147 thoughts on “March 5, 2012: Clopen”

    1. This theme has some serious potential.

      I'm 90% sure the deep thought that Valencia has will be bleeped out.

      1. Valencia's could very well be "I love high school girls. I get older, they stay the same age."

  2. You never know how much of what a manager says is just baloney for public consumption, and that's especially true in spring training. Still, this strikes me as a rather juvenile approach to the Twins' injury problems.

      1. Horrifying. I got to the bottom of the article and accidentally saw one comment, and that one comment happened to contain the word "Josephine".

        1. But it was from a guy with a star and a "Top Commenter" tag*!

          *Top Commenter status may or may not have more to do with quantity than quality

      4. Gardenhire makes it sound as if six coaches descend on a guy and rough him up, like some sort of baseball gang. And maybe they do. Cool.

        Cool? Cool! That's some stellar writing.

        1. That was the moment among many horrible moments that stood out. "Cool" shouldn't be in his vocabulary (this Kangaroo Court crap is decidedly uncool, too, but that's neither here nor there).

    3. So, say Valencia jams a knuckle in pregame. He goes to the training staff, they work on it a bit, he goes back out and plays. Gardy's all happy because he doesn't even know about it. Then Danny throws a ball over the first baseman's head because he can't grip the ball quite right. Gardy rips him a new one in the post-game presser. I can already see that this will work out splendidly.

    4. Other than Joel Zumaya blowing out his arm, the Twins have had very few injury problems this spring.

      In two weeks nothing has happened except the single worst thing that can happen to a pitcher*.

      *non-baseball stuff excluded.

      1. Yeah, but we knew that was going to happen. Also, I think shoulder problems tend to be worse than elbow, but neither are good.

  3. Playing the cap game in the Magic Kingdom yesterday:

    AL Least
    NYY: 22
    Bos: 16
    TB: 4
    Bal: 2
    Tor: 1

    NL East
    Phi: 11
    Atl: 5
    NYM: 4
    Was: 1

    AL Central
    Min: 3
    Det: 2
    KC: 1

    NL Central
    ChN: 4
    Pit: 3
    Mil: 1
    StL: 1
    Cin: 1

    AL West
    Sea: 1
    LAA: 1

    NL West
    SD: 2
    SF: 2
    Cin: 1

    Of the teams I didn't see yesterday, I saw the Dodgers, Rangers, White Sox, and lots of Marlins on Friday (I actually really liked the hat once I saw it on people rather than the interwebz). That leaves the DBacks, A's, Astros and Indians as the only team I didn't see in my two days in Disney, but I did see a guy with four different Cleveland Indians logos tattooed on his calves.

    I think I saw about 6 Twins caps total, and I would put the odds fairly high that one of them was Rhubarb (thought I saw him about 1030pm on Saturday in Tomorrowland right when I was entering the Buzz Lightyear ride, so I couldn't swing over and say hello - Twins cap and black backpack).

    1. Other random thoughts: adult men were a much higher percentage of people who wear Yankee caps than Red Sox caps. Also, many, many more horrible variations on the Red Sox cap than the Yankee cap. I saw a lot of Tigers caps on Friday, so my two-day top five would have been Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Tigers, Braves.

      1. Yeah, I see a lot of horrible variations on the Red Sox cap here. I see twenty times as many D-Backs caps, and there isn't a stupid variant to be found.

    2. Are you seeing more Black or Orange Marlins caps?
      Which ones look better in real life than online?

      1. The Marlins home run "celebration" in almost all of its glory.

      2. Only saw one orange (and I really, really liked it), but the black looked very sharp, too.

    3. How long a trip are you taking? My goodness man, I'm impressed by your staying power!

    4. Yep, that very well could have been me. I was seeing several more TC caps this weekend than all throughout the week.

      I saw a lot more NYY cap variations than BoSox. Finally saw my first O's and ChiSox caps today.

  4. I see the Twins are on FSN+ tonight and the Wolves are on the normal FSN. Its getting to be that time of the year that is awesome for sports fans

  5. This is the first time I've seen anybody use the word "clopen" outside of a mathematical context.

    1. i've "clopen"ed many times in my life, though never heard that term before. seems apt.

  6. Well, I got a job offer this morning. Its a significant step up in my career path, so we are very excited about the opportunity. But mostly I wanted to pop in to make sure you guys know I haven't gone missing since I wasn't around this weekend at all.

    1. Buffalo is going to be great once both you and meat make it here.

      Congrats.

      1. I'll check and see if this company has a location in Buffalo.

        (UPDATE: they have one in Toronto.)

      1. Thanks, I do have a celebratory brew in the planning stages (a date porter). I'm hoping I can increase production some, although my biggest stumbling block preventing that is lack of time by reason of baby.

      2. Ha! Probably in a few more years, since I seem to be drifting south. This job is in Rockford, so I'm on my way. However, its close enough that I can still be a part of the Madison curling club.

  7. i have a friend who is an editor for a publishing company in DTMPLS. i’m guessing she was doing some research for a book and came across this little fact that she saw fit to send along to me:

    “The history of the White Sox dates back to the late 1800s when the team played in Sioux City and St. Paul before moving to Chicago and becoming a charter member of the American League in 1901.”

    i feel dirty for some reason.

    1. That would be the St. Paul Saints from the old Western League. Comiskey bought the franchise in 1894 and moved it from Sioux City to St. Paul for five seasons, then moved them to Chicago when the Western League became the American League.

      1. Little known fact: Charles Comiskey is the great-great uncle of Norm Green*.

        *Not true, as far as I know.

    2. speaking of the Wolves:

      Kevin Love ‏ @kevinlove
      So I walk in to the training room this morning and Ricky Rubio calls me a douche. Looks like the Spaniard learned his new word for the week.

      2. L.O.L.

        Can you believe it? This team is fun. After all these years. I may start crying.

  9. heh.

  11. Our old pal frightwig attended the Kevin Love beatdown of the Blazers on Saturday night. He's a well-known critic of power forwards in Minnesota named Kevin, but even he thought Love wasn't too bad in that one.

  12. So Grantland is doing a march madness of The Wire characters. My avatar, Cutty, is in a brutal section. He's seeded 5th up against Chris Partlow. The winner has to face Omar. Good luck with that!

    Here is a blow-up of the bracket

    A couple of thoughts: McNulty a three seed? Bubbles a 7? Lester Freemon and Cutty 5 seeds? Also I don't like Michael and Omar as a 1 and 2 in the same section, that's going to be a tough one to vote for.

    1. My thought is that I really need to watch this show.

      I'm starting to think about watching Breaking Bad again too. I made it through the first season, but it was so intense that I just don't know if I've got it in me to watch any more.

      How does The Wire compare for intensity?

      Also, there should be a bracket for The Simpsons supporting cast.

      1. I'm starting to think about watching Breaking Bad again too. I made it through the first season, but it was so intense that I just don't know if I've got it in me to watch any more.

        I will completely recommend continuing with Breaking Bad. Howevah, I feel based on this comment that I should say that the first season is far and away the least intense season.

        If I had to compare the intensity to The Wire, Breaking Bad easily tops it.

        1. I agree that the intensity increases in Breaking Bad, but I think the intensity changes as Walt adapts. I don't want to say too much. Maybe I just adapted to the show but I felt much less empathy for Walt after that first season so the intensity didn't hit as hard.

          Does that make any sense?

          I wouldn't use the word "intensity" to describe "The Wire," although there are intense moments.

          1. Ooh... I didn't really relate to anyone else. In fact, I kind of hated most of them. And I already struggled with Walt too.

            We'll see if I find the time this summer.

      2. yeah, i wouldn't say that the wire is exactly intense, at least not in the same vein as breaking bad. however, being that it's the best show in the history of television, i suppose i would recommend watching it.

          1. i love arrested development, and so does pretty much everyone here, but i think most would agree with me that the wire > arrested development (how they would play out in werewolf remains to be seen, i guess).

              1. that's true. i would though*.

                *full disclosure: still only about 2.75 seasons through BB

              2. This is unfortunate, but I can kind of see why people think this way. I vehemently disagreee, but I can understand why they would.

          2. My main hesitation around AD coming back is that I really didn't enjoy the third season of AD. In fact, it soured me enough that I haven't gone back to watch the first two seasons since I watched it.

            I agree that The Wire is the finest TV show ever. My top five (not that anyone cares, I just like making lists) would probably shake out The Wire, Mr. Show, The Shield, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Terriers.

            1. i recently went through seasons 1 and 2 of AD again, and am about halfway through the 3rd, and i can echo that i don't like where the show was heading. going through the "rita" storyline again reinforced my original apprehension.

              1. I was pretty disappointed at the Mr. F reveal. I also feel like beyond that the gags went after low hanging fruit, and there was too many "LOL TOBIAS IS PROBABLY GAY!" jokes for my taste. It's probably better than I remember it, but it really left a bad taste in my mouth at the time.

                1. I think the four-episode finale was fantastic as was the Save Our Bluths episode. I really enjoyed the way it got meta during season three about its poor ratings.

                2. I thought there was some quality stuff in season 3. Some of their biggest laughs ever. I think the way they were forced to make cuts, etc., hurt a lot of what they got to do, especially since the show was so good at folding in previous jokes and what-not.

            2. I'm trying to think of my top 5... I don't get very far. Lost and AD are definitely there for me.

              I once rated my "top seasons/episodes" of TV, but that was before I'd seen any of Breaking Bad or The West Wing, which was pretty much as good as non-serialized TV could get.

              http://www.philosofickle.com/search?q=tv

              1. My biggest complaint about your episode list is the lack of Pier Pressure.

                1. Rest assured, that one wasn't far out of inclusion. Top 5 Arrested Development episodes for sure.

          3. Psh. What about Arrested Development?

            I just started re-watching the Wire last month, and I am astounded by how well the entire series is constructed from very beginning. The first episode is full key players who won't make themselves known for several seasons, and introduces large scale themes that will drive the show through to the end. Simon and Burns constructed an extremely well crafted five part evaluation, and evisceration, of the failures of US drug policy and it's effects on politics, education, and the media. The fact that such a scathing critique is so entertaining is nothing short of genius.

            AD was hilarious, no doubt, and highlighted some pretty absurd facets of American consumer culture and greed, but doesn't come close to the cultural critique that the wire brought. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of AD, and thought it a shame when the show was canceled. It's just not in the same league with the Wire.

    2. Seriously, the bunk against brother? I'd be placing my money on the underdog in that fight.

      1. The entire Hamsterdam region is absurdly great. I think Wallace is the only one there I wouldn't be disappointed to see lose in the first round.

              1. Heh, lost my train of thought there. I meant to say I knew my post would get Algonad's response.

          1. I loved Wallace, too. Unfortunately, I just didn't grow as attached to him as the others in that region. Seriously, that region is stacked.

  13. cc to brewing types: Is there a non-nutty gluten-free beer? A couple of months ago, my brother found out he was allergic, but he doesn't particularly care for nutty beers. I don't know if the sorghum pretty much makes everything it touches nutty or if there's some way to dampen that flavor, but I'd like to craft him something that he likes that has the added benefit on not making him feel like vomiting an hour later.

    1. This is the only sorghum beer I know of off the top of my head. It looks like they don't taste nutty, but also don't taste great. When you convert the starches in the sorghum to sugars, you shouldn't be bringing much of that flavor over with it. Then it will mostly ferment out. It'd probably be worth a shot to see if you can make something drinkable out of the stuff.

      2. New Grist tastes a bit like beer mixed w/ champagne, but it'd be my choice. Gluten free is a tough flavor challenge, but Grist is the best I've had. Plus the brewery tour is really fun im MKE.

        1. Agreed about the tour, especially getting my picture taken with the old County Stadium beer mug. It made for a pretty solid bachelor party.

    2. It's not beer, but you can always make some sparkling mead. Done right = good. Done poorly = rocket fuel.

      I've seen several gluten free recipes involving corn, rice and honey as your fermentables. Blue agave nectar ferments very well, but offers little in way of flavor.

      1. Done right = good. Done poorly = rocket fuel

        Unfortunately with mead, done right seems to usually involve about 2 or 3 years.

          1. I was talking to a guy this weekend about mead. He brought in a batch he made with blueberry honey that he'd aged 6 years. It was phenomenal. He did also let me know that a mead that tastes rocket-fuely may lose that flavor after 3 years.

    1. Moss is repulsed by all the idiots who think "it's part of the game." Guess what, folks? There's only one thing that distinguishes the violent hits in a football game from criminal activity, and that's intent. Put intent to injure back in the mix, and this is criminal activity. Moss thinks that Goddell needs to come out and say that the NFL will support any criminal prosecution for injuries resulting from an intent to injure. That would put a quick stop to this nonsense.

      And if the league doesn't come out and make that statement, then Moss hopes that someone gets prosecuted.

      1. I spent the weekend with the in-laws and heard repeatedly about how the world is out to get the Saints and how they're the most hated team in the league (just like I've always heard about how Saints-Falcons is the NFL's most intense rivalry). I had to break it to them gently that the world pretty much ignores the Saints.

      2. I've heard that "part of the game" line numerous times. Maybe it is, but it shouldn't be, and the NFL has never said that it was. We've been told that injuries are an unfortunate by-product of the violence of the league, not a desired goal.

        What do the broadcasters, including the ex-players, say every time someone gets injured? "That's a shame. Nobody ever wants to see that happen." Now, we find out that many people do want to see it happen. In fact, injuries are not an unfortunate by-product, but are, in fact, the specific goal of some players and some teams.

        If Roger Goodell does not make the people responsible for this go away for a good, long time, he's saying that he's fine with running a league where teams try not just to defeat each other, but to seriously injure each other. I hope he won't make that statement.

        1. This decision could go a very long way to defining his legacy. I believe, in view of the fact that the league is already worried about liability for injuries, that he is going to pound these guys hard. I would imagine that he's had long discussions with his attorneys on this deal and I expect some very, very tough penalties. If he doesn't do it, he's going to open the league up to some serious financial exposure, I think.

          We know what David Stern would do. He would have no mercy (he would also say something like this is an isolated incident or some such).

        2. I think that maybe they don't realize quite how much this, concussions, etc. could affect the future viability of the game. I like football. I have two kids. I will not be letting them play football.

          1. At that point, all you have to do is move football to PPV and it becomes the new boxing!

          2. As someone who actively loathes organized football, this scenario is precisely what I am looking forward to happening all across the nation.

            1. I move closer and closer to this position the more I hear about stories like this. I'm glad I didn't have a boy so I don't have to worry as much about telling him he isn't playing football. (not that any kid of mine was ever going to be able to feed the NFL.)

          3. I too see the concussion issue as a watershed one for the sport of football. The issue is only going to get bigger as more research is done.

    2. Interestingly enough, Adam Schefter of the 4ltr said on said mouthpiece for the NFL that this story will be forgotten in a couple of weeks. The league, he said, has so much to offer that everyone will just move on to the draft or free agency or the Peyton Manning decision and all of this will be a blip on the radar.

      Really? Is that true?

        1. We'll see. I think this thing just might have some legs. The problem, of course, is that pretty much every sports outlet is in bed with the NFL. You might remember ESPN had a drama series about eight or nine years back about a pro team. It was pretty unflattering toward the league (but I enjoyed watching it). It was profitable, but the NFL said, "Kill that thing, 4ltr." It died right there.

          So yeah, you may be right.

      2. it'll probably be forgotten by the time the Draft comes along, but when the new season starts it will be dredged up again because of suspended coaches

      3. Steroids: Cheaters! Think of the children! Players risk losing their careers! Steroids might kill you!

        Bounties: This seems questionable. Oh look, something shiny!

        I'm not saying this won't happen, but my word, how does that make any sense?

        1. Don't forget that the attitude about steroids is much different in football than in baseball.

            1. Of course, otherwise they'd all be as big as a house. In addition, there were no angry black men chasing the all-time home run record in the NFL.

  15. Nails gets nailed.

    SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (AP) Disgraced ex-New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra on Monday was sentenced to three years in a California state prison after pleading no contest to grand theft auto and providing a false financial statement.

    Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Ulfig sentenced Dykstra after refusing to allow him to withdraw his plea and said the scam to lease high-end automobiles from dealerships by providing fraudulent information and claiming credit through a phony business showed sophistication and extensive planning.

    ''He obviously didn't have the money to get the vehicles,'' Ulfig said. ''His conduct was indeed criminal.''

    Sad story.

  16. the good news: I heard this song (I love the blistering guitar solo at about the 1:20 mark)played on a commerical
    the bad news: it was a commercial for a Fran Drescher sitcom.

  17. Anyone have thoughts on the Soundset lineup announced today?

    Lupe Fiasco is great, but seems like he's a step down as a headliner from Big Boi and De La Soul last year. Still, at least no Mac Miller. Hopefully Macklemore can get on the main stage this year because he puts on a ridiculously great show. Also, Sheenie and I happened to see Muja Messiah a few weeks ago opening for I Self Divine in 7th Street. I have never seen a worse performance in my life. Groin-grabbingly awful lyrics.

    1. Big KRIT, Danny Brown, Ghostface/Raekwon would all be pretty awesome. I think I'd like to see Aesop Rock but I'm not so sure. Curren$y was there last year, I'd probably want to see him more than anyone else in this year's lineup.

      1. I caught about half of Curren$y's performance last year and enjoyed it. Mac Miller was a total abomination last year, so I'm glad he either got too big to get invited back or that Ant and Slug realized that he sucked.

        1. I've never heard Mac, but he sounds like the type of rap I loathe. I just saw Action Bronson is going to be there, I love that dude too. The Twins play that Saturday, and it's a couple of days after J & my anniversary... The wheels are turning in my head.

    2. Lupe's a step down from those guys? He outsells them probably 10 to 1 (yes, I realize De La Soul is about 25 years past their prime).

      1. I assume for a lot of people he'd be a bigger draw, but I'd agree that for my taste, anyway, he's a step down.

  18. Goodness I love curling. I was in a spiel over the weekend in which the theme was "craft beer". We had great beer from around the midwest (including a very roasty black IPA from the Town Hall Brewery). I'm tired as hell (I was in 8 games in four days), but I had fun and for finishing the tournament 4-1, I came home with two bombers of this. I also managed to grab 6 ounces of hops someone grew and packaged, learned about a great game called crokinole, and found out tonight that, because I brought some homebrew, a gift package was put together for me consisting of a few bombers and another package of hops.

    Today has been a good day.

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