This is the Year

It is baseball’s most common phrase, a piece of lingering optimism. For the Chicago Cubs, it has become a part of their spring training routines. Wrigley Field’s ivy has grown sick of hearing it. For years, the fans packing the seats at Fenway Park were heard uttering the same words. Magically, the words held truth in 2004. For Indians fans, they haven’t had their year since 1948. They’ve had close calls, good seasons, winning seasons and great players, but not their year. In Pittsburgh, the Pirates have had successful triumphs, but baseball fans my age haven’t even seen the Pirates post a winning season (well 1992, but at age 2 I’m not remembering that). To be the bearer of bad news for Pirates fans, this year isn’t the year either. Yankees fans are never heard saying, “This is the year.” It’s a sense of confidence that New York fans have in their ball club and their inevitable conquests. As a Twins fan, it’s a natural reaction to let that sad phrase eek from my mouth. “This is the year” has a hopeful, wishing tone to it. It doesn’t represent confidence, but it represents hope and the notion that “we have a chance…” Yankees fans don’t have hope; they have assurance. ESPN First Take’s Skip Bayless said he liked the Twins to win it all, that it was their year. But I won’t. I will not let myself succumb to the weakness. I will not be fooled by what these words mean. I will possess the confidence of a Yankees fan (dear god…). I don’t need to tell my friends, “This is the year.” It just hurts too much.

Let us observe what the Twins have this season.

Joe Mauer is safely secure for the better part of the next decade. Twins fans throughout the tightly-knit Twins territory can all exhale in relief to hear that Joe Mauer will never (ever, ever) leave Minnesota. Former MVP and early 2010 MVP candidate Justin Morneau is fighting back strong from his concussion. Remember Morneau is a former hockey player from Canada; he has obtained toughness hard to rival in all of sports. Liriano is well removed from the Tommy John surgery that stole his entire 2007 season. In fact, I believe I heard Tim Kurkjian say that Liriano is a Cy Young candidate this year. It’s great to have star players. Few teams in the league have a cornerstone of players quite like the Twins.

If I remember correctly, the last time the Twins had an import from Japan it was 3B Tony Batista, goofy batting stance and all. The Twins are giving it another try with infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, a 26 year old with great potential for a Gold Glove in the field. Nishioka also has the potential to be a .300 hitter and help the Twins fill the vacancy of Nick Punto (in some opinion’s, Punto is no loss whatsoever). To add to the short list of newcomers, this newcomer is actually no newcomer at all - former closer Joe Nathan is back, fresh off surgery and ready to reassume the role of the shutdown man in Minneapolis. Here lie two impact players new (and returning once again) to the Twin Cities.

As for returning role players, Danny Valencia is poising himself for a great sophomore season at the hot corner. Left fielder Delmon Young had an excellent season last year and he is still considered one of the most talented players in baseball. People within the baseball world are buzzing about this finally being Delmon’s breakout year. Prior to the summer of 2010, the Twins organization took a chance on an aging left-handed slugger, Jim Thome. Now prior to the summer of 2011, the Twins find themselves seeing how much more Thome has left in his tank. Jim gave his praises for Minnesota after last year’s experience as he loved his teammates, the fans and the Twin Cities area. Jim’s noted as being one of the nicest guys in baseball, so he fits the mold here in Minnesota. Jim isn’t the only veteran on this ballclub. Michael Cuddyer again returns to the Twins as a key outfielder and clubhouse leader. Add in outfielders Denard Span and Jason Kubel and starters Nick Blackburn and Scott Baker, the Twins have a team full of chemistry returning to Target Field; a returning team that makes many teams in baseball envious.

In baseball (fantasy at least), much has been said of the 27 year-olds. Players in the season’s in which they turn 27 are considered in the midst of their primes. The idea is that 27 year-old ball player’s still present youthful exuberance while also being veterans in the league; more good news for the Twins. They have 4 key players who will be of the age of 27 at the start of the season (Matt Capps, Liriano, Mauer, Denard Span) with another 4 turning 27 during the course of the season (Kevin Slowey, Alexi Casilla, Nishioka, Valencia). The Twins have a strong core of players all perched on the edge of career seasons, another area of optimism…

Finally, I’ll observe a little history (albeit, recent history). The Twins have won the AL Central for the past two seasons and made the post season 6 times in the 2000s. Ron Gardenhire has only one losing season with the Twins (2007, where he was 4 games under .500) and won the AL Manager of the Year in 2010. Even with the success his teams have had, this could be the strongest roster he’s had thus far. The Twins may have the formula.

Maybe this is the year.

 

-Troy Klongerbo

2011 MLB Preview: AL East Edition

Again, we are on the dawn of the baseball season. It reveals the presence of spring and new growth. Baseball is a sign of the time. People, locked in their houses and huts for months, are excited to re-acclimate themselves to the outdoors. The fishing, golfing, and summer lake activities are all kicked off each and every spring by the emergence of baseball. With the optimism of summer in the air, I have decided to document my 2011 MLB Preview Selection Show (with no show, podcasts or even videos – irony got me). Let’s get started.

AL East Champions:  Boston Red Sox

            I am extremely attracted to the youthfulness (Evan Longoria, David Price, Jake McGee and Jeremy “Hell Boy” Hellickson) and the added veteran presences (Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez) to the Tampa Bay Rays (wish they were still the “Devil” Rays, as it would be a fitting home for 2011 AL ROY hopeful “Hell Boy” Hellickson), but this team doesn’t have the ammo to shoot down the division this season. They may not shoot it down, but the Maddon’s crew will be firing all season, no doubt.

            As much as I love the Yankees, everything they stand for, their respectful and humble fan base and the way they frugally allocate their money (sarcasm abundant), I do not see the division title in their sights this season. They simply lack the starting pitching. Nova and Garcia are slotted as the 4 and 5 starters, with the never dependable A.J. Burnett. They Yankees lineup will score a lot of runs, but I see A.J.’s ERA stretching closer to the pH levels of water than that of pi (An inside science joke for me and my fellow science majors).

            Neither the Blue Jays nor the Orioles deserve their own paragraphs, so I’m going to highlight their limited glowing areas as a collective unit. Kyle Drabek, of the Blue Jays has some electric stuff and will be a serious threat for ROY in the AL. Other than that, 75 wins looks optimistic for the Jays. The suddenly aged Orioles (Vladimir Guerrero, Derrek Lee, and Brian Roberts) seem to have made a final push at the division with the off-season acquisitions they made (more sarcasm). Weiters is still the future in Baltimore and we’ll see how he progresses.

            The Champs of the East will be the Red Sox: Starting pitching (Lester, Buchholz, Lackey, Beckett and Dice-K), check. Speed (Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford), check. Power (Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz), check. Former MVP’s (Dustin Pedroia), check. This team also has strength in their bullpens and they are deep. They are poised.

Who do YOU like at #1?

As the draft approaches, this year’s number one pick has yet to emerge. There are a plethora of options to pencil in the #1 slot, but no player has really distanced himself from the pack. Take a look at season’s past, where multiple guys were worthy of the #1 pick. If players like Ndamukong Suh, Calvin Johnson, Vince Young or Reggie Bush found themselves among the 2010 prospects, they would probably be taken number 1. This is obviously, not the case.

At the beginning of the process, Auburn’s Nick Fairley was fresh in our minds as his dominant season was played on highlights over and over. He seemed like this year’s Suh, a dominating defensive tackle that can disrupt any offense and cause havoc in the backfield. He was penciled as the number one guy, but as time moved forward, Fairley perhaps un-Fairley slipped on many experts big boards. Rumors about his attitude and the fact that his junior season has been his only strong season of his collegiate career raised eyebrows among NFL scouts, causing a loss a slip in status. Speaking of raised eyebrows, A.J. Green has captivated scouts with his pure ability at the WR position. As a Bulldog, Green was an impact offensive player in the toughest conference in the country from the time that he was a freshman. The Panthers, with an aging Steve Smith, may be in the market for a player like Green. He is viewed a player who has the speed to gain separation from coverage, but also the size to take the ball from any defender. Recently at the combine in Indianapolis, it wasn’t Green making the headlines. It was Julio Jones, the Alabama product who has been highly touted ever since his prep days. Julio caught everything thrown his way and shocked the stopwatches with a blistering 40 time of 4.39, all on what was soon to be learned as a fractured foot. This performance hurt Green’s status as the provisional number 1 overall pick, because teams now feel that Jones has closed the gap for the #1 receiver spot, giving the draft more depth at receiver and lowering Green’s value.

With still no “Can’t Miss” player in the draft, eyes moved towards the player who had the nation captivated all fall: Cam Newton. Cam is a big, strong-armed quarterback, with the athleticism and elusiveness to evade any pass rusher. He proved his leadership on the field for national champion Auburn Tigers’ while taking home the most prized trophy in collegiate athletics, the Heisman Trophy. Cam is a likable player, always carrying around a smile and a good interview for fans and media. He appears to have the highest ceiling in the draft, but people inside the ropes have major question marks about Cam. His accuracy has been questioned all season, with this past Combine performance not proving anyone wrong. Also, the notion of Cam being able to succeed at the next level with the run first attitude he’s garnered, scares NFL general managers and coaches alike. Some experts do not even have Cam as a first ROUND pick, let alone the number 1 man. (Also, Carolina wasted…used* the #48 pick on Jimmy Clausen a year ago, so QB doesn’t seem like the place to go.)So quarterback isn’t the place to go, huh? With that, we arrive at our current number one overall draft pick, Missouri Tigers quarterback Blaine Gabbert.  Blaine impressed coaches with his big arm and confidence on the white board. Gabbert has the size and vision of a successful NFL QB and he is widely considered the best pure passer in the draft. A major knock on Blaine is the fact that he hails from a spread offense in Missouri, a fact that has seemingly not scared of analysts across the board.

As the game of musical chairs continues around the first pick, I personally have a guy who has all the skills and potential impact of a number 1 overall pick, but has not received a worthy look: LSU CB Patrick Peterson. Peterson, along with Nebraska cover man Prince Amukamara lead the field of defensive backs into the 2011 draft. Peterson might be the most talented player in the draft, a player that can make impacts not only on the defensive end of the ball, but also in special teams. His skillset seems reminiscent of players like Charles Woodson and Deion Sanders coming out of college. He obtains electrifying speed and in his time at LSU showed all the skills necessary to be a shutdown corner at the next level. In the NFL, it is commonly noted that there are 4 cornerstone positions on the football field: Quarterback, Left Tackle, a pass rushing Defensive End and an elite corner back. We’ve all seen how players like Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha have impacted their defenses. Coordinators have been allowed to put them on a respective, and respected, “islands” and been given the freedom to be much more aggressive with the remaining 10 players on the field. Although Peterson may become a corner back on this level at some point in his future, I feel that his impact will be noticed in the return game immediately. In the 2000’s players like Dante Hall, Devin Hester and Joshua Cribbs, have played huge roles in the return game. These players were called “game-changers”, players who strike fear into the heart of every Heath Farwell and Tully Banta-Cain in the league. They have become invaluable, repeatedly giving their offenses the best possible starting field position and sometimes, getting a little hungry and taking one back to the house. There is an abundant amount of reasons that CB’s aren’t popular first picks. A major reason is due to the amount of money these top picks have cashed in for in recent drafts. First overall picks are the highest paid players in the league, so teams feel the urge to move in a direction that will prove to be a good return on their investment, namely the quarterback, tackle and defensive end positions. With the hopeful success of a new CBA, these rookie contracts will be scaled down, giving teams the option to take the best player on their boards, and not just the one with the highest potential. This is where Peterson becomes the number one man on my board and once Peterson evolves into the second coming of Champ Bailey, the Panthers will be happy they made history, and slotted a cornerback at #1.

Super Bowl XLV Legacies

In the NFL, we watch games each and every week, looking for the spectacular plays and the massive stat lines. We look to form opinions on players, teams and their legacies in history. Tonight, two legacies were altered within the sport.

Aaron Rodgers Legacy

An impressive career thus far has its first capper. Big time players play big in big games. The MVP of this year’s game, played like a big time player in THE big game. Rodgers plays with a calming swagger, one that reminds us of a tactical boxing champion, one searching for a championship belt of his own. Rodgers has battled for everything he has received in his career, fighting adversity and proving himself at each level. It’s hard for many people to argue that he didn’t deserve a Lombardi at some point in his brief career. His playoff performance in 2011 was nothing short of exceptional. It belongs in discussions with one of the great postseason runs in the history of the league. Take a look at what he accomplished this season, on the road each and every week. He beat the Eagles in the first round, playing a mistake free game against a defense that forces mistakes. In the second round, he posted gaudy numbers against the stingy Falcons squad that kept teams close all season. In the NFC championship, he overcame the nasty opposing tundra of their rival Chicago Bears to lead the Pack to their first Super Bowl in the post-Brett Favre era…Oops, I mean the Aaron Rodgers era. His statistics were prolific and his leadership was unheralded. Two seasons ago against the Cardinals, Aaron did everything in his power to push his team over the hill, but 45 points wasn’t good enough. His playoff performances have caught us, maybe, by surprise. I know it caught 23 NFL executives and numerous scouts that passed on him in the 2005 NFL draft by surprise. Aaron is a clutch quarterback with the make-up any head coach desires from a leader. A controlled gun-slinger, Aaron spreads them out and makes great decisions. Even in this Super Bowl, he overcame dropped pass after dropped pass by receivers Jordy Nelson and James Jones. Aaron is used to overcoming obstacles; adversity like this has helped him to begin forming a legacy for himself.

Ben Roethlisberger’s Legacy

While Big Ben’s opponent, Aaron Rodgers was fighting to prove his legitimacy, Big Ben was looking to join the all-time greats. With a potential for 3 Super Bowl titles in 6 years, Ben was on the brink of all-time greatness. He would join an elite class of all-time quarterbacks and secure a legacy for himself as a championship quarterback. Let’s fast forward to the end of the game, Pittsburgh fails to close out a mini dynasty and Ben comes short of all-time greatness - as it appears. With a loss tonight, we should place Ben’s all-time legacy on hold and examine it further. Ben is a great and unique talent in this league, a proven winner.  But I think this game truly shows us the type of quarterback he is - a very good quarterback, one who stacks up well in his era, but not an all-time great. With a victory, we were ready to crown him as one of the greats. At 27 years old, he was approaching the lore of Bradshaw and Montana. The football nation was moving a little bit too fast. Let’s place the microscope on his 3 Super Bowl appearances. Roethlisberger has played noticeably poorly in two of them, sufficient in the other. Tonight, he threw 2 key interceptions, one going for a Nick Collins score, and couldn’t overcome those mistakes in last ditch effort. In 2005 against the Seattle Seahawks, Ben was only a second year quarterback and struggled to find his groove, riding his defense, running game and a trick play to Super Bowl glory. Even two years ago against Arizona, he was outplayed at the quarterback position by Kurt Warner. Without the Immaculate Reception by Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone, we may look back on Ben’s Super Bowl career differently. We were ready to crown Ben. Let’s hold back on that crown and take it in perspective.

Having these thoughts about legacies leads me to wonder about the fantasy world and all of our ‘What if’ questions. What if Peyton Manning had the cagey Pittsburgh defenses that Ben Roethlisberger has enjoyed over the past 6 seasons? What if legends like Dan Marino could lavish on a team with the talent across the board that Aaron Rodgers has in Green Bay? These are discussions that drive creative minds. It challenges and intrigues football fans across the nation, but at the end of the day, we look at stats, playoff performances and the most importantly Super Bowl titles. These are how legacies are perceived.  Aaron Rodgers joined the greats of his era tonight. His name belongs with Peyton, Tom and Drew (yes, even Ben). He reached the pinnacle of his sport. In a sport that explores the legacies of so many, Aaron is on the way to proving his own – with a belt around his waist.

Troy Eric Klongerbo

O boy, what am I gonna do?

I am a man who roots for history when it comes to sports. Perhaps posterity is the more appropriate word. Despite his now well documented off-course (pun intended) behavior, I root for Tiger every weekend out. Why? Because I want him to shatter Jack's record. No disrespect to Mr. Nicklaus, I don't know him, though I've heard nice things, but I want to say that I watched the greatest golfer to ever play the game. When Rory McIlroy or Bobo Klongerbo are winning majors left and right with my sons (I will only have sons) in the front of the TV, I'll be able to tell them, "Boys, these guys can play a little bit. But no one will ever approach Tiger." I want the bragging rights for my generation. I remember when the greatest running back of all time debate came up a few years ago when LT was putting up incredible numbers. Some said Barry, others said Sweetness, still others suggested that through his longevity Emmitt Smith earned the Greastest Runner label. My dad laughed when he heard this. "No one was even close to Jim Brown. He's the best running back in history," he said. My dad saw them all, and because his generation watched Jim Brown he has bragging rights.
 So now I sit down to watch every sporting event with posterity on my mind. I cheer for Peyton Manning and Tom Brady every chance I get (though I'm on team Peyton, I've always felt that he was a more incendiary player than Brady regardless of rings); I wanted the Heat to win all 82 games this year, I want Tiger to win twenty majors, I want Jimmie Johnson to win every NASCAR championship for the next decade (Okay that's a joke, I don't care about NASCAR, nor do I consider it a sport), and I want Pujols to make 763 the memorable number that 762 isn't. All for bragging rights. So one day I can sit down with my kids and tell them that I saw history, I saw the greatest athletes at work. I can tell my dad, "Yeah Nicklaus was good, as were Hogan and Palmer, but Tiger did things to the golf ball that no other play has ever done. He put it in the hole more often than anyone in history."
This consideration for posterity brings me to my current conundrum: Sidney Crosby is currently playing hockey at a Gretzkyian level. That's not even hyperbole. He has 50 points in 30 games so far this season, an astounding 1.67 points per game. He is ten points ahead of Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who  is having an incredible season in his own right, and fifteen ahead of his vaunted rival Alex Ovechkin. He holds an incredible fourteen goal lead on Ovechkin as well. Crosby's 26 goals in 30 games has him on track for a post dead puck era 71 goals. Only Ovechkin has crossed the 60 goal plateau since 2000, and no one has scored 70 since Teemu Sleanne and Alexander Mogily both went for 76 in 1992-1993. Teams scored a combined 7.25 goals per game in 92-93. Now? 5.61. Now matter how you spin it, Crosby is having a truly historic season. He has a chance to reach 150 points, 50 goals in 50 games, and win the Art Ross (highest scorer), Hart (MVP), and Maurice Richard (most goals) in a single season. The last and only person to accomplish that feet? Hockey default answer: Wayne Gretzky. However, I am a conflicted fan. As a diehard supporter of the Flyguys aka the Philadelphia Flyers I hate Sidney Crosby, always have and probably always will. If I do end up having a daughter and she falls in love with Crosby, I would not allow her to marry him. Partly because of the age disparity but still, I have tremendous contempt for the man. He torments my team like no player in the league. He is the bane of my sports fan existence, I despise him more than any other figure in sports. All because he plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Well mostly because he plays for the Penguins; He's also cocky, he complains, and he grows prepubescent facial hair. How can I root for Crosby to have this historical season in good conscience? How can I cringe and cheer every time he puts the puck in the net? Truth be told I can't. This year I'll be using the Derek Anderson denial defense when it comes to Crosby:
Subject A: Hey Dil, Crosby's really havin' a great year isn't he?
Me: I don't see it...
Subject A: His highlights are everywhere...
Me: That's fine
Subject A: Bu...
Me: That's fine
Subject A: But...
Me: That's fine.

But in the future I'll have no choice. My sons (diehard Flyers fans by the way. I teach them to hate Crosby)  will ask me how good Sid was in his prime. I'll point to his 2010-2011 season and say that's the best I've ever seen. That's the best anyone's ever seen.
At least I'll have bragging rights.
-Dil

Déjà Vu

Your 2010 Heisman winner will be Cameron Newton of Auburn University.

Newton had a fantastic season in this, his junior year. He has been a rare, journeyman of college football playing for schools all across the Southeast region of our nation. He began his career as a Gator, a rival of Auburn's in the SEC. While there at Florida, Newton backed up college football legend Tim Tebow, but found legal trouble and later transferred to Blinn Junior College in Texas. In his sophomore year, he led his new team to the National Junior College Championship title. With his stock at an all-time high and in search of his third school in three years, Newton's father Cecil shopped his son around like a trophy racehorse. Cecil Newton accepted offers from Auburn and Mississippi State for his son's services and Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik won out in the bidding. This is all, of course, pure speculation and under investigation by the FBI and NCAA.

Despite these charges, Newton didn't lose any time on the field and worked his way in to the BCS National Championship game. He piled up a season reminiscent of Vince Young’s final season in Texas, were Young led the Longhorns to a National Championships. Newton’s final statistics for 2010 were 1,409 yards rushing with 20 TD’s and 2,589 yards passing with 28 TD’s coupled with only 6 interceptions. Statistically one of the most impressive seasons in history, Newton’s exceptional play also led his Tigers to the SEC Championship trophy. Newton’s consistent play in the toughest conference in football is enough to win a Heisman alone. Look at Jason White for Oklahoma in 2003. He won the Heisman with numbers less impressive than Newton and with an ability viewed to be less than that of Newton. Newton piled up 8 more TD’s and threw 8 fewer interceptions than White, while lighting up the highlight reels on a weekly basis. To me, this resume is conclusive of a unanimous vote in favor of Cam Newton as the Heisman winner of 2010.

But. One lousy three letter word. But. Cameron Newton will win the 2010 Heisman, but it will only be temporary. Newton’s Heisman will face the same doomed fate that Reggie Bush’s trophy saw in 2005. Bush’s trophy was recently taken after a highly publicized story regarding his eligibility and accepting of booster money for his parents. Newton and Bush losing their trophies under the same tragic circumstances brings into question the state of college football.

I understand the issues here dealing with integrity and honesty within the realm of eligibility in collegiate athletics, but I feel that it needs to be looked at again. I have a creeping suspicion that Newton and Bush are not the only two athletes in the country to receive illegal benefits. Also, I feel that this issue is much bigger than just a few Heisman Trophy winners. Over time, I hope the NCAA reconsiders and looks at the big picture. Newton and Bush are more innocent, in my opinion, than the record shows. By reconsidering, maybe the NCAA can allow history to look kindly upon these great NCAA heroes, instead of looking at them as the cheaters that they appear to be.   

BoBo KlongerBo

James Harrison is...

            A man non-the less, but also a very dumb man. So far he has racked up a total of 125,000 dollars in fines this year alone for one thing…his illegal hits. He has gotten to the point that he believes he is a target. A target? Yeah you would think so, repeat offending child rapists are targets too aren’t they? So why not him?

            After Harrison’s latest hit, he still says, "I'm not playing dirty," he said. "I'm not doing anything that's outside the lines. ... There's nothing malicious or illegal about the way I'm playing or I'm tackling guys, so I'm going to continue to play the way I'm playing.". If this is his stance on this, then he should expect to continue getting penalties and fines. Instead of arguing the fact that he isn’t a dirty player, which I don’t believe the NFL has even said. Maybe he should think about how he's tackling or even contemplate retiring again. If anyone tackled as hard as he does and in the same way that he does, they too will get fined. Every one of his illegal hits this year has had a glaring problem, he leads with his head. If he doesn’t realize the problem in this he SHOULD retire. Sooner or later he’s not only going to hurt someone else but also himself.

            Like my previous article “Illegal or Lazy” this is the same problem. Harrison doesn’t have to stop playing the way he does, he has to stop tackling they way no one is ever taught to. His technique of head down right into the defender, or “spearing” some would say has been illegal for a long time. So the NFL has the responsibility to flag and fine him. James Harrison, if your coach says you have children to feed, then stop being lazy and man up and tackle like everyone else in the league does.

            Obviously Harrison didn’t catch the Jim Rome is Burning episode featuring Giants defensive end Justin Tuck. In this interview Tuck stated his support for the new fines and flags on hits. Not only was he a supporter, but his message should be thought by all NFL players, “We got to have it in the back of our head that a big killshot on a QB or offensive player isn’t more important than the fact than him being able to walk away from the game and go home, and play with his kids at night”. So James should think before his next opportunity at a killshot, “this guy may have kids to feed too” and not only that, but he himself has kids to feed. He may not have got injured yet, but has a good chance if he keeps leading with his head. Some times people have to realize when the battle is won or lost, and Harrison isn’t ever going to win this battle against the NFL.
-CP