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The Royals' territory should have dotted lines for the areas where everyone stops caring in May.

Labels: baseball, Minnesota Twins, Royals in 2nd place?, The Deuce

As the Knicks' spent all of April channeling their innermost Billy Joel and crashing their season away, my attention turned not to spring football, which I don't really care about, but to the prospects of another summer of baseball. But thanks to the continued intellect of Bud Selig and the gigantic fucking wankfest that was the World Baseball Classic, it seems as though it's harder than ever to get jacked about the season. Well, I'm jacked.

And for those of you scoring at home we will once again be at Barrett's Barleycorn for opening day games, and you all should come out. Support the Royals, Cubs, Astros, Twins, etc.

A few predictions to whet your appetite for 162 games of great times.

NL

NL West-Dodgers over DBacks
NL Central-Cubs over Cardinals
NL East-Mets over Phillies
Wild Card: Phillies

NL Champ: Mets over Phillies
MVP: David Wright
Cy Young: Carlos Zambrano (or Johan Santana)

AL

AL East-DRays over Yankees
AL Central-Twins over Indians (then Royals, Tigers, White Sox)
Al West-Angels over A's
Wild Card-Yankees
NL Champ: Angels over DRays
MVP-Evan Longoria
Cy Young: CC Sabathia

World Series: Mets over DRays

Random Predictions:

1. Mark DeRosa, one of my five favorite players in the league, will really piss me off now that he's with the Indians.

2. Carlos Zambrano will be suspended for an incident this year but win the Cy Young anyway.

3. Mike "Little Babe Ruth" Fontenot will not mash like last year but will still OPS .900.

4. The Cubs fans will not like the Milton Bradley signing in August.

5. A. Peterson will spring for a Farnsworth jersey despite his hatred.

6. The Royals will be within 10 games of first place by August 1.

7. The Twins will win the division despite Joe Mauer never being fully healthy.

8. The Twins will have the best defensive outfield in baseball...despite having Delmon Young there.

9. Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker, and Franchise Liriano will combine to win 45 games.

10. The Astros will fucking blow, despite Mayfield telling me in earnest last week they were going to win the division.

11. The Fukudome signing will set Japanese-American relations back farther than Pokemon and Hello Kitty combined.

12. The White Sox will battle it out with the Tigers for last place.

13. The Tigers will literally have less than 5,000 fans at a game this year.

14. Brian Duensing will not stay with the Twins all season.

15. The Nebraska baseball team is and will continue to have its "7 and 7" year followed by Mike Anderson starting next year fighting for his job.

16. I will purchase the baseball package and enjoy the holy hell out of it while saving money from not going to the bar every third day in the process.

Enjoy it, everyone.

Labels: Barrett's Barleycorn, baseball, Minnesota Twins, Nebraska Baseball

I just thought I would point out how awesome/frustrating the mid-season race for the american league central has been. I am pretty sure that the twins and sox have been duking it out within 2 games of each other since before the allstar break. Neither team has put together a terribly long string of wins or losses, and any consecutive outcomes have almost always been matched by the other team. There have been tons of extra-inning games, lots of one run wins and a nice spread of blow-outs mixed in as well. It might be easy to say that neither team "wants it" enough, but I honestly don't think that is the case with this one. Both teams are playing some damn scrappy baseball. I just wish the sox were playing better against contending teams.

Hey Pete, here's to scoreboard watching everyday. And may the scrappiest team win.

Labels: Awesomeness, Chicago White Sox, mid-season races, Minnesota Twins

Here it is, friends: the big 10 year reunion is upon us. Yes, it has been--amazingly--10 long years since we last roamed the esteemed halls of North Platte Senior High School. I personally haven't been back for a while, and am looking forward to seeing what a guy who goes around and opens Ruby Tuesday's for a living called "a rough, dirty town." Couldn't have said it better.

*Side note: does anyone know why they called it "North Platte Senior High School?" I mean, it's not like we had a junior high school.

It should be a fun weekend, as it sounds like the attendance is going to be higher than I thought it would be. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

A few quick links...

--The Cubs--fresh off their 31-11 combined score, four-game complete SPANKING of the Brewers, now sit 5 games ahead of second place in the NL Central. In fact, the Cubbies simply need to finish 1 game over .500 the rest of the season to get to 92 wins, which should probably have them win the division, and at the least get the Wild Card. But the way they're playing, the term "Wild Card" only enters my big melon when I'm thinking about the Brewers. The more likely scenario would put them at 9 or 10 games over .500 for the rest of the season, which would have them at the 96-97 win mark, which should comfortably win the division for them. This team is legit, and if Dick Harden stays healthy, they should be the odds-on favorites to win the NL.

--It sounds like the Cubs aren't the only people who have a winning team and are getting unruly. Apparently Twins fans--who I always thought needed a cattle prod shock to wake them up during games--got a little unruly last night en route to beating the White Sox.

--More baseball: a good roundup from Deadspin in regards to how everyone in the media got scooped in regards to the Manny to the Dodgers deal yesterday. Pretty amusing.

--This video is unbelievably awesome: it's Michael Jordan at some recent basketball camp, and let's people know about what he thinks of Kobe. Some kid asks him who would win one-on-one, Jordan vs. Kobe, and he says "in my prime, not even close." He then proceeds to hit a ton of shots in a row, embarrasses white kids one on one, and it's all done to "Homecoming" by Kanye West. So yeah, I'd say this video is right in the ol' wheelhouse.

I've got to run...see some of you tonight.

Labels: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Michael Jordan, Minnesota Twins, North Platte

I saw a link to this at Joe Posnanski's blog, which is probably my favorite blog ever, all things considered. Seriously, the fact that a guy this talented who obviously can make a good living writing is generous enough to give us these kinds of efforts for free is miraculous and awe-inspiring.

Anyway, I saw this interview with Craig Finn that is all about baseball and is really great. He's a huge fan of the Twins and not only knows his shit, he regales us with stories about Paul Westerberg that simply kick ass. Great times, and "Stay Positive" is unbelievable. I'm not sure that it tops "Boys and Girls" but it's pretty amazing for the most part. At least four or five of the songs are as good as anything they've done. I give it a 9.1 out of 10. (Boys and Girls I would give a 9.8 out of 10)

They are The Official Band of Heavy Soul. It's decidedly so.

Labels: Craig Finn, Joe Posnanski, Minnesota Twins, The Hold Steady

As a Twins fan I tuned in a little late to tonight's Twins-Yanks broadcast on The World Wide Leader, and before I could realize Steve Phillips was involved in the broadcast and hit 'mute' I watched Derek Jeter hit a single, giving him 2,411 hits for his career. This is noteworthy because he is closing in on Mantle, who has 2,415.

Anyway, Steve Phillips said that Jeter has a "legitimate shot" at 4,000 hits. 4,000!

A quick look at the facts as I see them: Derek Jeter will be 34 years old on June 26.

If he averages 200 hits per season from today, he will reach 4,000 sometime in late May, 2016.

He will be 41 years, 11 months old.

He is hitting .271 as of this second on the season, and is on pace to get 165 hits this year.

Although it may be too early to tell, it does appear that he is on the decline ever since his .343/.417/.483 2006 campaign.

At any rate, we can say with close to certainty that his numbers will get worse before they get better, especially on the other side of 35, not to mention 40.

What are the odds he even gets 3,500? 10 percent, if we're being generous?

As I sit here with the TV muted, I'm no longer surprised, just saddened.

Labels: eclipsing 4000 models banged not hits, ESPN sucks, Minnesota Twins, mute button

I'm dumping my allegiance to the Red Sox Nation. I've finally had it. I just don't want to be associated with all of these jackasses that have jumped on board in the last five+ years.

So, I am leaving it up to my good friends here at Heavy Soul to determine what the Deuce's new baseball team will be. You can decide between five teams and I have outlined the pluses and minuses for each team. You guys can push it over the top one way or another.

1) The Florida Marlins

Pluses

• The ownership and general management of this team just gets how to run a mid-market team. They've won just as many world series since the team was founded as the Red Sox have in that time period.
• They always end up in contention as long as the fire sale didn't happen the year before and even then they're usually competitive.
• The team has never lost a series in the post season.
• I really like Josh Willingham and Hanley Ramirez.

Minuses

• There won't be as much continuity with the team as they tend to dump just about everybody on their roster about every five to seven years
• I will never get to see them play at home (This should be a positive as the Dolphin Stadium is not a good place to watch baseball)
• Its a Florida team
• No DH (Sorry, I'm not a baseball purist)

2) The Arizona Diamondbacks

Pluses

• Another mid-market team that understands how to put the pieces together.
• Definitely could see them play every spring as long as we are still going to Phoenix for Spring Training
• I absolutely love Eric Byrnes, any clubhouse he's a part of is good by me
• Brandon Webb is good (and I mean GOOD).

Minuses

• Feels like I'd be jumping off one bandwagon and onto another
• The jerseys are NOT good
• No DH (again, fuck you guys)
• The National League West means I have to start watching baseball games that don't have the opening pitch until 9 at night.

3) The Minnesota Twins

Pluses

• Four hours away, I can go to games in the fall
• I like Morneau, Mauer, and Blackburn
• I'd have friends to root with
• DH

Minuses

• Paul and Kourtney like the Twins
• The Metrodome is a piece of junk
• The Metrodome is a piece of junk
• The Metrodome is a piece of junk

4) The Seattle Mariners

Pluses

• Safeco is an awesome field in a pretty awesome town
• I have always liked Richie Sexson
• I'm coming around Adrian Beltre even though I still think he's one of the more overpaid players in baseball
• When it comes to Felix Hernandez and Carlos Silva, I'm in.
• There are only four teams in the AL West so there's a better shot of seeing them in the playoffs
• DH

Minuses

• Home games are on late
• They haven't been to the post season since 2001
• Who the hell is a Seattle Mariner's fan?

5) The Goddamn Cubs

Pluses

• Every person I know is a Cubs fan
• I already basically know everything about the team
• I've been to more Cubs games than Red Sox games
• I love Sweet Lou
• The Fukudome (that's all that has to be said)

Minuses

• Every person I know is a Cubs fan
• I already basically know everything about the team
• I'm kind of tired of Cubs fever
• They're a lot like the pre-2004 Red Sox, I don't want to have to switch teams when their bandwagon goes through the roof when they finally win it all
• NO DH

So choose wisely Heavy Soul. My sports fate lies in your hands.

Labels: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Jumping off the bandwagon, Minnesota Twins, Pick my team for me, Seattle Mariners

Ah, Pete. Young, silly, silly Pete. How's the Twins bandwagon doing these days? Pretty creaky, I'm guessing (and not because there are too many people on it).

Here is what the Twins got for trading Johan Santana to the Mets: (these are minor league stats)

Carlos Gomez: ('06 AA) .281 AVG, .350 OBP, .423 SLG, .773 OPS, 7 HR, 48 RBI (these are from 2006; his 2007 stats are jacked because he played on 4 squads-including the Mets).

Scouting Report: Plus arm and speed, plus fielder, plus base stealer, nice swing. Negatives include too aggressive at the plate, poor situational hitting, no power

Philip Humber: ('07 AAA) 25 GS, 11-9, 139 IP, 129 H, 70R, 21 HR, 44 BB, 120 K, 4.27 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus both project Humber as a MLB #2 or 3 starter, although he has already had Tommy John surgery and is only 27.

Deolis Guerra: ('07 A+) 20 GS, 2-6, 89.2 IP, 80 H, 44 R, 9 HR, 25 BB, 66K, 4.01 ERA, 1.17 WHIP

Plus change, good fastball, big, very young (18 years old). Too tough to say if he has MLB stuff as of this point.

Kevin Mulvey: ('07 AA/AAA) 27 GS, 12-10, 157.2 IP, 147 H, 74 R, 56 ER (that is a huge discrepancy! Weird.), 4 HR, 43 BB, 113 K, 3.20 ERA, 1.21 WHIP

Fantastic vs. right handers, throws four pitches consistently for strikes. Struggles against lefties. Projects as a #3 or 4 starter.

Interesting stuff when you break it down like this. The media--in all their baseball-knowing glory--talks it up as though the three pitchers are merely throw-ins to go with Gomez. This actually could turn out to be a good trade; those are three young and seemingly talented pitchers.

Anyways, back to Pete. What were your reasons for jumping off the Cubs bandwagon again? The Tribune/shitty ownership and stupid fans.

Well, looks like the shitty ownership followed your ass to Minnesota. So this may be a solid trade, but that said: why in the hell would you make this trade in the offseason? It makes no sense! Why on earth don't you wait and trade Santana around the trade deadline when desperate teams will give up whatever you ask for in order to get pitching help to make a push to the playoffs? I understand that Johan has a no-trade clause, but isn't his whole deal that he wants to go to a contender? So you put him to a contender team at mid-season, and regardless of what happens, he still gets the same contract next year.

And what about stupid fans? Here you go...

From mink0 on the Scout.com Twins message board:

"Im confident the twins made the right deal... The only reason of that is because the twins have made good trades before I.E. the knoblauch & Pirzinski trades. I really dont know much about these prospects but if the twins would trade santana for them, these guys must be good. Once the trade gets completed where would we see these guys in our system? Will gomez be a shoe in for the starting CF job? and what does our starting rotation look like since Santana wont be in it?"

Wow, that is some great deductive reasoning there. "Well, our old GM made good trades in the past, so this trade must be good, too."

So enjoy Twins-dom, Pete. Oh, and did I mention the Cubs went to the playoffs last year? And soon, they won't be owned by the Tribune anymore? Yeah, we still have stupid fans, but at least we won't have both of your big problems anymore.

This is literally your last chance to get back on board the sturdy Cubs wagon. But I swear to God, this train is leavin'!

Labels: Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Johan Santana, Kevin Mulvey, Minnesota Twins, Philip Humber

How mad are you about jumping the Cubs' bandwagon for the Twins now, Pete? Here is what Johan Santana thought about the now-expired trade deadline:

"Why waste time when you're talking about something that's always going to be like that? It's never going to be beyond this point," Santana told the newspaper. "It doesn't make any sense for me to be here, you know?"

Yikes. And his contract expires next year.

Welp, you've still got Boof!

Labels: Bad Decisions, Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins, That's What You Get For Giving Up On Your Team