|W|P|As much as this season needs to end, watching the Twins lose to the Royals in September is better than not watching the Twins at all. It's more painful to watch, but less empty. :)And right now is kinda fun, because walking into the Dome, I have no idea who's playing, or where they'll be playing. (This is also the reason I haven't been participating in the contest, and thus have lost my lead.)
And did I write here that I'm not convinced that the offense problems are totally Ullger? I think a chunk of the blame needs to go on the fact that we're a team of pitching and defense, and don't scout/sign/draft the good hitters, because our first rounds go to pitchers. But if some of these kids don't pick it up next year, then I'll completely agree that a change is needed (now I just think a change would be good).
SBG|W|P|Here's to an offseason that reinstills hope. Hope left on a flight out of town a while ago.Hopefully, Bartlett lifts weights and gets in the cage.
Hopefully, Kubel can come back.
Hopefully, Morneau gets it straightened out.
Hopefully, a few new pieces reinvoigorate this team.
|W|P|SBG-Jeez. I didn't mean to get you so riled up that you'd change your masthead. And, if the "dead horse" and "foaming at the mouth" comments were out of line, I apologize. Seriously.
Despite your hunches, I am not some "Batling" who has infiltrated the SBG site to cause trouble. I am a longtime reader (as you correctly guessed), but a first-time commenter. The Ullger bashing (although done in a tasteful and thoughtful way) just pushed me past the boiling point. I honestly thought you'd see it more as some literary sparring, than an attack on the (mostly) excellent content. I know you do this all for the low, low, price of free, and I respect that. And no, I don't want you to start showing us displays of Photoshop prowess, either. One site devoted to that is enough, thank you.
Yes, it was season that transcended frustration. The eternal hope evident in spring training evaporated into thin air as the season progressed. That said, I'll be there Saturday night with my Dad, drinking a $6 beer, rooting the team on but also thinking what might have been. (With or without Ullger.)
Respectfully,
Anonymous
PS - How about sharing your top ten better choices for Twins manager sometime.
SBG|W|P|No apology needed, anonymous. I was having fun with the masthead! Slide into first! Hee hee!I have a sense of humor and that includes laughing at myself. I don't take this site very seriously. If I did, I'd be much more judicious in what I said.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment any time. Even if you want to jab me! That's my policy. All non profane comments are welcome and encouraged!
Cheesehead Craig|W|P|SBG does laugh at himself, it's true, just like everybody else here is laughing at, err I mean, with him.PS Brewers and Twins are tied with 3 games to go...
SBG|W|P|My policy has one exception, CC. |W|P|Interesting thought about predestination. I've always thought that if you believe in an omnipotent God then you have to believe in predestination. i've never tied it to ID, though. Very thought provoking... Cheesehead Craig|W|P|I disagree with you Shane, I'm with the free will camp with the omnipotent God. Our lives are not planned out with us just going through the motions. Just my belief though.SBG, love you too.
frightwig|W|P|An omnipotent God is literally all-powerful, but it doesn't necessarily follow that such a God has chosen to predetermine or control every aspect of life on Earth. If intelligent design existed, we wouldn't have Daffy Duck managing the Minnesota Twins, nor Bud Selig running Major League Baseball.
Cheesehead Craig|W|P|Bud's doing a good job, FW. Interleague play, wild card that makes baseball fans care about September, an actual drug policy (given he has to start one from scratch). |W|P|How about God being omniscient? If God is all-knowing, then He knows exactly what will happen, what choices we will make. In other words, He knows what will become of us. Either God is omniscient and our lives are predestined (given He knows everything) or He isn't as powerful or all-knowing as we think He is. I have a hard time reconciling this. SBG|W|P|Bud, your doing a HECKUVA job!-GWB
frightwig|W|P|Bud looked the other way on the steroids issue for over a decade. He only started to do something once the BALCO leaks embarrassed him. He's also the guy who tried to contract our team--which we'll never forget. The way he handled the Expos' slow withdrawal from Montreal was a protracted insult to both the fans and the organization itself. He's discouraged private investment in stadium projects, and actively encouraged clubs to blackmail local communities into coughing up sweetheart deals on new stadiums--or else. He presided over a canceled World Series, which not even WWII had managed to do before. He was in charge of the 7-7 tie of the All-Star Game, which happened in his own hometown. He helped choose the design for Miller Park, the worst MLB ballpark to open since, well, the Metrodome. He's stripped away some of the special pageantry of Opening Day by opening some seasons overseas when most Americans can't watch, or else putting one game on Sunday night. The wild card has its upside, but it also destroys meaningful division races.
I'm really not a big fan of interleague play as its set up; they should cut back the number of interleague series, and there's no reason why teams need a home/away set against a "regional rival" every season. Bud should also cut back the imbalanced intradivisional schedules. I get tired of seeing the same Central teams all year, while teams from the coasts come through just once or twice. The imbalances also have an unfair effect on the wild card races. But Bud won't do it. Why? Because all those Cards, Cubs, and Reds games in Milwaukee are such juicy plums for the Brewers. New York, Boston, and the TV networks love to have the Yankees-Red Sox 19 times a year. Annual home/away sets for Yankees-Mets and a handful of other intrastate rivalries is too lucrative to cut back by half.
Everything Bud does as Commissioner is to spin a buck, first and foremost. The integrity of the game not only takes a backseat, Bud often stuffs it in the trunk.
SBG|W|P|Shorter version of FW's excellent post:Bud, you're doing a HECKUVA job.
-GWB
Cheesehead Craig|W|P|FW,Sure, Bud's fault he inherited a league rampant with drug abuse and had to take on the a very powerful players union to do something about it. It wasn't his call to do this, the player's union had to agree to it as well, and they fought tooth and nail against it. BALCO made them buckle and Bud took full advantage of it and institued what no other commissioner has been able to do.
Montreal all but shoved the Expos out, don't blame Bud for years of piss-poor attendance due to their owner's neglect and bad management. He was in a no-win situation and had to make a tough call, and the right one.
Pohlad volunteered to contract the Twins, get it straight. Don't make Selig your scapegoat for a pathetic owner.
Major corporations look for tax breaks and any other deals from states and cities prior to building their businesses there, MLB is doing the same.
Player's union is even more to blame than Selig on the missed World Series. They were the ones who decided to strike in August, causing no time to have a meangingful WS.
Miller Park the worst ballpark in MLB outside of the Metrodome? An attack clearly without merit. Read this article as proof you are totally off your rocker: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/31/fvi/ Miller Park is the #1 park in baseball.
All-Star game tie was the managers' fault through completely mismanaged use of players.
Absolutely no coorelation with wild-card races taking away anything from divisional title races. Completely separate issues.
Nice try on the scheduling, don't blame the Brewers for being in a good division unlike the Twins.
Bud has taken on the most powerful labor organization in sports and beaten it. He evoled the game to where it can survive and adapt. If it were up to people who "love the old ways" like you, the game would have no drug policy, a completely irrelevant last month of the season and a declining fan base. Bud has not saved baseball mind you, he has however made it healther and better.
|W|P|All the little perks Bud tried to throw his team...err...his daughhter's team way, and they still became baseball's biggest laughingstock. It's been so bad that a .500 record is reason to throw a ticker-tape parade. heck, they still could'nt finish with a better record than a Twins team that mailed it in 3 weeks ago. So tommorrow the post-season starts without the Brewers. Then again, what's new. It's been starting without the Brewers for a generation and a half now. Give Bud credit. He suckered the gullible taxpayers of Wisconsin into footing the entire bill for a ballpark for the LA clippers of baseball for some time now. Cheesehead Craig|W|P|Anonymous, your post is so silly and baseless it's not even worth my time.Ullger, who became the Twins' hitting coach before the 1999 season and is a close friend of manager Ron Gardenhire, was faced with a monumental task after the free-agent departures of veterans Corey Koskie and Cristian Guzman last offseason. The Twins have relied heavily on first-year starters to carry the offensive load, and players at key run-producing positions, such as first baseman Justin Morneau and third baseman Michael Cuddyer, have struggled. In addition, nagging injuries plagued leadoff man Shannon Stewart for most of the season, and he finished with a .274 average. But the Twins also have failed to execute the fundamentals, often struggling to drop down bunts and showing little patience at the plate. Ullger often has spent extra time this season working with hitters on bunting fundamentals.A monumental task of replacing Cristian Guzman! Not like the A's, who have only had to replace Miguel Tejada and Jason Giambi! WTF with the excuses! Yes, Morneau has struggled. Has Cuddyer? His OPS isn't great, but it's only .002 behind Jacque Jones. And, since the All-Star break, he's been the best hitter on the team (OPS .807), even better than Joe Mauer. I don't have enough time right now, but I'd venture to guess that he's been the best hitter on the team since April. Yet, there he is, a prime example of who's struggling. Did the writer think this up himself? Or did he get that from the Twins brass? If he got it from the Brass, it shows how little they actually know about who's good and who isn't. They've continued to jerk Cuddyer around, playing him in the outfield instead of planting his ass at third base everyday and showing some confidence. If Stewart is hurt, sit him down. He played over 130 games despite hitting .274/.323/.388/.711. That's pathetic. Jones, who I gave the benefit of the doubt to last year because he went through the pain of losing his father -- well, he hit .250/.321/.443/.764 -- and made $5 million. This kid has some talent. He has pop in his bat. How has his approach at the plate improved over his career? Answer? It has not. The hitting coach is working hard. Is he working effectively? How about Hunter? What improvement can you point to in his hitting approach? His numbers have generally regressed from his big contract year. What about Rivas? He's had five years to learn under Ullger. If your name isn't David Wintheiser, you never want to see him playing in a Twins uniform again. He appeared to have talent when he came up. How did the hitting coach help him? And screw bunting. This team is last in that league in Equivalent Average, runs scored, slugging percentage. And we're talking about bunting? It's enough to make a rational person's head spin.|W|P|112799684296572630|W|P|Fish Wrap Factory on the East Side|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
|W|P|Tragically, I think there are two reasons that Cuddyer is in the outfield right now. First, there is a shortage of outfielders right now (Jacque, Lewwww, Ryan, and Tyner) compared to infielders. And we saw prior to Cuddyer being out there that the outfielders were having fielding problems--missing the cut-off men.However, I'm interested to know whether the Twins are taking Cuddyer away from third base (possibly auditioning Little Luis for the position), and if they're going to see him as a utility man next year, or an outfielder, or an infielder. Personally, I'd like to see him at third base again. From what I've seen in the last couple of days, his arm is stronger than Little Luis's, getting the ball from third to first faster. Time will tell.
SBG|W|P|JB -- You've let your lead slip in the contest!!!! frightwig|W|P|"Ullger, who became hitting coach before the 1999 season and is a close friend of Gardenhire...." Oy. It's as if the story were about some bureaucrat in the Bush administration. I guess we're never getting rid of him, so long as the Tool is around. Scotty, you're doin' a heckuva job!! |W|P|With the failure of the 2005 Twins resting so squarely on the shoulders of one Scott Ullger, or so sayeth SBG and the legions worshipping at the alter of Bill James, I decided I needed to learn more about this wretched man, whose bag of voodoo apparently is not strong enough to transform each masterful Twins� prospect into the next Ted Williams, when clearly that was their potential. I fired up the trusty computer and started scanning the so-called �internets� to see what I could find. Amazingly, Ullger�s reach extends way beyond the baseball diamond. With one-fell Google search here�s what I found:
1. Was it Angelina Jolie crashing down the sanctity of the Pitt/Aniston marriage? Heck no. It was all Ullger.
2. Was it �deep throat� feeding the Pioneer Press Bat-Girl�s inflated site traffic statistics, in a blatant effort to enrage SBG into a foaming-at-the-mouth blog diatribe? Nope. It was Ullger.
3. Global warming? Yup. Ullger.
4. Souhan�s (err, excuse me, Top Jimmy�s) promotion to �Blogger attack-dog� columnist � was it a clever ploy by STRIB management. Guess again � It was Ullger.
5. Northwest Airline�s bankruptcy filing? Greedy, self-serving, asleep-at-the-switch executive management. Wrong! Ullger.
6. Bush. Gore. Florida? Uh, huh, Ullger.
7. The missing WMD? Saddam? The French? No way. Ullger.
8. John Kerry. All Ullger. All the time.
9. Mike Brown at FEMA? U-L-L-G-E-R.
10. Brad Zellar�s writing slump at Warning Track Power? Clearly Ullger�s unorthodox use of the Thesaurus couldn�t unlock his potential.
I was so tired I couldn�t continue. I�m sure there�s more, but I can�t bear to read anymore. How could we, the die-hard, Twins-loving fans allow this to happen? This man doesn�t just deserve to be fired. Could prison possibly be too harsh? Quick - let�s get him out of here so we can latch on to the next scapegoat.
SBG|W|P|Great comment, anonymous. Too bad you didn't sign it so that we could properly attribute your brilliance. I have some ideas how you might be, though. Having read your comment, I take everything back. Bring back the whole crew next year. Gardy, Ullgee, Stewee, Torii, Jonsey, Luiiii, Jay Cee, everyone.
This team was supposed to go to the World Series, but it missed the playoffs because it has the worst offense in the league. But, it's no one's fault. Oh yeah, it's Michael Cuddyer's fault.
frightwig|W|P|Funny, when someone is in charge of a group that rates as the worst in its field, that person usually can expect to be held accountable--and probably even be fired. Look at Scotty Ullger's track record and suggest that he be held accountable, however, and in some quarters of Twins Territory that's irrational scapegoating. I don't blame the Twins hitting coach for all the ills of the world, just for the results of his own job performance. Fact is, despite boasting a top-flight farm system that has included some blue chip bats, the Twins offense is just as bad right now as it was in 1999, the first year Ullger was in charge of coaching the hitters.
When the season began, who thought the offense was heading all the way back to 1999 and Square One? When you have a top farm system and yet such poor performance at the major league level, at what point, if not now, is it OK to say that it may be time to see what happens with a different hitting instructor in Minnesota?
|W|P|Ouch..the sting. That hurt.The writers who picked the Twins to get to the World Series are colleagues of the same bobos who picked the T-Wolves to get to the NBA Championship and the pathetic Vikings to get to the Super Bowl. Who are these geniuses? In each case, the fundamental problem is talent or lack thereof. Coaching? Probably doesn't make the top five reasons. (At least for me.)
C'Mon, do you really think now, with the hindsight glasses on, the likes of Bartlett, Cuddyer, Punto, and Morneau were going to carry this team to the series? The smart money knew a couple of rookies in the
three and four hole with a bunch slap-happy six hitters flailing away for 162 games wasn't going to work. Not this year. Not ever. We've had great pitching in a lousy division and it worked for three years. But, if Ryan doesn't right the ship with some real players next year all these blogs are going to dry up and then what am I gonna do?
I'll admit I was shaking a bony finger towards SBG, but alas, only in fun. I tease because I love. It's fun to see you beat the dead horse; once, and then it gets old. And further, I flinch and ache as much as you when I see the following:
1.) Punto sliding into first
2.) The sheer sight of Luis Rivas
3.) Jones not laying of that high fastball or shaking his head in disbelief after another cruddy at-bat
4.) Cuddyer anywhere but 3rd base - (Unless TR and Co. are committed to letting him play 2nd base, for good while they find a real 3rd baseman. And yes, I'd gamble on Youkilis if we could get him.)
5.) Hunter flailing away at three straight when he should be squeezing the juice out of the opposing pitcher.
6.) Romero sucking the life out of a close game.
No, I don't belong in the camp that said Guzman should have stayed. And I believe just as strongly a team should only have so many Canadians, so you can't pin that on me either. I'd even trade Hunter --for the right deal and a case of beer, preferably Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or Bell's Amber, but I'd prefer to have him here a few years more. Even as maddening as he can be - he is a cog if put into the right machine.
In my over caffeinated opinion, the Twins need: 1) A real lead-off man to set the table, 2.) Someone who hits for power and average at 2nd or 3rd base 3.) A real DH. They also need Morneau to figure it out or
join the scrapheap of first basemen since Kent Hrbek. I also don't think I'd be banking on making the Series with rookies or greenhorns as 40% of my rotation. I'd try and find a way to agonizingly keep Lohse around for one more go around. I would keep Mr. Liriano in the bullpen. I'd lose some of those other touted pitching prospects while you still have Santana, Silva and Radke.
No, Scotty Ullger's not my brother-in-law and I welcome you to take his head om a platter if you must.
You're right, sometimes management's just not good enough to get you to that next level. But, I think you might get better results by changing Terry Ryan.
frightwig|W|P|If the "smart money" really knew that the Opening Day lineup was not going to work--and in fact would be the worst in the league--I hope you made a bundle, Anonymous. If you believe that this group really is the least talented lineup in the league, and possibly even the majors, then that's where we will fundamentally disagree.
I expected Morneau to be a solid producer; not worse than Mientkiewicz. (Let's hope that he really did struggle because of the bad elbow.) I expected something like .275/.340/.460 out of Cuddyer (which is close to his production since May 1) in 550+ at-bats rather than ~420 AB's. I expected a lot more out of Stewart and Ford. I thought Bartlett could deliver at least Guzy-level offense if they let him play every day.
I had low expectations for Jones and didn't want him back, and he's played down to those expectations for most of the season, but it wouldn't shock me to see him bounce back with a new team & new coaches next year. (Ain't it strange how he seems to get a burst of new life after talking to Tony Gwynn?)
Torii had a typical-looking line for the 4 months he played, thanks to a monster June, be also struggled for most of the other 3 months in his season. Down as I've been on Rivas for the past three years, there's no question that even he set a new low for himself this year.
Most of the regulars had a very disappointing season and/or continued a trend of regression of the past few years. I think the GM has made some mistakes, but I also see a good deal of talent on the roster that apparently hasn't been served well by the coaching.
SBG|W|P|By the way, anonymous, I think that the centerfielder was talking World Series, not just the dumb sportswriters. What the hell do you expect me to write? What else is there to say about this team? Should I write about how cute their butts are? Or photoshop some pictures of the players on women's bodies? Come to think of it, that might not be a bad idea. At least one (make that two) of the highly paid outfielders throws like a girl.
They started the season acting like they were the best team in the league, and they fell flat on their faces. Talk about beating a dead horse... the Twins lost 2-1 eleven times. Eleven! They beat the life out of me and every other person who wanted to follow them and write about them. Even my friend Seth, who is tireless optimistic has gotten beat down by this team. And after we were all dead, they got 13 hits and lost to the Royals 1-0.
And to further drive a spike into my heart, they tell me that they really like Jason Tyner.
I'm not the biggest anti-Ullger guy out there. But, I ask one question. Who has he helped? When Hunter was struggling (and he did, by the way, most of the season), he wasn't even talking to Ullger. He was talking to Jerry White.
Yes, I think Ullger should go. But, if you've read my page at all, which you obviously have -- nice reference to the Pioneer Press article on B-G, but foaming at the mouth? I think my report of Billions of readers was funny -- you would know that it is Ron Gardenhire that I want gone. And as long as that horse is still alive, I'll beat it.
Cheesehead Craig|W|P|I have to say, when things were going well for the Twins, it seemed that Gardy was a great manager. The whole "little team that could" line. (It should be pointed out that the A's are that team). But when things don't go well, it seemed that Gardy was not all that good of a manager. He seemed to want to deflect the blame onto other people rather than own up to his own shortcomings. It's not all Gardy's fault, but he's not blameless. The infield is a mess and the outfield is underproducing. The offense is offensive to say the least. Dark days ahead for the Twins until they get some hitters. Pitchers can't carry this team forever.
|W|P|One name keeps popping up in my head when I think of Ullger and his hitting magic.DAVID ORTIZ. Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson, the hitting coach for Boston made a minor adjustment to Big Papi's swing and voila 47 homers and 146 rbi's.
Ullger how about a minor tweak of fatty or a little adjustment for JJ. How about a little something for Morneau. You certainly couldn't ruin Mauer's swing (even if you tried).
|W|P|Did anyone just hear Terry Ryan? frightwig|W|P|What did he say? amr|W|P|Amen!Johnny McCain to Fehr: "Don't you understnad that this is an issue of such transcendent importance that you should have acted months ago?"
AMR to Mack: "Don't you understand you lost my vote for good yesterday, you bloviating grandstander?"
Brown told congressional investigators Monday that he is being paid as a consultant to help FEMA assess what went wrong in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to a senior official familiar with the meeting.This just in... John Wilkes Booth has been hired to conduct an investigation into the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.|W|P|112782389756159064|W|P|Brownie, You'll Do a Heckuva Job|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
|W|P|Like Tony Montana heading the DEA. Comedy Club|W|P|Like SBG heading Mensa Unknown|W|P|Closed circuit to SBG: Mensa is an organization made up of individuals of high intelligence. A person doesn't qualify for membership unless s/he is in the top 2% of intelligence.Moss thought you might like to know.
SBG|W|P|TJ, that's some harsh trash talk.Moss, I know full well what Mensa is and I choose not to join.
frightwig|W|P|Like Bush's domestic security advisor reviewing the administration's performance regarding Katrina.Like a former Texaco lawyer heading the investigation into price gouging at the pumps after Katrina.
Oh, wait... both of those things have really happened, too.
But the President accepted "responsibility," so never mind! It's OK!
Unknown|W|P|Moss knows you know, SBG. Just giving you the business... SBG|W|P|FW -- It'd be funny if it weren't so disgraceful. frightwig|W|P|Or if it weren't only scratching the surface of all the corruption. |W|P|This hurts and I rather hope to be wrong but it's the Twins offense.Royals
APH
|W|P|I know it's Santana against some KC pitcher with a 12+ ERA aginst in his last couple of starts, but this is the Twins after all. Take KC at +250. You can't win if you don't score. Unknown|W|P|1) Moss doesn't think the extra seconds affected the game. Clock management kicks in at a certain point, and probably all that time would have been conserved. No harm, no foul.2) Moss is becoming even more adamant that the Twins make a change in managing/coaching. Last nite, Dark "I'm the size of the Death" Star said that the Marlins have quit playing for their manager. Moss doesn't think he needs to look to Florida to observe the phenomenon.
The offense is a complete joke, the fundamentals have gone to hell, and obviously the coaches aren't able to fix things but only make them worse. Way past time for a change.
SBG|W|P|"No harm, no foul"This is what I'm talking about. The Steelers scored with 81 seconds left. Really, though, it was 28 seconds left. New England had no timeouts, I don't believe. That 52 seconds made a big difference.
|W|P|What do you expect from the only major professional league that still uses part-time, amatuer officials? TEB
| FRW | AAC | BEM | TWJ | TEB | CHC | SBG | RED | GEB | APH | DEP | ANM | AMR |
| 983 | 956 | 767 | 647 | 215 | 165 | 51 | 6 | 0 | -205 | -235 | -503 | -856 |
Cheesehead Craig|W|P|For the record, SBG mocked me for picking the sweep. Now, I mock you: "Mock Mock! Mock Mock Mock!" frightwig|W|P|Yeah, his word to me was "Gutsy!" I guess he thought the Sox were spiraling out of control. I just figured the Sox had the better pitchers in the last three games, the Twins offense still blows, and the Sox simply are the better team. SBG|W|P|Actually I thought it was gutsy to pick all three games at once considering your position in the contest. I should have been doing the same thing, but I had no guts to pick the heavy favorites day after day. And I couldn't get myself to pick the Twins, either. One loss would have meant a 310 point swing for anyone picking the Sox on Saturday and Sunday.The Twins went down in order in the first inning on Saturday, the 21st consecutive game in which they have failed to score in the first inning. They haven't scored in that inning since Aug. 30 against Kansas City. The Twins have been outscored 100-68 in the first inning, the largest run difference in any inning this season.Not surprising when you have the worst leadoff man in the league and Nick Punto "hitting" second. From Sid:
Dwane Casey was asked to describe the Timberwolves team he will take over when training camp opens Oct. 4. The new coach said Saturday: "Well, you always want Shaq [O'Neal], you always want Kobe [Bryant], you always want Michael [Jordan], you always want Scottie [Pippen]. I think we have a good NBA team. Our roster has a little bit of everything. So we have what we need. Do we want to continue to improve it, look to make trades and improve our roster at every opportunity? Yes."Two things. One, we have a certain player who can be mentioned generally in the same company as those other guys. Two, that description is a far cry from what we thought about the team last year at this time, as in, we are challenging for an NBA championship.|W|P|112767924462741099|W|P|Sunday Tribuning|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
| Player | BEM | TWJ | TEB | SBG | RED | DEP | ANM | ||||||
| Points | 883 | 856 | 767 | 647 | 215 | 65 | 51 | 6 | 0 | -205 | -235 | -503 | -856 |
| Number | Batter | Team | Clutch |
| 1 | Jimmy Rollins | PHI | -3.38 |
| 2 | Alex Gonzalez | FLO | -3.21 |
| 3 | David Bell | PHI | -2.89 |
| 4 | Casey Blake | CLE | -2.71 |
| 5 | Jorge Posada | NYA | -2.65 |
| 6 | Nick Punto | MIN | -2.60 |
| 7 | Ron Belliard | CLE | -2.40 |
| 8 | Mike Lowell | FLO | -2.38 |
| 9 | Miguel Tejada | BAL | -2.38 |
| 10 | Felipe Lopez | CIN | -2.35 |
| 11 | Tike Redman | PIT | -2.35 |
| 12 | John Buck | KCA | -2.34 |
| 13 | Jose Reyes | NYN | -2.31 |
| 14 | Neifi Perez | CHN | -2.31 |
| 15 | Rafael Furcal | ATL | -2.28 |
| 16 | Derek Jeter | NYA | -2.27 |
| 17 | Shawn Green | ARI | -2.21 |
| 18 | Julio Lugo | TBA | -2.12 |
| 19 | Kevin Mench | TEX | -2.07 |
| 20 | Cristian Guzman | WAS | -2.07 |
In the lineup as the leadoff hitter and left fielder for the fourth consecutive game Friday against Chicago, Tyner continued to impress the Twins in his bid to win a 2006 roster spot. The September call-up led off with a single, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He is batting .300.Williams reports that "Gardenhire likes that Tyner does little things well, such as running the bases, playing solid defense and executing bunts." Williams goes on to say that "[t]he Twins' inability to execute fundamental plays is big reason why they will not make the playoffs." To which I say, "Ugh!" Jason Tyner is a career .259/.296/.302/.598 hitter. He has 818 major league at bats and zero homeruns. In 40 ABs he's hitting .300/.333/.350/.683. That's about the softest .300 you are ever going to see. This guy is not a quality major league player. But, it's become clear that Lew Ford is completely out of favor (and sounds like a scapegoat), so we need a guy like this. Ugh! The Twins aren't making the playoffs because they don't execute fundamental plays. Yes, they've missed some bunts. But, the Twins have scored 655 runs, good for last in the American League. They've slugged .394, good for last in the AL. Their OBP is .324, good for tenth in the AL, but only .005 better than last place Seattle. Their EQa is .246, good for last in the 30 team major leagues. Their EQR (equivalent runs, normalized for park effects) is 588.8, last in the 30 team American League. The Twins didn't make the playoffs because they missed a few bunts or overthrew a cutoff man here or there. No, they missed the playoffs because they have absolutely the worst offense in the major leagues. Giving a guy like Tyner, as a 4th outfielder, 350 or so at bats (career EQa: .219) will not help. I suppose the 'tool thinks that because the White Sox are winning the division reportedly because of their speed, the Twins have to get speed, too. Heh.|W|P|112760378591508774|W|P|Tyner to be a Twin in 2006?|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
frightwig|W|P|Let us pray that Terry Ryan understands the problem; and if he won't fire the Tool, may he at least tell him what's what and throw Gardy's wish list into the garbage. This is the organization of Harmon Killebrew, dammit. At what point did they forget how to develop hitters like the Killer, and become infatuated with guys like Jason Tyner and Little Nicky Punto?
SBG|W|P|It must just make Killer sick to watch this nonsense.The Timberwolves said Wednesday they were cautiously optimistic that newly acquired point guard Marko Jaric was not injured during a locker-room fight at the European Championship. The Associated Press reported that Jaric had a fistfight with a teammate on Serbia-Montenegro's national team after their loss to France on Tuesday. Jaric's national team coach, Zeljko Obradovic, told the AP that Jaric brawled with Igor Rakocevic, who plays for Spain's Real Madrid.Timberwolves fans will recall that Mr. Rakocevic occupied a uniform with the Hometown Five in 2003. He was probably the biggest joke in the history of the franchise (well, one of them, there have been a lot). He was supposed to be a backup point guard. Problem was, he wasn't good enough to be a backup point guard for the Gophers. He did nothing to help the franchise while he was here, and that continues to today.|W|P|112757310036848754|W|P|Fun in Timberland|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
| Player | FRW | BEM | AAC | TWJ | TEB | SBG | GEB | RED | CHC | APH | DEP | ANM | AMR |
| Points | 783 | 767 | 756 | 547 | 215 | 51 | 0 | 6 | -35 | -205 | -235 | -503 | -856 |
frightwig|W|P|Regis, I think I'll stop now and keep the 783 dollars. Comedy Club|W|P|Hot damn| Team | Actual | PWP | 2nd Order PWP | 3rd Order PWP | ||||
| W | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | |
| Chicago | 91 | 60 | 83.4 | 67.6 | 79.3 | 71.7 | 79.1 | 71.9 |
| Cleveland | 89 | 63 | 89.9 | 62.0 | 93.4 | 58.6 | 91.5 | 60.5 |
| Minnesota | 77 | 74 | 78.5 | 72.4 | 79.0 | 72.0 | 79.7 | 71.3 |
| BEM | AAC | FRW | TWJ | TEB | SBG | RED | GEB | CHC | APH | DEP | ANM | AMR |
| 767 | 756 | 683 | 447 | 215 | 151 | 106 | 0 | -135 | -205 | -235 | -503 | -856 |
|W|P|I think you've forgotten that Jeter was promoted to Face of Baseball... and Creator of All Things Fine and Beautiful. SBG|W|P|Believe me, I haven't forgotten. frightwig|W|P|Damn, if I'd listened to my gut, I could've taken all 3 games in the series; but I don't like betting on prospects just up from the minors, and I particularly hate the feeling of betting against Liriano to get his first W. Betting on Zito to beat Radke, though, no problem! So I'll have to settle for the one payday in this set.Don't listen to the TV shills who tell you that two teams -- the Oakland Raiders and the Vikings -- will be defined by Moss this season. That's the easy story from the booth. It's the wrong story in the real world, where sport can be inexplicable and more than talent counts.He then goes on to talk about Cris Carter and how this is the guy the Vikings really miss. Cris Carter is 40 years old. We miss Jim Marshall, Alan Page and Chuck Foreman, too. His discussion about the records of Vikings of the pre-Moss Carter years, the Moss-Carter years, and the post-Carter Moss years are supposed to be evidence that Carter was a winner and Moss is a "spectacular loser." To take this as evidence for Souhan's conclusion requires that all else be equal. Anyone who knows anything about the Vikings under Red McCombs knows that everything -- players, coaches, facilities, all were done on the cheap. The franchise was allowed to deteriorate -- and that embarassment is proof in Souhan's mind that Moss is a loser. I'm tired of this hack. From this point forward, I resolve not to discuss his half baked columns again.|W|P|112727682190427880|W|P|News and Notes|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
frightwig|W|P|I've grown to despise sports analysis which pushes the idea that results on the field are a reflection of character. It may be that some guys who work hard are rewarded for their dedication to improving their game; but then some guys work hard and still bat .220 for a team that was out of the race by Memorial Day. Moss is a HOF receiver. Maybe it was his time to leave Minnesota, but anyone who said the Vikings could replace that kind of talent with Travis Taylor, Nate Burleson, and healthy doses of Good Character was just trying to kid you, if not kid himself.
I don't necessarily root for the Bad Boyz. Some, like Ray Lewis, don't deserve to be celebrated. But Randy Moss ain't no Ray Lewis. Nothin' he's done that one of Dubya or Jeb's kids hasn't also done. ;)
On Culpepper: it's not Daunte's fault that his line can't block, he doesn't have a decent backfield to keep the defenses honest, and he's lost the great deep threat who could stretch out the secondary. Through 2 games, the Vikings' leading rusher has 35 yards on 9 carries--and that includes one run of 23 yards. Daunte is like Custer out there.
Brian|W|P|SBG: One, I hear that Liriano's throwing motion means he'll blow a shoulder mid-season. I did not get a chance to witness myself so is that true? That he just strong arms the ball without using his body?Agree about Souhan. He tries so hard to be witty and it comes across as contrived. I'm sick of him. I still like Reusse but even Pat's efforts are half-baked. Reusse's stuff of late starts out great and then never has a "finish". I think he is just biding his time until retirement.
FW: I love the Custer line! Is that copyrighted already or can I quote you!?!?
Unknown|W|P|Moss' observations:According to the Gardentool, the Twins are just unlucky and a few of those low-scoring losses could just as easily have been wins. Right.
The Twins clearly have the worst offense in the AL. The Royals have had to face the Twins' pitching staff for about 15 games so far, while in exchange the Twins have gotten to face the miserable Royals pitchers for those games. If the Twins batters would have to face the Twins pitchers, it would be even uglier than it already is.
SBG, did you see A-Rod's upper-deck, opposite-field shot last nite? Unreal.... The Ortiz homer(s) and the Bonds homer were also bombs, but they were pulled. A-Rod just demolished the pitch without fully turning on it.
One final thing -- did you see that AJ Pierzynski stepped on the back of the Indians' third baseman as he rounded the bag? It may not have been intentional, but he certainly didn't try too hard to avoid it and his foot hit squarely on the guy's back.
|W|P|Without commenting directly on the loss of the Moss threat, I think it is pretty hard to throw deep when your line cannot even block the front 4. Likewise, your running game isn't going anywhere if your line cannot generate some push.I didn't see the Cincy game, but certainly against Tampa, the rookie Johnson and center Withrow looked overmatched.
BTW, how did Bowyer look last night? The game was not on local broadcast out here (I'm too cheap to pay for real cable) in the "extended" Bay Area. I saw that he threw quite a few pitches (38 over 8 PA).
frightwig|W|P|COD: I'd be thrilled to be quoted on Vikings Underground!Hey, Moss: you know the offense is sure to be fine next year, because if Gardy has his way, the lineup will have... more speed! Just what the doctor ordered, no?
SBG|W|P|BrianS -- Didn't see the end of the game last night. The line was much better the second game.Moss -- didn't see A-Rod's shot. He's always had a lot of power to the opposite field.
COD -- Reusse is uneven. Sometimes he's great, sometimes he sucks. He's my favorite TC sports columnist, though.
FW -- I agree. I think Randy Moss could have done a lot to help his image by smiling more and spouting some cliches in the media like a lot of guys do. Instead, he gives a glimpse of who he is. To me he seems naive, uncomfortable in front of the camera, and although he's cocky, I don't think he really appreciates what he has in terms of talent. I find him interesting and I think watching him play football is thrilling.
SBG|W|P|FW: I heard that last night. More speed. Maybe Tyner can lead off all season. Pretty please, can Nick Punto hit second? That way, when Mauer has 60 RBIs in the three hole, we can say, well, Mauer's just not a good RBI guy. Unknown|W|P|FW: Indeed. Tool will have Tyner be the everyday LF, leading off. Tyner, he who is seeking his first ML homerun after 700+ ABs, all as an outfielder. Ugh. |W|P|Item number 5: Bert's comment related to Jacques Jones missing both cutoff men. And he is the biggest culprit gong through the motions. Mised fly balls, diving for a ball that he had no choice for on Monday (it ended up bouncing off his head) throwing into the ground a few feet in front of him (five times since the all-star break), overthrowing everything, etc. It's clear that he is not motivated by free agency. Instead he's letting his poor hitting follow him out in the field. That's not to say that Ford and Tyner were great last night either. They both missed cutoff men after Bert's comment.
SBG|W|P|Was it Jones who prompted that comment? I thought at the time it was Tyner, but later I wasn't sure.Jones has thrown like that for years. I pointed it out repeatedly last season as well. I don't think it's a lack of effort, he just doesn't have a consistent release point. Maybe it's a lack of effort in that he hasn't worked on it to improve his accuracy.
Yeah, the whole outfield stunk. Ford's dropping of a fly ball was terrible. I wonder about Ford sometimes. Is he too laid back? Or is he wound too tight? I don't know.
Unknown|W|P|SBG, your guy The Common Man Dan Cole thought that Souhan wrote a pretty good column today. Moss wonders who to believe....
SBG|W|P|Moss -- I was driving back from a client meeting and I heard that. He also thought that the Moss trade was a good deal. He did say that they shouldn't have just given Moss away, but I have a hard time with the records as evidence nonsense. Carter left, Robert Smith was gone, and Tice came in. The defense went deeply south. All of this is apparently Moss' fault. I'd go with me, Moss. frightwig|W|P|I looked up the Vikes' records at Football-Reference yesterday, and noticed just what you said, SBG. The last time the Vikings were any good, they had Robert Smith rushing for 1500 yards, Carter and Moss combined for 2700 yards, and Tice wasn't the head coach. Huh! Who knew that the team got so far only on the strength of Cris Carter's good character, though? It's as if the local media learned nothing from the revelations of Kirby Puckett's private character. A player smiles, cooperates with the media, and talks about how he's all about The Team, and the reporters still just eat it up.
SBG|W|P|Right on FW. But, you know, it's about more than math. Apparently, it's about unsupportable opinion.-SBG, Charter Member of the Pocket Protector Brigade
You can make a mathematical argument that he should go, but -- sorry to tell this to the pocket-protector crowd -- math isn't everything. (Uh-oh. The Internet nerd who knows Hunter hits only .183 with runners in scoring position when the Dow Jones industrial average slips below 10,000 is about to send me a nasty e-mail.)Cute Jimmy. In my engineering career, I dealt with people like Jimmy all the time. People who don't understand numbers are afraid of them. People afraid of thinking differently ridicule those who are willing to consider all possible solutions. I've learned a few things about numbers and statistics outside of the baseball world. The baseball world has changed. Statistical analysis has changed the way people look at baseball. Some people choose to use statistics to guide them. Others say things like "you know he cares." Top Jimmy does address the fact that Hunter's approach at the plate is less than great. Jimmy's analysis?
Yes, [Hunter] swings at bad pitches. You know what? So does almost everybody else. Sometimes we Minnesotans become so focused on our teams that we fail to recognize that the game's greatest players flounder, too. If they didn't, Barry Bonds would hit .400 every year.This is delicious. Even Bonds doesn't hit .400. Yeah, all he did last year was get on base 60.9% of the time, a record. His line? .362/.609/.812/1.421. The year before? .341/.529/.749/1.278. The year before that? .370/.582/.799/1.381. The year before that? .328/.515/.863/1.379. Yep. Bonds has really floundered. By the way, Bonds' average VORP from 2002-04 was 134. But, forget about Bonds, he's one of the two or three best hitters of all time. Hunter flounders more than the average bear. In fact, Hunter's career on base percentage is .319, .012 below the league average in that span. Why is he that far below average? Because he has no plate discipline. None. What about over the life of his contract? In 2003, he was .025 below the average. In 2004, he was .011 below the average. In 2005, he was .008 above the average. In other words, when it comes to getting base, our soon to be $10.75 million man was just a little below average over the life of his contract.|W|P|112719058580528487|W|P|Hunter Trade Talk|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
Unknown|W|P|Yeah, but he's got sweet cheeks. frightwig|W|P|You'd think it should get harder for the Luddites to dismiss sabermetrics since the true believers at Yawkey Way won the World Series last year. I wonder how Jimmy might explain why Cleveland and Oakland are better than the traditionalist Twins this year, too. |W|P|I've never been a huge Hunter fan, but I've always liked him. At the beginning of the year, I couldn't have imagined Torii gone. But he's gone right now, and we're no worse off, as far as standings go. I think in the last couple of months, Santana and Silva have become the Faces of the Twins: the leaders, the clubhouse comraderie guys, etc. I think Torii lost his best friends, was upset about it, and was (probably subconsciously) taking it out on the replacement guys. Mauer replaced AJ, Morneau replaced Mientkiewicz, and those were the guys Hunter grew up with (Cuddyer probably escaped because he's been around a few more years).Should Hunter be traded? Dunno, but there's no outstanding reason why he's untouchable, either. And it hurts to say that.
SBG|W|P|I thought Frank Viola was absolutely untouchable. He was my favorite player. I screamed about that trade for months on end. I was wrong. The lesson I learned was that almost no one is untouchable. I was sad to see Frankie go. He still remains one of my favorite all time Twins. But, I'm sure glad the Twins made that trade. Cheesehead Craig|W|P|Your wisdom is only rivaled by that of King Solomon of old. Plato, Socrates, Kant, Mill, Aristole, Hobbes, and Decartes all pale in comparison to thee. |W|P|This is tremendously solid; backing up with the numbers everything I have suspected about Hunter ever since I got into baseball stats early last year. Souhan's commentary shows ignorance ... this analysis is top drawer.RTBinFFM
Unknown|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Unknown|W|P|Twenty-one losses when giving up three runs or fewer, by Moss' count. Ugh.Punto gave away two runs yesterday, one on the bases and one in the field. Made an enormous difference in the game. But he didn't get yanked. Lew messes up a bunt and gets yanked on the spot. 'Tool has lost this team completely. Moss can't take it anymore.
amr|W|P|Just when you think Gardy is in the most precarious position of head coaches in MN, Tice comes along and makes him look good.I think Punto's playing himself out of starting next year. Who do we have for 2b prospects?
frightwig|W|P|The Tool loves Punto. If TR doesn't sign a veteran starter to play 2B next year, I think Rodriguez or Maza would need to have an amazing spring training to take that job. Brian|W|P|SBG: I need a lawyer to sue Mike Tice for not delivering what he promised. And the Bengals for Assault & Battery. And Michael Bennett for not disclosing he is not a football player. And Bud Grant for leaving when he did. And Drew Pearson for pushing off. I think I have a case.
SBG|W|P|I think the statute of limitations has run on the Drew Pearson thing. I'm thinking Bud is golden, too. Some of those other things look actionable, though. |W|P|I said it before the season started, I'll say it again.The Vikes will go nowhere with Mike Tice in charge.
TEB
|W|P|If COD's case can be turned into a class action lawsuit I am willing to join as a plantiff.Did I say that right? Regardless, I'm itching to take someone to court, mainly for false advertising.
SBG|W|P|You said that right.Here's my advice. Laugh it off. Admit that the bad guys are just playing better and our guys have not done it this year. Accept a little sass back. That's what good sports do. They take it when the other guy is dishing. At some point, maybe even later this year, the shoe will be on the other foot. And it will be time for a little "Sass" for the South Siders.Emphasis added. We'll see how it turns out. Just a blip on the radar screen? Or a total collapse? We'll all be watching, for sure.|W|P|112705800825781067|W|P|Sunday|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
frightwig|W|P|Since Cleveland has 6 games remaining with Chicago, they stand a decent chance of completing a miracle run to capture the division flag. But it all might be for nothing but bragging rights, anyway, since the White Sox are really in competition with the Yankees at this point. As long as Chicago holds that 5-game lead over New York (with 14 to play), they're in. I know you like the .500 Projection game, SBG, so here goes: if Chicago plays .500 ball the rest of the way, they will finish with 97 wins. New York would have to finish with a 12-2 run just to tie, in that case. Even if Chicago collapses to a 4-10 record the rest of the way, the Yankees still would have to win 9 of 14 to tie. I doubt the ChiSox will win only 4 games the rest of the way. I look for them to win at least 6 more (with 4-game sets against Detroit and Minnesota, plus the 6 games with Cleveland), and that should be good enough to hold off even Mystique and Aura. I hope.
SBG|W|P|Well said. The Sox are still in control, and a win today didn't hurt their cause. Certainly, I'd rather see the White Sox and Indians in over the Yanquis. Most of all, I want to see an exciting race to the end.
|W|P|DOH!You shoulda known better than to bet against El Presidente.
SBG|W|P|Yeah, what a dumb move on my part.| Player | BEM | FRW | TEB | TWJ | AAC | SBG | GEB | RED | CHC | APH | DEP | ANM | AMR |
| Points | 767 | 583 | 415 | 347 | 319 | 251 | 0 | -27 | -135 | -205 | -235 | -503 | -756 |
Unknown|W|P|Moss hasn't read the newspaper articles, but has heard that Hunter put his MN home up for sale. The story is now on ESPN.com. Comedy Club|W|P|I heard TR on the radio today driving home from school and he was very reluctant to shed any light on the issue whatsoever. In the past he has shot down these types of rumors.| Player | BEM | FRW | TEB | AAC | TWJ | SBG | GEB | RED | APH | DEP | CHC | ANM | AMR | |
| Points | 767 | 583 | 515 | 319 | 247 | 151 | 0 | -127 | -205 | -235 | -235 | -503 | -656 |
frightwig|W|P|I agree. If the Indians make it to the playoffs, I think they stand a better chance of winning the pennant than Chicago or the West winner. Unknown|W|P|Moss concurs, and will be cheering for the Indians from here on out. Drew, are you on the bandwagon??| Team | Actual | PWP | 2nd Order PWP | 3rd Order PWP | ||||
| W | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | |
| White Sox | 88 | 55 | 81 | 62 | 78 | 65 | 77 | 66 |
| Indians | 83 | 62 | 84 | 61 | 86 | 59 | 85 | 60 |
| Twins | 75 | 69 | 75 | 69 | 75 | 69 | 75 | 69 |
| Player | Weighted Mean | Actual EqA | Difference |
| Hunter | .283 | .271 | -0.12 |
| Jones | .271 | .260 | -0.11 |
| Stewart | .280 | .249 | -0.31 |
| Cuddyer | .283 | .247 | -0.36 |
| Castro | .232 | .237 | 0.05 |
| Rivas | .252 | .218 | -0.34 |
| Morneau | .294 | .249 | -0.45 |
| LeCroy | .274 | .275 | 0.01 |
| Mauer | .289 | .282 | -0.07 |
| Punto | .251 | .222 | -0.29 |
| Ford | .291 | .253 | -0.38 |
frightwig|W|P|That's some thorough, excellent work. I'm humbled and struck dumb. When I return to blogging on Monday, I think I'll just post some pretty pictures.... Peder|W|P|For a bigger picture of the Twin's fortune, you should look at the last couple of years. I think that'll balance out your view of the Twin's luck. SBG|W|P|There's a lot of truth in that, Peder. The Twins have outperformed and the Chisox have underperformed their PWP in each of the last three years. I intended to address that, but I didn't find 2nd and 3rd order PWPs. Plus, I forgot.I didn't intend to cry woe is us. I wanted to show how unusual this 2005 season was. I wad going to use the word "unusual" instead of luck, but I wanted to use the BC line as an intro.
amr|W|P|How hard would it be to put the Detroit Tigers in there? I keep thinking they should be better than they are.| Player | BEM | FRW | TEB | AAC | TWJ | SBG | GEB | RED | CHC | APH | DEP | ANM | AMR |
| Points | 767 | 583 | 515 | 441 | 247 | 151 | 0 | -5 | -113 | -205 | -235 | -503 | -768 |
| Year | Defensive Efficiency | Doubles | Triples | Double Plays | DIPS% | ||||||||
| Twins | League Average | Difference | Twins | League Average | Diff. | Twins | League Average | Diff. | Twins | League Average | Diff. | Twins | |
| 2005 | 0.702 | 0.696 | -0.006 | 275 | 291 | 16 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 175 | 154 | 21 | 1.11 |
| 2004 | 0.688 | 0.691 | 0.003 | 247 | 300 | 53 | 23 | 27 | 4 | 158 | 151 | 7 | 1.00 |
| 2003 | 0.701 | 0.696 | -0.005 | 302 | 299 | -3 | 24 | 30 | 6 | 114 | 152 | -38 | 0.97 |
| 2002 | 0.705 | 0.697 | -0.008 | 280 | 299 | 19 | 32 | 30 | -2 | 124 | 149 | -25 | 1.05 |
StickandBallGuy (Minneapolis): As a fan, what is your reaction to seeing Barry Bonds playing again? Do you feel excitement in seeing an all-time great? Or do you wish he'd just retire? Christina Kahrl: I'm happy to see a great player playing, and I hope he continues to hit for as long as he's able. He's apparently very happy to remain in San Francisco, and I'd hope that's where he remains to the end. I say that even though I have a well-developed dislike of the Giants, but Bonds, the Cove, that park... what's not to like about all that? It's a bit of magic that you find in baseball in a way unlike any other sport. Here's hoping the Pads win, but Bonds helps put the fear of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in them down this last stretch.I am amazed by the negative press that Bonds gets. Whether he's a nice guy or not, he's the very best in the world at what he does. I hope he continues to play for a couple of more years. Why? Because I enjoy watching greatness. That's why. I saw his first at bat last night. Wow, what a fantastic duel. A lot of people think that the game is better off without Bonds. I can't understand why. Yes, there may be steroids involved. But, friends, if Bonds was using, he's not the only one. Oh, and it wasn't against the rules. Look how far beyond everyone else he is. If others are using, too, and he's still that far ahead of everyone, he must be great. And he is. Ms. Kahrl wrote about Bonds today. Here's some of what she had to say.
Who are we supposed to believe when we discuss Bonds? Someone like Ray Ratto, or someone who's described Bonds to me as a man with two commitments--his children and his job--that he takes extremely seriously? Myself, I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone I haven't met, virtually or in the flesh, and I'm especially willing to give that benefit to those whose personality we know merely from a collection of jock sniffers and the more dim bulbs manufactured by our nation's journalism schools. Add in the race angle, and I'm confident in saying that we know Barry Bonds about as well as we know Alexander the Great. As for Bonds' involvement with performance-enhancing drugs, I won't disagree that there are doubts, nor would I suggest that there shouldn't be. But I guess when talk drifts over to how we celebrate records and how they're set, I cannot help but think how Rickey Henderson was treated for setting the stolen base record while not saying anything particularly offensive afterwards, or how his setting the runs record was effectively overlooked. I think back on the glum "celebration" that was perfunctorily executed in 1997 in memory of Jackie Robinson, a bit of badly manufactured schmaltz used as a crutch for an industry more concerned with finding a marketing hook to erase memories of '94 than anything else.I'm not qualified to talk about the impact of race in the coverage of Bonds. But, I do believe that it is possible that race is a factor. She continues later on.
For me, steroids is like cocaine was in the early '80s. It's a spectacular issue, which is to say, it is a spectacle. I don't think we can say with absolute confidence what either substance (or amphetamines) do to player performance. I don't think we can prove that any of these things perverted the game, or that they reflect anything more than that the game is played by our fellow men, prone to the same temptations, the same errors of judgment and the same mistakes.What if Barry is guilty? More importantly, what if he's not guilty?
Bonds is caught in a bind: he'll never overcome reasonable doubt, so instead of being presumed innocent, he will always be condemned by a large number of people, for reasons as varied as reasonable doubt to conditioned dislike to overt racism, to name a few of what might be an unlimited range of possible responses to Bonds setting the home-run record. My problem is that I will never escape my doubt: to what extent Barry Bonds was condemned from the start, and how too-ready the media was to go for a rope.Some of the dim bulbs and jock sniffers suggested that the Giants would be better without Bonds. Yeah right. Others pontificate that we would be better off if Bonds retired, thereby insinuating that he's not worthy of playing or breaking records. Who died and made them the judge of who is worthy and who isn't? I'll tell you this. I don't much care who holds records. What I care about is watching chase for records and excellence. When Bonds' comeback was imminent, ESPN's Pedro Gomez reported an alleged altercation with an unnamed teammate in June. Did anyone besides me think that the timing of this announcement was suspicious? And how about the fact that the other player wasn't named! This is absolutely atrocious "journalism." The ESPN ombudsman (and boy do they need one) agrees:
[S]ome viewers objected to what they perceived to be a double-standard by the media, ESPN included, in its coverage of athletes "accused" of using performance-enhancing drugs. [Lance] Armstrong gets a more objective treatment, they say, while others, such as Barry Bonds, are placed in a more defensive position of having to prove innocence. On Monday, while reporting the possible activation of Bonds, ESPN's Pedro Gomez -- the network's beat reporter for Bonds -- had a story that the Giants' slugger had been involved in a clubhouse scuffle with a teammate in June. Cynics -- including me -- questioned the pairing of the two stories, particularly when Bonds, under the glare of steroid suspicion for more than a year, was in a rare forthcoming mood. Gomez said he and producer Charles Moynihan had been working the clubhouse story for weeks, but did not want to go with it until they had "multiple sources" and had given Bonds a chance to respond. While Bonds did not go on camera, he told a team spokesman he had no problem with the unidentified player involved. I also wondered why it took two months to confirm the story, but Gomez was unavailable much of the summer because of family obligations, he said. Additionally, I'm surprised and disappointed that ESPN did not pursue the story even while Gomez was unavailable, and that the player involved in the incident with Bonds was not named. Still, teasing the clubhouse incident with the possible activation of Bonds adds to the perception by some viewers that ESPN doesn't play fair with everyone. Nor do the network's commentators and talk-show pundits -- many of whom could show more responsibility, fairness and restraint when discussing athletes who have been charged with and rumored to have committed, but not convicted of, illegal actions.We all know the media doesn't play fair. The media likes to create heroes (ummm, Jeter? Armstrong?) and villians (Bonds). Their reporting is shaped to fit the stories, not to project an objective view. That's why those who think about what they see on television and in print are frustrated by the coverage that the mainstream media shoves down our throats.|W|P|112666610002823716|W|P|Defensive Thinking|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com
frightwig|W|P|I believe Bonds is treated unfairly not just because he's Black, but because he's a Black man who isn't affable and outgoing to the public, who doesn't try to cultivate relationships with reporters. The media reveres Black players like Puckett, Griffey, and Jeter. Black players who smile and joke, "respect the game" by paying deference to managers and coaches or legends of the game, and make time for reporters are Golden to the press. That's true of Black athletes in any sport. The press tends to be ambivalent or antagonistic towards Black athletes who seem self-absorbed or uncomfortable with the publicity game, who don't charm the press, who don't pay their proper respects.
Compare Bonds to someone like Randy Johnson. Johnson has always been an awkward public speaker. He's prone to fits of moodiness and prima donna behavior. He tanked half a season while feuding with Seattle management in 1998; he's forced his way out of the two teams where he notched the most significant accomplishments of his career. He started off his relationship with the NY press by taking a swing at a photographer. Although he's routinely amongst the league leaders in hit batters, the reputation of a headhunter has never stuck to him like it's been attached to, say, Pedro Martinez. I could say much of these things about Roger Clemens, too. Yet the media have never made a big issue about the "character" of Johnson or Clemens. They're treated as great pitchers, and that's more or less that. Would that be true if Johnson or Clemens were Black?
SBG|W|P|Thanks, TL. One of the things that has infuriated me about the coverage of steroids this year is the disappointment expressed in the media that bigger fish haven't been caught (Bonds). When guys like Rincon get caught, the media is upset -- why aren't they catching the big guys? There can only be one explanation according to these dim bulbs... the testing is flawed or corrupted. Because we know these guys have used in the past and are still using. Cheesehead Craig|W|P|Frightwig,That was an incredible post! I could not agree more and frankly could not have put it better. Very well done!
I also agree with SBG that Bonds should play. It's something that when he comes to bat, the baseball world almost comes to a stop to watch. You just expect something incredible to happen.
|W|P|I disagree with much of what you have to say here, SBG, but you're certainly entitled to your opinion.However, using Kahrl's op-ed piece to support your arguments does you more harm than good, IMO. It's a really, really horrible piece of writing, especially for someone complaining about the quality of the press coverage of Bonds.
For example, she says:
"Who are we supposed to believe when we discuss Bonds? Someone like Ray Ratto, or someone who's described Bonds to me as a man with two commitments--his children and his job--that he takes extremely seriously"
Well, let's examine that...Ray Ratto has access to the Giants' locker room any time he chooses. He has probably spent hundreds of hours in proximity to Bonds at games, charity events, etc. I might give the unnamed source cited by Kahrl who described Bonds as 'a man with two committments' some credence if Kahrl had let us know who this someone actually is. Seems to me if you're gonna write off Ratto as a jock sniffer and a dim bulb, you should at least let us know how your source is different.
And do you really expect us to believe Bonds takes his role as a father all that seriously when he's used his kid(s) as props more than once, and is almost assuredly guilty of adultery on an ongoing basis? Please. Even if it's true, what does that have to do with Bonds' personality, treatment of others, or use of steroids?
"As for Bonds' involvement with performance-enhancing drugs, I won't disagree that there are doubts"
Actually, there are no doubts. The only doubts one can express are whether or not he knew what he was using. And any reasonable person would have to say those doubts are thin, at best.
Steroids like cocaine? How? There are at least plausible arguments that using steroids enhances your ability to play baseball. I'd enjoy seeing someone try to make the case that using cocaine does the same.
This article is at least as bad as anything the dim bulbs ever dreamed of.
TEB
amr|W|P|SBG,Had you paid out last place, I would be right in the middle, because I would have started picking the teams I thought would lose (given the odds) about halfway through the contest, and those picks would have turned out right!
-AMR
Comedy Club|W|P|Lemme guess, you had in your head today that you were going to do a nice little article on the the defense and how it's better this year, but this lead to that and you ended up doing a rant on Barry Bonds. Very well done nevertheless. SBG|W|P|TJ -- actually, I had both in mind. I wanted to talk about Bonds given his return and I happened to stumble across this defense thing the night before. frightwig|W|P|TEB, I'd say there are still doubts about exactly what drugs Bonds may have used, how often he used them and in what kind of volume, and how much those drugs may have boosted his performance. You know, it was convenient to conclude that Jason Giambi's peak years were entirely the product of steroids, when he was struggling to hit the ball out of the infield while presumably clean this past Spring. But what can we say with any certainty about him now that he's put up a .304/.457/.592 line on the season, and has really come on like a monster since June? Do you just assume that he's just taking a more sophisticated drug? Or is it possible that some players like Giambi or Bonds are great hitters, whether they're taking steroids, speed, creatine, Wheaties, or not?
Maybe I don't follow the Yankees news and gossip closely enough, but does it seem like the Giambi-took-steroids story has become Old News to the media already? It seems like I haven't heard anything about it since about May. Or about since he started producing for the Yankees again, in other words.
It's as if he's redeemed himself by falling so low and then climbing back up again. If not completely forgiven, it seems like the Character Police have granted him a conditional parole. True? If so, is it just a coincidence that he's also a White player who wears the sacred pinstripes?
|W|P|Who said anything about Jason Giambi?All I did was point out what a poor piece of writing Ms Kahrl produced.
I'm also pretty sure it's established Bonds used "the clear" and "the cream," but he claims he didn't know what was in 'em.
TEB
frightwig|W|P|I believe that Bonds admitted using some products which seem to resemble topical steroids that some others like Giambi and Sheffield have called "The Clear" or "The Cream." Nobody has proven, to my knowledge, nor did he admit that he used steroids, how often he might have used "The Clear" or "The Cream" or any other steroid, or whether his usage extended to any other illegal performance enhancing drugs. I mentioned Giambi in reference to the questions of how certain we can be about the effects of steroids and who is or isn't now worthy of breaking records, or making the All-Star Game or Hall of Fame, and being cheered for his accomplishments. That point and the issue of how media coverage may be driven by race were brought up in SBG's original column.
| Player | SBG | DEP | TWJ | GEB | CHC | FRW | ANM | TEB | AAC | RED | AMR | BEM | APH |
| Points | 51 | -235 | 247 | 0 | -213 | 583 | -503 | 515 | 341 | -5 | -668 | 767 | -205 |
amr|W|P|Cower before me and my mighty ability to pick the wrong teams most of the time! amr|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Comedy Club|W|P|Does that number represent the amount of money I would be up had I bet $100 on each game? Cuz if so...sweet. SBG|W|P|That's what that means, TJ. Cheesehead Craig|W|P|Must... beat... SBG...I think that if the Twins can make the playoffs then this will be the most impressive season that they've had since 2001 (I know. I'm a broken record on that one). I don't see it happening. The Twins simply do not have enough offensive firepower. More accurately, they have too many holes across the infield. It's pretty clear, at least in my mind, that the Twins will look back at the day that they signed both Jones and Rivas as the crucial day of the 2005 season. Plus, as you'll see below, other things are stacked up against the Twins. ... Over EACH of the past three seasons, the Twins have played the EASIEST SCHEDULE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES. Now, however, there are two good teams in the division besides the Twins (make that one great team and one good team). The Twins' record in the division is the worst that it has been over the last five years, so far. Consider that the Twins have 13 more games left against the White Sox and things look kind of grim. In fact, if you factor out the 7-1 record against the Royals, the Twins are below .500 against the rest of the AL Central. But look. The Twins are winning outside the division at the best rate of the past five years. Pretty good! Factor out that 6-0 record against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and they are below .500 there, too. Of course, it's easy to cherry pick like that. But, the Twins have zero games against the D-Rays in the second half. They do have 11 left against the Royals (four here right before the break). But, the weighted winning percentage of their second half opponents is .525. Does that sound easy or tough? Well, let's put it this way. NO TEAM IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES HAS HAD A SCHEDULE THIS TOUGH IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON. The Twins' schedule has been .500 so far in the first half. So, the road gets a whole lot tougher in the second half. Let's consider the Twins' closest rival in the Wild Card, the Cleveland Indians. The Indians have played a .515 schedule in the first half and are a grand total of one game behind the Twins. Their second half schedule? They are playing a .467 schedule. That's right folks. .467. NO TEAM IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES HAS HAD A SCHEDULE THIS EASY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON. I realize a lot can happen. A whole lot. Injuries, trades, whatever. But, from a strength of schedule standpoint, it would seem that the Cleveland Indians have a tremendous advantage over the Twins.A couple of days later, on July 12th, I looked at the Twins schedule in the second half a little closer.
Over the course of the last three plus seasons, the Twins have been remarkably consistent. They have won about 48% of their games against winning teams and 63% of their games against losing teams. There's been a little variation, but in my mind, the results are remarkably similar. The Twins have 76 games left, 45 of those games against winning teams. Just plugging in the average winning percentages over the last three plus years, the Twins are projected to have a record of 89-73, which would be their worst record since they went 85-77 in 2001. Plugging in the best and worst percentages, and the Twins will likely win between 88 and 91 wins. Considering that the AL wild card winner has averaged 95 wins since 1996 -- the first year that the wild card came from a full season -- and the Wild Card looks daunting indeed. (Twice in 10 years the wild card winner won between 88 and 91 games. In every other year, the AL wild card winner has had more wins.) These results show that generally the Twins have NOT played better against winning teams. This is not surprising. One would expect that ANY team would do better against lesser teams. That's why the extremely large number of games left against winning teams concerns me. Let's try something else. Let's cut the results a little finer. We'll group results into four groups: below .460, .460 up to .500, .500 up to .560, and .560 and over. I'm not sure how this is going to turn out, so I'll go look. Here are the results from 2002-05:Back then, I just didn't think the Twins could pull it off. Now, it's absolutely clear that they won't make it. Let's look at how the Twins have done against the varying levels of competition in the second half so far.Not surprisingly, the Twins have done progressively worse against teams as their record improves. But, look... 52.1% of their games over three years are against bad teams, those who have fewer than 75 wins a year. How about 2005? So far, here's what the Twins have done.
Teams < .460 Between .460 and .500 Between .500 and .560 Better than .560 W L PCT W L PCT W L PCT W L PCT 149 84 .639 32 21 .604 49 46 .516 46 58 .442 52.1% of games 9.9% of games 11.8% of games 26.0% of games As you can see, the Twins have played very few very good or very bad teams this as compared to years gone by. Thus, the Twins have played a lot more mediocre teams than they have in the past. The Twins have actually done a lot better this year against really bad teams. Their limited exposure to really good teams hasn't been good so far. But, again, they haven't played many of those games yet. But, they will. Here is a break down of the remaining games.
Teams < .460 Between .460 and .500 Between .500 and .560 Better than .560 W L PCT W L PCT W L PCT W L PCT 19 8 .704 9 8 .529 16 15 .516 4 7 .364 31.4% of games 19.8% of games 36.0% of games 12.7% of games Obviously, the schedule is tougher. The schedule this year has actually shifted into the middle range. Applying the historical percentages to these distributions predicts a Twins record of 88-74. Applying this year's percentages to these distributions predicts a Twins record of 86-76. Applying the historical percentages to the rest of the season predicts a Twins record of 87-75. Obviously, these numbers further reinforce the idea that the Twins will likely have a difficult second half. At worst, the Twins are projected (under these percentages) to play .500 ball in the second half. None of these numbers point to a post season berth.
Teams < .460 Between .460 and .500 Between .500 and .560 Better than .560 Games Remaining 14 11 28 23 Total Percentage 20.3% 12.3% 27.2% 16.7%
| Teams < .460 | Between .460 and .500 | Between .500 and .560 | Better than .560 | ||||||||
| W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT |
| 6 | 4 | .600 | 6 | 8 | .429 | 3 | 4 | .429 | 10 | 15 | .400 |
| 17.9% of games | 25.0% of games | 12.5% of games | 44.6% of games | ||||||||
frightwig|W|P|I've said it before: no Moss, no running game, and Tice is still the Head Coach = another disappointing year for the Purple. |W|P|I agree, the Vikes looked horrible. Well, sorta. I thought the defense looked good for a lot of the game. The first Wiggins TD was called back on a horrendous botch by the refs. Who knows about the second one since the horrible production crew never showed a reply of the penalty. Also, when Hovan recovered that fumble I could have swore he was out of bounds - but no reply. And we had a punter who punted and a kicker who booted a 53-yard field goal.So yes it was bad (would a real running back like Mewelde Moore help?), but I don't think it was as bad as all that.
|W|P|Anybody else think it was really stupid to kick the FG on 4th and goal from the 3 with 6 minutes left?I mean, if you go for the TD on 4th and goal and don't make it, you need a TD.
If you make the FG...you need a TD. You're in almost the exact same position you were before you kicked the FG, only now you're giving the other team the ball most likely around the 25-30 yard line (after the kickoff) instead of giving them the ball on their own 3.
And you still need a TD.
-TEB
NOTE for SBG: I don't want to be a whiner, cause I know you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart, but any chance for a contest update soon?
The upside of the FG is only that the later TD will now possibly win the game instead of tie it.
But with half the 4th quarter gone, I think that upside is outweighed by the very real possibility that you won't have a better opportunity for that TD you need.
And can someone please explain to me how TB can run for 6 yards on 1st down when everyone in the world knows they're going to try to run out the clock? And then add 3 yards on second down?
SBG|W|P|I hoped to get it done this weekend, but I was otherwise engaged. Sorry!
Hi Friends.
|W|P|112645483614162936|W|P|It's Jags|W|P|sbg@stickandballguy.com |W|P|What? No pictures of Jags? If he was such a beautiful cat, you would think his owners would want to show him off more. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This isn't the first time my beauty has simply overwhelmed the competition.(Also, Jags, you might want to work on your grammar a little bit)
|W|P|5 runs of support in Johan's last 4 starts. PUKE |W|P|Perhaps I read it wrong, but what if they mean that TR consistently underestimates home grown talent and is therefore reluctant to call up legit prospects in favor of aging verterans who have proven their low value. Rivas comes to mind. |W|P|It seems like the decision not to upgrade the offence was simply a cost/benefit analysis. If the one legitimate move this was for Soriano, I can see a pattern in TRyan's behavior where they are remiss to make that deal if they cannot virtually guarantee the long term outcome. It must have been too uncertain in their eyes that they could strike a long-term deal. I've not heard another name mentioned in the available group of players in 2005 who could be classified as a "sure thing." Also, had Lohse, Mays and Romero performed acceptibly, who is to say more moves would not have been made to upgrade the offense, with some tier two players such as Youklis, etc.
Unknown|W|P|Moss concurs -- Seth is the hardest-working blogger in cyberspace! Moss is becoming a regular reader. Thanks, Seth!! Comedy Club|W|P|It seems SBG doesn't have the audacity to post his picks, as I did. Also, even Ron Coomer agreed that Seth writes an ungodly amount.
SBG|W|P|TJ -- I intend to do some things with my picks going forward. Ryan|W|P|SBG and TJ- As the 2004 Champion of the Seth Speaks Pick 'Em Challenge (a fact that was noticably absent in all the recent hullabaloo over the contest) I wish both of you the best of luck. The fact that I won last year (despite watching all of about a half dozen pro football games last year) goes to show that the contest is more about luck than skill, which gives everyone a fighting chance! I'm sure the two of you will do well.
Again, keep up the good work. I may be a former blogger now (although thoughts of an abbreviated comeback have entered my mind of late) I still enjoy reading most of the Twins blogs. Keep fighting the good fight!
-Ryan M.
Formerly of Twins Chatter
p.s. Did anyone happen to see that I was circled by Bert in K.C. the other week? My sign (rather creatively, I thought) said "Bircle Me Cert". :)
This move smacks of desperation. The Seahawks, like the Vikings, are a middling team with a good young quarterback and a coach who is one disappointing year away from broadcasting Arena League games. Robinson didn't fit there, and now he fits here? This signing comes a week after the Vikings pursued Peter Warrick, who couldn't make the perennially fungible Cincinnati Bengals. If the Vikings trusted their top receivers to be productive and healthy, they wouldn't need K-Rob.I agree. Where I don't agree is the part where trading Moss was a good idea. We traded one problem child who is arguably the best player in the league and ended up with another (and bigger) problem child who most decidedly isn't. More egg on the face of Mike Tice. Personally, I don't see the Vikings making a big splash in the NFC this year. Every "expert" at ESPN picks the Vikings to win the NFC North, and I guess that might actually happen, given the downward slide in Green Bay. Four of those jokers picked the Vikings to go to the Super Bowl. Give me a break. I'm not buying that for a second. This team doesn't make the Super Bowl with Mike Tice at the helm. No way, no how. Tuesday night, the Stones were in St. Paul and I wasn't there. As a seven time veteran of Stones concerts, I suppose it isn't the end of the world, but, sigh, I wanted to see the boys one more time. I'll never forget the time I first saw the then 46-year old Mick Jagger. At the Metrodome in 1989, with Danny Gladden and Al Newman sitting a few rows behind me, the sounds of Continental Drift wafted ominously through out the dome when all of sudden a huge explosion ripped through the air and the heat of the biggest flash pots I've ever seen heated the dome by at least 50 degrees instantly. I couldn't believe the excitement. Keith Richards played the opening licks of Start Me Up and Jagger was present and he belted out that war horse (which was only eight years old then) with a voice that was surprisingly strong and clear. I literally screamed through out the entire song. I'll never forget it. I've seen a lot of concerts, but man, there's nothing like seeing the Stones. I still have that 16 year old t-shirt that I wore a bazillion times.
In an energetic performance, the Rolling Stones show no signs of being ready to retire. Two songs into the Rolling Stones' Tuesday night concert at the Xcel Energy Center, Mick Jagger tugged at the waist of his red T-shirt, exposing a 62-year-old tummy so tight it would make a grown man (and woman) cry. But it wasn't just Jagger's abs that were in fine shape during the sold-out show. Forty-three years into a career that's earned them the billing as "The World's Greatest Rock Band," the Stones are still amazingly vital and a whole lot of fun.Forty three years. They are the Roger Clemens of rock bands. What does the Strib say?
Wait a minute! Let me check my Rolling Stones ticket stub. It doesn't say Northrop Auditorium. It says Xcel Energy Center. But the Stones' showTuesday was the kind of intimate, low-frills, just plain ol' rock 'n' roll thatI'd been dreaming about for years from the world's greatest band. I'd swear I was at Northrop -- except for that floating stage bit (more on that later). Most importantly, Mick Jagger didn't have stories of scaffolding and endless ramps on which to run around, as we've seen on just about every post-1972 Stones tour. This was just a large, bare-bones stage -- perfect for manic Mick and his mincing moves and his spotlight-shy backup band. Indeed,this was the Mick Jagger show (he took his own curtain call at the end). Dressed in a red leather fedora, red T-shirt, black jacket (with red sequined Stones tongue-logos) and black jeans, he carried on like a hyper Prune Face on a Stick. Some 2,000 light years on, he remains an unparalleled frontman and athlete. While Jerry Rice is retiring from pro football at age 42, Jagger, 62, is still at the top of his game, prancing and primping for nearly two hours and, more significantly, singing with sass and consistent conviction.Man, I've listened to hundreds and hundreds of hours of Stones tunes. Oh to be old enough in 1969 to have seen that tour, which was possibly the greatest tour of all time, and which produced the greatest live album of all time (Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out).
|W|P|I think Carlos apologizing was a classy move. I also think that Hunter should've apologized to Joe and Justin. I always liked Hunter, but this year he started to annoy me a little bit. He seems to take his position as the leader of the team a little too far--kinda like a big brother who is generally good, but sometimes he acts like a jerk. SBG|W|P|Good comment, Beth.I think that Carlos was told to apologize by the coaching staff. That's my opinion. I have great admiration for Mr. Silva, pitching very effectivelythe entire year on a bad knee. He's lead on the field. I think it's okay for him to apologize, but I also think someone should have said, hey, this guy is one of our leaders. Did anyone from the team say that? I'm not sure -- I didn't see it, but I'll also admit that I haven't scoured the media outlets thoroughly. If anyone has seen a show of support from Twins management for Mr. Silva, please let me know. I would appreciate it. Thanks.
SBG|W|P|By the way, I am with you on Hunter exactly. Last year, I was praising Hunter for the way he carried himself. This year? Your comments are spot on with my opinion. |W|P|Moss was asked to be the leader of the team and was paid a leader's salary. He was more disruptive as a leader than he had been when he was just following cris carter around. They got rid of him in part because he was disruptive on the field, with taking plays and parts of games off, not because of off-the-field issues. They got three players and the salary cap room for three other players in return. Considering he is on the downswing of his career, and they needed five good players to compete, that's a good move.Robinson is only being asked to replace a fifth receiver who's about to be convicted for felony possesion of a stolen weapon and felony drug possession. If he gives them 10 active games and a few good kick returns, they'd be thrilled. Not the same at all.
SBG|W|P|We'll see about Moss. I won't deny that Moss is controversial and he may have caused some dissension in the lockerroom. I think it's debatable, but I'll grant that it's possible fewer distractions will help the team.But, on the downswing? You are kidding, right? He's 28, right in his prime. Cris Carter had about 10,000 receiving yards from 28 on. I'm not saying that he's got 10,000 more yards in him (he might, though), but come on.
|W|P|Cris Carter also was fanatical about fitness and diet, he was drug and alcohol free, and he did drills eight hours a day in the offseason. Moss never excercises, is a self-proclaimed junk-food junkie, admits to smoking weed and drinking, and hasn't visited Camp Carter since Cris retired. Two receivers in history have put up great numbers after age 28: Cris Carter and Jerry Rice. Every other receiver started to decline at that age. Those two only did as well as they did because they were workout freaks.
Moss is more likely to decline than the average receiver because he has chronic ankle problems. I've heard rumors that this fact influenced the trade more thn the distraction stuff. The thought is to trade him when his value is highest so you can get more for him.
I wouldn't be surprised if he puts up two years of 1000+ yeards and 10+ touchdowns. But that's about it, unless he changes his ways. By then, Troy Williamson will be a star.
Comedy Club|W|P|When I read "Moss was asked to be the leader of the team and was paid a leader's salary" in the comment by Annonymous, I assumed it was in fact, the Moss of SBG speaking in his crazy third-personness. SBG|W|P|TJ -- so did I at first! :)Anonymous --
Two receivers in history have put up great numbers after age 28: Cris Carter and Jerry Rice. Every other receiver started to decline at that age. Those two only did as well as they did because they were workout freaks.
Only Rice and Carter, huh?
Art Monk 8465 yds after 27
Steve Largent 6555 yds after 27
Tim Brown 11509 yards after 27
James Lofton 7702 yards after 27
Henry Ellard 9416 yards after 27
Andre Reed 6732 yards after 27
Irving Fryar 9720 yards after 27
Charlie Joiner 9929 yards after 27
Do you want me to go on? Or do you want to admit that your hatred for Moss has clouded your thinking?
Unknown|W|P|Moss was given the "Moss" moniker by SBG himself. The moniker has nothing to do with Randy Moss, or any other person. But Moss writes in the third person to "honor" those athletes who speak in the third person, as if they are something larger than themselves. (It also harkens to the Seinfeld episode where Jimmy wears the jumping shoes. "Jimmy likes Elaine.") Moss hopes it doesn't bother TJ too much. It's just a shtick.
Moss would enjoy an NFL salary, though, and could lead a team as well as Randy.
|W|P|I'm just spouting what the Vikings brass has said. What do i really believe? It will be harder to run the ball without a vertical passing game. This will be counteracted by a more ballanced offensive approach in which Moss is not the first read on every play. The big benefit is the saary cap room to improve the defense. If the guys the Vikings got can perform near their career peaks contrary to their ages, the team will be better without Moss than with him.
I don't hate Moss. He's among th top 3 or 4 receivers in the league. But he's not the best player in the league. Not even close. He has deficiencies: He can't run after the catch unless he's behind the defender; he needs to take plays off to catch his breath; and he's got injury problems.
He has shown that he cannot carry the team on his back. The team needed more, especially defensively. And trading Moss was the best way to get what it needed.
SBG|W|P|That would be true, if the Vikings had cap problems. They don't. They are way under the cap. They could have kept Moss and added all the players that they did and still have been under the cap.The Vikings' unwillingness to spend anything above the minimum is what kept them from putting a team around him, especially defensively. Or to get a real head coach instead of promoting the offensive line coach (without any coordinator experience) to the top job.
My frustration is that they didn't have to get rid of him. They could have had a better team around him, which might have reduced the problems. Who said he had to lead? Just go out and catch a 100 balls for 1500 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Thanks for commenting. I appreciate comments even if you don't agree. :)