Thursday Dump

Dump #1 Alabama State chose not to contest any of the 23 alleged NCAA rules violations in the university's official response to the charges. The NCAA alleged widespread use of ineligible players, grade changes and recruiting misdeeds and charged the school with lack of institutional control.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3511935

I wonder if any T-Jac was involved in any of this?

Dump #2 Iowa football recruit Riley Reiff was arrested at 2:45 a.m. Saturday for public intoxication and interference with official acts after leading at least eight officers on a foot chase that lasted 20 minutes, according to a report filed with the Iowa City Police Dept.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/SPORTS020502/807200352/-1/BUSINESS04

It has been a horrendous off season for my beloved Hawks. All of this follows the rape case from last fall and the subsequent handling of the rape case. At this point all I can do is hang my head in shame. However I will throw out that in my days in Iowa City, I was arrested for public intox and interference with official acts. They pass those things out like little kids sell Chicklets in Mexico. That being said I turned out OK right (excluding being called a white corksucker last week)? I will say this I am intrigued by this recruit, 8 cops chased him for 20 mins. Kid could be a beast. If he does not last at Iowa, maybe Alabama State will take him.

Dump #3 Troubled PSU and Iowa football programs bond at Big Ten media day. Enough said.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/bigten/0-1-115/Iowa--Penn-State-players-bond-over-rough-times.html

Sorry 2 out of 3 were about Iowa but I was unable to hold back my slant.

What Is Detroit Thinking?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/07/29/heyman.tradeblog/index.html?eref=T1

Pudge for Farnsworth? They're over .500 now and only 5 and 5.5 back of the Twins, who they have to believe they can catch, and the White Sox, who look more every week like they can't possibly hold on. So they go and trade one of the best defensive catchers of all time, who's hitting .295, for a reliably unreliable flame thrower with a pea brain. Does not compute. You trade a guy like Pudge when you decide you're out of it. And when you do, you get a couple prospects out of it.

Steinbrenner must have gotten a hold on Dombrowski hitting on 12-year-olds on chatrooms or something, because this deal makes no sense to me for anyone other than the Yankees. And it bails them out big time, as they get a huge upgrade behind the plate and a slight improvement in the lineup when they were in dire straits with Posada going down. All this for the low, low price of Farnsworth? Again, does not compute.

Few quick Twins thoughts

1. At $80M we got Morneau for a steal. We win the AL Central and he is gonna get his 2nd MVP.

2. Could one more f'ing player hurt their hand? Casilla might be done for the season. As an early Casilla-basher, the little guy has grown on me. Can Punto continue to shine at the plate?

3. Is there one member of the Pale Hoes that you like? As my wife put it: "They all look ugly and like they're total assholes in real life."

4. Never thought I would say this but Go-Go running full boar into the wall in Cleveland might have been the best thing to happen to him.

5. Honestly, call up Liriano. We rarely make a move at the deadline in a trade so why not unleash the "F Bomb."

6. Not Twins related but - Man, the Angels are scary now.

Minnesota Twins : NY Yankees :: Washington Generals : Harlem Globetrotters

Part I (the facts):

In the wake of the latest (and last, but does anyone really think things will magically change across the street?) all-too-predictable Twins meltdown in Yankee Stadium, I've decided the Twins' utter impotency against the Yankees needs to be brought to the fore and vociferously bitched about. I am a very patient, low expectation, proud of my little engine that could Twins fan. Honestly. So, please excuse the theatrics, and cover your children's eyes. I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore! I will not fucking stand by and watch us get shelled time and time and time and time again by this fading, aging has been dynasty any more without speaking up. It's one thing to struggle a bit against the king of the hill. This is quite another, and frankly, in case you hadn't noticed, it's got me infuriated. I simply can't take any more shoulder shrugging at this incomprehensible futility.

So, to prove that this isn't all in my head, I've crunched some numbers. These are all contained within the otherwise highly successful Gardenhire era, from 2002 to the present. 4 playoff appearances, 5.5 winning seasons in 6.5, one ALCS appearance. So, bear in mind we're not talking about a bad stretch generally in which our totally fucked mentality against the Yankees doesn't stand out from generally poor play or something. Other than the fact that we haven't won a World Series in this current run, these are basically glory years for a small market franchise like ours. Here's where we're at, then, in the Gardy era, when it comes to the Bombers:

1. The Twins have THE WORST RECORD IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE AGAINST THE YANKEES.

2. IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE.

3. 9-14 at the Dome, 3-19 (THREE AND NINETEEN!!!) on the road. That's 12-33 overall, a .266 winning percentage. Just for fun, if we played a full season as pathetically as we play the Yankees, we would finish 43-119, with an impressive 11-70 record on the road. Not once have we taken a season series over the Yankees in the period in question. (Notably, in TK's last season, we did, finishing 4-2 and winning a series in Yankee Stadium. Somehow this occurred even before the glorious birth of the full-time majors career of Johan Christ Santana.)

4. Over the same period, the Yankees have played .600 baseball (647-425, .6035). Against teams other than the Twins, they're 614-413, or .5978.

5. Thus, if the Twins played as well as just your average .500 team, they should expect about a .400 winning percentage against the Yankees. This would lead to an 18-27 record. So, basically, we've dropped a game a season to the Yankees when compared to the mythical .500 team. That doesn't sound like much, but considering the fact that with the unbalanced schedule we've actually only played the Yankees less than 6.5 games a year over that span, it's completely astounding. Every season, we basically have to face the Yankees less than any other team in the league, and yet we still spot everyone at least one game in the standings based on our performance against the Yankees. That is appalling.

6. Of course, the Twins are not your average .500 team. During the Gardy era, the Twins are significantly better than .500. They sport a .5494 winning percentage over that period (589-483), and .5618 against all teams other than the Yankees. A roughly analogously successful team generally during this period might be, say, Oakland (599-474, .5582). How have they fared against the mighty Yankees and their unfathomably powerful mystique, you might ask? 25-32, .438.

7. The Kansas City Royals, most likely the worst team in the American League overall since 2002, are 14-36 (.280) against the Yankees in that span. The Tigers, who prior to 2005 could claim that mantle of worst team in the AL, are 17-31 (.354). The [Devil] Rays, who other than this season have generally been atrocious forever? 43-80, or .350. The WORST teams in the league are significantly better against the Yankees than the Twins are.

Part II, entitled "In What World Is This Possible?" to come, in which theories for this atrocity are explored, and we can brainstorm on what needs to be done.

I do mind, the Dude minds. This will not stand.

'Big hole' in Qantas plane prompts Manila stop

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25843853/

This is your typical everyday hole in the fuselage, terror in the sky story. The funny part is the last paragraph:

The passengers will be given hotel accommodation while the aircraft is being repaired, said Alfonso Cusi, the airport’s general manager.

They make it sound like the passengers are going to spend the night at a Holiday Inn Express and then re board the same 747 that has just been fixed up with some bondo and still has the primer on it as if it were a bitchin' Camaro.

Scott Sentenced

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3504250

Darrion Scott received a two year stayed sentence and a $200 fine for putting a plastic bag over his child's head. Here is the mind-numbing post worthy part:

Scott said he put the plastic bag over his son's head to show the boy there was nothing to fear.

Nothing to fear about putting a plastic bag over a toddlers head!?! Someone better tell my dry cleaner that they can remove all those warnings about the bag not being a toy and that the bag should be kept away from small children. While you are at it Scott, why don't you give the kid a fork to stick in the socket and leave his toys in the street to play with.

"I didn’t know it was possible for something to both suck and blow at the same time." Bart Simpson

Man alive. Can we actually beat a good team? 0-4 series against the Pale Hoes; 0-3 series in Boston; on the verge of 0-3 against the Yankees. We have responded after these games with nice little runs that ease the pain a little bit but seriously people! Watch out for the four game set aganist the LA Angels of Anaheim.

Keeping hope alive. Day game boys, fire up your Gamecast?

On the Road Again

Twinkies make their way East for a 3 game set against the Bombers then on to Cleveland for a three game series before heading home for 4 crucial games against the Pale Hoes (only 7 games left with them, all at the Dome.) Should get fun from here on out. 36 of their remaining 64 games are on the road (around 56%) with a couple doozies in there including a 14 game road swing out West (4 games against the Angels to start, then 3 at Seattle and 4 at Oakland) with 3 against Toronto tacked on at the end for some reason (apparently the Repbulican National Convention has something to do with it, not sure that Minneapolis hotels fill up that quickly when the Twins play but whatever.)

Some thoughts to ponder (so many questions, so little time):

1. Can we keep the momentum up with so much time on the road?

2. Do the Twins make a move? I say "no way"; the only thing I could see them doing is calling up Liriano in mid-August. BG threw out the possibility of a 6 man rotation and considering that 4 of the 5 starters are going deep into ballgames and throwing a ton of innings that they have never done before that might give them a break but it would be wacky.

3. I feel like Mike Lamb plays some important role for us at some point (some weird pinch hit situation where he comes through) I mean his beard is just too powerful now.

4. I called Nick Punto's demise too quickly. Can he keep it up in the second half?

5. When does Gomez go to either the nine-hole or down to the minors?

6. Do we see Cuddy again in 2008?

7. Can we continue to dominate AL Central opponents? (7 games left with the Hoes, 9 with the Indians, 9 with the Royals, and only 3 left with Rock City.)

6. Where does this squad finish? Call your shot.

Gardy on Liriano

Gotta love Gardy and his response to Liriano's agent's meddling. I am setting the over/under on the F-Bomb's return at August 1st if we are still within 3 games of Chicago.

I did not have sexual relations with that QB

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/wcStory?contentId=8118850#story=8351554

Sources: Packers say Vikings tampered with Favre
by Jay Glazer, FOXSports.com
Updated: July 16, 2008, 7:14 PM EST1383 comments add this
As the days roll by, the Brett Favre saga seems to get stranger and stranger. Now the soap opera has shifted to a new level.
In the latest twist, the Packers have filed tampering charges with the league office against the Minnesota Vikings for alleged communication with Favre, still technically a member of Green Bay, FOXSports.com has learned. The league, according to a source, is currently in information-gathering mode, speaking to members of both teams.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press that the league had no public comment on the report. Packers general manager Ted Thompson declined to comment on tampering rumors in an interview with the AP on Saturday.
The Vikings were informed late last week that the allegation is that Favre has had inappropriate dialogue with Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a close Favre friend and former assistant coach with the Packers. Favre has sought his release from Green Bay and several rumors have swirled that Minnesota is his targeted landing place, largely due to his relationship with Bevell.

Look at me now

Hi, my name is JUSTIN Morneau (MORE-No) and I was the AL MVP in 2006. I am also the 2008 home run champ and am currently hitting .323 with 14 HRs, 68 RBIs, and have a .391 OBP. I play for the Minnesota Twins who are 1.5 games out of first place and sitting at 53-42. Oh, and I just went 2 for 4 in the All-Star game and scored the winning run. Remember me now, bitches?

Everybody knew the rules going into the contest

Fav-ruh wants back in

I've waited as long as possible to even acknowledge that this is a relevant story, given how annoying it has been, but it has officially reached a point at which I can no longer ignore it.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/07/11/favre.packers.ap/index.html

Favre has asked the fudgers for his release. If the team grants him this request, and you believe what the pundits say, he'll sign with the Bears or...gulp...the Vikes. Personally, I just don't see us doing it...and it is kind of nauseating to think about. That said, the schedenfreude factor could be huge! Can you imagine how much those cheese-hat wearing losers would squirm watching him play in Purple...or in blue and orange?

Apparently, the other route the team could take is to trade him...undoubtedly to someone in the AFC (like Baltimore). For whatever reason, though, they seem intent on not taking him back.

Honestly, I love the whole drama, as it temporary sullies his legacy with Green Bay, and you know it's got the whole state of Wisconsin whipped up into a frothy lather when they should be focused on, and savoring the success of, the Brewers.

Couple thoughts/questions for the group:
1) He would be an upgrade at QB for the Vikings. Where do you stand on signing him? Like I said, I'm sort of in purgatory on the whole thing...I'd almost just rather get him out of the NFC and let him become washed up in Baltimore or Miami, but a small part of me thinks he'd be a huge upgrade.
2) Jan Stenerud, would you consider buying a Favre #4 jersey (in purple, or whatever team colors it ends up being) just to taunt the dudes at work?
3) What do you think his reception would be at the Dome or Soldier field?
4) If Ted Thompson releases him outright, how many death threats will he get? And does he get state patrol protection for the rest of his tenure there?

Why are we playing another day game today?

Seriously, why are playing a day game today?

Soul Asylum 2008

Last night I saw the Gin Blossoms and Soul Asylum. Some thoughts on the show-

10. I am guessing they don't do many shows this far below the Mason Dixon line. My brother was able to score free tickets from the promoter because the show was grossly undersold. The Anoka prom would have had more of a crowd.

9. Dave Pirner said "The Gin Blossom fans sure are good looking." Have you ever wondered where the good looking 30 year old girls still on the market are on a Wednesday night? Apparently, the answer is at a Gin Blossoms concert.

8. The Gin Blossoms are one step removed from touring with Lilith Fair.

7. Soul Asylum was the main act and the Gin Blossoms opened. I was not sure going in who was the "bigger" band.

6. My favorite song of the evening was the same as it was the first time I saw Soul Asylum in 91/92, Sometime to Return.

5. I think I was the only one in the crowd who recognized Sometime to Return

4. Soul Asylum had no T-shirts for sale. If they still had the Jagermiester shirts, I probably would have purchased one.

3. Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap circa 1992 "Good night Springfield there will be no encore."
This was the first concert I have ever been to where there was no encore. Probably a good move with only 500 people standing in the rain.

2. I rarely drink, but when I do I can't/ won't stop at two beers. Something for me to mull over.

1. All kidding aside, I had a good time and Soul Asylum still put on a good show.

1A. In doing a little prep for the concert I found an interview with Dave Pirner. On the Replacements album Stink it opens up with the cops breaking up a party, something along the lines of "This is the Minneapolis police the party is over." Someone in the background can be heard yelling "F**k you" back at the cops. That was Dave Pirner.

Are you F' in Kidding Me?

that was awful to watch on Gamecast... Baker and Blackburn pitched wonderfully the last two nights.. all for naught.

How about a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

Idyllic Minnesota 4th of July weekend. Up at the cabin, Twins game on, warm breeze, cold beer and ba low out on Friday night followed by a nice comeback win on Saturday night. Twins go on to sweep the Indians by beating Cliff Lee yesterday (walks will haunt) and head to Boston and Detroit for a road swing before the break. Of course no one is talking about us right now (even as we reach the 50 win mark) and all eyes are focused on the Rays (understandable) and the Red Sox in the AL. Even the White Sox are getting less repect than they deserve (yes, I said it.) Whatever, not like we haven't been here for the past 7 years anyway, just thought that by now someone would notice that Perkins, Slowey, Blackburn, and Baker have developed nicely into a young, starting rotation and that our line-up is pretty good (not to mention we are back to playing solid, fundamental baseball.)

Nice that Joe, Justin, and Joe are going to the All-Star game. Represent.

Twin v Tigers

Items -

1. Day Game! Fire up GameCast

2. Nice win last night. Baker was solid.

3. The bullpen implosion two nights ago was pitiful. I'm sure Gardy and Andy didn't want to use 5 pitchers in the 6th (or maybe it was the 7th.) I started to have confidence in the Crain - Reyes - Guerrier mix but got a little less confident on that "Reliever Sandwich" (particularly the Crain part.) What was hilarious is that Reyes came out and sat on the bench next to Crain and the two of them looked like they had just run a 10k, they were sweating and had that "did I just throw to 2 batters and give up 1 run?" look on their faces.

4. I hate to say this but are the CWS ever going to slow down? How much power does that lineup have? Yikes.