Leslie Frasier, when asked about the possibility of Matt Cassel being the new starter for the Vikings after his stellar performance on Sunday, wanted to ASSURE EVERYONE that would listen the last couple of days that Ponder is still his man.
sigh
I didn't expect Frazier to make an immediate change at the position, he would never do that. BUT he didn't come right out and say that Ponder would be his starter after the bye week, either. He may decide to keep Ponder out one more game to make sure Ponder is "fully healed" (wink, wink) so that he can see Cassel one more time in a game situation.
He would have reason, and he could still keep his chosen starter happy at the same time, all the while getting a better chance to grade further Cassel's performance.
Yeah, I guess he SAID the right thing. Just so he's THINKING something else, I'm okay with that.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Greg Oden
Greg Oden entered the NBA about six years ago. He was the dominating Ohio State center who was a number one draft pick at the age of 19.
He played about one season and had such bad knees that he had micro-fracture surgery on one of them by the end of his first season. He later had the same surgery performed on the other knee for the same reason. He hasn't played any basketball for four seasons because of those knees.
But he's attempting a comeback with the Miami Heat this season. He had his first NBA practice in a very long time yesterday. His knees are better. He's been cleared to practice. And the Heat see him as a potential secret weapon.
The best part is that he is still ONLY 25 years old. If he's healthy and can play, he might still become one of the most dominating big men in the game's history.
Or he may be forced to retire again because of those knees. I hate the Heat, but I'm still rooting for Oden to succeed.
He played about one season and had such bad knees that he had micro-fracture surgery on one of them by the end of his first season. He later had the same surgery performed on the other knee for the same reason. He hasn't played any basketball for four seasons because of those knees.
But he's attempting a comeback with the Miami Heat this season. He had his first NBA practice in a very long time yesterday. His knees are better. He's been cleared to practice. And the Heat see him as a potential secret weapon.
The best part is that he is still ONLY 25 years old. If he's healthy and can play, he might still become one of the most dominating big men in the game's history.
Or he may be forced to retire again because of those knees. I hate the Heat, but I'm still rooting for Oden to succeed.
Liriano Rocks as Pirates Roll
During the off-season, the Pirates signed Francisco Liriano to a two-year, approximately $13 million deal. That deal was invalidated when Liriano broke his pitching arm doing a dumb prank with his children Christmas day. A new contract was drawn up and agreed upon, based on incentives including being rewarded for NOT spending too much time on the disabled list.
His base salary was only $1 million this season.
He's really hit those performance incentives though. Last night the Pirates won their first playoff game in over 20 years, and Liriano was one of the biggest reasons for that win.
I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed that game last night. I was rooting for Pittsburgh and, at least for a little while, they seemed like MY team. I haven't been this excited about baseball for several seasons. I'm also rooting for Cleveland to make it to the series this year, but I wouldn't mind it if the Rays squeaked in as well.
Good playoff baseball is such a pleasure. The Twins NOT being part of it actually makes it easier to enjoy. When the Twins were good enough to get in, and then lose early, it made it impossible to enjoy the other games. With the Twins playing so poorly the last few seasons, it's easier to enjoy the better teams and their play.
Go Pirates!
I should mention it was nice to see Morneau playing for them as well. I like seeing former Twins get a chance to play for winning/contending teams.
It was also fun using an old headline. I've missed that headline.
His base salary was only $1 million this season.
He's really hit those performance incentives though. Last night the Pirates won their first playoff game in over 20 years, and Liriano was one of the biggest reasons for that win.
I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed that game last night. I was rooting for Pittsburgh and, at least for a little while, they seemed like MY team. I haven't been this excited about baseball for several seasons. I'm also rooting for Cleveland to make it to the series this year, but I wouldn't mind it if the Rays squeaked in as well.
Good playoff baseball is such a pleasure. The Twins NOT being part of it actually makes it easier to enjoy. When the Twins were good enough to get in, and then lose early, it made it impossible to enjoy the other games. With the Twins playing so poorly the last few seasons, it's easier to enjoy the better teams and their play.
Go Pirates!
I should mention it was nice to see Morneau playing for them as well. I like seeing former Twins get a chance to play for winning/contending teams.
It was also fun using an old headline. I've missed that headline.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The One Game Playoff
I find it interesting that baseball had a one-game post season playoff yesterday to determine which team makes it into the next one-round playoff game. Ludicrous, but interesting. The dumbest idea that baseball has EVER come up with is that they added an extra wildcard team so that both could play each other ONCE, to see which team finally gets to play with the division winners.
Tampa Bay had to use their BEST pitcher yesterday to make it to the playoffs. They need to use their second best pitcher on Wednesday to continue in the playoffs. I just think that any series less than three games makes no sense. I also think it forces teams to wear out their aces before the real playoffs begin. That places the wild card winner at a decided disadvantage when the playoffs start. They've have scheduled the wild card winners first REAL playoff game later this year, so at least that helps.
Speaking of playoffs, the NFL has decided to add an additional wild card team to the mix as well, possibly as early as NEXT season, but that has not been agreed on by the owners yet. Originally I thought, NO!!!!!! But after hearing their reasoning, I actually like the idea for several reasons.
First of all, it would reduce the preseason by ONE game. So that we'd have one less useless pathetic game to watch. Secondly, the season could then start a week earlier. My favorite reason is the format they came up with.
With seven teams from each conference, it would mean that there would be only ONE team getting a bye the first week of the playoffs instead of two. That means the team with the BEST record is the only team that gets to sit out one game. That means that the last game of the season might be a MUST win game for every team trying to get into the playoffs. No more resting your first team the last week of the season knowing you've got a bye wrapped up. Unless of course you are way better than every other team in your conference by at least two game margin. It's smart and I like it.
That would be SIX games the first week of playoffs. I really like that. The NFL will be adding fan interest and revenue while getting rid of a worthless preseason game.
This is change I can embrace. And having one more slot open for a good team in each conference is a good idea. I hate idea that a 6-10 team may slip in some year, but we've already add a 7-9 team make it so it won't be that much worse. Come to think of it, that 7-9 team was a division WINNER. Teams with better records did NOT make it that year. This will actually reward good teams from better divisions.
I believe it's win, win. I'll have to see if any flaws develop in the idea as time goes on.
Tampa Bay had to use their BEST pitcher yesterday to make it to the playoffs. They need to use their second best pitcher on Wednesday to continue in the playoffs. I just think that any series less than three games makes no sense. I also think it forces teams to wear out their aces before the real playoffs begin. That places the wild card winner at a decided disadvantage when the playoffs start. They've have scheduled the wild card winners first REAL playoff game later this year, so at least that helps.
Speaking of playoffs, the NFL has decided to add an additional wild card team to the mix as well, possibly as early as NEXT season, but that has not been agreed on by the owners yet. Originally I thought, NO!!!!!! But after hearing their reasoning, I actually like the idea for several reasons.
First of all, it would reduce the preseason by ONE game. So that we'd have one less useless pathetic game to watch. Secondly, the season could then start a week earlier. My favorite reason is the format they came up with.
With seven teams from each conference, it would mean that there would be only ONE team getting a bye the first week of the playoffs instead of two. That means the team with the BEST record is the only team that gets to sit out one game. That means that the last game of the season might be a MUST win game for every team trying to get into the playoffs. No more resting your first team the last week of the season knowing you've got a bye wrapped up. Unless of course you are way better than every other team in your conference by at least two game margin. It's smart and I like it.
That would be SIX games the first week of playoffs. I really like that. The NFL will be adding fan interest and revenue while getting rid of a worthless preseason game.
This is change I can embrace. And having one more slot open for a good team in each conference is a good idea. I hate idea that a 6-10 team may slip in some year, but we've already add a 7-9 team make it so it won't be that much worse. Come to think of it, that 7-9 team was a division WINNER. Teams with better records did NOT make it that year. This will actually reward good teams from better divisions.
I believe it's win, win. I'll have to see if any flaws develop in the idea as time goes on.
Two More Years
Last week I mentioned that in radio interviews, Twins GM Terry Ryan said that where Joe Mauer plays next year will be up to Gardy and Mauer. I said this was a sign that it looks like Gardy will be back.
I also said THIS yesterday, "The Twins are a fundamentally flawed team. And I use that term as more than a pun. Much is wrong. Much needs to be fixed. And none of it is going to get better in the near future with or without Gardy."
Terry Ryan, in his press conference yesterday, said basically the same thing. He knew the organization was at fault far more than Gardy. It's rare that a GM would acknowledge such things.
We need better players, we truly need a much better starting staff. It's time for Ryan to open the pocketbook and bring in the horses that can pull this pathetic wagon of an organization.
And Gardy's got TWO more years to get the pieces to fit. As long as the Twins are okay with spending the money, I'm okay with Gardy continuing as manager. I do not look at Ron Gardenhire the same way that I look at Leslie Frazier. With the right players, Gardy has proven to be a winner.
Frazier doen't even know what the right player looks like.
I also said THIS yesterday, "The Twins are a fundamentally flawed team. And I use that term as more than a pun. Much is wrong. Much needs to be fixed. And none of it is going to get better in the near future with or without Gardy."
Terry Ryan, in his press conference yesterday, said basically the same thing. He knew the organization was at fault far more than Gardy. It's rare that a GM would acknowledge such things.
We need better players, we truly need a much better starting staff. It's time for Ryan to open the pocketbook and bring in the horses that can pull this pathetic wagon of an organization.
And Gardy's got TWO more years to get the pieces to fit. As long as the Twins are okay with spending the money, I'm okay with Gardy continuing as manager. I do not look at Ron Gardenhire the same way that I look at Leslie Frazier. With the right players, Gardy has proven to be a winner.
Frazier doen't even know what the right player looks like.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Vikings
While enjoying yesterday's Vikings win, I got this incredible idea. As much as we all LOVE Christian Ponder and want him to be our quarterback forever, what if...now follow me on this... what if... as much as we adore the man... what if...as absurd as it might sound... what if HE is the primary problem with the Vikings?
I know right now that you must think I'm insane, how could someone as great as Ponder you ask be the reason we are not winning right now?
I offer you yesterday's game as proof. Actually this game was nearly identical to the last two games in which we lost. We had BIG plays on offense and defense. We even scored a nice amount of points, but at the end, just when you thought Pittsburgh was going to pull it out (or at least tie the game) BOOM, they fumbled and we won.
Now if they hadn't fumbled, we'd probably be talking about another Viking's loss today. So it wasn't like Cassel made that big a difference.
Okay. I kid. Cassel played great. But even though we had big plays, and Cassel had no turnovers, and COMPLETED HIS LAST ELEVEN PASSES IN A ROW, we STILL almost lost.
My other points are valid. We were one Pittsburgh fumble away from losing yet another game.
I'm thinking there must be some fundamental flaw in coaching that allows a team to play this well and still almost lose. We got so conservative in the last quarter on offense that we nearly handed Pittsburgh the win on a silver platter. We never even tried to go for first downs once we had the 17 point lead. We were content to punt even though we had a QB with a rare hot hand.
Coach Frazier looked liked his mentor Brad Childress yesterday. And when our bye week is gone, we'll most likely see Frazier's conservative approach once more. Ponder will be back as our starter and Cassel will be back on the bench and we'll lose no matter how many big plays the team makes on offense, defense, and special teams.
Because Ponder is not the main reason we lose. Frazier is. But Ponder is a close second in the voting.
I know right now that you must think I'm insane, how could someone as great as Ponder you ask be the reason we are not winning right now?
I offer you yesterday's game as proof. Actually this game was nearly identical to the last two games in which we lost. We had BIG plays on offense and defense. We even scored a nice amount of points, but at the end, just when you thought Pittsburgh was going to pull it out (or at least tie the game) BOOM, they fumbled and we won.
Now if they hadn't fumbled, we'd probably be talking about another Viking's loss today. So it wasn't like Cassel made that big a difference.
Okay. I kid. Cassel played great. But even though we had big plays, and Cassel had no turnovers, and COMPLETED HIS LAST ELEVEN PASSES IN A ROW, we STILL almost lost.
My other points are valid. We were one Pittsburgh fumble away from losing yet another game.
I'm thinking there must be some fundamental flaw in coaching that allows a team to play this well and still almost lose. We got so conservative in the last quarter on offense that we nearly handed Pittsburgh the win on a silver platter. We never even tried to go for first downs once we had the 17 point lead. We were content to punt even though we had a QB with a rare hot hand.
Coach Frazier looked liked his mentor Brad Childress yesterday. And when our bye week is gone, we'll most likely see Frazier's conservative approach once more. Ponder will be back as our starter and Cassel will be back on the bench and we'll lose no matter how many big plays the team makes on offense, defense, and special teams.
Because Ponder is not the main reason we lose. Frazier is. But Ponder is a close second in the voting.
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