The 2009 NFL Draft is finally here! I'm extra excited about this draft as a Vikings fan because the Purple didn't get a pick in last year's draft. They ended up trading their first and two third round picks for Jared Allen. It's safe to say that trade paid off big time, but I did miss having a first round selection. Heading into the draft this year, the Vikes need help at a few positions: OT, WR, and CB. I believe it's critical that they draft a play-making wide receiver in round number one. My preference: Florida's Percy Harvin. I know that he has had some drug issues, but there is no denying this guys play-making ability. He is a threat to score every time he touches the football. He is a winner. You can use him in so many different ways. Maybe most importantly, he will put people in the seats. Harvin and Adrian Peterson on the field at the same time would be very scary for opposing defensive coordinators. Because the Vikings QB situation is not ideal, they need as many play makers on the field as possible to make up for it. Berrian, Harvin, Peterson, Wade, Rice, and Shiancoe give whoever the Vikes QB is several high caliber options. A wide receiver duo of Berrian and Harvin might be the fastest in the NFL. Put that with the best running back in the NFL and you have one dangerous offense, even with a mediocre QB of Rosenfels or T-Jack. If Harvin is off the board at 22, I would love to nab North Carolina WR Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is a big, strong, physical wide receiver who would be a nice compliment to Berrian. Some people like him as the wide receiver with the best potential for NFL success in this draft. The pick has to be Harvin or Nicks, NOT an offensive tackle at 22.
In the second round, I'd like to see the Vikes target the offensive line. They have moved up in the second round the past two years and I would love to see them do it again to draft Oklahoma OT Phil Loadholt. The guy is a beast at 6'8'' and would allow the Vikes to finally run to the right side. Copyright Paul Allen, "he would be a tremendous power blocker for Adrian."He would also probably start the season opener in Cleveland. If the pick isn't Loadholt, I'd love the Vikes to consider West Virginia QB Pat White. Like Harvin, White just makes plays. Could you imagine a wild cat with White and Adrian? Oh my! It's more of an outside the box selection, but if you can't get Loadholt, get Mr. White. Later in the draft, I would target CB, more OT, and depth on the defensive line.
This is a big draft for the Vikes. They are the defending champs in the division and they must improve their team today. Here's hoping Harvin and Loadholt are wearing purple by the end of the day. SKOL!!! Enjoy the draft.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Twins Beat Indians, 5-1
Now that is more like it. The formula the Minnesota Twins used in defeating the Cleveland Indians last night was the one they want to see more often. Seven innings for the starter, one inning for the setup man, and then turn it over to the hammer. Nick Blackburn was magnificent over seven, Jose Mijares made quick work of the Indians in the eighth, and Joe Nathan was his usual self in the ninth. Starting pitching is so critical to the Twins' success because they don't have a powerful lineup. Blackburn gave the Twins exactly what they needed. Talent wise, I think the Twins have the best rotation in the division, and one of the best in all of baseball. However, they haven't performed like it so far. Glenn Perkins has been phenomenal and Blackburn was on last night, but Baker, Liriano, and Slowey have all been dreadful so far. Slowey did have a good last start against the Angels, so we'll see if he can keep it going tonight. This is a group of young pitchers that are very good friends and try to feed off each other's success. Hopefully, Blackburn started something the others can build on. The Twins need that to happen in order to be successful. One other note: Justin Morneau hit an absolute bomb in the third inning. I can't wait to see him hit behind Mr. Mauer when the catcher returns on May 1.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Twins Notes
The Twins open a short two game series at Fenway Park in Boston tonight. I love watching the Twins play in historic parks like this against the Goliath's of baseball. Hopefully, they can get a couple wins and cause some major disappointment in Red Sox Nation. Here are some thoughts on my mind after last weekend's sweep of the Angels and heading into this series.
-Joe Mauer is expected to return on May 1 against the Royals at the Dome. The Twins have managed to go 7-7 without their star catcher, but just think of where they could be with him on the roster. Mauer has been making very good progress in his rehab, so unless there's a set back, he will be back on the field next week. It will be a huge lift for the Twins at the plate, obviously, but maybe more importantly it will be a huge lift to the pitching staff. Mauer calls a terrific game and handles the young Twins pitchers exceptionally well. Many have said that they can basically go on auto-pilot when Mauer calls the game because they never have to shake him off. The Twins pitching had gotten off to a rocky start before this past weekend, so the return of Mauer is critical on both sides of the ball.
-Jason Kubel had a weekend to remember. Obviously, the highlight came Friday night when he capped off a cycle with a game winning grand slam in the 8th inning. Kubel has had a flair for the dramatic over the years and is really starting to show his potential. Let's not forget that this guy was as highly touted as Joe Mauer as he made his way through the Twins minor league system. Injuries really halted Kubel's progress, but he has fought back admirably and has become one of the Twins best hitters.
-Great progress by the starting pitching over the weekend. Nick Blackburn looked decent on Friday, Kevin Slowey pitched very well on Saturday, and Glenn Perkins continued his early season dominance with yet another 8 inning gem on Sunday. Perkins has been absolutely sensational through his first three starts, going 8 innings in each of them. He finally got enough run support to pick up his first win as well. If Perkins, who was expected to be the number five starter, can keep pitching well it will be a huge lift for the Twins starting staff.
-Jesse Crain was placed on the 15-day DL yesterday with an inflamed right shoulder. It doesn't appear to be anything serious, but the Twins wanted to be cautious, as usual. I'm not too concerned about this, but I do really like Jesse Crain and think he's a critical part of the Twins bullpen. I do also, however, think it's a great opportunity for Jose Mijares. He came into camp too heavy and was very ineffective. He has performed well at Rochester so far, however, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He will give the Twins another lefty option out of the pen to go along with Craig Breslow and Mijares will definitely be an option to turn to late in games. If he performs well in the next week or two, he might find himself on this roster to stay.
-There has been some talk of sending Carlos Gomez down to the minors (Howard Skinner's blog on startribune.com). I absolutely disagree with anyone who suggests this for a couple reasons. While it would certainly help Gomez from a personal development standpoint, I think it would hurt the team. Why? Because Gomez can be extremely valuable coming off the bench as the fourth outfielder. He can pinch run late in games and he can also be a late inning defensive replacement for either Delmon Young or Michael Cuddyer. Gomez might cover more ground in the outfield than anyone else in all of baseball and he is also one of the fastest runners in the game. Gomez can be an asset to the Twins off the bench and it wouldn't serve the TEAM best to send him down. And, god forbid, he can give Michael Cuddyer an occasional day off in the outfield. Fancy that, Mr. Gardenhire.
-The addition of Juan Morillo really intrigues me. The former Rockies reliever can throw extremely hard, with a fastball between 95-98 mph on the gun. His problem throughout his career has been his control, but if there's any place he can improve that aspect of his game, it's in Minnesota. The Twins, of course, are known for their control pitchers. Look for pitching coach Rick Anderson to work a lot with Morillo on his mechanics. Other than his blazing fastball, Morillo features an occasional change up and a hard slider. He's not an option late in games yet because the Twins consider him more of a project, but don't be surprised if you see Morillo pitching in the 7th and 8th inning in the near future. This guy has an unbelievable arm. He looked great in his first outing, so let's hope he can help the Twins solve some of their bullpen problems. It's worth a try.
Hopefully, Kubel's slam on Friday night was exactly what the Twins needed to wake them up from their early season slumber. It certainly propelled them to a three-game sweep of the Angels over the weekend. With the knowledge that Joe Mauer is coming back soon, all the Twins need to do is keep winning so that Mauer can just jump right in and be the spark plug. Let's keep it going tonight at Fenway. Go Twins!!!
-Joe Mauer is expected to return on May 1 against the Royals at the Dome. The Twins have managed to go 7-7 without their star catcher, but just think of where they could be with him on the roster. Mauer has been making very good progress in his rehab, so unless there's a set back, he will be back on the field next week. It will be a huge lift for the Twins at the plate, obviously, but maybe more importantly it will be a huge lift to the pitching staff. Mauer calls a terrific game and handles the young Twins pitchers exceptionally well. Many have said that they can basically go on auto-pilot when Mauer calls the game because they never have to shake him off. The Twins pitching had gotten off to a rocky start before this past weekend, so the return of Mauer is critical on both sides of the ball.
-Jason Kubel had a weekend to remember. Obviously, the highlight came Friday night when he capped off a cycle with a game winning grand slam in the 8th inning. Kubel has had a flair for the dramatic over the years and is really starting to show his potential. Let's not forget that this guy was as highly touted as Joe Mauer as he made his way through the Twins minor league system. Injuries really halted Kubel's progress, but he has fought back admirably and has become one of the Twins best hitters.
-Great progress by the starting pitching over the weekend. Nick Blackburn looked decent on Friday, Kevin Slowey pitched very well on Saturday, and Glenn Perkins continued his early season dominance with yet another 8 inning gem on Sunday. Perkins has been absolutely sensational through his first three starts, going 8 innings in each of them. He finally got enough run support to pick up his first win as well. If Perkins, who was expected to be the number five starter, can keep pitching well it will be a huge lift for the Twins starting staff.
-Jesse Crain was placed on the 15-day DL yesterday with an inflamed right shoulder. It doesn't appear to be anything serious, but the Twins wanted to be cautious, as usual. I'm not too concerned about this, but I do really like Jesse Crain and think he's a critical part of the Twins bullpen. I do also, however, think it's a great opportunity for Jose Mijares. He came into camp too heavy and was very ineffective. He has performed well at Rochester so far, however, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He will give the Twins another lefty option out of the pen to go along with Craig Breslow and Mijares will definitely be an option to turn to late in games. If he performs well in the next week or two, he might find himself on this roster to stay.
-There has been some talk of sending Carlos Gomez down to the minors (Howard Skinner's blog on startribune.com). I absolutely disagree with anyone who suggests this for a couple reasons. While it would certainly help Gomez from a personal development standpoint, I think it would hurt the team. Why? Because Gomez can be extremely valuable coming off the bench as the fourth outfielder. He can pinch run late in games and he can also be a late inning defensive replacement for either Delmon Young or Michael Cuddyer. Gomez might cover more ground in the outfield than anyone else in all of baseball and he is also one of the fastest runners in the game. Gomez can be an asset to the Twins off the bench and it wouldn't serve the TEAM best to send him down. And, god forbid, he can give Michael Cuddyer an occasional day off in the outfield. Fancy that, Mr. Gardenhire.
-The addition of Juan Morillo really intrigues me. The former Rockies reliever can throw extremely hard, with a fastball between 95-98 mph on the gun. His problem throughout his career has been his control, but if there's any place he can improve that aspect of his game, it's in Minnesota. The Twins, of course, are known for their control pitchers. Look for pitching coach Rick Anderson to work a lot with Morillo on his mechanics. Other than his blazing fastball, Morillo features an occasional change up and a hard slider. He's not an option late in games yet because the Twins consider him more of a project, but don't be surprised if you see Morillo pitching in the 7th and 8th inning in the near future. This guy has an unbelievable arm. He looked great in his first outing, so let's hope he can help the Twins solve some of their bullpen problems. It's worth a try.
Hopefully, Kubel's slam on Friday night was exactly what the Twins needed to wake them up from their early season slumber. It certainly propelled them to a three-game sweep of the Angels over the weekend. With the knowledge that Joe Mauer is coming back soon, all the Twins need to do is keep winning so that Mauer can just jump right in and be the spark plug. Let's keep it going tonight at Fenway. Go Twins!!!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Kubel Caps Off Cycle With Grand Slam!
What a night for Jason Kubel! In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Angels intentionally walked Justin Morneau to load the bases for Kubel. I don't think the Angels will repeat that strategy any time soon. Jason Kubel absolutely destroyed an 0-1 pitch from Jason Bulger for a grand slam to cap off a cycle. Does it get any better than that?! What a comeback by the Twins, who looked dead in the water when they were down 9-4. Kubel's grand slam capped off a tremendous comeback, Joe Nathan pitched his usual 1-2-3 ninth, and the Twins were victorious, 11-9. This is the type of game that could get the Twins, who were really slumping this past week, on a roll. The Twins are really missing Joe Mauer, but if they can start playing well before he gets back in a couple weeks, then the return of Mauer can just give them an added boost and continue the momentum. Huge victory for the Twins last night. Congratulations, Mr. Kubel. YES!!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Twins Lose Two of Three to White Sox
After Friday night's impressive victory over the hated South Siders at the Cell, a series victory looked promising. However, things took a sharp turn south, as the Twins offense fell flat in the final two games of the series. Here is my reaction to the series in Chicago and the first week of the season, in which the Twins went 3-4.
-The Twins pitching and hitting has been very inconsistent so far. In their four losses, the Twins have scored a total of two runs. In their three wins, they have scored 24 runs. It's clear that the Twins are missing Joe Mauer in the lineup right now, but they still should be putting up better performances. Hopefully, they can get on track when they start a seven game home stand at the Dome tonight. On the pitching side, Glenn Perkins has been the only starter to deliver a solid performance thus far. This is probably due in part to the absence of Mauer and his ability to call such a good game that the pitchers just go on auto pilot and don't shake him off at all. In addition, Scott Baker makes his first start this week after a brief appearance on the DL. Liriano, Slowey, and Blackburn all have to improve, and Perkins needs to do just what he did in his first outing. The return of Baker should help solidify things, and Mauer's eventual return behind the plate in a couple weeks should help as well. The Twins just haven't looked that sharp so far, with the exception of Friday against the Sox.
-Speaking of Friday, what a game it was! Joe Crede was greeted very warmly by the Sox faithful, but proceeded to hit a home run in his first at-bat, drawing boos from the same fans that gave him a standing ovation moments earlier. Crede's home run was the obvious highlight of the series. It was sweet to hear Hawk Harrelson call Crede's bomb. In your face, Hawk! You can put it on the board....YEEEeeeeSSSS!!!!! Crede looks good in a Twins uniform.
-I like Justin Morneau in the 3 hole until Mauer returns. The Twins need someone who can make contact and consistently get on base. Michael Cuddyer wasn't doing that in his brief time batting third. He struck out way too much and isn't a patient enough hitter. Usually, you put your best hitter in the 3 hole. With Mauer out, Morneau clearly fits that bill. In his first game there on Friday, he was terrific, belting a home run and driving in four.
-Gardy's outfield rotation still bugs me. In my opinion, Delmon Young, Jason Kubel, and Denard Span need to be in the lineup virtually every day. Span is self-explanatory. He is the leadoff hitter and is a terrific catalyst for this team. He is also probably the best defensive outfielder on the team. As for Young and Kubel, they need to be in there to provide some punch to this lineup. Let's not forget, Kubel was second on the team in home runs last year with 20 and Young has adjusted his approach to generate more power. We saw that on display in his first at bat in Chicago on Sunday when he launched a home run to deep center field. I hate how people like to rag on Delmon Young. While his defense isn't great, it's no worse than Michael Cuddyer's. Plus, Young is unquestionably the most talented of any of the outfielders. He needs to play almost every day. I think Michael Cuddyer and Carlos Gomez should be the ones rotating in and out of the lineup. Cuddyer has had one good season in his career and that was when he was batting in between a batting champ and an MVP. He will probably never again reach the level he did in '06. As for Gomez, he's got great potential, but he shouldn't be playing more than Young. He is still impatient at the plate and doesn't generate much power. Plus, he is a terrific pinch runner or late inning defensive replacement off the bench. My message to Gardy is to quit playing favorites and play the best players. This lineup needs as much punch as it can get, so Delmon and Kubel need to be in there as much as possible.
More to come this week, as the Twins host the Blue Jays and Angels at the Dome. Let's get on a roll.
My condolences to the families of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas. Adenhart was a terrific up and coming prospect and it is a terrible tragedy that he died in the way that he did. Kalas was one of the great broadcasters in the business. Phillies games won't be the same without him. I'm glad he got to call a World Series win for his Phils last year.
-The Twins pitching and hitting has been very inconsistent so far. In their four losses, the Twins have scored a total of two runs. In their three wins, they have scored 24 runs. It's clear that the Twins are missing Joe Mauer in the lineup right now, but they still should be putting up better performances. Hopefully, they can get on track when they start a seven game home stand at the Dome tonight. On the pitching side, Glenn Perkins has been the only starter to deliver a solid performance thus far. This is probably due in part to the absence of Mauer and his ability to call such a good game that the pitchers just go on auto pilot and don't shake him off at all. In addition, Scott Baker makes his first start this week after a brief appearance on the DL. Liriano, Slowey, and Blackburn all have to improve, and Perkins needs to do just what he did in his first outing. The return of Baker should help solidify things, and Mauer's eventual return behind the plate in a couple weeks should help as well. The Twins just haven't looked that sharp so far, with the exception of Friday against the Sox.
-Speaking of Friday, what a game it was! Joe Crede was greeted very warmly by the Sox faithful, but proceeded to hit a home run in his first at-bat, drawing boos from the same fans that gave him a standing ovation moments earlier. Crede's home run was the obvious highlight of the series. It was sweet to hear Hawk Harrelson call Crede's bomb. In your face, Hawk! You can put it on the board....YEEEeeeeSSSS!!!!! Crede looks good in a Twins uniform.
-I like Justin Morneau in the 3 hole until Mauer returns. The Twins need someone who can make contact and consistently get on base. Michael Cuddyer wasn't doing that in his brief time batting third. He struck out way too much and isn't a patient enough hitter. Usually, you put your best hitter in the 3 hole. With Mauer out, Morneau clearly fits that bill. In his first game there on Friday, he was terrific, belting a home run and driving in four.
-Gardy's outfield rotation still bugs me. In my opinion, Delmon Young, Jason Kubel, and Denard Span need to be in the lineup virtually every day. Span is self-explanatory. He is the leadoff hitter and is a terrific catalyst for this team. He is also probably the best defensive outfielder on the team. As for Young and Kubel, they need to be in there to provide some punch to this lineup. Let's not forget, Kubel was second on the team in home runs last year with 20 and Young has adjusted his approach to generate more power. We saw that on display in his first at bat in Chicago on Sunday when he launched a home run to deep center field. I hate how people like to rag on Delmon Young. While his defense isn't great, it's no worse than Michael Cuddyer's. Plus, Young is unquestionably the most talented of any of the outfielders. He needs to play almost every day. I think Michael Cuddyer and Carlos Gomez should be the ones rotating in and out of the lineup. Cuddyer has had one good season in his career and that was when he was batting in between a batting champ and an MVP. He will probably never again reach the level he did in '06. As for Gomez, he's got great potential, but he shouldn't be playing more than Young. He is still impatient at the plate and doesn't generate much power. Plus, he is a terrific pinch runner or late inning defensive replacement off the bench. My message to Gardy is to quit playing favorites and play the best players. This lineup needs as much punch as it can get, so Delmon and Kubel need to be in there as much as possible.
More to come this week, as the Twins host the Blue Jays and Angels at the Dome. Let's get on a roll.
My condolences to the families of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas. Adenhart was a terrific up and coming prospect and it is a terrible tragedy that he died in the way that he did. Kalas was one of the great broadcasters in the business. Phillies games won't be the same without him. I'm glad he got to call a World Series win for his Phils last year.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Twins Notes
-The Twins went 2-2 in their first series of the year against the Seattle Mariners at the Dome, but probably should have lost 3 of 4. The only quality start came from Glenn Perkins, which ended up being in a losing effort. Not only were the Twins bats quiet on Thursday, but they didn't make much noise throughout the rest of the series either. Pitching will carry this team, so expect the starters to perform much better than they did the first time around. Also, this team clearly misses Joe Mauer's presence in the lineup. The Twins are missing their best hitter and their top starting pitcher right now. Scott Baker will probably return next week, and Mauer should be back by the end of the month. Once both stars return, the Twins will be set. Tuesday night's game at the Dome was the start of the last season of Metrodome magic, as the Twins miraculously scored 3 runs with 2 out to win the game.
-I already don't like Manager Ron Gardenhire's outfield rotation. Batting Michael Cuddyer in the 3 hole on a daily basis is a bad idea. He strikes out way too much to justify it and he is a pure guess hitter. Also, Gardy has sat Jason Kubel against most lefties so far. Kubel needs to be in the lineup every day. So far, when Delmon Young has played, Kubel has sat. Delmon and Kubel should be in the lineup virtually every day. I understand why Gardy wants to play Span every day, and to an extent, I can see why he want the veteran Cuddyer in the lineup every day. However, if that's the case, put Carlos Gomez into the rotation as well. Right now, it's only a rotation between Young and Kubel, with the other three in the lineup every day. In my opinion, Denard Span should be the only one in the everyday lineup because he's the lead off hitter and he does a damn good job in that position. Cuddyer, Gomez, Young, and Kubel should all be in a rotation. I understand it's a tough job for Gardy, but he can't just play favorites and just sit Young and Kubel. And stop batting Cuddy third!
-The Twins and White Sox renew their rivalry tonight at U.S. Cellular Field, as the Twins travel to Chicago for the first time since being eliminated in Game 163 a season ago. Regardless of what people think coming into the year, the AL Central usually comes down to the Twins and Sox. Even though it's only April, expect the atmosphere to be intense. It always is when these two teams meet up. It will be very interesting to see how knuckleballer R.A. Dickey fares tonight at the Cell.
-Joe Crede hasn't been terrific at the plate so far, but his defense has been as good as advertised. In the first game, he cut off a ball that Brian Buscher would have never gotten two, and fed it to second for the start of a 5-4-3 double play. His range has looked great, he is slick, and he has a cannon arm. Just wait for the home runs to start coming off his bat. Hopefully, he hits some bombs starting tonight as he goes home to face his old team.
-Jose Morales has looked pretty shaky in his two games thus far. He struck out three times against Erik Bedard and his defense behind the plate wasn't strong. Luckily, Mike Redmond's injury wasn't serious enough to put him on the DL. Otherwise, the Twins would be stuck with two rookie catchers until Joe Mauer gets back.
-Justin Morneau hit an absolute bomb against Carlos Silva on Wednesday night. A beautiful sight to see and the first of many.
Let's get three victories this weekend over the dirty, hated South Siders. Go Twins!
-I already don't like Manager Ron Gardenhire's outfield rotation. Batting Michael Cuddyer in the 3 hole on a daily basis is a bad idea. He strikes out way too much to justify it and he is a pure guess hitter. Also, Gardy has sat Jason Kubel against most lefties so far. Kubel needs to be in the lineup every day. So far, when Delmon Young has played, Kubel has sat. Delmon and Kubel should be in the lineup virtually every day. I understand why Gardy wants to play Span every day, and to an extent, I can see why he want the veteran Cuddyer in the lineup every day. However, if that's the case, put Carlos Gomez into the rotation as well. Right now, it's only a rotation between Young and Kubel, with the other three in the lineup every day. In my opinion, Denard Span should be the only one in the everyday lineup because he's the lead off hitter and he does a damn good job in that position. Cuddyer, Gomez, Young, and Kubel should all be in a rotation. I understand it's a tough job for Gardy, but he can't just play favorites and just sit Young and Kubel. And stop batting Cuddy third!
-The Twins and White Sox renew their rivalry tonight at U.S. Cellular Field, as the Twins travel to Chicago for the first time since being eliminated in Game 163 a season ago. Regardless of what people think coming into the year, the AL Central usually comes down to the Twins and Sox. Even though it's only April, expect the atmosphere to be intense. It always is when these two teams meet up. It will be very interesting to see how knuckleballer R.A. Dickey fares tonight at the Cell.
-Joe Crede hasn't been terrific at the plate so far, but his defense has been as good as advertised. In the first game, he cut off a ball that Brian Buscher would have never gotten two, and fed it to second for the start of a 5-4-3 double play. His range has looked great, he is slick, and he has a cannon arm. Just wait for the home runs to start coming off his bat. Hopefully, he hits some bombs starting tonight as he goes home to face his old team.
-Jose Morales has looked pretty shaky in his two games thus far. He struck out three times against Erik Bedard and his defense behind the plate wasn't strong. Luckily, Mike Redmond's injury wasn't serious enough to put him on the DL. Otherwise, the Twins would be stuck with two rookie catchers until Joe Mauer gets back.
-Justin Morneau hit an absolute bomb against Carlos Silva on Wednesday night. A beautiful sight to see and the first of many.
Let's get three victories this weekend over the dirty, hated South Siders. Go Twins!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
2009 MLB Predictions
Here are my predictions for the 2009 baseball season:
National League
NL West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Los Angles Dodgers
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres
NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
NL East
1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies (Wild Card)
3. Florida Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Washington Nationals
American League
AL West
1. Los Angles Angels of Anaheim
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers
AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins (YES!)
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Detroit Tigers
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays
2. New York Yankees (Wild Card)
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays
Playoffs
AL Champion: Yankees
NL Champion: Cubs
World Series: Yankees over Cubs
I hate to do it, but I have to go with the Yankees to win it all this year. Let's hope I'm wrong.
National League
NL West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Los Angles Dodgers
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres
NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
NL East
1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies (Wild Card)
3. Florida Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Washington Nationals
American League
AL West
1. Los Angles Angels of Anaheim
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers
AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins (YES!)
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Detroit Tigers
AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays
2. New York Yankees (Wild Card)
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays
Playoffs
AL Champion: Yankees
NL Champion: Cubs
World Series: Yankees over Cubs
I hate to do it, but I have to go with the Yankees to win it all this year. Let's hope I'm wrong.
Minnesota Twins Roster Breakdown
Baseball is back! This is one of my favorite times of the year because we finally have our national past time to follow again. In addition, every team has hope that this is their year. Tomorrow, the Minnesota Twins will begin their pursuit of their first division title in three years. They aren't used to being favorites, but that's exactly what they'll be after surprising everyone by pushing the White Sox to game 163 last year. Ever since that fateful day when the Twins season ended in early October, Twins fans have been waiting to get back at it. The beginning of the season has finally come. Here is my breakdown of the Minnesota Twins roster.
Projected Opening Day Lineup
CF Denard Span
2B Alexi Casilla
RF Michael Cuddyer
1B Justin Morneau
DH Jason Kubel
3B Joe Crede
LF Delmon Young
C Mike Redmond
SS Nick Punto
Bench
OF Carlos Gomez
3B Brian Buscher
SS Brendan Harris
C Jose Morales
Infield
The Twins are strong on the corners. Justin Morneau is a perennial MVP candidate at first. He is obviously terrific at the plate and his fielding is becoming stellar as well. Third baseman Joe Crede was a huge addition because he finally gives the Twins some stability at the position. His health is the big question, but if healthy expect a terrific glove at third base and some solid power at the plate. Crede is certainly an All-Star caliber third baseman when healthy. Second baseman Alexi Casilla was a big spark after his call up last year. Look for maybe a slight drop off in his numbers, but Casilla is a guy that knows how to get on base with his speed. Shortstop Nick Punto is the biggest question mark. His defense is nothing short of phenomenal, but if he can bat around .260 or .270 the Twins will be happy. Punto is used to being a utility player, so he will have to make the adjustment to playing every day. Joe Crede and his health are the key to the success of this infield.
Outfield
The Twins have four very capable outfielders on their roster, which is definitely a luxury most teams don't have. In my opinion, Michael Cuddyer should be the odd man out, however, manager Ron Gardenhire plans to use Cuddy and Denard Span virtually every day, so look for Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez to be the ones switching in and out of the lineup. Span will probably see a drop off from his fantastic numbers of '08, but he is still a very patient lead off hitter and a phenomenal outfielder. With improved plate discipline, Carlos Gomez should see an increase in his average and power numbers. In addition, expect more stolen bases from the exciting young phenom. Delmon Young could have a break out year for the Twins this year. Young has changed his approach at the plate, so look for him to pull more balls and hit for more power. I believe Cuddyer is clearly the weakest of the four outfielders because other than his strong arm in right, nothing really stands out to me about his game. However, if healthy, he does have the ability to hit for some power. Jason Kubel can also play in the outfield, but will see most of his time in the DH position. Kubel had a very good year in '08. Look for more home runs and a bit higher average from him in 2009. The key to this outfield is either Cuddyer or Young having a terrific season.
Catchers
Mike Redmond and Jose Morales will have to hold down the fort until the God of Minnesota (Joe Mauer) returns from his back injury. Redmond calls a good game and does a good job hitting the ball to the opposite field. He's one of the best backup catchers in baseball. Morales is a switch hitter who is more known for his bat than his glove. Redmond will get most of the time behind the plate, but Morales will see action 2 or 3 times per week until Mauer is back. Obviously, when Joe Mauer gets back, the Twins will have the best catcher (hitting and fielding) in the league. The key for Redmond and Morales will be to call good games for the Twins young pitchers. The Twins pitchers have often said that they are able to go on auto pilot with Mauer behind the plate because they rarely have to shake him off. Much more important than their hitting is the ability of Redmond and Morales to duplicate Mauer's ability to call great games.
Bench
I love the versatility the Twins have on the bench this season. They will have one good outfielder as a pinch hitting option every night, in Young or Gomez. In addition, Brian Buscher has some pop in his bat and Brendan Harris has a good arm in the field and a decent bat as well. They will also have a pretty good hitting catcher on the bench each night.
Starting Rotation
LHP Francisco Liriano
RHP Nick Blackburn
RHP Kevin Slowey
LHP Glen Perkins
RHP R.A. Dickey
This is clearly the strength of the Minnesota Twins and has been for a long time. When Scott Baker comes back, the Twins will have five starters who put them in a position to win every time out. Francisco Liriano, in his second year back from Tommy John surgery, is primed for a terrific season. Control will be the key for the lefty phenom. Liriano has developed a nasty change up, much like that of Johan Santana, to go along with his fastball and filthy slider. The velocity on the fastball is down a bit, but the bite on the slider is still as good as it was in 2006. Liriano is the key to success for the Twins rotation. Nick Blackburn pitched amazingly in the one game playoff against the White Sox and was probably the most consistent Twins starter in '08. Kevin Slowey has the potential to win 20 games this year. He has exceptional control and a great change up. Glen Perkins has to stay out of big innings and learn how to hold on to leads, but the lefty possesses a good fastball and a sharp curve ball. R.A. Dickey will probably make only a couple starts for the Twins, but it will be interesting to see how the knuckleballer fares. Scott Baker will be key when he returns. Baker progressed a lot last year. He has good control and great movement on his pitches. More importantly, he has the mental toughness necessary to lead this pitching staff. I love the makeup of the Twins rotation. Two lefties and different styles of pitching should make it tough for opposing teams to prepare to face the Twins. One thing these pitchers do have in common is exceptional control, which is the base for their success. They are also very close, which helps in preparation and team chemistry. A young Braves rotation in the making? That remains to be seen, but look for a solid year from this group in 2009.
Bullpen
RHP Joe Nathan
RHP Jesse Crain
RHP Matt Guerrier
LHP Craig Breslow
RHP Luis Ayala
RHP Phillip Humber
LHP Brian Duensing
Probably the weakest part of this Twins team, but an aspect of the squad that has to be and can be good. Since he has come to the Twins, closer Joe Nathan has been the best stopper in baseball. The key to this bullpen will be Jesse Crain. If he can hold down the eighth inning, everything else should fall into place nicely. Crain had a decent '08 after coming off of shoulder surgery. The right hander has looked tremendous this spring. He has a blazing fastball and a nasty curve ball. I think Crain will settle in as the main set up man for the Twins this year. It's certainly what Ron Gardenhire envisions. Matt Guerrier, Craig Breslow, and Luis Ayala will be the other arms called upon most often. Guerrier and Ayala are coming off disappointing seasons, while Breslow did a very nice job for the Twins in 2008. Breslow will be the main left handed option for Gardy. Another lefty option will be Brian Duensing, who is seeing his first time in the big leagues. Phil Humber will be the main long reliever, but he hopefully won't have to be used that often considering how strong the starters are. Speaking of the starters, they are going to have to pitch a little deeper into games in 2009, in order to keep pressure off the pen. Matt Guerrier, Joe Nathan, and Dennys Reyes pitched way too many innings for the Twins in '08, and they really ran out of gas in September. The starters should be able to go a little further into games this year, in order to prevent a drop off from the bullpen late in the season due to being over worked.
DL
C Joe Mauer
RHP Scott Baker
My Picks to Click for the Twins in 2009:
Delmon Young
Justin Morneau
Francisco Liriano
Kevin Slowey
Jesse Crain
If they can stay healthy, the Twins are primed to win the American League Central in 2009. Let's hope six months from now we are looking ahead to the playoffs and celebrating a division championship!
Summer of Stun is back! Let's play!
GO TWINS!!!
Projected Opening Day Lineup
CF Denard Span
2B Alexi Casilla
RF Michael Cuddyer
1B Justin Morneau
DH Jason Kubel
3B Joe Crede
LF Delmon Young
C Mike Redmond
SS Nick Punto
Bench
OF Carlos Gomez
3B Brian Buscher
SS Brendan Harris
C Jose Morales
Infield
The Twins are strong on the corners. Justin Morneau is a perennial MVP candidate at first. He is obviously terrific at the plate and his fielding is becoming stellar as well. Third baseman Joe Crede was a huge addition because he finally gives the Twins some stability at the position. His health is the big question, but if healthy expect a terrific glove at third base and some solid power at the plate. Crede is certainly an All-Star caliber third baseman when healthy. Second baseman Alexi Casilla was a big spark after his call up last year. Look for maybe a slight drop off in his numbers, but Casilla is a guy that knows how to get on base with his speed. Shortstop Nick Punto is the biggest question mark. His defense is nothing short of phenomenal, but if he can bat around .260 or .270 the Twins will be happy. Punto is used to being a utility player, so he will have to make the adjustment to playing every day. Joe Crede and his health are the key to the success of this infield.
Outfield
The Twins have four very capable outfielders on their roster, which is definitely a luxury most teams don't have. In my opinion, Michael Cuddyer should be the odd man out, however, manager Ron Gardenhire plans to use Cuddy and Denard Span virtually every day, so look for Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez to be the ones switching in and out of the lineup. Span will probably see a drop off from his fantastic numbers of '08, but he is still a very patient lead off hitter and a phenomenal outfielder. With improved plate discipline, Carlos Gomez should see an increase in his average and power numbers. In addition, expect more stolen bases from the exciting young phenom. Delmon Young could have a break out year for the Twins this year. Young has changed his approach at the plate, so look for him to pull more balls and hit for more power. I believe Cuddyer is clearly the weakest of the four outfielders because other than his strong arm in right, nothing really stands out to me about his game. However, if healthy, he does have the ability to hit for some power. Jason Kubel can also play in the outfield, but will see most of his time in the DH position. Kubel had a very good year in '08. Look for more home runs and a bit higher average from him in 2009. The key to this outfield is either Cuddyer or Young having a terrific season.
Catchers
Mike Redmond and Jose Morales will have to hold down the fort until the God of Minnesota (Joe Mauer) returns from his back injury. Redmond calls a good game and does a good job hitting the ball to the opposite field. He's one of the best backup catchers in baseball. Morales is a switch hitter who is more known for his bat than his glove. Redmond will get most of the time behind the plate, but Morales will see action 2 or 3 times per week until Mauer is back. Obviously, when Joe Mauer gets back, the Twins will have the best catcher (hitting and fielding) in the league. The key for Redmond and Morales will be to call good games for the Twins young pitchers. The Twins pitchers have often said that they are able to go on auto pilot with Mauer behind the plate because they rarely have to shake him off. Much more important than their hitting is the ability of Redmond and Morales to duplicate Mauer's ability to call great games.
Bench
I love the versatility the Twins have on the bench this season. They will have one good outfielder as a pinch hitting option every night, in Young or Gomez. In addition, Brian Buscher has some pop in his bat and Brendan Harris has a good arm in the field and a decent bat as well. They will also have a pretty good hitting catcher on the bench each night.
Starting Rotation
LHP Francisco Liriano
RHP Nick Blackburn
RHP Kevin Slowey
LHP Glen Perkins
RHP R.A. Dickey
This is clearly the strength of the Minnesota Twins and has been for a long time. When Scott Baker comes back, the Twins will have five starters who put them in a position to win every time out. Francisco Liriano, in his second year back from Tommy John surgery, is primed for a terrific season. Control will be the key for the lefty phenom. Liriano has developed a nasty change up, much like that of Johan Santana, to go along with his fastball and filthy slider. The velocity on the fastball is down a bit, but the bite on the slider is still as good as it was in 2006. Liriano is the key to success for the Twins rotation. Nick Blackburn pitched amazingly in the one game playoff against the White Sox and was probably the most consistent Twins starter in '08. Kevin Slowey has the potential to win 20 games this year. He has exceptional control and a great change up. Glen Perkins has to stay out of big innings and learn how to hold on to leads, but the lefty possesses a good fastball and a sharp curve ball. R.A. Dickey will probably make only a couple starts for the Twins, but it will be interesting to see how the knuckleballer fares. Scott Baker will be key when he returns. Baker progressed a lot last year. He has good control and great movement on his pitches. More importantly, he has the mental toughness necessary to lead this pitching staff. I love the makeup of the Twins rotation. Two lefties and different styles of pitching should make it tough for opposing teams to prepare to face the Twins. One thing these pitchers do have in common is exceptional control, which is the base for their success. They are also very close, which helps in preparation and team chemistry. A young Braves rotation in the making? That remains to be seen, but look for a solid year from this group in 2009.
Bullpen
RHP Joe Nathan
RHP Jesse Crain
RHP Matt Guerrier
LHP Craig Breslow
RHP Luis Ayala
RHP Phillip Humber
LHP Brian Duensing
Probably the weakest part of this Twins team, but an aspect of the squad that has to be and can be good. Since he has come to the Twins, closer Joe Nathan has been the best stopper in baseball. The key to this bullpen will be Jesse Crain. If he can hold down the eighth inning, everything else should fall into place nicely. Crain had a decent '08 after coming off of shoulder surgery. The right hander has looked tremendous this spring. He has a blazing fastball and a nasty curve ball. I think Crain will settle in as the main set up man for the Twins this year. It's certainly what Ron Gardenhire envisions. Matt Guerrier, Craig Breslow, and Luis Ayala will be the other arms called upon most often. Guerrier and Ayala are coming off disappointing seasons, while Breslow did a very nice job for the Twins in 2008. Breslow will be the main left handed option for Gardy. Another lefty option will be Brian Duensing, who is seeing his first time in the big leagues. Phil Humber will be the main long reliever, but he hopefully won't have to be used that often considering how strong the starters are. Speaking of the starters, they are going to have to pitch a little deeper into games in 2009, in order to keep pressure off the pen. Matt Guerrier, Joe Nathan, and Dennys Reyes pitched way too many innings for the Twins in '08, and they really ran out of gas in September. The starters should be able to go a little further into games this year, in order to prevent a drop off from the bullpen late in the season due to being over worked.
DL
C Joe Mauer
RHP Scott Baker
My Picks to Click for the Twins in 2009:
Delmon Young
Justin Morneau
Francisco Liriano
Kevin Slowey
Jesse Crain
If they can stay healthy, the Twins are primed to win the American League Central in 2009. Let's hope six months from now we are looking ahead to the playoffs and celebrating a division championship!
Summer of Stun is back! Let's play!
GO TWINS!!!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Floyd Stays!
The USC Trojans Basketball program dodged a big bullet today when Tim Floyd decided to remain Trojan's head coach, instead of leaving for the University of Arizona. Floyd's departure would have been absolutely terrible for a program that has been steadily building towards greatness over the last four years. The worst thing about Floyd leaving would have been the recruits that most likely would have left with him, including top recruit Renardo Sidney. Now that Floyd is here to stay, he will have Noel Johnson, Derrick Williams, Solomon Hill, and Sidney. In addition, I believe there's a good chance Taj Gibson, DeMar DeRozan, and Daniel Hackett will all decide to return. If they do, USC will be a national championship contender next season. Floyd made the thought possible to begin with, and now he can truly do something special at SC since he decided to stay. Great day for the Trojans. Let's hope Gibson, DeRozan, and Hackett make the same decision their head coach did. Fight On.
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