment, and part of it was I was terrified of my resume having gaps or short stints.
I stress out about money as it is, so there is no way I could just up and quit without having something else lined up. Fortunately, all my jobs since college have been of the "we don't really care when you are in, just get the work done" which makes it easier to get out and interview.
I don't want to speak for too many people, but when I switch from being a janitor at an ice rink to selling dog food because I can't find something in my field, I end up having "Eh, what the fuck does it matter how I make $8.50/hr" feeling. I've more or less given up on fulfilling employment. Just sorta running out the clock for the next 40 years until I can retire for a few years, then die.
It's good you have a plan!
If you're serious about that, it strikes me as very sad. You can do better than that, and you're far too young to give up. I didn't find really fulfilling employment until I was forty-seven, so there's still plenty of time for it to happen for you.
Maybe try staying in one place for more than a year. 😉
Truth is, I wasn't ready to be released into the world at 16. I went to college without a real plan, and it's bitten me in the ass ever since. I've had fits and starts trying to rectify that, but I've just never managed. Somedays are more hopeful than others. At least now, as hj points out, I have a reason to stay in one place for awhile.
I am woth Jeff A. No reason you can't make a change. You live in a city with a lot of opportunities.
I think it's really hard to be clear-headed in the moment about what's worth putting up with and what isn't. I went through some rough times during my first job out of college (almost 3 years), but the experience I gained was a huge help in getting my next, better job.
And there are always ups and downs--last year basically sucked at my job, but I was able to get a raise and came out of it in a good place and I'm really happy about what I'm doing now. (Not to say that there aren't things that are annoying or tedious or frustrating, but I just take that as a given in any job.)
But I know there are times when leaving really is for the best.
I've done it before, though I'd give the same advice you are giving.
He can spell nerve-racking correctly, so he does have that going for him.
From NBC
That outfield alignment makes my eyes bleed.
I would hate to see that outfield used for a Phil Hughes start.
You now, Sano in right really only works for me if Buxton is in center.
It might work if they get to play Sano, Rosario, Arcia, and Quentin all at the same time.
a rover? I see where you're going with this
Carlos Quentin is presumptively making the team, eh? Not sure how to react to that.
Could be the writer is assuming Quentin taking Buxton's roster spot. Quentin is batting .308/.387/.615 this spring. Don't know if that includes today's game. He's a very good hitter when healthy with an .833 career OPS. Arcia has not hit at all, so I don't see that happening at this point. I think the Twins won't make any decision like that until the last couple days since Buxton is clearly the best defender and has a history of being a slow starter. What would be more interesting is if Quentin keeps hitting and Park goes on a strikeout binge the last couple weeks as the competition gets better. Twins might want to consider starting with Quentin at DH and letting Park get his feet wet in AAA.
Quentin is pretty interesting as spring invite guys go. Roughly .204 BABIP last year in a relatively small sample (93 balls in play) compared to .258 BABIP career. It's a skill for hitters, so maybe he just is declining, but it can still be pretty highly variable.
He's been injured and hasn't played more than 80-some games the last three years and I don't know how much of the time he did play was when he was still hurting. If he's truly healthy now, he could be a real good pickup for a minor-league signing.
I heard on the game broadcast the other day that Arcia is out of options. Time to deal him for a new nut cup or whatever they can get for him at this point.
I think they should platoon him at DH with Park.
Speaking of people leaving, I just had a staff member give notice. I have now succeeded in getting rid of almost all of the deadwood in my agency. The other half of the job, unfortunately, involves filling vacancies with not-deadwood. That is proving to be challenging.
#grimreaper
When you're done clearing the brush from your department can you come by with a weedwhacker and remove some useless plants from my institution?
Andy MacPhail on the '91 Twins.
Wow. That is incredibly tone deaf.
This Wolves tilt is kinda fun.
Kind of disappointed how that game's pace bogged down at the end and the Wolves lost, but still for most part fun game to watch!