The Hosken Powell Memorial Linkdump/Observation Center

by RandBall's Stu on Oct 9, 2009 12:24 PM EDT in Quick Hits

Thoughts and ephemera as we impatiently await yet another must-win game:

Denny Hecker is more popular than Chip Caray. The New York Times is the latest to check in.
If you haven't already, click on Adam's Five Reasons the Twins Can Win This Series.
If you're as annoyed by all the suits, politicians and Kate Hudsons in the lux seats at Yankee Stadium as I am, please read this ESPN article.
Has Matsui's home run off Liriano landed yet?
Apparently Jorge Posada's widdle feewings are hurt because Jose Molina is catching for the Yankees tonight. I try not to be too much of a homer, but can you imagine Joe Mauer doing this? (No. The answer is, "No.")
Star Tribune writer and my life coach, Michael Rand, asks: "Are we crazy to think a 6-3 Twins victory is in the cards tonight?" My response is, "probably." I do think the Twins can win, but I see it coming via a 10-8 slugfest.

Your thoughts on that or anything else in comments. Game thread will be up around 3-ish.

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Comments

the ESPN article

What a great piece. Just finished it, and it’s one of the best pieces of writing I’ve read in months. Just great.

formerly known in these parts as adamb

by ravenfly on Oct 9, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

agreed.

that was written very well. Gives an entirely new perspective on the ‘new’ Yankee Stadium.

And those guys behind home plate were totally pissing me off the other night. Geez.

"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett

by fischean on Oct 9, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

The system has failed

75% of Americans can no longer responsibly afford a pro sports ticket? Can the revolution be far away? And what will we do when global capitalists offshore the last American job?

by wcooley on Oct 9, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

What was missing from that

Is that the stadium was funded in large part by dirty money from the very folks who were only able to afford those seats because of their crooked financial dealings—the Bernie Madoffs of the world.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 9, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

Dirty money? Bernie Madoff?

You wish. The stadium was funded by the Steinbrenners and New York taxpayers. I’m sure you guys don’t have a problem with publicly funded stadiums. Right?

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Oct 9, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I do, and I'm sure many others here do as well

But that’s a topic for another day.

by Mike I on Oct 9, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, that's the Mets new stadium

Naming rights from a bailed out bank.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Oct 9, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

O God,

Shiti Field. It’s already falling apart

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/mets_in_foul_territory_Kv3ab9itte145lFGr1vyhL

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Oct 9, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Can You Imagine

Gardy not having Mauer’s bat in the line-up for a playoff game?

by Kanonen80 on Oct 9, 2009 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Do you mean in comparrison to the decision to take Jorge out? If that is what you mean, its an odd comparrison. The Yankees have pretty amazing hitters up and down their lineup. The Twins have less, of course. Losing Mauer for one game is bigger when other hitters include Punto, Gomez and Tolbert. Losing Posada for a game when the other hitters incluse Jeter, A-Roid, Teixeira, Matsui, Swisher, Damon, ..(honestly…) is just not as big of a deal.

I always loved that one.

by FoulJack on Oct 9, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

psh, FoulJack

your logic is not welcome here. :)

"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett

by fischean on Oct 9, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Better question:

Can you imagine anyone ever calling Jorge Posada the best hitter in the league?

by twinsphil on Oct 9, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Nothing surprises me about Yankee fans anymore

So, yeah. Probably.

by matty_b on Oct 9, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

When did anybody ever say that.

Maybe in the PJM (Pre Joe Mauer-ian) era he was considered the best hitting catcher in the leage. Definitely not the best overall hitter, not now not ever.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Oct 9, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. Jorge has been a great player for the Yankees.

I am not doubting that at all.

I always loved that one.

by FoulJack on Oct 9, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

My point was that sitting Mauer and sitting Posada

are VERY different things.

by twinsphil on Oct 9, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that was my point too

but honestly, its been a long week.

I always loved that one.

by FoulJack on Oct 9, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Gomez starting tonight

with Span in right and Kubel DHing. This is the right approach, and gives them the best chance to win, IMO.

by Eric in Madison on Oct 9, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

About bloody time

The collection of potential DH options hasn’t exactly been awe-inspiring… Gomez isn’t much of a step down.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Oct 9, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

that is very good news!

And gives us a much better lineup if substitutions need to be made.

"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett

by fischean on Oct 9, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Good news, everyone!

by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 9, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

hahaha

you know it’s a good move if Prof. Farnsworth agrees! :)

"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett

by fischean on Oct 9, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

But

We still have to watch Delmon flail away at everything. Take a pitch or two, man! What is the big hurry? To get back to the dugout and watch film of yourself striking out?

by wcooley on Oct 9, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

my favorite from Tuesday's game

when Delmon was IBB’d, one of our commenters saying “I can’t believe he didn’t swing at those!”.

He just hacks at anything and everything, though it does seem he’s a little more willing to take a couple pitches lately.

"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett

by fischean on Oct 9, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

“The American sports industry is in harvest mode,” Luker says. “The industry has lost its regard for human beings.” – what a great quote.

by caluofmn on Oct 9, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

Regarding Gomez

With only four bench players (two of them catchers), if the Twins are in a game situation in the late innings, do they hit for him? It would mean putting Harris at first, Cuddy in right or Harris at third and Tolbert in the outfield (he played in the OF quite a bit in Rochester).

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Oct 9, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions