Final Four, the Twins, and more . . .
Can you not root for MSU? Good for 'Rock City.' Anyone pulling for UNC (other than in your pool?) Seriously, it's the feel good story of the year, like Michael Phelps.
Twinkies go tonight. M's at home for 4 then to Chicago for 3 against the White Sox. How much do you hope Jim Thome's career is done?
Master's coming up. I woke up to snow on the ground this morning, you don't think I'm excited to watch golf on t.v.?
Drove by the Twins and the Gopher stadium on Friday. TCF looks pretty f'ing sweet. Jury is still out on the 'Bullseye' - took a closer look, more is done now, I think I have to see it from the inside. Still excited but . . .
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Your Twins Opening Day Starting Lineup 2009, per Joe Christiansen:
1. Denard Span, LF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Michael Cuddyer, RF
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Carlos Gomez, CF
8. Mike Redmond, C
9. Nick Punto, SS
You may recall I got all bent out of shape about Kubel getting pine in Game 1 last year behind Monroe, and then he went and had more at-bats the first week and (obviously) over the course of the season. So I won't be getting all hot and bothered over Delmon sitting tonight in favor of Cuddy. Despite the fact that the logical reason for not batting Delmon is Hernandez is a very tough righty, and if there's a time to not bat Young it's against very good righties. That said, Cuddyer's 0-fer against Felix and we all know how well he hits a nasty slider, so by comparison he's certainly no improvement.
Anyway, the lineup will look a lot better when you can slot M1 in at the 3-spot and drop Cuddyer/Young to 7, with Go Go at 8 to get it started again.
Am I getting old and cynical? I just find myself chafing at this whole "Michigan State wins national title to turn around the fortunes of Detroit" story. Let the kids play for themselves. I guess I'm either just too postmodern to believe that a college hoops game can make a whole state forget about its troubles for a few days, or that the current troubles are just too deep for that to register. It seems a bit like kibbles for the plebes to my ears, too, a 21st-century Bread and Circuses. I think if I were from Detroit, I'd be thinking "F you, national media, capitalizing on my pain and implying a college basketball team can do anything real to lessen it. I'd rather have a job than a trophy in East Lansing. If Michigan State wins this game you'll go right back to your willful ignorance about how it sucks here by Thursday." I feel like an a-hole for thinking this way. Why is this just not registering for me? Less than 10% of the country's going to watch this basketball game, anyway. Maybe I need a break from sports for awhile (again).
Don't worry, though, I'm certainly pulling for Sparty. For other reasons, of course. Petty and ridiculous reasons, in fact.
Masters predictions? I'll go with Anthony Kim. Tiger's back and will contend but I predict he's not ready to win a Major yet.
April 6, 2009 at 4:15 PM
In other Opening Day news, Santana 5.2, 1 run, W. If he gets off to a sharp April, he could be untouchable this year. Good for him. A year removed, and after watching how much he was The Man down the stretch for the Mets last year, I think my disappointment in his leaving is just about done. I want him to own the NL. Like 24-3, 2.35 ownership.
Also, Cliff Lee, 2008 American League Cy Fluke Award Winner, shelled by Texas. 5 innings, 12 hits, 7 earned runs. Good to see Cleveland start on a bad note.
April 6, 2009 at 4:49 PM
MCA - love the rant. My buddy (who admittedly is a UCONN fan) was saying the same thing about MSU. Yes, they are a great underdog story - kind of - but it's more because they were just okay throughout the year and then completely destroyed the top 2 Big East teams than because they are from the state of Michigan. According to the national media, they have solved the economic meltdown in Detroit. Also, if the Gophers played in the final four in MN I am assuming they would receive an equal if not larger outpouring of support locally.
Go Sparty, though. Absolutely. I'm developing a man-crush on Izzo.
Also, I love that Cliff Lee got housed today. His season last year was completely flukey...I mean, he had been demoted to AAA the year before. As RTS would say: regression to the mean, brother.
April 6, 2009 at 5:38 PM
True that, except I fear that by the end of May we'll be saying "Regression to the mean, thy name is Denard Span."
BG, did this guy grow up in Connecticut or go to UConnvict? I always hear of these mysterious UConn fans, but have a hard time believing that program has any followers that don't fall into one of those two categories.
April 6, 2009 at 6:36 PM
He grew up in Connecticut...middle of the state (not one of these Darien / Greenwich guys). So, he's legit...
BTW, it was nice seeing Sabathia get shelled today too. One game does not a season make...but I quite enjoy it when it happens to the Yanks.
April 6, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Guess which team has given up the most HRs, all-time, to Ken Griffey Jr.? Yup...you guessed it! Your MN Twins!
April 7, 2009 at 2:58 PM
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