Having two weeks off work in the middle of the summer is a wonderful thing. It's a time to recharge, to experience new things, and, yes, to tackle some household projects (it's not all fun and games).
Professionally, though, it's also a strange and acute reminder of how many things happen in the sports world. When you are accustomed to writing about things pretty much every day, two weeks can feel like a year — particularly in our existing up-to-the-second news cycle.
Events would happen, news would break, and I would form thoughts about them … only to snap back to reality a minute later and remember: Wait, you're on vacation. Let it go. But a few things lingered, so let's empty them out here — to illustrate again how fast we move on, even from very big news.
• When I started vacation, Brian Dozier was still on the Twins. It didn't figure to be for long given his contract status, the swirling rumors and the departures of so many teammates, but there is still a difference between conjecture and the reality of action.
Dozier's fate was really sealed in the winter and spring when time passed and a contract extension never arrived. And the handling of Dozier's situation represented one of the truest departures from the Terry Ryan era to the new regime.
Emotion, loyalty and stability probably would have resulted in at least a three-year deal under Ryan based on Dozier's past production and influence. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine saw cheaper options waiting in the wings and presumably didn't want to pay for what traditionally would be the 31-year-old Dozier's decline years.
Dozier has a 1.073 OPS with the Dodgers (that would rank in the top five in MLB if it were over a full season). He might win a ring with Los Angeles. The Twins? The whole year has been a recalibration that kicked the can of true contention down the road at least another two years.
• The Vikings are seldom dull, regardless of the time of year, and these last two weeks were prime examples. Among other things, I missed the Stefon Diggs extension, Nick Easton going on injured reserve and the brief saga of Richie Incognito.