Baseball in tragedy.

 It's just a heavy time in the Twin Cities. The results of yesterday's death of Renee Good in south Minneapolis is a tragedy for any right thinking human being, regardless of where you assign culpability, as she was a mother who was killed on what is now an international stage. Tensions were already high, and instead of mourning and introspection that we often get after a tragedy, there has been retrenchment and finger pointing. Tension has only ratcheted up, and there is no backing down. Federal agents shot Ms. Good, and federal agents shot two people in Portland just a day later. 

This is in the wake of American military action in Venezuela, and threatened ongoing action elsewhere, raising anxiety for a lot of people, at home and abroad. Making it worse is the completely disparate opinion on literally every component of the matter. Yes, right minded people mourn for the children who lost for their mother, but that is where agreement ends. Beyond that, instead of trying to find a way forward, there is animosity between the state and federal government, the left and right on the political spectrum, and among the left and among the right. Everyone is yelling. 

We all just need a fucking break. 

I am grateful for the baseball offseason this time of year, because it allows for the break. I hope everyone is able to remove themselves from the constant stream of negative emotion in whatever means that is for you, if for a moment. I'm sorry if you were hoping that this would be an escape for you, but unfortunately like so many other writers and Minnesotans, writing is therapeutic. 

If you poke around the Twins blogosphere, you'll be struck by how negative it is. It does seem pretty silly, especially today, to be so hung up on bullpen construction in the wake of everything going on, but it is an escape. But the real world implications of what is going on in the world will come up, if not now, then in the season. If nothing else, I've thought about them.

For example, what is the reputation that Minneapolis has, and where does it stand in the mind of players and staff that may ultimately come to Minnesota? Will Pablo Day be different, when Target Field is full of Venezuelan flags and representatives, honoring the beloved Venezuelan starting pitcher? 

Today was the day for arbitration filing. The Twins only have one player that was unable to come to terms with the team - Joe Ryan. They filed $400,000 apart, which is a little more than half of the major league minimum. It's easy to look askance at the Pohlads and their cheap reputation, but that total isn't really that far off from most of the players that couldn't come to terms with their teams (except for Tarik Skubal, who was $13m higher than what the Tigers suggested).

It's a reminder that ownership, even of the good teams, is in it to make money, with less concern for their employees or fans individual enjoyment than we might hope. The owners are removed from the game, and from the plight of the people they are supposed to represent. We can talk about how much money players make, but they are still the little man, the employees of a larger, self interested organization.

Most importantly, they will be the ones wearing the jersey. the one's representing Minnesota in front of all of us and whatever media is observing it. This isn't a rallying cry for the Twins. It's a rallying cry for Minnesota. It's good to have something that brings us together, and to be represented by something other than violence and tragedy. Even if it's just a break. Take care, everyone.