Twins early season

Get used to more of these (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080402&content_id=2484423&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=min&partnered=rss_min) ... until the Twins fire Gardenhire and Vavra.

I'm beating the drum. The beat goes something like this...

Fire Gardenhire!!! We can't win without a cohesive offense!!! Fire Vavra!!! Morneau can collect more than 35 RBIs if somebody who bats in front of him thinks about getting on base instead of hitting a home run!!!

It's catchy.

Copyright thebigkipper.blogspot.com 2008

Conservative vs. Stupid

In one of the great articles I've seen .... well, OK, today.

http://www.thegreenguide.com/blog/freshfinds/1125

The "Going Green is Easier than You Think" blog, linked from the National Geographic's webpage (I was only there because I have the NG "picture of the day" on my Google homepage), is a perfect example of the basic difference between Conservatives and, well, my title betrays my true feelings.

This particular posting showcases the "eco-friendly", reusable grocery bags that you can buy which both are made of organic cotton (although why I care whether my groceries are transported for 4 and a half minutes in organic cotton more than plastic is not explained) and allow me to showcase my preference for either Barack, Hillary, or Republican. As the posting says, "Whether voting democratic, republican or even free-spirited independent, you can always vote reusable." And then it adds the minor caveat that, whichever political preference you choose, the bag will set you back $25.

So what's the point? Charging me $25 for a service (grocery transportation) that I already receive for free without having to remember to stop at home and pick up before I go to the store is not the "honor" I willingly accept. My wife received a cheap book bag as some sort of gift/reward or whatever at work, and she brought it home and has, when she remembers, used it as a grocery bag. BUT NOT BECAUSE SHE THINKS SHE'S SAVING THE WORLD. The difference between us and stupid people (because let's face it, that's what you all are who would spend $25 on a piece of canvas) is that we are more than willing to "go green" when it doesn't cost us a hassle or $25. We go green because it's (first) convenient and (in a distant second) eco-friendly. Stupid people go green because (primarily) it makes them feel like they're better than everyone else and (secondary) it's eco-friendly. If they really wanted to be eco-friendly, I can guarantee that those organic cotton bags are not a very "energy efficient" product, and that there are thousands of other items that could effectively carry groceries from the store to home, while you could take that $25 and donate it to "save the gray whales" or something equally stupid.

Everyone loses ... except Johan Santana and the Mets

OK, so only the Twins lose. Thank you Bill Smith (who called it?). Continuing in the winning tradition of Twins GMs set by Terry Ryan, yesterday Smith got four grade A- prospects for the best pitcher in baseball.

It was a losing situation from the beginning: Santana was unhappy, management wasn't smart enough to reach out to him during the season to give him a reason for future hope, and so he publicly expressed his frustration, making it clear that he wanted to be traded. Instead of quickly resolving the situation as soon as the season was over, Smith tried to hold out for something better.

The problem being, of course, was that all other GMs knew Santana was motivated to leave, that he was in the last year of his contract, and that if they just waited a year, they could have him without giving something significant. He being a Twin and the Twins being the B-grade club they have been under the current front office, Gardenhire, and genius hitting coach Joe Vavra, it wasn't like Santana is a great risk to anyone's 2008 playoff hopes. Ergo, no one wanted to play ball --- as the months dragged on, they knew Smith would be more desperate to get rid of Santana (keeping him was not an option: Santana has already proven himself, so there's no reason for him to push himself in 2008 as a Twin; and Smith had to get something to justify losing Santana). Therefore, January ends and the Twins take a bunch of very good (but let's face it, no A.Rod-type) prospects, Johan will get $25 million, and the Mets replace Glavine with a younger and fresher arm, and a legitimate run at the playoffs.

The only question remains is Nathan. I stated (see point 1) at the end of last season that the big questions facing the Twins were whether Hunter, Santana and Nathan were signed to long-term deals by spring training. Hunter's contract expired and he walked (as predicted), Santana was traded (I predicted he wouldn't be resigned), and Nathan's status remains unresolved. Nathan has indicated that he wants to stay in Minnesota, so I would expect Smith to ignore this as well, wait until mid-summer when he realizes (for again mysterious (see point 2) reasons (see point 2) that yet again we're going nowhere, and then scramble to try and trade Nathan away before July 30.

As I stated last fall, promoting Bill Smith was a big mistake (see point 3).

I like referencing myself, especially when I was right.

Call Me When You're Ready to Talk About Matt Kemp

Dodgers Offer Twins Moon, Stars For Johan Santana

NASHVILLE, TN—Dodgers GM Ned Colletti announced Monday that although he has nothing to offer in the way of financial or material wealth, he...

I might be getting a new HDTV soon

Cause if I have to watch the world series guy on FOX's commercial break one more time, I'm gonna punch my TV.