Gomez has sore back and other notes
I’m pretty sure this isn’t a big deal, but Gomez will be sitting out until Friday with a sore back. With the way the schedule works, it makes sense for him not to play. We have two road games this week, so he will be sticking around the Twins complex. When you have a sore back, sitting on a bus for hours doesn’t speed up the healing process. I’m sure he will be fine in no time, but this is a good chance to get him some rest.
Not really much other news today. The Twins hit four bombs yesterday against the O’s. And won.
Japan beat Korea in 10 innings last night in the finals of the WBC. So we are done with this for a few years.
The West Michigan White Caps have introduced this as their newest concession item. I almost threw up when I saw it. Anything that has nearly 5,000 calories shouldn’t be sold to the public. I’d prefer it if they sold beer and cigarettes to children than this burger. I mean come on, who in their right mind would eat this. I don’t even know HOW I would eat. I guess with Minor League baseball you need to attract fans somehow, maybe if the fans spend part of a season eating these things they will eventually have to buy two seats. Just like that, double your attendance. Genius!
The Marlins got fundingfrom Miami-Dade county for their new stadium. They got 515 million for the baseball only stadium, and 94 million for surrounding parking structures. Say what you will about tax-payer funded stadiums, but if there is one team in the Majors who doesn’t deserve one, its the Marlins. Maybe the Nats too, but that ship has sailed. I mean, most teams who have a tax-payer funded park have at least tried to put a winning team on the field. Maybe not every year, but its hard to remain competitive year in and year out, it goes in cycles. The O’s seem to be on the rebound, the Mariners are in a rebuilding period, etc. The only team that has no obligation to put a winning team on the field is the Giants. Since they paid for their stadium themselves. They can do as they please, I guess. The 94 million for parking will be repaid to the county as the team sells the spaces. Jeff Loria has to either sell the team, or get committed to having a good team by the time the stadium is up and running in 2012. That means lock up Hanley Ramirez and your good young pitchers. The team will also be changing their name to the Miami Marlins. I think that sounds dumb, but it was part of the agreement.
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That Japan/Korea game lasted a long time. As a result, I’m exhausted today. I blame Japan, who left like 18 men on base last night.
I hope Gomez is okay, but I’m not worried. Of course, not being worried about Mauer didn’t really work out too well.
That “burger” looks awesome. I hope the t-shirt says “I had a heart attack and all I got was this stupid t-shirt.” I would definitely try to eat one of those.
There is just too much going on with that burger.
I can’t imagine the Gomez problem is very serious, and I apologize for bringing it up. He just needs a little rest. Driving all over florida on a bus will make anyone sore. Oh, and there is that whole diving around the outfield and sliding into bases thing.
And he’s been swinging his ass off, which probably puts a bit of strain on his back.
Fortunately for him (and us), we have two center fielders so we can give him plenty of time off.
I got bored with the WBC once Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and Italy were out. (Teams with Twins connections, of course.) I couldn’t wholeheartedly root for Team USA because that would mean rooting for Kevin Youkilis. Shudder.
I didn’t watch much of the game last night, either- and when I did tune in, Bud Selig was in the announcers’ booth. No thanks. Good for Japan, but I’m glad it’s over.
I was actually cheering for teams with Twins connections to lose as quickly as possible. I don’t like having one of our team leaders (Morneau) and our starting shortstop (Punto) away from camp. However, we have had this discussion semmingly a million times.
Yeah I’m not going to get into that again until 2012.
Anyway, what annoys me most about the WBC right NOW is that I finally got into it and now it’s over. And now I have to wait an interminable two weeks before the season starts.
The WBC is a horrible tease.
At least it’s only two weeks. I don’t care about basketball or hockey, so the period between the Superbowl and Opening Day can be loooong.
You think Baker will be straightened out by then? He hasn’t looked too good so far.
I think Baker will be fine. I don’t really worry about him.
I also want to clarify when I said the Giants have no obligation to put a winning team on the field. They do to their paying customers, but if the team is bad the fans can stay away. Whereas with a tax-payer funded stadium even if the fans stay away, they already paid for the park.
I agree about an owner’s “obligation.” If he owns the stadium and the team, he has no obligation to the public to attempt to put a winning product on the field. (Of course, they have no obligation to go to the stadium unless he does; this is how the market should work.)
But if the people bought him the stadium, and he owes them half a billion dollars, then he’d damn well better put up some more cash and push harder for a winning team.
I also find it hilarious that all the other owners hate Peter Magowen, since they spend their time complaining about needing a publicly financed stadium, saying its impossible to do it privately, he goes out and does it, leaving all the other owners looking like idiots. but they still get their free money in the end. Although, one of the pros of a tax-payer funded stadium, it all but ensures the team will stick around. If the county makes the team sign a 50 year lease as part of the stadium agreement the team is stuck there. If the owner decides to move the team (or contract it) he can just sell the stadium to some soccer team or some such nonsense. I believe the lease the Twins had with the Dome was one of the driving forces behind them staying in Minnesota.