In 1999, Guided By Voices released Do the Collapse, their 11th studio album. GBV was actually trying to get out from under their lo-fi reputation and hired The Cars' Ric Ocasek to produce. And produce he did, creating easily their glossiest sounding album. Reception was mixed as some thought it was too slick for Guided By Voices, others appreciated the new sound and the album contained one certified banger with Teenage FBI, and few GBV classics that should have been hits, but only known to the fanatics like Dragons Awake! Surgical Focus, and Picture Me Big Time.

Now in honor of the 25th anniversary of the album's release, the Minnesota Twins seem to be doing their own collapse as a once promising season is hanging on by thread with 12 games remaining. The problem is if Twins players actually listened to the dang thing, they'd find out that the songs belie the title. The album is not about collapsing but about hanging on. In fact, the song Hold on Hope was a (very) minor hit and practically addresses the Twins plight:

That nothing grows on
But time still goes on
Through each life of misery
Everybody's gotta hold on hope
It's the last thing that's holding me

Other songs talk about redemption, unleashing that inner dragon we all possess, delivering words that inspire. It's all there Twins if you want it. So embrace Do the Collapse, but not by losing to the Guardians and Reds (both Ohio teams, hmmmm) and awaiting your fate with a quick end to the season; but instead by using the message found in Do the Collapse to emerge on the other side, better, stronger, and ready to do some damage in the playoffs.

Game time 5:40. Zebby Williams v. Gavin Williams.