From Newman to the Bronx

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

A reliever who pitched in the Northern League this season made his major league debut Thursday afternoon.

That reliever is Justin James of the Oakland A’s. And that debut occurred at Yankee Stadium against the defending World Series champs.

Justin James

James pitched for the Kansas City T-Bones all of last season and in 10 games this season before signing a minor league deal with the A’s.

The 28-year-old right-hander pitched against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo as recently as June 11, when he threw a perfect ninth inning to get the save.

He struggled in 2009 with the T-Bones, posting a 5.73 ERA. But this season, he figured things out, allowing just two runs in 10 appearances with KC, then posting a 1.83 ERA in 28 games between Double-A and Triple-A in the A’s system.

James struck out Robinson Cano to open the inning, but labored through the rest of the eighth inning. He allowed three hits and a run, ending the inning by striking out Derek Jeter with the bases loaded.

Quite a ride for James in 2010.

Fargo is mentioned briefly in this story. And in this one, former RedHawks and Minnesota Twins pitcher and current A’s scout Jeff Bittiger is credited with noticing James’ improvement this season.

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Tebow show comes to Twin Cities

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

The Minnesota Vikings will get their first look at Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow.

Tebow has been one of the most polarizing figures in the sport, dating back to his days as the starting QB at the University of Florida. The Broncos spent a first-round pick on the Gators star, and he reportedly has himself in a battle with Brady Quinn for the team’s No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind starter Kyle Orton.

Tebow will likely play a lot tonight in the final preseason test for both teams. The Vikings open the regular season a week from tonight against the New Orleans Saints.

I’m looking forward to seeing former University of Minnesota standout receiver Eric Decker, who was also drafted by the Broncos in April’s NFL draft. Decker was a stud for a pretty mediocre – to be kind – Gophers team, but a sprained foot in the middle of last season sidelined him for the rest of the year.

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On the radio today

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

I make the first of two appearances this week on “Sports Talk” from 1-2 p.m. on 970-AM WDAY.

Joining me in studio is The Forum’s sports editor, Kevin Schnepf.

Today, we’ll be talking to AP sports writer Jon Krawczynski. We’ll discuss the latest news on Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and what to expect from the Vikings’ final preseason game tomorrow.

We’ll also talk to Kansas football beat writer Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal World. NDSU faces the Jayhawks in the season opener on Saturday.

And, as always, we’re taking your calls at 293-9000 or (800) 279-9329 or e-mail talk@wday.com

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Morneau news is discouraging

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

Minnesota Twins fans waiting for some good news regarding the recovery of first baseman Justin Morneau will have to keep waiting.

Morneau was told by doctors to stay home for the next few days rather than go to Target Field to work out and watch the game from the dugout. The 2006 AL MVP had been doing this from time to time recently as he recovers from a concussion suffered nearly two months ago.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that the news shouldn’t be considered as a setback, but it’s certainly not good news.

The hope of getting Morneau back on the field at some point this season is dwindling.

Shameless plug: We’ll discuss Morneau’s status and other Twins and Vikings topics with AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski on “Sports Talk” from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday on 970-AM WDAY.

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Manny in the Windy City

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

Manny Ramirez is expected to make his Chicago White Sox debut tonight in one of his former home stadiums, as the Sox face the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.

The White Sox acquired the oft-injured outfielder from the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday on a simple waiver claim, meaning the Sox are responsible for the final $4 million owed to the slugger.

Ramirez still has some pop in that bat. The problem with ManRam is that he can’t stay on the field. He’s had three different stints on the disabled list this season, two because of strains of his right calf and the other for a pulled hamstring.

The 38-year-old Ramirez, who is hitting .311 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in 66 games this season, will be able to somewhat protect his legs since he will primarily be serving as the team’s designated hitter.

However, Manny’s injuries have cropped up after he’s been running the bases. Not much the Sox can do to protect him in that regard.

Chicago is four games behind Minnesota in the AL Central. If Ramirez can stay healthy for the remaining month of the season, he should have a big impact on the race. He’s a definitive upgrade over the platoon of Mark Kotsay and Andruw Jones. Can’t argue with that.

Ramirez’s addition makes an already interesting clubhouse that much more compelling. Hopefully, they put his locker next to catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s, somewhere near the office of manager Ozzie Guillen.

This should make for an entertaining five weeks.

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Weekend recap: Twins, Vikings and make-believe football

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

I’m sitting around watching the USA-Brazil men’s basketball game at the FIBA World Championships. Talk about something I never thought I’d be watching. Seemed like as good of time as any to rehash the weekend.

  • Twinkies take 2 of 3 vs. M’s. The Minnesota Twins couldn’t hold onto another 1-0 lead on Sunday, as the Seattle Mariners avoided getting swept in the three-game series. Twins offense has gone quiet as of late. Safeco Field is a pitcher’s park, but tough to see the offense generate just three hits and a run against someone named Luke French. I was at Target Field about a month ago when French and the Mariners played the Twins, and Minnesota couldn’t get anything going against him until the sixth inning of that game en route to a win. Just one of thsoe pitchers who seems to have their number. Twins fans should just hope that the Rays or Yankees don’t acquire him.
  • Not everyone loves the Fuentes deal. Came across an interesting opinion from Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs. Carruth writes that he doesn’t get the Twins’ acquisition of left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes and doesn’t think Fuentes is much of an upgrade over what the Twins have. I’m pretty puzzled by that opinion. Fuentes’ numbers for the season are solid, and he’s going to be much better as a lefty specialist than he was as a closer. The guy has given up five hits to left-handed hitters this year. Five! I think the Fuentes move was a great one that will pay big dividends in the playoffs should the Twins get there.
  • Favre throws two picks as Vikings win. Brett Favre got a good introduction to his new receiving corps on Saturday as the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Seattle Seahawks in that all important third game of the preseason. I argued a couple of days ago to one of my co-workers that Javon Walker will be a non-factor if he makes the team. But he made a nice touchdown catch in that game, though it wasn’t on a throw from Favre. Speaking of Favre, he threw a couple of interceptions, at least one of which he shouldn’t get too much blame for. Hard to write much more than that. Preseason games just don’t provide much to work with. Offenses don’t want to give too much away. Defenses don’t either. So take the results for what they are.
  • Fantasy football team gets real. Participated in my only fantasy football draft on Sunday. League grew to 16 teams this year, so it was a real challenge. I ended up with the No. 13 pick and drafted the always reliable Reggie Wayne at wide receiver. The team with the No. 14 pick drafted Favre with his first-round selection, which was shocking. I was ridiculed heavily for my second-round pick (No. 20 overall), going with KC Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles. It was a tough call, but I read Charles was the second-highest scorer in fantasy football from Week 8 on last year. And really, in a 16-team league, if you want a guy, you have to reach for him. Not like he was going to be there when I drafted again 25 picks later. Other interesting picks I made were suspended QB Ben Roethlisberger (Round 9 – 141st overall) and injured WR Sidney Rice (Round 10 – 148th overall). I like the squad if we can stay in the hunt long enough to get Rice on the field. He goes in the first two rounds for sure if he’s healthy. Starting lineup is: QB Rivers, RB Charles, RB Forsett, WR Wayne, WR Garcon, TE Witten, K Vinatieri, DEF Dallas Cowboys. Not a bad squad for a 16-teamer, but I really need Justin Forsett or Jerome Harrison to seize control of the starting jobs for their respective teams.
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Twins upgrade bullpen with Fuentes, Flores

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

While the second-place Chicago White Sox are in negotations with the Los Angeles Dodgers to try and acquire Manny Ramirez, the first-place Minnesota Twins have made a couple of pretty nice moves.

Most recently, the Twins traded for lefty reliever Brian Fuentes, who was the closer for the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels will receive a player-to-be-named-later. Earlier in the week, Minnesota got another lefty reliever in Randy Flores off waivers from Colorado.

Fuentes and Flores will replace injured southpaws Jose Mijares and Ron Mahay. Mahay is out for the season. Mijares is out for the next three weeks.

Fuentes, in particular, has been very good. After struggling to start the season, he has a 2.08 ERA since the All-Star break. He’s given up a run in just two appearances since June 20.

Fuentes’ numbers will only get better as a set-up man to closer Matt Capps, because the 35-year-old four-time All-Star has been absolutely untouchable against left-handed hitters to the tune of a .132 opponents’ batting average.

These are the kinds of moves you have to love. Considering the Twins gave up the second-best prospect in their system for Capps just makes a trade like the one for Fuentes look even better.

Flores made his Twins’ debut last night and it wasn’t very pretty. He allowed two hits and a walk while getting just one out before Matt Guerrier came in and induced an inning-ending double play.

The Twins are hoping to do for Flores what they did for Mahay, who was a struggling lefty specialist for Kansas City before his trade to the Twins last year.

Flores won’t be leaned on quite as heavily now that Fuentes is on the team. Both fill big voids created by injuries.

Fuentes may not be Manny (who is?). But he’ll be of the utmost importance during the Twins’ playoff push.

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Tackling the fallout from the leaked MLB financial documents

Posted on August 26, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

The last couple of days, I’ve become pretty obsessed with the reporting Deadspin.com has done thanks to leaked financial documents from a number of Major League Baseball teams.

Deadspin has links to a number of opinions on the matter. Two of my favorites are Yahoo’s Jeff Passan calling out Florida Marlins management, and Maury Brown of FanGraphs wondering what this all means for revenue sharing.

The fact that a team like the Marlins made $49 million over the last two years, yet held Miami-Dade County hostage for a new stadium, isn’t a big surprise. That’s how pro stadiums are built these days, with a few exceptions.

Passan’s column will make your stomach turn. He really goes into detail on the stadium deal that will give the Marlins a new Miami ballpark in 2012. Here’s an excerpt that will make you squirm:

Such sentiments are echoed when looking at the Marlins’ deal. One of the county’s loans is particularly egregious. According to the Miami Herald, J.P. Morgan gave a $91 million note – $80 million of which will go toward construction – that from 2041-47 will cost $118 million per year. In all, the county will spend $1.2 billion to pay off $91 million.

That seems hard to believe. How can a deal like that happen? No wonder our country’s economy is in the shape that it’s in.

I don’t know how it would be governed, but if I was a politician on a national level, I would push for no more public funding for stadiums of elite professional sports leagues. I’ve long felt that way.

The only reason a taxpayer wants to fund a stadium so athletes who makes millions and millions of dollars can play in it is because they want to keep up with the Joneses. If Minnesota doesn’t pay for a Vikings stadium, Los Angeles will, and the Vikings will leave.

This idea that pro sports teams can’t afford to build stadiums is insane. But what are local and state governments to do when a team threatens to move?

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Vikings left without Rice

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

Sidney Rice, the Minnesota Vikings biggest receiving threat, will miss the first eight weeks of the upcoming season after having surgery Monday to repair a hip he injured during January’s NFC Championship loss to New Orleans.

It’s a bit of a head-scratcher for some left wondering why he waited so long to have the surgery.

Rice said that there were “significant changes” since seeing a doctor about the injury earlier in the offseason.

Either way, it’s a huge blow to the Vikings. And you have to wonder what would cause Rice’s hip to get that much worse. Is this the type of injury that’s going to linger for his career?

The Vikings have some depth at receiver, but that’s been tested in recent days with Percy Harvin battling migraines. Without Rice and Harvin, the Vikings are left with Bernard Berrian and Greg Lewis, along with the recently signed Javon Walker. But who knows what can reasonably be expected of Walker, who hasn’t caught a pass in the NFL for a couple of years.

No doubt the first eight weeks will really test Brett Favre‘s knowledge of the Vikings offense. And a few untested players will be tested, too.

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Leave it to Joe to break up no-no

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Hayden Goethe

The way Joe Mauer is hitting right now, it’s hard to believe if he gets four chances to break up a no-hitter, he’s not going to do it.

The Minnesota Twins dropped a 4-0 decision to open a four-game set against the Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, with their start catcher breaking up a no-hit bid from the Rangers pitching staff with one out in the ninth inning.

Facing Rangers dynamite closer Neftali Feliz, Mauer laced a single to center field after an Orlando Hudson walk. Feliz struck out Jason Kubel and induced a harmless ground out from Michael Cuddyer to end the game.

Mauer continues to be red-hot since the All-Star break. He has only two hits in his last four games, but that’s mostly due to the fact that he’s walked seven times in 15 of those plate appearances.

And despite the fact that the current cleanup hitter Jason Kubel continues to mash, who can blame teams for pitching around Mauer?

In 33 games since the Break, Mauer is hitting an astounding .416 with a .497 on-base percentage and .632 slugging percentage. Further proof that he’s seeing the ball well is his 2-to-1 K/BB ratio since the Midsummer Classic. Pretty amazing how quickly he went in the batting average race of being outside the top 10 to reaching No. 3 with a .330 average, behind only Texas’ Josh Hamilton (.357) and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (.341).

Feliz was the third Rangers reliever trying to finish what Rich Harden had started. Harden is known as much for his injury-laden past as he is for his bona fide ace yet often wild stuff.

The right-hander, who is battling through the worst season of his eight-year career, tossed 6 2/3 hitless innings. But a high pitch count that resulted in five walks forced Rangers manager Ron Washington to pull him from the start.

This is a familiar setting for Twins fans, who just one week ago saw starting pitching Kevin Slowey yanked from a start after seven no-hit innings because of a high pitch count. Slowey, of course, landed on the disabled list following his next start.

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