Wow. Just when you think baseball has learned its lesson about spending too much money on aging free agents, this week alone Boston and Arizona demonstrated that they think a 30-year old David Price and a 32-year old Zach Grienke are worth close to a half-BILLION between them.
And what's even more surprising is that neither deal is longer than seven years. Has any pitcher who ever signed this type of deal EVER performed well for the length of their contract? David Price was having arm problems late last season with Toronto. Both will be in their late 30's when their contracts expire.
I'm just glad the Twins have seen the error of their ways in deals like this. One Joe Mauer deal is enough to last me a life-time.
At least I HOPE they've learned their lesson.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Friday, December 4, 2015
My Packers Win
An incredibly iffy facemask penalty at the end of regulation (though you can easily see WHY the refs called it) gave the Packers one last chance to win.
One untimed, 70-yards in the air, Hail Mary pass later...
...and the Packers pulled off one their most dramatic comeback wins of all-time.
Detroit has nobody to blame but themselves. They had a 17-0 lead early and simply squandered it.
I admit this hurts my Vikings chances to take the division, but with Minnesota's upcoming schedule the next two weeks (Seattle and Arizona), and then the Bears, the Giants, and the Packers to end the season, they really don't have much hope of winning the division title anyway.
I shouldn't say it that way. The Vikings must WIN 4 of those remaining 5 games to show they deserve to be the division winner. What Green Bay does the rest of the way should be irrelevant to the Vikings success IF they are really a good team.
Most don't see them winning more than two of those remaining five games. And pessimists (realists?) like myself see even less.
Rodgers and the Packers showed last night that they aren't ready to surrender their title of best team in the division just yet. It's up to the Vikings to answer the call this weekend at home against Seattle. IF the Vikings win that game, they'll have to beat the Cardinals at Arizona next Thursday night as well.
I'm not optimistic. Seattle and Arizona, right now, are two of the hottest teams in the conference. Both are on major rolls.
If the Vikings had beaten Green Bay two weeks ago, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Winning proves how good you are. Green Bay showed who they are two weeks ago and again last night.
It's up the the Vikings to prove who they are the next two weeks and beyond.
Either way, I'm happy with what Minnesota accomplished this year. Much like my Twins, they were and are a pleasant surprise.
I do want more, but like I said I'm a realist.
I sure hope they prove me wrong.
One untimed, 70-yards in the air, Hail Mary pass later...
...and the Packers pulled off one their most dramatic comeback wins of all-time.
Detroit has nobody to blame but themselves. They had a 17-0 lead early and simply squandered it.
I admit this hurts my Vikings chances to take the division, but with Minnesota's upcoming schedule the next two weeks (Seattle and Arizona), and then the Bears, the Giants, and the Packers to end the season, they really don't have much hope of winning the division title anyway.
I shouldn't say it that way. The Vikings must WIN 4 of those remaining 5 games to show they deserve to be the division winner. What Green Bay does the rest of the way should be irrelevant to the Vikings success IF they are really a good team.
Most don't see them winning more than two of those remaining five games. And pessimists (realists?) like myself see even less.
Rodgers and the Packers showed last night that they aren't ready to surrender their title of best team in the division just yet. It's up to the Vikings to answer the call this weekend at home against Seattle. IF the Vikings win that game, they'll have to beat the Cardinals at Arizona next Thursday night as well.
I'm not optimistic. Seattle and Arizona, right now, are two of the hottest teams in the conference. Both are on major rolls.
If the Vikings had beaten Green Bay two weeks ago, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Winning proves how good you are. Green Bay showed who they are two weeks ago and again last night.
It's up the the Vikings to prove who they are the next two weeks and beyond.
Either way, I'm happy with what Minnesota accomplished this year. Much like my Twins, they were and are a pleasant surprise.
I do want more, but like I said I'm a realist.
I sure hope they prove me wrong.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Rio
When Rio captured the winning bid for next year's Olympics 5 years ago, one of the requirements that the International Olympic Committee made of them is that they HAD to clean up the area's municipal water/sewage treatment problem.
With just a few months to go, they haven't done a thing.
How big a deal is this? I encourage you to find a good article on the subject and find out for yourself, but basically the way Rio takes care of all their waste is to flush it down the drain and let it flow freely to rivers which carry it to their bays. As some reporters are saying, several Olympic events will be held in sewage water.
Germany's Erik Heil, while doing warm-up sailing runs in the very same bays he's going to compete in for next summers event, contacted MRSA, a flesh-eating bacteria that nearly killed him. Tests show that nearly ALL the water to be used for these events is going to have bacteria and viruses in them 10, 000 to several million times more than America or European countries allow in their recreational water.
The worst part? Olympic officials are ignoring the problem while merely redefining their parameters. Much like FIFA (the governing body of world soccer) whose corruption is just now being sorted out now, Olympic officials are starting to be called out on this. Corruption is afoot once more.
This water is dangerous and the health and lives of athletes will be at stake.
Rio broke their promise that they'd address this. I say take the Olympics away from them. They got the rights based on promises they did not and will not keep. We'll live without one more Olympic Games. And officials will be forced to be less corrupt in the future.
I feel sorry for the athletes that might miss this. We'll feel a lot worse if some of them die because of the dangerous mess.
With just a few months to go, they haven't done a thing.
How big a deal is this? I encourage you to find a good article on the subject and find out for yourself, but basically the way Rio takes care of all their waste is to flush it down the drain and let it flow freely to rivers which carry it to their bays. As some reporters are saying, several Olympic events will be held in sewage water.
Germany's Erik Heil, while doing warm-up sailing runs in the very same bays he's going to compete in for next summers event, contacted MRSA, a flesh-eating bacteria that nearly killed him. Tests show that nearly ALL the water to be used for these events is going to have bacteria and viruses in them 10, 000 to several million times more than America or European countries allow in their recreational water.
The worst part? Olympic officials are ignoring the problem while merely redefining their parameters. Much like FIFA (the governing body of world soccer) whose corruption is just now being sorted out now, Olympic officials are starting to be called out on this. Corruption is afoot once more.
This water is dangerous and the health and lives of athletes will be at stake.
Rio broke their promise that they'd address this. I say take the Olympics away from them. They got the rights based on promises they did not and will not keep. We'll live without one more Olympic Games. And officials will be forced to be less corrupt in the future.
I feel sorry for the athletes that might miss this. We'll feel a lot worse if some of them die because of the dangerous mess.
Twenty Straight
Golden State ran away with another win last night. 20-0 is putting them in pretty elite territory. Stephen Curry scored 28 points in THE THIRD QUARTER. He had 40 for the night and sat out the entire fourth quarter because of their huge lead. Cooler? The Charlotte Hornets were honoring their all-time leading scorer and broadcaster last night, Dell Curry. Yes, that's Stephen's dad.
Go Warriors!
Go Warriors!
Press Conference
The Twins (Terry Ryan) repeated at Byung Ho Park's press conference yesterday that Trevor Plouffe IS the Twins third baseman this year and that Miguel Sano WILL be in the outfield. Color me skeptical. If Sano can't play the position where will they put him?
At the same time, can you imagine if Sano, Park, and Plouffe all have career years at the plate?
The Twins signed their second catcher of the week yesterday picking up John Hicks from Seattle. His caught stealing rate is impressive. He can't hit but it looks like he's the Twins primary back-up plan for Suzuki coming out of spring training. Juan Centeno got a minor league deal. He can't hit either, but the Twins signed him for his defensive skills.
At the same time, can you imagine if Sano, Park, and Plouffe all have career years at the plate?
The Twins signed their second catcher of the week yesterday picking up John Hicks from Seattle. His caught stealing rate is impressive. He can't hit but it looks like he's the Twins primary back-up plan for Suzuki coming out of spring training. Juan Centeno got a minor league deal. He can't hit either, but the Twins signed him for his defensive skills.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
The Park Signing
I was surprised that we signed him for only 3 million a year. The 12 million dollar guaranteed deal was actually the same amount we paid his old club just to have the rights to sign him. In effect, we get him for four seasons for the same cost as Joe Mauer's cost this season.
IF, and this is a big if, he's any good at all, we got a great deal. If he's not, he didn't really cost us that much as his strikeouts are as legendary as his home runs in Korea.
I just hope he doesn't cost us Trevor Plouffe, too. The Twins have too many third and first basemen/DHs now. I'm hoping Sano really does transition to outfield, but at his size, I don't see it happening.
Getting rid of an established 29-year-old player who is one of your best, to make room for a 29-year-old rookie may not be the best strategy for the organization.
Sano is playing third base in winter ball this offseason. He hasn't went any where near the outfield.
IF, and this is a big if, he's any good at all, we got a great deal. If he's not, he didn't really cost us that much as his strikeouts are as legendary as his home runs in Korea.
I just hope he doesn't cost us Trevor Plouffe, too. The Twins have too many third and first basemen/DHs now. I'm hoping Sano really does transition to outfield, but at his size, I don't see it happening.
Getting rid of an established 29-year-old player who is one of your best, to make room for a 29-year-old rookie may not be the best strategy for the organization.
Sano is playing third base in winter ball this offseason. He hasn't went any where near the outfield.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Monday Night Football Is Not What It Used To Be
The 3-7 Ravens went against he 2-9 Browns last night. It's a shame that someone had to win. At least the Ravens made it cool with a blocked field goal attempt ran back for a touchdown as time expired. If you're going to 4-7, that's the way to do it.
In other sports news: Golden State is now 19-0 to start their season. They had to come back, late, to do it. That's something. Projected over a whole season at this pace? 82-0.
Okay, maybe we can't start projecting like that, but the season is nearly 1/4 over.
Twins News: Remember Joe Benson? He was the Twins next outfielder rookie of choice in 2011. The Twins eventually left him go. He's since been dropped by a few other teams as well AND has been signed by the Twins again to a minor league contract. He's 28. Rochester needed another outfielder since all the good ones are now up with the Twins.
In other sports news: Golden State is now 19-0 to start their season. They had to come back, late, to do it. That's something. Projected over a whole season at this pace? 82-0.
Okay, maybe we can't start projecting like that, but the season is nearly 1/4 over.
Twins News: Remember Joe Benson? He was the Twins next outfielder rookie of choice in 2011. The Twins eventually left him go. He's since been dropped by a few other teams as well AND has been signed by the Twins again to a minor league contract. He's 28. Rochester needed another outfielder since all the good ones are now up with the Twins.
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