Wednesday
January 14, 2004
ANOTHER Light day
There is absolutely nothing to talk about in the world of baseball today, well, unless you consider the Twins signing of Rick Helling a major thing! So today will be another short entry with just a few notes.
Fargo-native Rick Helling agreed to a minor-league contract with the Twins Monday. He was also invited to spring training. If he makes the opening day roster, he will earn $600,000, but there are incentives based on innings pitched and starts that could bring the value to $1.2 million. He is a veteran who has pitched a lot of games and a lot of innings. He’s won 20 games once. He gives up a lot of hits and a lot of home runs. So, we do know what we’re getting in Helling. Can he be the #4 or #5 pitcher for the Twins?
So, what does that mean? Well, he will go to spring training and try to make the Twins roster. If he doesn’t, my assumption is that he would be released and free to sign with another team. If he does make the team, and pitches great Twins fans will love him, he’ll be very productive, and he’ll only cost $1.2 million! If he is somewhere in the middle, that’s not too expensive.
What are your thoughts on the Helling signing? Do you think that signing Helling may have more to do with attracting the North Dakota cable companies to signing up for Victory Sports? E-mail me.
At first I didn’t like the idea of signing Helling, but now my main thought is just that it is pretty low risk.
Star-Tribune writer Jim Souhan discusses the current Twins situation with Terry Ryan and the contemplates the make up of the Twins roster. It really is an interesting, if not frustrating, read. There is one part that I really find unfortunate. He writes:
Michael Restovich, whom Ryan said played well in Puerto Rico this winter, likely will be the fourth outfielder. And Michael Ryan will probably be the left handed pinch hitter.
Lew Ford would have to pass Restovich or Ryan to make the team, or the Twins could trade one of their outfield prospects.
Let’s be honest here. This is probably a money decision. As high as I am on Restovich, I think that if this is an offseason decision, it is based on money. Ford was a low-round draft pick that the Twins acquired in a trade in 2000. Restovich is the Minnesota kid taken in the 2nd round of the 1999 draft and signed a huge signing bonus. Who do you think would be given the job? Don’t get me wrong. I think that Resto deserves a chance to play. I think Cuddyer does. I understand the current outfield of Shannon Stewart, Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones is fairly impenetrable. But I feel Lew Ford deserves to be on equal footing as Restovich, if not higher. I’m saying this almost daily, but resigning Shannon Stewart sure wasn’t smart!!
Secondly, I’m sure you noticed the Baseball Interactive link on the top left of this page. I was asked if I would like to be included in the “Feature Writers” of the site. So, some of my entries (the better ones, certainly not this one!!!) will be shown on their site as well. It is a site that brings together many baseball writers, and I am happy to be included.
If you want to read the thoughts on pitching from All-Star Curt Schilling, click here. It is from Red Sox Sons of Sam Horn site, another great fan forum. It’s really very interesting. His log-in name is Gehrig38.
I’m totally surprised. I figured the Wolves would go on the road and, in anticipation for tonight’s game in San Antonio, they would lose to a very strong New Orleans Hornets team. They actually were outplayed much of the game. However, a 31-16 fourth quarter led to the Wolves 94-89 win.
Offensively, it was all about The Big Three. Latrell Sprewell led with 26 points. Sam Cassell scored 24 points with 6 assists. Kevin Garnett struggled by scored 22 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. Fred Hoiberg added 11 points and 8 rebounds.
The Wolves are now 25-11. Tonight they play the San Antonio Spurs who lost last night to the terrible Atlanta Hawks. I have no idea how that happens. But the Spurs dropped to 26-12. So technically, the Wolves are currently in first place in the Midwest Division, by percentage points over the Spurs.
Thoughts on the Wolves? E-mail me.
DISCUSSION QUESTION OF THE WEEK
I haven’t had a Discussion Question for quite some time. Since I am not writing much today, I would like to ask a couple of questions. As with other Discussion Questions, I will write the question today, and then re-post it tomorrow. I hope that many of you will e-mail me and send me your responses to the questions. On Friday, I will post your responses on this site. Make sense? Since you don’t have to spend a lot of time reading my thoughts today, you have a few extra minutes (and no excuse not) to reply to these questions. So, please e-mail me.
1.) The past few years, the Twins have had great success handing out bobbleheads at Twins games. The selections have been either current or former players. My question:
If you were working in the Twins marketing department and had to choose who would appear on the 2004 Twins bobblehead dolls, who would you choose? Remember, current or former players could be selected. Also, you need to come up with four players, since they have had four bobblehead promotions each year. Please feel free to add a comment or two to your selections. Click right here and e-mail me your choices. (I expect to hear from everyone!!)
2.)
Who were your favorite player or players and why? Awhile back, I wrote about why Claudell Washington was my favorite player. He may not be a Hall of Famer, or a common name, but I liked him. Who are those players for you? Are there any “obscure” players that you would call your favorite? Admit it!! E-mail me.
Well, that is it for today. Again, a short entry. If you have any questions or comments, or other ideas for future discussion question, e-mail me!