Monthly Archives: September 2011

A couple fresh faces should emerge from LDS play

Posted on by
Reply

I love the baseball postseason. But anyone else feel just a little more pumped up for it after the way the regular season ended? I know I do.

Here are some quick thoughts on each series:

ALDS: Tigers vs. Yankees

I was your classic Yankee hater growing up. And I’ve been known to say, “Bring on the Yankees,” prior to their playoff series against the Minnesota Twins in recent years. I love the Yankees lineup, love the bullpen, but I’m not feeling that rotation. They had the opportunity to set their rotation before the postseason started, and Ivan Nova is a No. 2 starter? Don’t get me wrong: The kid has pitched pretty well. But to see him matched up with Detroit’s Doug Fister in Game 2 looks like a mismatch. Meanwhile, the Tigers have a bit of a deeper rotation and a pretty good lineup, too. Give me Detroit. Tigers win in 4.

ALDS: Rays vs. Rangers

The Tampa Bay Rays are the feel-good story, and it’s hard not to like the way they played down the stretch. But in all of the regular-season hangover from Wednesday, don’t count out the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. They have arguably the best lineup among the postseason teams. It always seems like when a team has to make a hard charge to get into the playoffs, that team is spent when they get there. I have a lot of respect for Rays manager Joe Maddon, but I’m going to give the nod to Texas for that reason in what should be a great series. Rangers in 5.

NLDS: Diamondbacks vs. Brewers

I nay-sayed the Milwaukee Brewers a bit heading into the season. I didn’t question the lineup so much as I did the pitching staff. But the bullpen has been better than I thought it would be, and Shawn Marcum is actually healthy and able to pitch in October. As for Arizona, I never thought I’d see this team representing the NL West. But I like the Diamondbacks. They have some good young starting pitchers, and considering where their bullpen was last year, it’s amazing the D’Backs are even in this position. My gut says Brewers but my heart is going with Arizona. Advantage: heart. Diamondbacks in 5.

NLDS: Cardinals vs. Phillies

So much for this being the year that St. Louis falls back into the pack in the National League. The Cardinals may have been overshadowed by the Rays’ run in the AL, but St. Louis’ effort was equally impressive. Like the Rays, though, I wonder if the Cards will look a little spent. I think the Rays have a better chance of shaking that just based on their pitching advantage over Texas. St. Louis certainly does not have that against Philly, which boasts the best rotation in baseball. And Chase Utley and Ryan Howard aren’t bad, either. Phillies in 3.

Baseball gods to Selig: Don’t mess with playoff format

Posted on by
1

So much for the talk a few weeks ago about there being no exciting races for Major League Baseball playoff spots.

I was at the Minnesota Twins’ season finale last night against the Kansas City Royals, which was in itself a good game had there actually been something on the line besides the Twins trying to avoid 100 losses for the season.

But as much fun as the game was, I was glued to the scoreboard the entire night. And after getting back to my friend’s apartment where I was staying, I spent a lot of time just catching up on what I missed. Would have been a good night to just stay home and watch the games on TV, huh?

It’s really unbelievable. For those saying it was the greatest night in regular-season history, that’s a bold statement, but it might be true too.

The Tampa Bay Rays – down as much as nine games to the Boston Red Sox in the AL wild card race in September – catch the Sox going into Wednesday’s final day of the season. And down 7-0 to the New York Yankees on Wednesday, the Rays score six in the eighth, hit a two-out homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie it, then homer to win in extra innings. The Red Sox blow a one-run lead with two outs and nobody on in the ninth inning to a Baltimore Orioles team that played very motivated baseball over the final few weeks of the season. And so the Rays make the playoffs, knocking out my World Series pick in the process.

On the NL side, the Atlanta Braves squandered a 8.5-game lead over everybody in the wild-card race at the start of September, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies last night in extra innings. Meanwhile, the hard-charging St. Louis Cardinals win the wild card by stomping the Houston Astros last night.

I’m pretty hung up on the Rays’ story. This is a team with a small payroll playing in baseball’s toughest division, having lost Carl Crawford to the same Boston team they were chasing, lost their starting shortstop, lost their entire bullpen, lost a young ace in Matt Garza, etc. For them to make the playoffs out of the AL East after all of that, great story. Tons of credit goes to the Rays front office and manager Joe Maddon, who I said all along – even without a playoff berth – has to win AL Manager of the Year.

I’m interested to see if what happened over the final month of the season will cause MLB commissioner Bud Selig to hesitate adding a second wild-card spot to the postseason from each league. Money is money, and my money says he will move forward anyway.

I don’t like the idea of adding more playoff spots, and I think the baseball gods let it be known how they feel about it too. Once again, when there was thought to be no excitement at all, baseball comes through with a thrilling final night. What will the playoffs bring for an encore?

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Reply

Twins still looking for next Gagne, and some NFL picks

Posted on by
Reply

I bought a copy of the 1991 World Series on DVD a few months ago, but for some reason, I hadn’t started watching it until earlier this week.

I finished Game 1 between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves a couple of nights ago. It’s amazing, even though I was only 10 when it happened, how well I remember those games.

Greg Gagne

Twenty years later, and the Minnesota Twins still haven't replaced Greg Gagne, center. Associated Press

And when I hear that theme music that CBS used when its World Series logo would come on the screen, boy, it takes you back to all the games you watched back then. The Francisco Cabrera hit for Atlanta to knock Pittsburgh out of the NLCS in 1992. The Joe Carter homer in the 1993 World Series. And, of course, the 1991 World Series.

The Twins got homers from Kent Hrbek and Greg Gagne in Game 1, with Gagne’s three-run shot being the biggest in the 5-2 victory. At the time, Gagne held the Twins record for postseason homers with four.

And it left me thinking this: “Have the Twins ever replaced Gagne?”

Pat Reusse of the Minneapolis Star Tribune had a doomsday column on the Twins earlier this week. And he specifically points out that the Twins’ slide of the 1990s coincides with the decision to let Gagne go.

The Twins have had a couple of solid shortstops since then, like Cristian Guzman and Jason Bartlett. But it always seemed like those guys didn’t fill the leadership role that manager Ron Gardenhire wants out of his shortstop. Bartlett was often in the doghouse, and soon enough he was shipped to Tampa Bay and helped the Rays to a World Series berth.

It’s not like Gagne was this irreplaceable player, although he and Kirby Puckett were my two favorite players on those World Series teams growing up.

Gagne was great defensively, but he never won a Gold Glove. He had a little pop (especially in big moments), but he never hit more than 14 homers in a season. He seemed to have good command of the infield, though Puckett and Hrbek got the headlines.

Doesn’t seem like it would be 20 years later and he still hasn’t been replaced. But after watching Trevor Plouffe play defense in Game 1 of today’s doubleheader, it’s safe to say the Twins are still searching for the next Gagne.

Week 3 NFL picks

I had a really rough week last week, going 1-4. That puts me at 5-5 for the season thanks to a strong Week 1.

Here are the Week 3 picks:

Lions by 4 at Vikings: Lions

Panthers by 3.5 vs. Jaguars: Panthers

Ravens by 4 at Rams: Ravens

Cardinals by 3 at Seahawks: Cardinals

Steelers by 11 at Colts: Colts

“Moneyball” a worthwhile flick for the baseball fan

Posted on by
Reply

Guess you could say I got caught up in the “Moneyball” ads that have been all over MLB Network lately.

The movie about the Oakland Athletics success 10 years ago hit theaters on Friday. So my Forum colleague Tom Mix and I checked it out.

I really enjoyed it, and that has nothing to do with the sighting of an actor playing former Twins reliever Eddie Guardado at the end of the movie (I’ve given away too much). But I do think you have to be a baseball fan, or at least a sports fan, to appreciate it.

I’ve read the outstanding book by Michael Lewis that the movie was based on, and I don’t think it was too far off. From what I remember about the book, it took a much wider view of the A’s. The movie focuses almost entirely on the 2002 season.

Word of advice: Go into the movie not worrying about how dramatic some of the scenes are. A’s GM Billy Beane is known for the temper tantrum, but did he really throw that many chairs? I don’t know. Did he really talk that way to manager Art Howe? Who cares. Enjoy it!

Those wild and crazy Rays

Posted on by
Reply

I’m looking forward to the movie “Moneyball” hitting theaters on Friday. But rather than highlight the Oakland A’s, how about a movie on these Tampa Bay Rays.

I don’t know if the Rays will rally past the Boston Red Sox to win the wild card when many – myself included – picked the Red Sox to win the whole thing. But it’s amazing that Tampa is even in contention.

Think about what the Rays have done this year. They’ve managed to rebuild in one year and become competitive, something that the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays haven’t been able to do in 15 or 20 years of rebuilding in the tough AL East. Just take a look at the players that Tampa lost from last year’s playoff team:

1B Carlos Pena
SS Jason Bartlett
LF Carl Crawford
SP Matt Garza
RP Rafael Soriano
RP Grant Balfour
RP Joaquin Benoit
RP Randy Choate
RP Dan Wheeler
RP Lance Cormier

Did I miss anyone?

That should have been a significant blow to their chances. Look no further than the Minnesota Twins to see an example of a team that couldn’t replace its bullpen quite as easily. And add to that an All-Star outfielder in Crawford, a top-of-the-rotation starter in Garza and a solid shortstop up the middle in Bartlett – all gone from the Rays 2010 squad.

I’m really pulling for Tampa. But either way, it’s a much better feel-good underdog story than the A’s of a decade ago.

A couple links:

FanGraphs has a Q&A with departing Twins broadcaster John Gordon.

Grantland.com has a piece on minor league lifer Chase Lambin, who is in the Twins organization.

Newcomers are hitting, but do they have futures?

Posted on by
Reply

A quick look at the Twins offensive leaders reveals a couple of surprising names at the top in batting average.

1) Brian Dinkelman .386. 2) Chris Parmelee .368.

They have a combined 82 at-bats, so nobody is handing them anything. But it did get me thinking if either player could have a real future with the club.

The answer to that is probably “no” but that depends on your definition of “real future.”

Let’s start with Dinkelman. Keep in mind that he has 17 hits in 44 at-bats. But also keep in mind that he has not recorded an extra-base hit in any of those 17. And keep in mind that he hit just .243 in 127 Triple-A games this year.

The one thing Dinkelman does have going for him is his versatility. He plays the corner outfield, but he also plays second base, which is an area of need for the Twins going forward. Could he win a job as a starting or backup infielder next spring? Hate to tell you, but he probably could.

Parmelee’s bat has looked pretty good. As broadcaster Bert Blyleven pointed out during yesterday’s broadcast, he does really like to hit low pitches. He blasted a homer, then later found the gap in right-center field for a double in Monday’s loss to the Yankees.

The problem with Parmelee is his lack of versatility. He’s shown a nice bat so far, with two homers and three doubles in his 38 at-bats. But he doesn’t profile as someone who will hit enough to carry an everyday first base or DH job for a competitive team. If he can’t play anywhere else, it’s hard to see him making a meaningful impact on future clubs outside of being a bat off the bench, which quite honestly is also something the Twins need.

He’s only 23, but he has spent six years in the minor leagues. And his slugging percentage this year at Double-A was only .436, one year after it was .401.

The guy that we thought would wow Twins fans is Joe Benson. But it’s been an adjustment for him. He has struck out in more than one-third of his at-bats.

At least area fans have the Lynx. They’re playoff series has a decisive Game 3 tonight, with the series tied 1-1. And they’re actually on basic cable tonight. Game time is 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Vikings open at home with plenty of questions

Posted on by
1

Minnesota Vikings fans have no shortage of concerns heading into Sunday’s home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But considering the quality of their opponent last week, the fact that the Vikings had a chance to beat the San Diego Chargers late in a game on the surface looks good.

But there are plenty of questions:

  • Was the Week 1 version of Donovan McNabb the one that Vikings fans will see all season? He was 7-for-15 passing for only 39 yards.
  • Adrian Peterson had a productive 98 yards rushing last week. But is 16 carries enough for a top-tier running back?
  • The Vikings did a decent job stopping the run last week. Can they improve Sunday with Kevin Williams still suspended? And can the defensive linemen avoid costly late-game penalties?

The Bucs are likely doing some soul-searching as well. The Tampa running game really struggled last week as Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions took the season opener.

Week 2 NFL picks

I went 4-1 against the spread last week. Here goes nothing:

  • Saints by 6 1/2 vs. Bears. Bears
  • Vikings by 3 vs. Bucs. Bucs
  • Jets by 10 vs. Jaguars. Jaguars
  • Browns by 3 at Colts. Colts
  • Eagles by 2 1/2 at Falcons. Eagles

Adelman’s presence with Wolves to put focus on others

Posted on by
3

If it feels like it’s been awhile since the Minnesota Timberwolves hired a veteran head coach, that’s because it has been.

Rick Adelman has agreed in principle to become the team’s next head coach. He could be running the show in the regular season in November, or it could be later, depending on how long this NBA labor dispute drags on.

Rick Adelman

Rick Adelman will lead the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011-12 season, whenever that starts. Associated Press photo

I like the hiring of Adelman, because at the very least he’s a known quantity within an organization that has few of them. He’s a solid coach who has produced plenty of 50- and 60-win seasons in his time in Portland, Sacramento and Houston and a forgettable stint with Golden State. Will he lead the Timberwolves to a championship? Probably not. But you know what you’re getting. He’s proven. He’s respected.

I think this puts David Kahn in the spotlight. Kudos to Kahn for the hire. But if the Wolves continue to tread water, my guess is people will more likely blame the team’s relatively inexperienced president of basketball operations rather than blame Adelman. Kahn is anything but proven.

And the players enter the spotlight as well. Kevin Love is considered one of the NBA’s most well-rounded post players. Michael Beasley averaged nearly 20 points per game last season. Wes Johnson looks like he has some potential. But where were the wins last season? With newcomers Derrick Williams (the team’s No. 2 overall pick) and Ricky Rubio arriving, a veteran coach can only help this youthful squad.

If the three legs of an organization are the head coach, the players and the front office, I feel like the Wolves have at least given themselves one sturdy leg. For that, they deserve credit.

How soon is too soon to bench McNabb?

Posted on by
3

I’ll answer my blog headline’s question right away. It’s too soon.

The Vikings had their hands full Sunday against a high-powered San Diego Chargers squad. But they didn’t make life any easier on themselves.

The line from Donovan McNabb – 7-for-15, 39 yards, TD, INT – is startling. He threw for 37 yards in the first half, which was as hot as his play got. McNabb’s only second-half completion was a 2-yard toss to Adrian Peterson.

Vikings fans are probably feeling pretty disappointed today. While expectations aren’t high for the season, it’s natural for fans to feel disappointed in a loss that opened with their team running the opening kickoff back for the touchdown. While a seven-point loss to San Diego doesn’t look bad from a distance, there were some performances within the game that are causes for concern.

And since the quarterback is often the poster boy of a team, it’s hard not to start that examination by looking at McNabb’s performance. His first pass Sunday was intercepted, and a lot of credit goes to the defense for making a nice play on that ball. He threaded a TD pass to Michael Jenkins in the first half too.

But yikes! Thirty-nine passing yards! It’s almost hard to believe he threw for nearly 300 yards fewer than Philip Rivers.

I’m not going to beat a dead horse. Anyone who is a regular reader of my blog knows that I wasn’t real high on the McNabb acquisition.

His numbers will get better next week. Quite honestly, they have to.

I do wonder how much leash the Vikings will give McNabb. I thought Christian Ponder looked solid in the preseason. And you can find just as many examples of QBs who have succeeded by being thrown into the fire right away as you can ones that benefitted from being on the sidelines for a couple of years.

I don’t think Ponder is leading the Vikings to a division title this year if he plays. But considering Chicago, Green Bay and Detroit picked up wins this week against high-quality opponents, I just don’t see this as anything but a rebuilding year for the Vikes.

Week 1 picks recap

I got to pat myself on the back. Got off to a strong start in my weekly picks, going 4-1. Still can’t believe how bad the New York Giants looked against Washington. Not one interception against Rex Grossman?

Peterson lands big payday from Vikings, and NFL picks for Week 1

Posted on by
2

With the National Football League season under way, the Minnesota Vikings and running back Adrian Peterson agreed to an extension that will make Peterson a very rich man.

On the eve of the Vikings’ season opener at San Diego, Peterson received a seven-year extension that could be worth as much as $100 million. Reports are that $36 million of the deal is guaranteed.

Peterson has been a workhorse for the Vikings, and he is now in position to do just that for a good long while.

Here are a few thoughts that entered my mind:

  • Anyone else find it refreshing to see an NFL team give a star player a contract without any preseason holdout? I do. Kudos to Peterson for not putting the team and the fans through that.
  • In the world of the NFL, Minnesota fans don’t have to worry so much about the big bucks. The Joe Mauer deal from the Twins may not look great, but if things go sour with Peterson, the damage won’t be nearly as bad.
  • This contract definitely amps up the pressure on owner Zygi Wilf to find a new stadium. This could be a huge deal when it’s all done with.

Week 1 NFL picks

I want to keep the weekly NFL picks going this year. For those of you new to the blog, I picked five games a week from the odds that move on the AP wire. I went 43-27 last season, which was much better than I thought I would fare.

  • Houston by 2 vs. Indianapolis. Texans
  • Tampa Bay by 3 vs. Detroit. Lions
  • New York Giants by 3 at Washington. Giants
  • Arizona by 3 vs. Carolina. Cardinals
  • New York Jets by 4 vs. Dallas. Cowboys