Cup of Coffee

January 29, 2020: Ships In The Night

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Two big hunks of metal in orbit (a decommissioned telescope and "experimental payload" launched in the 60s) have a chance of smashing into each other about 900km above Pittsburgh later tonight. Odds are they will miss each other, but only by about 15-30m.

37 thoughts on “January 29, 2020: Ships In The Night”

  2. Checklists are now out for Topps 2020 series one, releasing in a week -- Twins in the base set: #82 Polanco, #94 Gonzalez, #97 Thorpe, #117 Kepler, #124 Berrios, #154 Cron, #210 Garver, #213 team card, #281 Cruz, #337 Pineda, #342 Rogers
    Once more Topps includes players already on another team (Cron), and looks like Lewis Thorpe gets his official rookie card. Max is heavily featured in the autographs and game used inserts, while Arraez gets another autograph card, as does Astudillo (to go with the seemingly hundreds from last year). And apparently Bert is still the Twins alum that everyone needs more of.

  3. Ween Presale 5.23.20 update. So there is a presale on Thursday. The presale code is SURLY. This is through Ticketmaster so fees are high.

    I've also been told unlikely to sell out right away so you could probably pick up tix at regular outlets on Friday or so for only a couple of dollars in fees.

    In case anyone is interested.

  5. Lots of data about how much the Astros banged.

    Interesting how much Altuve and Reddick did not avail themselves of the bang scheme.

      2. probably a factor of how often breaking pitches would normally be thrown to them. also probably fewer for Altuve because he was doing all the banging *phrasing!

    3. Every time I read “bang(ing) scheme” I do so with Meg Rowley’s voice in my head.

      Uffda, Marwin. I wonder what your reception is going to be like this February.

    4. It's funny how quickly it cuts off once the White Sox realize that something is going on during the 9/21 game. Like, if you're going to do this bad thing, maybe don't do it EVERY SINGLE PITCH??

    5. i saw someone mention (maybe the author themselves) that the lack of banging was in its own way a sign, which means the percentage of pitches is even higher.

    6. I only looked at one game but noticed no banging with runner on 2nd base—this stands to reason since teams would suspect traditional sign stealing in those situations. I think the difference between, say, Springer and Altuve might be in part due to this.

  6. The Twins actually got something in return for the DFA'd Ryne Harper

    Better than getting nothing.

    1. Possibly something good. McMahon pitched two games of rookie ball and seven in low A. In 12.2 innings, he had an ERA of 0.71 and a WHIP of 0.87, striking out eighteen and walking two. I know it's a ridiculously small sample size in the bottom level of the minors, but it's still enough to make me think there could be something there. Certainly worth acquiring for a pitcher you didn't really have a use for anyway.

      1. I’m pleasantly surprised by this, too. And I hope Ryne Harper gets the opportunity to throw his yakker in Washington. It’s exceptional, even in a city so full of hot air.

      2. It's good for Ryne. He got demoted at the end of last year and the bullpen pieces return mostly intact with the addition of Tyler Clippard, so it was doubtful he was going to make the Twins barring injury.

      1. I made a batch of beer a number of years back (Simcoe IPA if I recall correctly) and I wanted to have labels. So I invented the American Empire Brewing Co., and the name of the beer was "100 States". All 100 were listed on the front label:
        I combined the Dakotas together, and the Carolinas, Split Idaho into Idaho and Washtanahoe. Cali was split into 3 or four, LA, Orange, Central Bay and Outer Cali. New England became New England. I added all the Anglophone pieces of Canada, and the not-so-badass provinces of Mexico. And Puerto Rico. And Kuwait.

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