The Rake Magazine

How'd you like to see this coming at you?

If last night was any indication, either I've severely overestimated C.C. Sabathia or Eric Wedge way overused him during the season. Over 240 innings in a year is a lot these days. (Santana pitched 219 this year.)

Last night (and in game one of the Boston series) he just wasn't sharp at all. Zellar opined that it was because he was just tired...and he's not in very good shape to start with. Over 290 pounds is a lot of weight to move around. About 90 pounds more than Johan has to heft with each pitch.

Sabathia did go 4-1 against the Twins this year, though, while Santana was 0-5 against the Indians.

I'd still take Grady Sizemore for Mauer in a heartbeat though.

I was in the ticket sales office for the new Twins ballpark a few weeks ago. Actually, it must have been more than a few weeks ago because the Twins hadn't yet given up and fallen off the pennant chase earth.

On their big screen TV was a replay of the previous night's game with Cleveland and Grady Sizemore was batting. I have a soft spot for Grady Sizemore for a couple of reasons. I was visiting a friend in Cleveland a few years ago and we went to Jacobs Field (a lovely park) and I happened to be there when Sizemore played his first game for the Indians. He got a couple of hits, I recall, and made a nice play in the outfield. Reason two: he's a hell of a player.

I mentioned to the Twins receptionist that I sure wish the Twins had someone like Sizemore instead of Joe Mauer. It was all I could do to keep her from throwing me down the elevator shaft.

But, as they say in baseball, "You can look it up." Sizemore is at least twice as productive...and he plays every day.

I say we offer both Mauer and Cuddyer to Cleveland for Sizemore. I'm sure the response we'd get from the Clevelands would be quite amusing...along the lines of "What are you smoking, and where can I get some?" But who knows, maybe they'll be smoking something and agree to the deal.

Oh yeah, did I mention that I'd also trade Santana for C.C. Sabathia?

In my comment of yesterday, I accused the Strib of sending a photographer to illustrate the top of the front page story on the news that the airport was going to lower the dividers in some of the men's room stalls.

As many astute readers pointed out, it was an AP photo. I don't recall seeing the AP photo credit on yesterday's Strib web version of the story, but it's there today.

So, they only sent a reporter to cover the bathroom, not a photographer, too. So, they aren't quite as lame as I thought. Almost, but not quite.

Is no one willing to jump to their defense for putting the story at the top of the front page? How about for editorializing about it (and running the photo yet again, although not on the website) today? Any takers?

They not only wrote the story, they actually ran an AP photo of the men's room, just in case you ladies don't know what one looks like. (This cutline corrected from original.)

We've been having a debate around my house for several months now...since about the time Par (Mr. Ethics) Ridder took over at the Strib...about whether or not we should cancel our subscription to The Newspaper of the Very Local Twin Cities.

I've been saying yes, mostly because, bridge coverage aside, the paper is very weak tea indeed. Every day it seems less like the residual pride of the journalists left there is able to bubble through the crust of the utterly venal management to come through with a story that I care about.

The last straw was Saturday, though. The top of the front page was covered with this story. In case you failed to get your undies in a bunch about anonymous gay sex at the airport, the problem is going to be solved. Yup, the most important story in the Twin Cities on Saturday was that the airport will be lowering the dividers of the mens' room stalls at the airport. Too late for Larry Craig, of course, but the fears of Twin Citians who are concerned that sex (yes, sex!) happens between consenting adults have now been allayed.

I'll sleep better knowing that stuff I couldn't possibly care less about is being assiduously covered by the Strib. I thought that was the job of Channel 5.