will hopefully be a good day. It's Friday. Twins baseball is back. Many happy returns, Citizens.
60 thoughts on “July 20, 2018: Today”
what's wrong with this ESPN picture?
I wonder which team is giving up a BA in the .900s?
I like that the batting average is slightly better than twice as good as Ted Williams’ best season, and the HR% is exactly Chipper Jones’ career rate. Talk about a weird hitter.
There’s video of this, so don’t watch if you want to have fun. As you may know, George Brett’s 3000th hit came about 30 miles from his old high school, in a game in which Brett was doubtful to even play. He collected #3000 against Tim Fortugno, ripping the ball at Ken Oberkfell, who got one-hopped & couldn’t harness it. When play resumed after commemoration of Brett’s milestone, Fortugno, a thirty year old rookie, threw to first. The first baseman, an inexperienced mid-game replacement who hadn’t even logged 50 games in the majors at first, applied a beautiful sweeping tag on Brett’s thigh, as Brett’s face registered surprise, then cantankerous disbelief, and finally a resigned ¯_(ツ)_/¯. Brett later explained:
"I was the most surprised person in the ballpark. I was right in the middle of a sentence to [the first baseman] and they picked me off. He asked me if my wife was here and I said, yes, and I had friends here from Kansas City . . . He didn't even let me finish the sentence. Believe me, my mind wasn't on being picked off."
Of the players involved in that moment, Oberkfell was in the waning days of his final season. Brett played one more year, his first with an OPS+ below 100 since 1974, then retired. Fortugno didn’t pitch in the majors the following year, appearing in only 28 games at AAA Ottawa, then made it back for two more years, with two different MLB teams, before resuming life as a minor league journeyman. The first baseman hung it up eight seasons later, a slightly above league-average hitter for seven of them.
Before I watched, I considered, "What's the dumbest thing this could be?" And this was the thing.
I was shocked at the call, then noticed HE SWUNG on the replay -- I was focused on the location of the pitch
Good lord, those uniforms are hideous.
Good grief.
I was thinking of this:
But two umps missing a call like that, plus the pitch was a strike anyways, makes it way worse.
That's pretty hilarious too.
That's what outstanding pitch framing'll get you
Vacation starts tomorrow after a rare closing shift at work. I'll be at the family cabin for a week with friends from around the country. It's not a moment too soon, as my on-and-off depression battle of the last six months could use a little push.
I'm hoping when I'm fully out of it, I'll want to be around people more (including here).
Best to you in that fight, spook.
what Zee said. Hold Fast.
You are in our prayers. May the time away prove restorative.
Don't be a stranger, spoons. Think of us as a fidget toy. Sometimes distractions are good.
Anyone here know anyone who works for the science museum of Minnesota? I’m thinking about applying for a job...
I checked LinkedIn but unfortunately I have no connections working there. Is there a specific opening you're considering?
My cousin just quit 2 weeks ago. I'll see him on Monday at my grandma's funeral. Do you still have my gmail? (I won't be able to check it til tomorrow night.)
First. Last name at ... ?
At ye olde google mail, yes.
Well, we're home from the hospital. The good news is that all of the cardiac tests came back normal and they've ruled out that as a cause, no visible blockages in the coronary arteries, no enlargement, no arrhythmia, no valve issues. That in itself is a huge relief. The doctors seem to think it's an upper GI issue, most likely some chronic reflux that is causing acute inflammation in the lower esophagus and surrounding tissue. I know from experience how gas and reflux can mimic cardiac symptoms (they don't call it heartburn for nothing), so the preliminary diagnosis seems right given her history. For now they put her on Pepcid and want her to go back to her primary physician to consult about an upper GI endoscopy exam to check for ulcers or tissue damage. Thanks to all you fellow citizens for the well wishes, thoughts and prayers.
Good news indeed! Thanks for the update.
Agreed. Good news, indeed.
Glad to hear this.
What bootsy said.
Dido.
Yes. Hopefully she can tolerate the scope well and there is only short-term inflammation.
My wife had a diagnosis of early evidence of Barrett's esophagus a few years ago, which led to medication and behavioral adjustments (sitting up longer after meals, basically). Definitely something you want to get controlled.
Aye. Elder Daughter's been plagued with GI issues ever since a doctor put her on Bactrim for a UTI and it wiped out her gut flora. She had a bad reaction to Bactrim for an ear infection as a toddler and her medical record clearly showed that, but the doctor prescribed it anyway. It's the only time I've ever really considered pursuing a malpractice lawsuit.
Sano promoted to Rochester after visiting sick family member. He's reportedly lost 20 pounds.
I stepped on the scale today and smiled. After ballooning up to 215 over the winter, today my weight was at 189.4 lbs. Cracking that 190 mark is a big psychological boost. So I was feeling pretty good until I plugged my numbers into a BMI calculator and it told me I'm still overweight. Not a very polite calculator if you ask me.
Muscle mass is dense, yo.
Flattery will get you nowhere a summit in Helsinki.
You win the interwebz today
Pshaw BMI. I was "overweight" back when I was in the best shape of my life at 215. Of course, now I'm actually overweight and tipped 250 a few months ago. That's not good. I started hitting the bike hard, but I've plateaued a bit around 242. I knew that might happen, but in still super frustrated by it.
So, congrats on the progress. I hope I start making some again soon.
The BMI calculator is nonsense, in my opinion. It says that for someone my height, 6' 0", a weight of 140 is in the "normal" range and 190 is "overweight". Good job on losing weight, and if you think you need to lose more keep at it, but unless it helps you with motivation, ignore the BMI calculator.
If i weighed 140,I'd look like pre-serum captain America.
I agree. Weighing 140 at 6'0" would look sickly.
I don't think it is nonsense. But it does reflect the challenges of capturing fitness with a single number.
This Smart Body-Mass Index Calculator is a tiny bit more sophisticated. By this scale, I am on the heavy end of the "ideal" range" for my sex, age, height and weight.
When you tell me that 140 pounds is a normal weight for a six-foot tall man, you're talking nonsense.
Well, the CDC chart actually says that 140 is the cutoff between "normal" and "underweight" for someone 6'0".
I don't disagree that that interpretation is silly. I just disagree that the index itself is useless.
You apparently are looking at a different CDC chart than I am.
And even if 140 is the cutoff, saying that 141 or 142 is normal for a six-foot tall man is still nonsense.
Like I said, the interpretation is silly.
The Smart BMI calcultaor, btw, puts 140 for a late-50s, 6-foot man at the threshold between "moderate health risk" and "high health risk".
I like the result the SBMI gives me. So I guess it must be right!
That's the spirit! You have a future in the social sciences!!!
Cool stats, bro.
This could be my favorite stat, ever... Joey Votto pop ups by year: 2010 - 0 2011 - 1 2012 - 1 2013 - 1 2014 - 1 2015 - 2 2016 - 0 2017 - 1 2018 - 0 Since 2010, Votto has popped it up 7 times. With the same amount of PA, the MLB average player would have popped it up 127 times.
what's wrong with this ESPN picture?
I wonder which team is giving up a BA in the .900s?
I like that the batting average is slightly better than twice as good as Ted Williams’ best season, and the HR% is exactly Chipper Jones’ career rate. Talk about a weird hitter.
They're 21st in BA, not 29th. Twins are 29th.
The Twins make their move.
"organizational depth"? That's exciting!
There’s video of this, so don’t watch if you want to have fun. As you may know, George Brett’s 3000th hit came about 30 miles from his old high school, in a game in which Brett was doubtful to even play. He collected #3000 against Tim Fortugno, ripping the ball at Ken Oberkfell, who got one-hopped & couldn’t harness it. When play resumed after commemoration of Brett’s milestone, Fortugno, a thirty year old rookie, threw to first. The first baseman, an inexperienced mid-game replacement who hadn’t even logged 50 games in the majors at first, applied a beautiful sweeping tag on Brett’s thigh, as Brett’s face registered surprise, then cantankerous disbelief, and finally a resigned ¯_(ツ)_/¯. Brett later explained:
Of the players involved in that moment, Oberkfell was in the waning days of his final season. Brett played one more year, his first with an OPS+ below 100 since 1974, then retired. Fortugno didn’t pitch in the majors the following year, appearing in only 28 games at AAA Ottawa, then made it back for two more years, with two different MLB teams, before resuming life as a minor league journeyman. The first baseman hung it up eight seasons later, a slightly above league-average hitter for seven of them.
Who was the first baseman who tagged Brett out?
Ding! I shouldn’t be surprised you got this in one.
Twins with second easiest rest-of-season schedule. Unfortunately, the team they need to catch is the only team with an easier schedule.
Phil Cuzzi and Angel Hernandez have nothing on these guys.
Before I watched, I considered, "What's the dumbest thing this could be?" And this was the thing.
I was shocked at the call, then noticed HE SWUNG on the replay -- I was focused on the location of the pitch
Good lord, those uniforms are hideous.
Good grief.
I was thinking of this:
But two umps missing a call like that, plus the pitch was a strike anyways, makes it way worse.
That's pretty hilarious too.
That's what outstanding pitch framing'll get you
Vacation starts tomorrow after a rare closing shift at work. I'll be at the family cabin for a week with friends from around the country. It's not a moment too soon, as my on-and-off depression battle of the last six months could use a little push.
I'm hoping when I'm fully out of it, I'll want to be around people more (including here).
Best to you in that fight, spook.
what Zee said. Hold Fast.
You are in our prayers. May the time away prove restorative.
Don't be a stranger, spoons. Think of us as a fidget toy. Sometimes distractions are good.
Heh. I'll take the analogy.
For your lunchtime entertainment, Rickey Henderson crushed souls with unprecedented efficiency was a treat, especially for the comparison between the ‘82 Twins & ‘82 Rickey (starts at 9:05).
Anyone here know anyone who works for the science museum of Minnesota? I’m thinking about applying for a job...
I checked LinkedIn but unfortunately I have no connections working there. Is there a specific opening you're considering?
My cousin just quit 2 weeks ago. I'll see him on Monday at my grandma's funeral. Do you still have my gmail? (I won't be able to check it til tomorrow night.)
First. Last name at ... ?
At ye olde google mail, yes.
Well, we're home from the hospital. The good news is that all of the cardiac tests came back normal and they've ruled out that as a cause, no visible blockages in the coronary arteries, no enlargement, no arrhythmia, no valve issues. That in itself is a huge relief. The doctors seem to think it's an upper GI issue, most likely some chronic reflux that is causing acute inflammation in the lower esophagus and surrounding tissue. I know from experience how gas and reflux can mimic cardiac symptoms (they don't call it heartburn for nothing), so the preliminary diagnosis seems right given her history. For now they put her on Pepcid and want her to go back to her primary physician to consult about an upper GI endoscopy exam to check for ulcers or tissue damage. Thanks to all you fellow citizens for the well wishes, thoughts and prayers.
Good news indeed! Thanks for the update.
Agreed. Good news, indeed.
Glad to hear this.
What bootsy said.
Dido.
Yes. Hopefully she can tolerate the scope well and there is only short-term inflammation.
My wife had a diagnosis of early evidence of Barrett's esophagus a few years ago, which led to medication and behavioral adjustments (sitting up longer after meals, basically). Definitely something you want to get controlled.
Aye. Elder Daughter's been plagued with GI issues ever since a doctor put her on Bactrim for a UTI and it wiped out her gut flora. She had a bad reaction to Bactrim for an ear infection as a toddler and her medical record clearly showed that, but the doctor prescribed it anyway. It's the only time I've ever really considered pursuing a malpractice lawsuit.
Sano promoted to Rochester after visiting sick family member. He's reportedly lost 20 pounds.
I stepped on the scale today and smiled. After ballooning up to 215 over the winter, today my weight was at 189.4 lbs. Cracking that 190 mark is a big psychological boost. So I was feeling pretty good until I plugged my numbers into a BMI calculator and it told me I'm still overweight. Not a very polite calculator if you ask me.
Muscle mass is dense, yo.
Flattery will get you
nowherea summit in Helsinki.You win the interwebz today
Pshaw BMI. I was "overweight" back when I was in the best shape of my life at 215. Of course, now I'm actually overweight and tipped 250 a few months ago. That's not good. I started hitting the bike hard, but I've plateaued a bit around 242. I knew that might happen, but in still super frustrated by it.
So, congrats on the progress. I hope I start making some again soon.
The BMI calculator is nonsense, in my opinion. It says that for someone my height, 6' 0", a weight of 140 is in the "normal" range and 190 is "overweight". Good job on losing weight, and if you think you need to lose more keep at it, but unless it helps you with motivation, ignore the BMI calculator.
If i weighed 140,I'd look like pre-serum captain America.
I agree. Weighing 140 at 6'0" would look sickly.
I don't think it is nonsense. But it does reflect the challenges of capturing fitness with a single number.
This Smart Body-Mass Index Calculator is a tiny bit more sophisticated. By this scale, I am on the heavy end of the "ideal" range" for my sex, age, height and weight.
When you tell me that 140 pounds is a normal weight for a six-foot tall man, you're talking nonsense.
Well, the CDC chart actually says that 140 is the cutoff between "normal" and "underweight" for someone 6'0".
I don't disagree that that interpretation is silly. I just disagree that the index itself is useless.
You apparently are looking at a different CDC chart than I am.
this one
And even if 140 is the cutoff, saying that 141 or 142 is normal for a six-foot tall man is still nonsense.
Like I said, the interpretation is silly.
The Smart BMI calcultaor, btw, puts 140 for a late-50s, 6-foot man at the threshold between "moderate health risk" and "high health risk".
I like the result the SBMI gives me. So I guess it must be right!
That's the spirit! You have a future in the social sciences!!!
Cool stats, bro.
Fwiw, Joe Mauer has hit 31 IFFBs in his career, or one every 248 PA.
Votto is 16 in 6563. One every 410 PA.
SCB to the Lakers. 😂😂😂