July 16, 2010
Link-O-Rama
• Much like me, Chris Webber has had just about enough of David Kahn.
• Aw, cute. Nick Punto is trying to grow a Carl Pavano-like mustache.
• John Sickels projected the career stats of Rick Vaughn from Major League, which is the type of thing I find endlessly amusing. Given that there's basically a website for everything at this point, someone really needs to create a Baseball-Reference.com-style setup dedicated to the careers of players from baseball movies. I'd sponsor Roger Dorn's page.
• I plugged my most recent blog entries into this website that promises to "analyze who you write like" and it spit out Stephen King. Naturally.
• I've always believed pretty girls in baseball hats was basically the perfect combination, until I saw supermodels in baseball uniforms. The game was nice and all, but this picture was clearly the highlight of the entire All-Star break.
• As if Louis C.K.'s new show on FX wasn't amazing enough already, in this week's episode he name-dropped Jamie Moyer in the middle of a sex scene.
• Seth Stohs, John Bonnes, Nick Nelson, and Parker Hageman have partnered with bloggers from other teams to produce a massive, 160-page "Trade Deadline Primer" with player profiles, essays, prospect reports, trade scenarios, and all kinds of other good stuff. I got a look at the product at the latest TwinsCentric gathering and was impressed by the content and layout. They put tons of work into the project and made something very worthwhile, all for under $10.
• Which former Twin is among the best players never to make an All-Star team?
• I tried to sound extra smart for my appearance on Minnesota Public Radio earlier this week. Also, more people have contacted me after hearing my MPR interview than ever contacted me following an appearance on KFAN or KSTP or any other stations. I'm not sure how to explain it, other than maybe just the novelty factor? Anyway, give it a listen.
• My first (and probably last) restaurant review.
• I'm shocked that something like this has never happened involving A.J. Pierzynski.
• If you only watch one video of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh turning heel as the nWo, make it this one:
If you didn't laugh at that, you either didn't watch wrestling as a kid or you don't have a soul.
• Anyone still think the Heat will struggle to fill out the rest of the roster with solid players? I'll be shocked if they don't win 60-plus games in Year 1.
• This is what it looks like when Will Ferrell invades the workspace of an MLB.com writer.
• I'll assume Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven finished sixth.
• Just in case her stellar acting work on Modern Family wasn't enough to make you a big Sofia Vergara fan, there are also these pictures.
• Dennis Green's son Jeremy Green lost his ESPN.com job following his recent arrest on drug and child pornography charges. Would it be in bad taste to make a "he is who we thought he was" joke?
• Scott Boras comparing Prince Fielder to Mark Teixeira is more reasonable than you might think, but Fielder still looking an awful lot like he did in this picture is why many people have a hard time buying it.
• Poker player Ted Forrest was already in good shape at 188 pounds. Then someone bet him $2 million that he couldn't lose 50 pounds in two months. Now he weighs 138 pounds and has $2 million. The morale of the story is that all my repeatedly unsuccessful weight-loss attempts have lacked is someone willing to bet me a whole bunch of money. Well, that and willpower.
• Naming the five center fielders with 400 or more homers is a pretty good trivia question even if you get Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider as "hints."
• Joe Rogan talks mixed martial arts backstage at one of his comedy shows. Good stuff.
• Clearly my problem is that I don't tell enough lies. Or leave the house.
• Just in case you thought the people involved in the actual process put any kind of thought into anything All-Star related, they don't.
• I'm intrigued by this, mostly because Sports Illustrated and Turner Sports already produce so much quality content on their own, but "challenge ESPN.com" is often planned for and, aside from perhaps Yahoo! Sports, never accomplished.
• Here are some highlights from my NBCSports.com blogging this week:
- Justin Morneau likely bound for disabled list with concussion
- He's alive! Carlos Beltran finally returns from knee surgery
- Yunel Escobar may have "attitude problems" but he also has a good track record
- Angels stick with Scott Kazmir despite MLB-worst 6.92 ERA
- Edinson Volquez on the verge of return from elbow surgery
- Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce, together again at ESPYs
- Mariners promote last year's No. 2 overall pick Dustin Ackley to Triple-A
- Pedro Martinez won't be re-signing with the Phillies and may not pitch at all
- Royals promote 21-year-old stud prospect Mike Moustakas to Triple-A
• Finally, in honor of the Twins' current state this week's AG.com-approved music video is a live version of "Looking For Answers" by Susan Tedeschi:
Seriously, it seems everyone listens to MPR. It always amazes me.
Comment by Ryan — July 15, 2010 @ 11:49 pm
Watching that nWo vid made me a Miami Heat fan. 4 life.
Comment by Neil — July 16, 2010 @ 4:40 am
I tried that same writing analysis website.
“A little birdie tells me that the Twins could be looking for another pitcher.” Kurt Vonnegut
“Bud Grant is a close, personal friend of mine.” H.P. Lovecraft
Comment by Michael — July 16, 2010 @ 7:22 am
You can rip David Kahn but honestly, I think he is doing a great job. Look what he had to work with from the McHale era leaving him absolutely nothing. Kahn basically had no cap flexibility, tons of bad contracts, no stud players, a looming first round draft pick that would be taken by the Clippers if we fell out of the lottery, and a history of mistakes. What would McHale be doing during this offseason? He would be out on the lake fishing and making no moves. If he made any moves it would be to try and win now by taking on bad contracts which is the worst thing you can do!
Kahn is wheeling and dealing because he is a businessman. Guys like Kahn will insult people along the way and Webber is a grown man, he should learn to deal with criticism (even though it wasn’t). The Wolves are in a great position and have a team that will be good when Rubio arrives next year. Sorry I had to type this, I just get so sick of people saying they are sick of Kahn. The guy is trying to make the Wolves exciting to watch again and is doing a great job of it!
Comment by Shea — July 16, 2010 @ 8:36 am
Good points Shea. .
I’ll also say this…he has people talking about the Wolves for the good or bad he’s making news.
My concern is are they stripping the team down so it can be sold?
Makes perfect sense..aging building with little chance of getting public money to renovate or build new, a billionaire owner probably fed up with losing, and a too good to turn down offer from a Las Vegas investment group sitting on the table.
post script..had to talk Wolves today because the Twins game was soooo depressing.
Comment by pk — July 16, 2010 @ 8:53 am
Shea, I think being “out on the lake fishing and making no moves” is preferable to signing Darko freaking Milicic to a $20 million contract.
That nWo video was great. I would love it if LeBron actually did cut a promo like that: “These fans can STICK IT brother”.
Comment by Duff Soviet Union — July 16, 2010 @ 8:53 am
pk – I agree with you about talking Wolves instead of Twins. The Twins are sad to watch right now and I blame it mostly on Gardy and his consistent approach as a “player’s coach” which makes him timid to send people to the minors or make drastic lineup changes.
As far as the Wolves being sold, I don’t think that is the case. Glen Taylor is too MN dedicated. Unfortunately, this is what has needed to happen in order to get good again. That is why the NBA is so crappy compared to MLB or NFL. In the NFL and MLB you CAN pay for a team and good coaching (specifically the NFL) can still win you a lot of games. But in the NBA, if you don’t win the lottery, good luck! You need to win the potentially rigged lottery or have the look of a good team to lure star NBA players. And now, with the new trend of creating these “Big Three” teams in LA, Boston, Miami, Orlando, and potentially New York, it makes it impossible to land a top 10 player even when you do have the money. That leaves you with signing half good players to ridiculous contracts! Ugh…
So, this is where the Wolves approach comes in. Rather than get into bad contracts, sign decent ones with players that have “up and coming” potential. These players would include Martell Webster, Michael Beasley, Nicolas Pekovic, and Darko Milicic (who is still only 25). As far as Darko’s contract, that is actually a VERY reasonable price for a player of his caliber in the NBA. He is a defensive center which we need and he is looking for his chance to play everyday which we can do. Especially when you consider players that are similar in skill level such as Brendan Haywood (6 years, 55 Million) and Channing Frye (5 years, 32 million) were getting more ridiculous contracts.
Anyways, I just think we are building around Rubio for next year and plan to have Flynn blow up this year for trade purposes and potentially same with Love.
Comment by Shea — July 16, 2010 @ 9:31 am
NPR (and MPR in MN) actually have very good ratings, however this fact is often not reported by the Mainstream Media since it undermines their case for scheduling info-tainment instead of real news. MPR had three stations ranked in the top 16 in the Twin Cities Market, the lowest rated one is only one spot below KFAN. Their news station, KNOW, was the only non-music station to make it into the top ten. So, there should really be no surprise that Aaron gets more responses from appearing on a more popular station.
The real question is, why is the popularity of MPR so unknown. Even a media professional like Aaron seems surprised by its popularity.
Comment by Jose Crow — July 16, 2010 @ 12:03 pm
Susan Tedeschi — love her — AKA Mr. Derek Trucks!
And the answer to the trivia question — Who are the best guitarists ever married to each other?
Comment by funoka — July 16, 2010 @ 1:43 pm
man, i listened to the white sox broadcast yesterday and the chisox announcer is by far the sleaziest cowboy bum i’ve ever seen on t.v. oh, and definitely throws back a few during the broadcast. “HEEE GONE” — frikkin ass. no wonder the sox cant compete with the cubs’ fanbase.
Comment by yefrem — July 16, 2010 @ 4:24 pm
I’d rather have Darko for $5 mil/year than Joe Johnson for 20+ mil/year. And the other countless seven-footers that have been signed for more money than Darko was.
Kahn’s got the team in Much better shape than McHale left it in – Fact.
Comment by Walter Solbchek — July 16, 2010 @ 9:53 pm
Why does Delmon Young bat so low in the order? I’d say No. 5 would be about right. Is it based on salary?
I love what David Kahn is doing. That interview with Chris Webber is great. Webber is so articulate and humorous.
Comment by sugarknob — July 17, 2010 @ 3:04 am
People trash the Darko signing only because of the name “Darko.” If Kahn signed a 7-footer with identical skills and production (from his stint with the Wolves last year) that wasn’t named Darko Milicic, people would be lauding the signing. I mean, come on! Amir Freaking Johnson got TWICE as much guaranteed money. G-State is paying Andris Biedrins THREE times as much money and he is not THREE times as good as Darko. People just automatically associate the name Darko with “bad idea,” when really its a pretty solid investment in a league-average Center.
Comment by Nick Ocho — July 17, 2010 @ 8:50 am
Oh, and Aaron, I assume you meant Dick and Bert were 6th on the “worst” announcers list. Because of Dick. Bert’s fun, but Dick makes me want to throw a shoe at the television at least 2 or 3 times a game. I wish you could mute the announcers on live TV like you can on “The Show.”
Comment by Nick Ocho — July 17, 2010 @ 8:52 am
I will admit that the Ridnour signing is a head-scratcher.
Comment by Nick Ocho — July 17, 2010 @ 8:55 am
Possibly the craziest thing about Sofia Vergara is she’s 37! I least I believe she was at the time when she was on Leno. She has an 18 yr old, too. Unbelievable.
She is easily one of the top “not young” women out there. Hell, even if you compare a lot of 20 year olds to her, most don’t come close. Her and Julie Bowen make Modern Family a great watch. Even with out them it’s a solid show.
Comment by Kyle B — July 17, 2010 @ 3:55 pm
The worst baseball announcer by far: Tim McCarver and whomever is in the booth with him. Why Fox keeps him is beyond me.
Comment by Craig J — July 17, 2010 @ 5:19 pm
That NWO Lebron video was ace. Loved it.
Comment by Marshall Garvey — July 17, 2010 @ 6:03 pm