Notes, quotes and comment

The Twins had an off day Thursday to contemplate their 8-25 record. Let's look at something -- somethings -- else, because almost anything is more appealing.

* Casey Fien, who was claimed by the Dodgers on waivers by the Twins and optioned to their Triple A affiliate in Salt Lake City, has now been waived by the Dodgers. This time he went unclaimed. So he's not only in the minors, but he's off the 40-man roster.

* Baseball America's mock draft 2.0 -- the Twins pick 14th, just above the mid-point of the first round -- has the Twins picking a high school pitcher. The specific name in the mock draft is Matt Manning of Sacramento, but BA links the Twins to a few other prep pitchers.

The baseball draft is always an exercise in patience, and drafting high school pitchers is particularly so. If that's the route the Twins go, it will be a long wait for this selection to make an impact in the majors.

After reading "The Arm," the Jeff Passan book about Tommy John surgery, I'm not enthused by the notion of spending high picks on pitchers, on the basis that anybody who shows enough velocity to be a first round pick already has a damaged arm. But ... there are a lot of ways for first round picks to go sideways or collapse on teams, and somebody has to pitch.

* Public Policy Polling did a survey on sports fandom. According to PPP:

• 42 percent consider themselves fans of major league baseball, second to the NFL;
• Almost two-thirds (65 percent) would prefer to do away with the designated hitter;
• A slim majority want Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in the Hall of Fame.

I personally agree with the latter two points, but I also notice that the poll says more fans side with the players in labor disputes than with the owners, and I really doubt that's the case.