Bleacher Report - Articles by Joe Mikolai

For The First Time In Three Weeks, Wolves Play Shows Passion

Joe Mikolai — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:57:01 -0500

Yes I know the Timberwolves lost last night, their thirteenth consecutive game overall, and a game where they led into the forth quarter.

But for the first time since their November 4th game against the Boston Celtics, the fifth game of the season mind you, the 1-13 Timberwolves actually looked like they cared, and thus were primed to actually win a game for once.

For that I am proud. For that I can appreciate effort when I see it.

Did they seal the deal? No, they ultimately lost the game 91-87 to the lowly Clippers whom they are already 0-2 against. However, they did prove to me for the first time in those three weeks that they are capable of resembling an NBA team, at times which I questioned as recently as last week.

I want effort. I appreciate good effort even if it ends in a losing note. Not coincidental, Jonny Flynn, had his statistical fourth best game as a pro this season with 17 points.

Yes 10 of these came in the first quarter, and yes 10 of these were the team's first 24 points overall as the Wolves actually led 29-28 on the road in Los Angeles, but for the first time since the November 11th loss to Portland where Flynn scored 15 points and had six assists, he looked like a capable player again.

Sure he scored 20 points two nights prior against at Golden State Warriors in Oakland but not only did that team blow the Wolves out of the water by 41 points making Flynn's "efforts" irrelevant, but Flynn also committed a career-high six turnovers.

This dubious feat would only last a few nights later when on November 14, this young statistic was matched against Memphis in what had to be seen then as a very winnable game, especially when you consider the Allen Iverson turmoil surrounding the team and the fact the Wolves only lost this game by 10 in the battle of putrid teams.

As you can tell, as Flynn goes, so go the Timberwolves, and until Kevin Love comes back, there won't be, and there isn't a whole lot more to look forward to, and he is our face of the franchise, our future, Rubio, notwithstanding.

This is why, if you can't tell, I am hyping up Flynn and hoping for his continued maturity, experience and success. Even the lamest fan has to know what he and his fellow rookies are doing can't be easy.

More Brandon Jennings thoughts

For those of you still pining over the non-drafting of eventual rookie of the year, Brandon Jennings to which I alluded to in my previous article on the Wolves which I have linked above, he is coming off his worst statistical night against the Spurs where he only scored 12 points to go with seven assists.

What's more, finally pitted against an elite team, he shot an Allen Iverson-like 6-21 from the field and had five turnovers with a -8 rating meaning, like hockey, when he was on the court, the Bucks, who lost, were actually outscored by eight points. He's gonna have nights like this. Like O.J. Mayo, who many Wolves fans wanted but I never did cause he's poison, he too is human and will have human nights.

Still, Wolves fans know, and have seen Jennings ability to put up Iverson like scoring nights with 55 against those same pesky Warriors whom they beat. Sure he's averaging 25 ppg now and I predict will finish somewhere around there in route to Rookie of the Year, but he'll also have Mayo shooting nights like last night which ought to make you feel better too.

I haven't heard or read a whole lot of anti-Flynn talk even though there are some Jennings vs. Flynn comparisons , but consider the alternative. It could be worse. In addition to no-show Rubio, this draft could have been a total waste had we drafted eventual bust DeMar Johnson, uh, I mean DeMar DeRozen (5.5 PPG) out of Southern Cal (you can see how I made the error as Johnson was an ineffective 2000 lottery bust).

Instead he's the Raptors problem on a team suddenly struggling despite my predicted success for them. At least we have Flynn, and soon Love, to watch all season-if he doesn't pull a Gilbert Arenas and sit out all year due to the team being so horrible and saving his health. What good did that do them? The Wizards not only got their predicted fifth slot but by not moving up where they wanted to get a real elite player in a perceived weak draft, they ultimately traded the pick to us and the rest is history.

In Flynn we can instantly gravitate to the stat sheet as I do after every game, and thus loss, to at least see how this lone ray of light did each night. I suggest you do the same. In a draft that we are finding out now was surprisingly strong on the point guard side, at least we got two of them, one of which can start now and develop now and another we can stash away and hope he comes by the time we need him when we are better.

The real disappointment and the source of fan frustration should be at first round bust (so far) Wayne Ellington who I held in high esteem. When you consider his lack of playing time and thus meager stats, his slow start is probably justified however.

Sure, its easy to be a Vikings fan now with them 9-1 and all and likely headed for a 15-1 season only to lose home-field thanks to the 16-0 Saints, but the real fans are the ones still following the rebuilding Minnesota Wild and Timberwolves.

Despite all the hard times, unlike the past, I still have yet to hear "The Timberwolves? Why do you still care?" or "Why are you still watching/following them?" and at least that is a good sign.

Denver Broncos Lose Four Straight: Not so Easy, Is It, Josh McDaniels?

Joe Mikolai — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:08:04 -0500

Success came to you too early, you little punk.

Sure, you took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime "immaculate deflection" to beat the upstart Cincinnati Bengals in Week One and surprised a few people with wins over New England and the Dallas Cowgirls, who looked impressive at the time.

But much like the rookie wall has hit the overrated Mark Sanchez, it has similarly hit you—right in your big fat mouth.

I don't know what I dislike more about you: your brash attitude that comes from rising to the top too soon for a job for which you are unqualified, your Bill Belichick-wannabe pullover, or that you eagerly skipped off the field when you played the Cowgirls.

I found it hilarious when you ran Jay Cutler, a Pro Bowl quarterback on your putrid team, out of town. I eagerly waited for Pro Bowl WR Brandon Marshall to follow suit.

Nice start to the season. But did you really think you could win with Kyle Orton and a bunch of overrated hacks on the defensive line? Reality has finally caught up with you.

Losses to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, and now San Diego. Three of the four within conference? Ouch. How does that feel with no Orton to bail you out?

What's the Broncos upcoming schedule look like?

Not too good if you're a Broncos fan (both of you).

Next week, it's home against the resurgent Giants. You know, the same place you've already lost to San Diego and Pittsburgh.

Then it's off to Arrowhead Stadium against the Chiefs, winners of 2-of-3 and who just beat those fading Steelers.

That won't be as easy as you think, especially when you consider divisional rivals always step up for games.

Then you travel to Peyton's place against the Cowtown Colts, which is an automatic loss.

Still feeling good about those playoffs?

You finish the season against lowly Oakland, then to Philadelphia, which should be fighting for their playoff lives, and finally at home against Kansas City.

If you win two of the three, I'd be impressed.

So what does the future look like and what does it mean?

vs NYG—L, 6-5

@ KC—L, 6-6 (six straight losses)

@ Indy—L (by 17), 7 straight losses

vs. Jokeland—W, but probably by 10 or less in a hard fought win

@ Philly—L

vs. KC—could go either way but, at your place, it's probably a loss

So, from a sparkling, but now easily misleading 6-0 to a potential 8-8 record, that's how I see the Broncos' season ending.

Somewhere Jerry McGuire is singing "Free Falling" because that is exactly what you're doing, ol' wet-behind-the-ears McDaniels.

All that's left is playing the games and wondering where it all went wrong for the perennial 8-8 second-place boys from Colorado. NFL postseason picks" target="_blank">I had you going 6-10 prior to the season .

I can see that you're doing your best to not disappoint. In fact, if you play your cards right, you can still make me look like the winner that you're not, simply by losing out. Can you do that for me, Josh? Can you lose out?

Can you have a collapse that would make the Lions envious?

Maybe you can get your old job back with a real coach if you beg hard enough. After all, since you look like you're 12, old Bill may just feel sorry for you, Mr. McDaniels.

New Orleans Saints vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Just Play the Super Bowl Already

Joe Mikolai — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:34:28 -0500

In what has been blatantly obvious for weeks now, given the Bengals perfect 5-0 divisional record start, coupled with the Saints undefeated record, can we just skip ahead to what will likely be a very thrilling Super Bowl of firsts for these downtrodden franchises?

Sure, its chic to be a Saints fan now. But not too long ago—(1999 3-13) —finishing fifth in the NFC West was common place for them. Trotting out names like Willie Whitehead, the Billy Joe quarterbacks-Hobert and Tovollier, the team was an annual display of 4-12 disaster. Their .411 franchise winning percentage —(262-375-5)—is among the league's worst. The Bengals 272 - 354 franchise mark , good for .434 percent, isn't much better.

Nicknamed the "Aints," and known for fans showing up to the Superdump with paper bags over their heads, they played in perhaps the league's second worst stadium behind Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The Superdome could offer the Metrodome one thing even they could not: Super Bowls.

That's right. Not being hosted by the home team mind you, but the NFL for having a reputation of being a macho, manly league, refuses to play its Super Bowls in any Northern climate that doesn't have a roof, ahem, Dome. That's the only reason Detroit got the Super Bowl with Pittsburgh vs. Seattle in 2006.

Otherwise, it's off to southern cities like Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Arizona, and Tampa over and over again rather boringly. This time the game is in Miami but barring a miracle in the playoffs, the hometown team won't even get close.

Even sadder is Minnesota, a team that desperately needs a Super Bowl victory to help their own efforts in building a new stadium, which could and will likely finish 15-1 only to see the Saints possibly finish 16-0 and steal home field advantage away from them.

Enter the Katrina videos and tributes. Another thing Minnesota cannot compete with.

Sure, New Orleans winning will be a nice story and a media nightmare for corporate America, which wants to see the Dallas Cowgirls, New England Patriots, or (yuck) the NFL's "First Family" pretty boy Peyton Manning and his hop-throws in the Super Bowl so they can market and hype the hell out of any of them.

Even better if this Super Bowl paired them up against the upstart Bengals, who may be the Saint's closest rivals for historical NFL futility. If they weren't getting arrested in the early 2000s, they were losing. If they weren't losing in the 1990s they were, oh wait, losing more.

Bring on the Bengals

Coupled with their own cute little degrading nickname—the "Bungles" for their lackadaisical attempts at playing football and their three-hour blunders on the field of non competitiveness—this team fielded such winners as Akili Smith, Reinard Wilson, Brent Milne, Eric Bienemy, Marco Battaglia, Brad Costello, Ki—Jana Carter, Michael Bankston, oh wait, that's just the 1998 3-13 team.

You get the idea. What the heck happened?

Carson Palmer came back from injury, almost fully recovered without missing a beat. Bad Boy Chris Henry decided to stay out of trouble and Chad John, uh, Ochocinco decided to just shut up and play.

The defense, led by brilliant draft picks Jonathan Joseph (2006), Rey Maualuga (2009—my pick for defensive ROY), and LB Keith Rivers, (2008) actually worked out. Steals were found later in the draft with this year's fourth round pick, former Florida WR Andre Caldwell, who has a number of big catches and game winners.

Dead weight like troubled LB Odell Thurman were jettisoned and the loss of potential star David Pollack to a career ending injury was overcome.

So is it too much too soon? Too early to be predicting postseason success? As long as they can avoid the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Kimo Von Olhaffen like key injury situation, I believe they can hang with anyone, even if that means going to Lucas Oil Field and playing the Cowtown Colts at Peyton's place.

Or Bonehead Belichik and the methodical New England Patriots.

The Chargers? Meh. They do this every year. Start out slow (2-3) win about seven straight and win the division by a few games to go 12-4 and lose in either of the first two rounds. This year will be no exception.

As for Josh McDumbass, the hoodie-wearing, wet-behind-the-ears Belichick wannabe, he is finding out his team isn't as good as he thought. Their defense will fall apart when it matters. And they can thank their upcoming schedule, which includes two dates with the suddenly competitive Chiefs and the lowly Raiders, as their only saving grace.

Whose gonna stop the Bengals? Well considering the Cowtown Colts are gonna get the No. 1 seed boringly, it will be up to either the Steelers or Broncos to take them out. The Patriots will likely win out and get the No. 2 seed, and it will once again be the tough-luck Bengals who get the No. 3 seed and have to play an extra game, even if it will be at home.

Sure it's trendy to make a poster board with "Geaux Saints" (everyone's a Cajun now aren't they?). Sure its trendy to say Naw'lins instead of New Orleans. Sure its fun to dust off the old Saints uniforms—oh wait, the only one's I see look brand new, like HD clothing, signifying its new—and the bandwagon is in full effect.

If New Orleans wins, will it be nice? Sure. I hope they do get the No. 2 seed, but leave the No. 1 to the Vikings who need it more. The NFC must run through Minneapolis and not New Orleans for revenue creating reasons.

If you lose, big deal. If they lose, it could be off to L.A. in just two years, as the Metrodome lease expires in 2011. The team has given strong indications they have no desire to extend it and will explore other options, likely out of state.

If your team (New Orleans) loses, it will not be a big deal. You'll still have Drew Brees, Jeremy Shockey, Reggie Bush, and Marques Coltson in their prime, not to mention an emerging Robert Meechem and the stellar, but I'm-not-sold-beyond-this-year defense.

If my team loses it could be off to L.A., where they will win the Super Bowl there in their first year like the 1996 Colorado Avalanche in hockey. Just ask any Quebec Nordiques fan how that must have felt. The same could happen here again.

Oh, and just for fun, if a Vikings and Saints NFC Championship doesn't get you excited, consider the alternative. Another perennial bottom dweller, the Arizona Cardinals look primed to lock up their division soon and possibly the three seed of their own, setting up the possibility for a Cardinals and Saints NFC Championship and another NFL ratings nightmare that has to leave the purists howling.

Only in the NFL. MLB and Bud Selig: you big market idiots could learn a lot from this, the most popular league in America.

Could the Minnesota Timberwolves Really Go 8-74?

Joe Mikolai — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:49:32 -0500

I believed in David Kahn, new head of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but eleven consecutive losses later, and its getting really hard to not fault the guy for the team's lack of depth and passion.

Not only did they lose again last night by 13 points in a very uncompetitive game, but only 11,137 (allegedly) even bothered to show up. NBA attendance" target="_blank">Minnesota actually ranks twenty-first in the league in attendance for now, but that number is actually inflated due to early season visits by the Boston Celtics led by former Timberwolf Kevin Garnett and the Cleveland "LeBrons," not to mention the near sellout on opening night.

Not surprisingly, this putrid team is bad in all areas-1-6 at home, 0-5 on the road, and 0-8 in conference. At the end of the season, expect this team that doesn't appear to give a damn to be 30th in the league—right where it wants to be.

All offseason we were told to be patient. We were told, like the Knicks and Nets with dreams of LeBron James coming, that everything will be okay.

Thank God for the Nets, otherwise it would be the Wolves who would be 0-12, given their only win was their season opener against the soon-to-be Brooklyn inhabitants on a very inspiring but now obviously fluky night.

All-World point guard Johnny Flynn is coming off his worst game as a professional having scored only nine points while big man Al Jefferson is coming off his best.

Wolves fans and media will tell you that they are implementing Phil Jackson's triangle offense , thanks to Jackson's protege Kurt Rambis being installed as the new head coach.

Fans prepare for the worst

Wolves fans are already speculating that their best player Al Jefferson will soon be traded since he doesn't fit the system. At this point, who cares? They'll get a first round pick for sure and a few malcontents that will likely refuse to report, thus facilitating another trade to a real NBA franchise and city.

At this point, who could blame them?

This team has already lost to the previously 0-4 (at the time of their meeting) Los Angeles Clippers, fellow bottom-feeders Golden State, and at Memphis who has an identical 3-8 record—with one win coming courtesy of Minnesota.

At this point, if any teams need a win (Knicks, Nets, and Bobcats, this means you), be sure to schedule this excuse of a team on your schedule. They'll be happy to oblige.

Why do I sound so bitter? I don't care that they are losing. We were told to expect that as fans, remember?

It's the fact that they are losing by an average fourteen-point margin , 89.7-103.4, on any given night. It's the fact that after some early battles, losing 112-120 at Phoenix, 90-93 to the Clippers, and 90-92 to the then 5-0 Boston Celtics, they've basically given up and I don't understand why.

Its not like we haven't seen this before, though. Last year, the team started out 1-8 and I officially called the season over .

This year, it was dead obvious by that point. I predicted them to win thirty games, which I felt was fair.

Now I question whether they can even win back-to-back games just once this season. I don't see it happening.

Twenty-eight game losing streak coming?

There are already fans predicting when the next win will come with the latest one coming around Christmas time, which would not only put the Wolves on a 1-28 record overall, but on an unheard of twenty-eight game losing streak.

That's something not only entirely possibler, but likely. So prepare for that.

At this point, there isn't a team I know for a fact they can beat or are better than, for their lone win came on an impressive sixteen point comeback with less than seven minutes to go. Again, they've already lost to the Clippers, Warriors and Grizzlies.

Losing twenty-eight games straight would also be an NBA record. Do you remember in 1996, when Blue Edwards of the then Vancouver Grizzlies hit a game-winning three point basket to end a remarkable twenty-three game losing streak?

I do, I saw the game. It came against the Timberwolves.

That is the kind of "luck" these Wolves are going to need if they want to avoid making history. That is the only thing I think can save them at this point.

So what exactly went wrong?

Yes, Kevin Love is down but he's not the whole team. They made nice moves in Ramon Sessions, Flynn, and Ryan Hollins. They aren't supposed to be this bad—at least not on paper.

It's got to be that damn triangle offense that they can't figure out and implement. I see "too much change, too soon" as the final verdict yet to come.

I saw a lot of good-effort games. A fun little roster with a new scoring leader stepping up each night. One night it's Flynn with 18, the next Hollins with 15, Jefferson with 20 and so on—but of course with wins mixed in.

I saw growth coming and winning streaks with lots of smaller long losing streaks but with a team that cared, something no one sees now or in the future, for that matter.

Kahn keeps saying to be patient and it's all about 2010. However, if you win five games all season, which would be an NBA record for futility easily beating the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers 9-73, why would any free agent even consider coming there, much less actually take your money?

Kahn may not have to worry much longer, since operating only on a three-year contract, he would likely be fired long before then.

Futility predicted, but not this bad

People have predicted this futility but we expected them to at least try.

Last year, the Wolves started 5-27 amidst a coaching change and finished 22-60. At this point, I'd give anything for 22 wins which aren't going to happen.

We've also seen this kind of futility with the 2008-09 Oklahoma City Thunder, who began last year 1-12 only to finish 23-59.

Last year on an episode of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser did their segment on over/under with the question being fifteen wins for the team. Kornheiser went under, predicting twelve, if memory serves me right, saying, "Fifteen wins, that's a lot."

This isn't a plea for Rambis or Kahn to get fired. Far from it. Unlike some who think Kahn is over his head and "now its obvious why he couldn't get an NBA job for seven years," I support them both.

We just want effort and to avoid history.

Rambis was my choice for coach and I believe it can still work, once Love gets back and the players start to care again. It just sucks watching your team doing so bad, historically bad, knowing you can't do anything about it or their fate.

In fact, those who read my article archives will remember how excited I was when Kahn started doing moves. I said, and I still stand by, we could be the most exciting twenty-four win team ever since I expected flash and promise from Flynn and Rubio, among others.

What keeps me going is the fact Kahn could pull a big move or two at any time and turn this thing around, such as a Jefferson trade for a similarly young stud who better fits the system. Stay tuned on that.

At least we made moves this offseason and were constantly in the news which was fun. Now we just need the wins to come.

Think eight wins is impossible? Think again.

The 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks went 11-71 along with the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets. In particular, I remember that Nuggets team. There was a point when the record was possible but one win was against the Timberwolves.

That team, too, was guard heavy, like the undersized Timberwolves. That team however, had four players score at least fourteen or more points per game —LaPhonso Ellis, Johnny Newman, Cory Alexander, and Eric Williams, led by Williams' 19.8 PPG.

For the Wolves? Only Jefferson at 15.6, a number he had to rally to in order to reach, is above that mark . Flynn at 13.8 and Corey Brewer, 11.5 are going down quick. In Brewer and Jefferson's cases, health is always an issue, so expect these numbers to go down when each gets a phantom injury later this season when there truly is nothing left to play for but next year, minus the history making aspect.

We'll begin to hear chatter about bettering the team's draft position via tanking, but how exactly is it tanking when you suck, at a historic clip, right out of the gate? Besides, history isn't exactly on the Wolves' side, having never moved up their draft position from their slated spot.

Why not tank? 'Cause it won't work, that's why

If one team in history has gotten screwed over more by the NBA's closed-door lottery selection , its Minnesota, and with a stronger draft than last year, expect the Wolves to get shafted this way again. In fact, expect some freak playoff bubble team like Milwaukee or Charlotte to win the whole lottery despite having a Chicago Bulls-like 1.8 percent chance of winning like when they got Derrick Rose.

After all, its the Minnesota way.

Minnesota desperately needs a superstar to market around, much like they did with Kevin Garnett all those years.

The problem is, toward the end he was all they had, so they sleepwalked through many 31-win seasons.

Fans will tell you in the end the team will be better if they just say, "Screw it" for one or two years and get the best player they can get via the draft since, again, no free agents will get within Milwaukee's distance of the Twin Cities with their record that is coming.

Not only would Minnesota miss out on the top three, but they'd likely get royally shafted like the Kings this past June and end up picking fourth, thus just missing out on the real talent and settling for second best.

It would be 1993 and Christian Laettner all over again, although its yet to be determined who will play the roles of Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning in college basketball this year nor who will be the new Magic and Hornets respectively.

Brandon Jennings not exactly one that got away

Minnesota fans will tell you that they really missed the boat when they could have taken eventual Rookie of the Year Brandon Jennings twice out of Italy in this past draft. In fact, they even drafted the right position—point guard—twice in Flynn and Ricky Rubio but since Jennings remained even lower on their list, he was never a reasonable option.

I, however, am not bitter about this. Not only was Jennings seen as a reach with his supposed poor play overseas, but he had attitude problems with certain players, namely Rubio who he called overrated. I didn't want that kind of project or player on my team anyway, even before then as I saw him as a reach.

Sure, he's averaging 25.5 PPG for the small-market Bucks who, like the Wolves, need every bit of box-office flash they can get. However, also it makes them a playoff contender very quickly with two solid players in Andrew Bogut, whom Jennings calls "Bogan"— apparently not even getting his name of a teammate right—but Jennings looks like he'll be an Allen Iverson type star, both in big game potential and "Me-first" demeanor.

Don't get me wrong. I want Jennings to sign a long-term contract in Milwaukee, especially if he is as good as advertised. After all, the league is better with more teams that are good and not just in the same boring six markets of Detroit, L.A., Boston, San Antonio, Houston, and Chicago, you know 27 of the last 31 NBA Champions (look it up).

We can't all sign in New York/New Jersey. We can't all play for the Cavs, Lakers, Celtics, or Magic. Jennings will be good for Milwaukee and good for the league. As for the Wolves, is just their luck they missed him.

What about Rubio?

I still think Rubio can be that player—a LeBron James of his position, mesmerizing opponents with video game like passing. That is, if he ever shows up to play for them.

You cannot fault the Wolves for taking him, for if they had passed on what was seen as the second best player in the draft twice, analysts would have simply said, "See, this is why Minnesota will always be Minnesota. They are afraid to take a risk and draft a player, someone who has a chance to be a difference-maker."

Others would have said they deserve their fate if they don't draft someone based on how easily they'll get signed. They could have drafted him twice, twice!

Blah, blah, blah.

For now, the hard part is keeping the shrinking fan base and avoid history at all costs which won't be easy. Is 8-74 possible? Stay tuned but don't count it out. However, don't abandon the team that needs you. I'd rather have a historically bad team and be an NBA franchise city, than have no team at all.

This season is all about finding out who the real fans are. Who's with me?

Friday's Trade of JJ Hardy Leaves Milwaukee Brewers With Cash To Spend

Joe Mikolai — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:08:27 -0500

Friday's interesting Milwaukee-Minnesota Midwest regional trade was nice to see. Not only were old divisional rivals coming together for a rare trade that benefits both teams, but it leaves the Brewers with some interesting options.

First, by swapping Hardy for Gomez, the Brewers saved approximately $4.2 million in 2010 salary as Gomez makes roughly $400,000 to Hardy's slated $4.6 million. Next, they picked up an extra year of service time for Gomez, who won't be a free agent for three years to Hardy's two.

If you read the recent Emett Prosser OnMilwaukee article, by also not re-signing old center fielder Mike Cameron, the Brewers will save an additional $10 million. Add this all up and the Brewers suddenly have about $14.5 million to work with.

Prosser notes this trade is just the beginning for the Brewers, who have made it no secret they want to add some pitching (don't we all?). While his article, provided, doesn't offer any clues, at least it confirms what position(s) the club will be targeting.

The only problem is, will anyone care enough to take their money?

Last winter, I got all excited about how the crafty Brewers were able to spin the giant loss of rent-a-player CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets into Braden Looper and Trevor Hoffman, essentially. Hoffman worked out, having solidified a long standing nag in the bullpen at closer. Better yet, he's already signed for 2010 and possibly beyond with the 2011 mutual option. Good job there, Milwaukee!

However, I also got excited when they signed Jeff Suppan to that massive ridiculous contract that doesn't come off the books until next year.

By getting rid of Jason Kendall ($5 million), Felipe Lopez ($3.5 million), and Corey Patterson ($800,000) as On Milwaukee reporter Drew Olsen suggests, the Brewers could have an additional $9.3 million to spend. That would give them approximately $23.8 million to spend on two to three free agent pitchers. (14.5+9.3=23.8)

Who could the Brewers target with this newfound cash? The most logical choice is everyone's main target, the horse, John Lackey, but he's going to be going to my Orioles.

Okay, seriously, they won't get the Texas native, but neither will the small-market Brewers. My guess is he goes to the usual suspects: the Dodgers, Angels, or Mets, but baseball despeately needs a stud like Lackey to go to one of their smaller clubs to make them relevant again.

Is this the year the Brewers finally sign the Wisconsin native and free agent to be, Jarrod Washburn? While I'd adivse against it, GM Melvin will probably make the obligatory phone call.

Who could the free-agent pitchers Doug Melvin could be targeting? What could their rotation look like?

Ace: Gallardo

Looper if his $6.5 million option is picked up for the 14-7 pitcher last year. One of two pitchers to have double-digit wins for the club while setting a career high

FA Randy Wolf? 2 years $12 million?

FA Carl Pavano 2 years, $10 million?

Dave Bush

I think Melvin's going to have a tougher time attracting free agent pitchers to come to a small town in Milwaukee, especially when they all want "AJ Burnett money" like Lackey, but Lackey would be his best bet, his safest bet. Just don't look for it to happen anytime soon. The Angels consider themselves out of it. What does that tell you?

One thing the Brewers do have going for them is a relatively easy division, with only St. Louis and Chicago as the only locks to contend. By April 2, the Pirates will begin their annual September call-ups, as newly acquired Akinori Iwamaura will be dealt in mid-June for, you guessed it, prospects. The Reds never do anything, and the Astros are a mess with a new manager coming in. They'll "contend" for the first half of the season, but it will be fool's gold in the end, just like this past year.

Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels Can Still Make This a Memorable World Series

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:28 -0500

I admit it.

I didn't expect anything from Pedro in game two which saw him go 6+ innings and give up a few runs, two of which came via the home run to Traitor Tex and Hideki Matsui respectively.

Let me rephrase that. I expected one thing out of Pedro—I expected him to get rocked by the experienced Yankee$ lineup. Something along the lines of 10+ runs in three innings wouldn't have surprised me in the least. But to be fair, I also expected A.J. Burnett to get similarly hit hard, but to a bit lesser degree as he got absolutely smashed in his lone interleague matchup against the Phillies where three home runs were hit, if memory serves me right.

I've been listening to the over-hyped, and frankly, lame "Yankees are my daddy" quotes that the ESPN-hype machine is trying to drum up. Hopefully it's Martinez who can claim after the game, "Who's your Daddy, now, Yankee$?"

I honestly don't know what to expect tonight, but something tells me that this Pedro is too good to be true. After all, he pitched brilliantly in game two only to lose to an even better Burnett. It would be wise for the Phillies to 1) finally run in this series on the basepaths and 2) additionally try to create some early scoring opportunities by swinging at the first pitches like they did last game as Baseball Tonight's John Kruk accurately noted.

Don't let Pettitte get into a groove, especially an early one. If the first-pitch thing isn't working, work the count, get into that vulnerable inexperienced bullpen.

Cole Hamels can still play a big role

Earlier this week it was reported by just about every media outlet that Phillies reliever, Brett Myers got into an altercation with former Phillies ace, Cole Hamels after a recent game. Allegedly, Myers asked Hamels "What are you still doing here? I thought you quit" referring to Hamel's reply when pressed by the media how he felt after his last outing, to which he talked about not being able to wait until the season was over.

Much was made and depending on who you believe, Hamels actually said this after reiterating how much he wanted the ball in Game Seven, if and when there indeed is one. A few guests on the "Jim Rome is Burning" show earlier this week also remarked how manager Charlie Manuel is in a bit of a bind since he "risks losing Cole forever " should he decide not to pitch him in a possible game seven, as expected.

I disagree with this analysis as you go with the hot hand and I'd personally go with ace Cliff Lee on three day's rest. The Yankees do it all the time with SOBathia and are prepared to do it tonight with un-tested Andy Pettitte who hasn't done this since his younger days.

Still that's not to suggest I don't expect a good game. In fact, I could see this one being a suspenseful scoreless game into the fifth or so until someone makes a costly mistake. Who will it be?

Pedro drama aside, can you similarly imagine the feel-good response from Hamels should he pitch the Phillies to their second consecutive World Championship after the controversy that ensued? That would be a bigger headline than the 3-1 choke job at the hands of the Yankee$ in their new billion dollar-plus playground.

Not that I'm saying that's going to happen as I expect the high priced hired guns to will their way to their 27th World Title which is easy to do when 2/3 of your rotation isn't really yours as the ink from Burnett's and SOBathia's contract's is hardly dry. Must be nice, Yankee$ fan$, must be nice, but then again, you never really played by the same rules as anyone else anyway, have you?

Damon, Matsui next to go

Much has been said, and will be said about possible MVP Johnny Damon, who at current time is hitting .381 with a particular penchant for getting two out hits and keeping innings alive. However, watch how quickly the greedy Yankee$ abandon one of their own, after the free agent to be is let go this winter in favor of a younger player with a better arm.

Johnny, I hope you keep this in mind when signing your next contract. Too bad neither the Orioles or Jays have any room or use to you, and your simply too expensive as a role player. Also, rationale Yankees fans, and I, know there are a few of you. Play close attention to the Bernie Williams like treatment Damon gets this offseason from his mother team. Just saying.

Matsui, you think your immune? Think again. I remember when you spurned my Orioles years ago, as they were the only other team in the bidding for your services before you forced your way onto the Yankee$ inspired by their wining tradition and large Japanese fanbase. Never really that clutch, you still remain solid, and fiercely loyal, as to be expected from Japanese players, you reminded me of a David Justice or Williams type where a big hit was never that far away as you still have that potential.

Still, you're 35 and similarly a free-agent-to-be like Damon. Watch how the Yankee$ drag their feet before offering you a token one year, incentive laden contract-that is, if you're that lucky. Never one to sit around, the Yankee$ are constantly in the market for upgrades and your position and roster spot might be too tempting to pass up, even if it is expected to be a weak market.

Now you may be asking "Why would the Yankee$ simply get rid of players like Damon and Matsui? This isn't their history." If Williams is any indication, they'll spit in your face if they think they have a chance to improve elsewhere and you are no exception.

Random thoughts

As equal a shame it would be to award a Championship label and official ring to overrated Yankee$ first baseman, Benedict, I mean, Mark Teixeira, who's hitting a hefty .105 (2/19) in the World Series, to be fair, so to would it be for the similarly un-clutch Ryan Howard who has just one hit more in the same number of at-bats.

One of them is bound to get hot and justify his status and salary. Lets hope it is the latter. We've had to hear about Teixera's childish boyhood crush on Don Mattingly and his signing with the Yankee$ immediately told me he's simply a coward-wannabe who is trying to imitate him from his team selection to his position on the field. Fortunately for him, as his jersey number implies, (25 vs. 23) he simply doesn't add up and falls just short-yes that is a shot at you Tex.

That jackass aside, twenty years from now we'll probably hear about how A-Roid was on something in this World Series should they win it and he get token MVP, which as discussed earlier, should go to Damon at this point.

Encouraging for non-Yankees fans, no matter what happens tonight, someday Derek Jeter is going to retire along with Mariano Rivera and I don't care how good Joba Chamberlain projects to be as a future Yankee closer or whoever the next hired gun the Yankee$ steal in attempts at trying to replace a local legend, both will be instant downgrades by default. (this is about as complimentary as its gonna get Jeter/Rivera so take what you can get).

Naturally the Yankee$ won't be as good as they are right now. They are going to lose Posada too in similar fashion perhaps as soon as after next season when he is replaced with Joe Mauer as I've already predicted numerous times. These members of the old guard got it done. These young punks are simply along for the ride.

Will it end tonight?

Enjoy it if you get it Yankee$ fans, you bought it.

And you know what, Yankee$ fans wouldn't have it any other way-partially through no fault of their own as they simply know no better.

Turns out all you needed to end your "embarrassing" nine year funk was a brand new $1.2 billion dollar braggart stadium. Nice. Keep on enforcing what we already think about you—that being "look-at-me!" self-centered, self promoting people who live in their own little world absent of reality. And you wonder why the rest of the league and majority of the fans can't stand you?

It takes a special person to be a New Yorker. Many words come to mind, none of them flattering. But you don't care, right? After all, it's always about you—we're just lucky you let us share the experience with you, right?

Game Seven or bust.

2009-10 NBA Season and Postseason Picks and Awards

Joe Mikolai — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:49:55 -0400

Eastern Conference

Atlantic:

Boston - 63-19 Go three deep for stars. Wallace fills a nice piece and the bench is still solid. Will Davis pout all season hampering their success? Probably, but it won't matter.

Toronto - 49-33 Adding Turkoglu was a nice coup. Bosh, Turk, and Bargnani are a nice three who can do many different things. Depth will be an issue. Sure, they paid a lot but you have to when you play in Toronto. On top of that, they got a player to take their money which shows good promise for smaller, colder, non traditional markets. That's good for the league.

Philadelphia 76ers - 40-42 losing Andre Miller will really hurt this team but they'll pile up a bunch of wins vs. the Nets and Knicks whom they should be better than by default.

New Jersey Nets - 30-52 Lopez, Harris, Williams will show the cupboard isn't as bare as it looks. Still they are very young and inexperienced and there isn't much depth beyond Alston and Alexander off the bench. This is all about 2010 and wooing LeBron though. Will 30 wins and Jay-Z be enough to do it?

New York Knicks - 25-57 traded or released most of the junk from the Thomas era. Like the Nets this is all about 2010 and they cleared space to enter the LeBron sweepstakes. Not much here. Gallinari is a bust as I thought he'd be and Chander and Lee are nice players at best with not much help, as always.

Central

Cleveland LeBrons - 54-28 Let's call them what they are. Adding an aging Shaq is nice only paper and if it's 1997 as he wasn't the right fit. Now he's simply out for a ring but 12 points and eight rebounds a game isn't going to do it and at 0-2 already they have 12% of their total loses (16) from last year. The player they actually need is the one they had in Boozer. Should they be able to keep LeBron and flip Shaq for free agent to be Boozer come 2011 then they'll have a shot at winning the Championship. Their window shut in their own conference when KG got healthy for Boston as their no longer the best team in it. I think the LeBron farewell tour began this week and he'll go to NJ with the deep pocketed Russian owner.

Detroit Pistons - 45-37. Adding Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva is nice for depth but where is the PG? Will ball hogging be an issue? As always they are the nicest regular season team money can buy. Don't be surprised if Indy jumps them but their improved depth, even if its not in all the right places, should get them a playoff spot-and a 1st round exit.

Indiana Pacers - 38-44 Danny Granger and Co. are improving each year. Finally starting to get nice depth and good drafts. Adding a PG behind Ford would really help if and when he goes down due to his small frame. At least a year or so away not to mention another player or two.

Chicago Bulls - 35-47 losing Ben Gordon is really going to hurt the team depth not to mention the spark he often gave when entering games. Who did they draft to replace him? Who's gonna help Rose? They barely made the playoffs last year and that was with him.

Milwaukee Bucks - 24-58. Bucks have some nice pieces Bogut, Redd, some nice potential Alexander and Jennings and some nice depth in Defino and Warrick. So whats the problem? Its still very thin, young, and inexperienced, and the price slashing (Villanueva, Sessions) not only hurts as they were better than the players relied on to replace them, but it also means no help ($$$) will be coming in to help them if someone goes down. Could be the Wolves of the Eastern Conference.

Southeast

Orlando Magic - 56-26 Carter, Lewis, and Howard are the 2nd best big three in the league behind Boston. Carter can't do everything Turkoglu can but he brings heart, flash, and can score in bunches so it wil be fun to watch. I'm not as high on him or them as Jamal Mashburn was in the NBA KIA Preview on Tuesday, but they'll still be very good. Adding Matt Barnes and Anderson adds some nice depth, different skill and needed size which was evident in their Finals loss to the Lakers last spring. They need to get even bigger to really break through. Another 6'11-7'0 footer would really help. Can they be creative and get Chris Bosh?

Atlanta Hawks - 48-34 Sure they got Johnson, Bibby, and Josh Smith. Not sure if adding Crawford will help the team but he doesn't fit in long term anyway. Teague should add nice depth as he learns from Bibby. Joe Smith is just filler. How does he keep finding work?

Washington Wizards - 47-35 when healthy-Arenas, Jamison, and Butler can do big things (maybe even 2nd round) as that seems to be their max. Jamison is already hurt and you have to figure Agent Zero is going to miss about a month or so at some point crushing their usual fast start getting expectations high. Foye and Miller don't wow me as doesn't always underachieving Flip Saunders whose just blah and never gets the most out of his players. However, they add nice depth, something this team never seems to have enough of. Could they surprise? Sure, but everyone has to be healthy and getting along neither of which I see happening.

Miami Heat - 38-44 Despite their lack of talent, Wade will keep them in games in his final season in Miami before he goes home to Chicago in 2010 if New York doesn't grab him first. The record may be too generous. Headcase Beasley doesn't appear to have the heart, or consistency at this point to be reliable and Richardson is going to hurt chemistry with bad shots. Nice starting five but little to no depth or experience.

Charlotte Bobcats - 32-50. Swapping Chander of Okafor is probably a good move but right now there are people playing out of position Diaw at PF? Bust Stephen Graham starting over Ronald "Flip" Murray? Henderson fills a nice role but this team always has too much of a local, and thus college basketball look and feel which distracts the team. Ownership/sale issues could also hinder the team's performance as an x-factor all season long.

Western Conference

Northwest

Portland Trailblazers - 52-30 all those good drafts (minus Oden) finally pay off. Miller adds just ridiculous, envious, luxury depth but more importantly, valuable leadership and experience on a very young team. If Oden can get it together, this is your team of the now, not the future. If they stay injury free, could be the Magic of 2008.

Denver Nuggets - 50-32 Led by Carmelo, they have Martin, Smith, and Billups. Lawson's gonna learn from one of the best in Billips. Not much more to say here except wait until the playoffs.

Utah Jazz - 45-37 Williams leads a young team with free-agent to be, Boozer (have I stressed that enough?), Korver, and Maynor are intriguing new pieces. Especially Maynor although I question how much he's going to be able to play here. Solid team but likely a bottom seed at best.

Oklahoma City Thunder - 35-57. Durant, Green, and Westbrook form a good, young, three. Krstic was a steal and will continue to be. If Harden can develop quickly, could jump Utah and steal the 8th seed but the division is much improved, along with them so the wins will have to come from outside it and I still think they are one good draft, maybe lucky lottery away from really doing some damage. Still, its coming together a lot quicker than I thought it would. Seattle has got to be mad.

Minnesota Timberwolves - 30-52. Let me just say, this could be the most exciting 30 win team in league history. Everything is new from the GM on down, with new coaches in experienced Rambis who gets to show what he can do from under Jackson's shadow. My guess is he learned a thing or two and is perfect for a young team that will make its mistakes. Laimbeer and Theus add depth in coaching even if their coaching resume are thin, still their playing experience will go along way with a young team that will absorb it all in with a sponge. They'll win some games they shouldn't on paper, they'll lose some 110-108 thrillers. You haven't heard of 3/4 of their roster and they don't know any better. Still the fan base is energized and have no expectations making the players jobs a lot easier. Check back in 2-3 years, with or without Rubio. See the Blazers or Hawks of today . That's gonna be the Wolves if fans are just patient. Flynn will add flash as a franchise piece. Jefferson and Love are nice pieces but not the answer which could come in 2010 when the team has around $13M to spend on a player-Ginobili would be the player I'd target. Hollins and Sessions will be worth watching progress.

Southwest

San Antonio Spurs - 60-22 Duncan has lost a step which Jefferson will fill so nicely most fans won't even notice. Now they have a Big Four with Parker and Ginobli. If all four can stay healthy, they could be playing in June.

New Orleans Hornets - 49-33 Paul, West, and Okafor. That's not even the Big Three with Stojakovic still in the wings. They go four deep but Okafor and Chander do the same thing but the latter meant more to this team. How long Okafor takes to get chemistry is the question, along with his health.

Dallas Mavericks - 44-38 Only because I expect them to beat up on the rest of the division which should be mediocre at best thanks to Yao's injury and New Orleans' loss of "heart" player Chander who did the little things. He was the soul of that team. Marion was a great find. Can they keep Dirk? That's the question. A different team than the flashier ones we've got used to seeing, still with the new element in Marion, mixed with Kidd, Terry and Dirk, they should get at least the playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies - 26-56 Iverson, Gay, Randolph, Mayo on the same team? Are there going to be enough basketball's for everyone to get their shots? Too many SG's on this team that lacks size despite Thabeet who I don't think will have any offensive game. He's gonna be a statue in the middle and should pick up some quick fouls meaning its fun and gun time for this mess.

Houston Rockets - 23-59 Maybe McGrady? For how long until he gets hurt? Ariza took the money when he had it made in L.A. No Yao, Artest=lottery team. The cupboard isn't bare Battier, Brooks, Scola but who plays behind them as they have horrid depth and experience. This record is assuming McGrady misses his usual 20 games. Remember when Robinson got hurt and the Spurs won 20 games? That could be Houston now. They aren't that bad on paper, even without Yao, but now Ariza has more of a role which I doubt he can handle.

Pacific

LA Lakers - 65-17. The league's best coach, (clutch) player-unlike LeBron save for one lucky last second shot in the playoffs, one of the best benches in the league, Gasol, Fisher, Odom, Artest, I could go on and on but the announcers will do that for you all season anyway.

LA Clippers - 50-32 Is this what the division has come to when the other team from LA is 2nd? Remember that year they went to the 2nd round of the playoffs and took the Suns to the limit? That could be again this year if Griffin can come back healthy and dominate as I expect him to do.

Phoenix Suns - 42-40 Amare's swan song starts now. A move to the East would really make things interesting. Shaq's lack of impact (and fit) with this team, evidenced by its lack of success was an indicator of where this team is going. The starting five is still flashy but worse than its been in years and this time, there's no depth.

Golden State Warriors - 35-47 Steph Curry wil challenge Griffin for Rookie of the Year but will Stephen Jackson cause problems? Rumors have Anthony Randolph being mis-used already and with Don Nelson you just never know when he's going to go off and suspend someone like Jackson, Randolph, or Ellis when this team really needs them. They need to get bigger and desperately get some depth.

Sacramento Kings - 21-61. Kevin Martin and not much else. Tyreke Evans is going to get plenty of playing time, thus he'll get his points if you can put up with the Iverson like missed shots, poor shooting nights and ball hogging like his early Philly days. But on this team, don't you have to take over if no one else will, especially if they can't? When bust Sean May is a starter, you know your desperate. Will they be in Las Vegas soon?

Playoffs:

Eastern Conf.

1. Boston vs. 8. Philly, Boston in 4

2. Orlando vs. 7. Detroit, Orlando in 5

3. Cleveland vs. 6. Washington, Cleveland in 6.

4. Toronto vs. 5. Atlanta, Toronto in 7

2nd rd.

1. Boston vs. 4 Toronto Boston in 5

2. Orlando vs. Cleveland Orlando in 6

Eastern Conference Finals

1. Boston vs. Orlando Boston in 7

Western Conference

1. Lakers vs. 8. Dallas, Lakers in 4

2. San Antonio vs. 7. Utah Jazz, San Antonio in 4

3. Portland vs. 6. New Orleans, Portland in 6

4. LA Clippers vs. 5 Denver, Denver in 7

2nd round

1. Lakers vs. 5. Denver Lakers in 5

2. San Antonio vs. 3. Portland San Antonio in 5

Western Conference Finals

1. Lakers vs. 2. San Antonio, Lakers in 7

NBA Championship 1. Boston vs. 1. Lakers Lakers in 7

MVP: James, Cleveland

Coach of the Year-Triano, Raptors, Exec. of Year-Colangelo, Raptors

Rookie of the Year-Griffin, Clippers, runner up, Flynn Timberwolves, Lawson, Nuggets in the discussion along with

6th man-Miller, Portland if he isn't starting by then as he should be.

Defensive player of the year-Howard, Magic

Coaches to get fired: Adelman, Rockets, Nelson, Warriors (resigns?), Larry Brown Charlotte (resigns/retires), Frank, Nets (new ownership will want their own man, their record will make easy firing), Mike Brown, Cavs in a disappointing shakeup?

NHL Desperately Needs Another Canadian Superstar to Carry League

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:28:13 -0400

No, Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin has not obtained dual citizenship. And no, he doesn't even play in a traditional, or even Canadian market for that matter. But as one of the few faces of the post-lockout NHL, he is perhaps the biggest and brightest star on which to build the next great dynasty.

When "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, began his career in the NHL in 1979, the storyline was set up perfectly. The Brantford, Ontario native was obviously not only Canadian, which made perfect marketing sense, but played for one of the NHL's newest markets in Edmonton.

Not coincidentally, he literally helped place it firmly on the map for almost the rest of the next decade with four Stanley Cups. He helped anchor the NHL's newest powerhouse in what became a solid, traditional market where 18,000 fans were standard on most nights in a league where this was far from the norm.

As I outlined in a previous article, The Great L.A. Kings Heist of '88: Re-Evaluating the Gretzky Trade , the impact of native Canadians helping push and promote this league is missing since the days of its peak in the 1980s. Sure, they still make up a great percentage of the league, where the fans are the most informed and passionate on the matter, but it isn't the same as it once was and that is a problem.

Missing Impact Canadians as Leaders on Traditional Teams

The best thing the NHL has going in this regard is Nova Scotian Sidney Crosby and his teammate and Thunder Bay, Ontario native, Jordan Staal, on the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The only problem is, that market is not in Canada. The two are still ridiculously young at 22 and 21 years of age, respectively. With already two Stanley Cup Finals appearances, one resulting in a Cup, to say the future looks bright in the Steel City would be an insult to their intelligence and I'm far from a Penguins or Crosby fan.

Considering the core they have and their experience and success already—similar to the Edmonton Oilers of the eighties—these Penguins are the closest thing the NHL has to the next dynasty, even if that dynasty will extend over two decades by default.

Like those Oilers who won four Cups together mostly at their peak (they won another in 1990 with some new members acquired from the Gretzky deal and were already minus future Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey in 1987), these Penguins have a chance to win a similar number of Cups, if not more, sacrilege as that may seem.

Equation: Canadian born+superstar+traditional Canadian market=NHL face of the league+

Another Missing Component

So why the picture of Ovechkin, you ask? The former was to build up my first point of the lack of an impact player who fits both the mold of being a superstar Canadian that Crosby is, but also one that plays in a traditional Canadian market that the fans and league can build around.

Now I'm not suggesting that either Crosby, Staal, or Ovechkin will ever come close to being the next Great One. Like any sport desperate for its latest torch bearer, I come from the school of thought: Why does someone have to be the next anyone? Why can't we accept what we had was special, good enough, and we were just fortunate enough to experience it? The NBA is notorious for this in trying to find the next Jordan, which simply will never and should never happen.

The NHL is no exception. Gretzky scored 137 points (51 goals, 86 assists) in his first official (rookie) season in the league. Crosby? He was lucky to score 100 points (102 actually: 39 goals, 63 assists) and didn't even win the Calder, thanks only to Ovechkin.

While this appears to knock Crosby, consider his Calder Trophy peers the last decade and a half since Gretzky's prime.

1995: Peter Forsberg, Quebec Nordiques, 15 goals, 35 assists, 50 points (Swedish)

1996: Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators, 26 goals, 35 assists, (Swedish)

1997: Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins, 22 goals, 25 assists, 47 points (Russian)

1998: Chris Drury, Colorado Avalanche, 20 goals, 24 assists, 44 points (American)

1999: Scott Gomez, NJ Devils, 19 goals, 51 assists, 70 points (American)

2000: Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks, goalie (Russian)

2001: Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers, 26 goals, 41 assists, 67 points, (W. German)

2002: Barrett Jackman, St. Louis Blues, defense, hell of a plus/minus (plus-23), but little else (Canadian)

2003: Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins, goalie (Canadian)

2004: No Calder, locked out

2005: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 52 goals, 56 assists (Russian)

2006: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, 33 goals, 52 assists (Russian)

2007: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, 21 goals, 51 assists, 72 points (American)

2008: Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets, goalie (Canadian)

So what does all this mean?

After looking at his peers, Crosby's debut year looks fantastic by comparison. In fact, that 2005-06 season, in which he and Ovechkin battled it out on and off the ice for headlines, wins etc., was the first time in a long time I felt the league was returning to its roots with good, young, impactful, NHL superstars to build around, like the nostalgic days of old.

In addition to that, how many fit the above equation?

Canadian born+superstar+traditional Canadian market=NHL face of the league+? None. That's half the problem, no foundation to build around.

So what's the complaint? Just because Ovechkin doesn't play for the Calgary Flames and didn't grow up in Stony Plain, Alberta, the NHL isn't as good of a product as it could be?

No, while those factors would all help—in addition to a slew of teammates sharing the same geographical characteristics—what the NHL really needs is more 100-plus point scorers, like in the days of old.

Lack of a 100-150 Point Scorer

This is the final characteristic to the equation that Gretzky fulfilled. Problem is, so did his teammates Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, and Glenn Anderson.

Now are you understanding where I am coming from? This wasn't just a fad, or a few players in the NHL that could do this (as there still are only a few today); they were all on the same team , showcasing how far the league has fallen from its glory days. To add insult to injury, they were backed up, literally, by fellow Canadian and future Hall of Fame goalie, Grant Fuhr.

The NHL has come a long ways from its even more pitiful days of Martin St. Louis embarrassingly leading the league in scoring with a paltry 94 points in 2003-04 for the non-traditional Tampa Bay Lightning. And talk about adding insult to injury, this Florida team beat a hockey hotbed in the Calgary Flames, whose win could have really re- energized a stagnant but still hungry base.

Sure, we've got Malkin, Ovechkin, and Crosby to rally around, but can any one of them take it to the next level and score so much as 150 points? Since they've all cracked 100, why not try one step further to infuse some sense of familiarity and lore with a solid 150-point season, one that the NHL hasn't seen by a player since Mario Lemieux's 160 in 1992-93.

The only thing that would have made that better, and completed the equation the NHL so desperately needs if it really wants to get back into the ratings discussion or television competition conversation, would have been if Lemieux could have somehow ended up in his native Quebec. Maybe then the NHL could have been saved there instead of Pittsburgh and maybe Crosby, Staal, and Malkin could be doing their thing for Les Nordiques.

If only he could have joined a Phoenix ownership group to relocate them to Quebec. But then again, the Penguins would probably be in Kansas City right now and no one could have predicted the demise of the Coyotes or the possible re-birth of Quebec's team.

In addition, after what Lemieux did for the city of Pittsburgh in playing for them all those years, winning Cups, and saving the franchise, there is no way he could have moved them to Quebec, nice as it could could have been.

If you are thinking, could this lead to a future article completing the equation? You'd be right and I'll save that for another day. In fact, if anyone would like to write it, I'd be more than happy to read and endorse it. The NHL needs another Lemieux, but since one doesn't appear to be on the horizon, Ovechkin presents the best opportunity for a 150-point scorer. In my preseason predictions, I picked him to get this milestone off 67 goals and 83 assists.

Considering he scored 65 goals two years ago and had 112 points, to get an additional 38 points isn't out of the question. After all, through 11 games he has 19 points—11 goals, eight assists—on pace for 142. While he certainly won't maintain this pace, the fact that he can get two to three points in a single game and does it in bunches, anything is possible.

Could anyone else step up?

Clueless Wa$hington Red$kins Continue Annual Failure To No Ones Surprise

Joe Mikolai — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:14:11 -0400

So the Washington Redskins, in the midst of yet another annual downfall filled with a hundred million dollars of disappointments, finally switched their offensive coordinator after last week's latest loss to a winless team.

Wow. Like that will make a difference. This is the same franchise that thought it would be wise to give offensive coordinator and aspiring head coach, Al Saunders a whopping $2 million salary that was on par with that of their coach at the time. Funny how that didn't work out. Simultaneously they gave then defensive coordinator Gregg Williams a similar salary and continue to wonder why that didn't work out.

Now after rewarding their third winless franchise with their first victory of the season, an NFL record by the way, last week they decide to only remove the playcalling duties from the overmatched Jim Zorn and give it to a guy, Sherman Lewis, who has failed in just about every other job he's held in the NFL.

Brilliant. I wonder how that's going to turn out. We'll get a chance to find out tonight on national television.

This is the same franchise that hired Steve Spurrier for star power, only to see that flop, and begged legendary, but overrated Joe Gibbs back from retirement, only to see him give it a few ceremonial seasons before knowing it was a winless situation and retire again.

Did you hear Zorn's post game comments last week? Something along the lines of "I want to win. Its my fault and I take the blame for how we played today. If that means I have to go watch more film that's what were gonna do because I want to win."

Of course he wants to win. All thirty-two coaches do. That bit about "its my fault" was nothing but filler coming from a man who half-expected to be handed his walking papers.

But don't take this the wrong way. Its not just Zorn's fault. It truly starts from the top down, emphasis on the top. Redskins latest contract blunder" target="_blank">As I've outlined here the day after Fat Albert Haynesworth(less) signed with the team as part of their annual off-season splurge, one that I predicted will end in failure, Zorn is simply the latest in an un-winnable sitation.

We don't have enough time or space to outline all the things owner Daniel Snyder has done wrong in his decade long helm at the top, but suffice to say his Jerry Jones like obsession overlooking the team is the number one reason. The man simply doesn't know football. All he knows how to do is cut a check and he's not even good at that, if you read my article above.

Don't take this article as the ire of a disgruntled 'Skins fans for I am far from it. In fact, in predicting the high spending 'Skins to finish a typical 6-10 , I'm right on schedule with them appropriately in last place. No, if it weren't so funny, it wouldn't be so sad. I can only imagine how their real fans manage to keep up the hope every year when this dope continues to drag them down.

Fixing the 'Skins

For those of you asking "Well, you can sure dish it and seem to have all the answers, so let's here it what are they?" I'll tell you. Oh, and Snyder if you're hiring, I'd be happy to help you out. Just ask. The job security sucks but at least I'd know I'm getting paid.

1. You can't go through offensive coordinators and coaches like candy . Average quarterback at best, Jason Campbell, has had four offensive coordinators in his first four full years in the league. After some flashes of success, its actually quite admirable that the still young signal-caller has done as well as he has. He needs to develop a relationship with a single coordinator and build from there. Similarly they need to decide on one quarterback and go with it for good and bad.

Coach Zorn is going to be fired possibly? Why? What gave the Redskins the thought that they were actually any good thus, how dare he embarrass us and our tradition of winning by not doing as well as we hoped?

News flash, Snyder. Not only are you not that good, since 1992, long before you bought into the team, you weren't that good.

So you're thinking of bringing in Mike Holmgren next? Mike Shanahan? Jon Gruden? So what? Gonna give them total control? Yeah, that worked so well for Holmgren in Seattle and Shanahan in Denver minus two years well over a decade before he was finally canned. Holmgren had one good year as far as I'm concerned and a bunch of average to decent years that never came close to justifying his salary or status. Its not going to matter as long as the GM doesn't know how to draft and the owner doesn't know how to sign players which brings me perfectly to my next point.

2. The Redskins have a long history of raiding talent from the wrong places.

Now I'll be the first to admit that I didn't see the 0-6 Titans coming. I had them at 9-7 and as a wild card team. While they are clearly not the 13-3 team they were last year, they also are not an 0-6 team but likely a 5-11-7-9 team at best. Last year was an outlier and Collins and Haynesworth(less) led the way and the 'Skins got suckered yet again into buying the services of a fat slob coming off a career year and understandably cashing in on your team's annual stupidity.

Remember 2003 when the 'Skins raided the 9-7 New York Jets by taking their kicker Jon Hall, guard Randy Thomas, flavor of the month return-man Chad Morton, and wide receiver Laveranues Coles? Why would you raid a team with no winning tradition? This is the same franchise that hasn't won crap since Joe Namath's famous prediction in Super Bowl III. On top of that, 9-7 isn't exactly stellar not that the 'Skins would know anything about that....

The next thing they did was sign disgruntled cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a massive six year $54 million dollar contract after immediately being cut from the Oakland Raiders.

Cut from the...Oakland Raiders.

What does that tell you when even they, at six consecutive 11+ loss seasons, don't even want you and your fraud Pro Bowl seasons in Atlanta where you in turn wore out your welcome? Again should we be surprised this hasn't worked out? He like so many other greedy athletes followed the money where they knew who would give it to them.

They are using you Danny Boy, can't you see that? Take off the shades! (above)

In the Snyder tenure they've signed London Fletcher, Marcus Washington, Shawn Springs, Phillip Daniels, Renaldo Wynn, Cornelius Griffin, and Warrick Holdman as recent busts. All come from teams that were no good at the time they were there.

If you want to raid a team Synder, why not raid the Patriots, Ravens, or Steelers that have not only stable ownership and front office foundations, but are the blueprint of how to draft year-in-and-year out, and have depth to spare? On top of that, it should come to no surprise that they more often that not put a winning product on the field.

3. Redskins mis-use their "talent" in all the wrong places

Coles is a typical #2 evidenced by his smart signing with the Cincincatti Bengals, who just might be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl against either the Brett Favre to the Vikings Has All the Makings of 1998 with a Better Ending" target="_blank">Minnesota Vikings or New Orleans Saints-you heard it here first.

Cincinnati, by using his as a compliment receiver to Chad Joh, I mean, Ochocinco, is using his talents correctly. Let Ochocinco get most of the coverage and let Coles clean up the rest. In Washington they were paying him and thus forcing him to be the go-to receiver which he simply is not. He's a part of the solution, not the solution. I just gotta say, even the Bengals figured this much and you didn't? The Bengals! And to no one's surprise are reaping the rewards.

Yes, I had them finishing last and at 4-12 have already surpassed my expectations which resulted from Carson Palmer's ability to come off of injury, doubt over whether Cedric Benson was the real deal, and whether Ocho would distract the team through the media ala T.O. if the team started to lose. Remember there was talk that he wanted out and end up in, you guess it, your team.

What's worse, is the 'Skins still haven't learned as they still play Santana Moss out of position as the team's #1 when he's the same player Coles is, a #2. Getting Johnson would have made more sense from a depth point but not from a chemistry point as you have none.

4. Talent Evaluation

They let locker room leader Antonio Pierce go and all he does is captain the 2008 New York Giants to the Super Bowl. Okay, accidents happen right? Who is going to be the next bust? Area-native Vick after this Philly experiment blows up? With Cambell's "struggles" his local connections, and box-office draw he'd seem to make the perfect fit.

After all, this is a team that really only cares about the dollar at the end of the day evidenced by their #1 ranking in Forbes for most valuable (monetarily of course) franchise in the league. All they do is sign the next big flashy player, regardless of substance, and call it a team. They are the New York Yankees of football minus the success.

Hey Owens, after your one-year rental is over in Buffalo this should be the first place on your shopping list. They'll (over) pay and play you like a #1, your lack of leadership and chemistry will fit right in, not to mention no hardware on your fingers, and you can try to stick it to the 'Boys and Eagles twice a year to satisfy your inflated ego.

It almost makes too much sense not to happen. Wait for it, wait for it.

Surely you won't disappoint right, Snyder?

Give the UFL a Chance

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:15:44 -0400

Last week I watched my first UFL (United Football League) game on Versus between the Las Vegas Locomotives and California Redwoods. The games are, of course, played to a smaller crowd and the atmosphere has the look and feel of a Friday Night Lights remake. Surprisingly, the play-by-play is very good, more than enough to keep my interest.

I remembered that ESPN's Pardon the Interruption plugged the game earlier that day and happened to stumble upon it. I immediately started to recognize players formerly from college, the NFL, or the Madden video game series. I had become accustomed to their names in the past, and wondered where they ended up after their playing days were seemingly over.

Here are the teams, and some names you may recognize:

Las Vegas Locos

Head Coach: Jim Fassel (former N.Y. Giants Super Bowl coach)

Defensive Assistant Coach: Sam Garnes (former N.Y. Jets linebacker, N.Y Giants Safety)

Running Backs Coach: Amp Lee (former Minnesota Vikings running back)

Notable Players: Wendell Bryant DT, former Arizona Cardinal first-round bust; David Kircus WR, former Detroit Lion; J.P. Losman, former Buffalo Bills starting QB; Tab Perry WR/RB, former Michigan Wolverine and Cincinnati Bengal six-round bust; Marcel Shipp RB, former Arizona Cardinal; Gary Stills LB, former Kansas City Chief

NY Sentinels

Head coach: Ted Cottrell (former Vikings defensive coordinator)

Offensive line Coach: Jon Tice (former Vikings offensive line coach)

Notable Players: Quinn Gray QB, former Jacksonville Jaguar; Ryan Hoag WR, former Minnesota Viking; Simeon Rice DE, former Tampa Bay Bucs pro-bowl lineman; LeBrandon Toefield RB, former LSU Tiger

Florida Tuskers

Head Coach: Jim Haslett (former New Orleans Saints head coach)

Offensive Coordinator: Jay Gruden (former Arena League head coach, brother of former Tampa Bay coach, Jon Gruden)

Notable Players: Tatum Bell RB, former Denver Bronco and Detroit Lion; Taye Biddle WR, former Carolina Panther; Patrick Chukwurah LB, former Viking; Dexter Jackson, former Tampa Bay Bucs Super Bowl MVP; Ricky Manning Jr CB, former Chicago Bear and Carolina Panther; Michael Pittman RB, longtime Arizona Cardinal; Darrion Scott DT, former Viking, Odell Thurman LB, former Bengals Second-round pick; Jermaine Wiggins TE, former Patriot and Viking

California Redwoods

Owned by Paul Pelosi, husband of politician Nancy Pelosi.

Head Coach: Dennis Green (former Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings coach)

Notable Players: Afembayi Ayenbadejo FB, former Viking and Raven; Derrick Frost P; Doug Gabriel TE, former Buc and Raider, B.J. Sams KR, former Baltimore Raven

Rules Varying from the NFL's Rulebook

No tuck rule. (Sorry, Raiders fans.)
Touchdown celebrations allowed. Only permitted in the end zone and on the bench, but can involve multiple players. (The old USFL was famous for these fun times. Its creativity is perhaps the biggest draw to these games.)
Overtime (OT) follows college rules. No sudden death—rather each team is guaranteed to get the ball once. Teams must tie the score to continue, or overtake the lead to win.
Territorial Draft: Essentially, the teams have preferential rights to a player who played college or professional ball in the team's home region.

USFL (United Football League) Influence

ESPN's 30 for 30 series played a story last night called "Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?"

All I knew about the USFL was that a few old players, namely Steve Young and Reggie White, made their professional debuts there. I didn't know that at least three former Heisman Trophy Winners (Doug Flutie, Hershel Walker, and S. Young) all made their professional debuts there. Other alumni included Jim Kelly, Mike Rozier, and former Super Bowl winning quarterback Doug Williams.

What the 30 for 30 presentation showed was Donald Trump, who bought into the New York/New Jersey Generals franchise, basically killed the league by trying too hard and too quickly to directly compete with the NFL. He took the NFL to court, and won, only to get a $3 settlement. He also created a buzz that was good for the league.

Additionally, he clashed with the smaller owners whom he overshadowed both financially and socially. Most notably, his Tampa Bay Bandits rival, John Bassett, who teamed with minority owner Burt Reynolds. (Yes, that Burt Reynolds.)

But this article isn't about Mr. Trump; it's about the parallels that can be drawn between a once-popular spring league (the USFL), and a similar league (the UFL) that is trying to learn from its predecessor's mistakes.

Best of luck to them. The first thing they are doing right is not directly competing with the NFL for fans or coverage. If the product is good enough, it should survive. After all, the Arena League lasted 20 years. Perhaps this new league will fill the void left by the Arena League's hiatus.

Who knows?

But, one thing I do know is that I am going to give the league another chance this Thursday when the California Redwoods take on the Florida Tuskers at 7:00 pm on Versus. You should too.

You never know whom you might remember from yesteryear. And you may realize that football can still be fun without the media, the egos, and the endorsement deals. What the UFL offers is players hoping for a second chance, some playing the game because they love it, and others simply hoping to get noticed.

Nordiques, Jets, Whalers, Oh My: Could the NHL Revive Historic Teams?

Joe Mikolai — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:57:49 -0400

That Was Then

In 1995, Canada had a national population of just over 29 million people. To put it in perspective, that would place them in between California and Texas for total population.

Why is this significant? Because 1995 was the last time Canada was at full strength with eight, count 'em eight, NHL teams. In case you forgot what that looked like, I've provided a link of the final standings here.

In a league that had only 26 teams at the time, 30 percent hailed from north of the border.

Think about that for a moment.

That's roughly the equivalent of Texas alone having eight such franchises today. This ain't college football and having 10 division-one schools just doesn't mean the same thing.

Northeast division: Ottawa Senators, Quebec Nordiques, Montreal Canadiens

Central: Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs

Pacific: Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks

It seemed no matter where you looked, the league was dominated by Canadian franchises, and for good reason.

That season also included a lockout-shortened 48 game schedule and saw the Quebec Nordiques dominate to the tune of a 30-13-5 record to capture the No. 1 overall seed in the Prince of Whales Conference. The Nordiques, however, lost in six games in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Rangers.

That surprising loss was the last series ever played in Quebec.

That offseason they relocated to Denver, Colorado, immediately winning the Stanley Cup. The championship can be attributed to years of picking first overall and stockpiling youth and talent with smart trades, most notably the Eric Lindros deal in 1992.

After mostly-online grumbling mixed with nostalgic whimpers of the past and wishful thinking amongst heartbroken fans, for the first time since 1995 it appears that the NHL is serious about returning to Le Vieille Capitale.

This Is Now

Last Sunday, Oct. 11, news broke that the current mayor of Quebec City, Regis Labeaume met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and former Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut discussing the potential of a franchise returning in the near future.

In case you haven't been keeping up with it, allow me to summarize the details:

The meeting was driven by the staggering U.S. economy, particularly in the U.S. Southern franchises, when it comes to NHL hockey clubs.
Any city wanting to host a team, Winnipeg and Hamilton are the others named, have to first submit a plan which includes a new hockey arena to be built and a separate plan on exactly how that arena would be paid.
Any new hockey arena must include at least 18,000 capacity seats.
There is no clear favorite, as a fair and formal process would need to be conducted, but Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has already made it known that "We do have an interest in returning teams to Canadian cities that have hosted and supported NHL teams historically."

Mayor Labeaume followed up the media hype by introducing plans last Friday Oct. 16, for a brand-new $400 million arena that would also be used in a joint effort to entice the 2022 or 2026 Olympic games to Quebec.

In doing so, he also took time to address concerns from political opponents who claimed such a nostalgic move was done to gain votes for his up-coming re-election bid.

"I don't need that to win the election. I would say more I'm taking a risk now," Labeaume, who is leading the polls and was already expected to cruise to victory, responded to CBC News Oct. 12.

Canadian Media Speculation Runs Wild

Newspaper outlets have suggested that with the U.S. sliding economy, now might be the perfect time for traditional markets to uproot those in newer, less traditional markets such as those in the Southeast.

In fact, with as many as 10 NHL franchises in serious financial trouble, some believe it's Canada's game to lose, provided they can come up with a plan to rescue and relocate them North.

Still others continue noting that this time, with a stronger Canadian dollar, now might be the perfect storm for nostalgic cities to put their money where their mouth (and hearts) are and get their old teams back to their rightful homes.

In Quebec's case, do you really think that the provincial government of Quebec and federal government of Canada, each of whom would be required to pay $175 million towards the $400 million proposed arena, with the city kicking in the final $50 million would actually balk at hockey's very real return?

I don't think so.

They know it would be political suicide in a country and province that claims to miss their Nords affectionately so.

We have to remember that hockey is a niche sport in the United States, where, if mixed within the right crowd, can instantly morph into a coded second language with terms of cross-checking, blue-lines, and two-line passes thrown around faster than a Bob Probert haymaker, that would leave any un-interested or onlooking observer puzzled.

In Quebec, on the other hand, like in the vast majority of Canada, it's simply a way of life, the National sport, a past-time. In a province where nationalism is still rampant, never underestimate the symbolism and pride a Nordiques return could provide.

Mayor Labeaume is smart to jointly intertwine an Olympic bid. It not only plays perfectly into the hands of the Canadian government, which increases the likelihood of contributing their $175 million share, but also puts the pressure on otherwise skeptical politicians to rally behind their country or risk backlash.

While not all politicians may be on board for hockey to return, knowing it also could hinge on a much more prestigious Olympic bid that far more Canadians could benefit and enjoy, they might be more inclined to approve the necessary funding. It also simply may be too tempting to pass up, despite their doubts or reservations on the hefty price tag.

Hartford More of a Wish Than the Rest

While nothing has been said as concrete as Quebec or even Winnipeg to a lesser extent, I personally remain hopeful than Hartford will opportunistically get in on the NHL's economic desperation and lure a team back to the Constitution State.

Like their Canadian competitors, Hartford should have their pick of the best of the rest with so many teams ironically in trouble.

Too Good To Be True?

Even with nothing to lose, election in hand, do you honestly think Mayor Labeaume would waste his time and effort, meanwhile getting his constituents hopes up if he didn't already know its all but a formality? My guess is this was the case and more details will be released when appropriate.

Much like Winnipeg has supposedly eyed the Atlanta Thrashers as their team to move north, Quebec has done the same. Probably with the Phoenix Coyotes who face the most immediate danger and risk of extinction, no pun intended.

With the league already running the team, all that would be needed was a venue to move them to, which is exactly what Quebec is trying to provide.

They've complied with all the the NHL's regulations and apparently the NHL is quite impressed with their arena plans, which could open as soon as 2012.

I believe the NHL will continue to run the Coyotes, who can't continue to draw 6,000 person crowds, until the arena in Quebec is finished. Then it's off to Canada, leaving the remaining Yotes scrambling for the latest Rosetta Stone software in an attempt to learn French on the fly.

How nice will that be? A day I never thought I'd see come. Evidenced by a sellout in less than an hour for a September exhibition game last month, Quebecors still embrace their hockey and await its return.

Phoenix, nothing against you, but I'd be worried. For its no accident that an exhibition game, a test game if you will, just happened to be played this year in a traditional market. That pretty sellout ought to end any doubts of fan indifference.

This, coupled with reports of Kansas City, a supposed favorite to land an NHL team, not able to draw 10,000, it's not surprising that Quebec has apparently moved to the top of the list in preferred cities on which to relocate.

It was only a matter of time. Once Labeaume set the wheels in motion, the rest will fall into place. And I, as a hockey traditionalist, wouldn't want it any other way.

You see, the NHL is done messing around.

No more southern experiments. No more guessing, hoping, and wishing. Its crunch time, and time is money. Even Gary Bettman isn't going to let a $400 million arena rot when he knows he can sell it out.

I dream of a Nordiques return that includes reminiscent battles with their provincial rival, the Montreal Canadiens, for bragging rights. I dream of Le French-Canadien press oozing like schoolchildren over hockey's rightful return home.

Most of all, what I dream is a revamped roster, similar to Montreal's. One loaded with 12 Canadians and four Quebecors. A place for players like Daniel Briere and Patrice Bergeron to call home once again and with any luck, to be given the opportunity to retire in front of their home crowd.

I don't care how it happens, I just want it to happen.

The NHL has had fourteen years to correct a mistake. It starts in Quebec and it ends in Hartford, CT with Winnipeg mixed in between. NHL, I've already done the realigning for you:

2012-13 NHL Realignment

Pacific Division: San Jose, Anaheim, Vancouver Canucks (return to original division), LA Kings, and Dallas Stars

Northwest: Winnipeg Jets (from Atlanta), Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild

Central: Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs (reunites them with some old rivals, division), Chicago Blackhawks

Southeast : Nashville Predators (takes place of Atlanta Thrashers), Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightening, Buffalo Sabers (hey if the Tampa Bay Bucs can be in the old NFC North, the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC East, or the Atlanta Braves in the NL West than this can work for now)

Northeast : Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Nordiques (from Phoenix), Hartford Whalers (from Florida Panthers)

Atlantic: NY Rangers, NY Islanders (for now but on endangered list), Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils

This leaves only Tampa, Dallas, Nashville, and Carolina as non-traditional teams and Carolina and Tampa aren't going anywhere. Dallas I have my doubts on moving anyway, and Nashville I can live with as the only "real" problem.

No more hockey in Arizona and Georgia and half the teams in Florida. In a perfect world, the Coyotes would move back to Winnipeg, tail between their legs. It would be a hilarious move of irony and harsh dose of reality for an NHL that ought to have known better than to step on the face of tradition.

I think we can all live with that.

The Great L.A. Kings Heist of '88: Re-Evaluating The Gretzky Trade

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:20:14 -0400

If you've been keeping up with (or at least seeing the hype-advertising on ESPN) they are doing a "30 for 30" special commemorating the three decades the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" has been operating as part of their 30-year anniversary.

Thirty directors have each produced a one-hour special chronicling one significant sporting event in their lives that they wished to do more research on. The series debuted last week with "A King's Ransom: The Wayne Gretzky trade" by Peter Berg.

For those of you who watched it, like me, it was darn good and not just because I like hockey and was already biased into watching it.

I watched it because I wanted to understand how in the heck any market, much less a small market like the Edmonton Oilers, could trade undeniably the best player on the planet in the sport, ever—not just at the time, especially after already winning four, count 'em, four Stanley Cups, thereby proving his worth.

I also wanted to understand how, after winning four Cups in five years as the Oilers had, they could possibly justify the move or claim to have "economic pressures" that then owner Peter Pocklington did when he orchestrated the deal with Los Angeles.

I also found it ironic how the third smallest market at the time had the best player and how they were able to afford him, and his spectacular supporting cast for so long. To put it in a modern day perspective, it would be like Kobe Bryant suiting up for the Memphis Grizzlies, the Bills having Peyton Manning (and wondering how they were going to afford to keep him) or Albert Pujols a member of the Washington Nationals.

It just doesn't seem right and only in hockey would it be able to work, at least for as long as it did. For that I am appreciative.

Sure, any team that had Bryant, Manning, or Pujols would be an instant draw at the gate as the 1980s Oilers were averaging over 18,000 fans a game as the documentary mentions. Players would want to play with the best player, so its reasonable to believe that other talents would soon flock to play with Bryant, Manning, and Pujols, right?

Wrong.

In any other league, it would be those three that would be pressured, even forced, to seek employment in a bigger market since their owners wouldn't be able to afford to bring in other superstars to build around them. Like the Oilers in the NHL, it would only be a matter of time before that team was broken up as it becomes a numbers game.

"A Kings Ransom" described how the changing economic face of the NHL forced such a move. Gretzky will tell you that salaries were going up and he wanted to be paid what he thought he was worth. At this time there were guys making "a million dollars or close to it and we were making $300,000"

The 1980s Oilers teams had six future Hall-of-Famers: goaltender Grant Fuhr, center Gretzky, right wingers Glenn Anderson and Jari Kurri, left winger Mark Messier, and defenseman Paul Coffey.

Why did the team succeed?

Look at the even distribution of talent on all sides of the puck. They had no holes, they had the right coach, Glen Sather, a natural hockey man who is still in the business, and they were a team in the truest sense of the word. A real family unit.

All were clearly the top talents at their positions at the time. The fact that all not only played on the same team at the same time is remarkable but the fact that all were drafted (or obtained) by the Oilers as their original team and none came over as hired guns whose first NHL success was with another club and who simply wanted to leech off an already good team. These six grew up Oilers together at the height of their careers and each clearly benefited because of it.

Again, if it were possible, it would be like the NBA's 2010 Western Conference All-Stars playing not for a conference in the NBA All Star game, but for one franchise and that franchise would happen to be located in tiny Memphis, Tenn.

Some of my first hockey memories were watching old ESPN Classic Campbell-Wales All-Star games often that felt like it essentially was the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Wales Conference at times. Fittingly, Memphis, like hockey in Edmonton in the NHL, is a basketball city so in theory it could work.

Infusion of impact Canadians lacking in today's NHL

Outside of the Finnish Kurri, the remaining five were native Canadians, as it should be in the NHL, especially Superstardom. This is precisely what the NHL lacks, a current Canadian superstar for the league and its fans to latch on to and rally around. The closest thing is Nova Scotian Sidney Crosby with his Thunder Bay Ontario teammate, Jordan Staal.

Appropriately these two are freakishly young and just beginning their Stanley Cup prowess having just won their first together. It will not only be interesting to see how long they can remain teammates in Pittsburgh, but whether the city can turn into anything short of the hockey haven that Canada is.

But in a perfect world these two would be playing in Edmonton or Calgary as the next generation of National pride and Native Sons playing at home. But since Pittsburgh ain't Canada, and ain't a traditional hockey market, it will have to do.

Heck, it could be worse. Each could be playing for the Nashville Predators or Tampa Bay Lightning and bringing a handful of Cups "home" there.

See, I am from the thought that hockey is basically the Canada's national sport, thus each team should always be competitive and legitimately vying for Cups. This is why each spring when the playoffs are played, not only do I cheer for traditional (read: Northern) markets to do well, but particularly Canadian ones, since why not bring the Cup home to a time-tested base where it belongs and to fans who truly appreciate it and will get the most out of it?

Additionally, when you live up in Calgary or Edmonton, what else is there to do in the long, cold winter months? If their teams' aren't competitive, it's all the more agonizing as it's the only show in town.

The film mentions the sad but expected reaction on Aug. 9, 1988 when "The Great One" was traded. One observer noted that "You grow up thinking the Mona Lisa is all yours and the next day it's gone." The media remarked that "Canada had lost its National Treasure" as there were some calls for Parliament to get involved and stop the deal.

Hatred toward Pockington erupted to the point that he not only got death threats, (had to be expected, sad as it is), but also his wife left town for several days following the trade on the basis of her safety as effigies of Pockington were burned in anger and protest.

Aug. 9, 1988 "The Trade of the Century"

In what was described as basically selling Wayne for "$15 million" was actually quite more than that. As ESPN's Scott Burnside explains it had a much greater effect. You can read all that in his article as the documentary also covered at the end. My article will analyze the pieces the Oilers got back.

First, Gretzky points out Pocklington was looking to trade him "for Martin Gelinas and Jimmy Carson and I said, Bruce [McNall] (former Kings owner) you gotta get me some help I can't play by myself."

While Gelinas was a flop in Edmonton, he did go on to have a long career with a number of different NHL franchises. Jimmy Carson however was no slouch as he was 20 years old and coming off a 107-point season for the lowly Kings. It's also not like he was a one-year wonder either as his only full season in Edmonton before forcing a trade to his hometown Red Wings, resulted in his last 100-point campaign.

What made the disgruntled Carson important though was what the Oilers received for him in the trade to Detroit—longtime veteran Adam Graves, left winger Petr Klima who had some very solid seasons in Canada, and winger Joe Murphy who also put up good numbers north of the border.

Also, it's not like everything came crashing down all at once as the 1990 Oilers would once again go on to win their fifth and final Stanley Cup with most original members of the core. At one point in "A Kings Ransom" Gretzky is asked by producer Berg on a driving range:

"How many Cups did you win in L.A?" and he says "None."

Then Berg asks, "And how many did you win in Edmonton?" to which Gretzky replies, "How many could I have won?"

Berg says again: "No, how many did you win?" Gretzky says four. When asked how many he could have won had the team stayed together he says: "Well the team was good enough, I don't know, maybe four..., four more."

Four more Cups?!

And you know what, he probably isn't that far off considering they did manage to win one more without him and they advanced to the Campbell Conference Finals (current Western Conference Finals) in 1991 and 1992 before losing out, suggesting had he still been there, the rest would have been a formality since that group won together.

This is especially more remarkable when you consider Fuhr and Anderson were traded in the same deal before the 1991 season or that captain Messier was traded in October of that same year as the dynasty officially broke up.

The bottom line is, Pocklington was fortunate enough to get five Cups out of the variations of this dynasty, four of which essentially as a collective unit, minus Coffey after 1986.

Edmonton on the other hand, was fortunate enough to get every last drop (no pun intended) of talent and wins out of these teams before the ultimate dismantling in '91. Be glad for what you were able to witness and be a part of for it was truly special.

Edmonton, if I could, I'd give you Lord Stanley's Cup every five years or so just to keep the cup in a market where it belongs and to make sure it not only survives, but thrives, but the fact is I can't. I can't bring back Hartford, Winnipeg, or Quebec either although I still hold out hope the Coyotes will move back to Manitoba where they belong and where they never should have left.

What it all means

In a league that has since grown from 21 teams to 30, and has lost pillar franchises in traditional bases of Winnipeg, Hartford, and Quebec City, the fact that Edmonton survived the trade backlash enough to not only recover, but to even have a team at all, is incredible.

When you consider how close the team came to moving to Houston after the 1998 season, before Pocklington eventually sold the them to a confederation of local Edmonton investors, it only further supports the notion that at least they have a team in the first place.

Next Monday, Oct. 19, when the Oilers are appropriately playing at home, appropriately against a fellow Canadian opponent, the Vancouver Canucks, remember where you were on this day.

More importantly, remember where you were 21 years ago on this date.

That's the first chance Edmontonians had to welcome back their Superstar after the great trade of '88.

Information gathered from The Hockey Database, ESPN's 30 for 30 Series, ESPN's Scott Burnside's article, "A Kings' Ransom" by Peter Berg, and the Edmonton Journal contributed to this article.

When It Comes to Playing the Yankees, These Twins Are Just Plain Scared

Joe Mikolai — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:28:14 -0400

I like Joe Nathan. I really do.

In fact, next to Michael Cuddyer, he's probably my favorite member of the Minnesota Twins.

However, he's part of the problem when it comes to having any sort of success in big games, particularly in the playoffs.

Now I know, 10th inning aside in the one-game playoff, which saw Nathan get out of a no-outs first and third situation, he's essentially a member of the "I'm Scared of the Big Bad Yankees" club, a small clique that infests the Minnesota Twins whenever they play New York.

The Twins, by no secret, went 0-10 against the Evil Empire this past season, including a predictable but still embarrassing three-game sweep that concluded on Sunday night. While it's true that seven of these games were decided by two runs or less, no one remembers that.

Over the past 29 games in New York, whether it be the old or the New Yankee Stadium, the Twins are an unheard of 3-26.

I'll repeat that again: 3-26.

No, that's not Freddie Mitchell's fourth-down yardage in a 2004 playoff game against Brett Favre and the Packers (that was 4th-and-26; this is the total number of wins to losses for the Minnesota Twins in their last 29 games played in the Bronx.

Members of the "I'm Scared of the Big Bad Yankees" club:

Glen Perkins, starting pitcher, Minnesota Twins

The 25-year-old St. Paul, Minnesota native routinely gave up big hits after getting blown up in games, particularly in the Bronx the past two seasons. This rotation would subsequently be followed by mysterious MRI tests the next Monday which, of course, would come back negative.

Doing this once would of course appear legit and understandable, but the next time it happened, it became downright pathetic. Anything for a scapegoat, I guess.

This year, the game in question occured on May 18 as part of the beginning of the turnaround for the team from the Empire State. In just two-thirds of an inning, Perkins choked away a 2-0 lead in the New Yankee Stadium that his team had given him, and by the time his day was done, the team trailed 6-2 after one frame.

Why is this so significant? The Twins went on to rally yet still lose the game 7-6 in heartbreaking fashion. To Perkins' defense, the Yankees were already in the midst of a six-game winning streak.

2008 Perkins went 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA at the old Yankee Stadium. That year the Yankees hit .324 against him. It would be a good idea to trade him now, except that in the middle of a grievance with the Twins over the procedure of an MRI and the fans' continued angst, most believe he's pitched his last game for his hometown team anyway.

Justin Morneau, first base, Minnesota Twins

Despite having a stellar 2009 regular season against the Yankees, Morneau has more often than not choked against them. In 2008, in 38 at-bats against them (roughly seven games), he hit .184 with one HR and three RBI.

In 2007 in 25 at-bats (five to six games), he hit .240 with zero HR and three RBI against New York while scoring two runs.

In 2005 in eight at-bats, he hit .250 with one HR and two RBI with two runs scored, and it's not like they are just walking him, as he got one walk this season against them.

In 2004 in 24 at-bats, he hit .208 with two HR, four RBI, four runs, and three walks against New York. Worse yet, in the ALDS Morneau hit .235 with zero HR and two RBI in a four-game loss to New York.

Sure, in 2009 and 2006 he may have torn them up in the regular season, but when it counts, as in the playoffs, this regular season superstar just isn't there (kind of like this past week). If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it...

Jesse Crain, relief pitcher

Crain posted an 0-1 record and 9.00 ERA this past season in three appearances against the Yankees. Last year he was 0-0 with an 8.44 ERA against New York where they hit .350 (6 R, 7 H) against him in just 5.1 innings of "work."

2006: 0-0, Yankees BA .429, 1.1 innings pitched, 6.75 ERA.

2005: 0-0, Yankees BA .200, but in 2.2 innings pitched his ERA was 6.75 again ironically.

Crain too has shown time and time again to be a choker when it comes to playing the big bad Yankees.

Joe Nathan, closer, Minnesota Twins

If you've been reading Minnesota Twins message boards or their media, there is quite a unified desire to get playoff choker Joe Nathan out of town. Sure, Nathan can give you 40 regular season saves, but like Morneau, when the pressure is on the line, particularly in the playoffs (career 7.88 ERA), he just isn't there.

In 2003, two games, 0-1, 81.00 ERA. The opponent? New York.

2004: Three games, 0-1, 3.60 ERA. Opponent? New York.

2009: Two games, 0-0, 9.00 ERA with one memorable but predictable homer to Alex Roidriguez. It's the Yankee way—when they need a hit, they get it, and Nathan is happy to oblige. If not him, it would have been Jorge Posada or Hideki Matsui, but the bottom line is he's a scared pansy when playing the Big Bad Pinstripers.

To Nathan's credit, Roidriguez always hits the tiny Twins extremely well, especially at the Metrodome. Sure, he hit .455 with two HR and six RBI against this awestruck and intimidated team, but once he does it against a real team, like the playoff-tested Angels, then we can talk.

Until then, he's still along for the ride on the Mark "Traitor Tex" Teixeira Train, with overrated 1996 prima donna Craptain Derek Jeter riding shotgun.

My guess is Nathan will be dealt out of town, pawned off as a "salary move" in order to better afford the massive upcoming contract to All-Star catcher Joe Mauer (although I remain pessimistic on this move). I also think this time he finally did it and pushed fans' confidence in him, along with management, over the edge.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse guessed the Chicago Cubs might be a viable trade partner. My guess? Tampa Bay.

Sure, the Twins got burned in the pre-2008 season deal that sent whiny immature Matt Garza south, along with steady-and-still-emerging shortstop Jason Bartlett in what was considered an afterthought throw-in, for budding OF Delmon Young and Yankee killer Brendan Harris.

While many fans rightfully blasted the move following Bartlett and Garza's integral roles in the 2008 World Series run for Tampa, I still state that it's too early to give up on Young, who's still only 24 and who is a second half player, evidenced again this year.

If he can learn to hit anything more than the .230, one HR, and 28 RBI he seems to get before June 15, we may still be able to salvage that deal and swing it back in the Twins' favor.

So why would they be suckered into trading with Tampa again? Likely they won't and likely they've black-listed the fellow small-market team for their tomfoolery. However, as a team that needs bullpen help as Tampa does, I think it's a good match.

Minnesota receives affordable ($430K) 26-year-old Andy Sonnanstine, who is one year removed from a 13-9, 4.38 ERA sophomore campaign during the Rays' magic run.

At 6-9, 6.77 ERA including a demotion to the minors, the Rays would probably be more than happy to throw him in any deal, especially when you consider their rotation with James Shields, Wade Davis, David Price, Jeff Niemann, and Garza is set, as they have no room for him anymore.

Sonnanstine adds another much-needed arm to the Twins rotation of Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, and likely Brian Duensing.

Additionally, Minnesota receives embattled OF/SS B.J. Upton, who is also affordable (for the time being) at $435K. Surely Upton's due a raise, but it won't come anywhere near the $22M owed the final two years to Nathan. Moreover, this would be one more player that Tampa wouldn't have take to arbitration (read: pay more).

Minnesota could then use him as a replacement for Orlando Cabrera at shortstop should the latter fail to return to the team next year, which I hope is not the case. While anything but a slick fielder at short, it is Upton's natural position, and after hitting .241 Tampa may listen to offers for him.

Why would the Twins want a hitter whose numbers have declined and who faded down the stretch? They may fall in love with the potential he showed last year and like Young may feel all he needs is a change of scenery. His 42 steals would also add a new dimension to the team that hasn't been seen in years; this ability to create havoc once on base plays right into the Twins' "small ball" methods of generating runs.

Finally, trading Upton* opens up a spot for Fernando Perez, a speedy defensive upgrade whose time may be now or as a lynchpin until AAA OF Desmond Jennings, the Rays' highest outfielder rated and fourth top prospect overall, is ready.

*We'll also be happy to take Willie Aybar and convert him to third base, as he's both affordable and young, two annual Twins prerequisites. Feel free to include him and his misguided potential in any deal.

When J.P. Howell is being misused as your closer, you know you're in trouble. If you're thinking how Tampa is supposed to afford the $11.25M-a-year closer, consider Troy Percival's $4.45M salary is coming off the books, and they are also no longer paying nine-million-dollar-man Scott Kazmir.

Nathan, Mauer, and Morneau were very vocal about their displeasure with the Twins' normally penny-pinching moves and lack of deadline dealings. How ironic would it be that the next deal they ultimately made involved one of the culprits heading out of town for daring to question authority?

(Nathan, this means you. Morneau, listen up: At $13M next year, and already whining about not staying if Mauer goes, you may be next).

*Honorable mention goes to Craig Breslow, but he was designated for assignment and picked up by the Oakland AAA's (Triple A's—get it?) May 20, just four days after taking the latest loss against the Yankees in a winnable 6-4 game. His two runs in just one-third of an inning proved to be the difference as his 7.11 ERA was sent packing.

In all, 2009 proved to be same old, same old for the Intimidated Twins. Let's hope next year with a new park and fresh beginning brings different results, starting with breaking up the core of the "Scared of the Big Bad Yankees" club.

Season Finale: Part V: Returning the Stolen Base to Baseball Prominence

Joe Mikolai — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:44:28 -0400

Part V, (season-finale) in a series. I'll do it again next year and compare it to this year.

If you've read my first two articles, "The Stolen Base: A Lost Art. Will we ever see a 100 Steal Man Again?" and "Gimmie Five! Dexter "The Prowler" Fowler Steals Five Bases in a Game," then you know I am a fan of the stolen base and an advocate of its return to baseball prominence.

Before reading this article, be sure to read parts I, II, III, and IV of my season-long mini-series outlining the possibility of another 100-steal man in major league baseball, "The Quest for 100 Steals: Can Carl Crawford or Anyone Else Do It?", "The Quest for 100 steals-can Carl Crawford do it?" and "Returning The Stolen Base To Baseball Prominence (Part III)" and "Returning the Stolen Base to Baseball Prominence (Part IV)"

October 12, 2009 here were the top five finishers in 2009:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury. Finished with 70 steals in 82 attempts 85.3%.

Since the last September 1 update Ellsbury went 12/13 in September and 3/5 in four games in October to reach the 70 steal plateau.

In just his second season, Ellsbury, still only 26, managed to increase his career high in steals by an even 20 after getting 50 as a rookie last year. Because of his consistency and unbelievable accuracy and timing, he'll only continue to get better but we have to start to wonder when he's maxed out that number as its already so high in only his second full season.

Could we see a Teemu Selanne-esque drop-off next year? (Selanne, an NHL player, scored his career high, 76 goals, as a rookie for the Winnipeg Jets in 1992 and never came close to that number again. 85 would be a nice goal for 2010 but there comes a point when he has a Vince Coleman like drop (Coleman swiped his career high, 110 as a rookie in 1985 for the Cardinals as I keep referencing).

Ellsbury's steals by month:

April: 10

May: 11

June: 12 (perfect 12/12)

July 14

August: 8

September: 7? (12 actual)

October 3

Ellsbury thankfully smashed my pessimistic pick of seven for September and based on his 3/5 October performance in just four games, its pretty obvious that he had 70 as a target goal and was determined to get it, and good for him.

His 3/5 shouldn't be alarming as in just four games its not that big of a deal, and as I said, even the worst observer can analyze what his ultimate goal was, which was to get 70 steals. In the process, Ellsbury topped the Red Sox old mark of 54 steals in 1973.

He'll again be among the league leaders in 2010 and for good reason but for now, he deserves to be SB champ because of his uncanny accuracy and picking his spots.

2. Michael Bourn, Astros, 61 steals in 73 attempts (83.5%)

Bourn, the Ellsbury of the National league, gave beleagured Astros fans something to cheer about after the team skid to the end of the season. Bourn finished the season 13/14 in September but had no steals in four games in October.

Freakingly similar to Ellsbury, Bourn not only also increased his previous steals high by 20 (it was 41) but also at 26, he's young enough to hopefully not reached his peak. Considering he now hits for average—.285 which dramatically raised his career batting average to .262, this mixed with his cheap price ($434,000) are all reasons he should see plenty of playing time and get plenty of chances to run wild in 2010.

Bourn's steals by month:

April: 6

May: 10

June: 9

July: 12

August: 11

September: 10? (13)

He also suprassed my goal of 10 for him meaning he and Ellsbury continued to play hard until the end which is good to see. Similar consistency for him as well. (notice a correlation, SB—wanna be's?) I hope you are.

He'll again by a league leader in 2010—if not the champ.

3. Carl Crawford, Rays 60 steals in 76 attempts (78.9%)

No player disappointed me more the waning months of the season than Crawford who kept coming up with excuse after excuse why he first couldn't steal 100 bases, nor why he started to get caught more often.

Apparantly now, its Tampa Bay Rays' Carl Crawford upset, says umpires are repeatedly missing calls on stolen base attempts" target="_blank">because of his unique feet-first slide that the umpires are missing when he's allegedy safe. Sure, Carl, whatever works, you quitter.

Crawford's steals by month:

April: 9

May: 21

June: 10

July: 8

August: 7

September ???? My guess—4 (5 actually)

We'll Crawford "showed me" by going a typical 5/10 in September and getting no steals in October. Still he not only overcame my goal for him, but not lost in his season, he did set a career high with those 60 thefts. Still, its painfully obvious that this is all he wanted to do, and once he succeeded, (Sept. 29) he was done, just like his team.

Fitting.

Oh sure, he'll be among the league leaders next year. Likely a low top five or maybe 6-7 with a very "Crawford like" 55 steals but he'll never be the player he could be or one I think he could be, because he simply refuses to do so and is rather content at being just another base-stealer instead of one of the best like Ellsbury has the potential to become.

He gets this spot by default since he had such a torrid start and rode that out, but next year when there is more consistent and healthy (read: Nyjer Morgan) competition, expect him to fade because he just doesn't care. Never a good combination.

4. Chone Figgins Angels/Nyger Morgan, Nationals/BJ Upton Rays all finished with 42 an thus, tied for 4th.

I'm not going to break down each player. For that see my older articles above which they are all covered with their possibilites and expectations (or lack thereof—Figgins/Upton). Just know that I expect Upton to be traded for bullpen help (Joe Nathan?) as we saw what killed the Rays this year.

Upton's got a lot of that "I don't care" attitude that seems to infect the Rays club house so buyer-beware.

Morgan's the key. He plays for a horrid team so he should get all the chances in the world. Barring that injury that kept him out the final six weeks, he would have too topped 60 steals—amazing considering he had 18 on his July 1 trade to the Nats who let him run. When he comes back, no reason to believe the 29 year old won't get this goal and probably finish top five.

5. Rajai Davis, A's 41 steals in 53 attempts (77%)

Davis, not only steals at a rate lower than most manager's like to see (80%) but he's 29 next Monday (Happy Birthday, Rajai!) and plays for a team where one's job is never safe and where the goal always seems to get younger and cheaper so a trade to a contender probably isn't out of the question. If I'm Davis, I'm not taking out a long term morgage in the Bay Area anytime soon.

Why does Davis matter? Well, he went 15/18 in August and 11/14 in September proving as one to watch come 2010 wherever that is for the Connecticut native. A trade to the San Diego Padres and their hopeless situation not to mention annual outfield need would make sense and give him the playing time needed to really showcase his talents.

So who else could emerge in 2010?

1. Julio Borbon, (pictured) Texas Rangers, LF 19 steals 23 attempts in only 46 games (82%)

With a bullet. If there is anyone to watch next year, its him. The 23 year old promoted to the majors on June 29 didn't really start playing full time until August 15, when he stole four bases. In fact, in a ten day stretch from August 9-18 (basically his first full week) he stole eight bases in nine attempts putting him on the map.

But its also not like this was a mirage for he went 8/10 in September before an 0/1 October giving him 19 in just 46 games or 157 at bats. Over a full season this projects to 66 steals which he could very well do next year if given the playing time and a starting spot which is never guaranteed in the whiffle-ball hitters park that is Arlington.

Still with a .312 batting average (not sure how much influenced by the Coors of the AL) they'll be sure to find him a way. I'm telling you fantasy owners, pick him up now while you can and while he's a virtual unknown. You won't be sorry you did. With his speed and youth, he's not even close to maxing out. Expect 50 next year-at least.

2. Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers, SS 33 steals in 39 attempts (85%)

Steals by month:

April 2/2

May 4/5

June 9/9

July 5/6

August 4/5

September 8/11

October 1/1

Even younger than Borbon, this rookie, and the prize of the 2007 Mark Teixeira dump off to the Braves which robbed them of most of their farm depth, is still only 21 and still learning the game. When he does, look out.

Appropriate that a former Braves farmhand would spell his name Andru after all the Andruw Jones years and now the two are continually lined in Texas. Wierd. The average, at .267 is a bit low for an everyday player but the Rangers see him as a future star (and for good reason) and with his speed he'll continue to play-and shine.

Don't overlook his never-quit attitude evidenced by his 8 thefts in September and one for good measure in October when the team was clearly fading on a nightly basis.

Next year 50 should be in store for him too in a very Ellsbury-like manner.

3. Eric Young Jr. 2B Colorado Rockies 4 steals 8 attempts (50%)

Pay no attention to the meager number rather the meager sample size as the younger Young played in only 30 games and had just 57 at-bats. Just know that his daddy, Eric Sr. was a stolen base threat and the genes traveled well and this Young stole over 450 bases in his career and was a former All-Star to boot.

None of his numbers jump out at you, but he did top 50 steals three times in a season. Basically he was a consistent 40 steal man based on his career average (44) and there is no doubt his son wil be every bit of that soon.

Just exactly how does this translate to Eric Jr? Because the Rockies are already deep with Clint Barmes at second, and loaded in the outfield, a trade is probable as I'm not sure how he plays enough everyday without such a move. Additionally, his minor league steals stats are impressive at all levels 87 at A ball in 2006, 73 at High-A in 2007, 46 at AA in 2008 and 58 last year in AAA while serving as an AAA All-Star.

Still, at just 24 and with his father's bloodline he'll be one to watch, wherever that is. Someone will pick him up that intends to start and thus, play him (Pittsburgh? the price is right) and they in turn, will be very happy. I see him in a Nyjer Morgan situation where a young team that can afford to grow with him (and put up with the learning curve and low BA) giving him a chance to prove himself.

If given the chance, what do you think he'll do? Why, steal 40-50 of course. Why would we expect anything different?

Analyzing The Plight Of Spoiled Yankee$ and Their Fan$

Joe Mikolai — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:52:26 -0400

Lets try and analyze the Yankee$ $ucce$$ logically from the MLB's Last Chance at a True Spoiler" target="_blank">viewpoint of the Minnesota Twins and the truly uphill battle they face each year. They began the 2009 season with a $65 million dollar payroll good for 24th in the league.

The Yankees, however, are always tops with this year being no exception at $201,449,289 $7,748,050

Let's consider how the Yankee$ may have fared had they been forced to deal with the same circumstances based on their 2009 $alarie$.

*=home-grown Yankee$ (Yankee "fans" are so quick to point this out as they ignore the Teixeira, Rodriguez, Sabathia, and Burnett annual signings.)

CURRENT ROSTER EQUAL ROSTER

1B Mark "traitor" Teixeira $20,625,000 Nick Swisher $5,4000,000

*2B Robinson Cano $6,000,000 *Robinson Cano $6,000,000

*SS Derek "overrated" Jeter $21,600,000 Derek Jeter $21,600,000

3B Alex Roidriguez $33,000,000 (1/2 the Twins roster) AAA call-up $400K

LF Johnny Damon $13,000,000 *Brett Gardner $414,000

*CF Melky Cabrera $1,400,000 *Melky Cabrera $1,400,000

RF Eric Hinske $1,500,000 Eric Hinske $1,500,000

*C Jorge Posada $13,100,000 Jose Molina $2,215,000

DH Hideki Matsui $13,000,000 * Francisco Cervelli $400K

TOTAL ~$122M on hitting alone about $40M

STARTING Pitching:

CC Fat-assbia $15,285,714 AAA Call-up $400K

AJ Burnett $16,500,000 AAA Call-up $400K

*Andy Pettite $5,500,000 *Andy Pettite $5,500,000

**** *Joba Chamberlain $432,575 Joba Chamberlain $432,575

Chad Gaudin NA NA $400K

TOTAL STARTING PITCHING: `$38M (-Gaudin) $7.5M

Bullpen:

Damaso Marte $3,750,000 Damaso Marte $3,750,000

*Phil Coke $403,300 Phil Coke $403,300

*Phil Hughes $407,650 Phil Hughes $407,650

*Alfredo Acavedes $406,750 Alfredo Acavedes $406,750

*David Robertson $406,825 David Robertson $406,825

*Mariano Rivera $15,000,000 Mariano Rivera $15,000,000

TOTAL Bullpen: $20.5M $20.5M (basically kept it as-is)

Bench:

Jerry Hariston Jr. $2,000,000 Jerry Hariston Jr. $2,000,000

AAA roster filler $400K AAA roster filler $400K

TOTAL TEAM PAYROLL $183.5M about $71.5M

Now Yankee$ and Yankee fans, you tell me, do you even sniff the playoffs with this "embarrassment" of a roster? You might be surprised:

Consider:

I gave you Jeter with his over-hyped 1996-like greatness, because we gotta let you keep some stars and its not like he'd ever go anywhere or Yankee-life could exist beyond Him.
closer Mariano Rivera (because I figure if the Twins can have their $11.5M All-Star why can't you?
You're bullpen is exactly the same. I took that right off of their ESPN webpage so I'll give you that although I see it as your one major weakness but I am sure you big-mouths willl tell me how wrong I am and how "Coke is a stud" and "Robertson is the man" We get it, they are home-grown. Congratulations on that. Good developing I'll give you that.
I gave you Pettite and with it, comes his experience, dominance, control
I recognized Cano, Gardner, Swisher for the role players they are and granted them their rightful starting positions. (I could see Swisher playing a Scott Broscius type role if you make it further)
Of the "fairer" roster I gave you—based on players already on your team or from your organization, 19/25 would be home grown when you consider the seven necessary AAA-AA call-ups, you know, like every other team has to do and can't just rely on sweet talk, reputation, and a fat pocketbook?

By now you arrogant, self-centered bandwagoners are probably laughing so hard you can hardly see the zeroes in your 401K's through your gucci sunglasses or spilling some cawfee on your prada. If you think this isn't fair, try being a fan of a small market team such as the Twins, A's, Pirates, or Royals.

In the case of the Pirates, consider that for 17 consecutive seasons (that's 1992 for those of you not quick on the draw) they haven't even had a .500 record, thus haven't made the playoffs. There are 17 year old Pittsburgers who have never seen their baseball team so much as in the playoffs, something that you consider your birthright.

At least they have their Penguins and Steelers, right?

Well, at least you have your sorry-ass Knicks and Ranjerks that will bow out in the 1st round like they do every year.

Consider the fact that you had the ability to sign the top hitter on the free agent market in Traitor Tex, Mark Teixeira and the top two pitchers in AJ "not big game" Burnett and CC "career postseason 6.54 ERA" Sabathia in one off-season.

Wow! Now that's what I call "filling in the gaps". Must be nice to have that ability. If only the other teams did too, and if only you had to appreciate the joy that actually came with winning and not just a bunch of hired-gun primadonna's that come together as mercinaries and call themselves the "New York Yankees" every season.

When you won your division title, it was because you were supposed to, not because you earned it.

How can you, as a fan, take any pride in something that we all knew was coming for months? How can you take any pride in AJ Burnett winning a big game for you when he's only been there since April 1st?

He's not a real Yankee. He's a hired hand. But of course, its okay because he's our hired hand and its the "Yankee-way".

When the Twins clinched their division in an epic 12th inning hit, it wasn't Cinderalla Roidriguez trotting around the bases in typical "me-first" fashion pumping his fist, it was scrappy Alexi Casilla driving in much maligned Carlos Gomez.

Okay, for all you big city folk, Carlos Gomez was once a New York Met prospect. (That's the team that plays across the city from you, that's where his name might be ringing a bell in your over-sized heads)

Alexi Casilla, is a part-time second baseman by the way, you know, that position that King Jeter plays next too?

Had the Twins (or any other team for that matter) had the ability to sign just one of the above three that you were able to seduce with your big city promises and luster, we'd be talking about them in a much more favorable light. After all, we'd have all this free time to fill with the division having been locked up a good month or so ago.

Sound familiar?

1996 team one of inspiration, intrigue

Now for those of you who think this is just another complaing piece about "payrolls" and a "salary cap" you are wrong. Yes, I hate the MFY's (us Orioles fans have that adoring name for you) but the 1996 team I had no such qualms with.

Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Brian Boehringer, Ramiro Mendoza, Jim Leyritz, Jorge Posada, John Wetteland, and Bernie Williams were a few of your more accomplished home grown stars that you are so fond of.

The "missing pieces" you were able to add, rather screwdly I might add, Paul O'Neil, Tino Martinez, Luis Sojo, Jeff Nelson, Wade Boggs, and David Weathers weren't the top stellar players at their position that Burnett, Sabathia, and Teixeira were.

They were good, emerging players that truly made their names wearing Yankee pinstripes. The Yankees were just fortunate enough, and rich and crafty enough to get them but no one was calling foul the day any of them came over for they weren't premier and they didn't all come over at once.

All became leaders in their own right, mostly for their postseason heroics, but with the exception of Boggs and later, Cecil Fielder, none was a proven All-Star or real impact performer, at least not the same way they were once they got to the Bronx.

The 1996 team also basically came out of nowhere and I appreciated that much. Yes, I know they were the 1995 Wild Card team, but really, who are we kidding, did anyone actually think they'd do anything? No, and they didn't disappoint those expectations or lack thereof.

Those Yankee teams were simply just glad to be there, filled with a child-like excitement that these Yankee$ and this generation of "fans" never had to experience having been granted elite status for the past decade-and-a-half.

That Yankee team (which I cheered for by the way) had players like game 4 hero Jim Leyritz, an original Yankee, who truly experienced the highs and lows having debuted with the team in 1990. These teams know nothing of the earlier times, the black center field seats that no one could fill, the third-place aspirations, nor the days when the only reason to come to The Stadium was to see Don Mattingly try and win a batting crown.

He was the team pre-1995.

Most of all, observers like myself didn't figure on the Yankee$ having any sort of staying power which looked to be prophetic when in 1997 the team didn't even make it to the ALCS, much less the World Series.

Because of this, and because of the fact that the Yankees faced a title drought dating back to 1978 and hadn't even made the postseason since 1981, cheering for them became fun. You felt good for them. They finally did it, and for the most part, they did it the right way, with their own players who worked their way up and overcame the odds.

Something these Yankee$ and their "fans" don't know much of anything, if at all, about.

Yes, that 1996 team may have led the league in payroll, at gasp, $58,162,252 but the disparity wasn't as great with the next team, the Orioles, at about ten million less (about 16% less payroll) followed by seven teams (1/4 of the then-28 team league) but you sure wouldn't have known it.

One of the teams was the Cincinatti Reds who clocked in third at a shade under $47 million. My, how times have changed at least for nearly every other team, that is. You wouldn't know anything about that.

For shame.

So if tonight your collection of mercs happen to win game two in their $1.2 billion dollar palace, consider what have they really done? How surprised by this are you actually?

Where is the fun in that?

Think back to 1996 for reference in order to truly appreciate and understand a winner as I have and may any ALCS pennant and subsequent hardware you may achieve consist of the same phony exterior that constitutes most fair-weather New York Yankee fans such as the majority of you.

May it constucted in the same plastic that you shield your cold demeanors when you head out to the subway before and after each succe$$ive game with your pushy, typical "My Way or the Highway" rude attitudes necessary to live in unforgiving New York where this, understandably comes as a necessity.

Appropriate that a team full of fake players would be supported by a bunch of fake fans.

Dome-It: Will Leyland Regret Not Clinching the Division Yesterday?

Joe Mikolai — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:04:57 -0400

The Twins magic number to clinch the American League Central is 6.

As of yesterday, after their elimination-staving victory in the Motor City, they had a 4 percent chance of making the playoffs per ESPN. That number now stands at 8.2 percent.

Leyland has to know that by not taking care of business, he perhaps opened up pandora's box in the Horrors of the Metrodome to play an x-factor this weekend.

The last thing he probably wanted to do was send a desperate, but not beaten Minnesota Twins team home for their last regular season homestand, back to the Metrodome in what is sure to be an emotional farewell weekend at the very least. Adrenaline is sure to be flowing in one of the loudest venues in baseball as video montages and other nostalgic memories play throughout the weekend.

Leyland's team, on the other hand, must now try and take two of three against fellow divisional rival, Chicago White Sox, at home, when all they had to do was get the job done on their end yesterday.

If you saw his postgame comments on ESPN last night or this morning, he didn't exactly look or sound confident, Tigers comments" target="_blank">much like some Tigers fans.

What will it take for the Twins to make the playoffs?
Twins have three ways to further their season. The Tigers' magic number is two:

Detroit 1/3 vs. Chicago, Twins sweep KC=tie, one game playoff in Minn.
Detroit 0/3 vs. Chicago, Twins sweep KC=Twins win division by one, no playoff needed
Detroit 0/3 vs. Chicago, Twins 2/3 vs. KC=tie 1 game playoff in Minn. since I don't think divisions can be won or lost by .5 a game right? and Detroit would have failed to reach magic number any way.

This is all the more important why MLB's Last Chance at a True Spoiler" target="_blank">this run be seen to completion. The projected starters in each series this weekend are:

Friday October 2
Chicago Jake Peavy, 2-0, 2.25 ERA vs. Detroit Edwin Jackson, 13-8, 3.36 ERA could be a gem on either end. Chicago wins a close one.

Minnesota Manship, 0-1, 5.81 ERA vs. KC DiNardo, 0-2, 7.52 at home I like Minnesota's chances. I think they'll win but it will be close. Manship is a huge risk but at least its not automatic Loss-riano.

Saturday October 3
Chicago Garcia, 2-4, 4.78 ERA vs. Detroit Figaro (who?), 2-1, 5.74 ERA.
Not sure why the Tigers are screwing around here. Garcia is a big-game pitcher. Remember him last year when we needed the Sox ironically to lose against Detroit and they didn't? Weird. Now we want him to win one year later.

Minnesota Blackburn, 11-11, 4.08 ERA vs. KC Grienke, 16-8, 2.06 ERA.

This is the one the Twins could lose. You have to figure Grienke is bound to screw up once as he's had a few cold stretches this year. He dominated last Sunday but that was against crappy has-been Liriano.

Blackburn will at least give the Twins a fighting chance like he did Tuesday in game 1 vs. Detroit and the one-game playoff last year vs. Chicago. This would be a very @$$%*$ thing for KC to do by starting him twice against Minnesota, when they know they need the wins. Those runts.

This is the scary one. I see Chicago having the advantage in their game but I don't like the Twins' chances. Still maybe 45,000 fans will get into Grienke's head in what will be the FOX game of the week if the game as any meaning.

Sunday October 4
Chicago Danks, 13-10, 3.69 ERA vs. Detroit Verlander, 18-9, 3.45 ERA.

Tigers would be dumb to start Verlander here since he wouldn't be able to pitch a game one in NY or the one-game playoff vs. Minnesota, if needed. Also with almost identical ERAs I expect a low 3-2 or 4-3 type game here.

Saturday is the real x-factor of the series as I see it, if the Twins can just make it that far.

Minnesota Duensing, 5-2, 3.69 ERA v. KC Hochevar, 7-12, 6.24 ERA.

I like their chances here. Not only is Duensing a better home pitcher but KC gave them an easier-than-it-could-have-been matchup here if they can just make it. I don't like a rookie starting a must-win game but if Manship survives Friday why can't Duensing Sunday? I think the crowd will really help him out as the atmosphere could be electric and deafening if the game still has meaning.

X-factor: Both the Tigers and Twins series' are at home for each team. Minnesota is a great home team, especially when the playoffs are on the line and don't forget 40,000 in the Dome is a crazy atmosphere and they will not only be welcoming their boys home but closing out the Dome in a very emotional series no matter what happens.

This has all the makings of 2006, where the scrappy Twins came out of nowhere to overtake the Tigers for the division, all over again as I wrote about in July. Would this time be any more epic?

My guess is yes considering they cut the deficit even closer to the wire this time and the closing of the Dome aspect just seems all too fitting, however heart-attack baseball is getting very difficult to watch and you have to wonder if the baseball Gods are watching the Twins after last year's one-pitch-playoff where a Jim Thome mid-game home run provided all the offense the White Sox needed to overcome the Twins in game 163 just last year.

As Peter Gammons has been saying all along, we very well could have bonus baseball in the form of a one-game playoff in Minneapolis on Tuesday, fittingly at the Dome.

But none of that will matter if the Twins don't take care of business tonight. As long as they continue to win, the pressure remains on the Tigers for history to not repeat itself, because this time, there is no Wild Card to fall back on.

Minnesota Twins' Future Looks Good No Matter What Happens

Joe Mikolai — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:58:11 -0400

No matter what happens tomorrow and the rest of the season, Minnesota Twins fans can rest assured that things are in good shape for next season. Unlike seasons past, this Twins team is actually built for success in the postseason...if they can just manage to get there.

That's what makes this latest postseason chase so disappointing: I like this team as is, right now. When I called for Twins GM Bill Smith to step up on July 28, just days before the trading deadline, few if any Twins fan, myself included figured on anything special besides the same old excuses.

In fact, I continued my rant by writing the article "Grading Twins' GM Bill Smith's Trade Deadline Performance," where I gave Smith a "C" since he hadn't added the starting pitcher the team so desperately, and obviously, needed, in addition to several bullpen arms, which was then actually the Twins' biggest weakness.

I noted a "B" would have been given if he added a starting pitcher or a reliever and an "A" if he basically added both.

Well, a surprise Aug. 1 waiver claim turned out to be starter Carl Pavano, who went 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts with the Twins, and the bullpen help came on Aug. 27 with a waiver claim for reliever Jon Rauch 4-1 2.08 ERA in 14 outings and 13.2 crucial innings, helping out a dead and ineffective bullpen. Even more reassuring, this near seven-foot stud is already signed for $2.9M next year, courtesy of an earlier option picked up by Arizona, from whence he came.

Also, the Twins have added 38-year-old veteran southpaw Ron Mahay, who has gone 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA since joining the club. With those moves, in addition to the Cabrera signing, the "C" I initially gave the GM Smith is now easily an "A".

The thing is, for the first time in years, the Twins were given a real, legitimate fighting chance thanks to their GM's real moves. Not since the overused 2003 steal of Shannon Stewart from the always-fledgling Blue Jays had the Twins done anything significant at the deadline, and now they added three real impact veterans in an unfathomable fashion. Smith, to his credit, should be rewarded, and as I've been telling my friends, I was wrong and I admit it.

This is why to see this latest miracle run (13 out of 16 wins) fall short would be so disappointing as in the other usual excuse-creating years. Cabera and Pavano are both free agents-to-be that have done everything we've asked as fans.

Cabrera, just by taking at-bats away from manager Ron Gardenhire's pet—Nick Punto, who's hitting a whopping .232 despite being paid $4.25 million this year—already proved to be a worthy move. Not only that, but his on-base percentage of .299 and batting average of .272, while not flashy, are some of the best offensive numbers the Twins have gotten out of that position in years, proving what a revolving door, and how mediocre at best, its been, thanks in large part to Pet Punto.

On a team where defense is usually the mantra for shortstops, Cabrera gave the Twins a fighting chance every time he came up not to mention many exciting hits in his 54 games since. There has to be a way to keep him for next year.

Projected Payroll $90M next year?

Thanks to the Twins' new $512-million dollar open-air stadium next year, rumors abound that the Twins could have a payroll around $90M next season, which could be enough to keep Pavano and Cabrera, both of whom, I'm hearing, the Twins will do everything they can to accommodate, especially if you heard Peter Gammons on ESPN on Tuesday. Gammons has also been saying all along to prepare for a one-game playoff in Minneapolis vs. Detroit on Tuesday...

What should/could that team look like based on 2010 salary projections?

Infield

1B Justin Morneau: $13M.

2B Punto: $4.25M (by default to justify his salary and "gold glove" defense).

SS Cabrera: $4-5M (I'd offer one-year $4M or one-year $5M with an option year for the 34-year-old).

3B Joe Crede: Retain @ $3M, or a similarly priced vet or rookie Danny Valencia ($400K).

C Joe Mauer: $23M (new contract similar to Johan Santana deal with Mets).

Total infield cost: about $47M with Crede

Outfield/DH

CF Carlos Gomez: $1M (arbitration).

RF Denard Span: $1.5M. Span is arbitration-eligible, although the Twins would be wise to lock him up soon.

LF Michael Cuddyer $10.5M (option expected to be picked up; better lock up my favorite player soon, who apparently wants to retire a Twin).

DH Jason Kubel: $2.75M.

Bench

Delmon Young: $2M. I hope he stays, as he's still only 24 and, at worst, provides good depth.

Jose Morales: $450K.

Brendan Harris: $1M.

Matt Tolbert/Valencia or another filler: $450K.

Total hitting cost: about $67M

Starting Pitching

Scott Baker: $3 million, part of the four-year $15.25 steal they signed him for earlier this year.

Nick Blackburn: $2M (arbitration).

Kevin Slowey: $450K.

Carl Pavano $6M (I'd offer something in the range of two years for $12M or three years for $15M).

Brian Duensing: $450K.

Total cost: $12M.

Bullpen

Jesse Crain: $2M.

Matt Guerrier: $2M.

Closer Joe Nathan: $11.5M.

Pat Neshek: $450K.

Jose Mijires: $450K (the best bargain in baseball).

Jon Raush: $2.9M.

Francisco Liriano: $1M. Better be a one/two-inning "specialist" only; if I'm GM, he's in AAA.

Pen cost: $20.5M

Total payroll: $67M+$12M+$20.5M=$99.5M

Now obviously, this is $9M over budget, meaning they are going to have to do some tweaks here and there. Maybe $1M less for Cabrera and Pavano, and ask Mauer to take $20-21M, so that the Twins can better build around him. Third base could be a savings of 2.5M alone if they go cheap with a rookie or defer some of the new contract with Mauer (and maybe a re-done Cuddyer deal?)

This is why to lose this year would be so frustrating since I really like this team and, as I've said before, what a waste it would be for the probable league MVP, Joe Mauer, to be sitting at home when his best years here are being waste along with Morneau's, which, before this year, was the front office's fault.

Additionally, this very well could be the Twins' final run together as a group with Mauer's likely departure to Boston or New York following 2010 as I project regrettably, due to economics. The only question I have been asking is, how long will it take for Mow-wa to pick up that awful New York or Boston accent?

Division Looks Favorable Next Year

This isn't meant to be a throw-in-the-towel piece, but with the way Cleveland went into sell-off mode, unless they are planning an unlikely 1993-ish signing of all their prospects they got in return for Cliff Lee, Pavano, Ben Fransico, Ryan Garko (who was always a Twins killer), and Victor Martinez, this team is basically Grady Sizemore and that's it ,with a 90-loss season like this one in their future for next year.

Chicago on the other hand, is cash-strapped with the Jake Peavy four-year, $52M and Alexei Ramirez five-year, $55M salary additons. Couple this with the loss of locker room leader and fellow Twin-killer Jim Thome, whose stay with L.A. will be short due to no-DH and the hitting gets weaker, too. Now, I expect Thome to return to Cleveland in a Ken Griffey Jr.-esque "farewell tour," but as for the White Sox, this, with the loss of the affordable Jermaine Dye ($5M), another Twins killer, is going to make their path to the playoffs much easier next year. Notice a theme?

Kansas City has proven to me to be inept, even after I gave them a chance.

With some luck and skill, the Twins should win about 2:1 against these three teams leading to around 36 divisional wins alone, not counting the Tigers, who they usually do right around split with (11 out of 18 this year). Even a 10/8 split with the Tigers would give them 46 divisional wins before their usual flame-out against the AL beasts Yankees and Red Sox, for whom they always bend over.

Playoff Preview Different than Years Past?

In their last 27 regular-season games versus the Yankees, in New York, the star-struck Twins have lost 24 of them; look it up. Playing in that new palace or the old hallowed House that Ruth built, caused the peach-fuzz Twins to soil themselves.

However, much of that mess from the July series—R.A. Dickey, Craig Breslow, and crybaby Glen Perkins—are gone, complete with three Yankee-mystique walk-off hits, which single-handedly turned the Evil Empire's season around.

Additionally, Pavano, Cabrera, Rauch, and Mahay weren't there so its likely they are immune from the Yankee-itis the Twins suffer from each regular or postseason, giving me reason for optimism if they can just make it first.

Finally, annual playoff choker, Justin Morneau, another star-struck hitter, is currently out for the rest of the regular season with declining numbers caused by a "bad back." So, its likely he wouldn't be back for the first round of the playoffs vs. the team of high-priced whores, like Traitor Tex.

Divisional Games More Meaningful

Let's take it one game at a time andMLB's Last Chance at a True Spoiler" target="_blank"> remember that Major League Baseball doesn't want you here.

Take care of business and leave the rest to the White Sox. Last year, a rivalry was renewed when the Twins played the Sox; this year, it's the Tigers who the Twins must hope to lose.

All of this is good for the game and creating extended fan interest later into the season. Additionally, it renews interest in the American League Central, an afterthought to the national media, and, finally, it causes fans to take an interest and research the cities, fans, and players of their rival teams to appreciate the rivalry, in every sense of the word, instead of just calling it such based on geographical location.

No matter what happens, the Twins are already winners, this time because their front office finally gave them a real, fighting chance now and for the future, and as fans, what more could we ask?

Pay For Play: Minnesota Twins Represent MLB's Last Chance at a True Spoiler

Joe Mikolai — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:39:48 -0400

Last year, the perennial little team that could, the Minnesota Twins fell just one game short of the playoffs.

Actually, it was in their 163rd game, a play-in game with the division rival Chicago White Sox in a game played controversially at "The Cell" in Chicago's Southside.

Since the epic 1-0 finish, with a Jim Thome home run being the deciding factor, the rule, which awarded the game to Chicago via a coin flip has been changed to what it should have been all along, the better record amongst the teams involved, in head-to-head matchups host the deciding game.

Once again, the small-market Twins find themselves going up again a familiar foe, this time in the form of the Detroit Tigers. I previewed this possibility on July 6 when I wrote the following article: "Don't look now. Justin Morneau is carrying the Twins....again."

Only this time, due to a season-ending back injury they don't even have him, yet winners of 12 of their last 14, they continue to overcome the odds baseball stacks against them.

I've also discussed the very real possibility of home town hero, and likely MVP winner Joe Mauer playing his final days in a Twins uniform. How sad would it be to not only close out the Metrodome's 27-year history with three meaningless regular season games against the "we-don't-even-try-until September" Kansas City Royals, but also have a league MVP and batting champion sitting at home in October?

This could be Mauer's last chance to represent his town, his team, in the playoffs before he becomes just another bastard Red $ox. Now, I never really got too attached to cheering for Mauer since I never saw him staying with the team, but personal feelings aside, all the other Twins fans deserve to see this through until he really is out the door.

The Tigers, however, have baseball's fifth higest payroll entering this season at $115,085,145 with an average salary of $4,110,184—while the Twins check in 24th at $65,299,267 with the average player earning $2,251,699.

If they are lucky enough to survive a late season collapse that saw Detroit leading the American League Central by seven games as late as Sept. 6 (the day before Labor Day for those of you keeping track), we're going to have to hear all about "poor Detroit" and how a World Series win would do wonders for the fading city in this economy, and the health of legendary former Tigers broadcaster, Ernie Harwell, this year's version of Harry Kalas as in an endless rendition of "Win this one (as in the next game they play for as long as they play) for Ernie!"

Well I, for one, am sick of hearing about Detroit.

Not only is "poor Detroit" so 1945, as its population has been declining ever since then, much like the state as a whole, but more importantly there are other parts of the nation that have been hit just as hard or harder, yet don't receive half the coverage because they lack the long standing economic staples (i.e cars) that Detroit does.

You didn't see the Arizona Cardinals say "Look at us!" throughout their 2008 Super Bowl run despite the fact that the Phoenix area has been notoriously hard hit in home repossession in a most staggering housing market decline.

Thirdly, beyond the payroll and economics factor, the Tigers lack intriguing players since its basically been Edwin Jackson and Justin Verlander carrying them pitching-wise and Miguel Cabrera offensively. How's that Aubrey Huff addition been working out for them? .194, 2 HR, 13 RBI since coming to town almost two months ago.

If just another big city market is what you are after, then by all means cheer for the lowly, boring Tigers, who don't even deserve to be where they are after practically blowing their late lead.

You've already got the a-hole Yankee$ and their No. 1 $201,449,289 ($7,748,050 average) payroll. How can you idiot fans sleep at night knowing its not really a team, but a bunch of hired guns? Of course you made the playoffs, you're supposed to. Where's the intrigue?

You've got the junior Yankee$, their cousin$, the Bo$ton Red $ox and their No. 4 $122,696,000 ($4,089,867 average) payroll. If you can't beat 'em join 'em, right fellas?

You've got the $113,709,000 ($4,061,036 average) Angels who are sixth in the American League in total payroll.

No. 1 Yankee$, No. 4 Red $ox and No. 6 Angel$. Really fun, especially if you add the No. 5 Tiger$. Wow, that's gonna be super. Who's gonna win the pennant? The one that spends the least? That's comforting and that's just the American League.

Sadly, I probably would be cheering for the frugal-by-comparison, Angel$ throughout if only to be spared yet another forced-down-our-throats Yankee$ vs. Red $ox from the ESPN Hype Machine. I swear if that happens, I'm boycotting the ALCS and so will a lot of sickened fans.

Hey, Bawstonians and New Yuckers, the league does NOT revolve around you!

National League stakes

In the National League we've got the hot-dogging Los Angeles Dodgers with their tired Manny mantra and over-used Joe Torre nostalgia. At $100,458,101 ($4,018,324 average) we've got the ninth ranked, and last of the triple-digit payroll teams in the playoffs.

Nine out of 30. Thirty percent of the freaking league has a payroll in excess of $100 million. While in the NFL where this is common place, let's not kid ourselves for there is real parity each year. We could see a Cincinnati Bengals vs. New Orleans Saints Super Bowl. Don't laugh.

In Major League Baseball, that's roughly equivalent to the Kansas City Royals vs the Washington Nationals.

Ain't gonna happen.

We aren't going to see that preceded by a winner-take-all Pittsburgh vs. Washington NLCS or Kansas City-Minnesota ALCS. Baseball doesn't want that, never did.

Bad for business.

No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, (AL) No. 7, No. 9, No. 13 No. 18 (NL) as of now.

In addition to the Hollywood Dodgers who coudn't even change their name despite the fact that the name originated as is more appropriate to the trolley dodgers of Brooklyn, we see that the seventh ranked Philadelphia Phillies at $113,004,048 ($4,185,335 average) have all but clinched the East. Awesome. Do we even have to mention they are the defending champs?

The Central will be represented by the St. Louis Cardinals and their 13th ranked $88,528,411 ($3,278,830 average) payroll complete with Albert "I haven't been caught yet" Pujols.

Finally, the Wild Card race pits the No. 18 ranked Colorado Rockies, $75,201,000 ($2,785,222 average) against the No. 11 Atlanta Braves and their $96,726,167 ($3,335,385 average) payrolls. Don't even get me started on the fair-weather fandom of the metro-Atlanta "fans" or their tiring 14 consecutive division titles yet 1/5 showing in the Fall Classic.

Brillant.

So baseball fans, its your choice:

Do you want:

ALDS

No.1 $201,449,289 $7,748,050 vs. No.5 $115,085,145 4,110,184

and

No.4 $122,696,000 4,089,867 vs No.6 $113,709,000 4,061,036

No.1 $201,449,289 $7,748,050 vs No.24 $65,299,267 2,251,699

and

No.4 $122,696,000 4,089,867 vs No.6. $113,709,000 4,061,036

NLDS

No.9 $100,458,101 4,018,324 vs No.11 96,726,167 3,335,385

and

No.13 $88,528,411 3,278,830 vs. No.7 $113,004,048 4,185,335

No.13 $88,528,411 3,278,830 vs. No.18 $75,201,000 2,785,222

and

No.9 $100,458,101 4,018,324 vs No.7 $113,004,048 4,185,335

I'd say we should all be cheering for the Twins and Rockies to finish the deal and meet in the World Series for the good of the game, lest we be forced to suffer the agony of a boring, economics-fueled, World Series with six of the top nine payrolls already represented.

Selig's joke revenue sharing finally hit him in the face and it will be exposed by historically low ratings if this is the case.

Turns out all the $&$*# Yankee$ needed to end their nine year World Series Championship "slump" was a brand new $1.2 billion dollar palace. I can read it now.

Enjoy it Yankee$ fans, its not like you earned it.

You have bought it.

And Major League Baseball wouldn't want it any other way.

Let's just hope the Twins postseason fate isn't determined by a mere pitch like last year.

After all, what are the chances?

2009-'10 NHL Predictions and Awards: Where They'll Finish

Joe Mikolai — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:31:20 -0400

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Atlantic Division

1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Don't forget they had to rally just to win the Cup. Lots of young talent in the right places.

2. New Jersey Devils: Losing Brian Gionta and John Madden will hurt their always-tremendous depth. They picked up Rob Neidermayer and new coach Jacques Lemaire with his passive offense. Expect offensive production to decline and defense to go up.

3. N.Y. Rangers

4. Philadelphia Flyers: The only trade they made was the Chris Pronger deal and he's old. They flipped him and his massive salary at the expense of youth, which went back to an already good Anaheim team. Bad deal.

5. N.Y. Islanders: Not a lot here to build off of. The kids will have to step up and surprise to fill holes. Dwayne Roloson is going to be busy, solid vet signing that he was.

Northeast Division

1. Boston Bruins: Tim Thomas anchors a solid goaltending situation. The Bruins have many weapons on both sides of the puck but seem to be "Shark-bitten," always falling short, despite their talent level, much like San Jose. I expect nothing different this year. Good regular season team—that's all.

2. Montreal Canadiens: I love the under-the-radar additions. They added Gionta, Scott Gomez, Jaroslav Spacek and Paul Mara. All are good vets who know how to play and win. Losing 16-year Hab Patrice Brisebois will hurt in the locker room. Expect them to take the next leap toward the postseason. Probably a year away but moving in the right direction.

3. Buffalo Sabres: Nice scorers, good depth. Didn't lose a lot of significant players. Always seem to overachieve despite payroll limitations and small market. Why would this year be any different?

4. Ottawa Senators: How the mighty have fallen. Traded one marketable player in Dany Heatley in a market where few are stars for a used Jonathan Cheechoo, former 56-goal scorer who needed a change of scenery.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs: Love the potential of the Kessel steal but it was their only move. Too little too late.

Southeast Division

1. Washington Capitals: This is Alexander Ovechkin's division to lose. How many goals will he get? 65? 70? Can't wait to find out. 150 points?

2. Carolina Hurricanes: Don't want to play them in the playoffs when they always have deep runs into May. Getting Aaron Ward back from their 2006 run will be huge. Tinkered by making only minor, final tweaks to a strong roster. Stephane Yelle is a proven winner. When you are good as they are, you don't have to do much. Just don't screw up what you have.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning: Signed a 40-goal threat in Alex Tanguay who I've always liked. Playing next to Lecavalier and St. Louis should boost his production again in a new environment. No real big losses. Expect a first-round fizzle if they get there at all.

4. Florida Panthers: The Jay Bouwmeester trade was flashy but only got Leopold in return and a weird one-year deal for the defenseman? No depth here.

5. Atlanta Thrashers: Talent is defunct. Who's going to step up? Sat out free agency. Long term viability in Atlanta in flux.

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Central Division

1. Detroit Red Wings: The machine keeps rolling. The only question is, will they get 105 or 110 points on way to the Presidents' trophy? Lost Hossa and a lot of wing depth, but Russian kids you've never heard of will step up and fill the void seamlessly, just like they always do on this playoff-savvy team.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Hossa for Havlat basically was a flip so not much gained or lost there. But they didn't lose anyone big and the Madden signing was a nice move. The only thing I worry about is, did they overachieve last year? How much of it was a legit run?

3. Nashville Predators: Still have Steve Sullivan so they have a chance and I don't expect Columbus to repeat their "success" last year so they'll pick up a few more divisional wins right there.

4. St. Louis Blues: Not sure how they did as well as they did last year, but the formula's there. Why mess with it?

5. Columbus Blue Jackets: Nash and Co. will fall back down to earth. They aren't the putrid Jackets of old but they aren't a playoff team like last year, either.

Northwest Division

1. Calgary Flames: Lost 40-goal threat Tanguay but not much else. Core is still there and they are the team to beat.

2. Vancouver Canucks: Smartly re-signed the Sedin twins and Luongo to a (soon to be) ridiculous, over-the-top 12-year deal. Still solid.

3. Minnesota Wild: Basically flipped Marian Gaborik for Martin Havlat and added perennial 20-goal scorer Petr Sykora late. And they say offense will be down? If anything, the "D" is weak.

4. Edmonton Oilers: Lost out on the Dany Heatley trade. Lost steady vet Dwayne Roloson for solid but unspectacular Khabibulin. Expect goal scoring to be lacking.

5. Colorado Avalanche: No major free agents come here any more. Patrick Roy turned them down for coaching and GM signaling no desire to join this mess. Good to see the once-mighty fall and new teams get a chance.

Pacific Division

1. Anaheim Ducks: Team to beat here even without Pronger. Welcome back Joffrey Lupul. Good veteran presence minus the Niedermayer split. Stole solid 50-point center Saku Koivu from Montreal who, believe it or not, had no use (read: place) for him any more. Both teams got better by the move.

2. San Jose Sharks: April's best team can't get over the hump. They won't again this year to no one's surprise. Best regular season team money can buy. The Anaheim Angels of the NHL. Same-state coincidence? I think not.

3. L.A. Kings: The scrappy kids will continue to impress. Quietly got Ryan Smyth from the fading Avs. More vet presence needed to truly put this team at the next level.

4. Dallas Stars: A few aging stars in Turco and Modano. Not much else.

5. Phoenix Coyotes: Would be in Ontario or back to Winnipeg if I ran the NHL. No business being where they aren't wanted (or needed). Joke of an operation here. I hope they lose millions forcing Bettman to move them to Canada where the best offer will be made, and thus, accepted. At the end of the day, its all about money and revenue.

Playoffs: Eastern Conference

(1) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Buffalo. (Pittsburgh in four.)

(2) Washington vs. (7) Carolina (Carolina in six.)

(3) Boston vs. (6) NY Rangers (Boston in four.)

(4) New Jersey vs. (5) Montreal (Montreal in five.)

2nd Rd

(1) Pittsburgh vs. (7) Carolina (Pittsburgh in five.)

(3) Boston vs (5) Montreal (Montreal in six.)

3rd Rd

(1) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Montreal (Pittsburgh in five.)

Eastern Conference Champions: Pittsburgh Penguins

Playoffs: Western Conference

(1) Detroit vs. (8) Nashville (Detroit in four.)

(2) Anaheim vs. (7) Minnesota (Minnesota in six.)

(3) Calgary vs. (6) San Jose (Calgary in five.)

(4) Chicago vs. (5) Vancouver (Chicago in seven.)

2nd Rd

(1) Detroit vs. (7) Minnesota (Detroit in four.)

(3) Calgary vs. (4) Chicago (Chicago in six.)

3rd Rd

(1) Detroit vs. (4) Chicago (Detroit in five.)

Western Conference Champions: Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup Finals

Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, Part III. (Detroit in six.)

Awards

Hart (MVP): Alex Ovechkin, Washington (67 goals, 150 points)

Conn Smythe (Playoffs MVP): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh.

Vezina (Best Goalie): Chris Osgood, Detroit.

Norris (Best Defenseman): Lidstrom, Detroit.

Jack Adams (Best Coach): Jacques Martin, Montreal.

Brett Favre Could Be The Key To a New Vikings Stadium In Minnesota

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:05:45 -0400

Hey ESPN, we know how you love all things Brett Favre. We know how you couldn't get enough of his on-again-off-again "retirement" talk. Its good for ratings and fodder, so who could blame you. You're only doing your jobs as the national sports hype machine.

And Brett Favre, we know how you crave the spotlight. We know how you can't shake the itch to play, rather to just walk away when critics from all over the nation want to prove you wrong.

We assume there must not be a whole lot waiting for you in Kiln, Mississippi, after all, there is only so much land that can be plowed each year.

This, along with your fiercely competitive nature, one to which I cannot compare in recent memory concluded with the not-so-obvious confederation of you offering your services to your once No. 1 rival, the Minnesota Vikings who clearly wanted you when the Green Bay Packers did not.

Thank you for not only coming to the team, but also for giving it a shot no matter what the outcome. I know you'd have never forgave yourself if you didn't try knowing you were that close to a deal only to back out on July 30 because you just couldn't commit to the full season.

The Vikings, and even the most inept fans, knew they were but one manage-the-game Quarterback away from truly taking them to the next level and you obliged. The rest is history but one that can be special as I've outlined here.

But if you truly want to make your mark in Minnesota, as well as continue to soothe your ego that the media shamefully loves to exploit, have you considered being the face of an entire stadium drive?

Imagine this scenario: February 7, 2010 Minnesota just defeats ______ for their first NFL Championship in State history.

You will have done what sixteen men: Fran Tarkenton, Joe Knapp, Gary Cuozzo, Tommy Kramer, Wade Wison, Rich Gannon, Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Brad Johnson, Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, Daunte Culpepper, Tarvaris Jackson, and Gus Freotte have all failed to do in the Vikings 48 years in Minnesota.

Take a long look at that list. How many of them are Hall of Famers, like yourself? How many of them made Pro Bowls, like yourself. You want to know why year-in-and year-out the Vikings are always a sleeper pick to go far in the playoffs, it starts with their incredible consistency and opportunity provided at quarterback.

The list reads like a Who's Who. By comparison, the Chicago Bears, have had Chicago bears starting QBs">thirty-five men line up under center, and even this less-than-impressive bunch was able to muster 1 NFL Championship (1963) and Super Bowl (1986) in the years since the Vikings joined the league in 1961.

You will be treated a like a Rock Star. You will be treated like a God (relatively speaking of course). But most of all, you will get the attention you crave ten-fold once again on sports biggest stage as the leader of one of the league's most revered and consistent teams.

Your legacy once thought tampered, will be restored as you prove the naysayers wrong and add to your lone trophy case. The only question will be whether the Vikings would dare put you in their Ring of Honor in the Vikings Hall of Fame or whether you'd dare were purple in your induction ceremony in Canton whenever that comes.

But most of all, you'd have the unique opportunity to be the face of an entire stadium campign that has been in neutral since 1997 after years of failed legislative attempts and proposals. Talk about exposure. Talk about media attention!

Imagine going up the steps of the State Capitol in St. Paul and lobbying alongside owner Zygi Wilf, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Stadium Development Lester Bagley, Rob Brzezinski VP of Football Operations, or Steve LaCroix VP of Sales and Marketing among other officials, decked in purple, serving as lead cheerleader in the newest wave of stadium proposals in the aftermath of the media hype off the Super Bowl Win!

How long do you think it would take the legislators to react favorably knowing the passion the team brings to the state, not to mention national swagger with their history of less than colorful characters not seen on other Minnesota sports teams?

How long do you think it would take for even the most pessimistic legislator to give approval knowing you just delivered on a lifelong goal that had been eluding an entire four state fan base all of their legislative lives and careers?

How long do you think it would take for those legislators, beaming with state pride, many of whom are likely Vikings season ticket holders and fans themselves to get caught up in the moment and agree to the funding that had been so evasive in the past?

I'd say about a week or so. If given the opportunity, the Vikings better strike while the iron is hot and use Brett Favre to his full contractual advantage while they got him and while he still is a media darling.

The House that Brett Favre Built

That's the power only you and your mega celebrity status could bring to a region that was forced to "hate" you for sixteen years while you were in America's Dairyland. How ironic and fairytalk fitting would it be if you helped your once arch rival achive the goals that have eluded them the most?

Before the made-for-TV soap opera ends, you could be a new state icon, forever enshrined as one of their own. More ME-dia attention! More self-satisfying legacy! You can't put a price on that and you can't make this stuff up.

Regardless of how the Brett Favre fairy tale ends, I remain confident all along that worst case scenario, at the eleventh hour, the state legislature will get something done before the 2011 Metrodome Lease expires.

You see, people like the Twins. After the threat of contraction in 2001, many people got back on that bandwagon (winning helped too). Having a bad team was certainly better than having no team. People like the Wild.

In a state that pride's itself as the "State of Hockey" despite having never won and titles at its highest level of competition offered (NHL) its high schools and colleges are loaded each year with the nation's top prospects and athletes vying for the draft.

But people absolutely love the Vikings.

Like I stated, they give the team the most national exposure in the nation's most popular sport.

They give them team the most press and swagger with their longest slate of success (36/48 seasons of .500 or better ball), and they give the state the most varying storylines from Ontario Smith's embarrassing Whizzanator incident, to the Randy Moss years which, like former Governor Jesse Ventura, exposed Minnesotans to the more Rock Star atmosphere more suited for big city New York or bustling L.A. than the passive, laid back Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Finally the 2005 "Sex Boat" controversy brought maybe the most banter from jocks all over.

Jaguars to Los Angeles">Losing the Vikings to a market like L.A. for example, would all but seal the fate of any legislator who happened to vote against what would ultimately be deemed-a-last resort, all-or-nothing,moving-vans-are-a-coming bill. They have to know this, and this is why I doubt we'll ever see that day.

In an evolving state that somehow got a new stadium for the backpage boys, the Minnesota Twins, one that I never thought I'd live to see having grown up a fan of the team and their small market epitome if their ever was one, to the brand new, about-damn-time TCF Bank Stadium for the perennial bottom feeding Golden Gophers, the truly ironic fact remains that the state's most popular and successful team is going to be the last one to receive its stadium they covet.

At an average of 8-6 each season based on their 385 wins and 316 regular season loses, there is perhaps no more consistent team never to win the sport's ultimate prize than the Men of Norway, the Minnesota Vikings.

Perhaps the fact that at likely $1 billion or more for all the bells and whistles rumored, to the probable development of land at its final location, the final stadium in the trio will also be the most expensive and thus, the delay. But for now at least we have a two or three year stop gap in TCF Bank stadium.

After legislation is passed in spring of 2011 and by the time they break ground that fall, to when the first game is played sometime around September of 2015, Brett Favre and the Vikings should just be entering their seventh year of marriage together with him being the 45 year old guy lined up under center, since we all know he's never really going to retire.....

Can you see any other logical ending?

Blackouts, History May Ultimately Lead the Jaguars to Los Angeles

Joe Mikolai — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:10:34 -0400

Right from the beginning, the Jacksonville Jaguars were a lost franchise.

Along with their expansion cousins, the Carolina Panthers, each team made their respective conference championship games in surprising fashion, in only their second year of existence.

Included in all the excitement, was the buzz their wins created. I remember NFL fans and commentators joking as to exactly where Jacksonville was. Some people thought it was in South Georgia, others guessed Alabama in its early days of life in the NFL.

A similar debate apparantly continues today as how to best market them.

Blackouts looming

Rumors that for weeks surrounded the fact that the team could be facing a season long blackout of its home games, officially became reality last weekend as its home opener vs. the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals, was not enough to entice enough local fans to come to the game.

According to Bill Prescott, Jaguars Chief Financial Officer, it won't be the last blackout and even if the team had made the playoffs last year, this still would be the case due to an especially hard hit local economy.

To give you can idea of what that could be like, let me remind you of the Montreal Expos situation shortly after they forfeited all their English radio contracts, leaving only French fans able to listen to the games or how the Expos made a similar move, cutting ties with the local television broadcast companies, leaving fans literally in the dark-similar to a blackout.

It wasn't long before this similarly talent deficient team, found themselves playing in front of about 5,000 fans on average.

You don't necessarily need to hear Mike Golic today on Mike and Mike saying "Every time there is talk of a team moving, it seems to begin and end with the Jaguars" to know that the Jaguars could be in big trouble soon.

Many will speculate that the Minnesota Vikings with their 2011 Metrodome expiration lease could soon face similar trouble but I disagree. The NFL loves the Vikings. When you have literally 3/4 of your seasons (36/48) in existence at .500 or better, the NFL takes notice.

Lack of History Hurting them

Mix in the fact that the Vikings have several long standing rivalries with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers in the old "Norris Division" if you're ESPN's Chris Berman, and its hard to see the NFL breaking that long-standing history up. They know all too well that Viking fans will never become Packer fans, so essentially they'd be throwing away the 14th largest media market in the United States.

Despite the Jaguars fans' optimism, they have no history other than a few early years of success to bank on. They currently sit 29th in market size behind New Orleans which just signed an extension at the Super Dome through 2025, and Green Bay, a league stalwart.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area and the Saints inspiring 2005 season, the NFL would have never let the Saints relocate, even without the lease extension their symbolism and relationship with the region is now too great to break.

San Diego might be the last viable option if the Oakland Raiders don't beat them to returning to Los Angeles which has been without professional football since 1996. Oakland, 29th in the league in attendance in 2008, lagged far behind Jacksonville (19) New Orleans (11) and even Minnesota in their defunct excuse for a stadium (25th).

Blackouts similar to the Jacksonville area, were expected in San Diego before a late extension allowed them to reach their sellout for their game against Baltimore yesterday.

Talent deficit in JAX

Minnesota, rejuvenated with Brett Favre optimism themselves, won't have to worry about stadium concerns if Brett Favre gives the championship-starved region its first title in franchise history of the state's first in eighteen years. He'll be the new inspiration and poster boy for any subsequent financing campaign.

Jacksonville on the other hand, looks to be down-right awful after two weeks and an 0-2 start.

Quick!! Name their starting wide-receivers!

Mark Schlereth demonstrated how hard it was a few weeks ago while filling in on Mike and Mike.

While steady Torry Holt remains a constant threat, he's the only one.

On a team that trots out first round bust Troy Williamson as the starter opposite Holt, the group includes a bunch of nobody's looking to make a name for themselves. Williamson, nicknamed "stone hands" in Minnesota for his many drops, may already be lost for the season.

Nate Hughes, Mike Sims-Walker, or Mike Thomas make up third part of this sad trifecta, while inexplicably sitting Ernest Wilford 4th on the depth chart.

This is why I've been saying for weeks among friends that they missed a perfect opportunity to grab disgruntled Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall who'd probably love a return to the state where he starred at the University of Central Florida before becoming a 4th round draft pick and NFL star. Marvin Harrison, anyone?

Don't forget they traded up to get first round bust (so far) (eighth overall 2008?) Derrick Harvey, instead of letting him land with the Minnesota Vikings at 17 who specifically needed help at the position but who instead did what Jacksonville should have, in trading for All Pro defensive end Jared Allen who plays the same position.

Like Brett Favre to the Vikings where everyone knew they were thin and just a player away, defensive end was the glaring hole the Vikings faced, and filled last off-season. Noticing a theme? Some teams just know how to get it done-how to find and add, that missing piece. The Vikings prove time and time again they can while the Jaguars don't.

I had them going 7-9 with Maurice Jones Drew struggling as the feature back with his small size. While I wish I could drop them lower (4-12 perhaps?) it looks like I predicted correctly in placing them in last place, right where they belong.

Los Angeles Jaguars

It doesn't sound right, but in a city that lacks the creativity and imagination to come up with their own names (see Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers) named after Minnesota's Land of 10,000 Lakes or Brooklyn's old trolley-dodgers, it would only seem fitting.

About as fitting as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

I shudder the thought.

Truex Jr., Keselowski highlight three teams to watch for in 2010

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:14:33 -0400

NASCAR's silly season hasn't even officially started since the season hasn't even ended yet, but in the world of NASCAR, unlike other more structured sports, it never really ends.

Drivers can be fired or replaced (Bobby Labonte) at a moment's notice, leaving their former teams scrambling for an even lower replacement driver than the one who failed.

Keeping in mind that its not even The Chase yet, here are three intriguing teams to keep and eye on in 2010:

1. Martin Truex Jr (above) no. 56 NAPA Michael Waltrip Racing

I see him as the Ryan Newman of 2010 in comparing him to another seemingly finished driver who revived his career with a simple change of scenery. Like Newman, he too will be switching makes and models trading Chevrolet for Toyota next year and I expect him to legitimately compete for a Chase spot next year, likely sneaking in on the back end of the Chase eerily similar to what Newman did this year.

While I'll have him pegged for at least one win, unlike Newman's goose egg (so far) this year, the fact he already stole a capable crew chief in former Kurt Busch counterpart Pat Tryson, shows an obvious upgrade from Kevin Manion, who currently holds the post.

Tryson comes from a winning tradition first at Roush (when they were good) and most recently, during his brief time with Kurt Busch. He hopes to transition that over to his new home.

Look at it this way, Truex gets a crew chief that made the Chase, and made it comfortably (7th seed). There are 43 teams any given Sunday and his was one that made the Chase. Could be worse.

NAPA loves team owner Michael Waltrip, a marketer's dream, so with his wit and pitch-man ability, money certainly will follow, only increasing the exposure for the team like ARMY did for Newman.

Finally, he's surrounded by actual capable talent in a former driver (Waltrip) with his excellent connections around the sport, and an even better teammate in the emerging David Reutimann, whose leaps and bounds better than Juan Pablo Montoya, who Truex clearly didn't take notes from and who clearly has superior equipment.

Montoya simply managed to make the Chase by being passive and learning from the Jimmie Johnson school of racing for points over wins.

This team is clearly on the rise and a Chase spot in 2010 would be the next natural progression like the 83 team did this year. Having just two cars each week, unlike Earnhardt-Ganassi's sometimes trio stable which includes John Andretti, will allow the team to focus on just two cars and prepare them solidly each week.

A Kyle Busch season (four-eight wins) is not out of the question, but more realistically, doubling his career win total to two would be a nice start.

Also, if you think this is fun now, wait until Truex's younger brother, Ryan, whose been tearing up the Camping World East Series (three wins, six top five's in only nine starts and is leading the standings) joins the team in the future.

Projection: Chase driver, 10 seed.

2. Brad Keselowski, no. 12 Verizon (no decals) Penske Racing

Keselowski comes across to me as an arrogant punk who sometimes needs to get smacked (see Carl Edwards, Talladega, 2009). Whether its his dirty Rusty Wallace/Dale Sr/Tony Stewart-like aggressive driving style or his homeboy status with created NASCAR personality, as opposed to actual driver, Dale Jr, there are plenty of things I don't like about him. Besides the fact that he's not a Southern driver in a sport where I think this should still be the norm, at least he's not quite Jimmie Johnson repulsive.

With that said, the day he left the Hendrick juggernaut to take a chance on another up-and-coming (where did that come from?) team in the form of Penske Racing, I gained new respect for him.

Not only did he leave that dasterdly team (apparantly big brother will keep an eye on him for the future, though) but he now drives for a team and a model that simply must thrive to survive.

By Richard Petty Motorsports dodging over to Ford for next year (yes that was intentional), the move leaves Penske as the lone Dodge team to cheer for next year if you are a fan of that make. For that reason alone, Keselowski is bound to pick up fans. Learning from a former Cup champion each week in Kurt Busch can't hurt either.

Expect to see Brad as a bubble Chase driver right up until the end, only to fall short (in Clint Bowyer fashion) with maybe a win or two next year and several top 10's.

Projection: Chase bubble driver, contender all year

3. Richard Petty Motorsports (collectively)

What I began to preview this year, with this article, should only continue to improve now that Yates Racing (with their history of engine/horsepower success) finally has some real drivers driving for them. We know Kasey Kahne is a given, although I don't feel as confident about him making the Chase in consecutive years given the fact this is only his second in the Chase's six years. He's clearly the leader with A.J. as the other half and the rest as spare parts by default only.

A.J. Allmendinger is certainly still promising with seven of his last ten races being top 20 or better. I'd take him on my team.

Elliott Sadler should be fired due to lack of talent and replaced with Jaime McMurray, but when he did race in the no. 38 for Yates and Ford, he did have some of his best years-2004 Chase participant. So you never know. Its a long shot, but if Brian Vickers and Reutimann can snap long winless droughts, can Salder be far behind?

Paul Menard sucks and is an absolute waste of time and space, but since money talks, especially in this economy, Daddy continues to foot the bill for the family sponsor, Menard's. Hopefully he tires of the sport soon enough and retires to join daddy as an empty suit, silver spoon child that he is and leaves the blue collar sport to the drivers and fans who truly understand and love it.

For those angry about the loss of a once traditional power in Yates and those in the Dodge camp mentioned above, take solace in the fact that there are now two legit Ford teams instead of one and the shadow that was Yates. It could have been worse. It could have been another Toyota team as was rumored here.

Projection: Kahne Chase bubble driver, Allemindinger Chase contender (15-18 range), Sadler the toss up (either continue to tred water, or revived), Menard 30th in points.

There you have it. Three fresh storylines to watch from under-the-radar teams come 2010.

Returning the Stolen Base to Baseball Prominence (Part IV)

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:44:45 -0400

Part IV in a series.

Before reading this article, be sure to read parts I, II, and III of my season-long mini-series outlining the possibility of another 100-steal man in major league baseball, "The Quest for 100 Steals: Can Carl Crawford or Anyone Else Do It?", "The Quest for 100 steals-can Carl Crawford do it?" and "Returning The Stolen Base To Baseball Prominence (Part III)"

Around the first of each month until the end of the season, I will write updates on the progress of the major league leaders in stolen bases, as well as their projections, and what they'd have to do in order to steal 100 (or at least a decent, non-pedestrian number like we've been fooled into thinking is "fast" in the past (see Soriano, Alfonso; Damon, Johnny).

September 2, 2009—here are MLB's top 5 stolen base performers:

1. (tie) 1. Carl Crawford, Rays

He has 55 steals in 66 attempts through 131 games (71-60 team record) on pace for 68.

Since the last update I wrote on August 1, Crawford is 7-for-10 in steals. His numbers continue to decline from ten in June, eight in July and a paltry seven in August.

Only 25 in three months from a man who should have had 70 in his sleep in beyond pathetic. I don't care if he missed three games last month with a bad back, injuries are part of the game and his team needed him. Now that he's back, their season, much like his stats are worthless—it's simply too late.

Its only fitting he quit on his team. I've been preaching for three months: As he goes (as in runs) so go the Rays. They refuse to listen, thus they deserve each of their fates. What should have been fun is now just imminent as the end of the season can't come soon enough. He won't even match Willy Tavares' 68 steals last year nor Podsednik's 70 in 2004.

Crawford's steals by month:

April: 9

May: 21

June: 10

July: 8

August: 7

September ???? My guess-4

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox

He has 55 steals in 64 attempts through 131 team games (77-54 team record) on pace for 68.

Like Crawford his numbers have took a dive with a season-low eight steals last month in nine attempts. However, in only his second year in the league, he Ellsbury continues to get better as he's already set a career high, and also Red Sox franchise high in single-season steals.

Additionally, he seems more focused on picking his spots as he's much more efficient in stealing bases going 34-for-37 his past three months. He'll be better in the long run because of it.

Ellsbury's steals by month:

April: 10

May: 11

June: 12 (perfect 12/12)

July 14

August: 8

September: 7?

Ellsbury fell much short of my hopeful prediction of 15-16 steals last month and now seems focused on getting into playoff mode as the Red Sox cruise to yet another boring postseason berth. To his credit he actually took the league lead for a few nights all to himself.

If we have to suffer through yet another "epic" ESPN lovefest of Yankees-Sox I'm going to scream, but then again, with the Dodgers, Angels, Yankee$, Phillie$, and might-as-well-be-big-market St. Loser, uh, I mean, St. Louis Cardinals already almost assured playoff spots, the best we can hope for now are those pesky Rockies to remind of us 2007 all over again since the AL playoffs are sadly going to be a big market invitation-only private party to MLB's delight.

3. Michael Bourn, Astros

He has 48 steals in 58 attempts through 132 team games (62-70 team record), on pace for 59. He went 10-for-11 in August.

He's the only base stealer who is not only the most consistent (read: still trying), despite his team having nothing left to play for. He's my pick to take over the league lead after this month as I predict the ranking on October 1 to be:

1. Michael Bourn

2. Nyjer Morgan, Nats

3. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red $ox

4. Carl Crawford, Rays

5. Chone Figgins, Angels (by default since he too shut it down to prep for playoffs)

Bourn's steals by month:

April: 6

May: 10

June: 9

July: 12

August: 11

September: 10?

Having already set a career high in steals, nice goals would be 60 for the season which would mean he'd only have to get about 10 this month, certainly manageable based on his consistent pace. He also steals bases in bunches, having four multi-steal games last month alone.

He can make up pace in a hurry if need be. All these factors are reasons why he should take over the team lead. Mix in the idea he'll probably get 2-3 in the few October games and he should finish around 63 for the season as league leader. Thanks, Michael for giving a damn, unlike your competition.

4. Nyjer Morgan, Nats

He has 42 steals in 59 attempts through 133 team games (46-87 team record) on pace for 52.

Mogan, placed on the DL retroactive to August 28, has already missed five straight games including the last 4 of August. Still, he was able to go 10-for-13 and out-steal Ellsbury and Crawford. Sad. Considering he'll miss probably ten games this month with the injury, his numbers will take a hit, but 10 steals would be nice giving him 52 entering October. At this rate, though, 50 would be nice seeing how he'll likely be the fourth and final member of this club this season, lower than in season's past (more on this in a future recap article this post-season).

Morgan's steals by month:

April: 6

May: 4

June: 8

July: 14

August: 10

September: 10? Asking a lot. Probably 7

Considering he stole 24 bases since his July 1 trade to the Nats where he was free to run more, over a full season this equals out to a Tony Womack-esque 72 steals. Hope for the future—and 2010.

5. Chone Figgins, Angels

He has 39 steals in 54 attempts through 130 team games (78-52 team record), on pace for 48.

Went 8-for-11 in August and passes B.J. Upton, deservedly who at one point was moved to 7th in the lineup and hit .168 over a horrid 16 game span. When you steal only four bases in August and hit .274 as Upton did, you deserve to get passed. Good riddance. With no one else in sight (Rajai Davis, A's: Who?) he gets the nod, by default.

There you have it. The updated top five. Check back around October 1 for an update in the season series of the stolen base. Expect the numbers to be ugly as players shift to shut-down mode and prep for the playoffs or their golf games.

Joe Mauer Closer to Leaving Minnesota

Joe Mikolai — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:31:53 -0400

In case you haven't noticed, Joe Mauer homered in his third consecutive game last night giving him twenty-five on the year. All this coming from a guy whose career high was thirteen prior to this season.

Mauer, a Minnesota native, was ready to go down in history as a pure singles and doubles hitter, Minnesota strategy at its finest, as their version of Tony Gwynn. Then suddenly, after his May 1 return to the team following off-season surgery, newfound power emerged as Mauer ended the month with eleven home runs and 32 RBI.

Something seemed fishy, at least to me.

Now this is not a steroids witch-hunt column. Chances are he simply got his power from post-surgery rehabilitation regimine and hard work ethic. However, it should also be considered that some of the recovery drugs we always hear athletes take in order to "get back quicker to their team that needs them" needed more time to wear off.

Drugs in baseball at the present time is a dirty word, so let me use that word only from a medical stand point. There are many good, legit drugs that help people in general recover and this is what I am arguing in this column, that it took time for them to wear off. This is basically a "Damn it, why now?" Column. Why not until after he's re-signed like in the first or second year of a ten year contract? Then we can enjoy the numbers without looking over our shouder like I have chosen to do.

If Rob Parker and Skip Bayless can discuss the possibility of Albert Pujols potentially being on something on ESPN First Take simply stating that they hoped he was clean because the game basically needs a good guy leader when it comes to this with the shadow of doubt everywhere then I should be able to say the same about Mauer.

As a Twins fan and a Mauer fan, why would I be accusing him of anything? I'm not. I'm simply echoing that as a fan of the team he plays for, I too hope he's clean since he's their Pujols but its kind of a guilty until proven innocent climate.

Contract looming

Without this turning into a "first they lost Hunter, then Santana, and now Mauer" column, Mauer picked a pretty bad time for him to have a career year, and for him that says a lot based on his gaudy statistics that keep getting better. The only thing worse was if Mauer did this in a contract year (next year). He'd likely be looking at something in the neighborhood of $27-30M a year-A-Rod money.

Every home run that Mauer, hits, how much does his price go up? A million a season? Soon they'll be able to market Mauer as a legit 30 HR threat, maybe 40 they pace he's going, even though he'll only have done it once. People claim that he's able to do this due to early season rest after missing all of April. We'll next season when he deosn't have the liberty of rest, I expect his numbers to go back to normal as people ask--what happened? The answer will be, this was simply a career year, even for him, power wise. A flash in the pan and the rest really helped.

But the damage is already done. After this season, Mauer and his agent will be able to argue successfully based on recent evidence that in addition to being an All-World catcher, 2 time AL batting champ (soon to be three), three time All-Star and one time starter, home run derby participant, they can now boast home run hitter? Thats only going to make him all the more appealing, and expensive for the competition salavating to sign him.

Can you imagine if Mauer hits .400 this season? Something that hasn't been done since 1941? That's only going to drive his price up even more as the Elias Sports Bureau crazed people, Fantasy sports fans, and baseball historians will only continue to inflate his value by touting this rare accomplishment.

The Twins might as well right off any chance they might have had to sign him if it ever gets to that point. ESPN would be so gaga over him that he might as well shave those sideburns since the Yankees brass don't allow facial hair while playing for them.

Now imagine mixed in all this, that Mauer additionally wins MVP as a result. Just another fact that his agent, Ron Shapiro, will be able to argue on Mauer's behalf. Like A-Rod did for Texas in 2000, Mauer may be winning MVP for a non-playoff team which is rare in any sport.

First Hunter....

The Twins already messed up twice with Torii Hunter and Johan Santana. In 2007 the Twins picked up Hunter's $12 million option on the back end of what was a 5 year $42 million dollar deal. At the time of the option, I thought Hunter getting that kind of money was crazy and he wasn't worth it. Now it looks like a bargain, especially considering the Angels gave the then-32 year old a 5 year $90 million dollar deal that he'll never justify no matter how many Gold Gloves he wins or years he hits .300.

Knowing what he know now, the Twins would have been wise to lock Hunter up before it ever got to that point. Twelve million may have been hard to swallow but they had one offseason to re-sign him to maybe a $13-14 a year 4-5 year deal and they didn't do it so they lost him for nothing. Now I'm no Hunter homer but again, knowing what we know now, would you rather have him or Carlos Gomez? I love the kid's potential and speed even if he does hit .230 but Hunter, even at $14 million would have made more sense.

Then Santana...

I'm not going to write nearly as much about Santana since I knew there was no chance he was going to stay in Minnesota and so did most of the media and fans. Santana is a big city guy. He's the reason big market teams bid on players. If not him, then who? He just screams big market so him in New York just makes and made sense. Despite his threat "the sooner you sign me, the cheaper it will be," the Twins smartly balked at this.

Not only is he a pitcher where one slider can end a career, but we just saw the Barry Zito 7 year $126 million dollar distaster so that wasn't going to happen and Santana knew it. It was simply a face-saving gesture on his part to appease an angry fan base that quickly moved on since they knew he was never going to stay.

The lone criticism from fans was when first year GM Bill Smith overplayed his hand in trying to create a Yankees-Red Sox bidding war that never materialized and thus, he had to accept the lesser Mets offer just to get Santana to the National League where he was less of a threat.

Now Mauer????

Everyone knows the Yankees and Red Sox have a date around Nov. 15, 2010 circled on their calanders when Mauer will become a free agent if he's not (laugh) signed to an extension (pause for laughter) by the....stop I can't do this.....Twins...(slaps knee)...breathe....first." there I wrote it. *whew* that was a good one!

Not coincidently, the two team's starting catchers, Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek will be 39 and 38 respectively. This is almost too perfect for money loving Major League baseball. As if we aren't already bombarded with enough Yankee$-Red $ox crap enough, just imagine if they get Boy Wonder! Now they'll really hype the hell out of him since he's one of their own.

So what will it take to keep him? Prior to this season I was hoping something along the lines of 8 years and $160 million for a $20 million average. But with Traitor Tex [Mark Teixeira] of the New York Yankee$ making his own MVP bid with .283 BA 31 HR, 38 RBI, .381 OBP, compared to Mauer's .380 BA, 25 HR, 77 RBI, .448 OBP while making $20,625,000, agents wil argue Mauer is certainly worth more based on his numbers, importance to the team (postion he plays), and age 25 to 29 for Teixera and chances are they will be right.

Only this time, the Yankee$ will not only be indirectly screwing over a small market team again, thereby only increasing their hatred but they'll be hitting a team like the Twins with a double whammy since Teixeria's contract not only set the bar for Mauer, but also, ultimately probably stole Mauer from them!

So now what can we hope for? 8 years, $200 million? If Traitor Tex is "worth" 8 years and $180M, certainly Mauer is worth more, right? Does 10 years and $250 million sound about right, or familiar for that matter? What about $300M over ten years. That's "only" $30 million a year or three million less than what A-Rod is making.

If A-Rod makes 33 million, (no this is not an SAT question), does Mauer go on to make $35M based on his potential, age, and array of past accomplishments? Don't bet against it, especially if the Evil Empire or the "Junior Yankees" AKA the Bo$ton Red $ox are involved-they learned from the best.

So 10 years and $350 million?

What should the Twins do with Mauer?

When Mauer signed his current 4 year $33M deal prior to the 2007 season, I immediately knew it was too low and much too short. The 23 year old would be just 27 at the end of this contract. Immediately I wished it was double the price and length 8 years and $66M would be looking pretty good right now-and at "just" over $8M per on average (remember its a backloaded contract) he'd be considered a steal just as he is now at $10.5M this year and $12M next.

This is why the next contract Mauer signs likely will be his last and because of this, the Twins if they are serious, can't afford, literally to mess around with another short 5-6 year offer like I fear. That would still only make him 33 at the end of his second deal, thus eligible for yet another huge payday, the one that likely would send him to one of the coasts.

Sure Mauer could get hurt three weeks after signing it, but the Twins can't afford not to do it. On a team that has trotted out Matt Walbeck, Danny Audoin, Terry Stienbach (post youth), Matt LeCroy, Chad Moeller, Javier Valentin, Greg Myers and Damien Miller to represent just a sample of the horrid instability pre-Mauer, they have to do it from a consistency standpoint, stats aside just to break up the past.

Secondly, when you just build a 40,000 $512 million stadium that isn't even open yet but will debut in 2010, you can't afford to lose any free agent regardless of who it is, especially if its one that literally grew up in your backyard. The fans would (rightly) riot. "What did we build it for if you can't keep your players?" and "If not for Mauer, then WHO?" will be the rallying cry as the fan base shrivles next to nothing.

I'm just glad I don't have to go before the fans and explain how I let this one get away as the Twins will likely have to do. Heads are gonna roll I'd assume as season ticket holders demand answers while others abandon the team and sport forever.

With that said, what should the Twins do with Mauer? Well, aside from signing him the day before yesterday, (read: its too late) they'd be best to trade him this offseason for basically whoever they want in order to try and save as much face as they can. Since they can basically name their own price I'd start with the following packages and this time, not skip the Red Sox.

Red Sox: Youkalis (someone to replace Mauer's bat), Buchholtz (how he lasted this long, I don't know), Lowrie (shortstop fills a need, cheap, arbitration controlled=Twins buzz words, Daniel Bard (to help inject youth into bullpen that needs three new arms), Jon Lester (help strengthen the rotation, and Victor Martinez who would no longer be needed in Boston.

Obviously Martinez, Lester, and Youkalis are starters on the team and the obvious stars. If you want to cripple a team like trades intend, you want to take their heart and soul like Skip Bayless suggested the Blue Jays do if they were to trade Roy Halladay to the Sox.

If you are thinking Youkalis, Lester, Martinez, Bard, Buchholtz, and Lowrie are too steep of a price to pay consider the Oakland AAA's (as I call them) got six top prospects from the Arizona Diamondbacks for little old Dan Haren. Now three of the above are no prospects but then again, neither is a talent like Mauer who hasn't even peaked.

Basically I'm hoping the Red Sox say "You can take ANY three players off our roster if we can have Mauer" I'd settle for a combination of any of the following: Lester, Ellsbury, Youkalis, Martinez, Pedroia. Even two mixed with Buchholtz, and Bard would be hard to resist since the Twins would know then they'd be at a point of no return.

Even if they say "You can't have BOTH Ellsbury AND Lester but you can have one" like they did for Santana given the chance again I'd do it and I'd take either as you can't lose but I'd also take Lowrie and Buchholtz this time and try hard to include a player like Pedoria and Martinez in the deal. Basically if given the package for Santana again, I'd take it, with a few additions based on what we know now-Pedroria, Buchholtz.

Yankees: Any trade on the Twins end has to start with Joba Chamberlain who would fit in perfectly in either the pen or starter but I've always "liked" him as a reliever. I'd also demand Cano just for the right to listen to stay on the line with me. Since Phillip Hughes is obviously their rock as a bridge to Rivera, I'd have to have that too as my own bridge in Minnesota thefore effectively directly crippling the Yankees.

Finally in addition to top prospect Austin Jackson an OF I don't even need in the Twins already crowded outfield, I'd want Francisco Cervelli since someone has to catch in Minnesota and I'd probably even take a flyer on Chien Ming Wang whose value will never be lower and whom the Yankees would now probably gladly throw him in.

I don't think a youthful package of Cano, Chamberlain, Hughes, Cervelli, Wang, and Jackson would be too bad. It cripples the Yankees newfound formula of Hughes in relief and also hurts their improving youth movement that is clearly working for them reminecent of the '90's which we all know what happened. Finally, Cano and Cervelli fill immediate needs, help add much needed depth and I'm personally intrigued by a Wang reclaimation project seeing how he's 29.

The oldest player in this package would be Wang meaning the Yankees immediate depth, farm system, and youth movement all take hits setting them back when clearly they've been making gains like the old days and we just can't have that.

In the end, Mauer will be the Twins Teixeira. We all know how he BS'ed about "growing up an Orioles fan" while somehow rooting for rival Don Mattingly. Well, I don't hear Mauer chatting up Carlton Fisk or Yogi Berra but after Traitor Tex's move anything is possible especially when the Yankee$ and Red $ox have something at stake.

Enjoy him while you can Twins fans. I feel bad but this is the joke that is Major League Baseball. About to claim another market. If only they emulated the NFL......

Brett Favre to the Vikings Has All the Makings of 1998 with a Better Ending

Joe Mikolai — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:38:14 -0400

I know I'm going to be accused of drinking the Purple Kool-Aid when really what I want is a sip, but I support Brett Favre coming to the Vikings from the standpoint that he's an instant upgrade over anything the current roster has had.

Further, he gives the team instant credibility despite what Mark Schlereth and other ESPN NFL Live personnel claim. Yes, Brad Childress will be hard to trust again, but then again, so is Favre. It's always been that way.

Personally for me, I never believed Favre was ever fully retired, he simply needed more time to recover as he has a partially-torn rotator cuff.

A lot of fans didn't like the Vikings conservative, foreign concept, West Coast offense coach Brad Childress installed when he arrived there almost four years ago. Adding Favre, while familar with the scheme, will be the closest resemblance of the usual open, high-flying aerial attack Vikings fans are historically used to.

If they can withstand a few interceptions, like quarterbacks past have had, they will certainly appreciate the gunslinging more now that it's working for their benefit.

Furthermore, I think a lot of fans will forgive coach Childress and his boring, mentality/preference to kick game-winning field goals over end zone attempts if Favre can simply stay upright and get the team into scoring postion to win.

If a contract extension results rather than the desired firing, as long as its after a Super Bowl victory parade, so be it.

While he's expected to play this weekend vs. the Chiefs in the first home game of the preseason, I disagree with this move. The Vikings are doing it as a feel good PR move, but also to give Favre the "time with his teammates" we always hear about to "get his timing down", etc.

The reason I think this is a bad move is: 1. Not only do the games not mean anything so it's more likely more bad than good can come from this but, 2. in this same regard they don't need him yet.

Why not give Favre the extra two games to get into game shape and most importantly rest that shoulder? He can use the final preseason game as a warm up if he needs to get in "game speed". Until then, he should be building back up that arm strength slowly not being thrown into the fire, if only for a half this Friday.

1998 season comparison

With that said, Cris Carter, on NFL Live! this afternoon noted, that after the 1997 season, the Vikings convinced another quarterback, Randall Cunningham, to come out of retirement and join the Vikings.

We all know how that ended up—a 15-1 season en route to a 30-27 home overtime loss to the eventual conference champion, the Atlanta Falcons, in the NFC Championship game. In addition, they also drafted a WR with their top overall pick that year.

Randy Moss vs. Percy Harvin

This team also included a hotshot rookie wide receiver with a troubled past in the form of Randy Moss. I'll never forget the buzz that surrounded the team once the media caught wind that the Vikings were good and they and the fans knew it.

Moss had a coming out game against the Packers on Monday Night Football where he caught only five passes but they went for 191 yards and three TDs on national television. Moss added a newfound swagger and attitude to a franchise where it had been lacking.

Moss' numbers—69 receptions, 1,313 yards and 17 TDs—were simply astounding as the last two still stand as rookie records. Moss was added to a team that already included Jake Reed and Carter due to his off-field problems which saw him fall to No. 21 in the draft.

The day he was drafted I questioned it from a depth standpoint only, not a character move, seeing how I knew next to nothing about him coming out of little Marshall University in his home state of West Virginia.

The day the Vikings drafted Florida's Percy Harvin, I sensed that lightning might strike twice since I had seen Harvin live and in person when he was in college but also due to the large number of televised Gator games.

Despite not being a Gator fan, I can appreciate talent when I see it and he had "it",the same "it" Moss had—speed to kill when in the open field. That's why I picked him to be a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, possibly runner-up to Denver's Knowshon Moreno, whose a similar perfect fit on his new team.

Like Moss at 21 a decade earlier, Harvin had dipped to No. 22 despite his talents at WR due to off-field concerns. However, like Moss, I ignored these flags and instead prepared myself for the same highlight reel, big-yardage plays we all saw from Moss back in 1998.

Unlike Moss, Harvin also has the ability to run in the backfield, however, with Chester Taylor and All-Pro Adrian Peterson, this shouldn't be a necessity, in fact it should be rare. The fact he can do this, along with kick and punt returning only further increased his value and thus my want, on draft day.

This time around, Harvin fills many needs that I just described. While the Vikings have 989-yard receiver Bernard Berrian serving and paid as a No. 1 receiver while really being a No. 2, Harvin's expected to fill that role, hopefully.

Marvin Harrison factor

Some weeks back, google it if you wish, there were multiple reports that free agent WR Marvin Harrison might be interested in joining the team contingent on Favre signing first. Now that that's happened, could Harrison be far behind?

My guess is no and he'll soon explore if the feeling is still mutual and a contract could result shortly, once more of these pesky preseason games are further along of course. He learned that Favre-ian veteran move from the man himself, I guess.

If signed, Harrison would be a nice fit opposite Berrian as the team's new No. 2 wide receiver which would simply knock Harvin down a spot to the slot at No. 3 still giving him ample time to see the field and use his creative, breakaway speed and playmaking ability.

If the Vikings are smart, they'll keep capable WR Bobby Wade (53 receptions, 645 yards) as the No. 4 spot instead of doing something dumb like release him. To lose his services, not to mention his youth and mentorship ability to Harvin would be more harm than good. He's the perfect veteran team player.

Can you imagine Peterson and Harvin in the open field on the same team? Neither can the Vikings' opposing thirteen defensive coordinators that will have to confront this possibility this season.

Stadium Revival?

Should the planets align and Favre lead the team to even a Super Bowl appearance, something that's been done four times in their history but not since 1976, Minnesota legislative leaders ought to run with the momentum immediately from Favre-mania and finally get that elusive stadium built which has been ongoing since 1997.

Despite the Metrodome lease running out after the 2011 season, and annual rumors of a Los Angeles relocation, in this economy, I don't see that happening. Mix in the fact that the Vikings are clearly respected by the national media and the NFL, and its hard to see a move, still the Vikings would be wise to cash in on (no pun intended) this opportunity.

See, the NFL likes certain teams: the Cowboys, Steelers, Eagles, Patriots, and Packers, and will create excuses for them should they fail.

The Vikings are in this group due to their long history of success (only 12 losing seasons in 48 years, see my article on this here) and their loyal fan base and intense, important regional rivalries with the Bears and Packers that are good for the sport, which the league knows.

The NFL also hates/likes to make fun of certain teams: the Bengals (Bungles), Lions, Cardinals, and lately the Raiders, and the Vikings are never on this list.

Finally, the NFL is basically indifferent about many teams: Bills, Chargers, Broncos, Chiefs, and Dolphins, but I get the feeling that in this category, the NFL would rather see them do good and if anything the Vikings would go no lower than here which is no insult in the very means.

From what I gather, people in Minnesota like the Twins and the Wild and could care less about the Wolves but they simply love the Vikings and to lose them would probably result in a near riot. I remain confident that worst case, at the 11th hour, politicians will step up, with jobs at stake, and save the day, similar to what they did with the Twins.

But it wouldn't hurt if superstar Brett Favre, fresh off the only Super Bowl win in state history, was in their corner.

Improved defense compared to 1998

Unlike the 1998 Vikings who scored a then-league record 556 points but had no defense to speak of, this current crop has all the makings of the 1970s Purple People Eaters reincarnated (don't ask me why they called it that, just go with it).

If you are thinking you've read this before, or someone should write on this, you did and they have.

That line included three future Hall of Famers in Jim Marshall, Alan Page, and Carl Eller. This line includes 2008 NFL sack leader, Jared Allen, doing his best Eller impression, Kevin Williams serving as the Alan Page role, and Pat (no relation) Williams, serving alongside him in what should be Gary Larsen's spot, but since he was the "weak" point on the line, he compares more favorably to Marshall by default.

The 1998 team had probable future Hall of Famer John Randle who finished the campaign with an NFL high 15 1/2 sacks but was paired with considerably less talent, no offense to Derrick Alexander, Jerry Ball, and Duane Clemons who did their best to fill in.

Its linebackers included what I referred to as the "defenisive Randy Moss" in second-year pro Dwayne Rudd out of Alabama.

I'll never forget him returning two fumbles 90-plus yards for TDs and adding a similar arrogant swagger when turning to his beleagured opponents at the one-yard line and wagging his finger before crossing the goal line in celebration. Also included were steady, respected veteran Eddie McDaniel and secondround pick Kailee Wong who split time with Dixon Edwards basically.

The secondary, perhaps the sieve of the group, was led by free-agent acquisition, Jimmy Hitchcock who would go on to return two interceptions for very long TDs (one of 70 yards) despite giving up blown coverage and big plays when not in the end zone on these occasions.

His battery mates included emerging safety Robert Griffith, starter-by-default, Orlando Thomas, and similar all-or-nothing Corey Fuller. When good, they were more than adequate, they (Hitchcock) were downright electric. But when bad, 296 points allowed, 25th) they were bad.

This year's linebackers include steady, comparable to Eddie, Chad Greenway, alongside E.J. Henderson in the middle, and Ben Leber who should be considered an upgrade over Edwards/Wong.

All-Pro (finally) Antonie Winfield, Madieu Williams, Cedric Griffin, and Tyrell Johnson, are upgrades over their predecessors.

Winfield is miles ahead of even Hitchcock, Williams has much more upside than a fading Thomas, Griffin is a similar, all-or-nothing corner Fuller was, and Johnson, last year's second-round pick, friends tell me, had a solid year when he played, which was spotty.

In sum:

Defensive Line

1998 2009 Edge

Alexander Allen Allen by a mile

Ball Williams (Pat) Williams by a mile

Randle Kevin Williams Randle, narrowly

Clemons Ray Edwards EVEN

Linebackers

Dixon Edwards Ben Leber Leber (he's far from stellar)

Ed McDaniel E.J. Henderson McDaniel

Dwayne Rudd Greenway Rudd (has the flash)

Secondary

Jimmy Hitchcock Antonie Winfield Winfield by a nose

Robert Griffith Tyrell Johnson Griffith by a mile

Orlando Thomas Madieu Williams EVEN

Corey Fuller Cedric Griffin Fuller

This is why a player like Brett Favre can afford to step right in and not be expected to be "the man" like I hope no one is thinking or hoping. He's a similar gunslinger to Cunningham in '98 where the offense was, quite literally "Randy-go deep" and that's it, he did the rest.

To do a similar offensive comparsion which included future Hall of Famers Carter, Moss, and Randall McDaniel would be irresponsible on my part and disrespectful to them seeing how Harvin has yet to actually do anything. All I am saying is the signs are there and for that, its encouraging.

Just know that should the Vikings be able to do anything close to repeating the feat of sending ten members to the Pro Bowl, including seven on offense, the Vikings will be sitting pretty and justifying Favre's return and risk. It is for that reason that Favre and the Vikings took this chance, let's hope it pays off in the end.

Go Vikings, Go!

Michigan Preview: Check Those Fuel Gauges, and These Three Teams

Joe Mikolai — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:00:24 -0400

So free-agent-to-be Brian Vickers, who still hasn't officially re-signed with Team Red Bull just won his series high, sixth pole for the season and third straight at Michigan. Like I've written in the past, it should take Vickers all of half a lap to lose this prestigous privledge as he's historically horrible on restarts and starts in general.

It doesn't help his luck that the rejuvinated Mark Martin just happens to be starting alongside him on the outside pole. The only thing worse would have been if the monotone corporate sponsor-robot Jimmie Johnson had been there.

But for all the fans that like to play it safe by not cheering for a real driver, but rather a corporate clone like Johnson, you're in luck! The Prettyboy Pitchman is safely snuggled on the second row after qualifiying fourth.

He should be able to make this a fun race for about thirty laps or so, until His Monotony takes over the race lead and turns it into a 400 mile, follow-the-leader snoozefest like he threatened to do the last time at Michigan before he hilariously ran out of gas and finished 22nd.

I swear, if he wins this whole Cup championship again, for a record 4th consecutive time, thereby appropriately pushing aside NASCAR legends Cale Yaroborough and David Pearson both of whom have three consecutive titles, a lot of fans are going to be so turned off at the current system they are either going to demand changes or they will leave the sport forever.

I say appropriately since this NASCAR cares not for tradition but rather for entertainment as Jimmie is no exception. He's part of the problem but more on that in a future column, especially if he begins to dominate as he typically turns it up this time of year just in time for the Chase before winning half the Chase races.

Chase Preview:

With four races to go before the Chase we've currently got seven teams represented:

Hendrick Motorsports: Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and Jimmie Johnson

Roush Fenway Racing: Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth

Penske Racing: Kurt Busch

Joe Gibbs Racing: Denny Hamlin

Richard Petty Motorsports: Kasey Kahne

Stewart-Haas Racing: Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing: Juan Pablo Montoya

While the parity may look encouraging, don't be fooled. That Hendrick trio as well as the Roush trio prove there is still work to be done towards this eutopia and Roush, for all its struggles this season, prove they are still consistent enough, even if they are boring, lunch pail drivers with minimal personalities.

Anyone for Matt Kenseth to Hendrick? He'd fit right in with Jimmie and his personality of that of a pillow case.

For those still concerned with Hendrick's positioning or a revival of last year's four team chase snoozer there all twelve drivers were represented by the "Big Four" power teams-Hendrick, Roush, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing, this year, of the last four drivers with any real chance of making The Chase, only Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer would come from those power teams. And in Bowyer's case, he'd be the first and only participant from his team this year, evidence of their decline.

The final two drivers with any kind of hope is Michael Waltrip Racing's David Reutimann who currently sits 16th in points at 155 out and and Vickers who is 96 points out. For this reason it is imperitive that both have stellar finishes this weekend and similar strong finishes in the final weeks leading up to Loudon.

Drivers to watch for:

1. Vickers-not only has he positioned himself nicely by winning the pole, but history shows, once he does this, a top 10 finish is almost a lock, especially at these "monster tracks" (2 mi.) as I call them where he typically runs well. a top 10 mixed with uncharacteristic bad luck from Roush drivers Biffle and Kenseth at what is considered their best track due to the team they drive for and their historical success here, would get Vickers right back in it. Here's hoping it happens.

2. Reutimann-didn't help his cause both with last week's 25th place finish on the Watkins Glen road course especially when his direct competiton in Bowyer, Busch, Biffle, Kenseth, and Vickers did signficantly better than him getting top 14's. Now this week he qualifies 31st. Good luck. They are going to need pit strategy and some luck (fuel x-factor anyone?) If not here, then where? Stick a fork in him if he performs similarily bad this week.

3. Biffle and Kenseth Roush. Since this is basically their backyard when it comes to success and Ford's home base expect them to do well. Edwards may well even win it.

How nice is it to see crybaby Kyle on the outside looking in? About as nice as not having to see Carl "series killer" (nationwide) Edwards do any of his trademark backflips. Sorry ESPN, speak for yourself.

A DNF or fuel mileage miscalculation would just about end his season. However, if any driver is capable of winning the neccessary 3/4 races just to make the Chase, outside of Johnson, its him. Beware.

This week I'll be cheering against Roush in addition to the usual Hendrick dominance in hopes that the little guy in the form of Vickers and Reutimann can get back into this thing since we're in Chase chunch time now and that the first step to what this is really all about.

The sport will be better in the long run if y'all can just put your big-team loyalities aside for a week and hope these final few teams are able to sneak into the Chase after a good showing here. The final Chase product is more representative, competative, and exciting as a result since the storylines will be greater with nearly something for everyone.

Analyzing David Kahn's Master Plan for the Timberwolves

Joe Mikolai — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:21:18 -0400

First off, let's get with it, Bleacher Report. David Kahn has been with the Timberwolves for over three months now and you don't have any pictures uploaded to use in our article photos? As someone who is literally the new head of an entire franchise, let's get with it, fellas!

The Timberwolves have had a very busy and exciting offseason, the most active in franchise history. Its been better than every one minus the Latrell Sprewell-Sam Cassell deals that everyone knew would work since veteran laden teams are the ones that win and they finally figured out the formula that it takes proven winners to, I don't know, win?

For a 24 win team, I challenge anyone to find me an equally weak team that had a more productive offseason to date. For comparison, 23 win Oklahoma basically got James Harden in the draft, got in on the Etan Thomas deal, and had another first round pick. The Clippers, win about 24 every year and do we read about them in the same capacity as the Wolves? No.

Here's a rundown of what they've done so far:

The (re)Making of a Franchise

Fans always offer the simplest advice when their team is losing. "It isn't working, we should just blow the team up and start over." We'll that exactly what the Timberwolves finally did (thank God) on May 22, 2009 when he was introduced as new President of Basketball Operations (essentially the GM) and face of a struggling team.

Funny thing is, Kahn wasn't even the first choice.

That was Spurs Assistant GM Bill Lindsey who politely declined. He wasn't even the second choice. Nope, that went to former Heat GM Randy Pfund (my wish at the time) who also turned it down. Finally Wolves fans thought they had it nailed with Portland Asst GM Tom Penn who turned it down at the 11th hour instead to take a raise and a new do-nothing position for the same team.

I was against Kahn at the beginning due to his reputation as a shady businessman and a failure in Indiana as GM and assistant to Donnie Walsh. Sure, Kahn was respected in the NBA-DL (developmental league) as owner of four teams, but so what? He was out of basketball for seven years as far as anyone was concerned.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor finally realized he needed to bring someone from outside the organization who was neutral and didn't simply spit the company line nor see every failure through rose colored glasses.

June 17, 2009 longtime embattled predecessor to Kahn, Kevin McHale was finally fired now serving as interim coach, by the Timberwolves and Kahn. This singular move alone reignited the pessimistic fan base and showed fans there indeed was a new sheriff in town.
June 23, 2009 Two nights before the NBA draft, Kahn, barely a month on the job, continued to create buzz where there otherwise was none, when he shipped two disappointments to DC in the form of Mike Miller and Randy Foye. The loss of Foye officially closed the door on one of McHale most controversial and boneheaded trades in team history (even if he never had any intention of actually keeping Roy as some disagree). More importantly, the trade landed the Wolves with a valuable second pick in the lottery, one that they'd use to draft all-World PG Ricky Rubio and really create a buzz.
June 25, 2009 Wolves draft Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio: While I was initally against the Rubio pick due to my Fran Vazquez fears of a foreign player refusing to come over to the U.S. thus wasting a pick, I realized the Wolves needed to do it even if it blows up in their faces as it still could. No matter what Rubio does, he'll be a marketing machine, and that alone is more valuable than any other reach the Wolves may have made. In addition, by Rubio staying in the news as he is, the Wolves continue to get publicity as a result. Finally, should the Wolves two-PG system ever materialize, it could have Wildcat-type effect seen in the NFL with Kahn as the crafty genius.
Rubio and Spain ongoing negotiations. Again, every time Rubio is in the news, the lowly, perceived small market Timberwolves are to, and until Rubio comes out and says he'll never play in Minnesota, its all good publicity and it shows the base they are trying.
July 21, 2009 Minnesota trades three bench players (and contracts) for one as Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, and Mark Madsen head to the Los Angeles Clippers for Quentin Richardson. Seen as a salary dump move, the Wolves acquire another very valuable expiring contract from Richardson not to mention SG depth and veteran experience should he actually stay (I have my doubts but he can't be traded for 60 days).

Wolves fans came to realize that Kahn evaluated these players and reached the conclusion, that while nice upstanding men, none will ever be more than nice role players that Kahn can't do anything with so he packaged them for one more manageable contract which will be valuable in the 2010 free agent shopping spree. This also opened up two more roster spots, one likely for Rubio and another for....

July 27, 2009 Six days later, the Wolves send one of their now three expiring contracts in Etan Thomas to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chucky Atkins and Damien Wilkins.

As soon as I heard this I questioned the move but not for reasons you might think. I figured Kahn was trading one very valuable expiring contract for two and that is exactly what he did. While smaller than Thomas's giant one, the two combined still continue to give the Wolves more cap space in 2010.

Wolves have long drawn out, two month, fourteen candidate national coaching search. Like Rubio, the longer this takes, the more the Wolves are in the news. If you are thinking just local news, think again, as ESPN has been having Wolves stories up all summer with their activity.
August 11, 2009 Kurt Rambis, formerly of the Champion Los Angeles Lakers is hired as Head Coach. This not only makes sense from an experience side—four rings as a player and four more as Phil Jackson's assistant—but it never hurts to pluck a proven winner from one of the most storied teams in all of sports and whom served under one of the most respected men in the league's history. The move should give the Wolves instant credibility and mutual league respect something they've always lacked from Day One. The Rambis hire is an A+. If not him, than who? Who would have been better?
More trades? The fun thing about Kahn and the new-look Wolves is you never really know if or when they are done dealing. There is a recent report that perhaps by the end of this week Richardson will be gone for my guess—two more expiring contracts which will bring the Wolves $2-3 more million under the cap for 2010.

So, What's the Plan?

You're probably asking, "What good does all this cap space do if no one wants to come to cold, small market Minnesota? Just because you have money doesn't mean someone will take it."

That may be true. However, with Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, Johnny Flynn, and presumably, Rubio, the cupboard is not empty. True the team won forty-six games over the past two years, but this is unlike the truly worthless Wolves teams of the early 1990's where you knew they were 15-win bad. This team has some pieces, they just didn't have any direction or leadership that they now do.

For those wondering, "Trades are nice, but it doesn't do any good if you are making moves, just to make moves."

That's true if you have no plan, but if your moves are purposeful and of quality, that's different as I believe these are.

As it currently stands the Wolves roster looks something like this:

PG Flynn, Atkins

SG Wilkins, Wayne Ellington, Bobby Brown

SF Ryan Gomes, Richardson, Corey Brewer

PF Love, Darius Songalia, Oleksiy Pecherov, Brain "$6.3M a year" Cardinal (fourth on depth!)

C Jefferson, Ryan Hollins, a 25-year-old upstart that never got to play much in Dallas

Of these players, I'd say only Jefferson, Flynn, and hopefully Love are safe, the rest, like Brewer are all worthless to expendable.

My personal bet as to who is next out of town? Gomes. Why? Because he's similar to the "nice player" role where he's solid, but not spectacular and I don't feel he's Kahn's type of player. He averages 13 points per game, but so what? Nice as that is, at that position you can do better, which I think Kahn will in free agency.

Step One: Trades

Kahn trades one or two more expiring contracts for more assets, i.e. first-round picks or future cap space. I would not be surprised to see a combination of Cardinal, Atkins, or Richardson go, something like Cardinal for two smaller expirings like the Thomas deal, or similar with Richardson.

Kahn has already publicly admitted that Love is the fourth best option on the team and Jefferson a "2" so what does that leave? A 1 and a 3. My guess is Rubio is the 3 leaving Kahn open to landing that one big fish like a Stoudemire or Bosh.

Step Two: Sign One or Two Big Free Agents Come 2010

PG _____

SG Flynn, Ellington

SF Love or Bosh

PF Jefferson,

C Stoudemire, Hollins

Kahn is going to make this team so solid, with a big splash that he's gonna set everything up for Rubio and dare him not to come over here and take the keys to this team. That is why he's working on the depth issue.

This is why he's getting so far under the cap, to offer Elton Brand type money to a player like Stoudemire who would fill a team need while still keeping the team young, or Bosh who having played in cold Canada already, would likely be more acclimated to the weather. These are just suggestions.

Kahn is setting himself up to not only be a major player, but perhaps the only player in some cases, making the offer hard for the free agent to refuse (whoever that may be). Money spends just as good as anyone else's, the only problem is trying to persuade someone to come here on the heels of what will likely be a thirty win season at best.

Maybe someone will buy into Kahn's vision, just like his rejuvenated fan base has.

Step Three: Strengthen the Bench

As nice as Flynn, Love, and Jefferson are the bench is paper thin beyond them. As every coach does, they have "their players."

Don't be surprised if the Lakers and Wolves get together on a few deals to bring some of Rambis' guys over like a Josh Powell or a Sasha Vujacic. Not only are the Lakers already way over the cap, they fit Minnesota's youth mold and neither have ever really been able to shine buried in L.A.'s bench.

Powell could serve to be another diamond, potentially like people believe Hollins to be. Minnesota has enticing options as already explained and like the Rambis addition, it never hurts to pluck players from winning teams.

Oh, and if this isn't encouraging enough—Minnesota owns up to three first-round picks next year, their own, Charlotte's (top 12 protected), Denver (top 16), and Boston's in addition to their own in 2011 so they won't be going away any time soon. Expect to continue to read all about their latest activity in the rumor mills with so many options, future cap space, and tradable assets to offer.

It's a fun time to be a Wolves fan—even if they won only 24 games last year. People who read my articles should know I'm as pessimistic as they come, but Kahn has yet to make a move that I really disagree with therefore he gets a A thus far.

My 2009 NFL Season (And Postseason) Picks

Joe Mikolai — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:44:24 -0400

AFC EAST

Patriots—(12-4) The machine continues to roll with Wonder Boy back.

Miami—(9-7) They aren't as good as their 11-5 season, but they are somewhere in between. Wildcat will work at times, and at least make them fun to watch.

NY Jets—(8-8) Spend a lot of money, but get little results. They did nicely in FA and Mark Sanchez will get the hell hyped out of him. Personally, I hope he falls flat on his face, but they'll have excues for him if he does.

Buffalo Bills—(6-10) Desperate times (Toronto anyone?) call for desperate action (T.O.). He'll be a good soldier, until they start to lose, which they will. Then the **** will hit the fan, as always.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers—(11-5) Ben and Co. are the closest thing to a Patriots-like machine. This boring vet team has likey taken Colts' place atop the snoozer standings. YAWN.

Baltimore Ravens—(9-7) I expect some regression after last year's boring "NFL's New (and Already Overused) Catchphrase">managing the game" by Flacco. As always, the defense will carry this team, and Flacco will get the credit.

Cleveland Browns—(6-10) It doesn't matter who the QB is, this team has holes at WR, RB, and the defense. The window of opportunity slammed shut (sadly), and it doesn't look to be opening soon.

Cincinatti Bengals—(4-12) They were a team that was already bad (4-11-1) and couldn't score...and they lost TJ Houshmanzedeh. How many shutouts was that after they shut it down last year? Like the Pirates in the NFL, this team deserves its fate, and I'm a Carson Palmer fan, too. They just don't get it, and they never will.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts—(11-5) Sure, they lost Marvin Harrison, but this lame team always overachieves. Why would this year be any different? Just make the playoffs and bow out as always. The sooner the better, cowtown Colts.

Tennessee Titans—(9-7) Like the Dolphins, I think they overachieved. Still, they are better than most of the teams here, so they'll be okay. It should be interesting to see more of their games, too. Maybe we can learn why they were so good last year...

Houston Texans—(8-8) Aren't they always 8-8 now? Always one player away on offense and defense. And they're still looking for that complement WR to go with Andre Johnson, whose career is being wasted here. Falcons or Dolphins? Try These Teams...">Could they finally break through?

Jacksonville Jaguars—(7-9) They won't be as bad as last year, but they'll still manage to lose 1-2 games that they shouldn't. No Fred Taylor to spell Maurice Jones-Drew will be disastrous for this once-rising team.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers—(9-7) They will make the playoffs like clockwork. LT will get hurt and Sproles will take over. The team will overachieve and win a round, before falling to some real contender like they do every year. Repeat. It must really be frustrating to be a Bolts fan, knowing what's going to happen and not being able to prevent it.

Kansas City Chiefs—(8-8) They lost six games last year by nine points or less. Cassel will help solidify the QB position. Dorsey is a bust, as will be this year's first-rounder, Jackson. Late signee Amani Toomer was a nice find on a team that will desperately need him.

Denver Broncos—(6-10) Personally, I think Josh McDaniels ain't nothing but a Belichick-Wannabe who's in way over his head. Losing Cutler will be a crushing blow as Orton will manage the game and put fans to sleep. Sure, all he does is win, but will it matter when you can't move the chains? Last year's D sucked, so they bring in the only good thing UT had in Robert Ayers?

Oakland Raiders—(5-11) In Raiderland, five wins may seem like a playoff spot in itself. They are moving up. They have a brighter future than has-been Denver, who gets the nod by default because they still have more talent. The Raiders just need one more year of experience out of Russell and McFadden together. Next year will bring a real WR in the draft. They'll play teams tough, and Jonnie Lee Higgins will be fun to watch. They'll get nothing out of bust-in-waiting Darius Heyward Bey, who was drafted way too high. He was the Troy Williamson of this year's draft.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings—(12-4) Favre to the Vikings puts them over the top. They've already got Adrian Peterson and the great "D" and don't forget about 1st rd. pick Harvin who I saw as Randy Moss 1998 all over again, with or without Favre based on team need and fit. Now the question is, wil Marvin Harrison follow as once rumored?

Green Bay Packers—(9-7) Their defense will be improved with Raji and Matthews. Last year, I think, was a bit of a misnomer. They are better than their 6-10 record.

Chicago Bears—(8-8) Cutler fills a huge void, but they are still 1-2 WR short. Though, they are closer than they've been in a long time. If the "D" can carry them to 1-2 wins who knows. But for now, they are short on "O," as always. But they'll be fun to watch with the usual grit, and you can't take them lightly.

Detroit Lions—(3-13) I could see them getting an early win over some sorry team that catches them off guard or takes them lightly. ESPN will have breaking news etc. QB Stafford will get his yards like Kitna did, but it won't do any good. Some teams are just plain losers, and this is exhibit A. I don't think they can be helped.

NFC South

Carolina Panthers—(11-5) If Julius Peppers doesn't rip them apart at the seams, it should be a fun season all the way to the second round exit.

Atlanta Falcons—(10-6) Like the Dolphins, they too will back step a little, but they are still more talented than most in their conference. They'll be fine by default. However, they are a likely first round exit.

New Orleans Saints—(7-9) They are a perpetually disappointing team, and why would this year be any different? Bush will get hurt. Does Shockey still play here? You wouldn't know it. The "D" is pathetic and full of holes, like usual. Next.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers—(4-12) It saddens me to place them here, but the loss of Brooks will kill their once infamous "D." I love the Ward RB addition to the offense, but it's not enough with the headless QB situation. Terrell Owens: Analyzing The Most Likely Destination and Who Could Use Him">Ward could be the 2009 version of Michael "the burner" Turner (i.e Free agent pick up of the off-season).

NFC East

New York Giants—(11-5) WR Hakim Nicks will help ease the loss of Plaxico Burress in the lineup. They have deep depth at WR and RB, in addition to better-than-expected "D". They have a solid team (and I'm not even a Giants fan).

Philadelphia Eagles—(10-6) Just when I was ready to write them off after the jettison of stalwart safety Brian Dawkins and the loss of Correll Buckhalter (both to the Broncos), they solidify a perpetual weakness at WR with the addition of burner Jeremy Macklin and finally add RB depth in LeSean McCoy. The LeSean DeShan marketing possibilities are intriguing should they both succeed. Somehow, this team will find a way to make the playoffs and lose in the NFC Championship game as always (the Chargers of the NFC, but worse).

Dallas Cowboys (8-8) The loss of T.O on offense will hurt the Cowboys, as will the release of solid, long-time productive vet Greg Ellis. He quietly (so quietly I just found out via Google) signed with Oakland, which makes the Derrick Burgess trade to New England last week make more sense.

Washington Redskins—(6-10) Each year, they spend mega bucks, and each year it never works out. Why would this year be any different? Noticing a theme? Congratulations go out to the Dumbest Contract of the Offseason in Albert Haynesworth(less), who will live up to his name. Will they ever learn?

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals—(9-7) They re-signed Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and Kurt Warner, while managing to keep LB Karlos Dansby and Anquan Boldin so far. Thi weak division should give them 4-6 wins alone, meaning they only have to split their other eight games. They are just good enough to repeat.

Seattle Seahawks—(8-8) Matt Hasselback will make a world of difference for this team, whose 4-12 record isn't nearly an indicator of their talent. Still, first-round pick Aaron Curry will have to do a lot to match the production of former Pro Bowler Julian Peterson. Houshmanzedeh will be a huge help, but he and WR Deion Branch basically do the same thing as glorified No.2s.

San Francisco 49ers—(6-10) I just don't see this team doing that well, despite having Frank Gore and DeShaun Foster. They have no QB, as Aaron "small hands" Smith and Shaun Hill can't carry the team. Once again, it will be up to the defense, who will probably take a few steps back. Even if Crabtree works out, he still needs a complement, or he'll just get double-covered. I sense Chad Ochocinco-like drama here.

St. Louis Rams—(3-13) "If you can't say anything nice...."

They have no legit WRs, a horrible sieve defense that can't stop anyone, and lame special teams. Will they be back in L.A. in two years with shaky ownership? I hope so.

Playoffs: AFC (1) New England (2) Pittsburgh Steelers

(3) Indianapolis vs. (6) Baltimore

(4) San Diego vs. (5) Tenneessee

(1) New England vs. (4) San Diego

(2) Pittsburgh vs. (3) Indianapolis

(1) New England vs. (2) Pittsburgh

New England

NFC (1) Minnesota Vikings (2) New York Giants

(3) Carolina Panthers vs (6) Atlanta Falcons

(4) Arizona Cardinals vs (5) Philadelphia Eagles

(1) Minnesota Vikings vs. (4) Arizona Cardinals

(2) New York Giants vs (3) Carolina Panthers

(1) Minnesota Vikings vs (1) New York Giants

Minnesota Vikings

Super Bowl (1) New England vs (1) Minnesota Vikings

Winner: Ole' Hoodie and the Pats

Awards: Offensive ROY: Knowshon Moreno, Broncos (1600 yards behind the always solid O-line), runner up: Harvin, Vikings

Defensive ROY: Rey Maualuga, Bengals (wherever he went, I had him a ROY), runner up: Clay Matthews, Packers

MVP: Brady, Patriots (39 TDs)

Rushing yards for Adrian Peterson-1,808, 15 TDs,

kickoff returns for TD by Devin Hester-3

Coach of the Year: Jon Fox, Panthers (I really don't see any surprise teams this year, as you can tell by my picks).

Coaches to get fired: Lewis of the Bengals, Cable of the Raiders, Jauron of the Bills (how did he last this long), McDumbass of the Broncos, Zorn will be on the bubble, and Reid will resign in the postseason.

Draft busts-Heyward Bey (already mentioned), Tyson Jackson, Aaron Maybin, Josh Freeman (too early to tell, but he'll struggle).

Jacoby Ellsbury vs. Carl Crawford: A Base Stealer's Dream Series

Joe Mikolai — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:47:18 -0400

Tonight begins a quick two-game set between Jacoby Ellsbury and the Boston Red Sox and his steals rival, Carl Crawford and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Just for fun, don't forget that the Rays also includes x-factor B.J. Upton and Jason Bartlett who have 33 and 20 steals respectively.

All season long I've been doing a series on base stealing in baseball and hopefully its relevance in bringing back the threat. You can check out my latest piece here which includes all the links to my earlier writings by month.

Apparently my latest article possibly provided some inspiration for a recent Red Sox Notebook portion of the Boston Herald. You be the judge.

Going in to the series, I was thinking that if Ellsbury and Crawford stole two bases each the entire series that would be a good goal until they next meet Sept. 1-3 in Tampa. However, with two steals already tonight through the first three innings plus, Crawford has already surpassed my goal, meanwhile giving him a league-high 51 on the season. The multi-steal game is Crawford's first since July 8.

With the score currently 1-0 Boston in the fifth, with runs coming at a minimum, both runners may be asked (or required) to take chances to create runs any opportunity they get—at least that is what I am hoping.

Sunday when Ellsbury and the Sox jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead over the Orioles, I knew it was a wasted day in terms of base stealing since its necessity goes away with such a large lead. With this close game, it may become imperative to improvise.

Let's hope Ellsbury can keep or exceed the blistering pace.

With that goal surpassed, how many more will Crawford steal? I'd like to see him get three more, meaning he'd get at least one more tonight and two in the series finale, unless he wants to awe us with a triple threat tomorrow on national TV on ESPN.

That would give him an amazing six in just two games, more than making up for his long stretches of no steals which I have challenged him about all season long in addition to pleading for more multi-steal games like tonight.

With sloth-armed Jason Varitek behind the plate, there should be ample opportunity for all Rays mentioned to run when given the chance.

With August Comes a Promising Month

We are only a few games into the month and already all four of the league's top base stealers—Crawford, Ellsbury, Michael Bourn, and B.J. Upton—have stolen at least one base. Crawford leads the resurgence with three and counting after swiping only eight the previous month. The rest have all stolen one apiece.

After tonight's game, seven head-to-head matchups remain against the two budding division rivals, meaning we can hope to expect more steals in the future. Four of which will be home in Tampa where Crawford stole six on May 3.

It looks like competition is bringing out the best in both Crawford and Ellsbury and we can only hope this trend continues making for both an exciting month ahead, in addition to what already promises to be an exciting series for base-stealing fans. I'd like to thank both competitors from staying injury-free and continuing to provide us with season-long intrigue.

Returning The Stolen Base To Baseball Prominence (Part III)

Joe Mikolai — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:12:55 -0400

Part III in a series.

Before reading this article, be sure to read part I and II of my season-long mini-series outlining the possibility of another 100-steal man in major league baseball, "The Quest for 100 Steals: Can Carl Crawford or Anyone Else Do It?" and "The Quest for 100 steals-can Carl Crawford do it?"

August 1, 2009—here are MLB's top 5 stolen base performers:

1. Carl Crawford, Rays

He has 48 steals in 56 attempts through 103 games (56-47 team record) on pace for 76.

Since the last update I wrote on July 1, Crawford is 8/9 in steals. While this sounds impressive, it’s not only his monthly total for the entire month of July, but consider he only stole one base in his last ten games.

I know he's basically "shutting it down" since he already said he's not going to steal 100 as I had hoped due to wear on his body, but that's just being a baby. Do you think Rickey Henderson or Vince Coleman would have ever said that? His team has gone 12-11 in July after a 10-5 June when Carl ran more—10 steals.

Hmmm. Like I've been screaming all season-correlation anyone? Hey Rays Management—as Carl goes, so does your team! Let him run (translation-make him run)!

Crawford's steals by month:

April: 9

May: 21 (6 in one game vs. Boston)

June: 10

July 8

August ???

100 steals is gone, thanks to his poor month preceded by a similarly inexcusable June with 18 combined steals—less than he had in the entire month of May alone, almost without that glorious 6 steal outlier.

The best we can hope for is probably a pathetic 80, which is a far cry from the excitement he once brought to the team— but it would be the most in MLB since Henderson and Coleman both surpassed it in 1988.

Thanks for cheating us and playing with our emotions, Carl.

Once, again, can we get a multi-steal game, please? He hasn't had one of them since July 8 (2), but prior to that, the last was June 3 (2). Does he have it in him to do three? Four?

Despite his abysmal run (or lack thereof), he still managed to beat my prediction and stay ahead of Ellsbury, which is actually quite impressive given the latter's stellar month. But then again, that appears to be was Carl want to be—simply good enough and not spectacular, like Ellsbury.

2. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox

He has 47 steals in 55 attempts through 102 team games (60-42 team record) on pace for 77.

Almost the antithesis of Crawford (read: he's still trying), Ellsbury has an encouraging and inspiring 14/16 in steals since July 1. Ellsbury also has the lone, unique fact that is numbers have steadily and consistently increased each month, creating further intrigue. Enough good things cannot be said about this winner.

Not surprising, his projection season pace shot up from 71 on July 1 to 77 today.

Ellsbury's steals by month:

April: 10

May: 11

June: 12 (perfect 12/12)

July 14

August ????

Ellsbury also actually passed my prediction of 13 steals for July, giving him 46 on this date. Based on Ellsbury's aforementioned pace, he should get (giggle) 15-16 steals for the month of August, giving him around 62-63 on September 1.

While this may sound impressive, he'd still have to go on an absolute tear just to get to 80, which is the new 100 it seems.

Even more impressive—lost in Ellsbury's month was the fact that although he didn't have a single multi-steal game (last one on June 29), he was still able to outrun Carl and the rest of his competition, and still finish with stellar numbers. Now imagine if he throws in just a few of these x-factor games in addition to his usual pace...

3. Michael Bourn, Astros.

He has 37 steals in 46 attempts through 103 team games (51-52 team record), on pace for 58.

Mr. Bourn finds himself in rare territory after an impressive and under-the-radar month of July, which saw him steal 12 bases in 14 attempts—good for third in the league behind a late bloomer I have yet to write about, but will.

Not surprising, Mr. Bourn also finds himself with a new identity, jumping up to the third spot and raising his seasonal projection pace up from 54 on July 1.

Bourn's steals by month:

April: 6

May: 10

June: 9

July: 12

August ????

Favorable to Ellsbury, Bourn's numbers are basically increasing (he's trying harder), and is only four steals off last year's career high season total of 41. He keeps proving me wrong, and that's just fine with me. His team has since went 15-13 in July, but got themselves right back in the thick of things thanks to Bourn's risk taking (learn anything, Carl?).

Should be a fun one to watch the rest of the season. No reason to think he can't get 15 this month and enter September around 52 steals.

4. B.J. Upton, Rays

He has 32 steals in 42 attempts through 103 team games (56-47 team record), on pace for 52.

Thanks to a pathetic July where he went 3/6 all month, he has almost taken himself out of this conversation and is close to being sent out of the room while the grownups continue to talk.

At the very least he should be relegated to sitting in the corner for being just plain bad.

Even Crawford is envious.

Upton's steals by month:

April: 5

May: 10

June: 14

July: 3

After an unheard-of June which Ellsbury would be proud of, he went back to his old (April) ways by essentially deciding to take the month off. As a result his team suffered, to no surprise. It’s almost like they deserve it. His pace crashed just like my hopes for him.

He really needs to pick it up.

5. Nyjer Morgan, Nationals (or is that, Natinals?)

He has 32 steals in 46 attempts through 103 team games (32-71 team record) on pace for 51.

Everyone, let's welcome Mr. Morgan to the group (Hi, Mr. Morgan!). "Hi, I'm Nyjer Morgan, and I'm a base stealer!"

After a superb month, 14/18 in his attempts that finally gets him on a list where he belongs, and that he's (temporarily) earned.

Morgan's steals by month:

April: 6

May: 4

June: 8

July: 14

August: ???

With his team hopelessly out of any race, what does he have to lose?

Since his July 1 arrival, Morgan has stolen "13 in 22 games with the Nats" (July 29) courtesy, ESPN.com. Imagine what he'd do in D.C. in a whole season (95 steals pace) with no team expectations and no pressure.

I can't wait until next year, but until then, what are the possibilities for August? 15 steals? 20?

Morgan is the only member of this club that not only isn't afraid to get caught, but actually does so at an alarming clip 69% success rate.

Still, with no pressure and no chance at anything in the near future, why not just have fun and go all out? Who knows, you may either showcase yourself for another team next year (I hope not), or you may at least bring in some new fans to the park just to watch you run wild as one of the lone bright spots.

Morgan's only downside is at 29, he is the oldest of the quintet, and one has to wonder if this is an outlier year or a sign of things to come. After all, it’s his first real chance to thrive and play every day.

As long as he stays with the talent-challenged Nats, he should get plenty of playing time—and ultimately plenty of chances to run, making for a fun fantasy summer.

There you have it. The updated top five. Check back around September 1 for an update in the season series of the stolen base. Until then, happy running!