The irrepressible Jason (and I use that term fondly) ended the last thread with a plea that we no longer talk about free-agent acquisitions. However, I am an advocate of free speech (short of falsely yelling “fire” in a crowded theater and “Mike Lowell” for a team that plays on turf) and am loathe to dictate behavior.

For the most part, we are a reasonable crowd here in Section 220 and I understand the combination of frustration and fatigue that sets in. I believe in the notion that most of the serious stuff takes place in a way that becomes public quickly and suddenly, at least when management has some control over the situation. As fans, we are still in the backwash of the public serial drama that surrounded last winter’s Santana trade and Hunter departure. The Delmon deal hasn’t worked out so far and we have not chosen to make a big deal out of the fact that Craig Breslow has taken over as the reigning Sandy Koufax of the major leagues. (That’s the distinction of being the best Jewish lefty in baseball, of course. Sorry, Scott Schoeneweis) Signing Sean Henn (not a tyPo) as a minor-league agent doesn’t do much (2-6, 7.56 in part of four MLB seasons),

The hot stove is cooling a bit. I mean, there’s something reassuring about driving home through the snow listening to XM’s Home Plate even if it means overdosing on the Sabathia signing, WWMD (What will Manny do?), contract ho’ Rafael Fercal Furcal and the greatness of the Boston Red Sox’ front office. Bringing up XM also allows me to point out that “Baseball This Morning” is no longer a must listen now that the Mark Patrick-Buck Martinez team has been ousted. They knew the game and conveyed more fun than the current guys — and provided listeners with the added benefit of an occasional reading from Section 220.

Here are a few good hot-stove fixes:

*Get ahold of Seth Stohs’ 2009 “Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook.” It’s 80 pages of minor-league analysis from Section 220’s favorite non-Strib blog. Lots of detail about minor-leaguers and an entertaining foreword by Pat Neshek. Seth pretty much tabbed Neshek as a prospect before Neshek knew he was a prospect, so the foreword is a nice way for the reliever to return the love. You can order it here.

*Make sure you have cable enough to get the MLB Network, which debuts January 1. All baseball all the time. And the network will give you a chance to record the Ken Burns baseball series, which will be running on Tuesday night.  Here’s more about the network from mlb.com. One suggestion:The aforementioned Mark Patrick is on the free-agent market. MLB Network should sign him.

*Circle Jan. 24 on your calendar for the “2nd Annual Last Hot Stove League Banquet.” Last year’s was supposed to be the last one, but they lied. If you went, you heard Bill Lee ramble and Clark Griffith offer context and Mike Veeck retell the story of Disco Demolition Night. Umpire Tim Tschida is confirmed for this year and there are Corey Koskie rumors going around. It’s going to be at the Harriet Island Pavilion and you can find out more, become a sponsor or donate an auction item by calling Julian Loscalzo at 651-227-3437. (I’ll be donating a chance to watch a game with me in the Section 220 seats.)

And if the Twins haven’t done anything by then, we can organize a march on the Metrodome.

If we don’t talk before then, enjoy the Holidays.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am and is filed under Hot links, Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.