FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[DutchFan2004]

Just got word from the Governor's office that he won't be able to throw out a pitch at the state amateur "town team" tournament.  I did send him an invite to make an appearance at the Johnnie-Bethel game on October 4 in Arden Hills. Since the First Lady Mary is on the board of trustees at Royaland, you would think this would be an easy sell. I also mentioned the Stiftungsfestivities that we will be hosting before the game. I will keep you posted once I hear something.

Then again, if Governor Tim is running for vice-president, he might have to be in some exotic place like Pella, Iowa or McMinnville, Oregon.

Ya I don't think he will be campaigning in Pella.  Not exotic enough.  

[DutchFan2004]

Have you guys seen the blog?  This is beyond ridiculous...

Every year Princeton Review releases a set of rankings that colleges trumpet ("One of the Top Schools in the Country!") or down play ("Rankings, schmankings"). Here is a quick look at which Division III schools cracked the lists related to sports. I wouldn't take them too seriously after seeing who made the list of places where intercollegiate sports is supposedly unpopular. But they might help people pass the time through a slow offseason.

Intercollegiate sports unpopular or nonexistent
1. Eugene Lang College (NY)
2. St. John's (MN): Don't look at me! It's not my list.
14. University of Chicago
15. NYU
16. SUNY-Purchase
17. Harvey Mudd College (part of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletics)
20. Emerson College

Maybe you need to invite them to you tailgates and a game.  These people are totally misinformed. 

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

unless my Outlook is screwed up...belated b-day wishes Dr KR and happy XXth b-day ROR (or is that XXXXth?)

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

TC
I have been reluctant to get too fired up about this year's version of the Twins and have not watched them very much.  But, from the little I have seen, Slowey and Baker have pitched brilliantly at times, which has to be a good sign.  Have any of the other pitchers had similar outstanding games, so that one would hope with more experience we could have an outstanding staff some day?

I really, really, really, really, REALLY like Scotty Baker.  I mean, like he's a top-20 pitcher in the majors now and has room to improve over the next couple years.  He'll give you 6 innings every time out, strike out almost a guy an inning, and doesn't walk anyone.  If he ever finds a way to keep the ball in the park he'll really become a stud #1 starter.

For the most part, I think Slowey is on the same career path, only a year behind.  He's already an ML-average starter at 24 years old and has really cut his HR rate this year.  I think the limiting factor that will keep him from ever matching Baker's production might be his lack of "pure stuff".  Still, 6.5 K's per 9 innings is a healthy rate, certainly not Radke/Silva/Livan bad.

Speaking of not striking anyone out, I'm skeptical that Blackburn will ever be more than a back-of-the-rotation starter.  He's already 26, K's more than a batter and half per 9 innings less than even Slowey, and for a supposed groundball pitcher doesn't even really get that many groundballs.  His ERA is at 3.69 now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it around 4.25-4.50 by the end of the year.  Of course, that makes him a very valuable commodity over the next 3 or 4 years before he get's expensive, and the Twins' ability to continually churn out pitchers like that (Mark Redman, Joe Mays, Kyle Lohse, Carlos Silva, etc., with a handful more on the horizon) SHOULD keep them from flushing resources down the toilet on pitchers like Sidney Ponson, Ramon Ortiz and Livan Hernandez.

I really had high hopes for Boof Bonser coming into the season.  25-year olds that strike out 7 guys per 9 innings and K twice as many guys as they walk typically turn out to be pretty damn good pitchers.  I wouldn't be surprised if he turns into a reliable starter in the next few years because the talent is certainly there.

I literally have no thoughts on Glen Perkins.  Sometimes I even forget he's in the rotation.  He's like the invisible man or something.  Maybe he would be more memorable if he stuck out more people and allowed fewer HRs.  Or if he moved to the bullpen to make room for Liriano.

Garza sure looks like a good one down in Tampa, but it was apparent he didn't see eye-to-eye with Twins management, and (warts and all) Delmon Young is starting to show that he has legit superstar potential.  It was a trade the Twins had to make.

I've already wasted most of my lunchhour, so I'm not even going to start with Liriano.

If the Twins go into 2009 with a rotation of Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano, Kevin Slowey, and some combination of Boof, Blackburn, and Perkins I would feel confident they are running a top-10 staff out there--for a total of about $4MM, or less than what they are paying Livan for this year.

TC-- I agree with you about Baker & Sloey....they (with a healthy Liriano) give us the foundation of this decade's "top rotation" (see Atlanta in the 1980s, Balto in 1960s). I'd describe Perkins as "Slowey from the south port, a year behind Slowey in progress" and see him as a key part of the future too.

Watching Slowey last night was sweet... he was in complete control the final 5-6 innings, and handcuffed the South Side Softball Sluggers nicely!

I'd say most other managers out there envy Gardy's anguish of who to start and bat where in his Span/Gomez conundrum.  Sure beats debating between Looouuu Ford and Bobby Kielty!

It's still too early to evaluate the Garza/Delomon trade...to me, it looks comparable to the one that brought Hamilton to TX-- something that worked out nicely for both teams and all players involved. TIme will tell....the old saw that it takes 3 years to be able to judge a trade certiainly applies to this one.

Wats your feeling about bringing LeTroy back? I've never been in his corner, kinda like facing him rather than depending on him.... but he would fill a need in our pen. One of my coworkers keeps reperating incessantly "we need to get Adrian Beltre" to the point that I worry about his mental health... Id rather trade for Atkins, but what I've heard of CO's price (either Baker of Slowey & 2-3 prospects) is sheer highway robbery.

[TC]

Some numbers of note:

Garrett Atkins, Career (2003-2008):
Home:  .338/.396/.532/.928 OPS, +19% better than league
Road:  .268/.336/.434/.770 OPS, -18% worse than league
Currently 28, signed through 2008 at $4.3875MM


Adrian Beltre, Career (1998-2008):
Home:  .252/.313/.420/.733 OPS, -13% worse than league
Road:  .288/.340/.494/.834 OPS,  +12% better than league
Currently 29, signed through 2009 at $12MM and $12MM, with no trade clause excluding 8 teams

Atkins has had the luxury of playing his home games in the best hitters park (Coors) this side of the moon and has taken advantage of it.  Conversely, Beltre has played his home games in two of the worst hitters park in baseball, Dodgers Stadium and Safeco, and has seen his numbers suffer accordingly.  While the difference probably isn't as large as it seems, I think it is instructive to look at the players' road numbers:  pedestrian batting averages, roughly league average OBPs, but Beltre has a sizable advantage in slugging percentage. 

Away from Coors, Atkins has essentially performed at about the same level that could be expected from Brian Buscher for the rest of this season (who's at .333/.363/.467, but take about 30 points off of each unless you really think he is a potential batting champion...  Hint: he's not.).  It is beneficial that both Atkins and Beltre are right handed, but I think Beltre provides a potentially dramatic improvement over the existing situation, while Atkins may only be a marginal upgrade.

Then you have defense to consider:  in each of his 3 full seasons, Atkins has made less plays per 9 innings at 3B than the average NL thirdbaseman--it would be rather generous to describe him as anything more than average.  He also provides marginal benefit by being able to spot at 1B and LF, but those aren't exactly positions where the Twins are hurting.  Beltre, on the other hand, has made more plays than his fellow 3B in every one of his full seasons to date and was the AL's Gold Glove winner at 3B in 2007.  According to both scouts and statistics, he is considered a good-to-great defensive thirdbaseman.

That leaves one question unanswered:  the acquisition cost.  The year and a half that Beltre has on his contract at $12M per is not outrageous for a player of his calibre (compared to, say, Andruw Jones at 2/$36M, Gary Matthews, Jr. at 5/$55, Jose Guillen at 3/$36M, or Barry Zito at 18/$9098093740897098273408917234M).  If the Twins expect the Mariners to part with Beltre AND pick up a substantial portion of the tab, his price tag will be high--value-wise, probably close to what the Mets paid for Santana.  Otherwise, the Twins will be asked to take on a pretty sizable salary, something they aren't likely to do.

Atkins will be arbitration eligible again next year, and should command a salary of about $7M-$9M.  While he isn't as valuable a commodity over the next couple years as Beltre, the Rockies aren't necessarily as interested in rebuilding as the Mariners.  I'd imagine it would cost a few decent prospects to pry Atkins loose.

Lost in the discussion is that fact that (at least offensively) the Twins can expect pretty decent production for the rest of the year from the Buscher/Lamb duo.  (I know Lamb has sucked thus far, but I thought signing him was a pretty shrewd move by the Twins and I expect him to contribute a little down the stretch.)  Granted, neither will ever be a star, but at least they will be relatively cheap for next few years.

I'm afraid Atkins wouldn't represent enough of a marginal improvement on the current situation and I'd hate to see the Twins mortgage their future for a year and a half of Beltre, especially since they weren't planning on contending for a couple more years anyway.  I'd hold off on a deal if I were them.


Two thoughts on LaTroy Hawkins...

  = 

and

  = 

[Knightstalker]

Have you guys seen the blog?  This is beyond ridiculous...

Every year Princeton Review releases a set of rankings that colleges trumpet ("One of the Top Schools in the Country!") or down play ("Rankings, schmankings"). Here is a quick look at which Division III schools cracked the lists related to sports. I wouldn't take them too seriously after seeing who made the list of places where intercollegiate sports is supposedly unpopular. But they might help people pass the time through a slow offseason.

Intercollegiate sports unpopular or nonexistent
1. Eugene Lang College (NY)
2. St. John's (MN): Don't look at me! It's not my list.
14. University of Chicago
15. NYU
16. SUNY-Purchase
17. Harvey Mudd College (part of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletics)
20. Emerson College

Maybe you need to invite them to you tailgates and a game.  These people are totally misinformed. 

They should also attend a basketball game at NYU, that place quite often goes nuts.

[Gray Fox]

They should also attend a basketball game at NYU, that place quite often goes nuts.

There used to be violence.  Now there are just Violets.

[stealth]

I can picture the scene at NYU in my head now.  All the wanna be lawyers threating to sue each other for misdeeds, the refs for blown calls and anybody else within the facilities like the vendors for coffee that is to hot. 
Thanks for allowing the drive by but I had to jump in considering the Princeton Review about the Johnnies. What the *&%$ ?
Good luck and be safe all. 

Have you guys seen the blog?  This is beyond ridiculous...

Every year Princeton Review releases a set of rankings that colleges trumpet ("One of the Top Schools in the Country!") or down play ("Rankings, schmankings"). Here is a quick look at which Division III schools cracked the lists related to sports. I wouldn't take them too seriously after seeing who made the list of places where intercollegiate sports is supposedly unpopular. But they might help people pass the time through a slow offseason.

Intercollegiate sports unpopular or nonexistent
1. Eugene Lang College (NY)
2. St. John's (MN): Don't look at me! It's not my list.
14. University of Chicago
15. NYU
16. SUNY-Purchase
17. Harvey Mudd College (part of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletics)
20. Emerson College

Maybe you need to invite them to you tailgates and a game.  These people are totally misinformed. 

They should also attend a basketball game at NYU, that place quite often goes nuts.

[Knightstalker]

The Princeton Review probably just had someone wander through Washington Square Park and ask all the hippies about NYU.  The school is right in the middle of what the NYPD used to call the Pot Precinct aka the 10th Precinct.

[BeaverOfYore]

I may be mistaken, but I believe most of the rankings are based on student surveys which are filled out by students who voluntarily seek out the Princeton Review website.  This may not be the same type of student who slams a case of New Ulm's finest before heading over to cheer on the Johnnies.

[Touchdown Tommy]

Uncle Veek...

Quit lurking and post something funny!!!


Ok just got home from the ballgame with the Mayor and his associates.  Lots of good chatter, including a wager.  I take Delmon over .300 and Finsleft has him below .300 at the end of the regular season.

CC to the rest of the MIACPP: Hush Hush the Mayor also believes that Touchdown Tommy could completely dominate TC in baseball discussion Hush Hush...

[stanbob]

your usual k TDT, I am thinking you are right on Delmon Young and the .300   

[OzJohnnie]

Quick decent into geeksville here.  I'm reading God and Gold: Britain, America and the Making of the Modern World by Walter Russell Mead at the moment and it is a cracker jack read.  If anyone (by any slim but possible chance) is looking for a great history of the Anglo-American culture and it's impact on the world over the last 400 years, this is it.  [/geeksville]

(I'll save you all the trouble... "WTF was that?  Friggin' idiot.")

[johnniepress]

I believe you have the wrong Saint John's in the Princeton Review. Under the Intercollegiate sports unpopular or nonexistent category, St. John's College in New Mexico is ranked No. 2.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

NM vs. MN...  A little dyslexia there?