It wasn't that long ago that readers of this blog would send me Twins predictions for the year. We'd predict wins and placement in the standings, and homerun leaders, and RBI leaders, and predictions for all the starter's records for the seasons and...
...and now we fully expect the Twins to be one of the worst teams in baseball.
And that's our only prediction. We don't expect much of anything from anybody. Is ANBODY on the roster this season going to have even 20 homeruns? Or 10 wins?
Predictions are fun when you anticipate a division winner. They are downright depressing with the team we've had the last few season.
Never has opening day felt so hollow.
I'll be watching today at three though.
If I don't forget.
Go Twins!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Sports Notes
The 76ers won last night! Their streak of 26 straight losses is history.
Dayton, everybody's favorite underdog in the NCAA tournament, finally met a defense they didn't like. Florida advances.
Three of the remaining 6 teams in the tournament are from the Big Ten. The conference wasn't very good this year, but it appears that 3 of its teams were. Go Michigan and Michigan State today!
Willingham finally hit his first homerun of the spring yesterday in the Twins last exhibition game. Pinto hit one too in the Twins win.
The season kicks off Monday afternoon in Chicago. Nolasco gets the call.
Dayton, everybody's favorite underdog in the NCAA tournament, finally met a defense they didn't like. Florida advances.
Three of the remaining 6 teams in the tournament are from the Big Ten. The conference wasn't very good this year, but it appears that 3 of its teams were. Go Michigan and Michigan State today!
Willingham finally hit his first homerun of the spring yesterday in the Twins last exhibition game. Pinto hit one too in the Twins win.
The season kicks off Monday afternoon in Chicago. Nolasco gets the call.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Nobody Wants Diamond
Scott Diamond cleared waivers yesterday. No other team wanted him either. The Twins don't need him in Rochester any more than they needed Worley. They have five or 6 starters down there that currently rank higher than Diamond.
What do you do with a an average ground ball pitcher who never strikes people out and had 10 walks in 17 innings in spring training?
I'm not sure, but I don't think we will see him in another major league game in a Twins uniform.
In other recent Twins news. Alex Presley is now an Astro. He didn't clear waivers. Chris Parmalee cleared waivers and will report to Rochester.
What do you do with a an average ground ball pitcher who never strikes people out and had 10 walks in 17 innings in spring training?
I'm not sure, but I don't think we will see him in another major league game in a Twins uniform.
In other recent Twins news. Alex Presley is now an Astro. He didn't clear waivers. Chris Parmalee cleared waivers and will report to Rochester.
Twins
I was enjoying yesterday's spring game until the fourth inning.
That's when Jason Bartlett, Gardy's pet project, attempting to be a right fielder, muffed a routine bounce off the wall and turned it into two runs for Boston.
We already have several inadequate outfielders. We don't have to force a washed-up infielder to become another one.
I turned it off at that point. I hear the Twins went on to lose. They were shutout.
Of course.
That's when Jason Bartlett, Gardy's pet project, attempting to be a right fielder, muffed a routine bounce off the wall and turned it into two runs for Boston.
We already have several inadequate outfielders. We don't have to force a washed-up infielder to become another one.
I turned it off at that point. I hear the Twins went on to lose. They were shutout.
Of course.
Wolves
I wasn't going to comment on the Wolves any more this year. Their play for the last week has been just bad enough to remove all remaining hope of playoff dreams.
But last night was special. They set a club record with 143 points scored and Kevin Love had another TRIPLE double by the end of the third quarter. And they did it it against the once proud Lakers.
I think playing in that game last night might give Love further doubts about signing with L.A. after next season. He sees what the Wolves are building here, and that has got to be much more appealing than what he sees L.A. going through.
In L.A. he'll be playing with an aging/almost retired Kobe. Here, he'll get to grow with Ricky (he's still just 22) Rubio. Sometimes the grass isn't greener.
Oh, also the Wolves have Kevin Love one more season. At just 25 himself, the Wolves let him sign a four year deal that lets him op out after NEXT season. All this time I was fretting for nothing. We do have one more year with Love, barring an unexpected trade.
At the same time, we got rid of Garnett with an early trade. The Wolves philosophy has always been to trade away a star early rather than have him become a free agent.
I sure hope Minnesota offers him a mega-deal this summer. They have one of the lowest payrolls in the league and fan interest has never been higher. The time to strike a deal is now.
Like the Angels just did for Mike Trout.
And before they do something that ticks him off even more.
ALL the talk is that Love is leaving. There might not be any real hope of him staying unless the Wolves have a near championship run next season, and even that may not keep him here. We ticked him off by not giving him a 5-year contract last time.
And he still remembers that. He was dissed. Superstars never forget being dissed.
But last night was special. They set a club record with 143 points scored and Kevin Love had another TRIPLE double by the end of the third quarter. And they did it it against the once proud Lakers.
I think playing in that game last night might give Love further doubts about signing with L.A. after next season. He sees what the Wolves are building here, and that has got to be much more appealing than what he sees L.A. going through.
In L.A. he'll be playing with an aging/almost retired Kobe. Here, he'll get to grow with Ricky (he's still just 22) Rubio. Sometimes the grass isn't greener.
Oh, also the Wolves have Kevin Love one more season. At just 25 himself, the Wolves let him sign a four year deal that lets him op out after NEXT season. All this time I was fretting for nothing. We do have one more year with Love, barring an unexpected trade.
At the same time, we got rid of Garnett with an early trade. The Wolves philosophy has always been to trade away a star early rather than have him become a free agent.
I sure hope Minnesota offers him a mega-deal this summer. They have one of the lowest payrolls in the league and fan interest has never been higher. The time to strike a deal is now.
Like the Angels just did for Mike Trout.
And before they do something that ticks him off even more.
ALL the talk is that Love is leaving. There might not be any real hope of him staying unless the Wolves have a near championship run next season, and even that may not keep him here. We ticked him off by not giving him a 5-year contract last time.
And he still remembers that. He was dissed. Superstars never forget being dissed.
Mike Trout
Wow! That happened fast. Mike Trout signed a 6-year deal with the Angels yesterday, a contract worth $144 million. Trout is only 22 and the Angels decided to lock him up early, even though they didn't have to. A very smart move on their part.
It was a good deal for Trout as well. He'll only be 28 when this deal runs out. His next contract could make Cabrera's record contract yesterday look like chicken feed.
It was a good deal for Trout as well. He'll only be 28 when this deal runs out. His next contract could make Cabrera's record contract yesterday look like chicken feed.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Matt Guerrier
On Tuesday, I said that Matt Guerrier would not be given a second chance with the Twins. Yet.
I further mentioned that they released him for business reasons but could very well re-sign him shortly.
Well, he's a Twins again, with a new contract. I don't have any idea how long he will last this time.
On a related note, the Twins scored just one run again in yesterday's spring training game. It's basically just the regular roster playing now, so there are no excuses. Two spring training games left, and then the big opener next week.
My feelings are mixed. Excited about the new season, but at the same time I realize how bad they are.
I further mentioned that they released him for business reasons but could very well re-sign him shortly.
Well, he's a Twins again, with a new contract. I don't have any idea how long he will last this time.
On a related note, the Twins scored just one run again in yesterday's spring training game. It's basically just the regular roster playing now, so there are no excuses. Two spring training games left, and then the big opener next week.
My feelings are mixed. Excited about the new season, but at the same time I realize how bad they are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)