Are the Twins really Coo Coo?

So far this off-season, Nick Nelson and Seth Stohs have both commented on the possibility of acquiring Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox to replace Torii Hunter, if he decides to leave. And now, La Velle E. Neal III has gotten "a tip" that Twins and Red Sox have spoken about a potential Coco Crisp trade.

I have thought about this a few times since the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury this summer, and now that this rumor could be picking up steam, I want to reiterate my thoughts.

Crisp, 28, is a fairly good hitter with defense that some could argue is supperior to Torii Hunter's at this point and time. Crisp has shown in the past that he can hit for power, with 16 home runs with the Indians in 2005, but with it started to diminish while he's been with the Red Sox thanks in part to the "Monster" in left field. However, I have no doubts in my mind that Coco could put up 10-20 home runs as a Twin with the shorter right field in the Metrodome. Heck, if Jason Tyner can almost hit a few out, Crisp shouldn't have much of a problem. 10% of his career home run totals have come at the Metrodome (5/49). He also has faired well against the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox in his career.


If the Twins can add another impact bat to the offense, especially at either designated hitter or third base, then I think a move for Crisp would be a no-brainer. I think he would be a good lead off candidate in case Jason Bartlett is moved down in the order and he's a switch hitter which should make him a favorite for Gardy in his stern left-right batting order. I think that Crisp coupled with a bat like Luis Gonzalez at DH and Adrian Beltre at third, I think that Crisp would be a very serviceable replacement both offensively and defensively.

Here is a projected lineup if we were to add those three bats to our offense:

CF - Coco Crisp
LF - Jason Kubel
C - Joe Mauer
3B - Adrian Beltre
1B - Justin Morneau
RF - Michael Cuddyer
DH - Luis Gonzalez
SS - Jason Bartlett
2B - Nick Punto

You can also flip-flop Jason Bartlett and Coco Crisp if you'd like as I think that Bartlett is likely the favorite to lead-off in '08 for the Twins.

Obviously our offense would be a much more superior in '08 than to our '07 "offense", and with this and a possible healthy Francisco Liriano and a (hopefully) returning Johan Santana, I think the Twins could seriously contend in '08.

What would it take to get Crisp? Beltre?

• Well with Coco Crisp, there's a relatively added incentive in the deal and that is that since Jacoby Ellsbury is more than ready to take over center field in '08, the Red Sox could be very prepared to deal Crisp for just about anything. Call me crazy, but I think that we could offer Brian Duensing or Nick Blackburn alone and we'd likely entice Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. But Duensing/Blackburn and perhaps Matthew Fox could probably do it.
  
• For Beltre, it'd definitely be a lot harder to acquire his services. He's set to make $11.5 Million in '08 and is coming off of a very impressive season where he hit .276/.319/.482 with a .802 OPS and 26 home runs to go along with his first career Gold Glove award. He'd be a very good acquisition for the Twins who are desperate to fill third base both offensively and defensively. So with that in mind, it'd likely cost the Twins one of Matt Garza, Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey along with Boof Bonser and another mid-range prospect could probably get the deal done. Question is, would the Twins give up 2-3 pitchers for Beltre?
  

In LEN3's same post, he also said that there are "some indications" that the Twins and Rays have been talking. He said that the only logical player being moved would be Rocco Baldeli who many thought could devolope into a middle-of-the-order bat, but has been plagued by injuries the last two years. I really would prefer Baldelli over Crisp, but I just think that the price would be higher and that the injuries are definitely a big risk. Consider me interested, but wary. But at just 26, Baldelli still has until 2012 until he's a free agent (if his 2009 club option is picked up), but I think the Twins may just hold out to see if he can sustain an entire season's work before they try and make a move. But if they do make a move, (obviously depending the price) I would definitely be ecstatic to see him with the Twins. He's a very good, young player and is exciting to watch. However, I feel a deal for Crisp is more realistic which is why this post wasn't centered around Baldelli.

On a side note: Torii Hunter and Johan Santana will both receive Rawlings Gold Gloves from the 2007 season. Hunter, 32, now has won 7 AL Gold Gloves in a row with the Twins. Unfortunately, it really is more out of a sign of "respect" as he's definitely not the best defensive outfielder anymore. Santana, 28, is receiving his first of (hopefully) many Gold Gloves. The award has been won by Detroit's Kenny Rogers for the last 3 years and 5 since 2000. Another player who could be joining them in '08 is catcher Joe Mauer who is one of the (if not the best) defensive catchers in all of baseball. But unfortunately for him, Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez has won 13 of the last 16 Gold Gloves at the same position. Justin Morneau is another Twin who could contend for the award next season.

Torii's Sleeping With The Enemy!

Just days after he filed for free agency, Torii already has a couple teams wanting to meet with him. That includes our division rival the Chicago White Sox. Torii has been linked to possibly going there for the last couple years, but I never thought it could actually become a reality. But according to the Chicago Sun Times, White Sox GM Kenny Williams has scheduled a meeting with Torii Hunter for next week.

The Twins have 15 "exclusive" days to negotiate a contract with Hunter, while other teams can only express interest with no financial negotiation. But this is what the Star Tribune had to say about Hunter's negotiations with the Twins:

Torii Hunter said, "I don't think there's going to be any negotiations."

Asked which side had halted the talks, Hunter said, "I think it was more me telling them."

That obviously is not what people want to hear, but I can't say I'm shocked to hear him say that. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see him just sign a deal with a team before even listening to offers from the Twins. With the way that this "drama" has gone, nothing would really surprise me.

Seeing Hunter in a Chicago White Sox uniform would kill Twins fans as the White Sox is arguably our biggest rival. And I honestly don't know whether he'll get a standing ovation when he returns, or if he'll hear the boos like A.J. Pierzynski hears. I'm sure it'll be a mix, but if he signed with another team, praticullarly an NL team, I'm pretty sure it'd be all cheers.

This is what he said about possibly playing at US Cellular field next year:

"You know, this is a place (U.S. Cellular Field) I hit well in," the Minnesota Twins star said Sunday. "The grass is good in the outfield. The ball doesn't snake. The ball doesn't jump. Everything is perfect out there.

"This is one place I would consider."

The Twins offered him a 3-year $45 Million deal in September, but he declined because he wants a 4 or 5 year contract. I'm sure the White Sox would offer him a 5-year deal to his liking as they are in dire need of a center fielder, but it's just hard to think that our beloved "Spiderman" could potentially be robbing Twins batters of home runs next season for one of our biggest nemesis.

Torii would be a good pick-up for the White Sox as they still have a good lineup with a solid rotation, they just fell behind early and couldn't compete with other teams in the division like the Indians and Tigers. I'm sure he'd also like the move to Chicago as one of his best friends Jacque Jones is playing for the Cubs on the north side. Wouldn't it be ironic that if Hunter goes to Chicago, the Twins swing a deal with the Cubs to land Jones to replace Hunter?

Oh irony.

NBA Season Preview

This is normally a Twins/Baseball-only blog, but with the MLB off-season underway, there isn't going to be a consistent amount of news for a while so I'm going to just give my thoughts on the 2007-2008 NBA Season.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Boston Celtics - There's not really that much debate about this one. The additions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to accompany Paul Pierce is going to be something special.
2. New Jersey Nets - Richard Jefferson is going to be the wild card for this team if he's healthy I can see them going far, they still struggle to find a low-post presense, but I think Jamal Magloire will be a decent addition.
3. Toronto Raptors - They were a surprise team last year, and I think that TJ Ford will continue to blossom after a few years of injuries. Chris Bosh will also continue to develop into an All-Star Power Forward and Andrea Bargnani looks to be a special player as well.
4. New York Knicks - They have talent, they just can't seem to put it together on the court. The addition of Zach Randolph to accompany Eddy Curry is going to be huge for them, but Stephon Marbury is going to need to stop whining and start playing.
5. Philadelphia 76'ers - The sixers have a good foundation settling around Andre Iguodala, but I think that Thaddeus Young is going to need to contribute a lot as a rookie for them to do anything. I don't expect much from them this season.

Central Division

1. Chicago Bulls - The Bulls have a very young, talented roster and if they get Kobe or if they don't get Kobe, they'll still be #1 in this division. I expect Luol Deng to pick up where he left off last season and have a very productive year.
2. Detroit Pistons - The Pistons are getting older, but I still think they have a very sound team and are going to give opponents their troubles night-in and night-out.
3. Cleveland Caveliers - LeBron James will once again carry this team, but I don't know if they have a good enough supporting cast surrounding him to do anything substantial. After reaching the Finals in '07, I see them having a disappointing season (as a team) in '08. But I think LeBron will generate MVP buzz once again.
4. Indiana Pacers - They too have a good group of younger players, except they just don't seem to keep their head screwed and let their emotions get the best of them. Jermaine O'Neal needs to stay healthy for them to be effective. Danny Granger is going to excite people that have never seen him play before.
5. Milwaukee Bucks - Although I think they have a better team than they did last year, I just don't know if they'll be able to beat out any of their division counterparts. I think they can be a surprise team this season, so this 5th ranking is definitely just temporary.

Southeast Division

1. Orlando Magic - I really like what the Magic have right now. They added Rashad Lewis to an already stable lineup and Jameer Nelson is going to have his fair share of players that can help him rack up assists. Dwight Howard is a beast, and I expect (very) big things from him this season.
2. Miami Heat - Even with Dwayne Wade out of the lineup for a while, I still see the Heat making a splash in the East. The only thing that will hold them over though is if Shaquille O'Neal can stay healthy and in the lineup until Wade comes back. Ricky Davis is going to have a solid season with the Heat.
3. Atlanta Hawks - The Hawks have an extremely talented young team. Acie Law was a consistent performer in college and I expect him to be an important piece to their team. Al Horford has looked good so far in pre-season and may give the Hawks their best low-post player since Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
4. Washington Wizards - They have a good team, but Gilbert Arenas needs to just shut up and play. He grabbed the attention of many fans last year, but he is letting it go to his head in a hurry. The Wizards are going to need to keep him out of the media.
5. Charlotte Bobcats - The Jason Richardson trade looks to be a great move right now after they found out Adam Morrison would miss the rest of the season. Richardson will give them another high-flying exciting player, but I still think that they need another player to step up. Emeka Okafor has been solid, but not elite. Raymond Felton looks ready to have a breakout season.

Western Confernce

Southwest Division

1. San Antonio Spurs - Do I really need to explain this ranking?
2. Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki had a great season, but someone else is going to need to step up and help him out. Josh Howard needs to stay out of trouble and I like what Devin Harris can bring to their offense.
3. Houston Rockets - Tracy McGrady will need to (more than ever) stay healthy this season. The Rockets have one of their best teams I've seen and if he can stay healthy, I see them going far. Steve Francis needs to step up and make the starting lineup, he's still their best point guard.
4. New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul is an amazing point guard and I really like his future. David West impressed many last year, but he needs another productive season.
5. Memphis Grizzlies - I expect them to have a better team than last season, but I just don't see them being a contender. Pau Gasol is going to be traded this season, I think that's a fairly safe assumption.

Northwest Division

1. Denver Nuggets - Many think that playing with Carmelo Anthony is going to hurt Allen Iverson and he won't be as effective as he has in seasons past. But I disagree. Just because he likely won't score close to 30 points, I still think he'll get his fair share of steals and assists to help be a consistent contributor.
2. Utah Jazz - Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer carried this team on their backs last season and if Andre Kirilenko can produce instead of whine, then I like their chances of going far this season.
3. Seattle Supersonics - Although both Rashad Lewis and Ray Allen are gone, they did a good jobe of replacing them with rookies Jeff Green and Kevin Durant. Green likely will start the season on the bench, but I expect him to make an impact at some point this season. And Durant is just such a special player that he'll cause defenders trouble all season.
4. Portland Trailblazers - After the draft, I predicted that the Blazers would be a surprise team this season, and they still might, but with Greg Oden officially out for the entire season, I don't like their chances. Last seasons Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy has been battling injuries through camp and his heal could cause him to miss some time this season.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves - Before I go too far into this, I really want to stay optimistic about the Wolves this season and think that they could surprise, but realistically I just don't see it happening. The Wolves have a great foundation of Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Corey Brewer and even Rashad McCants, but they lack another go-to guy which they'll likely get with their high first round pick next season. Possibly center Roy Hibbert from Georgetown. I like the direction we're going, and I'm happy that McHale didn't pussy-foot around while he dismantled our roster, he pretty much did it all this summer and I like that. Hopefully he can build it as well as he dismantled it. But for that part, I'm not as optimistic.

Pacific Division

1. Phoenix Suns - I think that the Suns are still the best team in the NBA, but their championship hopes are dwindling with Steve Nash now 33 years old and his lingering injuries probably causing him problems this season as well, I think that this is a make or break year for the Suns. The addition of Grant Hill will give them yet another great player, but he too has injuries that will haunt him. Shawn Marion is the NBA's most underrated player, and they should do anything they can to try and re-sign him.
2. Warriors - The Warriors came on very strong and the end of last season and really surprised many in the playoffs, I think that they're going to be a great team as long as they can keep their "nose clean" and stay out of the night clubs. Baron Davis really played hard and will look to have another impressive season.
3. Lakers - Any team with Kobe Bryant on it will definitely be considered an immediate contender. I'm really getting sick of the drama with him and the Lakers and I hope they ultimately end up trading him. Unfortunately for the Lakers, they don't really have a great foundation for a team that is likely going to start rebuilding. I think their best bet is to try and surround Kobe with talent, before trying to move him.
4. Kings - The Kings will be without Mike Bibby for a while, but they still have a solid team. Kevin Martin will look to continue his progress into one of the NBA's elite scorers. Brad Miller needs to have a good season other wise Spencer Hawes will likely take over. If Shareef Abdur-Rahim can stay healthy, they'll likely be close to making the playoffs.
5. Clippers - After a couple promising seasons, the Clippers are back to where most of them have seen them the most, at the bottom. Elton Brand looks to be out for half the year, Shaun Livingston is still rehabbing from last years devastating knee injury and Sam Cassell is probably on his last leg. The only thing that can save this team is if they use their heads and start Al Thornton over Tim Thomas. Thornton had a great preseason and is an important part to this teams success in the future.

Championship

Phoenix Suns over the Oralando Magic in 6 games.

The Suns really are going to come out swinging this season and although the Spurs are still the team to beat in the West, I feel the Suns will end up victorious. The Magic are definitely a "sleeper" pick to win the championship, or even to make the playoffs, but I expect big things from them this season. Call me crazy, but I'm taking a shot with them.

League MVP: Dwight Howard. He focused on the offensive side of his game this off-season and I think it's not too unrealistic to see him averaging around 23 points, 14 rebounds per game.

League ROY: Kevin Durant. I wanted to make another "sleeper" pick such as Al Horford or Al Thornton, but Durant is probably the most realistic. Horford and Thornton will probably both develop buzz as well, but I think Durant is going to end up being the player that everyone thinks he is.

Any thoughts? Opionions?

Hunter and Silva opt for Free Agency, More Torre

As expected, outfielder Torii Hunter and pitcher Carlos Silva opted for free agency on Monday, which means that the Twins now have exclusive rights for the next 15 days to try and re-sign either of them before other teams can place bids for them. Although other teams can not express financial terms of any contract, they can express length. And from reports, Hunter is looking for a 5 or 6 year deal while Silva is looking for a 4-5 year deal.

As smart that I may think letting Hunter go, I just can't hope to see him in another uniform. At 32 years old, Hunter is a two-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove winner, and he's coming off of one of his best seasons as a professional. The player often referred to as "Spiderman" was an offensive beast this season for the Twins, batting a respectable .287/.324/.469 with 74 extra base hits and 107 runs batted in. He finally produced from the 3-hole in the lineup for the Twins, which they've wanted since he came up with the Twins almost 10 years ago. He also had one of his best years defensively with just 2 errors in center field and a nice .995 fielding percentage. He has been the leader for the Twins for the most part of this decade and he has stated numerous times that he'd like to stay here (although he's also stated his interest in playing elsewhere). I don't know what to expect with him, but I think that the Twins will ultimately end up signing him for 5-years $75 Million, which has been speculated for quite some time. The catch is that I really think the Twins will find some quirky way to defer payments until after he is retired, sort of the way the Mariners re-signed Ichiro Suzuki this summer.

Silva just 28 is in his "prime years" of his career and just finished one of his best seasons in his career. He was one of the most reliable pitchers for the Twins down the stretch, as Johan Santana started to struggle as the season progressed. Silva finished with a 13-14 record with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Although I like Silva's "veteran presence" in our very young rotation, I just don't like the thought of having a ground ball pitcher on our turf. The ball speeds up on the turf and it makes it harder for our defense, especially our infielders to field the ball cleanly. Silva gave up .287 batting average and is a career .299. I just think that he puts our team into too many holes, unless his grounder is really on, which many times this year, it was. "Chief" Silva is Johan Santana's best friend and it is known by many that both would like to play with one another. But with the market value so high on pitchers, I just can't justify paying him near $10+ Million per season which he could likely find on the open market. I predict the Twins offer him a low-ball offer with the 4-years that he's requesting, but he'll likely only get around $6 Million annually from the Twins if he chooses to say.

In the result that neither return, here are a few (realistic) possible replacements:

Center Field

• Kenny Lofton: he's a 40 year old outfielder who could provide a presence at the top of the lineup for the Twins, which could move Bartlett to either #2 or to the bottom of the order (although, I'm sure Lofton would be the one to move down). He had a great 2007 season and could be a (relatively) cheap acquisition who could provide Denard Span another year to develope.

Possible contract offer: 1-year $8 million.

• Mike Cameron: Cameron is going to be 35 years old next season and is one of the best defensive players in baseball. A few years ago, Cameron was the only center fielder comparable with Torii Hunter, defensively. And although he has very bad discipline at the plate, I can deal with it as I've dealt with Torii's for the most part of his career. He will likely be a little more expensive for another year or so.

Possible contract offer: 2-year $18 million deal.

• Corey Patterson: Patterson is a very energetic player and would provide a great athletic outfielder to the Twins lineup. Although he bats lefty, I would rather add him than either of the two previously mentioned. Patterson doesn't add a ton of power, although with a left-handed friendly ballpark, he may net a few more dingers at the dome. I wouldn't mind seeing Patterson roaming center field for the next few years, and I think that it's a realistic possibility.

Possible contract offer: 3-year $18 million deal.

• Darin Erstad: Erstad has always been a player I've thought the Twins would someday sign, mostly because he is from North Dakota. Erstad plays hard and will probably run through a brick wall to catch a ball or to reach home plate. I like that, but with it comes a very big con which is his injuries. He's battled injuries the last two seasons and he likely won't avoid the DL in Minnesota, playing on the turf.

Possible contract offer: $2-year $5 million deal.

Pitching

Before I list the possible candidates, this is my projected 1-4 starters:

1) Johan Santana
2) Scott Baker
3) Francisco Liriano
4) Matt Garza
5) ????

• Nick Blackburn: I liked what I saw from him in his first three or four appearances, before he collapsed at the end. He has pitched well thus far in the AFL, and he will likely be a candidate to make the rotation come Spring Training.

• Kevin Slowey: Slowey had an impressive season in the minors, and showed some flashes in his short time in the majors, and although I think he'll have a fine career, he needs to prove more next spring because right now I think he has a lot to work on.

• Boof Bonser: Bonser was demoted to the bullpen late in the season because of his ineffectiveness in the 5th+ innings. He had a ridiculous 8.00 ERA in the 5th inning and a 7.56 ERA in the 6th. The Twins believe this is an endurance issue and have asked Boof to come to Spring Training in better shape. He's vowed to do it, so I think he has as good of a chance as any.

• Glen Perkins: Perk spent the majority of the '07 season on the DL after suffering a shoulder injury in May. He came back in mid-September and was great for the last 2 weeks of the season. He only allowed 3 hits and didn't allow a run in 5 innings to finish the season. He also struck out 4 batters. The Twins would like to revert him back to starter, but he's been great in the bullpen and with a crowded bullpen as it is, I think he'll spend the entire '08 season in the pen as well.

As you can see, the Twins definitely have options, both in-house and out on the open market.

Stay tuned. The next few weeks will definitely be interesting.

On a side note: The Lower Hudson Journal is reporting that the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to fire manager Grady Little, to replace him with Joe Torre. Following Torre will reportedly be bench coach Don Mattingly and Torre would like to also hire hitting coach Kevin Long from the Yankees. This is a new report, but has been speculated since his "firing" from the Yankees.

Alex Rodriguez to opt out of contract

Last night during game 4 of the World Series, Ken Rosenthal announced that he had spoken to Alex Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras and that his client has decided to opt out of the final 3 years of his $252 Million contract. This coming just a week after manager Joe Torre rejected a 1-year offer to manage the team.

This is a big blow to the New York Yankees who have been consistent with their decisions that if he did opt out of his contract, they will not get into a bidding war with another club. This leaves the Yankees with a big hole at 3rd base in '08 where right now it looks like Wilson Betemit is the starter, although that is very unlikely going to be the real starter come opening day.

Rodriguez was set to make $27 million per season for the next 3 years, or $81 Million. Now it looks like he'll likely get at least $30-35 million per season on the market. A few teams that could be looking to add him (and that could realistically pay him) are the Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Red Sox, Angels, White Sox, Tigers and even the Florida Marlins have been mentioned as a possible destination.

The move will also clear the Texas Rangers about $20 million off of Alex Rodriguez's deal. It could even clear enough room to the point that they decide to make a big push for Twins center fielder Torii Hunter.

Rodriguez is coming off of one of his best seasons, if not his best season, as a pro in '08. The 32-year-old third baseman batted .314/.422/.645 with 54 home runs and 156 RBI's. He also had a career best 1.067 OPS. His magnificent season likely will end up with him receiving his 3rd AL MVP Award of his career. But of course, with all his success, he was still the most scrutinized player in all of baseball because of the team he played for.

Of course, I don't think the Twins will ever add a player like Rodriguez, but I do think it'd benefit our team for obvious reasons. He would provide a great right-handed bat that the team has been looking for, he would give the team a lot of publicity which some feel would be good, and he'd put fans in the seats which is probably his biggest asset.

I could go on and on about how it'd be nice to see him in a Twins uniform in 2008, but I'm not going to waste my breath. It'll never happen.

But oh how nice it is to dream.

Friday's Notes

Baseball

• Center Fielder Torii Hunter is in the press yet again (I know, shocking!), this time he's talking about his disappointment with the Twins that they have yet to offer him a contract since his previous offer of 3-year $45 Million at the end of the season. He goes on to say that "it has nothing to do with money...that's just a percentage." And that his chances of remaining with the Twins are still "fat, but it can get slim quick.

• Earlier this week, the Twins made an easy move by picking up Joe Nathan's $6 Million option for next season. It's especially easy since his "market value" is probably twice that amount. The Twins will likely try to avoid any distractions next season and try to resign him this winter.

• Looks like, Charley Walters strikes again. Just a day after Walters published an article that the Twins have offered pitcher Carlos Sivla a "3-year deal worth slightly more than $7 million a season," Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune wrote this on his blog:

"One report said the Twins have offered Silva a three-year deal worth slightly more than $7 million per season. A local radio station went on to say Silva has “turned down” that offer. I called Silva’s agent, Peter Greenberg, and here’s the message he left on my voice mail: “No, the Twins have not made any offer to us as of 6:10 East Coast time, Thursday, Oct. 25. And you can quote me on that.”

Also spoke to a Twins official on the subject, and he said they have no idea where that’s coming from."

If you're wondering why I'm so critical of Walters, it's because he makes moronic statements such as this.

• Last night the Rockies kept things close but couldn't prevail as the Red Sox took a 2-0 advantage before the series heads to Colorado on Saturday. I like the Rockies chances in game 3 at home against Daisuke Matsuzaka, but with Josh Beckett likely starting game 4, I can't see another favorable match-up for them in the series. But it's baseball, and the reason I love it so much is that it's so unpredictable and anything can happen. But I'm not too optimistic for the Rockies chances in this one.

Football

• Falcon's corner back DeAngelo Hall's time in Atlanta may be coming to an end sooner than expected. The 23-year old in his 4th season got into another verbal spare with rookie head coach Bobby Petrino. He voiced his opinion (this time) through the media of his displeasure with the team cutting veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson. Hall felt that the club was "signaling out" Jackson for the club's poor play thus far and called the decision "asinine." This is coming from him after being fined $100,000 by the Falcons just last month for his sideline rampage with Petrino.

How about a Chad "Ocho-Cinco" Johnson for DeAngelo "Big Time" Hall? Both teams struggle in the respected players position and both players are thought to be "on the block". It'd also be ironic that they'd be traded for one another after their known rivalry when they meet.

• And it looks like Brad Childress is finally "wising up" and will increase Adrian Peterson's role with the offense (likely meaning more "touches") as the season progresses. Well it's funny that it only took millions of fans or even people with very little football knowledge to figure that out before Childress did. I say this to you Brad Childress.

• In case you missed it, the Boston College vs. Virginia Tech football game did not disappoint. The #2 ranked B.C. Eagles down 10-0 went on a 91-yard scoring drive to put the Eagles down by just 3 with 2:11 remaining in the game. After recovering an onside kick, quarterback Matt Ryan and the Eagles came back and scored with just 11 seconds remaining in the game to put the Eagles ahead of the #8 Hokies for good at 14-10. Quarterback Matt Ryan made one of the best plays of the year as he rolled to the left, he threw a pass across to the back right of the end zone to connect with running back Andre Callender.

This win secures #2 Boston College's spot for the week and with #1 Ohio State playing a very tough #25 Penn State, it could put them at the top of the rankings by early next week.

It also erases some of the doubt of Matt Ryan's Heisman candidacy. With a great year now capt off with an incredibly clutch performance, Ryan looks to be the leader for the award at this point.

Basketball

• On Wednesday, the Timberwolves made yet another trade, this time moving proven veteran and scorer Ricky Davis along with Mark Blount to the Miami Heat for a package of 3 players including Antoine Walker. The Heat also gave us a conditional first-round draft pick in next June's draft.

I know some are very disturbed (others not at all) by this deal, because the team is losing it's most proven player in Ricky Davis who was looked on by many as the likely leader of our team this year. But, I'm not so sure it wasn't a bad move. I like that the Wolves are clearing room for Corey Brewer/Rashad McCants in the starting lineup which both have had impressive pre-seasons and both are important pieces to the future of our team. This season was labeled a "rebuilding year" after we traded away Kevin Garnett, and I think that keeping Ricky on the team was not the best thing for the future of our team since he likely wouldn't be an important piece for us in 2-3 years.

I will add that I do know many didn't like Ricky's attitude and thought he would hurt us more than help us.

I really have to give the Wolves and especially Kevin McHale credit. They said that we were going to rebuild, and they aren't pussyfooting around and they truly dismantled our team in about a year. So, we know he can dismantle a team, but can he rebuild it? That's the question we're going to be asking for the next few years, but call me optimistic.

One reason is because we have a good core of young players including guards Randy Foye, Brewer, McCants and Sebastian Telfair along with some talented forwards from Al Jefferson to Gerald Green. This deal also is moving two very over-payed players and we're getting a player in Michael Doleac who is a free agent next year, Wayne Simien who's still "cheap" and Walker who will probably never play for us (buyout, trade) so this deal definitely will help us in '09 when Kobe Bryant can opt out of his contract (I can dream).

Hockey

I want to say something constructive about Wild Hockey. But I'm still upset over their 5-3 loss against the Calgary Flames when they lead 3-0 with 10+ minutes remaining in the first period. And last night didn't help with a 5-4 loss in a shootout. It was a close game, but I just can't say anything constructive.

World Series Game 1 Preview

2007 World Series: Game 1

Jeff Francis ........... Josh Beckett

vs.

The Red Sox come into the game winning 3 elimination games in a row against Cleveland where they outscored the Indians 30-5. The team last played on Sunday, which means that the bats will probably remain hot as they carry a lot of momentum heading into game one.

The Rockies on the other hand haven't played since October 15th. The team also has a lot of momentum as they've won 20 of their last 21 games including all 7 so far in the playoffs. Although they've definitely been a very good team thus far, I think that the extended layoff is going to end up hurting them and I expect their bats to be cool. That's something that they can not have happen as the Rockies will face Josh Beckett in game 1.

Beckett has been phenomenal in the playoffs up to this point. He is 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA and 11K/1B through 23 innings pitched. He will be facing young southpaw Jeff Francis who has also been quite impressive in the playoffs. He is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 4K/1BB in 12.2 innings.

Both teams will need to get off to a hot start, and I think that game 1 is the most crucial for this series. If the Rockies win, they will knock out Josh Beckett and will go back to Coors Field (at the worst) tied with the Red Sox (possibly up 2-0). But if the Red Sox win, they'll knock out Jeff Francis and will be in good shape to continue their success throughout the series.

Game 1 Pitching Advantage: Red Sox

Offensively, both teams are stacked with big bats that can carry themselves to a championship.

The Colorado Rockies batters have been alright up to this point, but the team will need Todd Helton to step up after hitting a measly .154 with just 1 RBI through the NLDS & NLCS. Troy Tulowitzki and Garrett Atkins both have hit under .200 as well. They have been riding strong starting pitching through the entire playoffs, but I'm afraid that their luck will end here if they don't start hitting the ball.

The Red Sox have had strong play by Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and rookie Dustin Pedroia came on strong in the last 3 games of the NLCS with 3 multi-hit games in a row. The Red Sox lineup has been unreal so far, they've even faired well against great pitchers including C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jared Weaver. Hopefully the Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrook-type pitchers won't give them too many problems in this series like in the Cleveland series.

Offensive Advantage: Red Sox

This is a big game for both teams. And I really expect to see a great game.

Game 1 Prediction: Red Sox win, 6-4

Hey! Don't forget about me!

Well it's already been a year that learned Twins hard-throwing left-hander Francisco Liriano would miss the entire 2007 season while he recovered from Tommy John Surgery.

Well a year later, after months, and months of rehabilitation, Francisco Liriano is finally finished with his rehab program. He is now heading back to his home in the Dominican Republic to prepare for Spring Training like he normally would.

This is incredibly encouraging for the Twins who will need a healthy Liriano this season more with Carlos Silva and Johan Santana both possibly gone.

I know that we shouldn't expect much from him this season, because he'll obviously be rusty. And a lot of pitcher are never the same, but I'm optimistic that Liriano will be one of the "chosen ones" that comes back better than before.

A lot of pitchers learn that they develope 2 sometimes 3 mile per hour faster on their fastball which would put Liriano at or very close to the 100 MPH mark.

A few other pitchers who have successfully recovered from TJ Surgery include; Erik Bedard, John Smoltz, Mariano Rivera, Kenny Rogers, Jason Isringhausen, and the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter is rehabing.

Obviously that list is very encouraging, but there are also a few guys that make you remember, that it's not always going to help such as Kerry Wood or Joe Mays.

But with the encouraging news we've gotten through Liriano's entire rehab program of how he's been (almost) ahead of schedule and has looked great, makes you have optimism for a 100% recovery.

One of the Twins top pitching prospects Jeff Manship did a Q&A with me in August, here is what he had to say in regards to his Tommy John Surgery.

Josh's Thoughts: (Sorry in advance if this is a difficult subject to talk about). You had Tommy John surgery in College, what exactly was wrong with your forearm? What was the hardest part about rehab? And does a player need to stick to a strict program while recovering?

Jeff Manship: I first felt discomfort in my elbow while playing for Team USA in the summer after my senior year of high school. We were playing in a tournament in Curacao, Netherland Antilles and in the 4th inning of a game against Venezuela, I injured my arm. I threw a fastball and immediately my whole forearm and elbow tightened up. I followed with 3 more pitches and they all felt the same so I pulled myself out of the game. I never heard the infamous "pop" of my ligament tearing so I did not believe any serious damage had occured. I ended up having Tommy John surgery in Febuary of my freshman year.

The hardest part about the rehab was how monotonous it got. The pain was never too severe. The only discomfort I felt was in the early stages when trying to stretch my elbow out and remove the scar tissue.

If you want to recover it is wise to strictly follow the program. I was determined to come back 100% so I made sure to do everything correctly. I was also informed that I could possibly come back throwing harder so that provided extra incentive to work harder.

So obviously, it's encouraging to see him do so well after his surgery, I just can't help but wonder how great our rotation will be in 2-3 years (with or without Johan Santana).

Joe Torre done as Yankees skipper

I'm sure everyone has already heard, but in case you haven't Joe Torre is not coming back to manage the New York Yankees for a 13th season.

Torre who has lead the Yankees to 12 straight playoffs and 4 World Series rings, was under intense scrutiny by the "Boss" George Steinbrenner after failing to advance the Yankees past the first round for the 3rd straight year. Steinbrenner announced to the media that if the Yankees didn't make it to the 2nd round, that he'd likely be done as manager of the New York Yankees.

The team offered him a 1-year $5 Million deal with an $8 Million option for the 2009 season. The deal also would give him a $1 Million bonus for each round of the playoffs the team advanced (World Series = $3 Million in bonuses).

My reaction to the deal is very insulting. Joe Torre is one of the best managers to ever be associated with both the New York Yankees and the entire sport of baseball. The contract is a $2 Million pay decrease from last year, which I'm not sure is the real problem, it's the fact that it's a one-year deal. Which means that next year, he'll be right back in this spot that he's in now (if the Yankees don't make it to the World Series, which then means that the 2008 option is guaranteed).

If the deal were for 3-years $15 Million, then I'm not sure he wouldn't accept it, but why offer him a 1-year deal when the team may be without the best player in the league, with or without Joe?

I do not have a problem with the Yankees, they do not do anything wrong. Major League Baseball and Bud Selig almost endorse their erratic spending and any team can do it, it's just that the Yankees are the one of the only ones that do spend ridiculous amounts of money.

What's my point? Well there's two points I'm going to make. First, the Yankees are acting like "penny pincher's" in regards to Joe Torre's contract. There was talk that the team was going to get rid of Joe last year, but the team would've been forced to pay him the majority of his contract anyways. This is coming from a team that spends $250 Million+ each year on player payroll, what's another $5-7 Million to keep a manager that both the players love and the fans as well, and that gives you the best chance of winning (debatable, but who else would do a better job?). I don't understand it. The Yankees are starting to go into another direction, in regards to trying to build from within, but I think that Joe Torre is still the best man for the job, either way.

I'm not saying that the years are in fact the reason why Joe decided to reject, or if it's the money, or if it's just another personal reason, but I cannot believe that the team would only offer him a 1 year deal. It's ridiculous.

My second point is that with that ridiculous payroll and great team success, many fans have grown a hatred for the Yankees. Mainly George Steinbrenner, but none-the-less, the Yankees. Joe Torre made a lot of fans have less of a hatred toward the team, and they respected his managing.

I don't think that there's a single person out there that could've done a better job, and I think that the Yankees are very fortunate to have had Joe Torre.

Torre will hold a press conference at 1:00 pm (CT) today.

This is what free agent and future Hall of Fame Closer Mariano Rivera said in regards to returning to the Yankees next season:

“The Yankees are one of 30 teams now.”

I'm sure that some of the other free agents including catcher Jorge Posada, and pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte feel the same.

This may also affect Alex Rodriguez's decision on whether to opt out of the remainder of his contract, and head for free agency.

Only time will tell.

In closing I'd like to add that as a fan of baseball, I'm sad to see Joe gone.

Torii Hunter...Tidbits

Since there isn't really anything substantial to talk about right now in regards to the Twins, I will just give a few tidbits that I've found.

• Torii Hunter gave his interest for playing for the Washington Nationals or the Atlanta Braves. He stated that it could be the race of the fans that could make him interested in playing there. Does anyone think that he'll make that big of a difference? What are your opinion of the quotes in that article? What happened to this attitude Torii? All I will say is that I like that Torii Hunter wants to make a difference.
  
• According to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press, catcher Joe Mauer is likely to undergo hernia surgery. Walters also says that pitcher Carlos Silva will likely be classified as a "Class B" free agent, meaning that if he does not resign with the Twins, we will receive a "sandwich pick" in return. He also added this "brilliant" bit of info:

If the Twins can't re-sign free agent Torii Hunter, plans are to trade, sign a free agent or go in-house to find his center field replacement.

• Thank you Charley, I don't know what I'd do without you.
  
• Tim Dierks of mlbtraderumors.com expanded on the debate of classifying Carlos Silva as a "Class B" free agent.
• The Minnesota Twins released a "tentative 2008 schedule." I liked the fact that the Twins will be playing the Yankees twice at home. It's the first time since 1999 that the Bronx Bombers have made it to the Dome twice in the same season. The Twins will also make their first trip to Coors Field to face the Rockies in May. The Twins will host the Diamondbacks, Nationals and Brewers at home in inter league play. The Twins will make a trip to San Diego to face the Padres at the end of June. We play in Boston and New York in July. Single-game tickets go on sale at Twins fest which is at the end of January.
  
• According to La Velle E. Neal, the Twins will make a run at resigning both Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva, but both will likely test the free agent market.
  
• Oh Manny! After yesterday's 9-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians, Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez had this to say:

"It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world."

• Well, that's the winning spirit, Manny! I don't want to "jump the gun" or anything, but Manny's been talked about being moved for several years, perhaps Theo Epstein and the Red Sox may actually move him this time. I know Manny is a great player, and he's one of my favorites, but telling your fans and teammates that you don't care and "there's always next year" when you're down 3-1 in the LCS will never sit well. Joe Christensen offered his opinion of what Manny had to say.
  
• In closing, the Celtics crushed the New York Knickerbockers last night 101-61. Former Timerwolve Kevin Garnett scored 13 points. The "Big-3" which consists of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and KG combined for 49 points. I really am looking forward to seeing this kind of scoring from the Celtics this season. (Just because of Kevin Garnett)