Friday, November 9, 2007
Friday Notes
And WEEK 10 PICKS
Good morning and Happy Friday! Another weekend is fast approaching
and that is a great thing!! I’ve got a few notes again today followed by our NFL “Expert” Panel’s Week 10 (no, contrary to popular
belief, this year it is not being spelled Weak 10!) picks. Enjoy the day and
please feel free to e-mail me any time with anything!
·
First things first, please be
sure to check out Blogonoscopy,
a blog started by the older brother of Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey. Kevin does contribute from
time to time as well. I think it’s great!
·
It came out yesterday that when the Mitchell
Report comes out in the next month or so, 11 players who are currently free
agents will be mentioned in the report. That should be quite interesting. 11
out of 160 free agents are mentioned. If that is a fair representation, that is
6.9% which I would venture to say is quite low. I admit,
I am very much intrigued by what the report will say and the names that are in
it. But it truly won’t alter my thinking on any of the players. And just to
create interaction on the site, if anyone wants to e-mail me
their guesses for the 11 players mentioned, I will keep those and if anyone
gets 10 out of 11 correct, I will send you some sort of prize.
·
It’s
always fun to think about potential trades and free agent signings at this time
of year. The Hot Stove League is excellent. There are so many rumors and names
mentioned. It’s hardly worth even mentioning all of them, but Joe Christensen spent
the week at the GM Meetings in Florida, working the lobby and trying to
figure out what was being discussed. He mentioned several players that he was
able to say that the Twins were discussing. So, I will do my best to talk about
what I think of each name mentioned:
1.
Scott Rolen – I realize that the Twins need a 3B,
and Rolen would be an obviously huge improvement over
Nick Punto or Brian Buscher.
However, I just don’t think he is the right answer. I personally prefer someone
younger and with less of an injury history. Normally a little injury past wouldn’t
bother me. However, Rolen has been hurt quite a bit
and secondly, playing on the turf of the Metrodome
would not be the best way to keep him healthy! I would expect that the
Cardinals would have to pay a significant chunk of the remainder of his salary
and the Twins would not have to give up a lot. If that were the case, I might
be ok with it because he can hit, hit for power and play a really great 3B.
2.
BJ Upton – I had heard that Upton was the one
guy on the Rays roster that was deemed untouchable. But he is the one guy on
the Rays roster (above all but Scott Kazmir) that I
would want the Twins to acquire! Upton is still so young. He has power, speed,
athleticism and he will only get better on defense. He would be the right guy
to take over for Torii Hunter in CF.
3.
Delmon
Young – We are all
hearing the Matt Garza for Young, straight-up, rumors. Personally, I’m not as
high on this deal. I think Young is a special talent, right up there with
Upton. However, I just don’t think that he can really play CF and the Twins are
fine in RF already. That is the primary reason I would
prefer Upton (and would be ok with a straight up for Garza deal). Young is
young and won’t be really expensive for five or six more years. IF they do get
him, that would be excellent. Maybe he could play LF.
4.
Chase Headley – The Padres 3B prospect spent most of
the season at AA but also saw some time with the big club. He is 23 years old.
He was the Padres 2nd round pick in 2005 out of the University of
the Pacific. At AA, he hit .330/.437/.580 with 38 doubles, 5 triples and 20
home runs. That is the kind of minor league bat that the Twins need. He would
immediately jump to the top of the Twins prospects list. More importantly, he
is big league ready and a potential impact bat who
would not even be arbitration-eligible for three years. He would be the perfect
acquisition for the Twins!
5.
Carlos Gomez – the speedy OF will not turn 22 for
another month. Gomez is an interesting prospect because he is a five-tool (or
even six tool) talent who has been young for his level throughout his career.
However, he has not dominated a level yet. He has hit for some power, shown
great speed and had a nice Isolated Discipline.Huge
upside, but a little more risk than the others above.
·
If
you are looking for an absolutely tremendous look at the Minnesota Vikings
including position-by-position
review and grades, head on over to Josh’s Thoughts right away!
·
Arizona
Update:
1.
On
Wednesday, Anthony Swarzak started and recorded his
first win. He went four innings and gave up only an unearned run. He gave up
three hits, walked none and struck out one. Matt Macri
went 1-3 with two walks.
2.
On
Wednesday, Matt Macri went 2-4 with an RBI. Drew Butera was 0-3. Trevor Plouffe
went 0-1. Ryan Mullins started and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in
four innings. He struck out three. Eddie Morlan
pitched the 6th inning. He didn’t allow a run. He gave up a hit and
struck one out.
·
Venezuela
Update:
1.
On
Tuesday, Aragua beat Lara 7-6. Luis Maza again led
the offense. He went 3-5, and interestingly, he played CF. Jose Mijares faced one batter in relief. He hit former Twins
minor league OF Selwyn Langaigne. Bobby Korecky gave up a solo home run in his inning.
2.
On
Wednesday, Aragua beat Zulia 2-1. Oswaldo Sosa faced
two batters. He struck out one but he walked one as well. Bobby Korecky got one out and gave up a hit. Jose Mijares got one out.
·
Ah,
the beauty of Small Sample Size, huh? Just ask former Twins reliever JC Romero who is rumored to be near
re-signing with the Philles for two years and $6
million.. After the Angels released him following the
2006 season, Romero signed with the Red Sox. He pitched horribly in 23 games
for them before being let go. He signed with the Philles
where he went 1-2 with a 1.24 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. In 36.1 innings, he gave up
just 15 hits. He struck out 33, but he also walked 25. In 2002 for the Twins,
Romero went 9-2 with a 1.89 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Since that year, here are his
season’s WHIPs; 1.71, 1.33, 1.56 and 1.75. While with the Red Sox, his WHIP was
1.95. 51 appearances. 36.1 innings. That is apparently enough to help Romero go
from Minor League contract to two to three year multi-million contract. Crazy!
·
By
the way, if you haven’t already, you really should bookmark Fire Joe Morgan. Great blog!!
WEEK
10
|
|
Seth Stohs |
Roger Dehring |
||||
|
|
SethSpeaks.net |
Twins Minor League Expert |
Reigning champ, and Twins pitching prospect |
Twins starting pitcher |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Twins Outfield Prospect |
|
Atlanta @ Carolina |
Falcons |
Panthers |
Panthers |
Panthers |
Panthers |
Panthers |
|
Buffalo @ Miami |
Dolphins |
Bills |
Dolphins |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
|
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers by a City |
Steelers |
Steelers |
|
Denver @ Kansas City |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Broncos |
|
Jacksonville @ Tennessee |
Titans |
Titans |
Titans |
Jaguars |
Jaguars |
Titans |
|
Minnesota @ Green Bay |
Packers |
Packers |
Packers |
Packers |
Packers |
Vikings |
|
Philadelphia @ Washington |
Redskins |
Eagles |
Redskins |
Eagles |
Redskins |
Redskins |
|
St. Louis @ New Orleans |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
|
Cincinnati @ Baltimore |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Bengals |
|
Chicago @ Oakland |
Bears |
Bears |
Bears |
Bears |
Bears |
Bears |
|
Dallas @ NY Giants |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
|
Detroit @ Arizona |
Lions |
Lions |
Lions |
Cardinals |
Lions |
Lions |
|
Indianapolis @ San Diego |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
|
San Francisco @ Seattle |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
|
John Bonnes |
Stick & Ball Guy |
Will Young |
Nick Nelson |
Josh Johnson |
Josh Taylor |
|
|
Atlanta @ Carolina |
Panthers |
Panthers |
Falcons |
Panthers |
Panthers |
Panthers |
|
Buffalo @ Miami |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
|
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers |
|
Denver @ Kansas City |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
|
Jacksonville @ Tennessee |
Titans |
Titans |
Titans |
Titans |
Jaguars |
Jaguars |
|
Minnesota @ Green Bay |
Packers |
Packers |
Packers |
Vikings |
Packers |
Packers |
|
Philadelphia @ Washington |
Redskins |
Redskins |
Redskins |
Redskins |
Eagles |
Redskins |
|
St. Louis @ New Orleans |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
|
Cincinnati @ Baltimore |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Bengals |
|
Chicago @ Oakland |
Bears |
Bears |
Raiders |
Bears |
Bears |
Bears |
|
Dallas @ NY Giants |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
Giants |
Cowboys |
|
Detroit @ Arizona |
Lions |
Lions |
Lions |
Cardinals |
Lions |
Lions |
|
Indianapolis @ San Diego |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
|
San Francisco @ Seattle |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard Sinker |
LaVelle E. Neal |
|||||
|
Atlanta @ Carolina |
Panthers |
Panthers |
Falcons |
Panthers |
||
|
Buffalo @ Miami |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
||
|
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers |
Steelers |
||
|
Denver @ Kansas City |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
||
|
Jacksonville @ Tennessee |
Titans |
Titans |
Titans |
Titans |
||
|
Minnesota @ Green Bay |
Packers |
Packers |
Packers |
Packers |
||
|
Philadelphia @ Washington |
Redskins |
Redskins |
Eagles |
Redskins |
||
|
St. Louis @ New Orleans |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
||
|
Cincinnati @ Baltimore |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
Ravens |
||
|
Chicago @ Oakland |
Bears |
Raiders |
Bears |
Bears |
||
|
Dallas @ NY Giants |
Giants |
Giants |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
||
|
Detroit @ Arizona |
Cardinals |
Lions |
Lions |
Cardinals |
||
|
Indianapolis @ San Diego |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
||
|
San Francisco @ Seattle |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
||
|
Al Bethke |
Bill Ferris |
JD Arney |
Mike Brasel |
Melissa Lien |
||
|
SethSpeaks.net |
||||||
|
Atlanta @ Carolina |
Panthers |
Panthers |
Falcons |
|||
|
Buffalo @ Miami |
Bills |
Bills |
Bills |
|||
|
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh |
Browns |
Steelers |
Steelers |
|||
|
Denver @ Kansas City |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
Chiefs |
|||
|
Jacksonville @ Tennessee |
Jaguars |
Jaguars |
Titans |
|||
|
Minnesota @ Green Bay |
Vikings |
Packers |
Vikings |
|||
|
Philadelphia @ Washington |
Redskins |
Redskins |
Redskins |
|||
|
St. Louis @ New Orleans |
Saints |
Saints |
Saints |
|||
|
Cincinnati @ Baltimore |
Ravens |
Bengals |
Ravens |
|||
|
Chicago @ Oakland |
Raiders |
Bears |
Bears |
|||
|
Dallas @ NY Giants |
Giants |
Cowboys |
Cowboys |
|||
|
Detroit @ Arizona |
Lions |
Lions |
Lions |
|||
|
Indianapolis @ San Diego |
Colts |
Colts |
Colts |
|||
|
San Francisco @ Seattle |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
Seahawks |
|||
Summary
Looking at the selections of the panelists, here is who the
collective "We" think will win each game:
Sunday –
Atlanta @ Carolina – Panthers 15-4
Buffalo @ Miami – Bills 17-2
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh – Steelers 18-1
Denver @ Kansas City – Chiefs 18-1
Jacksonville @ Tennessee – Titans 13-6
Minnesota @ Green Bay – Packers 15-4
Philadelphia @ Washington – Redskins 15-4
St. Louis @ New Orleans – Saints 19-0
Cincinnati @ Baltimore – Ravens 16-3
Chicago @ Oakland – Bears 16-3
Dallas @ NY Giants – Cowboys 15-4
Detroit @ Arizona – Lions 15-4
Indianapolis @ San Diego – Colts 19-0
Monday Night -
San Francisco @ Seattle – Seahawks 19-0
Thanks again for stopping by this site. If you have any
questions, comments or ideas for future postings, please e-mail me.
Have a great weekend!