All posts by Can of Corn

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Difficult Choices

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I'm taking my 10.5-year-old golden retriever, George, to the vet during lunch today. He's been on a downward slide for the past few months and, despite our best efforts, I fear it's time for him to move on. He's lost most of his mobility and hasn't been eating. At a vet visit last month, he was prescribed muscle relaxants & various meds for pain & joint health as he was exhibiting symptoms of arthritis and muscle atrophy in his rear end. He improved for a while, but is again back to being barely able to get himself up; he can't even support himself to go to the bathroom. When I went to the kennel this morning, I though he was dead - he didn't raise his head to acknowledge me until I was at his side, petting him. He couldn't even lift himself and I had to carry him to the yard and hold his ass end up to take a leak. He took a few steps and then sat/laid down hard. Some research online suggests both that his deterioration isn't out of the ordinary and his current age is within the normal end-of-lifespan.

In my house, the dogs* are more pets than family members. Since kids were added to the mix, our dog-ownership activities have essentially deteriorated to the point of co-existence. They have a large dog house & roofed kennel, access to a big yard (more than an acre), get fed twice a day, and we let them out to run around a bit and go to the bathroom every morning and evening. However, they don't get the daily 2-mile walks they got for the first 6 years we had them, we don't play with them every day, George hasn't been hunting since 2009 and hasn't hit the lake for a swim in over a year. Kernel is young enough that I don't think it'll be too difficult for her and I know my wife will be sad. I'm already grieving a bit. George has been a truly amazing dog - but if he needs to be put down (and if I'm being honest) - I'll also be somewhat relieved.

George_2008

I don't want him to be in pain and his quality of life right now is for shit, but I'm not willing (or able, really) to spend two or three thousand dollars to get him another six months. Last time, they suggested x-rays ($$) and potentially surgery ($$$), thinking it might be damaged discs in his back or joint issues in his hips and/or knees. He's a retriever and he can barely walk, let alone run and fetch. He's a mostly-outside dog (kennel & yard) and another winter would be incredibly hard on him. I don't want him to suffer, but I don't want to put him down if there's a reasonable alternative. The vets can (apparently) refuse to euthanize if they believe there's a better course of action. I'm all ears, but I'm not very optimistic at the moment. I didn't have dogs growing up so I have never dealt with this before...

*I anticipate our beagle will be the one most affected by his absence. They've been inseparable for nearly 10 years. She's had a ton of health issues and I always thought it'd be her that went first. Not sure how my wife's going to handle it when the beagle (Emma) passes. We got her about 4 months into our marriage so my wife would have a buddy while I was deployed. On the plus side, despite Emma's chronic bladder infections and incontinence, she'll be the easier of the two to move back into the house, seeing as how she's only 23 lbs. and doesn't have the long coat like George. Amazing how adulthood produces such callousness pragmatism.

2015 Twins Game Logs

Game 111: Twins @ Cleveland

So, now they're back to using position players as pitchers? But what about that nine man bullpen? In 20 1/3 innings over the last four games, 11 relievers have combined to allow 15 runs. After a stretch of games where the pitching was good enough to win some but the offense was nowhere to be seen, we've now had stretch where the pitching, both starters and relievers, are regressing while the offense is ... well ... improving.

Hopefully today, Phil Hughes (10-7, 4.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) is able to keep the ball in the park, pitch deep into the game, and get some offense from his offense.

His offense will be facing the reigning Cy Young winner in Corey Kluber (6-12, 3.60 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) who with 32 BB's 176 K's over 162.2 innings this year will, in all likelihood, strike out about a dozen Twins hitters today. In his last four games against Minnesota, he's 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA with 37 K's over 31 1/3 innings. Perhaps interspersed with those strikeouts will be some hits...hopefully?

2015 Twins Game Recaps

Game 105: Twins 1, Blue Jays 5

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The wins by Toronto & Baltimore yesterday, combined with the Twins loss, results in a virtual 3-way tie for the 2nd Wild Card spot. Technically, Minnesota and Baltimore are tied and Toronto is virtually tied, though actually a few meager decimals of percentage points behind the Orioles and Twins.

Also technically, Ervin "Not Johan" Santana took the Loss yesterday, but one could argue (as a few of us have recently) that the offense was at fault for the outcome. Now, the Twins were facing newly-acquired ace David Price, who is 4th in the AL in ERA (2.45) & Strikeouts (149), 5th in WAR (3.4), Tied for 6th in WHIP (1.08) and 3rd in Innings Pitched (154). For those who weren't watching or listening, I'd argue that the biggest inning was the 4th when, with the game tied at 1, the Twins managed to load the bases with nobody out. Rosario popped out to short, Hicks struck out looking and Suzuki struck out swinging. Not one productive out, though Suzuki at least had a long at-bat before succumbing to Price. That was it. Price then retired the next 12 batters in order and LaTroy Hawkins took care of the Twins' 3, 4 & 5 hitters in the 9th to salt it away. The Twins struck out 12 times - 11 at the hands of Price.

Santana was facing a Toronto club that is full of great hitters; a team leading all of baseball with 566 Runs scored, and he gave up two Home Runs and only lasted 6 Innings - not enough considering the recent slippage by the bullpen. However, the 5 Runs scored were less than the per-game average scored by the Blue Jays this year (5.3) and they only ended up with 8 hits in the game.

Couple of things.
The offense has been fairly streaky thus far, with lots of young(er) guys getting regular playing time, and their few known quantities batting about as expected. Only Dozier is in the top-20 in the league in OPS (.828) and Mauer leads qualified Twins players* with a .269 BA and a .333 OBP, though his .712 OPS is below league average. On offense, the pleasant surprises (Rosario, Hicks, Sano) have been offset by the disappointments (Vargas, Santana, Arcia and - though limited to 11 games - Buxton). The catcher position has been a black hole and the roster, as constructed, offers Molitor a bench with defensive capabilities, but limited offense. As I noted in the game log yesterday -

"...the fellas have been remarkably consistent - month-to-month - hitting .255/.306/.413 in May (hot) & June (not hot) combined and .255/.311/.420 in July. On the season, they've hit .276/.346/.439 with RISP."

We (I) was wondering what the Twins management would do at the trade deadline, considering where the club is at roster-wise right now, where they're likely hopeful to be at in the coming years, and how the current season has shaped up. We don't know what moves Terry Ryan attempted, only the one that he consummated - bringing in relief pitcher Kevin Jepsen in exchange for a couple of minor-league prospects. My guess is that, being realistic about this team and being unwilling to sell the farm for a chance at the Wild Card, knowing what he's put together in the bullpen and seeing the offense at work (and that Santana won't be available for any post-season play), Terry was not willing to sacrifice prospects to try and upgrade SS, Catcher and the Bullpen.

Secondly: They moved Mauer from behind the dish to try and protect him and prolong his career, expecting that being healthy would keep his bat in the line-up. In two years as a DH/1B, his line is .273/.349/.375 with a 101 OPS+ (good for 2.8 WAR), compared to career numbers of .323/.405/.468 and a 135 OPS+ before the move (good for 44.2 WAR). Is it time to wonder if this is the new normal for Joe? Of note, his .269 BA is 4th in the league for 1B but his .712 OPS is 9th of 12 qualifiers.

*There are only four players who currently qualify for the batting title: Dozier, Mauer, Plouffe! and Hunter. The next closest qualifier is Suzuki with nearly 70 fewer at-bats than Torii.

Cup of Coffee

August 4, 2015: Road Construction …

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I know construction season in Minnesota is the cause of all sorts of headaches for people who commute regularly via highways & byways. Another perspective is watching with amazement as an interstate is completely remade (and in some cases moved entirely) over the course of a couple of years. The one I've been watching experiencing is I-35E as it leaves downtown St. Paul heading north. Impressive stuff.
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httpv://youtu.be/bqZgvaEKcPc

2015 Twins Game Logs

Game 104: Seattle at Minnesota

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Trevor May comes out of the pen and gets the W on a walk-off single by Kurt Suzuki after the winning run is intentionally walked ... never thought I'd utter that phrase, especially considering how the fellas have been playing of late. Oh, BTW, it was all started by Miguel Sano's double on the first pitch of the 9th. SO. MUCH. FUN. ... oh yeah, there's a game today.

Today's matchup features two starters I didn't think would still be with their respective clubs after the non-waiver trade deadline.
Hisashi Iwakuma: 5.10 ERA, 2-2, 37k's, 1.26 WHIP
-v-
Mike Pelfrey: 3.92 ERA, 5-7, 53 k's, 1.46 WHIP (3-7 in his last 10 with his ERA rising nearly 1.5 runs, but only averaging 3.2 ER's per start during that span... only.)

2015 Twins Game Recaps

Game 101 RECAP: Seattle 5, Minnesota 9

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Biggest story of the evening is a 1A/1B type of deal. Two of the Twins' young outfielders, Aaron Hicks and Eddie Rosario, provided some real excitement on the offensive side of the ball to help stop a four-game losing streak - the longest such streak at home this season.

Hicks, batting in the 2-spot, went 3-4 including a HR, with a BB, RBI and 2 Runs scored. It was his fifth consecutive multi-hit game. He's hitting .365/.443/.608 for July.

Rosario was a single short of the cycle, having homered in the 1st, doubled in the 3rd and tripled in the 5th. He scorched a liner to center in the 6th and was robbed of a single by the SS, Brad Miller, with one out in the 8th. Miller made a very nice play and Eddie doffed his helmet* and smiled his way unbelievingly back to the dugout. He finished the night 3-5 with a team-high .294 WPA.

All told, there were 5 HR's hit last night between the teams, with Hughes giving up two. Phil (10-6, 4.11 ERA, 4.58 FIP & 1.253 WHIP) is beginning to enter the "obligatory" territory with HR's in all but four of his starts this year and his 8th game giving up multiple homeruns. His 1.7 HR/9 this season is the worst of his career (1.2 HR/9 career average), though he continues to lead the league in limiting walks. Despite the five runs allowed by Hughes, the bullpen bucked their recent trend, allowing 0 Runs on 1 Hit over four innings of relief.

Finally, Jorge Polanco, filling in on the active roster for Trevor "Big Daddy" Plouffe!, had a nice game in his start at SS. He went 2-3 with a BB, RBI, Run and his first MLB Stolen Base. He committed 1 Error in the 8th, overthrowing 1st Base, and was the pivot man in the only double play of the game in the 9th.

*The Four-Letter coverage of the near-miss cycle made it seem as though Rosario was angry at Miller (not the case), dismissively suggesting that he should be happy with the 3 Hit, 3 Run, 3 RBI night - a "take it and siddown kid" kinda comment. Patronizing and stoopid.